Uncle Phil
Site Supporter
That will never happen as long as most folks think that driving is a 'right' and not a 'privilege'.
Are We Invisible?
- Thread starter Andrew Shadow
- Start date
rogo
Site Supporter
A while back, I was riding my Harley Road king down one of our busy 4 lane roads, and an older lady pulled up next to me going about 45 mph, looked straight at me, even smiled, then pulled straight over into my lane, running me up on the sidewalk!
I pulled up next to her at the next light, and after a few choice words, asked her what she thinking, and asked if she saw me?
She smiled and said yes…
Then why did you try to run me over?
She simply said, “you saw my car was bigger, why didn’t you move?”
I guys right of way depends on size when your driving a big old Buick.
I pulled up next to her at the next light, and after a few choice words, asked her what she thinking, and asked if she saw me?
She smiled and said yes…
Then why did you try to run me over?
She simply said, “you saw my car was bigger, why didn’t you move?”
I guys right of way depends on size when your driving a big old Buick.
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Right of weight.
I don't see why initial licensing shouldn't be made more thorough or periodic check rides etc. The issue is getting approval for funding from the various stakeholders - tax payers, government etc.
A HUGE problem is that people will just drive without a license. If they don't even bother with a license, they for sure won't bother with insurance or well maintained cars.
Uncle Phil
Site Supporter
Or in some states like Tennessee, I believe the 'minimum' amount of liability is $25,000.
That won't even cover most cars now and/or a ride to the hospital ...
Face it, YOU ARE INVISIBLE!
Even with headlight modulators, there is no guaranty that they will see you, I've proved that twice while commuting!
They can't see you if they don't look. But I did find that my headlight modulators saved my bacon more than once. Besides not looking in their mirrors to hit you, people coming from a right side street or planning on making a left turn in front of you (for those, again, that looked) did double takes when they SEE, that modulating headlight!
I can't tell you how many times you could see their front tires come to a complete stop, instead of continuing like they would if it was only a solid headlight coming at them. And I really don't care if they "thought" I was a cop, the fact that they stopped, is all I wanted!
Modulators - between stock headlights and LEDs
Even with headlight modulators, there is no guaranty that they will see you, I've proved that twice while commuting!
They can't see you if they don't look. But I did find that my headlight modulators saved my bacon more than once. Besides not looking in their mirrors to hit you, people coming from a right side street or planning on making a left turn in front of you (for those, again, that looked) did double takes when they SEE, that modulating headlight!
I can't tell you how many times you could see their front tires come to a complete stop, instead of continuing like they would if it was only a solid headlight coming at them. And I really don't care if they "thought" I was a cop, the fact that they stopped, is all I wanted!
Modulators - between stock headlights and LEDs
ReSTored
Site Supporter
I had a headlight modulators on my ST. Used it at intersections and at other times when I wanted more visibility. Most times it was off. I felt it worked very well, in particular at intersections where people would be turning left in front of you. Can't count the times there'd by someone moving slowly waiting to turn, then abruptly stop when the modulator came on. IMO it's the contrast of a flashing light that helps you to stand out against the background.
All this said.............. there are brain dead people out there who turn in front of fire trucks, streetcars, don't see trains coming toward them at level crossing, run through red lights etc. etc. the list goes on. You can only do so much to protect yourself, be vigilant.
ST1100Y
Site Supporter
Yep... but when you (understandable) loose it (kicking the car door in or just sucker-punch that stupid driver), the media feed public opinion will simply read
"motorcycle rowdy attacking car driver"
Not a word that the driver tried to kill you over several hundred yards prior to this...
Same $**! with them turning left, suddenly changing into: "motorcycle hit car"... scuze me?! Who hit whom there?!
BTDT...
I used to drive one of these, and people would still pull right out in front of me ...
...but not as often as happens with my car.
(I think I have fewer people pulling in front of me on my motorcycle and I don't believe that's only due to the fact that I ride the car 10 times more than I ride the bike I think it also has to do with the fact that the motorcycles headlight is always on and even low beam is pretty bright.)
...but not as often as happens with my car.
(I think I have fewer people pulling in front of me on my motorcycle and I don't believe that's only due to the fact that I ride the car 10 times more than I ride the bike I think it also has to do with the fact that the motorcycles headlight is always on and even low beam is pretty bright.)
I always wear bright colors when riding two wheels, and if I don't need extra layers of insulation I'll at least put on a red safety vest with silver reflective striping on it.
I really like the comfort, warmth, and wind protection, of my black leather biker jacket...
.... but I never wear that as my outermost layer. It always gets covered with either a red sweater or the red reflective safety vest.
THAT BEING SAID, bright colors obviously don't give 100% protection --consider all those 4 foot tall, orange and white plastic barrels or drums that the highway department puts out when they're doing roadwork.
Despite being insanely bright and covered almost 50% of their surface with 3M reflective tape they regularly get smashed crushed run over and knocked out of the road. You'll see black tire tracks across their orange plastic surface all the time.
I really like the comfort, warmth, and wind protection, of my black leather biker jacket...
.... but I never wear that as my outermost layer. It always gets covered with either a red sweater or the red reflective safety vest.
THAT BEING SAID, bright colors obviously don't give 100% protection --consider all those 4 foot tall, orange and white plastic barrels or drums that the highway department puts out when they're doing roadwork.
Despite being insanely bright and covered almost 50% of their surface with 3M reflective tape they regularly get smashed crushed run over and knocked out of the road. You'll see black tire tracks across their orange plastic surface all the time.
This assumes everyone is a moron or at least incapable of driving responsibly so you punish everyone. Like having mandatory breath checkers that you have to breath into before the car will start. Sorry but the only viable solution without eliminating more personal liberty is to hammer the offenders.
I've debated people in the past about the effectiveness of Daytime Running Lights on cars. My opinion: once those became common place, we buried motorcycles even deeper into the crowd. When I was growing up, a headlight in the daytime = motorcycle. Heck, if on a country road in a car with the headlights on, someone might even flag you down to let you know. Now everyone has their lights on, and it is no longer as good a warning because people tune it out.
The medical crowd call it "alarm fatigue" because of staff becoming desensitized to the constant drone of medical monitors that often beep for minor reasons.
My car has daytime running lights but they're fairly dim. From my experience as a driver looking at other traffic coming towards me, I think almost all motorcycles' headlights are significantly brighter than most cages' daytime running lights.
(The above pic may not be a good example because my friend held the camera
at eye-level nearly 6 feet above the ground, and that's not the view seen by a person sitting in a car looking through the center of their windshield. To other drivers my headlight would be aiming more directly at them not aiming down at their knees.)
(The above pic may not be a good example because my friend held the camera
at eye-level nearly 6 feet above the ground, and that's not the view seen by a person sitting in a car looking through the center of their windshield. To other drivers my headlight would be aiming more directly at them not aiming down at their knees.)
Best advice ,a fellow rider gave me when I was just getting into street riding was as the title of the thread ,"You are invisible" stay away from the cars. Use extreme caution in intersections . Safe riding all.
ST1100Y
Site Supporter
Way worse with that LED crap... can't determine any oncoming/approaching traffic anymore... like looking into a welding arc or straight at the sun...
I think the evidence is that a significant number of people are morons
. At least occasionally. I take your point, the catering to the lowest common denominator approach has always rankled for me as well. But I do think that the initial licensing is light on teaching and could be improved as could the test for your license.
I don't have a problem with making sure people actually know what they are doing when tested for their license the first time. I bow up when I see things like "periodic testing" when no need has been demonstrated.I think the evidence is that a significant number of people are morons