Texting Teen almost turned Black Dog to 'Dead' Dog...

[Black Dog]

I'm still shook up about this, and it happened Saturday...

While it's been quite hot 'n muggy these past few weeks, the evenings have been about the only time for getting in some great rides.  Saturday was different.  The dew points started to drop, and the weather was really quite beautiful.  Leave my house on the Valk, just before noon, to run a few errands, and enjoy a beautiful day in the wind.  I'm maybe a mile from home, just out of the subdivision, and on 'Main' street.  25 mph speed limit, about to stop at a 4 way intersection (4 way stop sign) and turn left.  I'm the only one at the intersection.  I begin to turn left, and I see this silver jeep 'flying' at me from the left...  He must be doing 45...  20 feet from his stop sign, he realizes there IS A STOP...  While I goose it, to get outta his way, he is sliding sideways through the intersection...  Right front of his Jeep, misses my left saddlebag by 2 feet...  Had he not looked up, he would have broadsided me... 

The topper is that once he came to a stop, sideways in the intersection, his left hand was on the wheel, and he put up his right hand as if to say 'sorry'...  In his right hand was his F^*%$ng cell phone    I was shakin' like a dog sh!ttin' razor blades...  He gathered himself, and continued on...  I was headed to the gas station, and almost puked when I stopped the bike, I was so shook.  I've crashed (hit by a drunk back in '82) my bike, I've had close calls...  This was the closest I've come to being road kill since the incident in '82...

I did it, and I'm asking all of you to do the same...  Please, please, please, if you have a young son or daughter that can't exist without texting every moment of every day, remind them how easy it is to kill someone if they take their eyes off the road, even for one moment.  I sat both my boys (18 - 22 years old) down that evening and related my story...

Ride like you are invisible, head on a swivel, and remember that they are out to kill us!

Black Dog

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Glad you made it through that safely man. 

[HayHauler]

Glad you are OK, or sort of...  This is not my greatest fear, it is right up there though.  My greatest fear is getting rear ended while sitting at a light.  I ALWAYS stay ready until there is a 3 car buffer behind me, stopped and waiting on the light.  
Some will say that you should always keep a "way out", but that isn't possible at every stop.

Again, glad you didn't get hit and got home safe and sound.

Hay  
Jimmyt

[R J]

Glad to hear ya is safe, maybe not of sound mind right now, but just relax and think back at the good times.

After reading your message, I kind of re-read through the lines on an article in our daily rag.
We have had 2 very serious accidents on I-80 this weekend.  1 had 6 dead, the other 1 had several injured.    The 1 with the fatalities, they think they might have been texting.    Haven't seen that one yet on the pickup and the travel trailer.    It was reported the trailer was swerving earlier up the road from the accident.    We had some fairly good winds yesterday and it they had that trailer on the bumper hitch liked it looked like, then the trailer was causing the swaying,, and once he got up to operating speed again, the trailer went into a swing, sasha, type till it finally flipped the PU.

[Walküre]

No close calls (yet, but it's inevitable) on the bike, but have had 3 or 4 in the car. All by Purdue College - seems college kids will live forever. I drive by there at midnight, and can see the "glow" of the phone. I'm amazed at how many do it, I'd be willing to bet somewhere around 80%! The kids know to erase the messages in an accident. The phone companies should disable erasing for several days, at least that way you might have proof. Until there are some serious convictions, I don't think it will stop - certainly accidents or loss of life, isn't stopping it. Along the same lines as stealing music, at the campuses. I think it should be prosecuted as "attempted murder" without injury, and full-fledged homicide, with any deaths.

I DID order my Stebel horn, last Saturday...

Glad there was no contact, but I feel your pain - I felt it in my big ol' truck, NOT looking forward to it on the bike!

[~ Timbrwolf]

...Damn Steve....you definitely used up one of your nine lives on that one...very glad that you made it through..unscathed...episodes like these are definitely the ones that make you pause...and rethink your...in the wind defenses....good Idea sitting the boys down and having a heart to heart.....

...once again...glad yer okay my friend..

[solo1]

Glad that you're ok.  What's bad is there was nothing you could've done differently.  It could happen to any of us.

On another note, since I am temporarily without a motorcycle, i've been driving my Miata.  Size might make a difference. Pullouts in front of me all the time.  Driving the Highlander, not so much.

