| Author | Message | ||
     Pkforbes87 |
http://www.kfvs12.com/story/17306847/1-dead-9-inju red-man-arrested-after-multiple-motorcycle-pickup- crash#.T3sxQxZkwP0.facebook
So many careless individuals involved. Drunk driver of the pickup with children along for the ride.. Motorcyclists enjoying their freedom to choose in a state with no helmet requirement. I can't help but wonder if the single fatality could have been prevented with a helmet. The way it sounds, all motorcyclists involved were riding in a formation without a proper safety gap in a staggered formation. If the pickup only hit 1 motorcycle, why did 3 more have to crash? Such a tragedy, especially considering that there are so many ways it could have been prevented. | ||
| Strokizator |
Helmets AND ABS brakes would have helped a lot. The riders on the one bike that was hit by the truck only suffered minor injuries. Harris, the driver of the truck, should get 20 years in prison. He apparently saw the bikes coming but instead of hitting his brakes and falling back in behind the van, he kept trying to complete the pass and eventually caused the death of several individuals. | ||
| 86129squids |
Wow. What a clusterfzzzk. Bottom line and moral of the story- SCAN AT ALL TIMES, WEAR the dang necessary GEAR, and to mitigate some of the risk, ride AWAY from the masses... Prayers up for those involved, especially the children. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I wonder if the van driver increased his speed so he wouldn't get passed.... I know if I have some DB trying to pass me like that and I see a herd of bikes (or even a car) coming in the other lane, I would get off the gas quick and let said DB make the pass | ||
| Froggy |
Hard to speculate on, but sounds like there was a panic, everyone swerving in 8 different directions to avoid hitting the truck, the van, the downed bike and riders. Not everyone is a pro at swerving and stopping, especially with giant heavy cruisers, so I imagine more than a few rear brakes locked up and some ended up doing the "dumped the bike to stop" thing. I hope the driver of the truck rots in a cell for a long time. | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
"ABS brakes would have helped a lot" How do you know that they did not have ABS on the bikes? Shame someone died because of this guy, at 43 you should know better. Thoughts go out to the family and friends of Mrs. Hackworth | ||
| Cityxslicker |
sad day, be safe and careful out there. | ||
| Xl1200r |
The way it sounds, all motorcyclists involved were riding in a formation without a proper safety gap in a staggered formation. The "safety gap" is intended to eliminate the fact that you have a reaction time to get on the brakes - that is, if the bike (or car) in front of you slams on the brakes, you're far enough behind that by the time you're eyes see it, your brain processes it and tells your body to work the brakes you haven't already run into the back of them. Note that this assumes that the vehicle you're behind is stopping under their own power. When a bike runs into a truck, thing come to 0mph much faster. This clown already didn't have a license - I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I'd be interested in knowing the circumstances behind that. Drunk driving pisses me off to no end. This among the worst examples of it. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
"The "safety gap" is intended to eliminate the fact that you have a reaction time to get on the brakes - that is, if the bike (or car) in front of you slams on the brakes, you're far enough behind that by the time you're eyes see it, your brain processes it and tells your body to work the brakes you haven't already run into the back of them." Exactly. I'm not saying all accidents are avoidable, but there is a LOT that can be done to prevent them and ESPECIALLY on a quickly maneuverable motorcycle - avoid them when they happen in front of you. Situational awareness, defensive riding, simply having an "escape route" planned at all times.. these SKILLS can go a lot further to save a life than any amount of gear being worn or safety features on the motorcycle. "ABS brakes would have helped a lot." It's true that ABS adds yet another shield between a rider and death, but it's a feature that can be replaced almost entirely with rider skill. I don't consider myself in the elite when it comes to my skills on a motorcycle but I have successfully avoided more than my share of accidents - all without the aid of ABS. It's a great feature, as long as it is used as a supplement to good riding techniques, not as a substitute. | ||
| Fahren |
As one learns through experience, as well as in safety courses: 1. ATGATT. 2. Ride in proper formation, with proper distance. 3. Scan far ahead and plan an "out." Tragic idiocy on the part of the drunk driver; avoidable accident on the part of the bikers. Probably. We weren't there to judge. | ||
| Azxb9r |
Drunk driver operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license...probably for drunk driving. There are far too many douche bags like this on the streets, and it is one of the things that really pisses me off  This guy should not have been behind the wheel in the first place. | ||
| Strokizator |
How do you know that they did not have ABS on the bikes? Heck, I'm not sure helmets would have helped either but I'd rather have both than neither. Sure, I wasn't there but the accident report is going to be filed by a guy, who also wasn't there, based upon whatever evidence there is, some witness statements and then fill in the gaps with generalizations based upon past experience. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
If you know someone that drinks and drives do something about it. At least warn them by leaving an anonymous note on their car. My motto is: Ride like your invisible,... but don't dress like it!! I saw (i mean almost didn't see until the last second) a motorcyclist who waved to me a while ago. His bike and helmet were black, also had no reflectors and he was wearing camo type clothing. I could barely see him with the woods in the backround. Split second later as I ride by him I remember thinking "what a dipsh*t". I only say dipsh*t because of what they were wearing, but also because it was rush hour traffic. (Message edited by xdigitalx on April 04, 2012) | ||
