My roommate and myself were gasing up at the Race Trac on 192 by Michigan as we were putting on our gear we hear a "Boom". 

Roommate starts to run and I'm close behind it was a motorcycle Vs SUV. The Suv pulled out in front of the MC to do a U-turn he didn't have time to stop and T-boned the suv. He was unconscious when I got to him. We cleared the area and since he was breathing didn't touch him. Then I saw his shirt "motorcycle clinic" took a closer look at his face (had on a full face thank God) and realized it was Troy one of the guys that worked at the shop it is my second home. So, it really starts to hit closer to home. The woman in the Suv was on her cell phone the whole time never got off of it till the medics got there. Took about 15 minutes which in Kissimme where there are 22 stations within a 15 mile radius was quite unacceptable to me. They ended up life flighting him out. From my experience as an EMT he was in bad shape.


If Troy lives and I'm praying awful hard that he does his helmet saved his life. The force of imact was in the chin so a 3/4 helmet would have done nothing.


I guess two things I learned from this is ATGATT and there needs to be legislation against talking on cell phones in your car.
Mary

Quotethere needs to be legislation against talking on cell phones in your car.

Down here in Oz, we have said legislation. The Only thing the legislation does is, it allows the cops to Fine you and take Demerit Points from your license. I think the fine is $300. People don't use them any less - not even when they have blitzes where a cop will hide behind a bush and radio ahead to pull over those using cells.

We've had cyclists killed due to people texting while driving.

But you know. Operating a cell phone while driving is just one of many distractions. Parents turning their heads away to talk to kids, or looks at things kids show them, sees weaving. Tuning the radio. Changing the song on the MP3 player. Doing hair in review mirror. And some people face forward, are looking forward, and still have no idea. Legislating is not the answer. You cannot legislate against stupidity/idiocy/incompetence.

Michael

mary, i know this will be on TSB, and most likely the tribune. will you please link to those here, so folks can follow ?

hopes and prayers sent.

Well, at least if they are breaking a law they will get more than a pat on the head and a ticket for careless driving. Mythbusters did a special on the cell phone bit and it was just as bad as having two beers in you.

Kissimmee is the land of incompetent drivers and drivers from around the world. So, we are used to that but the cell phone and accident bit is in the paper nearly everyday. If they make it a primary offense like they have seatbelts it would be a start. I'm not saying no cell phones at all but at least a wireless device.

I guess what ticked me off the most is that she never got off the phone! Okay your on the phone but Goodness if you almost kill someone do them the dignity to continue the conversation later.

Good I'll link the article as soon as it comes out.

Mary

I am so sorry to hear this.  I know this feeling all too well.  A couple of years ago my mother-in-law was riding with her boyfriend on his motorcycle when a young woman texting on her phone pulled out through 3 lanes of heavy traffic, never looking who was even coming, and plowed into the side of them.  They were in the hospital for a while and are STILL recovering.  Fortunately for them most of the impact was to their legs and not their heads.  We will send our prayers for Troy and we hope he recovers!

I hope he pulls out of it.  Man i don't know how many time i have seen distracted drivers on cell phones here in South Carolina.  The cell phone is one of the great but also one of the worst inventions for motorcycles.  She should have hung up and call 911 than help out if she could. Where are peoples heads at now a days? Man this sucks to hear.  Hope all is well. Sorry.

Prayers and Positive Vibes sent for his quick and full recovery.
I agree, they really need to ban the cell phones and texting while driving.

Cell phones are illegal to use while driving here in NJ but most of the time cops still don't pull people over for it even though it is a primary offense.  Atleast with more and more new cars coming out with bluetooth built in to the car it will help a little bit but it still comes down to driver stupidity and their are plenty of other distractions while driving but atleast auto makers are aware cell phones are a big one right now and are incorporating bluetooth into most new cars.

Prayers out to Troy.

Talking (without a hands free unit) or texting on cell phones is illegal here in CA.  The problem is, even if you have a hands free device you are still very distracted.  It's not that you don't have both hands on the wheel, it's that you are not paying attention to the road.

Anyway, good thoughts to Troy I hope he recovers.

Hope Troy has a speedy recovery!

The UK has made driving whilst distracted an offense with a fine, includes phones, satnavs, stereos, food etc

yet I still see many people on the phone, touching satnavs etc

If you cause a accident while yaking on a cell phone it should carry the same weigh as if you  were pounding beers. You guys have no idea how bad the cell phone problem is until you come to Miami Dade county. It is simply amazing the arrogancy and incompetence that is exhibited on such a wide scale here.

I too would be interested in reading the news article about this accident. In my neck of the woods there have been four motorcycle fatalities in the past month. Each newspaper article reported that the riders were traveling at an "unsafe" speed.

Makes me wonder...unsafe as in over the speed limit...too fast for the weather...too fast for the traffic conditions...or just unsafe because any motorcycle accident must be the fault of the rider and therefore they were riding at an "unsafe" speed.

Quote from: XealotX on May 03, 2010, 04:10:21 PM
I too would be interested in reading the news article about this accident. In my neck of the woods there have been four motorcycle fatalities in the past month. Each newspaper article reported that the riders were traveling at an "unsafe" speed.

Makes me wonder...unsafe as in over the speed limit...too fast for the weather...too fast for the traffic conditions...or just unsafe because any motorcycle accident must be the fault of the rider and therefore they were riding at an "unsafe" speed.

When accident investigation cannot figure it out they deem it "unsafe speed". Logically, if the speed was safe, they would not have crashed, right? Then this becomes a Stat under "speeding" and more justification for Speeding Enforcement in all its guises.

You and I and everyone else knows... if speeding enforcement worked there would be no speed related crashes. That there are speed related crashes means, the enforcement is not working as claimed.

Just today it was announced in our state, the fatalities are down by 75 by the same number last year. Of course the cops have said it's because of their speed cameras and the like. Humph.

Michael

Mary, I hope your friend gets out of this OK!

Do you have any news on his condition?

I wish cell phones were totally banned from cars!

Well, Troy is breathing on his own. He has a traumatic brain injury, 6 broken ribs, a punctured lung, 17 screws in his right arm, crushed left hand. The plans were to reconstruct his hand on Monday and bring him out of sedation today to see how bad the tbi is. His helmet saved his life.

The woman told the cops she saw him but thought she could make it.  I hope they throw the book at her. I'll try to find out more when I get out of the hospital my heart went nuts last night.
Mary

good luck troy.



Thinking you could make it.... thats an excuse, not a reason. She'll be smacked around

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on May 04, 2010, 06:27:59 PM
The woman told the cops she saw him but thought she could make it. 

Translation: I saw him but figured, I am in a big mutha farkn fancy 4 wheel drive, so screw him.

Shorter translation: I saw him and didn't care.


Michael

Wow, sorry to hear that. My thoughts are with Troy and his family.  Sounds to me the typical SUV thinking: I'm bigger, they'll move for me because I'm more important.

Can you believe none of this made the local newspapers?!??!?! Local news was more concerned that Leesburg bike fest crime was up 2% this year and that tatoo artist were making money!

Mary