Modern Vespa

After reading some of the posts about members hurt, or killed while riding their scooters I got wondering about something.
Everyone hears about the drunk drivers - many studies about how dangerous it is, I bet everyone knows someone personally who had run in w/ drunk driver. But what about the distracted driver? Are there any studies to see how many injuries or deaths have been caused by distracted drivers?
Over the years, I've seen drivers eating, reading books, papers, magazines, fussing w/ hair/makeup and even one guy shaving. Past few years almost everyone is on the cell phone, talking or texting. I just don't get what is soo blasted important that it can't wait!
When I was taking flying lessons, my instructer was an ex-marine. He impressed how much fun flying is, but that you must always be paying attention, to your instruments, to conditions around you on the ground, to the weather, everything. He pushed if you get distracted easily, or just want to look at the "scenery" to save your money. He was tough, but then when you look at what could happen by not paying attention - it's not a fun option. I loved flying, I actually had by student pilot license & then full license before I got my drivers' license. (instead of driving & paying for beat up car & insurance, I used the extra money for flying).

What I'm getting at is those lessons apply just as much to driving, whether a car, truck, scooter as it does to flying. Take care of your equipment, pay attention to everything when using it, and you'll get pleasure and lessen your chances of causing or being in an accident.

I agree. I run a heart-lung machine as my chosen profession, and that requires 100% concentration and dedication to the task at hand. Before bypass, after bypass - those are the times we joke around, turn up the music, etc. When I'm on pump, I don't even like people near me, let alone trying to interact with me verbally unless it's directly related to the surgery. I try to apply that same focus and attention when on my Vespa, and it does drive me a certain degree of batshit crazy when I see others not paying attention.

Equally as bad as the inattentiveness of many drivers is the false sense of entitlement that seems to go along with it in many cases.

They're the drivers who roll right through the stop sign because the other guy should be the one to stop. They're sure that "driver to the right goes first" when you arrive at the intersection at the same time doesn't apply to them because they're in a hurry.

They're the sloppy drivers who swing wide on the turns and almost take you out because nobody should have been using the oncoming lane when they decided round the corner off their turn. They're the ones that stop abruptly in the middle of the street because they missed their turn and couldn't possiby pull over or go around the block.

You get the idea.

Perhaps if everybody had to ride on two wheels for a while and learn to be hyper-attentive the general level of driving would improve.

I sometimes think the only thing you need to do to pass a driving test these days is to choose the picture of a car out of a selection of three pictures...and the other two are vegetables. Sigh.

I say we mod out our scoots with a pair of 45 caliper machine guns, and declair open season on such bad drivers. If nothing else it would get rid of a lot of cages and cagers..

Its scary to be near distracted drivers. I also hate when cagers are in a rush to work because it's almost 8 am and they might be a few minutes late if they stop for the freshly turned red or look before pulling out. That was how I got hit.

It's a sad fact, that for most people, driving, like so many activities we do routinely, acquires a degree of 'automaticity' where our muscles remember what to do so well, our brains tend to wander.
I have been guilty of this on a few occasions, where I get off at the exit I take for work, simply because I am so used to doing so, even though my destination is further up the road.
That is different than just plain bad drivers, people, who routinely make poor judgements as to speed, distance and space.
Not everyone is able to safely operate 3,000 + lbs of machinery, but sadly, we lack effective mechanisms for getting the truly incompetent off the road once they pass that first driver's license test.

Maybe you should have to ride a scooter or motorcycle for 2 years before getting your drivers license. Then, when all of the teenagers are getting hurt, people will start paying attention This was a bit tongue-in-cheek. I have a 3 year old that I would not want to see hurt. However, he will have to be God in a car or on a 2 wheeler before he's let out alone.

Agree to first part of your statement...we really need to develop a stronger Public Service annoucement on Bicycle, Moped, Scooter and MC awareness...yes we need to include bicyclist (I was once an avid bicyclist..then it just got too darn scary).

I think we should mount cameras on our scooters and take photos of all the cagers who are talking on cell phones, putting on make up, reading maps, etc. Then send the photos to the police, along with photo of license plate. THAT might get them to pay attention!

Laura

I've decided to order one of these to keep the inconsiderates at bay. Should be here by the end of the month. Watch yourself if you get to the Carolinas!

Thats interesting. Before bypass and after bypass, I am 100% focused on my job. When the bypass machine starts, I revert to cruise control. Can you guess what my profession is? LOL

Gas passer! Be nice and bring your perfusionist coffee back from the break room when you step out.

Hey, those open heart cases are the only surgeries where I can let someone else be responsible for keeping the patient alive for a little while. I'll bring you all the coffee you want.

Apparently, driving with a cellphone is the distraction equivalent of driving drunk.

NY Times article- Drivers and Legislators Dismiss Cellphone Risks

I did not go riding as planned today. I haven't ridden much in the last 3 weeks. I doubt I'll be riding much in the near future. I have all but given up using the scooter as a means to do errands. There are too many effin' idiots on the road to be anywhere near safe. Until North American traffic legislators, politicians, judges etc begin to take driving education and traffic law enforcement seriously we are going to see more and more people hurt, maimed and killed. There is no need for the reckless, dangerous driving I see every minute of every day on the roads, it is borne purely out of bad attitude, laziness and weak education. I'm getting close to packing everything up moving back to the woods and riding dirt bikes. The traffic these days is just too much for me.


End of rant.

Seriously, the drivers education in the US is a complete joke. When I took it a long time ago, it was all about parking and turn signals. No car control. No situational awareness. Nothing on defensive driving, lane usage, driving in rain or snow.

And once you get your license here you have it for life unless you get 5 or 6 tickets. You never take another driving test until you die....

It is no wonder that they are trying to kill us!!

I think a good start would be teaching drivers something about driving!

I always felt that driving was a privilege and that most people never appreciated how deadly cars can be. However, I never really understood what I did not know until I started doing track events in a car. People at work sometimes think I am boastful, but I know my limitations in a car, particularly my cars, and know their limitations, for the most part, are way below mine. I also know that I have an incredibly long ways to go in a car, much less on a scooter. I think I am actually fairly humble, and I am hoping that this helps save my life on the scooter, along with proper training, practice, and time. I think of the things that I can do in a car, especially on the track, and I know that I do not have the skills or abilities to do that now on a scooter.

Years ago I took an Advanced Highway Driving class up at Sears Point Raceway (now called Infineon Raceway) and it was an eye opener. Great in car experience - including on the "skid pad" - plus an ingenious exercise where you kept driving through a three slot "gate" at increasing speeds, never knowing if all lights would stay green or if one or more would turn red. You had to swerve and go through a green gate if the one you'd planned to pass through turned red...or come to a stop if they all turned red.

It was humbling for everyone in the class - particulary the hot-shot middle-aged Porsche drivers in the group - to discover the relatively low rate of speed at which consistent success through the course was no longer possible.

They taught us to constantly be aware of the traffic around us and to be aware of our escape routes should there be a sudden need to take evasive action. And they stressed repeatedly that a driver's job behind the wheel was to drive. Period.