[FLAVALK]

I was driving (in my truck) home from work last Friday when this a$$hole next to me started drifting into my lane. I could see him texting and laid on the horn. He jerked the wheel back into his lane and never looked over at me 

[PhredValk]

I drive city transit here in Edmonton, and these idiots can't see a 40' bus; so what chance do we have on a motorcycle? I never touch the brakes in normal traffic (stop signs, lights) without glancing at my mirrors. I try to check in panic stops as well (brake lights ahead, people running stop signs) because I don't want to get hit from behind. If I have to head for the curb or change lanes I'm prepared, cause at least I can control that outcome.
And I always downshift. Like someone here said; if you come to a stop and the guy in the mirror doesn't, do you want to be in first or fifth?
Fred.

[Steve K (IA)]

Steve, I'm sure glad the kid missed you.  You know I am a delivery driver.  I have seen it all.    Since July 1st, we have had a new law....."No Texting" by anyone/ any age, while driving.  It hasn't even slowed down.    They are starting to report now on teen fatal accidents were they were texting...there has been many.  In my perfect world, the texting option on ALL cell phones would be eliminated.....PERIOD.  I see absolutely no reason for that.  If you have time to type out a message, you have more that enough time to just call the damn person.  And in my eye's, there's no excuse!  Man, there is a whole generation of idiots out there.

[Kaiser]

I'm sure it's only a matter of time, but...

I'm surprised that Big Brother hasn't stepped in yet and made this illegal everywhere.  When all the studies point to the fact that texting is just as dangerous (if not more so) than driving drunk...well...seems like a law is soon to come.

[Titan]

No, they won't even stop it when they determine that it's as deadly as DUI. After all the years that have passed, and all the deaths from drunk drivers, there are no really serious laws covering drunk driving. I don't know how it is where you are but in my state you can get caught for DUI, first offense, and never have to walk a day! People have almost come to accept deaths from drunk driving as if it's no different than dying from any common disease.

I expect it will be many years before we will see any meaningful crackdown on drivers who kill and maim others while playing with their phones.

[98 T]

Damn Steve!!!  My heart is racing from just reading your post!!  There's usually a delayed reaction by a few minutes after you realize you could have died.  That sick feeling sets in a few moments later about what just happened.

I can't help but wonder if that kid learned a lesson - did he realize he almost killed someone? 

I'm glad you're ok.

See you tomorrow night at Culvers..

Loth

[Stanley Steamer]

Georgia just passed a no texting law.....I hope it makes a difference!...

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/24649347/detail.html

[fudgie]

I woulda hopped off the bike and let him know a few things.  

As far as texting, I've done it.   Heck even done it on the bike. Never long sentances and I know where the letters are without looking. Its alot easier then calling. Its its not one thing it'll be another.

[Valker]

I tell my high school students about drivesafe.ly   Yes, that is the website. It reads your texts to you so you don't have to read the screen. Maybe it will help.

[Normandog]

Glad you escaped alive. I would have had to change pants after that.

[B]

Glad you're okay blkdog. Hope you're up to the trip to StIggy... Hope we'll see you there.

[donaldcc]

 
Glad your OK, scary.  Had similar episode a couple of weeks ago coming down 2 lane road in mountains.  Taking it easy on 40 mph curves, picking out a good line and watching carefully for road debris, rocks from mountainside etc.

I am making a left hander with mountain on left and long drop off on right when this a$$hole comes around curve going the opposite direction.  I looked right at him and could see he was not looking at road but down to his right hand txting away.  He came about 1/2 way over into my lane and I was on horn and looking for somewhere to bail out without going over edge.  He heard horn, looked up and corrected with plenty of room.  I was still glad I had on my diapers.  

[NITRO]

Glad you're okay. I had an older guy pull out in front of me this spring that totaled my bike. I was sure he saw me, but evidently he hadn't. I walked away from it sore, but it probably should have been much worse.

What you said: they're all out to kill us.

[alph]

i have all texting blocked on my cell phones.  my daughters ask me all the time to buy the "family plan" for unlimited texting, but there's no way in hell i'm ever going to text.  when my kids are grown, and moved out of the house they can buy thier own phone plans, hopefully they will have learned by then that you can't text and drive without getting into an accident. 

i ask everyone to block texting on thier phones.

[Jabba]

I text a lot.  Just not when I am driving.  I will at a stop light.  But not moving.

I don't wanna be the board dick here... but is there something that Black Dog could have done differently? 

