Close Call...

[DDT (12)]

Close Call…
 
Yep, we had another one the other day. We all have them, of course, and more than we’d like to think; some we aren’t even aware of. I’ve been asked several times if I’m a defensive driver when riding our girl… My response is always the same, “Heck no! I’m a defensive driver in a car… However, aboard a bike, I’m a paranoid driver!”
 
Most folks are almost always distracted in some way, if nothing else they are daydreaming while listening to their favorite tunes… whatever, their minds just aren’t fully focused on the task at hand. That obviously poses a serious risk to everyone else, especially to us of the two-wheeled persuasion! Some of us have ‘too close' encounters with inconsiderate drivers, all of us have had close calls with them. It’s just part of the risks we assume when we mount-up and head out onto a public roadway…
 
No, it’s not only about the skill and experience we might possess nor the level of caution we might employ, either, because no matter how careful or ‘correct’ we might be, we still have to share the roads with folks who simply ain’t on top of their own game… Good intentions and being right are important, obviously, but outcomes and consequences also matter! We can do everything precisely right out there and still wind-up… a spattered, bloody mess all over some patch of asphalt lying near some crumpled mass of metal that once was a proud Dragon… Every time we twist the throttle, we’re also rolling the dice…
 
To those who are reading this, I assume you are already aware of all of this, and that, like this rider, you’re still willing to accept the risks in pursuit of the rich rewards inherent in our special calling. It does take courage to be a rider; to knowingly expose ourselves to all of the dangers while being aware of the complete lack of control we have over some aspects of our dangerous passion. Most of us have concluded that while we could avoid any danger by not venturing out at all, life for us just wouldn’t be the same… We choose to live life in full; to not give much of it up in order to play it safe…
 
That said, we still do use constant awareness of the lunacy all around us and the fact most other motorists are distracted to at least some degree. We therefore keep our heads on a swivel with our eyes constantly examining the actions of each potential ‘attacker’. ‘Timid riding’ can also be dangerous by us becoming an inducement for otherwise decent drivers to act out of character, so we seek to find that elusive, ever-changing ‘fluid’ balance and maintain a place in the ‘sweet spot’. We ‘flow’ with traffic but don’t try to ‘buck’ it, plus we always practice considerate driving… Still we also keep our guard up at all times!
 
We’d found ourselves riding through fairly heavy traffic in Shreveport, LA, not long ago, and we nearly had contact with a lady who was in a hurry and not practicing courteous driving… She was apparently quite willing to risk my life to potentially save herself a few seconds of time… Of course, that assumes she even saw us in the first place.
 
I-20 along that stretch has three lanes westbound, and we were in the far-left lane (the hammer lane), following other cars in a rather lengthy parade. I noticed several cars coming up an on-ramp to join us, with one in particular emulating the NASCAR racing technique of ‘drafting’… Yep, right on the bumper mere inches away from the car directly in front of her!
 
As soon as they reached the portion of their short lane that straightened out and provided some modest distance to safely merge into the right lane of travel, she swung around the car she’d been closely trailing, proceeded to cross the next two lanes requiring their then current occupants to brake to avoid being hit… and she showed no signs of stopping there… I also vigorously squeezed the brake handle while signaling the driver behind me in order to yield to her room to cut in front of us… I had no other choice if we were to avoid a collision!
 
She crossed the inside line and appeared to examine the space between our left most lane and the middle concrete guard barrier… and correctly figured there wasn’t enough space for her to illegally pass the cars immediately in front. Just as well… traffic was lined up in all lanes as far as the eye could see… I have no idea why she might have been in such a hurry…

Perhaps it could have even been a legitimate emergency. It didn’t make any difference, though… No matter what her reason, excuse, alibi, or justification might have been, she’d foolishly risked her own life and that of those around her for nothing really… It would have been little consolation to know I’d acted appropriately if I’d wound up a casualty from her little escapade…
 
This wasn’t the closest call we’ve had, but it was the most recent. I recalled reading of the encounters several others in our group have described over the years, and I thanked my Guardian Angel out loud for being on top of things once again! I’d been spared the angst of a collision experience, of hitting the pavement with considerable force, of feeling the pain of rolling and being rolled by other vehicles… of all the pain to come, the treatments and lost time never to be regained involved with recovery and therapy… of the expense and heartache of all those I care about who would also suffer because of this…
 
Folks who take chances like that are only thinking of what they’re after… They give no thought to the harm they can do nor to the potential consequences of their actions. It’s up to each of us to watch out for those threats, to keep the odds on our side as much as we can, and to protect ourselves as best we can from the inescapable perils we face. Even that, unfortunately, is not enough sometimes… It’s not automatic that we will be unintentionally hit someday, but it is certainly not impossible either. Good luck out there, my friends…
 
DDT

[Valker]

Absolutely EPIC post, Bruce. Thanks!

