I'm new to the SCS forums. I've been reading a lot of your posts and like your thinking about safety. I have always been a full gear kind of rider. I have protective gear for every season. I always make sure that I give myself the best chance of coming home to my wife and kids every time I ride. BUT, these people in their cars are making that harder. Today, a friend of mine at work came in - adrenalin pumping - he had actually been hit by a car. Thank God he reacted properly and had the skills to prevent the driver from killing him, but she made contact with her car to his leg. She was on the phone and didn't respond at all to the horn or revving of the bike and EVEN after she contacted him with her car, did absolutely NOTHING.

I received a link today to a fox news story of a lady killed on her motorcycle by a woman driving her car and "polishing her nails". That family will never be the same (Breaking News | Latest News | Current News - FOXNews.com).

I see people on their phones all the time, teenagers playing around with each other in the car while driving, people text messaging or surfing the web or whatever the heck they're doing. It's a miracle not more people die in this town each day from these people. And the cops drive by them, see that they are distracted and driving recklessly, and do absolutely NOTHING.

I ride my bike every day. That's my transportation. We have a 4-door pick-up we use for family driving, but that's it. The more idiots I see on the phone, the lower my chances of living on the road become. I would like to know if there is any channels for us to be heard by the city or state on the issue of distracted driving. Anyone know the best way to go about this?

I apologize that my first post is a rant...

No apology needed man... I feel your pain. This town is chock full of dipshit drivers who do everything BUT pay attention to the road. I see peeps reading the damn paper draped across their steering wheel on my commute to work. WTF?

Sorry to hear about your co-worker's experience. It just goes to show that WE have to be diligent in paying attention to our surroundings and making an attempt to stay out of harm's way. Thanks for posting and welcome to the site!

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2005 Suzuki Hayabusa Limited Edition - lots of mods
2007 Suzuki GSXR600 - wifebeater and flip-flops optional
2000 Honda CBR600F4 - outfitted with the NRC case cover of invincibility
http://www.gleno.net

I completely hear ya. I have lived here 7 years and have been hit 5 times in my vehicle by "distracted" drivers. Luckily I have never been hit on the bike. I tell ya, I'm from So-Cal, lived there over 20 years and I can honestly say that the drivers here are 100% worse than from home. My vehicle keeps getting bigger and bigger hoping they will pay more attention, but I think I just make myself a bigger target.

The MARS program started here by SCS members is hoping to make changes on how cars can pay better attention to riders and visa versa. Pat (VegasVideo) on the board heads up this phenominal program and can give you much more information.

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DoubleDang

Proud SCS Secretary 2007 & 2009

To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.

http://www.gleno.net

Thank you. I'm going to look up Pat and see what I can do to help with MARS.

I've cooled off a bit since this morning, but still... ARGH! A couple weeks ago was bring your child to work day. I took my 12 year old daughter with me, she rode on the back. I was white knuckled all the way to and from the office. She was relaxed, but I was FREAKED out. I don't know that I'll ever do that again :) she's just too precious to me.

I hope to meet some of you at Moto Cafe tonight.

-Rick

Rick, we all have either been in accidents with distracted drivers, or quite a few of us know of someone unfortunately killed by a distracted driver.

This was a serious topic of conversation at TWT last night. You can say all you want about persecuting dangerous drivers, but until someone catches them the instant they become "distracted" it will still be the responsibility of the bike rider to ensure that you don't put yourself in the position of becoming a target. I will take the ticket every time if I get popped speeding up to get away from a group of cars. Because it'll only take one idiot to come up behind them and drive like an asshole cage driver to try and pass everyone (by darting in/out of traffic) without paying attention to see if some lanes are occupied by bikes. Or pull out into traffic from a parking lot without looking at the bike long enough to judge the bikes approach speed. It is real hard to tell how fast a bike is coming at you, just not enough frontal area to get your brain to judge correctly.

So as long as bikes are on the road, it will still be our responsibility/duty/job to make sure we expect EVERY car to pull out in from of you, or EVERY car not to see you. Just don't be there.

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SCS Founding Member

Now as a question of etiquette, as I pass do I give you the ass or the crotch? - Tyler Durden

It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies. - Arthur Calwell

Common Sense Isn't Common


http://www.gleno.net

I feel your pain. These drivers around here suck big time.. I and everyone else here has almost been hit several times.

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06 Honda 1000 RR
SCS past prez
SCS Treasurer 05 and 07

oh and see you at Moto Cafe tonight

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06 Honda 1000 RR
SCS past prez
SCS Treasurer 05 and 07

+ mufuikin 1

The reason I bought my bike here is because I thought to myself "Wow, Vegas has the perfect riding weather."

But after so many close-calls and too numerous of friends killed because of stupid car drivers, I have little craving to ride anymore.

After Gleno was killed, for the first year I swore I wouldn't let it affect me as it had others. Now, I can't help but think of "What if" situations every time I look at the bike.

Don't get me wrong, I love riding, but you almost have to head North or South outta town and be forced to slab it to get away from those drivers.

