From: dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX (The dc-cycles list administrator) To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX Subject: dc-cycles digest for 09/18/08 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ __ /-----\ __ 'dc-cycles' is an unmoderated email discussion list (__\/ _____ \/__) about motorcycling in the Washington D.C. area. =( \___/ )= \ ___ / An archive of the dc-cycles list is available at: | / _ \ | http://www.dc-cycles.org/ \ || || / \|| ||/ Subscribe/unsubscribe requests should be sent to: \| |/ dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX |_| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:26:45 -0400 From: "Mike B." To: dcmcrider@XXXXXX Cc: List DC Cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] My first collision - a true story Hey, just because you can't read, don't get pissy with me. If it takes more than "See Spot run" to cover the info, and you can't manage it, just hit delete and don't worry about it. The judge will explain it to you...if you live. -- Mike B. dcmcrider@XXXXXX wrote: > Mike, if you're going to pontificate (not to mention pontificate at excessive length), you might as well take the extra few minutes look up the letter of the law in the proper jurisdiction. You lucked out this time. It might have said something radically different and you had no way of knowing that. It's not hard. Go to http://os.dc.gov for both the DCMR and DC Code. > > P > > ------Original Message------ > From: Mike B. > To: Paul Wilson > Cc: List DC Cycles > ReplyTo: omni@XXXXXX > Sent: Sep 17, 2008 18:10 > Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] My first collision - a true story > > Paul Wilson wrote: >> Except, this happened in the District, so the Code of Maryland matters >> not one whit. > > Except for two things...what you listed for the District is pretty much > exactly the same as the MD law, and Julian wasn't passing a vehicle that > was turning left...he was passing a vehicle turning left AND one that > wasn't. It's that second vehicle that makes it illegal...in both the > District and MD (and VA as far as I remember unless they've changed > things in the last 35 years). > > -- Mike B. _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) X-Authority-Analysis: v=1.0 c=1 a=DFOkW91CVDEA:10 a=Yef-IpjxyqIA:10 a=Wajolswj7cQA:10 a=hR6SKshNAAAA:8 a=oyCVY8GqX-fFF_gSJVkA:9 a=gs_w-oRYm2JgqhgzBGkA:7 a=r8kq27H2whNiJmuhZ4KeYq8unuUA:4 a=lufPVNNn7cAA:10 a=7J08hxjrZSIA:10 a=CWfAmLVWKswA:10 X-CM-Score: 0.00 Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:33:02 -0400 From: Bob Meyer To: Julian Halton , DCCycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] My first collision - a true story I'm surprised no one has commented on what I consider the biggest mistake of all, and probably the primary factor in the accident:: ":The car accelerates I accelerate" When approaching traffic that's stopped, or slowing, you need to slow down, not accelerate. Drivers in situations like this are, as you have learned, highly unpredictable. Passing stopped or turning cars needs to be done with extra care. Unless you were accelerating from 2 mph to 10, it was the wrong thing to do. ---- Julian Halton wrote: > Monday 5:30 PM > Arizona Blvd heading North to Loughboro Road in NorthWest DC > > > I am on my 2006 R6 driving normally. I pass a speed trap on Canal Road. No problems there. I make the right onto Arizona and stop at the intersection of McArthur. Lots of trees, nice neighborhood. > Speed limit is 35. Arizona is a wide sweeping road that almost feels like it could be two lanes. I am accelerating up the hill.....behind two cars..I would say between 30' and 40' feet behind. > The car in front comes to a complete stop with no signal. The car behind slows. I (legally allowed) move to the right and roll on the gas to pass the two cars the first making a left turn. The second car suddenly swerves into my passing line. No problem. The car accelerates I accelerate. Car 2 slams on the brakes right beside the left turning car. Suddenly I am right there. I brake and brake hard. (front brake only). The steering goes mushy and I realize I am moments away from striking the rear right corner of car number 2. Do I stand the bike straight and take it head on or do I slide the bike putting the bike between the car and me. I choose option number two. Down we go and I am worried about my head striking the car. The bike makes light contact I feel pain and I am down and stopped. > > People are honking and trying to drive around. I get to my feet and check my helmet. I turn the bike off and stand there ...a little dazed. A police vehicle going the opposite way stops and an officer approaches. I try to lift my bike and cannot. The officer lays a flare and informs me she is calling for back up. Moments later a grizzled ivory haired officer arrives and starts asking for 'my story'. No one asks if I am okay despite the fact the right side of my Field Sheer mesh jacket is shredded on the shoulder and I am clearly in pain. He interrupts to say.....'got it ..so you struck the vehicle from behind'. I mention that there were two cars there and he argues that I am not telling the truth as it is a one way. Exasperated, I direct him to discuss it with the two ladies driving the cars that blocked me. > > Minutes pass, he returns..tells me what happened which was what I wrote about one car stopping and the other deciding to go around and come to a complete stop. I am at fault...failure to control my vehicle. > The lady in car two sees negligible damage to her vehicle and does not want an accident report. Office Silver Hair tells me if I can drive away he won't write a report or cite me. > Shaking, we lift the bike up and I manage to get it turned around and started. It was probably the worst ride ever getting back to my office. > > The damage: > Bike: can, front brake, bar end, front and right side plastics, rear plastic...a piece detached from whence I cannot determine. > Clothes: shredded right side arm and shoulder of jacket; rip in jeans and an exploded cell phone which probably prevented my leg from scraping. Right Held racing glove abraded. > Me. Slight sprain right thumb, hurts to move right arm, shoulder in pain, no apparent rotator cuff damage, slight abrasion on knee, hurts to inhale really hard. > > I may go to the doctor today. I realize that I was deep in thought about a work related problem and was planning out a discussion I needed to have at my second job. I thought I had a safe following distance as I never get 'close' to anyone's rear. Evidently my inability to stop shows this not to be true. The second driver and I did exchange information. She was actually apologetic. after deciding to go around the first car, she decided to slam on the brakes to give the driver of the first car a piece of mind. She got a piece of R6 instead. > > Lessons for me. > 1) When riding, think about riding. period > 2) re-learn safe following distance > > Thanks to my track habit I was under the illusion I could make lower speed stops on a dime. > > > Julian > _______________________________________________ > dc-cycles mailing list > dc-cycles@XXXXXX > http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles -- Bob Meyer, #1157, Fairfax, Virginia '01 Candy Dark Red ST1100, "teSTarossa" Life is all about ass... You're either covering it, laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it, trying to get a piece of it, or behaving like one. _______________________________________________ dc-cycles mailing list dc-cycles@XXXXXX http://dc-cycles.org/mailman/cgi-bin/listinfo/dc-cycles