That's an excellent story and it teaches a valuable lesson.  Don't let them suck you in!

As a learner reading these stories, the initial and also Ourea's, it's very humbling and also makes me more conscious. I can't lie and say it hasn't shaken me up a little. I've been a trail bike rider for years where you don't have to care about other cars/bikes/people, just potholes and tree stumps. Now that I'm converting to riding on the road I'm excited but very aware that I'm now a newbie all over again.

I've been in an accident in my car where a woman in a 4x4 decided to pull out in front of me whereby I t-boned her at 60km (nearly totalled my car)and did the worst thing, tensed up. That accident was 3 year ago and I still have bloody neck and shoulder problems. Since that accident I've turned into a safety nut. I've got all the gear I can have for riding, full faced helmet, jacket, jeans, boots, gloves and plan to wear them when I'm on my bike.

I have no real desire to push my bike to the limits whilst on the road. It only takes one moment where I can stuff something up and I'm dead. I personally prefer to be careful and perhaps "slow" for now as that's my comfort zone. Meanwhile, if I was out riding trails, that would be a different story.

I wasn't saying not to be a safety nut because I am one. ATGATT when I didn't wear my boots is when I tore three ligaments in my ankle. But, my greatest safety device is the one on my shoulders I am hypervigilant at all times. I'm sure many of my Oh Krap moments could have very well turned into this man's horror story. I practice, ride, and practice some more. I've cleaned up my share of bikers off the road including watching a friend that was your story except he didn't miss because he didn't have time going the speed limit in the far lane woman in the SUV had two lanes to complete her U-turn but her words "I saw him but I thought I could make it" pulled right in front of him.  But, if it were not for his full-face helmet he wouldn't be with us today.

Mary

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I know of two accidents this past weekend (one on Saturday, one Sunday)...one with gear...the other wearing: helmet, t-shirt, shorts & runners...

"Squiddy" was riding late at night Saturday trying to get to his girlfriends place and hit a deer doing around 140kph (88mph)...our hero skidded along the asphalt for about 100m (330ft) before sliding into the ditch...luckily he was conscious and had a cell phone...called and got someone to come get him and take him in for medical care...

Squiddy is a friend of mine's step son...he lost a lot of skin and blood in the accident and I would imagine he has changed his mind about wearing protective gear (if he doesn't give up riding all together)

The other was me...

I decided to take a three day weekend and booked Monday off...two friends of mine joined me and we headed off to the Rocky Mountains to ride some really incredible roads.  Day one was pretty much spent just getting there, some nice twisty stuff, but not the roads that we were heading for...they were for day two...

At the end of day one, my buddy broke his key in his seat lock...we were able to get the piece out, so we spend about six hours trying to find someone to cut a key on a Sunday in a small town...couldn't find a Honda blank, so we improvised (he has an older bike, so no security stuff to worry about) and got it working...2pm and we were off to ride some beautiful roads and the scenery makes the trip just as worth while...we were heading toward a ferry across the lake and the closer to the ferry we got, the twistier the road became...we were having a blast carving the turns...until two turns from the ferry...the speed limit on the road was 60kph (38mph), so we were doing around 70kph...the sign said "Slow" so we slowed to 65kph (the really tight corners up to here were all marked "Slow to 40kph")...when I entered the corner I made a mistake and entered on the left side of the lane (left turn) which made me start to go wide, so I leaned the bike over more to make the turn...the peg ground into the pavement which startled me...I wiggled a bit (heading wide again) then saw the gravel on the road...the next thing I knew I was sliding through the gravel...I stopped, stood up and did a quick check for hurt/broken parts...left ankle was sore, but not broken...some scrapes on my left wrist where my jacket must have slid up my arm a little...

What was my first thought?...Man, is my wife going to be pi$$ed!! 

The bike has bent forks, broken shift lever & broken heat shield on the left side exhaust...

I know there is a big speed difference, but I can't help thinking that the kid would have come out much better if he had worn some proper gear...

I'll post up some pics of the "incident" tonight when I get home...I'll start a "My Crash" thread...

Wear the gear & when the sign says "SLOW", slow down more than you think you need to... 
Later.

@Mad when you do your My Crash write up, please also add a section labled "What I Learned".

Michael