Another Brush With Death

[tkent02]

It's kind of hard not to read it when I'm already in the thread and interested in it. Your point is well taken, but I think your lack of sensitivity, in light of his recent "brush with death" was uncalled for.

My wife says that all the time. Perhaps my sense of sensitivity is lacking.

 

[earlfor]

It's kind of hard not to read it when I'm already in the thread and interested in it. Your point is well taken, but I think your lack of sensitivity, in light of his recent "brush with death" was uncalled for.

I have to agree with Tkent on this. The "brush with death" appears to be self inflicted. LOL Who drives/rides in the left lane at 75 mph? Regardless of what lane you're in on a bike, if you have 18 wheelers catching you and following closely or trying to pass, you're going too damn SLOW! If you're paying attention like you should be, there is no freaking way a semi is going to sneak up your butt.

Earl

 

[ddaniels]

All of a sudden a large, red 18 wheeler was about a foot from my license plate, in the left lane. He blasted his air horns. I quickly moved over the the right lane. So quickly, in fact, that I nearly lost control. The semi then came over into the right lane forcing me to take the exit at Carrolton, KY.

Frankly, I think there's something wrong if a semi is a foot from your license plate, regardless of what you may be doing. If indeed the story is accurate, the truck driver put the rider's life in jeopardy, which should be a punishable offense in my opinion. Additionally, if he is a foot from your license plate, and then blasts his horn at you, now he's pushed things beyond a reasonable act. Actually, being a foot from your license plate is unreasonable. To me, the proper thing to do, for the truck driver, is to pull up behind the rider, say a couple car lengths behind, and either flash his lights or give a friendly tug on the horn. At least that way, he is not putting somebody's life on the line. Regardless of the situation, anybody who deliberately rides up my arse when I'm on the bike, is putting my life in danger and asking for trouble. I'm just sayin'.... Of course the whole situation depends on the accuracy of the story.

 

[tkent02]

All of a sudden a large, red 18 wheeler was about a foot from my license plate, in the left lane. He blasted his air horns. I quickly moved over the the right lane. So quickly, in fact, that I nearly lost control. The semi then came over into the right lane forcing me to take the exit at Carrolton, KY.

Frankly, I think there's something wrong if a semi is a foot from your license plate, regardless of what you may be doing. If indeed the story is accurate, the truck driver put the rider's life in jeopardy, which should be a punishable offense in my opinion. Additionally, if he is a foot from your license plate, and then blasts his horn at you, now he's pushed things beyond a reasonable act. Actually, being a foot from your license plate is unreasonable. To me, the proper thing to do, for the truck driver, is to pull up behind the rider, say a couple car lengths behind, and either flash his lights or give a friendly tug on the horn. At least that way, he is not putting somebody's life on the line. Regardless of the situation, anybody who deliberately rides up my arse when I'm on the bike, is putting my life in danger and asking for trouble. I'm just sayin'.... Of course the whole situation depends on the accuracy of the story.

All true, very bad behavior on the part of the truck driver. Sure he should be in jail, sure he is a very bad man. As a rider we should see this as normal, and actions like this should be expected from every other vehicle out there. If some of them do better, that's a bonus, enough of them will do worse. Sometimes they are honest mistakes, sometimes from not paying any attention to their driving, perhaps sometimes they are deliberate acts, who is to say if the driver actually saw the bike or not? I am not condoning the actions of the truck driver, but it is what they do at times. Does it really matter who is right or wrong if you end up dead?
If a full size truck can get that close without being noticed, the rider's situational awareness was not anywhere near what it needs to be.
Before you go out to play on the freeway, get in the right frame of mind.

 

[Truth]

I think Tkent's sig line is good advice. I used to hang back behind packs of cars, but quickly realized that when I do that, I find myself in the middle of another pack. It's easier to keep em in my mirrors, well in front.

 

[Allie]

There's actually not enough description to form any hard and fast notions about it, except that yes SA is top priority on the highway, and often more difficult than other situations. The bottom line is NEVER let a vehicle get that close to you, especially a big truck. You missed it somehow that time, I'm sure you won't do it again, no need to hammer the point.

As far as going to fast or slow, we don't really know. What was the speed limit on the highway? How many cars were around you, how were they positioned? Was anyone directly in front of you? Did the semi really come up on you at 100mph or did it creep up on you and you missed it because you were focused elsewhere?

Okay it's no secret that Tkent could benefit from sensitivity training, and Earlfor is a speed crazed maniac , but both usually bring up good points. Oh and as mentioned, head checks are mandatory, always always always, even in your car.

