Motorcyclists urged to ride defensively by OPP after deaths

[suzuki2000]

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well gee, thanks, this helps

http://london.ctvnews.ca/motorcyclists-urged-to-ride-defensively-as-deaths-climb-opp-1.2517067


Motorcycle related deaths are adding up quickly this year as 25 fatalities have already been reported on OPP patrolled roads. The Ontario police are telling riders to remember that safety comes first. Of the deaths, 22 were the actual drivers of the motorcycle while 3 were passengers and 15 of the fatalities involved people between the ages of 45 to 65. Southern Ontario experienced four deaths during the first week of August and that has officials alarmed.
Last year, the province experienced a nine-year high in deaths on OPP patrolled roads with 32 fatalities. With the enormous amount of motorcycle related deaths the past two years, the OPP is making a an effort to increase safety and awareness by telling riders to be defensive drivers. Driving as if you are invisible is a slogan being pushed by the OPP since operators of larger vehicles often do not see motorcyclists.

They are also encouraging riders to remember to be aware of their surroundings and be prepared to avoid mistakes made by other drivers. Blind spots and intersections are places in which riders must be more cognitive of what is taking place.

Finally, the OPP is telling all drivers to keep an eye out for motorcyclists as the roads are busy with bikers during the late summer months.

 

[danp]

15 of the fatalities involved people between the ages of 45 to 65

Interesting... I wonder why that is. Are there just more of them, or some other reason?

 

[busabim]

why not automatically turn of texting using the g sensor as soon as a person is mobile beyond walking speed!

 

[macro]

why not automatically turn of texting using the g sensor as soon as a person is mobile beyond walking speed!

Passengers in the car. You're right though, something needs to be done.

 

[conundrum]

I came close to being taken out/injured yesterday afternoon. I was turning right onto HWY 7 off McCowan around 2-3pm, when a burgundy sedan who was next to me/on my left decided it wanted to go right vs straight, so it turned right in front of me, and into my lane/path of travel. I had to slam on my brakes and not drop my bike, and he probably cleared my front wheel by an inch or two. Was solid on the horn, and they didn't even slow down or acknowledge me.

Guess not missing a turn was more important to them than potentially knocking me over and running over me and the bike with at least their back tires. I'll openly admit the thought if chasing up and kicking his door panel went through my mind, but common sense got the better of me...plus I'm too much of a car/bike guy to damage another person's property (now his face on the other hand..)

Also, about 2 weeks back on the 401 I was almost merged into while in moderate traffic. That one at least I was more or less ready for, and left enough space so I could brake in behind if the idiot decided he was going to do an abrupt lane change without checking.

 

[hedo2002]

A few factors.

1. They represent largest age demographic, as they can afford bike insurance.
2. Some in this ge group ride 15+ years ago, and stopped but have just recently taken up riding again. But the world of riding has changed dramatically since they last rode.
3. They tend to ride larger less agile cruisers
4. Age slows reflexes.
5. Complacency. They have ridden for XX years without incident and think that nothing bad can happen.
6. They also likely ride a fai amount more as they have more free time then a guy in his 20's going to school, working 2 part time jobs and trying to juggle a gf....

Interesting... I wonder why that is. Are there just more of them, or some other reason?

 

[griff2]

Interesting... I wonder why that is. Are there just more of them, or some other reason?

There are more of them, they tend to go for longer rides, and their older bodies are not as resilient before able to heal as well after a bad crash.

 

[JoeyB]

"Ride like you're invisible" and "Ride like everyone is trying to kill you" are not new slogans.

One of the most useful things I've read is to provide a running commentary to yourself while you're riding along. Call out things you see as potential dangers, try to guess what is going to happen. Basically, to play by play as you ride. By calling out what you see it forces you to see more and to think about outcomes/potential escape routes.

 

[DoubleJ]

Sure would be a lot of swearing going on iside my helmet!:director:

 

[RichinOville]

"Ride like you're invisible" and "Ride like everyone is trying to kill you" are not new slogans.

One of the most useful things I've read is to provide a running commentary to yourself while you're riding along. Call out things you see as potential dangers, try to guess what is going to happen. Basically, to play by play as you ride. By calling out what you see it forces you to see more and to think about outcomes/potential escape routes.

I do that all the time anyway. Except that I don't have to verbalize it. My own personal obsession now is to be in front. I do whatever mostly legally I can do to be in front. I don't trust the vehicle in front of my to be looking as far down the road as I do, or texting. I'd like to enjoy my drive without having cut my reaction time cut down because they aren't paying attention. This applies doubly if they are a van, truck or a**hole with their windows tinted so dark you can't see through them in full daylight (on a side note, I guess they don't drive at night in the city, otherwise how are they supposed to see pedestrians when they are turning?). Rant off.

