Defensive Riding

[jetmechmarty]

Just this afternoon, I was at a four way stop. That's for big red signs that say "STOP" in big white letters. I came to a stop. There was a truck approaching. I decided I'd wait for him to stop. He didn't. He made a left turn towards me with his window rolled down. I yelled at him while pointing, "That's a stop sign right there!"
"Sorry" he says.
If I had taken my turn assuming he would stop, he would have run me down. He would have been at fault and charged with an accident. The injuries would have all been mine.

[Bonz]

I watched the video and skipped the postings, so my opinion wouldn't be affected by what others share.

It's a poor riding decsion(s) that caused this. Ultimately the car would be "at fault" but this was totally avoidable. I don't know the speed limits, and the bike was sure not going with the flow of traffic, he was moving out. Being in a hurry for whatever reason is a recipe for disaster.

-The gap between the red car and the car in front was fairly small, I would anticipate the red car potentially pulling out and the red car is accelerating (watch the gap) to pass the green car while the motorcylcist is trying to get both of them.

-The cyclist closed up on the red car from the previous pass quickly and if the red car hasn't checked his rearviews in those seconds, because the red car was preoccupied with what was in front of him to try a pass, then the bike is in the blind spot when the red car makes his move.

-The hesitation the cyclist has is in my estimation, due to the red car speeding up as he prepares to pass the green car. Then it's like he decided to continue the pass anyway. I would have been wary and able to roll out in the time the red car began his move over. I do not take my eyes off the car to my side until I have the pass made, and any movement toward me is instantaneously seen.

[James England]

Who's at fault in this one?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vMB7BCk...%3DvMB7BCk11wc

[trbig]

Who's at fault in this one?

Who's fault is WHAT one?

[XJkid]

If I had been riding with that fellow upon my own bike, as soon as he started passing cars in all that traffic, he'd have been going on his own. I wouldn't be playing that game. I like to pass slow cars too. He appeared to be reckless.

I concur. Reckless. Maybe the red car DID check the lane before moving, but the bike overtook him too fast. The fact that the car did not signal is moot. It should have been anticipated and a pass by the bike should have been delayed. At the least, pass on the far left with more speed.

[James England]

Who's fault is WHAT one?

The accident that he will undoubtedly have at some point soon if he carries on riding like that!

[ViperRon]

Some food for thoughts on safety. People often assume that drivers and their vehicles on the road are capable but often there are people that should not be on the road. Not picking on the old because we are getting there to quick, I still have to say that there are many that have poor sight slow reaction and reflex and many can not turn their head to look. You know there are also people out there blind in one eye and making turns safely for them at times is just luck. A rule of safety is never assume you can even be seen until you are right in front of the driver on the road. Now many say loud pipes help. However they only make you feel safe because you hear them. The teen with a headset on talking on the phone can't hear you and the deaf person never will.


Best approach is consider every driver on the road as a blind, deaf, dumb, and cripple with lights, brakes, and horn that do not work, who hates motorcycles and adjust your driving for that. Another good rule is if you can not stop in the distance you can see you are driving too fast and that includes side roads and possible blind spots. Animals have right of way and if you doubt it just hit one.

[Bonz]

LOL on the animals... But so true...