More of us-Less Respect

Unless it is raining or below 40 degrees I try to ride two wheels to work everyday. It seems that there are more motorcycles on the road than ever probably due to the price of gas. The strange thing is that here lately I have more close calls than ever. It seems that the car and truck crowd must have gotten legislation passed that they don't have to yield to motorcycles at all and if you are talking on a cell phone bikes are plain ass open season. Last Friday I was coming home from work on my old Triumph Chopper when an old woman (she made Busajack look like a schoolboy) pulled out directly in front of me. Of course she was driving a Ford Taurus, what else. Fortunately it was a three lane and I had time to swing to the middle lane, because there was absolutely no time to brake. It wouldn't have done much good anyway, on their best day old Triumphs weren't noted for their stopping ability and I only run rear brakes on the Chopper. That modification is now in the re-think mode. Even when I passed her driver side door within inches she didn't even know I was there. At least three times a week I see people run red lights with a cell phone glued to their ear. I have gotten more and more defensive concerning stopping distance and idiot watching, but still it's a jungle out there. Is it just me or has anybody else noticed an increase in the crazys on the road. This photograph was taken at the exit of the one of our local Walmarts. See what I mean.
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Yes 9 times out of 10 - cell phone related. My favorite are the simultaneous cell phone and cig smokers. Had a guy pull out in front of me, from a HD dealership (go figure) in a car talking on a cell phone. And he just froze and stopped in my lane when he realized it. I was able to stop. I flipped up my helmet and told him to hang up the phone and drive. His jaw was dropped with the cell phone up to his head. I ended up having to ride around him.

Good ol' Frednecksburg!!

I also know what you mean, a woman with a cell phone almost killed me today going south on 29 which was just after a pickup truck barreled across the highway thru a median strip opening as I was going south on the same 29 and promptly pulled into my left lane about 70 feet in front of me (I was doing about 60)...I'm sure he didn't see me either.
Dennis

People are in a hurry to get nowhere, burning up the expensive gasoline and then *****'in about it. Cell phones, Blackberries in car GPS, dildoes, whatever. No one takes their driving seriously. It is a serious business, a lethal business.

In a couple of States, that I'm aware of, laws prohibit acts of drinking a cup of coffer or a soda while, i.e., drivers must be hands free at all times. These same States prohibit all window stickers that impair/obstruct vision. Unfortunately these States don't enforce their own safe driving rules. Probably because the Chiefs of Police themselves yak on cell phones and chug coffee and chew on donuts while on their daily commutes.

I've just learned to be clairvoyant. If I even think it, I make adjustments and try to react even if the event does not occur. So if it looks like the car is going to come in my lane, I'm already planning and reacting even if they stay their course. Sounds paranoid but I'll tell you my clairvoyance routine has been a lot better than sliding down the highway on my ass while the oblivious jackass keeps going. Unfortunately, have to be 2 steps ahead; not foolproof but a lot safer.

Does anyone on this board, besides me, use a cellphone while driving, or drink coffee/soda while driving, check a map. look for sometihing in the glove box, smoke a cigar.......Not saying these things are safe....they are not...but I do them and will continue so until they become illegal, which is the case for cellphones in CA starting July 1....i.e. you must be handsfree.

Don't Get me started on women drivers. "I say chain em in the bedroom with just enough chain t reach the kitchen"
Mav

I for one do not do anything but drive, when I'm behind the wheel. The people that have my cell phone number, know that if I do not answer when they call I'll call back when I can stop safely. Occasionally, I will take a drink of water from a bottle that my wife opens for me while I drive, but not often. Since I was almost killed by an OBLIVI-TARD I go to great lengths to make sure that I do not add to the problem of oblivious/retarded drivers.

On a side note, I have never gotten a cell phone call that was more important than another individuals life, I can remember when you wanted to tell someone something you called them before you left home or when you got back home. For some it seems that they cannot get behind the wheel without plugging their phone into their ear. Goto the mall and watch some folks, when they get in their car the first thing they do after it is running is get out the cell and plug it in their ear. Ban all of them. When cell phones are outlawed, only outlaws will have cell phones.