Maine Biker Network
" Maine Bikers Helping Maine Bikers "
More Enforcement?
Do we need more enforcement? I'm not talking about loud pipes, or inspection stickers, any anything involving motorcycles being in the wrong. We hear enough about that. Laws and enforcement designed to restrict motorcycles in some shape or form is part of daily life for most of us these days.
But this time I am talking about when motorcycles are in the right, and cagers are in the wrong. Have you ever been cut off while riding your bike? Of course you have. And sometimes it may have even been on purpose. Sometimes it's not just an annoyance. Sometimes it causes accidents. Damaged bikes and even damaged bodies.
The question I have for everyone is how often are the cagers getting away with it? I have been hearing stories lately where cars have cut off motorcycles, caused accidents and were not charged with anything by law enforcement. If this happening, why?
Are vehicle operators being let off the hook because it was Just a Motorcycle? Are the LEO's that are responding to these situations just being lazy? Or are the laws we currently have not enough to make cagers accountable for dangerous driving?
Do we need better laws?
Do we need better law enforcement?
Or is this not even a problem.
Please keep in mind this discussion is not a Biker vs LEO discussion. Many police officers ride themselves. But I have been asked about this more than once and think we as a motorcycle community should discuss it. And see if any action should be taken.
What do you think?
Views: 456
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joshua Herndon on -
I think that the Right of Way (RoW) violation issue is a nationwide problem. In my position as the state rep for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation I see e-mails from state reps all over the country that are about someone being cut down by an automobile that violated their right of way. The subsequent information is generally that the operator of the offending vehicle was not ticketed with a RoW violation because they claimed that they just did not see the motorcycle. Even IF they are charged with the RoW, the fine is so small as to be meaningless. Some states charge as little as 87 dollars for the infraction. There has been a push by some state MROs to stiffen up the penalties for this, but it is always a struggle to get laws enacted for this purpose. A few states have been sucessful passing legislation that makes the RoW violator more accountable, but it is still too early to tell if it is having an impact on the accident rate where RoW violations are at fault.
It is a subject that I think needs to be researched to find out just how often it happens in our state and if it would be feasible to submitt legislation to try and bring accountability to the violators if it is found to be a serious problem here.
Most all the legislation I have seen deals with a RoW that results in injury or death. I don't know how you would deal with a situation where someone was cut off and it resulted in an accident.
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Permalink Reply by The Duc on -
Frankly I got cut off, pulled in front of and narrowly avoided several potentially serious accidents both in my car and on the bike this past weekend. My motorcycle awareness saved me once in my car (habit of always checking the rearview). The drivers either were not paying attention or shouldn't have a license as they are not capable of driving safely or driving at all for that matter. I followed two of the "drivers" after a couple serious incidents and confronted them and quickly realized they didn't have the brains of a gnat. I don't like doing that cause you never know what they'll do but sometimes I can't help myself. Seems to me if you have been issued a drivers license and can speak you should at least be able to construct coherent sentences. They were barely able to complete a sentence and obviously didn't give a crap that they had nearly caused a potential fatal accident. I'm thinking we just need to get the current laws, especially the distracted driving one (both serious incidents because of cellphone use) enforced and throw the habitual offenders in jail and loose the key.
Can you say never going to happen...
At least it's good to vent.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Elliott on -
I is a good question Jeff. I hear the same stories....... I agree with Josh that our ROW incidents need to be looked at. Failure to yield resulting in an accident should carry a stiffer penalty. I think the biking community (UBM maybe) should also look at either advising OR actually taking part in todays drivers education courses in an effort to teach "small vehicle awareness". Since manufacturers are making cars smaller once again some of those drivers may now understand how we feel. If you've ever taken a hunting course, one thing many of them teach you is to not only recognize deer, but ALSO recognize "parts" of a deer. Drivers of all vehicles need to be taught to recognize "parts" of a motorcycle too...... A hunter will spot a white tail a mile away, but drivers can't spot a motorcycle approaching at 50 feet. It's because the hunter was taught to do so.
When all else fails, there is civil court. Many times a driver is not summonsed or even found "not guilty" in criminal courts but found guilty in civil court. It is a pain in the ass to have to do that but it is an option. To avoid this, if you are in an accident where your right of way was ignored, you should insist that charges be filed. You can do that......
