Swerve and Survive

Two motorcycles crashed today in an unlikely accident that illustrates the critical need for refresher training.
A 2001 BMW K1200LT motorcycle, with a 54 year old operator and a 54 year old passenger, came upon a bucket that had blown out from the back of a pickup onto the roadway. The operator successfully swerved and missed the bucket.
A 2003 BMW R1150T motorcycle, with a 61 year old operator and a 60 year old passenger, was traveling some distance behind the first motorcycle, although they were not traveling together. The second motorcycle's operator attemted to swerve around the bucket but crashed into the back of the first motorcycle.
All four riders were transported to a nearby hospital. The first motorcycle's operator and passenger sustained minor injuries. The second motorcycle's operator sustained serious injuries, and the passenger critical injuries. All four riders were wearing helmets.

Lessons Learned

1. Refresher Training
Swerving at highway speeds is an advanced level of motorcycling skill. It must be deliberately learned and practiced, and it should be part of a yearly refresher training or drill. It is NOT a natural technique, yet it is critically important for surviving on a motorcycle.
Find an empty parking lot or rural road and practice swerving to avoid a hazard. The key is to push hard to one side of the handlebars and immediately push hard on the other side. Keep your feet firmly on the footboards and let your butt slide slightly from side to side as the bike leans first one way, and then the next.
The swerve feels insecure to most new riders. You must trust your tires to grip the road, and you must accept the lean of your bike.
How many times, do you suppose, did these motorcyclists practice swerving? When was the last you YOU practiced a swerve?
2. Following Distance
This accident was caused first and foremost by lack of awareness and lack of adequate following distance. The second motorcyle should have had more distance between them and the first bike. This would allow them to see the first bike suddenly swerve, alerting them to the need to slow down and prepare evasive action themselves.
I put no blame on the first motorcyclist. A bucket blown off a truck could quickly enter the path of the motorcycle. But the operator had the presence of mind, the alertness, and the skill to successfully avoid contact. The first bike would have escaped all injury except for the inattention and lack of skill of the second motorcylist.
Save your life, and that of other motorcyclists on the same road as you: attend motorcycle refresher training every year!

Reference Links

http://pdxtraffic.blogspot.com
http://www.ktvz.com

Barely Not-Life-Threatening

A serious motorcycle crash today sent two motorcyclists to the hospital with severe injuries, but not life threatening.
Motorcycle operator, age 56, on the interstate, came upon slowing traffic. The motorcycle crashed into the back of a stopped car, ejecting the passenger, age 61, off the motorcycle, over a concrete center barrier, and onto the opposite lane. The passenger went by helicopter to the hospital, and the operator by ambulance. The driver of the car was not injured.

Lessons Learned

I can understand completely every aspect of this crash, except the lack of fatal injury. How did they avoid dying?
1. Time of day: The motorcycle crashed at about 4:00 p.m. A peak time for traffic, heat, fatigue and distraction. Just the time of day alone should be a red flag of warning for the motorcyclist to be alert, take an alternate route, or even call it a day.
2. Traffic: Heavy traffic requires an increased safety buffer. Normal traffic allows two-seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Heavy traffic, impatient drivers, sudden and frequent lane changes should cause the motorcyclist to increase the distance to four seconds. It doesn't matter if other vehicles take advantage of the open space...back off and keep a buffer between you and the crazy cagers.
3. Distraction and Reaction: The obvious cause of this crash was distraction, slowing the operator's reaction time. The operator might have been watching every other vehicle, except that directly in front. That distraction almost killed them.
4. Age: Older people are less agile than younger people. There, I said it out loud. Blast me or boo me, but it's universally true. Considering the factor of age alone, the older body and mind is slower to recognize, and slower to react, to hazards. How's this for a rule of thumb? For every decade of age, add one second to your following distance. The 56 year-old operator should have allowed five seconds between the motorcycle and the vehicle ahead. When the motorcyclist turns 60, allow six seconds? Might help!
Reference Links
http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=1002#news36641

DUI Fatal Crash: Astoria

Police arrested and charged a man with manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment, following a fatal crash between a pickup and a motorcycle.

The motorcylist was killed.

The operator of a 2006 Ford F150 pickup crossed the double solid yellow center lines on a blind curve and collided nearly head-on with a 1994 Honda 500 motorcycle. The motorcyclist was ejected and the pickup dragged the motorcycle until stopping along the side of the highway.

