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Watch Out For Bikers
A Momentary Lapse of Awareness
I have posted this before... but I got the feeling that I should post it again. There are very few folks that ride motorcycles, that DON'T drive cages. So read what happened to me... and learn from it!
Two years ago I was in my cage and heading to town to run a few errands. I live 30 miles from the closest town and I was in a bit of a hurry. I pulled up to the stop sign and that's where it happened. "A momentary lapse of awareness".
The stop sign is located in such a way that you have to pull ALMOST into traffic to see to the left. So, I looked to the right and as I rolled forward, I looked left. Actually, I looked far-left, saw nothing and started to pull out.
That's when I realized there was a chopper coming. No headlight, flat black, almost to my car and doing 60. I had looked PAST him when I looked left. BEYOND him. I immediately turned right out of his path and (fortunately) there was no oncoming traffic so he had moved into the oncoming lane to avoid the assh**e that had almost caused this wreck.... ME! I felt that I richly deserved the 'tweety' that he flipped me as he roared by.
I have to admit that I was shaken by my 'lapse' and I pulled off the road to have a smoke and calm my heart rate back to something normal. As I sat there replaying the scene in my mind, I came to a few conclusions. I had almost caused the (possible) death of another human by my inattention and haste. To the rider, I had now entered into the "Hall of Shame" in his mind, the list of rotten bast**ds that had almost pulled out in front of him. If he would have hit me in the drivers door, I could have lost my life.
All because of "A momentary lapse of awareness". I post this here not to be vilified or smak-talked. Rather to remind everyone that drives or rides, BE AWARE! ALL THE TIME! I was within seconds of being a statistic... all because of "A momentary lapse of awareness". Learn from my experience. Do what I do now. When I pull up and stop, I look left, right, left again as I start to pull out and I am focusing on the entire road to the left. Near and far.
OK, so the rider was riding without his headlight. Maybe he didn’t know, maybe it had just blown out. All I know is I almost pulled out in front of him. The speed limit there is 50-55 and he was right right at the limit. So he was doing everything right, I just didn’t see him. Gawd, never thought that I would say that. So, I pay even closer attention because I refuse to have “A Momentary Lapse of Awareness”.
Be Alert, be Aware... We need more Lerts and Wares!
EdgeWalker
Miles: 177
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Slingblade on -
Good lesson, thanks Edge.
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Permalink Reply by Steve on -
I do believe bikers are better car drivers because we have a heighten awareness. Was talking to woman a year or so ago who had started riding, she said her driving habits had changed significantly, and would have never understood the variability of bikers if she had never started riding.
It can happen, Thank for the reminder Edge.
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Permalink Reply by WHEELS on -
Sadly I can understand why "you didn't see him" because the bike was flat black that blended in with the black road and no headlight on which is why ther are 'DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS" on cars now but sometimes a modulating headlight is needed to be seen.
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Permalink Reply by susieq on -
I know I am a better and more aware driver after taking class. I have said this to several people thinking of taking class!
Steve said:I do believe bikers are better car drivers because we have a heighten awareness. Was talking to woman a year or so ago who had started riding, she said her driving habits had changed significantly, and would have never understood the variability of bikers if she had never started riding.
It can happen, Thank for the reminder Edge.
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Jay2TheRescue (Moderator) on -
Yes, maybe you could have looked closer, but the chance of that bulb going out moments before is quite slim. In most instances, when a headlight bulb goes out, it goes out when first turned on. Had the rider checked all his lights for proper operation before leaving, he would have known the light was not working. Personally, I check my lights EVERY time before I get on my bike. It doesn't matter if I just got off the bike 10 minutes ago. If I'm getting on again, I turn the key on, and walk around the bike to make sure they are all working. I also grab my brake lever and check operation of my brake lights. It takes 5 seconds, and I feel my life is worth that 5 second investment of time.
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Permalink Reply by Scooter Bob on
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I can relate
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Permalink Reply by tfischer2010 on
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Stepin' up to the plate shows integrity. Hat's off to you Edge for using this reality check as a positive. It is very easy to slip. All it takes is once. Credit to the unknown biker for being alert and seeing his escape. . Great story Brother!!!
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