Crash Chronicles (Crashes and Near Misses)

[BCKRider]

Weaving thoughts

I think there is another advantage to using THE WEAVE, apart from making yourself more visible. You look dangerous! "Martha, I think that damn squid is drunk!" If drivers not only see you but also see you as a threat, chances are they will try to protect themselves - which of course protects you.

But the usual caveat - "Nothing works 100%" - still applies. Some people are so engrossed in everything but driving that they wouldn't see a fluorescent orange moose standing sideways in their lane with flashing lights from antlers to tail. Still, I believe a white helmet, brighter riding gear, extra lighting, and the SMIDSY weave result in far fewer times where you have to take serious evasive action. And that is a good thing.

One further advantage of THE WEAVE (as opposed to brighter gear and more lights) is that you have to PAY ATTENTION to use it. If you use the weave, it is because you have noticed a possible problem well before it becomes an immediate problem. I believe paying serious attention to the riding environment and anticipating possible problems is the surest way to arrive at your destination with body and bike intact. Nothing guaranteed, of course. But it's always good to up the odds in your favor.

 

[AKsuited]

Why any motorcyclist would wear a black helmet, and black jacket, is beyond me. A white helmet is so much more visible. As far as the SMIDSY weave goes, what if you are weaving towards the car as he pulls out?

Another big factor in bike and car wrecks is obstructed vision: a motorist can't possible see you because her vision is blocked, but she decides to go anyway. The SMIDSY weave won't help with that situation; you have to anticipate those and take defensive action based on the situation, that obstructed vision is in effect.

Harry

 

[marchyman]

The weave is not a magic bullet that will protect you from those who don't see you. Don't think of it that way. It is a tool that may help with visibility in some situations.

When properly performed you do not weave past the car for exactly the reason mentioned... what happens if the car pulls out anyway. The weave is performed before getting to the waiting car in the hope that it will assist that driver recognize your presense. You still have to be ready for anything. As for the the blocked vision comment... if you can see them (look them in the eyes) they can see you. If you can't see them then you won't be doing the weave. What would be the point.

A friend uses another technique... he waves at the driver in cars waiting at cross streets as if he knows them. It seems to work in that I've seen cars start to move then stop as the driver tries to figure out who just waved at them.

 

[BCKRider]

When to use the "SMIDSY" weave

I agree completely that it just another "tool" for alerting other drivers to our presence. (Nobody else thought looking drunk and dangerous was also a good thing?) I am certainly not an expert in using this tool and look forward to other suggestions. Here is how I have used it:

1. Oncoming traffic with more than one car on a two-lane road: When I think it possible someone will make an un-safe pass because they don't see me in the left wheel track, I swerve to the right so I can see the cars, and hopefully they see me. Maybe do it twice. And I'm thinking of the possibility of using the right paved shoulder if the message didn't communicate. That emergency exit from the road hasn't happened yet.

2. Side streets at right angles to "my highway." Try to do the weave as soon as I see the street, even if I don't see a car. There are lots of reasons even an attentive motorist approaching that intersection would not see my bike if I just rode straight down the left wheel track. Good point though by another poster - after you do your warning swerves, have that bike upright and be able to brake in time if you still were not seen.

I have never used "the Swerve" in towns and look forward to the advice on the situations where it is advisable.

 

[henzilla]

I guess I do it in my routine w/out much thought. Yesterday, I noticed I do it in rural and metro areas about the same. Any sniper ( drivers entering roadway from either side) that I consider a threat may get a mild dip of the bars...not a dodge a pothole exaggerated weave, just a mild push on bars to move the lighted target of my oncoming bike. I dip towards the target first to move my nose their way.

I also looked in mirror ( when I actually was out front) at various distances and could not 100% discern what color my WingWoman's helmet color was unless she was really close. It has some white in it, but not white. You CAN see the PIAA & Motolights however


As mentioned, it's just one more way to have a happy ending to a ride. I know many consider the Hurt Report the end all...data from 1976-77 and published in 1981 is not totally relevant today. Don't get me wrong...it was the most up to date study...then. Motorcycles and gear has evolved some since then. The conclusions may not have changed...folks do not see bikes. But that's my take...not knocking what you go with.

A quote from a site:

The National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety study cited a broad list of changes that have occurred that affect the current validity of the Hurt Report, broken into four categories:

Motorcycle Engineering Changes
User Population Changes
Automobile Engineering Changes
Roadway Environmental Changes

Hurt argues that the age of the study does not necessarily invalidate all its findings or even its core findings; rather, it highlights the need for current work to affirm or update the current state of motorcycle safety:
"The more time goes by, the less things look different. Riders today have the same sort of accidents as riders in the 1970s, except that today they crash much more expensive bikes."

