Is it just me?

Question

I always believed that the majority of car-on-bike accidents were caused by the driver of the car.But by the questions being asked I'm really starting to wonder if it's just plain ignorance by some of these so called riders.Anyone else starting to wonder too?

Some of the questions asked are so unbelievable.Surely these people cannot be trying to ride a real motorcycle.

Answer 1

wait until summer time then your question will be answered.
you can tell who the new riders are.i know this one girl who
went through the msf course and she still couldn't shift or
down shift its all about the money.that test is a joke.instead
of down shifting they just pull in the clutch and wear their brakes
out. what happens when the brakes go.we will see.

Answer 2

Personally, I survive and learn based on the basic idea that Every crash (of mine) is my fault. Including when I was rear-ended by a drunk driver... if I'd been scanning my mirrors more regurlarly and not following the vehicle in fromt of so closely, I probably would have noticed the car closing on me at an alarming rate and gotten the hell out of the way... or at least if I Hadn't seen, and been back from the car I was following, then I wouldn't have gotten pushed into them and the bike would have been salvageable.

But that did teach me a lesson (after only 4 years of riding, and 1/2 season of roadracing), and I managed to keep an eye on the mirror ever after and have avoided at Least 2 more rear-ends (one where the car behind nailed the car that was infront of me at more than 30mph worth of speed difference).

Same goes for the time I was hit while sitting in the left turn lane, I was on the far left side and some guy who couldn't bother to wait in line swerved into what he thought was an open space and nailed me. I learned that I need to make myself as visible as possible to those kindas of asholes by sitting out on the Right side of the lane.

Those accidents were MY fault for being inattentitive. The same can be said for about 90% of motorcycle accidents IMHO. If the Rider was being attentive and not doing something stupid/illegal, the accidents most likely would have been avoided. I know this is FAR from a 'popular' answer, but maybe some of you will think about this. Just because a car does something stupid and causes an accident does NOT mean that YOU couldn't have avoided it by being more aware.

Answer 3

alcohol+2 wheels ='s virtual suicide. i've seen guys pound a couple beers back, and hit another bar. after that 1, i'm surprized they can even hold the bike up in the lot much less on the road.
seems to me that another main reason riders go down is rookies who've never been on a bike period, jump on 1 of these high powered crotch rockets; 600cc and up....just because their friends have them, try to come into a corner like they do with no training, panic, and seal their fate by hittin the brakes leaned over. i see so many posters on here that sound 100% noob INSISTING on gettin these high powered machines. they refuse to listen to the hardcore facts that: the first 6 months is statistically deadly for rookies, and crotch rockets 500cc and up are very unforgiving. instead of listening, they learn the hard way when the bike throws them off on the 1st mistake.

then u got the rider's that just dont pay attention like they should to the smallest detail. everything is important. at speed, time can mean the difference from going home in a box, or havin a good time.

Answer 4

My job has me driving about 40,000 miles a year. I see more than my share of idiots in cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The worst drivers are the ones in a big hurry to get somewhere.
I always have a little bit of fear when I'm riding, not enough so I don't enjoy it, but it's there. The thing that scares me the most is sitting at a stop light with no stopped cars behind me.

Answer 5

The reports that I've seen show that the mahjority of accidents happen to the sport bikes and to riders with no experience. Cars do add way to many to the totals though, just because they don't "see" the bike, or just don't care.
Alot of accicents could be avoided if the rider was paying more attention to the road, or had more experience on the road and on the bike.
To many older people buying big cruisers that have never been on a bike, and to many young riders on crotch rockets that are way overpowered for their capabilities. These are the majority of the accidents

Answer 6

I think most wrecks are caused by inattention, both on the part of the rider and the driver. Since there are so very many more cars around, and since the consequences of a wreck are so much more severe for bikes, we hear about the motorcycle wrecks a lot more. But if you look at the number of accidents in a day, car-on-car and car-on-stationary account for nearly all of them.
I have been riding nearly 30 years now, and in the early days, I rode year-round. I have had maybe four bad wrecks ... ALL of them my fault, caused by riding over a patch of ice or a patch of sand on asphalt or a spot of oil on the roadway.
I have since switched to riding in/driving cars for bad weather, and (knock wood) haven't had a wreck in about seven years. But that is because I assume EVERY car is going to hit me. That cager WON'T stop at the sign or light. That lady WILL switch into my lane without signalling. That fellow backing out of his driveway WON'T yield to me.
This attitude may seem paranoid, but it seems to have worked pretty well. I know that sometime there may be a car that rams me at a stoplight, but I try to watch my rear-view mirror.
Bikes are great fun, but they are not for the inattentive. A dozy driver can have a minor (or even a major) accident and only his insurance suffers paying for the dents. A sleepy biker is headed for the organ harvest.
Cheers.

Answer 7

I believe it is the IGNORANCE of the person behind the wheel. More then once on my Big Vulcan 2000FI (shield, bags and backrest, etc.) in the left lane on the Hwy. for more then a mile or two the car on my right never looked over there left shoulder to see if it was clear to change lanes.

I was riding side by side with some of these autos with those IGNORANT DRIVERS and just held my finger in on that horn button and to no avail. I ended up going over the yellow line into the shoulder with my loud horn and they never look. Those drivers are in fantsay land and have no clue to whats around them.

Answer 8

I've had three major wrecks on bikes, none were my fault, First one I was sitting still and some a..hole in a civic decided to pull into the parking lot that I was waiting to pull out of, he was driving way too fast and run me down. Second was a woman that pulled out of a parking lot in front of me, I hit her drivers fender and went over the hood. Third one I was sitting at a red light and got smoked from the rear.
I see it all the time, bikers driving like idiots but it's not safe to assume all are at fault.

Answer 9

I think you got it right with the "so called" part.
Many of these people don't ride.
As far as the car drivers, you should read some of the questions.........and the answers too, in Safety.
Every car/bike wreck I've seen was the fault of the car. The guy in the guardrail... that was his fault.

Answer 10

to quote bash -

"It is usually the fault of the rider."

Look at the stats. NHTSA

"They seem to think that basic traffic laws do not apply to them. For instance, running red lights because they are on a bike or driving between the lanes of cars during traffic."

In California I see more minivans run red lights than anyone else. Also in California it is LEGAL to "split lanes" Its in the CVC as lane sharing.

"just because they can fit. They don't even realize that people driving cars are not looking for some random bike or motorcycle rider to be driving between the lanes or running red lights."

Responsible drivers are aware of conditions around them. Thus aware of motorcycle riders. Its car drivers too busy on the cell phone, yelling at the kids, listening to the Ipod to pay attention to that single headlight.

The most aware and focused drivers are on a motorcycle, since we ride in fear of car drivers, not paying attention.