Rider Longevity

[stangmx13]

I think freeways are a trade off. Yes there are less hazards that can cause an accident as you describe. However, if you do come off the bike, I think your likelihood of getting hit at high speed is much greater and the consequence often deadly.

i dont think the stats support the idea that u r likely to get hit at high speed on the freeway. i bet that most multi-vehicle accidents happen at traffic speeds. single vehicle accidents, as most motorcycle accidents are, just means the motorcycle was riding like a tool. as a rider looking to mitigate risk, i think we gotta assume the OP wont ride like that.

 

[mendio]

Ride at 70% of what you feel is safe.
+ Every lists posted are valid imo.

I scared my self a few time because I wasn't 100% focused, I won't make that mistake again.

When I'm not sure about something (corner, overtaking, lane splitting) I always think "Better be alive and 5 minutes late than dead"

 

[unirr]

I feel like a lot of the RIP threads are due to the riders outriding their abilities and drifting out of their lanes into danger.

It most definitely is.. I speak quite frankly...
My 2nd - 3rd year of year of riding was by far my most dangerous period.
You know just enough to be dangerous and aren't learned on what happens when you exceed your skill level.

That part about me highlighting 'blowing corners'? In my 2nd- 3rd year I did it on 2 occasions..

None did I foresee ... Reacted like an idiot when I realized I couldn't make it, wasn't comfortable leaning, got on the brakes and went straight across the other lane. I could have been dead. It's no joke.

On-ramp occasion : some clown was talking me up about his busa before I was headed off to work .. My ego got stroked.. Went into an on-ramp hot .. almost hit a median and went straight out into traffic. Literally rode back home, parked the motorcycle, and didn't ride it for a week until I felt like i was mature enough...

Hillside occasion : Overriding my skill level at the time.. Blew a blind corner .. Went across the lane and over into a ditch.
^didn't ride for a month.

[YOUTUBE]ruhFmBrl4GM[/YOUTUBE]
Don't let pride/ego fuck with you.. It will get you killed.
Pride only hurts.. It never helps

Stay alert out there. Expect every driver to be on their worst behavior. Leave room for shit happening. Know yourself and your limits.
Know what to do when shit happens. Stay alive.

 

[NeilInPacifica]

Cookie, another difference of opinion. I don't think I've ever used my horn to get a cars attention. In 43 years and 400,000+ miles. With the sheer number of dumb bastards driving their cars with the white Apple headphones in to the number of cars with 2000 watt stereos in them, you aren't going to be heard. I think I might have beeped to signal my buddy we were turning.

And I don't hover next to cars. I get past, immediately. Even if there is a lot of traffic , I'll clear past until I find a spot to stay in with no cars.

Strange that you've been able to put so many miles on without this. I ride Highway One a lot and have used my horn multiple times to get the attention of drivers turning out onto the Highway. I know the horn worked, because that is when they looked and stopped pulling out. It's difficult for the drivers because they are sitting there for long periods waiting for an opening, often fixated on traffic that opposes your direction, so not seeing you at all.

[Edit]I've also used the horn on Stage Road for extremely tight blind corners to warn potential oncoming drivers I'm there. So far the corners have always been empty, but someday it might help.

 

[DataDan]

Here's how fatal crashes have occurred over the past 10 years (nearly 700 deaths 2004-2013):

Going from that, and focusing on prevention of the top 3...

1. Learn how to get the bike through a curve. Not like Rossi, just competently. If you're thinking about bullshit like a stylish body position and how deep to trail-brake and what traction control setting to use, you're not thinking about fundamentals like entry speed, line, and throttle roll-on.
   
   
2. Learn how to identify crossing-vehicle threats and tactics for dealing with them. These are often discussed, and there are a few 1Rider threads dedicated to them.
   
   
3. Ride sober, and keep your head and eyes UP, so whatever happens, you can see it developing before it, er, impacts you.

Forget about "luck". That's a comfortable explanation to adopt because you're freed from making a judgment about another rider and from applying a hard lesson to your own riding. Sure, random shit happens. But if you presume a certain incident is unpreventable, it IS unpreventable by you. But if you presume there is an observation or expectation or tactic that will reduce its likelihood, you'll probably find one.

 

[budman]

Strange that you've been able to put so many miles on without this. I ride Highway One a lot and have used my horn multiple times to get the attention of drivers turning out onto the Highway. I know the horn worked, because that is when they looked and stopped pulling out. It's difficult for the drivers because they are sitting there for long periods waiting for an opening, often fixated on traffic that opposes your direction, so not seeing you at all.

SMIDSY blows the horn away.

 

[unirr]

Here's how fatal crashes have occurred over the past 10 years (nearly 700 deaths 2004-2013):

Yep, and there it is .. Running wide in corners .. It's no joke

 

[budman]

No doubt a huge issue. Doing it to ourselves.

