ocregister.com— Common causes of motorcycle collisions include unsafe speed, improper turning, improper passing, and unsafe lane changes, the California Highway Patrol said.
Aug 17, 2009View in Crawl 4
I've read all of the comments in the article and on Digg, and I noticed some trends in comments from riders who support lane splitting.1. "Lane splitting can be dangerous, but I'm an expert and therefore am capable of pulling it off."The problem with that argument is that everyone thinks they are an expert, and everyone thinks they can pull it off safely. There are just too many variables to account for, and I don't care how many years experience you have, you can't predict the actions of every motorist. Everyone thinks they can pull it off, until they don't, and then they don't think anymore. Most people think they can drive above the speed limit and faster than other vehicles, but they can't: Many accidents on the highway involve excessive speed or execessive differences in speed. In other words, people who think they are invulnerable, until they crash -- just like lane splitters.2. "Automobile drivers don't pay attention, so it's not my fault if I collide with their car."I agree most car drivers don't pay as much attention as they should, but that's even more reason not to lane split. As a motorcyclist, you need to drive defensively. Why? You're sitting on an engine with two wheels stuck on, and the other motorists are surrounded by 2 tons of steel. Do the math. Regardless of who is at fault, why would you take a chance with your life just to shave some time off your commute? Personally, I think most truck drivers don't pay enough attention while changing lanes, and that's why I don't drive in their blind spots. Sure, the trucker would be at fault if an accident occurred, but I'd be dead. Is it worth it? Also, even if the motorist is paying close attention, it's often easy to miss a fast-approaching bike. Sometimes they really do "come out of nowhere."3. "My bike is air-cooled and will overheat if I stay still for too long."Get another bike or get off the freeway. It's really that simple: If you can't operate your bike safely on a highway without relying on lane splitting, buy a bike with better cooling or don't ride on the freeway. If my car overheated if it was stopped in traffic for long periods of time, would I be entitled to swerve in and out of lanes to cool it off? Nope, because that would be dangerous, just like lane splitting.The rest of the arguments devolved into "I'm a badass and you're a pussy." Great, way to make a point. I'm not even going to try responding to those people...I guess my point is that lane splitting is an unnecessary risk, and while you can defend it all you want, it's still unnecessary. Why bother taking a risk like that if it can be avoided? I know bikers have a wild streak in them--a lot of them anyway--but that's no justification for taking a risk like lane splitting. It endangers your life and the lives of those around you. It's selfish, and I'm surprised CA still permits it. Finally: Just because something is legal (or in the case of CA, "not legal, but not specifically illegal") doesn't make it right. Use your heads, bikers, please.
What the report failed to take into account is that an idiot driver is an idiot, no matter preference of vehicle. My guess would be that percentage-wise, the number of idiots on motorcycles would equal the number of idiots in cars/SUVs/Minivans. It's obvious that bikers make for easier pizza.I love my '08 Fireblade, for the record.On an unrelated note, why on earth do people by a Pickup for general driving/cruising and not use it for, I dunno.... hauling stuff??
O s**t...I know that freeway interchange (55 near the 5; heading south towards Newport Beach) -- same place I crashed my bike. Cager traffic is terrible at that spot, especially when there is gridlocked traffic. This guy could have been going a little slower, but other than that...this is all the cager's fault. Looked like he was okay after the crash, which is cool. Keep the rubber side down!
fail. driving involves risk. *everything* involves risk. it is not practical or fair to make everything illegal.there are no studies that indicate that lane sharing results in more accidents. in fact, some statistics show that lane sharing reduces incidence of cars rear-ending motorcycles by as much as 30%.<a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_splitting#Safety" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_splitting#Safety</a>my guess is that you are the typical cage driver, lost in a fuzzy world of inattention, rage, and despair while you sit there trapped in gridlock - only to have passing motorcycles startle you back into reality. "this isn't fair!" you think to yourself - "someone should legislate my self-inflicted misery onto those guys." try this thought experiment next time you are stranded in traffic. look at the people trapped in cars around you. imagine that these people's cars disappear, and then are replaced with motorcycles. what happens to traffic? its gone, isn't it? chew on that for a while.
