Trying to beat a red light

[merri1]

I was on my way to work on Thursday and started to cross through an intersection near my house. The light had just turned green for me. A lady was trying to beat the red light and slammed into me. The bike went one way and I went the other.

After a trip to the hospital in the rescue wagon, I came out of it OK. A torn left hamstring and a pulled groin on my right side; and of course, road rash. Luckily no broken bones.

I'm not sure yet what the damage to the bike is. My wife went to the tow yard and said that it mostly front end damage and some scraps and gouges here and there. I'm having the dealer haul it to his shop for the work to be done there.

In the past I've gone under a red light with both my bike and my car. I don't think I'll ever do that again. You never know who's coming the other way. If I had started up just a half second sooner, the lady would have hit me broadside. Ouch, now that would have really hurt.

[Loafer]

Wow, I hope you heal fast. Take it easy in the future.

[usranger74]

John

I am glad to see you came out with no serious injuries. Running red lights is a problem here in the Omaha area. But across the river in IA, they started using cameras at intersections and after 4 yrs, much of their "runners" have stopped. There is a lesson there someplace.

[poppy]

As you stated, could have been much worse. Heal up quickly!

Here in Florida, red light runners think it is an invasion of privacy to place red light cameras and are very vocal against it. Lots of municipalities are moving forward but it not clear cut legal yet. For me, I try to remember what Momma taught.....look both ways before crossing the street. Oh, and you have to look behind you too to keep the cager from running up your a$$.....

[radco]

John Glad your alright! I have been almost T boned several time up here, In my Full Size Service Van.. Amazing how people in a hurry or busy on their cell forget about what can happen when not paying attention!,, Heal fast
Rich

[macmac]

Ouch..... I always delay on a green because I know some fool will run the red. I have even waved fools up my pipes to go around and watch them get rammed. I leave a place to go to the side at any lights I must stop foir and am in no hurry to pull out from stopped.

In fact i try to not stop for a red rding to it slow, and wagging the bike hard left/right and back to appear HAMMERED. No one wants to deal with a hammered rider.

And then and only then doo I try to make some noise with the bike, and only if I see someone closing on me. I want them to believe they indeed are looking at a wild man.

heal up, live to ride....

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Glad you came out of it with serious injuries. It could have been much worse.

[dabull]

glad you "ok" bro! Heal qwik and hope the bike is repaired soon!!

Just a note for everyone - I have seen way too many folks blowing thru obviously red lights....I make it a practice, even though i have a GREEN light to check both directions 2x before i enter the intersection...

Ride safe people

[madotu]

I glad that you are ok, take care of yourself

[cactusjack]

I'm glad you weren't too seriously hurt. Red light running is a huge problem in Phoenix. They have put up a lot of red light cameras. I am in no hurry to be the first through the intersection when the light turn green.

[ken]

Hope you get back on your feet soonest and the Nomad isn't badly damaged.
Idiots are everywhere, including Europe but Germany drivers are for the most part pretty law abiding. What scares me the most are young drivers with cell phones....now that is a real danger. And the fine if caught is peanuts...if the Gov't would make it about €500, cell phones and driving would very soon stop.
I agree with the writer who hesitates before entering the intersection.....right thing to do.

[usranger74]

Originally Posted by Poppy

As you stated, could have been much worse. Heal up quickly!

Here in Florida, red light runners think it is an invasion of privacy to place red light cameras and are very vocal against it. Lots of municipalities are moving forward but it not clear cut legal yet. For me, I try to remember what Momma taught.....look both ways before crossing the street. Oh, and you have to look behind you too to keep the cager from running up your a$$.....

I got ZERO tolerance for those dip wits that run red lights and as far as I can tell, there is no "privacy" in the middle of a public intersection.

[bobhamlin]

John,

Heal up quick. Hamstring injury? Isn't that what those highly paid, buff, super athletes get?

It would be interesting if, when you get back to riding, give us a recap of your first ride--particularly the commentary that your inner voice will be conducting.

Breaking my shoulder (about 5 years ago) was a turning point. I became aware (at that really deep level) that I was actually, really mortal--that even minor things, if I don't pay attention, can combine to affect me in a very direct way.

[Cajunrider]

Hope you heal up quick and the pain isn't too bad. I'm not one in favor of hiring an attorney but this red light runner needs to learn a powerful lesson. Most of the traffic signals around here have a time delay not allowing the light to change to green until the other direction has been red for the 2 or 3 second amount of time delay. Even with this feature, I've seen my light change to green and someone blow through the red a second or two after mine changed. There is no excuse for running through any red light much less one that has been red for at least 4 or 5 seconds.

[ringadingh]

Hope you heal up quick, in the mean time get a law suit against her that would choke a horse.