 

[asthmodeus]

skill, luck, gear, maintenance, vision, etc. all play a role, but at the top of the list of things that will help keep you alive is don't ride like a shithead and don't ride with shitheads.

 

[NeilInPacifica]

Here's how fatal crashes have occurred over the past 10 years (nearly 700 deaths 2004-2013):

This data is great stuff! I've spent a fair amount of time with statistics and forecasting so I tend to pay close attention to the numbers. More than 50% of these are within the rider's control. I assume "Other" are mostly deer, pallets and crap in the roadway, etc..

Would be interesting based upon my list to see how many of these events might have been avoided/mitigated - night accidents, freeway accidents, conspicuity, etc.. The conspicuity one is very real from my experience. I started without wearing the Hi Viz, but when I started wearing it I noticed a huge difference in behavior from drivers around me. I think Hi Viz could also be useful after going down, possibly reducing the probability of being hit while down and injured in the road.

 

[GPzPop]

as my overall goal every time I am in the saddle :
Don't. Get. Squished.

this is my #1 priority every time I ride

 

[badnews]

I don't understand the significant number of "lost control going in a straight line" accidents. Is it fair to assume that these are normally caused by either medical conditions or mechanical failures?

 

[Toast]

Four things that will keep you in one piece are; don't ride faster then conditions allow, dont outride your abilities, don't drink and don't put yourself in situations with no escape path.

Especially with commuting I see too many riders putting themselves in bad situations and going way too fast. You dont want to be riding so fast that you are trusting drivers not to do something stupid. Don't pass a line of cars so fast that if one blindly pulls out there is nowhere to go. Don't stop at a red without checking your six, dont trust that a car wont be going in your lane around a blind corner.

 

[moto-rama]

Simple strategy.

Ride smart, be aware. The most important part of every ride, is successfully completing it.

Don't get killed.

So far that has worked since May 1967, with at least a million miles since.

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Learn to ride a bicycle.

Learn that everyone is trying to kill you.

Learn to ride a motorcycle.

Remember that everyone is trying to kill you.

Ride your own ride.

 

[DataDan]

This data is great stuff! I've spent a fair amount of time with statistics and forecasting so I tend to pay close attention to the numbers. More than 50% of these are within the rider's control. I assume "Other" are mostly deer, pallets and crap in the roadway, etc.

None over 2%. Sideswipe, rearendEE (motorcycle hit from behind), cut-off, and debris are over 1%.

Would be interesting based upon my list to see how many of these events might have been avoided/mitigated - night accidents, freeway accidents, conspicuity, etc.. The conspicuity one is very real from my experience. I started without wearing the Hi Viz, but when I started wearing it I noticed a huge difference in behavior from drivers around me. I think Hi Viz could also be useful after going down, possibly reducing the probability of being hit while down and injured in the road.

I'm with corndog:

HiViz. I don't, and I'm not saying you shouldn't, but I rely more on my riding, lane position, how fast I am traveling, and what I am seeing or doing, than on some pud seeing me.

Your primary tactic should be active visibility. Adjust position and speed so you can see potential threats and they have a good chance to see you. If passive measures like bright lights and bright colors work for you, use them, but understand that they won't penetrate an SUV screening the view between you and a threat.

I don't understand the significant number of "lost control going in a straight line" accidents. Is it fair to assume that these are normally caused by either medical conditions or mechanical failures?

They're mostly crashes under braking and possible distractions.

These are from 2013:

• crashed under braking, hit parked vehicle
• at .16 BAC ran off straight road at start of curve, hit curb,, wall, tree
• at .13 BAC, ran off right side of straight freeway, hit guardrail
• lost control on narrow mountain road and hit oncoming SUV
• ran off road possibly due to medical problem from earlier crash

 

[Hkshooter1]

I make sure and not get emotional. Road rage for example. Even if its their fault I just let it go and not make it any worse that it already was/is. All it takes is a hand gesture from a biker to have some moron decide to run into us. If they are total asshat then I just get away from them and take the next exit or turnoff or whatever.

 

[KittenMeat]

in every situation you ride in, imagine "what if the absolute worst thing that could happen right now actually happens?"

repeat ad infinitum.

This works for ATGATT as well (dress for each ride as if you are going to crash on it)

I'm guilty of riding in sub par sneakers around the neighborhood, but I always think "what if I crashed right now" at every single moment, and keep a space cushion around myself, and let aggressive drivers and riders flow past me if they do not respect the cushion.

 

[afm199]

Wear loud colors ( I have fluor green Fieldsheer), assume that everyone on the street is a homicidal maniac waiting for you to stop paying attention for two seconds. Has kept me crash free on the street since 63.

 

[flying_hun]

Strange that you've been able to put so many miles on without this.

I'm with CD on this. Don't rely on the horn. Like him, I've been riding a loooonnnngggg time, and I rarely use it, and then usually to get the attention of another rider. The way you ride, and the active conspicuity that DD references will count for far more towards keeping you safe.