Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge SHOCKING

Went on a 263 mile ride yesterday (Monday) on my '05 America (the green one), through North Georgia, from Hiram, to Toccoa, to Suches and back, got within 10 miles of home and WHAM rear-ended by a VW Jetta. I was in heavy traffic, stopped at a red-light sitting directly in the sun,and was merely a "bump", but enough to enrage me, as she only has 1200 miles on her.The guy says "I did'nt see you", I asked him "why does everybody say that"... My first concern was to keep the bike from hitting the guy in front of me, which I did by locking the front brake...He called the cops, and upon inspecting the bike, absolutely no damage to the rear fender, just the tail light was smashed, the paint was'nt even cracked!! I will take her to the dealer this afternoon to get an estimate....when I got home, I told my wife what happened, her only response was "Shocking", as she has anticipated an accident to happen at any time...I love being married!!!! (I think she's waiting on the life insurance)...

"I didn't see you" real world translations:
> I was checking out my Blackberry
> I was tuning in my new Sirius radio
> My cellphone was ringing and I looked to see who it was
> The batteries in my Prius are acting funny

Lucky accident! nobody hurt, no paint damage, nothing hit the ground. Glad to hear no injuries.

Hmmm, could be a good excuse for a tail light modification like the older style with a chrome housing.

Hi Mark,
Sorry to hear about your incident,too bad you didn't have something like a hammer in your hand and said to the guy "Sorry I didn't see your headlights" as you smash them both.I didn't really say that did I? Sometimes I feel like that when people say stupid things. If the Insurance doesn't cover the damage there is a couple of guys here selling stock America parts, maybe they will have a tail light assembly.I do envy you because at least you are riding, it's still too cold in the Midwest. Good luck, maybe we'll meet up at the GA RAlly.
Steve_Sixmil

Glad you are OK, I ride in the Suches area at least once a month, maybe we will run into each other your next trip.
BTW are you comming to the N Ga Rally?

Yes sixmil....looking forward to the rally....

Your post reminded me that as we enter spring, more motorcyclists will be out and about with the fair weather. As many car drivers have become used to driving around only among other cars during the winter, they often DON'T see motorcycles, because their brains don't process us as being visible. I know that sounds strange, but it's true. Be also aware that every year brings a new crop of "Biffs and Muffies" with fresh new driver licenses and that youthful naiive attitude of "I'll NEVER have an accident" as they drive around with newly developed skills, a cell phone in the ear, and a car load of noise from friends and stereo.

Be careful out there! SOMEONE is out to get us, and we just don't know who it will be.

I believe my next question would be, "So, why don't you take a peek out the windshield once in a while to see what's there?"

B7,When I approach any stop with a car in front of me I always pull far over to the right or left side, whichever affords me more escape room. As I sit stopped, I look at nothing but my rear view mirror until I see the car behind me slow down and stop. I am in gear and ready to use the escape if I see the car comming up from behind is not going to stop. This tactic will help to put an end to getting rear ended.A defensive driving coarse my help you out.Remember that everyone out there is trying to kill you! Vegas

Well put JC, you know those Cell phone users are driving blind. They just step on the gas and talk on the phone, only 10% of their brain is even concentrating on the driving.
Sixmil

vegas,

That's the EXACT advice I would have given. Ever vigilant!!

I'm not saying that you couldn't be seen, but we have a campaign run by the government at the mo and they have a good poster - so much so that it took me a week to get it...
but I thought about it everytime I went past till I did get it.


I know it's big on the page but I haven't worked out how to shrink it....

yea....what Vegas said!!!!! glad to here it wasnt as bad as it could have been. things can be replaced, they are just things. Always!!!!! stay close to the line, it gives you an out!!!!!! my wife always complains that i stay to close to the line and then i show her stories like this and she dosnt say anything for awhile.

Vegas, you are absolutely right, I had been monitoring the rear view all day, but as the day got longer (8 hours +), my level of awareness dwindled dramatically, I just wanted to get home, and failed that one time to monitor the rearvies....that would have definitely allowed me to avoid the collision....I had the rearender order me a new tail light assembly a few minutes ago, it will be here tomorrow. He has been very sincere, and paid for the labor to install it as well, but they can't get to it till next week. I told him I would inspect again tonite for hidden damage to the fender, and install the tail light assembly myself....could have been ALOT worse.....

Similar thing happened to me a couple of years ago at a roundabout. Luckily sounds like you got off pretty lightly. I ended up with nearly £2,700 worth of damage and missed most of that year’s riding season what with insurance/ parts delays and one thing and another.
Good advice Vegas, I try to do this and also flash rear brake light a few times to hopefully make sure they’re awake!