 

[LePhillou]

I do that all the time anyway. Except that I don't have to verbalize it. My own personal obsession now is to be in front. I do whatever mostly legally I can do to be in front. I don't trust the vehicle in front of my to be looking as far down the road as I do, or texting. I'd like to enjoy my drive without having cut my reaction time cut down because they aren't paying attention. This applies doubly if they are a van, truck or a**hole with their windows tinted so dark you can't see through them in full daylight (on a side note, I guess they don't drive at night in the city, otherwise how are they supposed to see pedestrians when they are turning?). Rant off.

But then that person will rear end you?


And yeah. I'm in sauga now..but it seems that after driving in brampton for so many years... all the dick moves i see don't phase me anymore. It's like i've seen them all, expected them all from seeing them being performed in brampton. So that's the one thing thats good about that city, if you're a smart driver and survive it, you'll come out a better driver from all the exposure to that bad driving.

Now the downtown core is another animal... agressiveness... which keeps you on your toes and teaches you to react quickly while always being aware of your surroundings... and those are things that courses won't teach you.

Anyhow, i'd like to thank the OPP for stating the obvious lol

 

[RichinOville]

But then that person will rear end you?


And yeah. I'm in sauga now..but it seems that after driving in brampton for so many years... all the dick moves i see don't phase me anymore. It's like i've seen them all, expected them all from seeing them being performed in brampton. So that's the one thing thats good about that city, if you're a smart driver and survive it, you'll come out a better driver from all the exposure to that bad driving.

Now the downtown core is another animal... agressiveness... which keeps you on your toes and teaches you to react quickly while always being aware of your surroundings... and those are things that courses won't teach you.

Anyhow, i'd like to thank the OPP for stating the obvious lol

I've had that same argument with my boss. He thinks it is better to keep the idiots in front of you, so you can keep an eye on them. I say it is better to have them behind you, then you get to enjoy the drive. I live in something resembling the country. If I get in front of someone, it is very likely that in a couple of minutes after I pass them, I will hardly be able to see them in the mirrors.
Now, I was surprised on the 410 yesterday, north of Bovaird. I was on the bike, in the right hand lane, approaching a slower moving car. The pack of cars behind me were about a km back. I still checked my blind spot and signalled and changed lanes to pass the slower car. I hadn't even gotten past the car when I noticed the shadow and mirror image of a car riding up my ***. I thought how cute, where the f' did you come from. As soon as possible, I got back in the right lane and the guy behind me takes off. I was doing 130kmph in a 100 zone when I did the pass. He was probably going 160 at least. Right up until we caught up to traffic. Then he started to weave without using signals. Ya gotta love Brampton.

But then again I'm old, eh? I drove a taxi in downtown Toronto for 5 years in my early 20's, over 30 years ago, about the same time I got my first bike.
Now, everytime I go into the city, on bike or in the car, it is like coming home.

 

[Blackfin]

Nice PSA by the OPP.

Would appreciate it if they realized that, sometimes, when on a motorcycle riding somewhat above the flow and/or the posted speed limit in certain situations is the defensive thing to do. I'm not talking about recklessness and racing but rather about controlling one's environment: always moving forward in traffic and avoiding being boxed, for example.

 

[Wingboy]

Interesting... I wonder why that is. Are there just more of them, or some other reason?

The baby boomers are retiring,and are going to inherit a ton of cash from their parents that didn't believe in spending money on toys.They are going to buy bikes and muscle cars that they lusted after years ago.Most will sadly just rush into it with little or no extra training.They don't know that left turning cars are out to turn them into a stain and most won't be wearing good gear to give them a chance.It's easy to pick out the "born again" riders.They are the ones paddling in and out of intersections with tennis shoes,cheapo beanie and the skull facemask.
I should probably take a refresher course myself just as a reminder of the little things that can keep you from sounding like the sausage creature. I'm not getting any younger.

 

[Brian P]

I just about got taken out today on the 507 heading south, but I saw the situation coming and took action which prevented it from being a disaster. Someone blindly following the "blocking position / left side of lane" would have been hit head on. If I had been driving a truck then the other driver would have been flattened.

I was approaching a left-hand corner that is at the crest of a hill, and noted bicyclists coming the other direction. My normal lane position when approaching a hill crest is away from the center line, the left side of the right car-track, just far enough right of the white line to allow room for pedestrians or bicyclists that might be out of view in my lane on the other side of the crest but also away from the center line in case there is a car overtaking a bicycle/pedestrian in the other direction and across into my lane. And that is exactly what happened. The first car to overtake the bicyclists wasn't a problem, it was only slightly over the center line and was done overtaking by the time I got there, but the second one - in an attempt to give the bicyclists lots of room while approaching a blind crest! - was completely in my lane. I moved right, to the white line, and that was enough to clear the car, which was moving back to their lane after they saw me but nowhere near done.

Hopefully the other driver had enough of an "oh crap" to realize that being in the opposing-traffic lane while passing bicycles while approaching a blind crest - even worse, on a curve - is really not a good thing to be doing. If you have to slow down to bicycle speed until you can actually see a safe overtaking opportunity ... so be it.

