So I've been cut off twice today by two different cars pulling into my lane, one of them not even using a signal. It's either they knew I was there but decided to cut me off anyway cause I'm on a bike after all, or none of them check their blind spots and should a) get their license taken from them or b) have to do a driver safety course. I think a driving course should be MANDATORY for all call drivers. If it's stressed on us so much, then they should have to do it too. And for those people that think we should be banned from public roads, the car drivers, they can kiss my a$$.

Quote from: rock_rebel on August 26, 2010, 01:23:19 PM
So I've been cut off twice today by two different cars pulling into my lane, one of them not even using a signal. It's either they knew I was there but decided to cut me off anyway cause I'm on a bike after all, or none of them check their blind spots and should a) get their license taken from them or b) have to do a driver safety course. I think a driving course should be MANDATORY for all call drivers. If it's stressed on us so much, then they should have to do it too. And for those people that think we should be banned from public roads, the car drivers, they can kiss my a$$.

wait for a redlight then wheelie over their hood and smash the windshield.

wait, that's too extreme. just take off a mirror and smile.

I have only been riding since the end of June and it has happened to me multiple times. I hate driving on the freeway cause of it. I had some lady merge on to the freeway about ten yards in front of me, I was catching up, and when I got up so I was level with her front door she just decided to come over into my lane. She did not bother checking at all, she could have seen me without turning her head thats how far forward I was.  

Like you mentioned, I hate when people dont use their signals, like no big deal. I think i get so annoyed because when I was in high school I had a friend who never used their signal and one day I brought it up and they were like, you never need to, there is no reason too. Maybe not for you but for everyone around you who is not expecting you to turn there is. I now know that it is that mentality that those people have and its really annoying.

Right on red arrows is another thing that people tend to miss the concept of. You cannot turn right on a red arrow(at least in MA) thats why its a red arrow and not a circle. At the mall I go to I have to go left across a three lane road who have a Red Arrow while my arrow is green. Well some people think that they can go when its red, and multiple times people have pulled out while I was coming across their lanes and almost T boned me and then honked at me for cutting them off, its amazing.

Sorry for the rant but your post just made all the things that piss me offf about drivers come to mind.

Jay

That was my purpose, haha. All these stupid motorcycle accidents which 98% of them are caused by stupid people not checking their blind spots. Then all of a sudden it's the motorcyclist at fault. Someone is then mouthing off with the bag of air they have for a head, on the radio or TV wanting motorcycles banned from public roads. Why can't we ban cars instead? I'm sure if the roads were occupied by bicycles and motorcycles there would be a lot less accidents. But then you'll have those that drink or do drugs and then think it's ok to go for a ride. As you can see I like to rant too 

I think courses and proper instructor based courses should be for ANY vehicle you drive/ride on the road and you should have to do updates on the courses. Its stupid that license are handed out and the most you have to do is renew them and that's just so they can make more money of it. Whats the point of the flippin' license.
I wish in Australia we actually had public transport that was even remotely worth catching to get rid of some car drivers and then we could make the license getting CORRECT. Make them do defensive driving, make them demonstrate etc. Now they keep jacking up the required hours a learner needs to do. How does that make them better? If they are taught wrong all that does is REALLY reinforce their bad habits. Its a f%$king joke.
I didn't realise how bad a drive I was till I went for my Medium Rigid truck license and I was taught a bucket load of defensive driving techniques that should have been taught to me as a car driver. It was the same for bike license I could see things they were taught that should be taught to car drivers. Why was I not taught any of this as a car driver?
I am thankful I've always wanted to learn more about driving and have done advance driving etc and plan to do stay up right riding courses to continually improve my riding and driving.

Not that I've finished ranting, I find all to often people believe I'm a soft target being on the motorbike and with P plates and try to merge on me all the time. Makes me very mad. Makes me want to go medieval on the arse.

avoid riding in their blind spots    I've only ever had 1 close call and I've been riding for 4 years.  Just some jack leg pulled out in front of me.  I just ride like I'm completely invisible and I expect every cager to come into my lane with no signal at the worst time.  When you expect it and it happens its easier to keep your cool.   

Quote from: Shaddow on August 31, 2010, 07:12:09 PM
I think courses and proper instructor based courses should be for ANY vehicle you drive/ride on the road and you should have to do updates on the courses. Its stupid that license are handed out and the most you have to do is renew them and that's just so they can make more money of it. Whats the point of the flippin' license.

Not that I've finished ranting, I find all to often people believe I'm a soft target being on the motorbike and with P plates and try to merge on me all the time. Makes me very mad. Makes me want to go medieval on the arse.

First of all, rants keep the thread moving.
Not always a bad thing, IMHO 

Second. . .
More government control is the last thing you need in your life.
Go easy on the requests for Mandatory Government Testing, or mandatory anything for that matter.
Some Pompous Elite Government Agency really cant help me when I'm out in traffic.
Besides; the stupid people will continue to wreck and blame it on others, and the intelligent people will do fine on their own. Natural selection works quite will without our dear omnipotent government helping.

Closing thought. . .
Judging from what has been posted thus far, I would say that this group is very safe because they (we) all seem very aware of what's needed to survive out there.
Peace, (and a cold pint!) 
-Ej-

It is really amazing watching how some people drive.  The no signal drives me flipping insane too.  I try my hardest not to pace any car especially in their blind spot.  (because they probably won't check it anyway)

The red arrow right is very annoying and dangerous too.  Here's another for you.  I have not seen this ever done except in the town I am living in.  The left turn signal arrow is red.  People pull a damn U turn just as if they were turning right on red.  WTF???  Has anyone else ever seen this?

My rear turn signals are out at the moment so I'm using hand signals to compensate. Do drivers even know what hand signals are? I'm assuming most don't. That's a scary thought.

Hand signals are a thing of antiquity.  U-Turns on red arrow I see in Tucson once in a while. (We only have a couple of intersections with red arrow.)   The thing that gets me is the "Right turn on red- failure to yield to the guy making the U-turn."  I see that ALL the time here.. and have almost been in a couple of collisions from people making that right turn without EVER EVEN SEEING ME (IN MY CAR!) 

Yeah that one bugs me too.......and it happens a lot.  Am I mistaken in a right on red still involves a stop?  People treat it as a yield sign and that may be why they come close to smacking the person making a U turn.