 

[AKsuited]

Hurt argues that the age of the study does not necessarily invalidate all its findings or even its core findings; rather, it highlights the need for current work to affirm or update the current state of motorcycle safety:
"The more time goes by, the less things look different. Riders today have the same sort of accidents as riders in the 1970s, except that today they crash much more expensive bikes."

The thing that stands out in my mind when looking at motorcycle safety research is how well the later studies agree with the Hurt Report. The studies basically all arrive at the same conclusions.

Here's one: http://www.bmj.com/content/328/7444/857

After adjustment for potential confounders, drivers wearing any reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk (multivariate odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.42 to 0.94) than other drivers. Compared with wearing a black helmet, use of a white helmet was associated with a 24% lower risk

There is also the MAIDS study from Europe: http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/maids_motorcycle_accident_study/

In 70 percent of the two-vehicle crashes, the other driver failed to "perceive" the two-wheeler, causing the authors to classify this as a primary accident cause.

Also:

As in the Hurt Report, which studied motorcycle crashes in America a quarter-century ago, riders did a poor job when they had to stop and/or turn in a moment of panic. In almost three-fourths of the crashes, the rider attempted some pre-impact avoidance maneuver, and about one third of those lost control of the motorcycle as a result.

The MAIDS Report also finds that obstructed vision is a major cause of motorcycle/car collisions.

Harry

 

[bigskyrider]

New Bike Near Miss......

As a point of reference I live in Montana and have been riding for thirty years, fifteen of those on Beemers.
Last Saturday I picked up a new 800 GS adventure in California and had a great ride down the coast (story for another thread).

To the point, I arrived in Tucson this past Thursday to enjoy the sun and store my bike for a month or so before heading north.
As I was riding through town (something I hate is city riding) I came upon a funeral procession of cars and motorcycle police escorts.
One of the moto cops had traffic stopped and I was at the front of the line, when all of the funeral cars had passed he mounted his harley and waved us on. So I twisted the throttle and (here's where I made a mistake) I went in front of the motor cop but in the left lane and well behind the procession of cars. Next thing I see and hear is his siren and lights about five feet off my rear wheel, so I stopped. He pulled up next to me and screamed "pull over and stay behind me" and then he shot off. At this point heavy traffic shot past me as pulled away from the curb.

I guess overall, the lesson learned is to give these guys a WIDE berth, I never new they escorted funerals?

 

[henzilla]

When I worked in the electric delivery business, we called near misses near hits. It kind of reinforced how close a close call really was.

I had one of those near hits this past Friday afternoon. Had left Houston and it's insane traffic for the two lane back roads west of insanity. I visited my brother in Rosenberg along US 90 alt, which parallels IH 10 many miles south. Continuing on the scenic route west towards Shiner (home to Shiner Beer's Spoetzl Brewery) I started encountering the current oil patch boom traffic and a lot of truck traffic, most headed east.
I came up on 10 under the 70 mph limit traffic right before Hallettsville and just eased up as the city limit was coming up...no need to zip ahead.
I was about five seconds behind the Suburban ahead of me when they suddenly swerved onto the shoulder in a fog of tire smoke...and was looking at a fast approaching car in our lane...did I mention FAST?

The car was passing a line of oilfield equipment and decided running everyone out of the oncoming lane was the way to go.I had enough snap to already know something big was happening by the way the Suburban had veered and even with my cushion distance I had just enough time to veer and also avoid the Suburban which was almost sideways and the two other westbound cars ahead of them also half in the grass. I was stopped before the Suburban stopped sliding!
As the perp passed us, still in the wrong lane, I saw him holding his friggin phone at 12 o'clock and seemingly texting with both hands...while passing!I guess I was still unclenching and missed the license number.

I checked on the folks in the cars who were getting out.The lead car said the guy pulled into our lane in front of him and nearly hit them head on. We caught our breaths and composure and drove off. We all hoped he didn't take anyone else out and the lead car was headed to the police station as they were locals and somehow had a rough description of the idiots vehicle.
All I got is WHEW
The rest of the ride was pretty nice and calm.

 

[bikerfish1100]

wow.
glad you got through that one ok. Sounds like a great opportunity to farm some seat foam. good use of creating and using your space cushion, along with evasive maneuvers.
WHEW indeed.

 

[KenDittrick]

OMG - unbelievable!