Here's my take... I won't roll thru that intersection untill I see SOLID evidence the oncoming driver is STOPPING.  Even mostly stopped.  I just don't trust cagers.  Stop light turns green?  I still look to make sure people ARE stopping before I hit the intersection. 

It's just too dangerous out there folks.  It's SAD, but we're responsible for our OWN safety.  Not that we can avoid them ALL, but we CAN avoid most of them, and that includes the ones that would not have been our fault.

My worst scariest place is getting creamed from behind.  I feel naked and exposed in THAT situation.

Glad you're OK Dog... but try to take something positive from it.

Jabba

[Black Dog]

Hey all...  Didn't think I'd be alone with my story. 

I too have a great fear of being smacked from the rear, while stopped.  I've added the SOMA (Stay Off My Ass) fluctuating brake bulb to the Standard fender Brake Light, and the SOMA Module to the I/S Trunk, so I have lots of flashing in the rear, when I stop...  They do get the cagers attention, and IMO they are worth every penny!

Jabba...  No offence taken, but I really am careful at all times when I ride, especially when crossing intersections.  Could I have done something different?  Doubt it...  Look left, look right, look left again...  I looked left, and saw no danger.  Looked right, and saw no danger.  Looked left again, and saw the Jeep, but he was a block away (did not process his speed at that moment), and didn't feel as though I needed to wait for him to stop (again, I was betting on him being somewhere near the posted speed, and that he was slowing to stop).  I did have enough presence of mind, to goose the Valk to get outta his way, once I realized what was happening (remember, this all happened in the blink on an eye).  Bottom line, my Guardian Angel crapped her pants, but did her job that day.  All things considered, I think the situation turned out OK 

Black Dog

[Gunslinger]

I'm sure it's only a matter of time, but...

I'm surprised that Big Brother hasn't stepped in yet and made this illegal everywhere.  When all the studies point to the fact that texting is just as dangerous (if not more so) than driving drunk...well...seems like a law is soon to come.

Unfortunately there is a problem with this thought process. Making it illegal doesn't stop people from doing something. The 'no texting' and 'no cell phone' laws are difficult to enforce and the penalties are in most cases very minor. The people who obey the laws are in most cases those who are conscientious enough to not be much of a danger in the first place and those who can't walk and chew gum at the same time don't give a damn about anyone else anyway.

I'm not arguing with the need for restriction on unsafe behavior that endangers the lives of others, just pointing out that passing laws does not change peoples hearts & minds. What is needed is a society that cares more about others than themselves and personal convenience.

[POPS 57]

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[Kaiser]

Unfortunately there is a problem with this thought process. Making it illegal doesn't stop people from doing something.  What is needed is a society that cares more about others than themselves and personal convenience.

I completely agree.  I was not advocating such a law - I'm just surprised there isn't one (or more accurately, more of them) on the books.

While your last statement is true, I have little hope of this society as a whole ever getting there. 

[Jabba]

Hey all...  Didn't think I'd be alone with my story. 

I too have a great fear of being smacked from the rear, while stopped.  I've added the SOMA (Stay Off My Ass) fluctuating brake bulb to the Standard fender Brake Light, and the SOMA Module to the I/S Trunk, so I have lots of flashing in the rear, when I stop...  They do get the cagers attention, and IMO they are worth every penny!

Jabba...  No offence taken, but I really am careful at all times when I ride, especially when crossing intersections.  Could I have done something different?  Doubt it...  Look left, look right, look left again...  I looked left, and saw no danger.  Looked right, and saw no danger.  Looked left again, and saw the Jeep, but he was a block away (did not process his speed at that moment), and didn't feel as though I needed to wait for him to stop (again, I was betting on him being somewhere near the posted speed, and that he was slowing to stop).  I did have enough presence of mind, to goose the Valk to get outta his way, once I realized what was happening (remember, this all happened in the blink on an eye).  Bottom line, my Guardian Angel crapped her pants, but did her job that day.  All things considered, I think the situation turned out OK 

Black Dog

Dog... if we get our pals on here to be a little more careful then it was worth mentioning.  ONLY you know if you could have done more.   You say no... and I believe you.  But, it was an opening for a conversation that MIGHT save somebody's life.

I am UBER cautious about not trusting cages.  I ride sort of agressive.  But I call it Aggressively defensive.  ANd yes... I believe that to be possible.  I believe that you can be too cautious and too slow on a bike. Get in the way, and people are just as prone to kill you.

Jabba