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SCS Founding Member

Now as a question of etiquette, as I pass do I give you the ass or the crotch? - Tyler Durden

It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies. - Arthur Calwell

Common Sense Isn't Common


http://www.gleno.net

Welcome, you are the type of rider I like to see; wearing full gear all the time. I wear full gear too, even during the summer. Riding boots, pants and jacket with armour, gloves, safety glasses and full face helmet and visor.

Unfortunatley there is nothing we can do as far as eliminating the drivers who aren't paying any attention. So the only thing we can do is to make sure we have the skills and ability to identify these drivers and go from there. Just like 2upFZ1 said, it's the riders responsiblity to make sure that they don't place themselves in a position that leaves you vulnerable. So it comes down to your street riding strategy, it's a thinking man's game out there. It's how well you can read the road. Unfortunately I see riders everyday with poor street riding strategies. For example, surface streets that contain multilanes in each direction, in general, it's very bad to ride in the right lane. There are too many entry and exit points. Plus, the viewing angle for the vehicle pulling out onto the roadway is limited to the outer lanes. The immediate lane, the right lane is the most difficult to see. Plus if you are in that right lane, it doesn't give you much of a cushion as far as time and space to execute a corrective action if a car ever happens to pull out. You're pretty much done. So stay out of that right lane.

Your safety gear is your last resort. First, your street riding strategy and your ability to identify the hazards is your first defence. 2nd, your skills and ability as a rider to execeute the corrective actions successfully. 3rd, if all else fails, it's your safety gear. Unfortunately, I see most riders choosing to ride with only two strikes, and maybe only one if they have poor riding strategies. I, like yourself, like to have a complement of 3 strikes everytime I step up to the plate.

I've seen way too many gory pictures of what it's like to go down without proper riding gear. It's your body, so if people can accept the risk of riding without a jacket, or pants, boots, etc. it's there choice. No one ever plans to go down, but in the event, yes, you would want as much protective gear as possible when you do. Like I always say, I'd rather sweat than bleed.

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VEGASRIDER................
Team Yamaha Blue '06 FZ6!

I agree. I do the same. I watch my mirror until the car coming up behind me stops with plenty of room between us - otherwise I roll up the center. I'd rather get a ticket than hit. I just consider everyone in a car is trying to kill me. I would like to see the police do more. I am sure that's not completely realistic, but would be great.

I was driving my big ass Ford E-150 van by Fry's yesterday. I even had my headlights on (Daytime). Some dope in a Lexus shot across all lanes of traffic to get into the turn lane for the 215. Of course, there wasn't enough room for him so he stuck out halfway into the lane. I missed him by 2 feet. I thought for sure my Ford was going to have Lexus for lunch.

All he did was look back and wave like he was saying "sorry". Don't be sorry, just wait 2 more seconds. I am luck the Honda Behind me was able to stop.

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http://www.cycleawareness.org

You guys see many drunk drivers down there? I bet I notided one or two a week up here. Last night I avoided one of my favorite corners because some fugger was hammered at the wheel. My lady love was behind me (it is her first year riding) and it has amazed me how my senses for these things are heightened... if I was bymyself I would have flew by him and left him far in the dust... with her I stayed behind him and took a different route as soon as I could. Strange how you worry more for someone else.

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My motorcycle is meant for everyday, it is my main mode of transportation, a car is for those days your balls clang together as soon as you walk out the door.

"The rider is the greatest single factor in a motorcycle's performance." Nick Ienatsch

ALL the time. They say the statistics is something like on the weekens after midnight 70% of the drivers on the road in LV are drunk. But you hear about accidents in mid afternoon where someone is killed by a drunk driver.

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DoubleDang

Proud SCS Secretary 2007 & 2009

To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.

http://www.gleno.net

It seems that 10 states now ban cell phones and texting while driving . I would hope Nevada will follow soon. For the few that actually can multi-task, there are 1,000 who can't.

I agree with 2upFZ1, we are the only one's who can be responsible for our own safety. I would hope to see Metro and NHP do more, but they probably can't (for the very reasons 2upFZ1 pointed out). I guess there's always hope...

Ride safe!

If you're 16 and have a kid, I don't think you're responsible enough to operate a motor vehicle.

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'06 GSX-R 600

I've been commuting for awhile now and it's quite a different gig than not having to ride everyday. It's almost as if I am obsessed with death or worse. If it weren't for the fact that I am constantly reminding myself of such dire situations to keep myself on my feet, I would think my paranoia was unhealthy. It's not. It is absolutely necessary. You have to keep your mind in the game constantly because drivers wont. You have to think for them, you have to act for them. Every move you make that is in response to a driver's action has to be on a level that seems precognitive. This is the commuter's mindset. No joke.

I have to say though even with splitting lanes I prefer riding in So California any day over putting up with those LV drivers. Those guys are terribad.

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~ Gleno 1961 - 2007 ~ Larger than Life. Hell yeah. ~

Just came across this news blurb and thought about this thread and figured I would share.

MSNBC News about Drivers Texting

This has people caught on tape texting while driving and causing accidents.

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Warren 'Knight' Jr

2007 Honda Interceptor VFR800AS7 25th Anniversary Edition

"We want to be in a situation under maximum pressure, maximum intensity, and maximum danger. When it's shared with others, it provides a bond which is stronger than any tie that can exist." - SEAL Team Six Officer

"Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War