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Permalink Reply by Randy LONRNGR on -
(RoW) Just my observation. (ROW) consists of whom ever can get there first, I am on the phone, changing the channel on the radio, reading a book. All these things and more are being done every day. And every one is in a hurry no matter if they are going some where special or not. Courtesy is a thing of the past for most when they get behind the wheel. I live in Wiscasset and I see it every day. When I leave my house and head south toward Woolwich, Bath I have to cross bumper to bumper traffic that is just crawling along and by the time they get to my road they have been crawling along for a mile or two. Most will not stop and allow me to cross the lane to turn left. Eventually someone will, but sometimes I wait for ten or fifteen cars. Whats the problem, they aren't goin any where. For me to cross the street it might take 10 or 15 seconds. Thats just one example, I have seen people do some pretty stupid stuff that put others in jeopardy. You think to yourself, wow they are in a hurry to get somewhere and they turn into a drive way a hundred feet up the road. It makes no sense to me. So, yes Jeff I think we need more enforcement, and stiffer fines.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Elliott on
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Failure to give right of way! -->> http://www.wgme.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wgme_vid_8933.shtml
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Permalink Reply by AngelRyd18 on -
The news report after a woman was cut off in Glenburn basically had the officer saying that drivers need to be more aware of motorcyclists. It was basically said in the "oh, well, be more careful out there" and a slap on the wrist. People are so inattentive now on the road. I see more cell phones plastered against a driver's ear than not. There is no way a driver is fully aware of what is going on around them with a cell phone up to their ear. And for those who don't have a cell phone in their faces, they seem to be too preoccupied with everything else BUT their driving responsibilities.
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Permalink Reply by Jacqueline on -
There is legislation to increase the education of drunk driving in the Maine license class. I propose they increase MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS! Photos of my friend laying face down in the middle of a highway (thank God he is okay), might show them the seriousness of being in-complacent.
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Permalink Reply by Gerry Alden on
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Why do you think this motorcyclist has been so adamant about proper m c noise controls? Less overall noise equals more people willing to join what traditionally is seen as an ugly activity. More people riding equals more respect and understanding of the challenges unique to the motorcyclists' from the perspective of the "other" drivers, because they are then included in this group. Just as driving a motorcycle educates one to be a better car driver, so will more people owning a street bike make the highway a safer place for everyone. The number one identified enemy to motorcycle safety is the irresponsible motorcyclist. Failure of individuals to promote a better image of the sport to the general public and acts that neglect to take full personal responsibility for one's own safe riding strategy, is what holds back the safer environment we all seek. Luckily what is lacking is well within our control. Get your sound pressure levels down, and continue to increase rider skills and safety knowledge, and show everyone what a wonderful inviting activity motorcycling is. A left hand turning car driver who has unintentionally violated your right of way will be much more impressed by viewing your ability to perform a successful emergency breaking procedure then horrifyingly watch you crash into the side of their car after low-siding from overuse of the rear brake. Executing which skill promotes our sport and our safety?
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Permalink Reply by Steve Fuller on -
I think we do need some law enforcement for those cagers that cause motorcycle accidents and injury Jeff. Just last night a cager started to cut in front of me to turn into a hotel on the whitten rd in augusta and then when i gestured to him, no not the finger, he yelled at me like it was my fault..and this isn't the first time this has happened. The cagers need to be held accountable if they cause accidents and injury.
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Permalink Reply by Gerry Alden on
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Steve you said, "that cause motorcycle accidents", as if an accident has a cause an effect that removes responsibility of the rider. The way I see it, while operating around intersections and driveways, any approaching car potentially can turn left, violating my path. Any rider who fails to defend against the possibility of a predictable crash, is at fault for not protecting their own life and property. Research studies report the driver of left turning cars, never saw the cyclists'. The light waves travelling off an approaching motorcycle is not "seen" by the eyes of the driver, but by the cognitive abilities of the brain to decipher the danger of turning. Which one of the 10,000 synapses of the 10 Billion brain cells in the human brain do you want law enforcement to find faulty to prove who is liable?
Maybe every cage should be required to have a sticker on the inside windshield, like a warning on a packet of cigarettes. Warning: Turning in front of a cyclist causing a crash will land you in jail. Yup we all know how well that works.
Steve Fuller said:I think we do need some law enforcement for those cagers that cause motorcycle accidents and injury Jeff. Just last night a cager started to cut in front of me to turn into a hotel on the whitten rd in augusta and then when i gestured to him, no not the finger, he yelled at me like it was my fault..and this isn't the first time this has happened. The cagers need to be held accountable if they cause accidents and injury.
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