Rough day for motorcyclists near me - 3 fatalities.

I didn't know any of these guys, but two of the accidents were within blocks of my normal commute. I started getting e-mails yesterday morning from friends checking up on me because they know I work near Grayslake and heard about the one wreck on the news. In that case, the driver who turned in front of the motorcyclist drove off, but luckily another driver followed him and lead police to him. <insert cuss words here>

Here's the story from the local rag: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S1.article

Ride safely.

 

Hate to hear things like that. The amount of bikes on the road today with gas at the 3.00+ range is amazing. Keep it safe!

 

Eblo, you keep yourself safe now! Incidently, I'm ready to scoop those parts now. PM me with post costs please.

 

Do you think we lobby for a Motorcycle lane on major highways? Probably not, but it would be nice.

I hate to read about things like this, but it keeps me aware of what could happen and make me that much more causcious. (spelling) Ride safe.

 

They've been dropping like flies the last week or two. Warm weather and the price of gas is bringing out a lot of old bikes and putting a lot of rookies on bikes.

More bikes on the road are more bikes for the cars with morons driving to hit. Just the fact that are more targets, it makes it easier for them to run into a bike.

"Oops, Shawna Sue, there's something scraping under my Escalade. I'm going to speed up and see if I can shake it loose!"

 

Yeah, I read about those three in the local paper. Scary business, that. Be careful out there, all of you. If you think all the cagers are out to get you, you're right. Whether they know it or not.

 

I had 2 people pull out in front of me last year alone on my XT. Heck, people have pulled out in front of me in my SUV...didn't even look or were talking on the cell phone. The scary part is that getting eye contact with the person doesn't ensure that they see you, they're just looking past you! I always use safe riding foundations by checking the mirrors often to update vehicle position('s) in the rear, just in case I have to use an escape plan. I don't trust anybody! How high do you think you can jump off your foot pegs to a tuck before you hit?

 

If there's a road off to my right and a car in the on-coming lane, I just assume they are going to turn left - in front of me. I'm The Invisible Man. No one can see me when I get up on two wheels.
That car over on the right at the Dari Squeeze, they are gonna pull out right in front of me. That guy in the car that's been cutting lanes dodging thru traffic "cause he's the only important person on the freeway, I know, I've seen him in my mirrors, he's gonna try to cut me out of my lane so he can get in front & tailgate the next car up ahead. That loaded minivan with the taxi driver at the wheel is ready to come across 3 lanes so she can make that right turn to the mall :arrow: RIGHT NOW! She's not worried that you are in the way, she's goin' Shoppin'!
They are all out there, and you'd better know that you are insignificant to them.

 

Add to that you never have the right of way, no one will give way to you at a Yield sign, no one will see you stopped at the lights or a Stop sign or Stop for you when they are, your front light does not look like it is getting closer to them.

We are invisible.

Ride safe, all the gear all the time, use your eyes-scan don't fixate, use your mirrors and signals. Always Yield right of way.

 

I always monitor the wheels of their vehicle, when they are waiting at the corner ahead to pull out in front of you. If they let it roll one inch, you'll see it at the wheels first. I look for and escape and if there isn't one, then I slow down and get one. I also crack the throttle when I get close and shift position to the left of the lane to slip by the goofball.

 

Scrape will be done in by a set of spinner rims (joking and not at the same time). I, too, use the tires as a cue that a bogie is making a move. I just noticed myself doing this the other day - it's pretty automatic now.

And for some unknowable reason this brings to mind a humorous quote from a movie I once saw:

"Also, I think knives are a good idea. Big F***-off shiny ones!

"Guns for show, knives for a pro."

 

Or you strap a few water bottles to the back, and apply them at high velocity to windshields as needed. It gets cagers in Iraq out of your way... but then we have guns over there, too.

 

This is my first full year of riding, got my license in May and i've had one close call. But it was another biker who was at fault, a veteran too, i'm sure of it. He decided to pass a slow car right as i was meeting it. Could of high fived him at 60, well i actually did slow down, since i was trying to keep myself out of harms way, but he obviously though he ruled the road on his sputtering putt putt Harley. Scary deal tho.

Yesterday i was driving my pickup home and a guy in town just bought a brand new Honda 1800, no license of course, but he's out riding with his 5 year old son on the back. Blows right through a Yield sign, never looks either way, had to pretty much lock em up to avoid mincing him and his son.
It's riders like him who i think account for alot of fatalities. I'm just a rookie, so i don't have much room to talk, but i like to think i'm smart enough to realize that i shouldn't chance it versus 3 ton trucks.

Just throwing this thought out there, but i think the truck would win.

 

Oblivion.
As a matter of interest what sort of sentence would a court hand out to the car driver for causing the blokes death?

Faighaigh.

 

They need to hang that sorry sob
Its people like that who make me sick
What if there was something you could do to help that person out.
Nope just let them have an aggonizing death.

 

Faighaigh, I really have no clue what the punishment would be in such a case. I'd bet it would depend on the cop, DA, and judge involved in the case. There's always the possibility of the family pursuing a civil case, however.