The operator of the pickup was 44 years old. He and his passenger, his 13-year old daughter, both wore safety restraints and were not injured.

The motorcylist was 35 years old and wore a protective helmet.

Lessons Learned

No protective equipment will prevent injury in a collision.

No degree of skill or training will prevent a drunk driver from swerving into your lane of traffic.

The crash happened at about 6 PM, a Sunday evening, during the Memorial Holiday weekend. This holiday weekend has the highest percentage of alcohol-involved fatalities of all major holidays in Oregon. More than 250 people have died in Oregon traffic crashes during the last 40 years over the Memorial Day holiday period. Since 1985, 54 percent of the fatalities were alcohol-related.

There is no indication that the motorcyclist lacked skill or experience. There is little that he could have done to avoid this crash. It is most probable that he owned none of the fault.

Reference Links

http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=1002#news35652

http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-05/1002/35652/053010.fatal.hwy30mp94.2.JPG

Failure to Negotiate

Two fatal crashes.

30-year old man, driving a 2002 Suzuki G60, failed to negotiate a turn in a two-lane highway. His motorcycle left the road, striking a telephone pole, throwing the man into a field. Helmet use, unknown. Speed, unknown. No other vehicles or persons involved in the crash.

76-year old man, driving a 1989 Kawasaki Ninja, failed to negotiate a right-hand turn in a two-lane highway. His motorcycle traveled across the oncoming lane, left the road, and crashed down a steep embankment. The man was wearing a helmet and protective clothing. Witnesses said the man was the lead rider of a group of six motorcycles. He had over 40 years of riding experience.

Lessons Learned

The news articles are sparse on details. What can cause a rider to lose control in a turn? Let's start with the basics.

1) Speed.

Riding too fast makes it very difficult to make a turn. Too fast means too fast for the conditions. Look for red flags of danger that can signal the need to slow down:

- heavy traffic
- narrow or winding roadway
- rough roadway
- wet, windy, or icy roadway

Nothing in the news report gives a hint that excessive speed influenced these crashes. What else might?

2) Sleep.

This seems a likely suspect, at least for the second, more experienced rider. The leader of the pack crashed at about 11:45 AM, just before lunchtime. I've been there. Meet the other riders at 10:00 AM for an easy 2-hour ride to a diner for lunch, and then back home.

I've always found it difficult to stay awake while driving a car. Seems like an hour or so is all it takes for me to get sleepy, no matter how interesting the view or how twisty the road. It begins with realizing that I don't remember the last few miles - it's like I spent the last five minutes daydreaming. If I don't stop at that point and take a short walk or use the restroom, it gets worse. My eyes go in and out of focus, and I shudder or shake my head, attempting to stay alert.

That's a red flag.

Take a break every hour, at least.

Stop when you start shuddering or shaking your head.

Don't ride sleepy.

Negotiate the turns.

Reference Links

http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=1294#news35248

http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=1294#news35255

Motorcycle Crash: Eagle Creek

62-year-old man crashed his 1975 Harley Davidson, attempting to pass a turning vehicle on the right side. The motorcycle's front tire went off the abrupt pavement edge, flipping and ejecting the operator.

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but received serious injuries and was transported by helicopter to the hospital.

Lessons Learned

Motorcyclists cannot be impatient. Any action based on a desire to save time, or for the sake of convenience, must raise a red flag of alert: SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT!

Passing on the right is illegal for a reason. It is an unexpected action, and it causes other vehicle operators to react unexpectedly. Even emergency vehicles, with the lawful right to pass on the right, have experienced crashes when the operator they are passing reacts unexpectedly, veering hard to the right just as the passing vehicle comes close.

In this instance, the right side of the highway was abruptly elevated above a steeply sloping embankment...there wasn't room for the motorcyclist to safely pass. Passing on the right requires the operator to maintain distance between two moving objects: the car on the left, and the embankment on the right.

Bottom line: stay calm, stay legal, and pass on the left.

The motorcycle crashed on May 2, 2010, at about 4 PM. This month is "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month", with Oregon joining with other federal, state and local highway safety and law enforcement organizations in a nationwide campaign designed to raise awareness about sharing the road with motorcyclists.

More information about "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" is available on ODOT's website at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/nr10042301.shtml.

For more information about "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month", contact Christine Miles at (503) 969-1107.

Reference Links

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/nr10042301.shtml

http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-05/1002/050210.hwy211.judd.1.JPG