Woman passenger dies after bike hit from behind on Oregon coast

[LDRydr]

FLORENCE, Ore. -- The Oregon State Police says a 75-year-old woman has died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident north of Florence. Nancy Shimp of Springfield was on the back of a motorcycle operated by her husband, Robert. The motorcycle was hit from behind by a car as it was preparing to turn onto a U.S. 101 wayside. Robert Shimp was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene. The driver of the car was not injured in Saturday's collision. Police say no citations have been issued, but the investigation remains active.

This is the exact reason I have Hyper-Lite's on the back of my bike, and Motolight's in the front. Whether it's a brake-light in your Givi box, a headlight modulator, Hyper-Lite's on the back, or a Hi-Viz yellow jacket or vest, you'll be better off if you can improve your chances of being seen.

 

[SPORT]

Is there evidence suggesting the bike did NOT have Hyper-Lights?

 

[LDRydr]

No way of knowing, just a standard press-release about the accident.

 

[SkooterG]

To each his own.............

But I don't think Hyper-Lite's do squat in increasing visibility. Just my oberservations from riding behind them at times.

As for the article, it's kind of a stretch to make the connection that Hyper-Lites may have had any impact. IMHO.

 

[Curious in CT]

I've got one of These mounted just above my marker plate. So bright it's almost irritating, but nobody can say they didn't see me.

 

[dougc]

But I don't think Hyper-Lite's do squat in increasing visibility. Just my oberservations from riding behind them at times.

You must be absolutely blind. :blind:

This is one of my big bugaboos, getting rear-ended, hyperlites go a long way to increasing visibility day or night.

How can you miss the irritating blinking?

dougc

 

[k7lvo]

The bike was a 1500 Gold Wing. I don't know whether it had any extra lighting to the rear or not. The crash happened around 4:00 pm on Saturday, a warm, bright, clear afternoon. From what I understand there were no skid marks from the car. I've got a feeling that they would have been hit even if they'd been in a log truck.

More lights never hurt, but, IMO, the main lesson this time is to try to keep an escape plan/route and watch your mirrors closely until you have a couple of cars backed up behind you.

All of this is third-hand, but I understand that Bob has swelling of the brain to the point that some of his skull was removed to allow room for the swelling and there is very little measured brain activity.

 

[MojaveFJR]

Bottom line was the driver was inattentive.

Really tired of this crap with cagers getting away with, "I didn't see them". Start trying them for man-slaughter and see how they start paying attention.

RIP to the woman and may the husband heel soon and well.

 

[weekend rider]

Yes you can see hyper lites. Mine are mounted so the driver of a car or truck can see them very well from their driving position.

If he was in the middle of a turn, he most likely did not see him and there id no escape route when some one comming at you at 75mpoh rhip......

 

[James Burleigh]

Bottom line was the driver was inattentive.

Really tired of this crap with cagers getting away with, "I didn't see them". Start trying them for man-slaughter and see how they start paying attention.

RIP to the woman and may the husband heel soon and well.

This would be a good one for locals to inform AMA about.

 

[FJRScorpion]

It's difficult to see the traffic ahead if you're busy 'texting' your buddies!! :angry: I hope that wasn't the case!!

 

[RAVENRIDER]

The crash happened around 4:00 pm on Saturday, a warm, bright, clear afternoon. From what I understand there were no skid marks from the car. I've got a feeling that they would have been hit even if they'd been in a log truck.
More lights never hurt, but, IMO, the main lesson this time is to try to keep an escape plan/route and watch your mirrors closely until you have a couple of cars backed up behind you.

+1.

i've read cases of ambulances with lights on at full blaze being hit by inattentive cagers.

i keep an eye on the mirrors in case i have to dive for the side of the road (which is no guarantee).

it's bad enough as a rider, but the poor passenger is a sitting duck.

just too sad.

 

[BKR CHK]

I was rear ended riding my Yamaha VStar 1100 last June, that's how I got the FJR. I wes stopped in the road with 4 0r 5 cars in front of me. He hit me at about 25 mph I flew 10 feet from where my bike was and the bike slid 5 or 6 feet. He was an older person and said "he did not see me" whell what about the other cars in front of me. He was cited, and for me just some major bruses and a totaled bike, thank goodness ATGATT.

