Trajedy in Utah. Two people killed on a Bike

[Cdogman]

>>>>>>>>>>>>> Police are still searching for the driver who hit and killed two motorcyclist yesterday.

Roy Redmon and his wife, Mary Ann, of California were traveling south on I-15 and got caught up in the thick black smoke of the Milford Flat fire. They were either slowing down or stopped, when a vehicle hit them from behind, killing them. The driver who hit them left the scene. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

>> NOTE:: They were run over by 3 cars total <<

The fire that caused it clicky

I have been taught in heavy fog to split the difference in speed. If I am doint 60, Then split it and do 30 until I can make adjustments (get off the road safely) The reasoning behind the split is to help frontal collision avoidance as well as reduce the rear end collision hazard.

Then when off the road, extinguish all lights on the vehicle. This keeps someone from seeing you and thinking they are off the road and swerving to line up with you thinking they are supposed to be following your tail lights.

Anyone else??

How would you handle sudden loss of visibility on the road?

 

[dean]

hmmm, i had not heard the part about turning off lights once off the road. i would likely still leave them on. in fog (or smoke) this thick, there's not going to be much time for cars behind to see you, whether you're on the road or off, so i'd still want as much visibility as possible. with the fjr and it's hazard (blinker) lights, i might turn those on and get off the bike. i also have hyperlights (led brakes), i might even consider pulling as close to the guard rail as possible, hopping off, and then hopping over guardrail but still being close enough that i could continue to hit my brake lights. tough decisions...

a few months ago coming home on the interstate, there was a huge immediate stoppage of traffic, you know, you're just running along with the flow of traffic then all of a sudden people are hitting their brakes HARD, i am able to slow, but i check my six asap and i see cars coming up on me, so i immediately swerve left to the berm (i was in far left lane to begin with), and i see the possible cause---state trooper. he sees me swerve and thinks i'm trying to run around traffic by getting in the berm, he signals me over with "vigor", and once there starts laying into me, i stop him and tell him what i was doing was survival mode and explained what i saw in my mirrrors. i said it nice and easy, not using same volume, he understood and signaled me on.

 

[Cdogman]

hmmm, i had not heard the part about turning off lights once off the road. i would likely still leave them on. in fog (or smoke) this thick, there's not going to be much time for cars behind to see you, whether you're on the road or off, so i'd still want as much visibility as possible. with the fjr and it's hazard (blinker) lights, i might turn those on and get off the bike. i also have hyperlights (led brakes), i might even consider pulling as close to the guard rail as possible, hopping off, and then hopping over guardrail but still being close enough that i could continue to hit my brake lights. tough decisions...
a few months ago coming home on the interstate, there was a huge immediate stoppage of traffic, you know, you're just running along with the flow of traffic then all of a sudden people are hitting their brakes HARD, i am able to slow, but i check my six asap and i see cars coming up on me, so i immediately swerve left to the berm (i was in far left lane to begin with), and i see the possible cause---state trooper. he sees me swerve and thinks i'm trying to run around traffic by getting in the berm, he signals me over with "vigor", and once there starts laying into me, i stop him and tell him what i was doing was survival mode and explained what i saw in my mirrrors. i said it nice and easy, not using same volume, he understood and signaled me on.

I too have Hyper Lights on the back.

The theory is if the visibility is soo poor remaining hidden is the safest. They cannot do anything to avoid anything. They probably will not see you without your lights and pass right on by.

I am just restating what they taught is in the Military. That was how they taught is to handle no visibility situations

I too have had to "Hit the shoulder" not becuase I could not stop, but because I doubted the car behind me could. The car behind me could not, he too followed me to the shoulder and we stopped together, Briskly / but together. I do not know what would have happened otherwise...... Would he have smashed me or hit the shoulder by himself???

 

[bikeama]

hmmm, i had not heard the part about turning off lights once off the road. i would likely still leave them on. in fog (or smoke) this thick, there's not going to be much time for cars behind to see you, whether you're on the road or off, so i'd still want as much visibility as possible. with the fjr and it's hazard (blinker) lights, i might turn those on and get off the bike. i also have hyperlights (led brakes), i might even consider pulling as close to the guard rail as possible, hopping off, and then hopping over guardrail but still being close enough that i could continue to hit my brake lights. tough decisions...
a few months ago coming home on the interstate, there was a huge immediate stoppage of traffic, you know, you're just running along with the flow of traffic then all of a sudden people are hitting their brakes HARD, i am able to slow, but i check my six asap and i see cars coming up on me, so i immediately swerve left to the berm (i was in far left lane to begin with), and i see the possible cause---state trooper. he sees me swerve and thinks i'm trying to run around traffic by getting in the berm, he signals me over with "vigor", and once there starts laying into me, i stop him and tell him what i was doing was survival mode and explained what i saw in my mirrrors. i said it nice and easy, not using same volume, he understood and signaled me on.

TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. We get fog in the valley, 25 years ago two riders in Stockton pulled off the road in the fog on a freeway exit. They got off there bike and left the lights on so they could flag down some friends coming up behind them. They got to watch the Joy Bus (local sunday school) see the two lights on their bikes and cross off the road and run over both bikes!! No one was hurt two bikes totaled, bus driver said he was following the tail lights. I still remember coming by after the crash.

