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I was driving a car the other day and turned from one street to another at a difficult intersection. Difficult because it's in an old and hilly part of town and the roads are windy. I turned across the traffic coming from my right and into the left lane (I'm in Australia remember).
Immediately I was into a left-hand turn climbing slightly. As I turned I caught a glimpse of a Harley going the other way in the right hand lane. Although we passed perfectly safely, I didn't actually see the bike again until it was abreast of me as it was completely hidden behind the pillar of the car.
Neither of us did anything wrong and there was no danger, but I was reminded that, in certain circumstances, bikes really are invisible even to alert people driving cars.
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It happens to me too. As much as I dislike "loud pipes save lives," I freely admit to not always noticing other bikes, especially quiet ones.
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If a Ducati rider, loud clutches save lives.
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That is why we, as the bike riders, have to be doubly alert and aware at all times. I am lucky in one way. As a college student I rode a kawasaki bushwacker 175 every day, in Phoenix Arizona. Cruising down the road, at about 55 mph, I came upon an intersection, were I had no stop, with a cross road that intersected with the road I was on at a 45 degree angle with the on coming autos facing my direction . I saw a station wagon coming towards me and he started to slow up for his stop. When I saw him stopping I hit the gas and accelerated. At that exact point he did a "soft stop" and accelerated forward towards me. I hit him head-on and went through his front windshield. I spent a couple of months in a hospital.
I learned a few things from this unfortunate accident. Talking to the driver, he came to see me in the hospital, he said that he never saw me! Returning to the sight I found that there was a telephone pole that would have been directly between him and me on my angle of approach. So, he probably didn't see me as he looked for a car and not a bike!
From that day on I never assume anything. If I don't make direct eye contact with the other driver I assume they do not see me. It serves me well.
I can't, with all honesty, say that this was my last motorcycle accident. However it was my last that involved another vehicle!
Drive safe my friends! Stay alert and keep your eyes moving and assume no one can see you, at all times! What may be a fender bender for a car could be a missing leg on a bike!
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This has happened to me too with pedestrians. The windshield pillar blocked my view and I now look around it when making 90 degree turns in and out of streets.
It's worse at night when visibility is poor anyway.
