| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-libike 0912,0,7123895.story Some blue hair makes a left turn across a motorcyclist and kills him, and doesn't even get a slap on the wrist. It's time to start REALLY hammering on the AMA's "Justice for All" program and start nagging and pestering our elected officials to FIX this!! http://www.amadirectlink.com/justice/ | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
If she had turned left in front of a mini-van, she would have gotten worse? Tougher sentencing would do nothing to prevent this. It's up to us to assume that people are trying to kill us. Sucks, but we take our chances. | ||
| Jaimec |
She would've been creamed. A self-defense instinct seems to kick in that says "Don't turn in front of the tractor trailer" but never seems to kick in when the object is smaller (such as a motorcycle or bicycle). The whole point of "Justice for All" is to MAKE such actions have consequences. When there is no perceived threat, you are ignored. People DO see motorcycles, they just don't register. Want proof? Put on a three quarter length leather jacket, a white or blue shorty helmet, and sunglasses. Then go for a ride on a white Road King or motorcycle of similar profile and watch how many cars suddenly slow down or get out of your way. Why? Because NOW you LOOK like a threat (a police officer). You aren't flashing bright lights, you don't have a loud pipe, you aren't even wearing day glo colors, but suddenly EVERYBODY sees you! When killing motorcyclists and bicyclists carries REAL penalties, it'll eventually sink in to these brain dead a--holes to PAY ATTENTION to what they're doing behind the wheel. | ||
| Mikej |
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?mapdata=qNCyos1mfP6vspIu0x980QtOO%2b7x0y19gejlhyhipayVHV4Tgk1ZmwcAFxdl6Bw%2bzovHbbPjD6RJY8uoi%2fJk6Kbqzoi95VrtV7x8tA0W%2fChevTmrHSEeqmvp4jXTKjrcPEGMUQUOaJY64%2bGDfHe8wxdtcXNjESCcLEzt8zPycr2F9k05M4d3AOsYi5nR30EuA%2f%2bvZYYWuUVOPkQA4Fu8ir681ecOWM0R6lev13T1yDc6wrB7S7EWp8khr62Pffbk1082Bp330yuhtiKWjY6NoH1K6F0HuzrrV0VPGiF5Fpf19yibC2EQ%2fiA4%2beiIoTGxT1h1Z%2fBKawOIUe7yNkvhVBEqhYZCOIhfZjFZD1rK6ucb%2fIn6CMeO9c2bZKiPqR%2bvyoYmTymE1aM%2fKc%2bc2sZ%2bPS%2fwUscXF6mBzUxy1q4ho0z0Wciu2BhBYU3hPPtc49ErSGO8FcPTu3UBPQf39tOOXjRpPhYCpSZwYY0qaJG3JdLCkIt5uaWMGtH35zYvp2jpC6DdZ2hM3vpAPX2Fwift2h6dt2CrZurpSjAjQY4xyzCyI9GJKz9mrKDT6LH1m5lOeYxnsKc4ly9m85%2f1dGFTNMqAjaL%2bVdB7irKhPpFZm9mMcku2qphBktJhZuNy7vYrK9oUkxgefCuFpNhVSanknLlucTiYPeHS1eM%2fmAYT%2bkshR%2f0o9ewJxVyi02Y4prlfxhvHWKxeJSRbp5guxF%2ftBzT5oMdQJsQ9lMSMB0zOATjUNJrZBPDOXrsCo9pqUt%2bLQh%2bnYMkaVJ6UWpkE6%2fSKC1zO2IN7nCgmcaVP8VK5eLms4bpSFhnkauqRsSdcsX2tgBBTgZoRprUbPxKq4pCAwVD3oH%2bG6EfwPvOA6KhkYkqM7wLJ%2fY2jX76VSGvIwb6GgMdbjirUc9AzofUlaQsvZ1dwZAq91dvQv6zZ07eAPjR566nfxLjO%2b9I3pN85Q1WFi33Nip5wuSJc8L77yMdgyTksiGlLjcfFbto6BXvAgI759RBqLtU4xDXriCovaCSbf5HS3U43zGT9rfLA5j%2fsHDb0RtKzryI9A5lv97n0bODTCUlKeNws7pHjQfNW2CfQFNQikgCXeCLAcXHluc6Pa2l4e%2fJB33JKRuPfCv3jijPizNasOOPfbIS1CYKu0hipWcxhkIRLCp8up3uK16EaAOpHe1ethSPVFI9ovlC3a3baIWRS%2b5YEHMJ2pgGbg4Gg62VG2jaQieWp31ITgquxYzXCJCkfSjofvuIjxmbDG8GkY5gPvF2hLZmeAvJ%2bJ4ZGe%2fiwhHBRdfWPYHpJJA0f29LO8FNUcU6t  Wrongfull death lawsuits are a means of justice when all else fails, but nothing brings the rider back. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I don't understand. There must have been a traffic light at said intersection, so they could argue that the biker was running a red light? That's the only way I could think that it wouldn't immediately be obstructing the right of way. Then I would thing it would be leading to vehicular homicide. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Thanks for posting the AMA link. I just renewed my membership. ABATE is also all over right of way legislation. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Until the details of the accident are released, I'd reserve judgement on the old lady. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
People don't pay attention regardless of the penalties. It doesn't matter what you are on. The only difference is the level of protection provided riders by their bikes as compared to cars, trucks, etc. People are killed every day regardless of their "self-defense instinct". Don't think this is true? Ever see the stats on how many people die each year from trying to outrun trains? | ||
| Mikej |
Ask any firefighter how often people pull in front of firetrucks responding to calls with full lights/sirens running. | ||
| Greenlantern |
Peninsula Blvd. is a 30 mph (posted) secondary road slalom of death! It gets heavy use by Petro company trucks and such and everybody drives it like a expressway, not the 4 lane (2 in each direction) suburban backstreet it is. I drive it every morning at 4:30 a.m and get the bejeezus scared out of me on the a regular basis. Flying tankers, side street darters. Why I am sure the automobile driver was at fault here, I am surprised that the rider who was a local did not "Know the drill" riding on that road! then again I do not know all the details and will look deeper into it as these things really shake you up when they are in your backyard. My prayers for Mark and his family. (Message edited by greenlantern on September 11, 2007) | ||
| Bueller728 |
I got hit twice last year riding in the left lane of a multi lane street and both times the Car that hit me claimed I was trying to get around him. I'm lucky to be alive and grateful for the oppourtunity to type this post. What makes the situation worse is the insurance company calls it a no fault accident. How does the guy get away with vehicular manslaughter? | ||
| Ryker77 |