| Dutch_x1 |
Sad story. I really hate people who drink and drive. I have a xenon headlight on my x1 and really notice the difference in traffic since i have it. People see me much earlyer,even during daytime. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Great idea! Make sure it doesn't blow away though, so please nail it to their windshield, hood, and tires. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
Well,.. I dont't see a problem with it at all... M.A.D.D. should do a campaign and put fliers up on everyone's car in bar/club parking lots... about once a month. How can it hurt? OR How about setting up sobriety checks... right outside of a nightclub or bar... in plain sight...(after happy hour starts and after midnight) also about once a month on a random day? If they can literally ban smoking everywhere ..... why not at least try and cut down on the deadly drunk drivers too. just thinking/typing out loud... Oh I know why... because people in that bar would end up helping the otherwise drunk drivers call a cab or find some other way to get home... making it a waste of time... and thats why it isn't done. So the guy can come back..get drunk again and drive home the following night. Maybe he gets home ok the next 20 times he is out drinking,..maybe not. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
It's a very sad case. There's been a great change in France over the last 10-15 years, drinking & driving, were not considered to be mutually exclusive by any means. I used to get ribbed a lot for not drinking because I was driving. However after the penalties were radically increased & some very hard hitting safety campaigns, attitudes have changed. D&D is considered to be almost antisocial behaviour now, & there's scant sympathy for those who are caught. The French driving standard has increased markedly too. The man responsible for the introduction of these measures? A certain N Sarkozy. Change is possible, but there has to be a desire for it. | ||
| Sifo |
For a long time I've thought it would be great for a cop to hang out at a bar near closing time to "observe" people walking to their cars, and explain to them that based on the observations there is reasonable cause to believe that they may be drunk, and that if they get in their car and drive away they will be pulled over and asked to submit to a sobriety check. When word of that going on I think people would rethink driving to a bar to get drunk. I suppose the cop would need permission from the bar to do this though. I don't know how many bar owners would be willing. | ||
| 86129squids |
Grumps- great point, I just wish our governments had the balls to stand up to the cel phone industry and legislate bans on cel use and ESPECIALLY texting while driving. Not to hijack, but statistically there are WAAY more idiots with cels driving than drunks, at ALL HOURS- and, at least the drunks might be kinda paranoid about what they're doing, allowing a smidgen more awareness. This dude in particular should be facing VERY severe penalties for this- obviously a "slow learner". | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Ride like everyone else is trying to kill you. Have a plan to prevent them from accomplishing that! | ||
| Gixxer86g |
And what of the minivan driver? How many of us have experienced a situation on that kind of road when a slow driver suddenly discovers their gas pedal as soon as someone tries to pass them? None of us know what really happened that fateful evening. But I wonder if this all could have been avoided if the minivan driver would have just let the drunk in the pickup pass? | ||
| Gixxer86g |
And Paint Shaker, "Ride like everyone else is trying to kill you" is how I've always ridden. Well said! | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
"I suppose the cop would need permission from the bar to do this though" I dont see how the police would need permission to check people to make sure that they werent driving drunk. I mean, your idea, it seemed, was for the cop to hang out at a bar, I took it as outside of the establishment, I wouldnt think any permission would be needed. I would LOVE for this sort of thing to happen, few less people on the road making poor decisions | ||
| Azxb9r |
I have never understood why, but the police are not allowed to sit outside of a bar and wait for the drunks to come out. It is considered entrapment. It does make sense though. Increasing the penalty also helps, but Illinois has some pretty stiff DUI laws and it didnt matter to this guy. | ||
| Sifo |
I dont see how the police would need permission to check people to make sure that they werent driving drunk. I mean, your idea, it seemed, was for the cop to hang out at a bar, I took it as outside of the establishment, I wouldnt think any permission would be needed. I did mean outside the bar. They would still have to have permission to engage them in the parking lot before they get in their car, at least any bar that owns it's parking area. I have never understood why, but the police are not allowed to sit outside of a bar and wait for the drunks to come out. It is considered entrapment. I'm not sure how warning someone that they are about to break the law could ever be considered entrapment. They would be able to make an informed decision before potentially breaking the law. They could even offer a preemptive breathalyzer at that point so that they can verify that they are safe to drive. Choose not to blow, no problem. Don't blow and drive away, you've already been warned that you are going to be checked on. No doubt there's a lot of politics involved in deciding if you can implement a program like this though. It's funny how as a society we manage to become accepting of certain unnecessary behaviors that are know to kill, maim, and otherwise destroy peoples lives. |