 

[ddaniels]

To be clear, I am not discrediting anything Tkent has said. His points are all valid. My problem was with his delivery considering what the poor guy had just gone through. It came across like, "You stupid idiot! What're you doing on the left side of the road anyway?!" I guess my internal protective mechanism kicked in and maybe I overreacted a bit to his first post. I think the whole purpose of the thread was to vent and maybe get a little support. But yeah, I do find it a little curious how a big "red" truck can just all of a sudden be on your tail when you had just finised checking the mirrors. Seems unlikely. Anyway, the bottom line for me is, I feel bad for what he went through, but definitely try to be more aware of what's going on around you; especially when your life depends on it. I've traveled I-71 between Cincinnatti and Louisville many many times and the only place where I can see this happening is when I-71 and I-75 are the same road, which is about 20 miles or so. Very high traffic through that area. But once I-71 splits off and heads to Louisville, traffic really isn't that bad at all until you get close to Louisville.

 

[earlfor]

To be clear, I am not discrediting anything Tkent has said. His points are all valid. My problem was with his delivery considering what the poor guy had just gone through.

On the other side of the coin, if Tom had said, "Oh you poor dear, let me get you a tissue", nothing would have been remembered of the reply. I think now there is a better chance of traffic to the rear being watched with increased awareness. Being run over by a semi is going to feel about the same regardless of which direction it hits you from. Even then, knowing where someone is is only half the problem. You must know where they are going to be, and that means PAY ATTENTION. I believe that is the point Tom was trying to get across.

Earl

 

[ddaniels]

Like I said.....I have no argument with Tom's points. All good and useful.
-end of rant-

 

[AF_Bill]

I will admit that there are times when I see a car/truck/whatever in my mirrors one sec, then turn my head and they are right behind me. I have the oh sh!t moment just like we all do. Then I realize, I was focusing on the idiot in the lane infront or next to me who's talkin on their cell, changing the radio, gettin roadhead, eating, or something else that seems WAY MORE IMPORTANT than paying attention to the road. It happens, we adapt and adjust to the situation, and learn from them all.

 

[mixongw]

Good advice, definitely. I still don't see how a semi could all of a sudden be so close you when a second before, you had checked your mirrors. Always know what is going on around you and leave yourself an out.

The experience of it all was somewhat disorienting to say the least. Having said that, I can't explain it either.

 

[mixongw]

As Josh has said, move a little faster than the pace of traffic when possible and make sure you stay in the mirrors of vehicles you're overtaking. Riding or driving out in the left lane for anything other than passing tends to tick some people off, it does me when people just hang out there. It's also against the law in Texas. The left lane is intended for passing only. It rarely gets enforced but it is the law.

Having experienced it all, it's very easy for me to see who was in violation of the law.

 

[mixongw]

Not sure I am understanding this correctly. You are dawdling along in the passing lane while not passing anyone, a truck in the passing lane plans to pass you, when you turn on the signal to move over he does pass you, you move over a little too slowly and get honked at. Sounds like he mistimed it a little bit, no big deal. I'm thinking the honking was good for you in this case, better than a light tap. In aggressive traffic, ride aggressively. Waiting until you get honked at to move is probably not being aggressive enough. If your skills aren't up to it, find a different road.

Sure you have the right to be there, but you don't have any right to block traffic in a passing lane.

Do you drive a red semi for a living? Are you the dude that tried to kill me? If so, I can understand your post, otherwise, I don't understand why you are slinging this crap at me!

 

[mixongw]

I have to agree with Tkent on this. The "brush with death" appears to be self inflicted. LOL Who drives/rides in the left lane at 75 mph? Regardless of what lane you're in on a bike, if you have 18 wheelers catching you and following closely or trying to pass, you're going too damn SLOW! If you're paying attention like you should be, there is no freaking way a semi is going to sneak up your butt.

Earl

In my original post, I found it unnecessary to describe how I managed to be in the left lane. I never once thought I would have to defend myself in this thread. The area that I was riding has mild rolling hills. The red semi was going up a hill at about 45mph. I moved to the left lane to pass him. After passing him and making sure I was clear, I turned on my right signal in order to move back to the right lane. That is when I saw the red semi in the left lane on my ass. The roadway was now transitioning to the downhill mode. I was doing everything by the book. I would do it again in the same situation.

What I don't understand is your attitude. It resembles the attitude of the driver of the red semi.

 

[mixongw]

All of a sudden a large, red 18 wheeler was about a foot from my license plate, in the left lane. He blasted his air horns. I quickly moved over the the right lane. So quickly, in fact, that I nearly lost control. The semi then came over into the right lane forcing me to take the exit at Carrolton, KY.

Frankly, I think there's something wrong if a semi is a foot from your license plate, regardless of what you may be doing. If indeed the story is accurate, the truck driver put the rider's life in jeopardy, which should be a punishable offense in my opinion. Additionally, if he is a foot from your license plate, and then blasts his horn at you, now he's pushed things beyond a reasonable act. Actually, being a foot from your license plate is unreasonable. To me, the proper thing to do, for the truck driver, is to pull up behind the rider, say a couple car lengths behind, and either flash his lights or give a friendly tug on the horn. At least that way, he is not putting somebody's life on the line. Regardless of the situation, anybody who deliberately rides up my arse when I'm on the bike, is putting my life in danger and asking for trouble. I'm just sayin'.... Of course the whole situation depends on the accuracy of the story.