 

[inreb]

It now seems like after every ride I could come in here to grouse about other peoples driving. I'm seeing extremely poor judgement over and over again, blind crests and bicycle passing especially represented. Almost makes me want to stop street racing, it's that bad. Of course after ride bike chat at the local hangout does nothing to quell the angst.

 

[Flywheel]

That's because with each passing year, 50 000+ or more people settle in Ontario. Many of them drive cars. So even if the percentage of poor drivers remains constant, their numbers still increase, all on the same road network.

Blind crests, turns, hidden intersections etcetera all give me the willies. I've encountered too many situations where not being careful = instant accident. Maybe it's not new, but for me, the new hazard is someone pulling out from a side street/parking lot, blocking one/two lanes to get into the opposing lanes regardless of oncoming traffic. But wait! There's more! Another driver, hidden by the first is doing the SAME THING, except they're totally blind. So swerving around the first turkey could be a real dice roll. *shivers*

 

[LoneRonin]

I just about got taken out today on the 507 heading south, but I saw the situation coming and took action which prevented it from being a disaster. Someone blindly following the "blocking position / left side of lane" would have been hit head on. If I had been driving a truck then the other driver would have been flattened.

I was approaching a left-hand corner that is at the crest of a hill, and noted bicyclists coming the other direction. My normal lane position when approaching a hill crest is away from the center line, the left side of the right car-track, just far enough right of the white line to allow room for pedestrians or bicyclists that might be out of view in my lane on the other side of the crest but also away from the center line in case there is a car overtaking a bicycle/pedestrian in the other direction and across into my lane. And that is exactly what happened. The first car to overtake the bicyclists wasn't a problem, it was only slightly over the center line and was done overtaking by the time I got there, but the second one - in an attempt to give the bicyclists lots of room while approaching a blind crest! - was completely in my lane. I moved right, to the white line, and that was enough to clear the car, which was moving back to their lane after they saw me but nowhere near done.

Hopefully the other driver had enough of an "oh crap" to realize that being in the opposing-traffic lane while passing bicycles while approaching a blind crest - even worse, on a curve - is really not a good thing to be doing. If you have to slow down to bicycle speed until you can actually see a safe overtaking opportunity ... so be it.

I had a similar situation happen on Britannia on one of the hilly sections just before Tremaine. Some dumbass in a newer Audi thought he was Speed Racer and tried to pass I'm assuming his friend who was also in a newer Audi on a hill. I was at the bottom when I see a red car completely in my lane just come over the crest of the hill, it was a WTF!! moment and I quickly pulled over to the right side of the lane as much as I could and threw a middle finger up at him.

The idiots have a couple nice cars and think they're racer boys but really don't know **** about driving, had I been going faster and not reacted immediately it could have been the end of me. That was one moment that really made me wish I was on a SS and had my GoPro because I really wanted to do one of two things...

catch up to him, kick in his door, smash a side mirror or something so he'd get out of the car and I could whoop the **** out of him and tell him a thing or two about when and where to actually try and pull that ****

or...

catch up to him, get a positive ID of the driver on video and turn it in to the cops with his license plate and hope he gets some stunting charges or something

I figured that would probably be the more sensible thing to do but honestly, with how the cops are they'd probably just end up charging me with some ******** because I'd probably be riding a bit like a goon and doing a few illegal things myself to catch up to the dumbass.

Situations like this are a perfect example where if we really want something done you just have to take it upon yourself.

 

[suzuki2000]

...
I was approaching a left-hand corner that is at the crest of a hill, and noted bicyclists coming the other direction. My normal lane position when approaching a hill crest is away from the center line, the left side of the right car-track, just far enough right of the white line to allow room for pedestrians or bicyclists that might be out of view in my lane on the other side of the crest but also away from the center line in case there is a car overtaking a bicycle/pedestrian in the other direction and across into my lane. And that is exactly what happened. The first car to overtake the bicyclists wasn't a problem, it was only slightly over the center line and was done overtaking by the time I got there, but the second one - in an attempt to give the bicyclists lots of room while approaching a blind crest! - was completely in my lane. I moved right, to the white line, and that was enough to clear the car, which was moving back to their lane after they saw me but nowhere near done.

...

This is pretty commonplace from what I am seeing now, Sure, move over to pass the bikes, on a curve, hill or even a straight. You in the oncoming lane in a car or bike are expected to drop onto your shoulder, if you even have one. The concept of slowing and passing cyclists when safe is a dead art form.

 

[griff2]

This is pretty commonplace from what I am seeingnow, sure move over to pass the bikes, on a curve, hill or even astraight. You in the oncoming lane in acar or bike are expected to drop onto your shoulder, if you even have one. The concept of slowing and passing cyclistswhen safe is a dead art form.

Which is exacerbated when said cyclists insist on riding two- or more abreast.

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