What the AMA needs to do. Contact Sony and make a small wide angle video camera. With loop recording. Designed just for bikers. Weather, shock, and budget price. heck I can buy an awesome hand held camera for 1-200 bucks. I'd pay 200 bucks for something designed to save my ass in court. AMA could work a deal with Sony to build it and work deals with insurance companies to offer discounts. Video is awesome in court! | ||
| Buellshyter |
Video is awesome in court! Not if you're dead | ||
| Cityxslicker |
"those that dont see you, are aiming for you" ride like that and you will avoid the blue hairs in the big buicks | ||
| Diablobrian |
Whats I really loved about CA law when I was hit is that my license f=got revoked because I "lost consciousness at the controls" when the (at fault driver) hit me very nearly head on turning out of a driveway. She got to keep her license though, because her airbag only caused her minor burns. My wife who had a stroke due to the accident also had her license pulled....same reason, for some reason the pain of being hit by a car knocked her out. SO after I got done with hospitals, re-hab, and healing I got to beg a DMV official to allow me to re-take my written and drive tests. Is it wrong that I had to prove that I could handle driving when I was not at fault in the accident? She (the girl that hit me who had a grand total of 300 miles driving to her credit) was allowed to keep her license and was charged with failing to yield right of way since I failed to die on the pavement (despite her best efforts to the contrary). I think that is only one or two points off of your license...assuming she didn't just go to one of those ridiculous traffic schools that teaches a person exactly nothing about driving. I think that our system of licensing is too lax and needs to be made much tougher. European laws would be a good starting point in this regard. They take driving much more seriously and take more pride in driving well. | ||
| Irideabuell |
Just the other night I was on my way home from work when I hear sirens behind me. Here comes an ambulance and a fire truck. I pull over as close to the curb to my right as possible and stop. The person immediately behind me begins to honk at me like a mad man. He continues to do so until the two emergency vehicles are right next to us. Poetic justice dictated that nobody could move behind me until I pulled back into the line of traffic. I waited a good, silent minute before I even turned my front wheels in that direction. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I'm sorry to say, that I don't think European style legislation would help you. The problem is due to a huge number of factors not least of which is your bizarre legal system, where nobody takes responsibility for their own actions because some lawyer will produce an "expert" to prove otherwise or whatever. However, if you think you've got it badly check out the rules in India! Might is right, mine's bigger than yours so I win. Ryker, I like the idea of that gizmo, but just how long do you think it would be before they became compulsory & the law got the right to nick you on the evidence contained? after all if you're not going to do anything illegal how could you object? why they could even integrate a satellite tracking device into it as well! | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I've been giving some serious thought to running a video camera any time I'm on the bike too. Not only would it be my witness in case of accident, but it would force me to be a safer rider because I would know that should I get into an accident, my bonehead moves would be on tape too. My only concern is finding a system tough enough to survive an accident. I've been looking at the system put out by Sportvue, but am worried it would be smashed to bits if I went down. Plus, it's quite expensive. http://www.sportvue.com/store/product.php?pid=24 | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It is up to US to be as visible as possible and to assume that every driver is distracted and doesn't see us. Camera's won't do anything to keep the rider safe. Hearing about some driver who was punished for killing a motorcyclist will have virtually no effect for the NEXT driver. We must ride for the conditions. One of those conditions is the number of drivers and the likelihood that these drivers are distracted or simply don't see us. We cannot expect that laws will radically change behaviors. There are laws against speeding, but I would expect that the majority here speed both in their cars and on their bikes, right? The only way that we could ever hope to have behaviors changed in a permanent and sweeping way is to require that folks 15-18 only be allowed a motorcycle endorsement for bikes of 200cc's or less. You couldn't get a car endorsement until 18. If everyone was a rider, everyone would be more conscious. In the end, I'd bet you'd still have cars turning left in front of bikes. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Peninsula Blvd. is a 30 mph (posted) secondary road slalom of death! It gets heavy use by Petro company trucks and such I would call the Petro company, be sure to ask to speak to someone who is in Safety group, give times, and truck numbers. Do the same with local police. You will get a quick response from the oil companies for sure. If enough people complain to the police and the oil companies, they will comply. I would video the street and send the video the local TV station. They love stuff like that. I know of what I speak, I worked in the operations group of a major oil company for 26 years and dealt these sort things daily. I also witnessed many drivers fired for failing to comply. Try it, it works. |