When I got the FJR my first farkel I got was the retro reflective decals on the saddle bags I also have installed a headlight modulator, but I only use it when I ride alone. I also wear a reflective vest purchased from my motorcycle club that I belong to. My next purchase will be the flashing brake Hyperlights.

After this accident I became a true beliver of ATGATT.

Lori

BKE CHK

 

[zenwhipper]

To each his own.............
But I don't think Hyper-Lite's do squat in increasing visibility. Just my oberservations from riding behind them at times.

As for the article, it's kind of a stretch to make the connection that Hyper-Lites may have had any impact. IMHO.

Au contraire mon frere! Hyper-Lits are highly visible and help tremendously! Especially, when they are set to blink for a few seconds and then stay on. Give em a try - what yah got to loose?

Scott

 

[Tenchi]

When I got the FJR my first farkel I got was the retro reflective decals on the saddle bags... I also wear a reflective vest purchased from my motorcycle club that I belong to.

My old rack bag came standard with the reflective decals, but they were only REALLY good at night. I also purchased a reflective vest as a "test" run from the local hardware store and surprisingly it had a massive difference at dawn and dusk - will definitely get a proper one when I go to the US. I worry that if they couldn't spot a Goldwing, what chance does a smaller vehicle like a FZ6 or Ninja250 stand? Goldwings aren't exactly small.

Best of luck to the rider, I hope he makes a full recovery, and RIP to the pillion...

 

[Silver Penguin]

All of this is third-hand, but I understand that Bob has swelling of the brain to the point that some of his skull was removed to allow room for the swelling and there is very little measured brain activity.

This is not good news. In my experience, it is only in the most serious cases of head injury that a bone flap is removed. Very little brain activity doesn't bode well for Bob either. I trust that he is getting good care, and hope and pray that he will make a full recovery.

For our recent road trip, Andy put hyperlites on both bikes. On the K1200S, his were super-poke-your-eyes-out-bright but mine were so-so. He changed the position of the FJR lights slightly and now they are as bright as his. I also have reflective decals on the bags, wear a white/pale pink helmet and the loudest lime-green jacket you ever did see.

Despite all of the efforts to makes oneself visible, there are some drivers who just don't get it. I got rear-ended in an F150, with the lights on, by a kid who didn't even brake from 60mph. He didn't notice that I had stopped?????? Sorry kid, but the other moron who didn't see me, and made a half-assed left turn in front of me, then stopped in the middle of the road. The rider-radar warned me that he might do something like that, so I was already covering the brake.

Jill

 

[cctxfjr]

To each his own.............
But I don't think Hyper-Lite's do squat in increasing visibility. Just my oberservations from riding behind them at times.

As for the article, it's kind of a stretch to make the connection that Hyper-Lites may have had any impact. IMHO.

my 2 cents worth I think they are a great addition-I first noticed them on federal border patrol vehicles on the south TX border ( no they were not emergency strobe lights but rather hyper type brake lights--one of the agents said they added to prevent rear end accidents as they often made fast unplanned stops) and I was impressed how bright they were- several of my non biker family members remarked how the bright "blinky" red lights I put on my FJR caught their eye when following me in a car

 

[Kaelaria]

I said it before and I'll say it again. You can have the biggest, baddest brightest rear lights on the planet and they aren't worth squat. People don't LOOK that's why they slam into the rear of us. So go ahead and spend money on whatever products give you the warm and fuzzy. It won't make a driver look up from the radio/makeup mirror/floor/rear seat an magically not hit you. It just means when you are hit you'll have a super cool warm and fuzzy feelin givin light on your mangled bike.

 

[SkooterG]

I am just saying that after riding behind SEVERAL bikes that have had these I was underwhelmed enough so that I know I'll never have them. Sure they blink. Sure they are extra light. But they are small, and in my opinion, don't do much to actually increase visibility from any kind of distance. Sure, up close they have that bling factor. Woo-hoo.

I will say I have seen Goldwings with all those bazillion extra lights that definitely DO increase visibility IMHO.

And for argument's sake, something that draws a driver's attention is not always a good thing IMHO. It gives them a target to aim for.

Let's face it, folks just 'don't see'. It ain't just motorcycles. Cars get rear ended all the time - and that is not a question of visibility.

Sure, it never hurts to add something to increase your survival odds, I just personally am of the opinion that these HyperLites don't add much to the equation. For those that feel differently, and love them, all the more power to you.

I think reflective material on your body and helmet- things that make you look bigger, do a lot more for you than blinky LEDs.