this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023
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Nice victim blaming. Most motorcyclist deaths are due to them being hit by cars, but it's their fault you're saying?
to be honest, as a rider, i always blame myself if i'm in a position to be hit by a car.
you really have to assume everyone is going to do the wrong thing and ride accordingly. it doesn't matter if someone wasn't supposed to do something, someone will eventually fail to see you and you've got to plan for it. I've had near misses but no accidents - and every near miss was a good lesson in what to look for in future. on a bike road rules are nice to know but you have to monitor everything for threats and make sure you're always in a safe position. if you ride in someone's blind spot you're actively putting yourself in danger.
having said that, the op comment is an asshole. YES obviously car drivers should be more aware. what the fuck? if you're obliviously running people off the road you don't blame them, good lord what a fucking psycho.
There's a distinction between being cautious and always being at fault. Of course you should always be extra cautious as a rider, but that doesn't mean it's your fault if a car flattens you.
Oh I agree, it's more a mental attitude - if I take on the risk of riding, I need to take on the responsibility of anticipating what other road users might do. If I end up in an accident part of that is failing to fully anticipate the stupid, illegal shit car drivers constantly do that will kill you.
Sure, the guy who turning right across two lanes in front of me was at fault, but I had the opportunity to spot him slowing down to make the turn and I know cars don't always see bikes or indicate. I can move to the outside of the road to give myself more space, I can roll off and cover the brake, and then I can accelerate as soon as I can to get past them quickly so I'm out of danger.
If I do none of those things and don't notice the car, I consider myself at fault even if the car was doing something illegal.
After the fact of course you can say the car driver was at fault but it's completely academic when you're dead, so before that happens you need to take on as much responsibility as possible.
Somebody else shared stats that show about half the accidents involving motorcycles don't involve any other vehicles. So it's not quite victim blaming in this case.
I've had a bike license for decades, and I'd say most biker deaths are dumb bikers being dumb. Cars can't see you and drivers are idiots. You always have an escape route and you make yourself visible.
I can't stand it when people jump to the "victim-blaming" conclusion; anyone can be the victim, just depends on how you look at it plus it avoids actually responding to the argument
No, I'm saying it's weird to ask everyone to care more about someone's health and safety than that person does.
Motorcycles aren't as safe as cars, even if everyone is careful. Accidents happen, and cars have seatbelts, airbags, and a shit ton of other modern inventions.
Motorcycles have helmets and leather jackets, both of which aren't required everywhere so motorcyclists don't even wear them all the time.
If you cared about motorcyclists, I'd think this time would be better spent trying to make motorcycles safer by pushing for legislation.
Hell, they made those inflatable cocoons that go off like a giant airbag years ago. I've never seen one on the road, because they're not "cool". And if someone values safety over coolness, they wouldn't be on a motorcycle at first
Now do "provocatively dressed women are asking to be raped..."
There’s a difference between what is fair and what is common sense. If I had a daughter I would love to tell her she should go wherever she wants, whenever she wants, alone or drunk.
In practice I’m sure I’ll temper that message with some sad but realistic advice about having a friend on the phone while in the cab and never accepting drinks from strangers.
Motorcycle riders choose to put themselves in a much much more vulnerable state, so they have to be more aware and more vigilant. In an ideal world everyone is paying attention and awake and sober on the road, reality is different and I won’t be betting my life on everyone around me driving correctly while riding a petrol tank strapped to a motor.
This is the nuance that givesomefucks failed to express.
Long term motorcyclists are aware of the choice they have made.
That doesn't abrogate other drivers of their own responsibility.
Oh wow, slippery slope?
People are just busting out the classics today, aren't they?
but, won't car drivers being more aware help? if that's a big factor, wouldn't it be good to address?
if i'm reading this right, you don't think car drivers should have to worry if they're going to kill someone, because you think that person deserves it due to the risk they personally took on?
you think it's too much to expect someone driving a safer vehicle to drive safely and not kill other people? you resent being told to pay basic attention while driving a car because if you hit someone that isn't also in a car, they might die and that pisses you off?
wtf?
Well that's the thing, you don't seem like you are...
And I don't think I'm going to help you understand, sorry
You seem to be saying that we should worry about making motorcyclists do safer things instead of making car drivers do safer things... which doesn't help too much because wearing a leather jacket or even a helmet will be small comfort when you're run over by an inattentive person in a two ton death machine.