First call of the day!

[Firefighter]

Just went on duty this morning, had a call for a motorcycle vs car. 70 year old man riding his brand new 2015 dressed Indian, pulled out of his driveway in front of a Ford pickup. Lucky his driveway is accessed by the alley and the truck was moving slowly. No helmet, so he had several gashes including see through cheek wound and teeth loose and missing. The bike was a beauty, but the front fender and wheel was ruined, not sure what else. We moved it into his garage for him and the front end was not cooperating very well.
I have seen all kinds and too many motorcycle wrecks over the years. Please be careful out there, it is so easy to be distracted and it only takes one time.  Firefighter

[cookiedough]

Just a guess, but probably the 70 year old man had more money than experience on the bike? 

Just glad it turned out somewhat o.k. for the older gent than his new bike faired.  Wanna bet if he gets another bike, he will be wearing a helmet. 

Be aware of your surroundings all the time.  Late last fall I had on an open stretch of rural country road an older lady in a Buick, VERY clear and open road easy to see both ways, pull out in front of me NOT looking both ways before pulling out onto the main hwy. road.   I kept my eye on her coming at her going 55 mph slowing down to 30 mph since I see she did NOT look my direction.  You guessed it, she pulled right out in front of me on the main hwy. road.  I still had to lock up the brakes some to slow down even further, but if I had been going 55 mph, I would have hit her broadside flipping over for sure her car going 50-55 mph.   

That spring last year on cycle I had an oncoming car going 60 mph or so coming right at ME in MY lane about 1/2 way into my lane, obviously NOT paying attention over the center line by 3-4' for sure.  Luckily, I usually drive my cycle on the right shoulder of my lane about 2-3 feet over from the right shoulder of the road.  If not, a head on collision for sure!

Stay safe out there, they are out to get us all! 

I try to avoid ALL traffic whenever possible, I don't trust anyone on the roads. 

[J.Mencalice]

One lucky G.O.M.E.R. that you boys were there to take care of him and his ride as well.

F.D. brothers, just lost my Training Captain to Alzheimer's at the age of 77; a great man who made me into a capable and skilled firefighter.  We never forget those who've gone before us and took the time to train us properly.  Marty Zemlock was his name.  Hoo-rah Marty!!!!

[..]

Years ago I read a court report about a guy who backed out of his drive right in front of a London double decker bus.

When asked why the accident (crash) happened he told the court " the bus was early".
  

They drive amongst us.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Just a guess, but probably the 70 year old man had more money than experience on the bike? 

Not necessarily . An employee that's been cutting meat for 40 years just cut off 2 fingers a couple days ago. Got distracted by someone saying Hello and zip. Complacency is the enemy.

[Hooter]

Up here.....tis the season!  We cover roughly a dozen motorcycle vs something P.I.s a year and about half are fatals. Inattentive drivers are becoming a big problem. On the scooter  side of the coin there is high speed, drugs or alcohol or just plain stupidity.
   In the north people aren't used to seeing bikes in the early season so they just pull out. Most of us know the gig early in the season in the snow belt. The usual excuse: I didn't see him / her. I guess not!

[Gryphon Rider]

In Alberta (and suspect most other North American jurisdictions) the law requires you to stop before entering a roadway from a driveway or lane, even when, as usual, there is no stop sign.  I would say most never do unless there is obviously someone else to yield to.  I almost always stop and look both ways twice, as I do at a stop sign, before proceeding.  I am trying to convert my "almost always" into "always".

[Hooter]

The law is the same here as well. Most of the time it isn't adheard to either. Now it seems as though when someone enters a vehicle the phone goes into use.     I don't get it, and at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning who are these people talking to?