 

[SkooterG]

TURN OFF THE LIGHTS if pulled over.

In reduced visibility, a following vehicle having difficulty seeing where the road is will follow the lights.

 

[ionbeam]

Would this be one of those situations where one would use the four way flashers? :blink:

 

[SkooterG]

Would this be one of those situations where one would use the four way flashers? :blink:

NO.

For the same reason I describe above. Flashers - light beacon flashing the message .......*hit me*........*hit me*.........*hit me*.........

 

[Wolfhound]

What SkooterG said.

It's a common problem here in Arizona with dust storms and people pull over and leave foot on brake or lights on and it definetly will get you hit .. BIG NO NO

 

[twowheelnut]

They had the family on the local news last night. They were all saddened, but very upbeat about their folks life. Every family member rides. Everyone. I guess pops was one of those 1 percenters who even pissed motorcycles. More tragedy on top of tragedy: They lost a son in a MC accident just a few years before.

I hate to see this kinda stuff, but it looks like they left a great legacy...

 

[MCML]

Truely a sad, sad event.

I had not thought about hidden vs. visible if pulled off the road due to poor/no visibility. In skiing, we are taught to look at the spaces between the trees. In riding, we are taught that the bike goes where you look. After thinking about it, I would likely go with lights out, and probably leave the bike and move some distance away from the road, should such a scenario arise.

 

[vectervp1]

Ugh.... I hate to agree with Skooter, so instead I'll just agree with what FJRobet said.

 

[cougar8000]

Everyone is saying LIGHTS OUT, but I think what is implied is LIGHTS OUT once you stop. Current bikes are wired so you can't turn them off with out shutting down the ignition. until I am off I would hit the blinkers and be tapping the rear brake. Once off I would dismount the bike for sure.

As far as clear day and traffic does a total stop. I always hit the blinkers and watch my rear.

 

[wfooshee]

If blinkers weren't misused so much, I'd say park with blinkers. The ONLY place they're supposed to be used is when not moving and on or near the roadway, thus the term "hazard" flasher.

Too many people run with them because they have an "emergency," or drive with them because they think it increases visibility.

So, if they were used correctly, blinkers mean, "I'm stopped - don't come at these lights."

That said, I have to agree, pull it over to the rail or the edge of the shoulder, leave it dark and get away. If the ground off the shoulder is usable, get out there, even.

There's also "Do not drive into smoke or fog." I guess you're just supposed to wait it out or turn around.

 

[dbvolfan]

And I would add get on the other side of the guardrail if you do pull over for whatever reason in no/low visibility.

I pulled over in a torrential hailstorm ~3 weeks ago, under a bridge. Was joined by 5 other bike looking for shelter. They had their blinkers on AND were standing on the side of the road with their bikes while I stood on the other side of the rail....sure enough, someone who couldn't see, probably following their blinkers pulled in real fast under the bridge and almost took out the whole gang like bowling pins. He was able to slide to a stop on the other side of them but had a car been behind him it would have rear ended him and sent him into the crowd and bikes.

 

[Jetmaker737]

Make sure you know where you're jumping when you go over a guard rail. I remember an incident around here several years ago where a guy pulled to the side of the road at night in poor visibility and he jumped the guard rail. He was on an exit ramp, but it was one of those that loops way up. He fell like 40 feet to his death. hno-smiley02:

 

[dbvolfan]

Make sure you know where you're jumping when you go over a guard rail. I remember an incident around here several years ago where a guy pulled to the side of the road at night in poor visibility and he jumped the guard rail. He was on an exit ramp, but it was one of those that loops way up. He fell like 40 feet to his death. hno-smiley02:

Hate to say it but if that happens to you, your time was just plain up...talk about bad luck!

 

[radman]

I'm not so sure about the blinker ban. Nobody uses them anymore-from what I see few even know they have them, and those that do find them are unsure as to their purpose. Then again, one could hit by the curious seeking the source and wishing to acquire some for themselves..... :glare:

 

[Kevin Daly]

I also agree with scoot. It is a simple matter of human habits. Think about what you do as visibility conditions get worse when driving a car on the freeway in a rainstorm. the less you can see the more you focus on what is left red lights, white lines and road turtles.

That said what comes to mind when you see a single blinking orange/yellow light? baracades? maybe, just a thought...

 

[germany]

Kill the lights and absolutely get as far away from your bike/vehicle as possible.

Father's Day 2002 - My cousin's 5 year old son, husband and 19 year old step daughter were killed while they were standing outside of their vehicle on I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix when they got a flat tire. Another pickup lost control (also due to a flat), slammed into their car which in turn slammed into them. Her son was thrown over 100 feet into the desert and was killed instantly. Her husband died 12 hours later and her step daughter died four days later. My cousin was unscathed and I can't even imagine her horror on that day.

A few months later the county sheriff who side-swiped me (he was following too close in his lane) thought I was crazy as I scampered up a small embankment on the side of the road. I said 'Hey, people die standing on the side of the road". Then he had the nerved to run me for warrants!!