Bad Accident

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Speedy recovery CB4ME
We don't have the intense traffic around here like many of you, and the cagers seems to give us a break, but we certainly have our share of idiots.
I gave up on black leather years ago and now wear bright red textile jackets and a white helmet.
Even so, there are idiots who look right at you and then pull out. I've learned to expect that and so far no close calls.
I still have black leather jackets and on those rare occasions when I wear one I have a lime green hi-viz vest.

That's so funny, in a way, I mean.

I had all kinds of hi-viz vests a couple of years ago and was wearing them every time I rode. Yellow helmet. I ride in a great deal of freeway and urban traffic. I had more people cut me off when I was wearing that stuff than without.

So I gave up on the hi-viz stuff. Most of my riding gear is black, black Vanson leathers, black/grey BMW ADV/touring suit, mostly black helmets.

In the urban clutter bright colors don't mean anything and drivers who cut you off usually do it because they are in a hurry and either can't see you, or have decided to take a chance, or are staring at a smartphone and are lost.

I ride in the worst of this stuff most days of the week and have found that riding defensively, riding with your high beam on, and generally not being a hooligan is the strategy that yields the least incursions.

The CHP use very bright lights on their motorcycles so they can be seen approaching. That's the worst kind of accident, having a someone turn in front of you. Bright jackets and vests can hardly be noticed at all on an oncoming motorcycle; it's the headlight that gets the attention. Best cover the brake and check up your speed if at all uncertain if the driver sees you and is going to give you the right of way.