[..]

Did she then slow down?

[Valkorado]

Great read and reminder, Bruce.  Glad you were more a witness than a participant.

I've always been aware of the "wildlife", but as you say even that isn't always enough.  I learned this when I was rear ended a couple seasons back.  I kept the bike up somehow but it was a body jarring, eye opening experience.

There's a slogan on Valkyrie T-shirts I've seen, that is partly right.  BIGGER, MEANER, FASTER.  I know it's directed at the v-twinkie crowd but...

Our bikes may be faster than many things on the road, but cages and trucks are definitely BIGGER and MEANER.  I try to always keep that in mind and give 'em space bow and stern.  Unfortunately they don't always oblige.

[Rams]

For most of my riding life, I always thought riding in the bigger cities was the most dangerous (I still believe that) but, my one serious crash came on an interstate highway.  The point is, there ain't no where safe so being a paranoid rider has it's benefits.   

Rams

[scooperhsd]

If you have been driving / riding long enough - you're extremely fortunate if you have never had this happen, sad to say. All I can say is pay attention to your fellow users of the road and be forming a plan on dealing with it (preferably that DOESN'T involve trying to share the same piece of road at the same time !).

[Willow]

You know, sometime in the past my reaction to those experiences was intense anger and a desire to "teach someone a lesson".  Since then I've adopted a practice of saying, "I hope she makes it to the hospital on time."  I also have a wish that when someone gets killed by sucha driver it will only be the driver himself and not include innocents.

They're assholes and they are out there almost everywhere.

[f6john]

Bruce, you are still with us because you were vigilant in reading the traffic flow and saw the potential for disaster well ahead of the event. At least that’s how I see it even though I wasn’t riding along with you. I constantly read the traffic around me including those behind me. I’m getting better and better at predicting what drivers will do in certain circumstances. Merging traffic on interstates, especially I 75 in my case, a real challenge for some.

Being obsessed with the traffic sure takes a lot of fun out of driving or riding. Once the flow starts to thin out I begin to enjoy the journey a lot more.

I suppose the one that gets you is the time when someone does something really stupid and literally no time to react.

[Bigwolf]

Bruce,
I am glad that you were alert enough to see that danger approaching before it came into your lane!  That makes a lot of difference between being a spectator or a statistic.  Of coarse I am not surprised that you were that alert……….I know that is just routine vigilance for you.

This is a great reminder for us all to be ever vigilant while riding. 
I too am a defensive driver in a cage but a paranoid rider on 2 wheels.  Not so paranoid as to kill my joy but paranoid enough to be extremely wary around traffic.


Bigwolf

[Oss]

Those of us that use 2 wheels around big cities are very familiar with what Bruce described

Then add to that people who use the left signal to turn right or no signal to suddenly cross all lanes

The air horn is so important so the cage thinks they are about to get hit by 18 wheels and not 2

I am lucky that when a livery driver hit my bmw bike in traffic on the cross bronx expressway  (95) I was not thrown nor was the bike hurt beyond losing a sticker.  When stopping leave room to exit left or right.

What is behind you surely matters as much as what is ahead and crossing

and on 3 lane roads has anyone else noticed the right lane is often empty for long stretches

People have made fun of my hit-air jacket   Never had to watch it inflate, but at least  (when I have it hooked up    )  I have added a layer of protection,    

Thanks for the post DDT  we should be aware but not let it ruin our rides

[The emperor has no clothes]

It’s not just city traffic and drivers one needs to be aware of. Probably the closest near miss I had was in Yosemite Park. A tourist came across 4 lanes in a flash just to try to score a parking spot. One of the few times I’ve locked up the front wheel. Thought for sure they were going to get us. I think all the cars looked our way when hearing the screeching front tire (except the person causing it). I think all we can do is prepare the best we can.

[RNFWP]

Glad there wasn't an accident 

Thanks for that Bruce. Good read, lots to think about... With your years and miles of riding experience I've wondered about your thoughts on the subject, but didn't want to ask, having a preference for lighthearted topics of discussion. 

[cookiedough]

I noticed a lot of you all experiencing close calls on super slabs like interstates.   I for one avoid interstates at all costs only been on cycle just a few times in my life since not a long distance rider.  Instead of seeing my kids once 3 hours north on Interstate, I took a hwy. less busy for 2 of those 3 hours only took me 30 minutes extra timeframe and was at ease not having big rigs and trailers blowing past me doing 75 mph or more.    Wife dislikes it even more so than me having vehicles side by side or semis mere feet away in the other lane even if going the same direction.  For me,  I nearly always stay in the right SLOW lane doing 75 mph for the most part until I come upon a slower vehicle in the right lane on an interstate.  Going 82 mph vs. 75 mph only makes a few minutes of difference in a 200 mile stretch is all.

