Motor officer gets clobbered

[FJR_pig]

Link to local news site which has a recently released video of one of our local Hillsboro motor officers in the wrong place at the wrong time this past November. The motor officer had a dash cam mounted on his bike. I'm told thru co-workers that the motor officer has recovered, but his bike...not so much. Give those guys some room if you see 'em with a violator on the side of the road.

Ouch!

 

[wfooshee]

For the life of me I've never understood how anybody can do that. The flashing lights are visible from adjacent counties, so even if you're not very attentive at the wheel, you should have a clue for a couple minutes ahead of time that it's up there. I know, I'm working under the assumption that people understand why the windshield is transparent, but geez!

I hope some jail time was involved for the offender.

If you get pulled over, pull WAY the F*** over and give the guy some room. He'll notice, and he'll appreciate it.

 

[ponyfool]

That lady says, "He was weaving, then he hit you"

Check out the related link on the same page that shows how much room that moron had before actually plowing into the back of the motorcycle: https://www.kgw.com/video/raw-index.html?nvid=227108

 

[Fred W]

With as numb as the average driver is today, standing that close to the side of the road with your back toward the oncoming traffic? That cop had some serious cohones. Then after he gets clobbered he's just like, "aw, aw, man..." I'd probably have been wimpering like a little puppy...

I know we have to get the bad drivers, but maybe they should come up with a better plan than putting the officers in danger like that...

 

[Murph]

How many times have we seen these videos of "close calls"?? Who are these people that don't use common sense to make some space?!!?

 

[cougar8000]

Sad, very sad. But if they d not see BIG RED truck with lights, how can we expect them to see a bike???

We all know what needs to change to have people think. It is called consequences, and so far those are really not existent. I am referring to the driver that hits.

Glad t hear that guy has recovered.

 

[03silverbullet]

Thats why here in ca. the cop goes to the passenger side!

 

[airboss]

How many times have we seen these videos of "close calls"?? Who are these people that don't use common sense to make some space?!!?

Sad, very sad. But if they d not see BIG RED truck with lights, how can we expect them to see a bike???
We all know what needs to change to have people think. It is called consequences, and so far those are really not existent. I am referring to the driver that hits.

Glad t hear that guy has recovered.

Good News that he's going to recover.

Illinois has had a "move right for flashing lights law" on the books for a couple of years now. From what I see on the street it's not a 100%, but it helps.

 

[SockMonkey]

I recall reading an article about what causes this type of accident not that long ago. Apparently, events like this are more common than people realize. In interviews conducted with the people driving the vehicles that have collided with the stopped (and fully lit-up) police motorcycle or car, many actually did see the lights well ahead of the collision (many were simply not paying attention or momentarily distracted). In cases where the drivers admitted to seeing the stopped motorcycle or car, the authors suggested that these collisions are the result of a form of target fixation - little different from the fighter pilot that flys the plane right into the ground. I'm certainly not suggesting that's what happened in this particular case, but I suppose the target fixation hypothesis is plausible...

 

[7xray]

Sad, very sad. But if they d not see BIG RED truck with lights, how can we expect them to see a bike???

Research seems to be showing these "impaired" drivers are drawn to the lights and recommendations to emergency service providers is to tone down the lights at a scene. Red seems especially attractive, yellow less so. I guess its kind of like target fixation that we need to watch out for on the bikes.

Cheers,

Fred

 

[2WheelTiger]

I read a report a couple of years ago that 56 people were killed while stopped at the side of the highway by this type of collision. The data was for one year in Dallas County, TX ONLY!

 

[wfooshee]

Sad, very sad. But if they d not see BIG RED truck with lights, how can we expect them to see a bike???

Research seems to be showing these "impaired" drivers are drawn to the lights and recommendations to emergency service providers is to tone down the lights at a scene. Red seems especially attractive, yellow less so. I guess its kind of like target fixation that we need to watch out for on the bikes.

Cheers,

Fred

I've noticed lately that Florida Highway Patrol has used several different colors in the last couple of years. The normal blue we're all familiar with (although I'm old enough to remember red gum-machine lights), then yellow to the rear, blue to the front, and now a lot of them are red again. Apparently trying to gather data on exactly what you described.

 

[Niehart]

And once again, thanks god for good boots, helmets, etc.

 

[madmike2]

Many of you know that I drive for a living. I am almost hardened to what the average driver does at the sight of a police officer having pulled a car over.

I ALWAYS turn on my signal and move 1/2 lane over to give them "safety" room (I do the same if someone is changing a tire or has broken down). I've had people try to pass me on the right shoulder...can you say "Stoopid"?

Most cars will not even slow down or give room for an officer. I've seen cars refuse to give right-of-way when an officer is obviously pulling a car over. It is as though people intentionally ignore what is happening around them in traffic so they don't have to give up their "space". duh-umb!!

Uhm, I suppose we don't even have to visit dialing the cell phone or getting the last french fry from the serving carton???!!!???

After viewing the link Ponyfool gave us, that guy was doing more than "weaving", he's 1 1/2 car widths out of the lane. He's obviously a danger to others and not in control of his vehicle (What a concept...the driver is the guidance system for the "missle" they are riding in). I hope they "throw the book" at him!

 

[dcarver]

I've tried twice but can't view the video on my Inet connection.

When Fjr_Pig mentioned Hillsboro... well that makes it REAL for me.

Last summer I had freakin drunk damn near take me out in Hillsboro while on the FJR.

A local LEO saw my evasive manuver and was quick to get on my butt, thinking I was playing rude in traffic. I made several 'articulated gestures' indicating a drunk driver in the car directly in front of me, the guy who almost hit me, and officer was quick on his tail. Several miles up the road the car and driver was pulled over. I stopped, asked if he needed any info from me, the answer was no, this guy was so over the limit it was a 'closed case'.

My hats are off to MOST Leo's... [SIZE=8pt](not all, but MOST)[/SIZE] and in all cases, give the officers room for safety.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

About the same time last year a local cop was stopped at a red light at a four way major intersection. Lady plowed into him from his 6 o'clock...he had to take a week off but ATTGATT saved him.

In the video, the officer says he pulled the guy over for "failure to maintain". What is that and why would it be ironic? From the officer's tome I infer he thought it ironic....

I always give stopped vehicles (police or otherwise) a wide berth -- never know what they are doing or might do to inadvertently endanger others.

 

[gypsy]

I assume "Failure to Maintain" meant going too far below the posted limit. I thought "YES" someone finally got pulled over for this.

Mike mentioned people passing on the right shoulder. Damn I hate that. Once, just once, I did witness some justice in this regard. I was in a huge traffic jam and I look in my right mirror and sure enough here comes a van barreling up the shoulder. I am sure I thought bad things about him but what else can you do? Just as he was nearing me the car in front of me decides to pull the same stunt and zips onto the shoulder without looking. As you can imagine the van piles on the brakes but not in time to avoid the car and they both bounce down the bank. We stopped and checked it out and all were fine but lots of body damage to the vehicles. Not too often though that there is an accident where both parties get their comeuppance.

gypsy

 

[Toecutter]

On our way back from Reno Thursday, on I-80, I spotted a motor officer going the opposite direction, possibly NHP, with a white full-face helmet on. That was a first for me.

 

[Kevin Daly]

you know that **** is just unbelievable! It never ceases to amaze me how disconnected people are behind the wheel (and thats before gettting to the bar). never trust ANYONE on the raod.

reminds me of a saying an Russian friend told me while drinking too much and playing in the atlantic surf in Marineland FL. he said "never turn your back on the sea"

-k