I definitely agree with you! Some motorists are going so loco over their new babies. They're so much excited that they tend to forget that after all, they are still human and they are still prone to accidents. We should always remember that in everything we do, we are still liable of ourselves.
akchrsAug 18, 2009
Wheelieing without covering the rear brake FTW!!
wbrendelAug 18, 2009
I've read all of the comments in the article and on Digg, and I noticed some trends in comments from riders who support lane splitting.1. "Lane splitting can be dangerous, but I'm an expert and therefore am capable of pulling it off."The problem with that argument is that everyone thinks they are an expert, and everyone thinks they can pull it off safely. There are just too many variables to account for, and I don't care how many years experience you have, you can't predict the actions of every motorist. Everyone thinks they can pull it off, until they don't, and then they don't think anymore. Most people think they can drive above the speed limit and faster than other vehicles, but they can't: Many accidents on the highway involve excessive speed or execessive differences in speed. In other words, people who think they are invulnerable, until they crash -- just like lane splitters.2. "Automobile drivers don't pay attention, so it's not my fault if I collide with their car."I agree most car drivers don't pay as much attention as they should, but that's even more reason not to lane split. As a motorcyclist, you need to drive defensively. Why? You're sitting on an engine with two wheels stuck on, and the other motorists are surrounded by 2 tons of steel. Do the math. Regardless of who is at fault, why would you take a chance with your life just to shave some time off your commute? Personally, I think most truck drivers don't pay enough attention while changing lanes, and that's why I don't drive in their blind spots. Sure, the trucker would be at fault if an accident occurred, but I'd be dead. Is it worth it? Also, even if the motorist is paying close attention, it's often easy to miss a fast-approaching bike. Sometimes they really do "come out of nowhere."3. "My bike is air-cooled and will overheat if I stay still for too long."Get another bike or get off the freeway. It's really that simple: If you can't operate your bike safely on a highway without relying on lane splitting, buy a bike with better cooling or don't ride on the freeway. If my car overheated if it was stopped in traffic for long periods of time, would I be entitled to swerve in and out of lanes to cool it off? Nope, because that would be dangerous, just like lane splitting.The rest of the arguments devolved into "I'm a badass and you're a pussy." Great, way to make a point. I'm not even going to try responding to those people...I guess my point is that lane splitting is an unnecessary risk, and while you can defend it all you want, it's still unnecessary. Why bother taking a risk like that if it can be avoided? I know bikers have a wild streak in them--a lot of them anyway--but that's no justification for taking a risk like lane splitting. It endangers your life and the lives of those around you. It's selfish, and I'm surprised CA still permits it. Finally: Just because something is legal (or in the case of CA, "not legal, but not specifically illegal") doesn't make it right. Use your heads, bikers, please.
Closed AccountAug 18, 2009
At least your organs will soon be put to good use.
chesterogilvieAug 18, 2009
bro - Staying off the road would be even safer. Ban cars.
stobiemasAug 18, 2009
What the report failed to take into account is that an idiot driver is an idiot, no matter preference of vehicle. My guess would be that percentage-wise, the number of idiots on motorcycles would equal the number of idiots in cars/SUVs/Minivans. It's obvious that bikers make for easier pizza.I love my '08 Fireblade, for the record.On an unrelated note, why on earth do people by a Pickup for general driving/cruising and not use it for, I dunno.... hauling stuff??
tboltAug 18, 2009
O s**t...I know that freeway interchange (55 near the 5; heading south towards Newport Beach) -- same place I crashed my bike. Cager traffic is terrible at that spot, especially when there is gridlocked traffic. This guy could have been going a little slower, but other than that...this is all the cager's fault. Looked like he was okay after the crash, which is cool. Keep the rubber side down!
davidhasselhoffAug 19, 2009
fail. driving involves risk. *everything* involves risk. it is not practical or fair to make everything illegal.there are no studies that indicate that lane sharing results in more accidents. in fact, some statistics show that lane sharing reduces incidence of cars rear-ending motorcycles by as much as 30%.<a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_splitting#Safety" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_splitting#Safety</a>my guess is that you are the typical cage driver, lost in a fuzzy world of inattention, rage, and despair while you sit there trapped in gridlock - only to have passing motorcycles startle you back into reality. "this isn't fair!" you think to yourself - "someone should legislate my self-inflicted misery onto those guys." try this thought experiment next time you are stranded in traffic. look at the people trapped in cars around you. imagine that these people's cars disappear, and then are replaced with motorcycles. what happens to traffic? its gone, isn't it? chew on that for a while.
newquaywebAug 20, 2009
I definitely agree with you! Some motorists are going so loco over their new babies. They're so much excited that they tend to forget that after all, they are still human and they are still prone to accidents. We should always remember that in everything we do, we are still liable of ourselves.