Last year was my closest call from flying off the cycle and was my own fault for the most part.  I was heading home from work tired on a road I am on daily following a good 3 second following distance from car going about same 64 mph.  A deer I never saw since I was tired and day dreaming  cut in front of the car in front and he slammed on his brakes HARD never seen his taillights partially because old car not very bright brake lights and heading into sun and also not paying GREAT attention until I was RIGHT on his rear locking up both brakes HARD skidding 30-40 degrees sideways at about 50 mph.  That was an OH BOY moment mere 2 seconds tops from sliding on down the pavement. Let off the brakes straightened cycle right up near flinging my big butt off the cycle into the air and luckily I think the car ahead of me sped up quickly to avoid me hitting his rear bumper. All the while me seeing the deer changing his mind going back to where he came from.

I make it a point now to keep a greater following distance and if following someone if safe,  I pass them if going say 55mph not at least 60 mph.   Is an odd feeling hearing your rear tire lock up screatching for a split second doing 50 mph skidding sideways.

[Moonshot_1]

Good read. Can relate to it. I'm in the "Hammer Lane" club when it comes to urban interstate travel.
Generally you only are concerned with folks behind, folks in front and folks on the right. Other lanes have the folks on the left of you cursed determined to make that exit at all costs.
We may have to run faster but I've found it a lot easier to keep track of the traffic from the hammer lane.

[Sweet Cheeks]

Thanks for the reminder Bruce.  I am glad you are safe.  I look forward to once again sharing some road time with you.

[Thunderbolt]

Glad your defensive driving skills were in play Bruce.  Iris and I came through Shreveport about 3 weeks ago on the way back from our Colorado trip.  We were driving the truck pulling the 5th wheel and I-20 was so rough in that area that I thought the RV was going to detach itself from the truck.

[DDT (12)]

My Friends,

As I anticipated, many and arguably all of us have some horror stories on the subject to share… I’ve found by far the biggest challenge to master is myself, my own emotions, habits, and thoughts. To remain calm and alert, to anticipate what others might do, and to keep myself in the best position possible. No easy chore…

The temptation to want to put someone ‘into the wall’, to scold immature drivers and teach them a lesson, to let inconsiderate drivers know just what I think of them… To not allow myself to get in a hurry and seek to ‘save time’. To take advantage of the efficiencies of Interstate highways or other main traffic arteries to get through cities or across major rivers, any chokepoint really, but to do so safely and uneventfully.

As in much of life itself, we find ourselves being ‘fellow citizens’, members of some ad hoc community… In the situation being discussed of an ‘asphalt community’. When we avoid the trap of selfish driving and remember we’re part of a traffic flow system with an important role to play, and we conduct ourselves thoughtfully and considerately, avoid trouble but cause none ourselves, we improve our odds of survival considerably.

‘Show-boating’ is for amateurs who still feel a need to call attention to themselves. Aggressive driving is for immature folks who find themselves always needing to hurry… “I’ve got better things to do with my time, for Pete’s sake!” Combative drivers are those who also criticize, condemn, and complain about everything and everybody in all areas of human interaction… Only mature, stable, calm drivers have any hope of making it over the long haul…

If you are a well-experienced rider with lots of time in the saddle, then I congratulate you on having ‘grown up’ enough to have made it this far! Good on ya, my friends, and I hope the future is bright and accident-free for ya!!!

DDT

[Bret SD]

Yesterday I went to pick up my daughter in Orange County, took the Dodge truck because I had the pup with me. We were sitting at a light when starting back to SD and chatting about her upcoming driver test at the DMV when we heard a bang and I looked in the mirror, I saw debris fly sideways as the car lurched forward toward us a few feet.
No skidding, no warning.. just bang! It happened that quick, as we pulled away I saw the car behind, it was smashed pretty good and steaming. The driver must have been texting at 40 mph approaching a stoplight.

Cagers here are often texting and driving, more often than not the lead driver at a stoplight doesn't see the light change due to looking at the phone.. it's ridiculous and I regard it as a constant danger.

I rarely put the bike in N as I sit at a light, and always try to have an escape route. I also have a loud air horn which has saved some problems. My best defense is the dragon's throttle.

[..]

I rarely put the bike in N as I sit at a light, and always try to have an escape route. I also have a loud air horn which has saved some problems.

Never.