Another close call

[old2soon]

Coming north on U S 63 out of West Plains Mo. earlier today on the 4 lane. I'm already in the left lane coming up a slight hill and a gentle left curving roadway. An on ramp joins from the right and an empty semi flatbed is coming up the ramp. I'm next to a white Dodge dually crew cab. He has a cell phone in his left hand holding said phone to his left ear and starts coming into my lane. I can't drop basck or go forward. I hit the horn.(which B T W is a Wolo big boy air horn.)Worked like a champ-looked right at me while pulling his steering wheel back to the right. I sincerely hope he had to clean his Dr. dentons and dry himself off after that. If any of ya'll-including my brother(da prez) still have that wimpy a$$ stock horn only get rid of it before you become a statistic. Had it NOT been for that air horn i might very well have been a statistic and someone else would have told you how bad i was hurt or worse yet-died at the scene. Boys and girls-they are trying to get us. RIDE SAFE.

[MacDragon]

Glad ya had the Wolo... I've got it on both bikes.  Has saved my ass too.  Sounds more like a truck than a bike.   

[Chrisj CMA]

same here....glad you made the threat safer....I believe in my Stebil (same as the Wolo) however, I have beeped the OEM and have had the cage driver reverse the encroachment, its just not as as dramatic, Id rather rattle them since they are rattling me at that point.

[Karen]

Glad it worked for you, I swear on my Big BF Quad setup.

[..]

OK, I'm going to be an ass (nothing new).

If you saw the flat bed coming and knew it was going to intersect with the dually why hadn't you started to drop back anticipating the dually moving to its left?

This question is asked in the spirit of riding education.

[Gerard irl]

Lucky Man their dude By the way say Hello to your Bro
Me him in Ireland   

[old2soon]

OK, I'm going to be an ass (nothing new).

If you saw the flat bed coming and knew it was going to intersect with the dually why hadn't you started to drop back anticipating the dually moving to its left?

This question is asked in the spirit of riding education.

  Did you miss the part where i could not drop back or go forward?? Traffic in front(nother cage) traffic in back(nother cage). The guy in the dually was in a better position to back off. Cell phone in his left ear?? Had i not had the old gourd on a swivel the outcome would have been way worse-FOR ME!! This happened way quicker than typing or reading it as it usually do. I just thank GOD i'm still here unhurt. RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

fricking cell phones, piss me off almost daily.  The nation should outlaw cell phone use while driving period and if caught, loose their license for 1 year and 1,000 fine that is how much I dispise their use while driving.  I see it everyday on the road and it is just going to get worse and many killed until a law is enacted.  My neighbor who is already a terrible driver talks on his cell while driving and because of it has gotten into 2 accidents, one that nearly cost him his life being hit at 50 mph and yet he still does it.

[old2soon]

fricking cell phones, piss me off almost daily.  The nation should outlaw cell phone use while driving period and if caught, loose their license for 1 year and 1,000 fine that is how much I dispise their use while driving.  I see it everyday on the road and it is just going to get worse and many killed until a law is enacted.  My neighbor who is already a terrible driver talks on his cell while driving and because of it has gotten into 2 accidents, one that nearly cost him his life being hit at 50 mph and yet he still does it.

  Passing a law is not the answer. The phone companies have the technology to disable it while it's moving. That is what is needed. The first qualcoms i had in the trucks could be used while driving. The newer ones you have to be parked to use. RIDE SAFE.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Glad it worked for you, I swear on my Big BF Quad setup.

Ditto that! I always say Big BF's quad set-up is like if your head is under the hood of a '57 Buick and some wise ass hits the horn!

[cookiedough]

then pass a law for cell phone companies to disable all cell phones in moving vehicles of all kind and in order to enable the phone, all vehicles have to be stopped.  I cannot tell you how many 100's of times I blare my horn with the person in front of me jabbering away at a green stop and go light to get their head out of their _ss and get going.  They sometimes flip me off and I just blow by them A-holes honking all the way.  My wife tells me I need to chill but if it saves one life (including mine) to wake them up and pay attention, it is worth it.

[sugerbear]

yep, software to disable except for 911. could be done simply.
cell companies are always updating the software to improve coverage automatically. just put it in.
i know phones can be "unlocked", but at least try.

[RiderNJ]

I've had my own close calls with distracted drivers...  whether I am on my Valk or in my suv...  and the technology exists to disable a cell phone while moving... but what if I am a passenger in a vehicle?  Should I not be able to talk or access my cell either?   I'm not an expert,  but what about communication from an ambulance?  I would think that would be important also.  Likely others too that I'm not thinking of....

Saying the cell phone causes accidents is like saying guns kill people.    Technology is a great tool,  but it is the people who choose to use it in the wrong place and the wrong time that puts us in danger...

[sugerbear]

ambulance phones can be unlocked.

well, would you rather have major fines/jail time for abusers? how could you prove the driver was using the phone, not the passenger? making laws is one avenue. enforcing those laws is a problem though.


it's a tough problem for sure. i don't have the answer. you are correct guns don't kill people.
distracted drivers do though. cells, makeup, newspapers, kids, eating, nice days, there are many things to distract drivers. cells SEEM to the biggest offender though.
if the call is that important, pull over and stop. if not wait until your stopped.
can "you" not survive being out of touch while driving?

my family knows that if it's an emergency call 2 times quickly. if not leave a message. i'll get it when i stop.

tough problem

[RudyF6]

If common sense really was......... or if it could be taught......   

[MacDragon]

Disabled while moving is not the answer... Then no one in the vehicle could use the phones.  You couldn't access the phone on a bus, or long train ride etc.   Maybe automatic speakerphone while moving at a certain speed or faster... which could be disabled if a passenger... Better advertising from phone companies as to the hazards of accidents while talking on the phone..,. There is no real clear answer that will stop it.  I see it all the time too, and get irritated when I see it's obvious that the driver is distracted enough to not paying close attention to the road and surroundings.

[czuch]

They'res laws about hiring illegal aliens too, but they still trim the bushes.
I'm with ya, something has to be done. I worry more about the tailgaters, on the phone.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I know this might step on some toes here, but  the biggest offenders that I see daily are law enforcement officers. I know they have special training but they almost always are on the phone and looking at their computers while they drive. I try to keep all my attention on driving. I really would like to see someway to limit use while driving.

[Hoser]

Onstar phones are completley hands free and voice is used to dial and hang up.  They are never out of range either, being satelite phones.   It is the only one I use while driving.  Hoser   

[musclehead]

any 120+ db horn you can get will work. I prefer air horns just for the "oh crap" effect, the car thinks they've encroached on a bigrig. 

new folks listen up! this should be the first mod you do is replace the ultra wimpy OEM horn

[old2soon]

any 120+ db horn you can get will work. I prefer air horns just for the "oh crap" effect, the car thinks they've encroached on a bigrig. 

new folks listen up! this should be the first mod you do is replace the ultra wimpy OEM horn

  You did see where i mentioned that my own brother still has that wimpy a$$ stock horn on his Valkyrie.  Soon as i got home from my little wake up call i called my brother and brought this up to him. He said soons as he got a couple bucks ahead he would see what he can and will do.  He do have a repaint the hard bags he bought bill coming up though. RIDE SAFE.