Mark,
I'm glad to hear that this incident didn't result in nothing more than a broken taillight.

When I'm at a stoplight by myself, with no cars to "protect me"(see below), I always check my mirrors looking for just such a situation like your's to happen, until a car stops behind me to act as a shield of sorts. And I never take my bike out of gear either, just in case I have to get out of the way of some inattentive driver who "didn't see me". And whenever you're on your bike never stop thinking about your "escape route". In fact, I believe this "always thinking" attitude is one of the main reasons why riding a motorcycle is "therapudic". You can't think about all the other little problems that are nagging at you if you want to survive the ride.(I know that sounded omminous, but as anyone here should know, is more the truth than not)

(okay...this is "below')
And....I don't know if you were sitting alone at that light, but if there were other vehicles there, than this is yet another reason why "lane-sharing" or lane-splitting" should be legal in all states as is the practice in California.(actually it's considered "not illegal" if done with care here, and thus you will not be cited)

If you're sitting between two cars at a stoplight and someone who "didn't see you" or more actuately, isn't paying attention to their business at hand, such as in this situation, then that person would of course "rear-end" the car that you're stopped next to, instead of YOU.

But once again, because most states are run by people who've never swung a leg over a motorcycle, they have little idea about the laws that they pass regarding motorcycling in their respective state legislatures, and how best to insure the safety of M/C riders.

Cheers,
Dwight
(and thanks for giving me the opportunity to get my soapbox out about the lane-splitting issue again)

Lots of good advice/comments here Mark. But since most accidents happen within 10 miles of home, maybe you should consider moving.

Gina,

I absolutley love that poster. I think that is the best one I have come accross for motorcycle awareness.

Soren

Glad to hear your O.K,I have an extra tail light. Yours for the postage if you want it.

We have 5 Bike Week deaths already this year and all of them were caused by cages. One poor couple was mowed down at a stop light by a cage running a red. The guy responsible has been charged with a misdemeanor even with a death. Is that not vehicular manslaughter? All of the others were caused by the "I didn't see him/her/them" excuse. Sickening.

Changes need to be made to the standards for obtaining a driver's licence. It is way too easy in most states. Something needs to be done about cell phones, and the penalties for killing motorcyclists need to be stiffened.

Finally, why these horses arses continue to drive their cars right through the most congested Bike Week sites continues to befuddle me! There are alternate routes. For cripes sake use them for one week out of your life (lives).

Sorry for the rant

Glad you are OK and not much damage done. A couple of years ago I was sitting at a red light in my 1988 Ford 3/4 ton, 4wd van. It has a receiver hitch. I just happened to look in the rear view mirror and here comes a 4wd Toyota truck moving what I thought was a little fast to be able to stop before rearending me. I kept my eye on him and finally came to the conclusion that he was gonna hit and he did. I got out of the van and saw what seemed to be about a fourteen year old kid driving. I also noticed the temporary sticker in the back window of his brand new shiny Toyota. I looked at the back of the van and zero damage. I motioned to the "kid" to back up so he would expose the 12" of receiver hitch that was planted through his grill, radiator and a/c condenser. I smiled at the "kid" and said no damage on my end. I got in the van and drove away.

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Your post reminded me that as we enter spring, more motorcyclists will be out and about with the fair weather. As many car drivers have become used to driving around only among other cars during the winter, they often DON'T see motorcycles, because their brains don't process us as being visible. I know that sounds strange, but it's true. Be also aware that every year brings a new crop of "Biffs and Muffies" with fresh new driver licenses and that youthful naiive attitude of "I'll NEVER have an accident" as they drive around with newly developed skills, a cell phone in the ear, and a car load of noise from friends and stereo.

Be careful out there! SOMEONE is out to get us, and we just don't know who it will be.

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Good points. I'd like to also mention that as spring nears there are those of us who haven't ridden for a few months. Take it easy for a while for your skills might be a little rusty.

UPDATE: Got home from work, opened garage, and looking from the rear of the bike, rear fender has pronounced "flare" from rear of seat to tail light, almost like it was from the factory like that, but also found "creases" on either side of rear fender. Will definitely need rear fender, and Triumph of Atlanta won't be able to get to her until next month or so. Taking her for an estimate tomorrow, then submitting to GEICO....bike still ridable, and tail light still works...

Webpage: http://groups.msn.com/LookTwiceSaveALifeMotorcyclesAreEverywhere/welcometolance39spage.msnw