What can I say. It's accurate!

 

[mixongw]

All of a sudden a large, red 18 wheeler was about a foot from my license plate, in the left lane. He blasted his air horns. I quickly moved over the the right lane. So quickly, in fact, that I nearly lost control. The semi then came over into the right lane forcing me to take the exit at Carrolton, KY.

All true, very bad behavior on the part of the truck driver. Sure he should be in jail, sure he is a very bad man. As a rider we should see this as normal, and actions like this should be expected from every other vehicle out there. If some of them do better, that's a bonus, enough of them will do worse. Sometimes they are honest mistakes, sometimes from not paying any attention to their driving, perhaps sometimes they are deliberate acts, who is to say if the driver actually saw the bike or not? I am not condoning the actions of the truck driver, but it is what they do at times. Does it really matter who is right or wrong if you end up dead?
If a full size truck can get that close without being noticed, the rider's situational awareness was not anywhere near what it needs to be.
Before you go out to play on the freeway, get in the right frame of mind.

First, I wasn't "playing on the freeway". Secondly, how could my "situational awareness" have anything to do with how close this idiot was to me? Lighten' up eh?

 

[mixongw]

I am so over this thread!

 

[cowboyup3371]

In my original post, I found it unnecessary to describe how I managed to be in the left lane. I never once thought I would have to defend myself in this thread. The area that I was riding has mild rolling hills. The red semi was going up a hill at about 45mph. I moved to the left lane to pass him. After passing him and making sure I was clear, I turned on my right signal in order to move back to the right lane. That is when I saw the red semi in the left lane on my ass. The roadway was now transitioning to the downhill mode. I was doing everything by the book. I would do it again in the same situation.

What I don't understand is your attitude. It resembles the attitude of the driver of the red semi.

Unfortunately mixongw this is where you were in trouble no matter what and it's not that driver's fault. Going up loaded or not a trucker cannot maintain a fast speed due to gravity pulling on his EXTREMELY heavy truck. That truck and trailer combination is over 40,000 pounds on a good day. However, as they start to crest a hill and start down, they WILL pick up speed rather quickly. I know this from experience as I drove both a 23 foot long tilt trailer as well as fully loaded 40 ft long flatbeds for the Air Force. I also have a brother who has logged more miles in a truck in the last 15 years than I have in any vehicle my entire life.

If you were only maintaining the speed limit, transitioning back over, but did not ensure you had ENOUGH clearance before signalling, then he was doing you a favor. He could probably have very well felt you were putting yourself in a situation where he would have hit you. So he probably decided the best thing to do was move over and let gravity do its job AWAY from you. Unfortunately he was also picking up enough speed that he was already on your butt.

To me, it sounds like Tkent was right and you were taking too long to complete your maneuver. If so, you ought to be thanking that driver for keeping you alive.

I'm sorry but I will step up for any truck driver out on that highway as I do know what it's like for them.

 

[tkent02]

Having experienced it all, it's very easy for me to see who was in violation of the law.

Violating or following the law and staying alive on a bike have little to do with each other. Following some law is OK if you are into that, if it doesn't conflict with staying alive. When it does? You just going to sit there and get killed legally?

Secondly, how could my "situational awareness" have anything to do with how close this idiot was to me?

How could it not?
He wasn't too close to you, you were too close to him. It's up to you to keep the distance you want, no one else is going to do that for you.

I am so over this thread!

If I were you, I'd be so over riding a motorcycle.

Do you drive a red semi for a living? Are you the dude that tried to kill me?

If that dude had wanted to kill you, you would be dead.
No it wasn't me, I drive bigger, faster things.

I had a truck driver tell me something a long time ago. He was talking about people riding bicycles along highways. He said he would do whatever he could to miss them, but he's not going to crash his truck over it. I'm sure the same applies to missing people on motorcycles.
I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to crash a truck to miss me. I'm staying out of their way, no matter how fast I have to go to do it.

 

[ddaniels]

mixongw, I feel for ya as I'm sure it was a very frightening experience. Nobody here knows what really happened out there, only you do. I'm glad you came out in one piece. I'm sure all the "advice" you've received has been with the best intentions in mind. Some people just have a stronger way of making their points then others. Best thing to do is take it for what it is, and learn from the whole experience. Who knows if that truck driver was really an a$$hole, or just trying to get you out of his way because he didn't have enough breaking power NOT to hit you. Probably the latter. Anyway, stay safe, and don't give up riding. And the next time you pass a big truck, pass quickly, get a good long ways out ahead of him before moving back over, and get back over quickly as you safely can.