I neither have loud pipes or wear hi viz gear, and honestly can't remember the last time I had what I would even consider a close call. Black leathers, black helmet, blue bike, regular Silvania Silverstar ultra headlight, nothing special. I seldom ride in town other than passing through small burgs on the way to the sticks, so that may have a lot to do with it. Less opportunity. And I have a total distrust for my fellow road user. I see everybody and everything, and through the years have learned to read the language and predict what someone may/will do. Evade crisis before it becomes a crisis.
Around here cars are just one thing. You also have to deal with deer, dogs, occasional livestock (in one of my videos you'll see a large snapping turtle in the lane as I go by), and general pieces of vehicle laying in the road. Got to be able to react to a lot of things.
One of the biggest things I've seen people on bikes do that will make getting hurt a sooner or later for sure, is blindly ride into a busy intersection, trusting that everyone else will do the right thing. Zoom right through with someone waiting to pull out from the right and/or turn in from the left, and never even roll off the throttle, totally oblivious. I see the blank looks on their faces from the seat of my truck while waiting to make said left turn, focused straight forward, never even glance at me.
Hi viz gear looks impressive in the mirror and loud pipes will piss people off as you go by, but the business of keeping yourself alive and healthy ultimately falls on your riding skill and attention to surroundings.
Around here cars are just one thing. You also have to deal with deer, dogs, occasional livestock (in one of my videos you'll see a large snapping turtle in the lane as I go by), and general pieces of vehicle laying in the road. Got to be able to react to a lot of things.
One of the biggest things I've seen people on bikes do that will make getting hurt a sooner or later for sure, is blindly ride into a busy intersection, trusting that everyone else will do the right thing. Zoom right through with someone waiting to pull out from the right and/or turn in from the left, and never even roll off the throttle, totally oblivious. I see the blank looks on their faces from the seat of my truck while waiting to make said left turn, focused straight forward, never even glance at me.
Hi viz gear looks impressive in the mirror and loud pipes will piss people off as you go by, but the business of keeping yourself alive and healthy ultimately falls on your riding skill and attention to surroundings.