Wethington Family Blog » motorcycle

We Need Car Control

Hank — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:59:59 +0000

I’m pretty convinced that gun control is not the answer. We need car control.

In 2003, vehicle related incidents;

42,636 people killed
2,900,000 people injured

Compare to 2007 gun related incidents;

16,750 suicides
11,624 homicides
649 unintentional shootings

Personally, I’m tired of people and their inability to drive. In CA, we get 40+ car pileups due to fog. In VA, just yesterday, a 52 car pileup from 1 inch of snow! Do your own Google search for pileups. We have road rage incidents, general parking stupidity, and just plain malaise about driving around in a large killing machine.

As I haven’t lived anywhere else, I can only speak to California drivers and we have some amazing stupid drivers. Forget cell phones laws… I don’t think the majority of drivers know who gets the right of way at a 4-way stop! In California, you take a written test, maybe, every 10 years? You take 1 driving test when you’re 16-17? I think it’s time for something more.

As you can tell, I’m very frustrated. As a motorcycle rider, it’s dangerous out there. I know that. However, even as a runner, the general inability of people to drive is gonna get me killed.

Here’s my top 5 driver pet peeves:

#5. Driving significantly under the speed limit, only to accelerate when there’s a chance to pass. You make me want to have missiles on my car!

#4. Not looking right, when turning right. You’re only concerned with on coming traffic. How about those runners, walkers, kids on bikes!

#3. Braking mid-turn. You should set your entry speed, then slightly accelerate through the turn.
#2. Flipping me off, when you’re in the wrong. OK, this isn’t really an issue of driving, but seriously, if you made the mistake, what are you flipping me off for?

And my Number 1 Driving Pet Peeve!

#1. Lane merge line jumpers. There’s a special place in hell for you. Move over, like everyone else. Your effort to move a few more cars ahead, is going to cause everyone else to slam on their brakes causing even more delays.

What are your thoughts? Are we doing enough for drivers? What are your driving pet peeves?

Heavy Heart

Hank — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:10:49 +0000

A buddy, and fellow motorcyclist, passed away today at a spot I know very well. I ride it virtually everyday I go to work. In some ways, it scares me. I guess it should. As a rider, I know every time I get on the bike, there’s a chance that things don’t go well. However, that chance exists in a car, or walking across the street, heck, even sitting at work things can go terribly wrong. Things do go wrong. I guess that’s why we wear our gear, our seat belts, buy cars with air bags… to reduce the chances, but we never eliminate them. We each have a number of days allotted to us; use them wisely.

Wicke, I’ll miss ya buddy. Shiny side up.

Fun Ride with Hayden

Hank — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:16:24 +0000

Went on the first “long” ride of the year with my son today. You can see the pictures we took over in the gallery. We took a couple of minutes going over the motorcycle for safety purposes and then suited up. We headed out first for a short ride, so we could be back in time to have lunch with Heather and Harrison. Heading first out Corbett Canyon, we came back along 227, over to Prince and finally home along Oak Park. Didn’t take very long, but it gave Hayden a chance to get his “motorcycle legs” back under him. As for the bike, I ride it almost every day, so I knew it was running well.

After a quick lunch, it was back out. I wasn’t sure exactly where I wanted to go, but I figured south was a good start. We stopped for some pictures just outside of Lompc, and then Hayden wanted to head home. I don’t like back tracking over the same roads, so I spiced it up a little, although we did back track some.

It’s always fun to get out, pretty much, no matter what the weather, but when it’s beautiful and warm, you gotta go. Of course the bugs were enjoying the day as well, as can be seen by my helmet.