 

[henzilla]

unrelated near hit...bad u-joint found yesterday...on the lift luckily

 

[henzilla]

I'm back...unbelievably with yet another yikes moment.


Just getting the /6 up and running and out doing short loops today to tweak things. I rode into a nearby town to meet Helen around 7pm on US 290 west of Austin.
I was headed east with sun at my back, but not low on horizon...yet.
Four lane w/continuous center turn...it's wide. I am in the right lane with very low traffic, no one behind me and one car about 1/2 mile ahead , speed limit 70 mph.

I notice some westbound traffic just visible on a slight downhill about a mile out, another bike leading that group by many car lengths passed me , as the cars got to my 11, I suddenly see a Tacoma truck with a camper shell coming from the far right westbound lane right towards me with wheels skidding and tires off the ground sideways. I do that slow down realization of what is unfolding in front of me...and hit WFO as I swerved as far to the right and watch the truck just skid past where I just was going to be.

What just didn't happen? I was shaking just a bit as the adrenaline hit.I gotta say, that has got to be one of the closest close calls, near hit, I have ever experienced.
And the Airhead roared enough to get me clear...my new favorite bike.

I slowed and looked behind me to see the truck over correct again and swerve back to the turn lane and come to rest...w/out flipping. A few cars appeared behind us, so , I moved on...still in shock of what just happened.

 

[glenfiddich]

Just a thought. Because of all the airbags in my newer vehicles the front pillars are much thicker than in older cars, so thick that they block a significant portion of my view especially at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions. Because I ride I'm acutely aware of that blind spot and will lean forward in curves or before turning to make sure nothing is there. It's definitely large enough to hide a pedestrian and most of a bicycle or motorcycle.

I wonder, what with the "entertainment systems" and other distractions, if not checking is a factor in the SMIDSY crashes...

 

[akbeemer]

This from the Anchorage Dailey News. The fourth rider reportedly died in hospital.


3 motorcyclists killed in Glenn Highway crash south of Palmer
BY RICHARD MAUER
rmauer@adn.comMay 3, 2014

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/05/03/3454436/3-motorcyclists-killed-in-glenn.html?sp=/99/188/#storylink=cpy

Three motorcyclists were killed Saturday evening on the Glenn Highway south of Palmer when they collided head-on with a car that had just been rear-ended, a spokesman for the Alaska State Troopers said.

According to preliminary information from the scene, four motorcycles were traveling in tandem northbound on the Glenn Highway near Mile 37 after 8 p.m. A vehicle in the opposite lane had stopped to make a turn and was struck from behind, pushing it across the highway into the opposing lane, troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain said.

All four motorcycles struck the car. Three of the motorcyclists were declared dead at the scene and the fourth was taken to the hospital in unknown condition, DeSpain said. The occupants of the vehicles did not appear to be seriously injured. No names were available Saturday night.

The wreck occurred about two miles north of the Parks-Glenn highways interchange near Echo Lake and Kepler-Bradley Lakes. The Glenn is a two-lane highway there.

DeSpain said about 9 p.m. that the accident closed the Glenn in both directions. Traffic was being re-routed through the Parks Highway and Trunk Road. DeSpain said he expected the road to reopen at about 11:30 p.m.

Saturday was warm and clear and a perfect day for mid-spring motorcycle riding, the first big weekend day of the season. The annual City Church and ABATE of Alaska Bike Blessing took place earlier in the day on the Park Strip and was attended by Gov. Sean Parnell, who tweeted, "Safe riding!"

Paul Ramage, general manager of Denali Harley-Davidson, said the accident was a horrible end to "an awesome celebration" of biking. About 300 people showed up for an open house at the dealership after the blessing on the Park Strip.

"People were going in all directions today," Ramage said. "People were going to Talkeetna, people were going south."

 

[roamingbeemer]

Just a thought. Because of all the airbags in my newer vehicles the front pillars are much thicker than in older cars, so thick that they block a significant portion of my view especially at the 2 o'clock position. Because I ride I'm acutely aware of that blind spot and will lean forward in curves or before turning to make sure nothing is there. It's definitely large enough to hide a pedestrian and most of a bicycle or motorcycle.

I wonder, what with the "entertainment systems" and other distractions, if not checking is a factor in the SMIDSY crashes...

Our new car has that issue and now I know why. From experience I know it hides pedestrians until we learnt to move our heads around more to see around the barriers.

 

[AKsuited]

Three motorcyclists were killed Saturday evening on the Glenn Highway south of Palmer when they collided head-on with a car that had just been rear-ended, a spokesman for the Alaska State Troopers said.

