Texas crash - what would you do.

[midlifer]

Guys,
don't know if anyone saw

this

this

Interested in views of forum members as to what they'd do if it looked like they were going to be hit from behind when stationery - ditch the bike and jump, or try to take off and lane split round the vehicle in front to get out of the way?
When stopped i always keep scanning my mirrors - the vulnerability of being hit from behind has always given me the sh*ts.

[tripod]

If you ride smart, you always leave yourself an "out".

I always try to have an open space beside me, the median, a lane, something, and be aware of what is around me.

This rider actually had opportunities to pull to the left of the car in front of him, but he was probably focused on the car in front, locked his rear, and was unaware of what was going on behind him.

If he had just pulled left to the wall, he probably would have not been hit.

[philb]

You should always be looking for escape routes when riding. I would certainly dodge and lanesplit as needed. Here in CA, I wouldn't have been in that position in the first place, as lanesplitting is legal. Elsewhere, I'll still take my safety over the law, every time.

When stopped, you should, as much as possible, always be in gear with the clutch pulled, and keeping an eye on your mirrors, ready to dodge if necessary.

PhilB

[Duc4Duc]

Excerpted quote from a news article:

"I was about five to 10 minutes from being home. I passed this car, the car that actually rear ended me... As I passed them, the people in front of me started slowing down," he [motorcyclist] said.

I'm not suggesting that this is the scenario here, but many of us can probably recall during Driver's Ed class that it usually takes two tailgaters to cause an accident. Without doubt, it's almost impossible to keep that 3+/- second buffer between self and vehicle in front, especially in the congested cities that some of us inhabit. Though I've had my moments, my relative inexperience on a bike causes me to ride quite conservatively leaving gaps so I can slow gradually, especially in typical commuter stop-n-go traffic.

That said, there will always be those instances when a vehicle operator just does not slow or brake, causing a rear end collision. It appears that this unfortunate rider is struck with such force that braking or slowing by offender didn't occur. I think that's why we call them accidents. I guess we subscribe to these risks each time out. Evasive or emergency maneuvers are more easily planned when in hindsight.

What has me most curious and concerned is that the offender was apparently unlicensed and uninsured.

'The driver of the car that hit Perez was driving with no license and no insurance. Perez is upset that he wasn't arrested.'

"It just baffles me…I think he should have got arrested," he said.

[MeanMonster]

Ya that sucks... You guys seen the one were the guy gets run over from behind by a 18 wheeler? Graffic shit.

[SDRider]

Honestly, the first thing I would have been thinking of is what was coming at me from behind. I usually favor one side of the lane so I probably would have just swerved into the gap between cars instead of locking up the rear wheel. That way the idiot who wasn't paying attention would have plowed into the car and not sandwiched me in between.

I lane split as a rule of thumb on the freeways here though so I'm always looking at slowing traffic as an opportunity and not an oh shit moment.

[Benivel]

This is my biggest fear. I am also in Dallas so this one hits home. I make it a point to always signal the driver behind me to stay back at least 5 seconds. A fist up in the air and the universal sign for "stay back" are usually all it takes from waking a cager up and take them from a life threat to an active safety. Also obviously maintain about 5 seconds or more b/w the car ahead of you. Ride safe! I hate to see this video, honestly.