A similar type of crash killed at least one motorcyclist and injured several others in western NY state maybe five years ago. What happened? A car waiting to turn left got rear-ended, pushing the car into the path of the motorcyclists, who were on a group ride. The idiot who rear-ended the car was apparently gawking at the long line of motorcyclists approaching from the other direction.

I really wish car drivers were smart enough to not turn their wheels while waiting to turn left. Keep wheels pointed straight ahead and only turn the steering wheel when the path is clear to proceed.

This is another reason I don't like group rides: sometimes the spectacle of it can contribute to causing a wreck.

Harry

 

[miairhead]

Safer?

It has gotten safer, but still some riders are pushing their luck it seems. Helmets work,and load pipes don't

http://northcountysurgicenter.com/y...USE ON ALL HOSTS FOR: Top 4 News Articles ***

 

[sedanman]

My close call.

While riding at what I'll admit to as a "very spirited pace" on a local twisty road I had a minor brain fart (or two) that resulted in a very close call. I was cranking along on my RT in full, knee down body position and was running a little wide. I could have fixed it right then and there by trail braking a little more or rolling off of the throttle a little but I didn't see any real danger in my line. I was well ahead of my apex and could see far enough through the right hander that I wasn't concerned that I was getting close to the double yellow. Then it happened. I touched the double yellow line and the bike slid to the outside of the turn, into oncoming traffic! I had to keep calm and do my job, I had to keep my eye on the prize, a safe exit. I stayed on the throttle, eased on the brakes and pressed a little harder on the inside grip. I didn't panic. I wasn't afraid, I was too busy to be afraid. I didn't feel any fear until it was over and I realized that my soon to be wife would have been the first one on the scene, she was right behind me on her GSW. I have told myself a thousand times to remain calm and not do anything that would upset the suspension, no abrupt braking, no chopping the throttle, just ride it out and it will most likely recover. Make sudden big changes and you will convert a possible low side into a guaranteed high side. I know what I did wrong. The point of my sharing this is to emphasize the importance of mental attitude. Had I fixated on the small Japanese SUV that I was hurtling towards, I would not be typing this right now.

 

[henzilla]

Glad it was a reminder instead of something different. Having the snap to get yourself through that has to feel good.

Thanks for sharing s

 

[bernie]

small town ND

Last year in June on a trip from the Twin Cities to Minot ND, in a small town called Carrington ND, I had an accident. I was on a US highway 281. It is a 4 lane main street through the town. It usually has grain trucks or oil trucks on it. That day I was the only vehicle on it. It was high noon clear sunny day. I was riding my '12 R1200RT with less than 10,000 miles. I had just left a city park where I had a picnic lunch. I was headed for some ice cream. The speed limit was 25 but I was doing 20. I either heard wheels spin or noticed a movement four lanes to the left of me. Before I could react a car sped from a side street and hit me. The driver wanted to make it across the street fast. We collided hitting the car's passenger front fender. I somersaulted over the hood, hitting the windshield with my head and left shoulder and landing on the other side of the car 4 ft from the car. I landed on my left wrist and left knee. I should have done a tuck and role like the Airborne Infantry do when the jump out of perfectly good planes. I ended up with a broken wrist, soft tissue issues with my shoulder and a swollen knee. All that I can say is THANK GOD I BELIEVE IN ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME. Within a minute there was a good looking nurse from the local med clinic telling me to stay calm, don't take off my helmet and lay down. I heard the driver tell the local law enforcement the famous word "I did not see him." I was the only vehicle on the road. Within 5 minutes there was a crew of 6 or 7 EMT's there taking off my helmet the proper way not to hurt the neck and putting me on a board and transfering me to the clinic. This town has probably less than a 1000 people. At the med clinic they did a bunch of tests and exrays and CRT's on me. After the tests, exrays and CRT's were evaluated in Fargo they let me get up from the board. While I was waiting for my cousin to pick me up I contacted Moon Motors in MN to order a '13 Anniversity model of the RT.

I feel that someone above was looking after me.

I had a Schuberth helmet on that I had bought with the bike. Schuberth has a policy that if you resgister a new helmet and have a accident with it on within a prescribed time period (I think three years) you can buy a new one for $300. You need the sales reciept, accident report and they get the old helmet. You give the dealer all this and he takes care of it.



When I got my new bike I had several farkles that I had match painted to my bike at the Carrington Motors body shop. Carrington Motors stored my wrecked bike until the insurance picked it up. They did an excelent job at a very decent price.