shocking bike accident !

[johnakay]

not for the faint hearted.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/tulsacrash.asp

[Coyote]

Highway 169 is notorious for accidents here. Generally 4 or 5 a week. Like all roads in this area, it is poorly designed. The speed limit on 169 is 65 and needs to be reduced to 45. On ramps are way too short to gain the speed needed to 'blend in'.
The on ramps and off ramps are both in the same short lane. So you may be flying up the on ramp only to run into a car that is braking to get off. The highway is up to 5 lanes wide in areas and everyone drives like there in a race. Been on that highway dozens of times myself and it never ceases to scare the crap out of me - especially on my GS1000. Got to do 65 just to sorta stay with it, when some idiot in a Lexus SUV passes you by doing 85 or 90 - generally yakking on the cell.
Another BIG problem here is tailgating IDIOTS. Flying down the highway at 65, look in the rear view mirror and the car behind you appears to be in tow. Can't be more than a few feet. You learn early on that the rule of thumb is one car length for every for every 10 mph. So this idiot should be 6 or 7 car lengths behind me, NOT 6 or 7 feet.
One of these days I'm gonna make a string operated flip up sign (in the rear window) that says BACK OFF IDIOT! I get tired of it in very short order.
So Tulsa not only has the worst roads in the country, we have some of the worst drivers as well. And cell phones are a very BIG problem too.

[Buffalo-guy]

Coyote.
It sounds like you're describing almost any major urban center on this continent. I could quote you word for word, to describe Calgary. A million plus population, and generally not a clue. Feel free to disprove me Rick, or Ian, or even Allan. You've had sufficient exposure to the madness. Oh well, it's still where I choose to be. Cheers.
Fred

[oldjapanesebikes]

Coyote.
It sounds like you're describing almost any major urban center on this continent. I could quote you word for word, to describe Calgary. A million plus population, and generally not a clue. Feel free to disprove me Rick, or Ian, or even Allan. You've had sufficient exposure to the madness. Oh well, it's still where I choose to be. Cheers.
Fred

No argument from me Fred. I have to admit, sometimes I do find it frustrating being the only sensible driver on the highway

[johnakay]

Coyote.
It sounds like you're describing almost any major urban center on this continent. I could quote you word for word, to describe Calgary. A million plus population, and generally not a clue. Feel free to disprove me Rick, or Ian, or even Allan. You've had sufficient exposure to the madness. Oh well, it's still where I choose to be. Cheers.
Fred

No argument from me Fred. I have to admit, sometimes I do find it frustrating being the only sensible driver on the highway

liar!!!!

[Triplerocky]

Coyote.
It sounds like you're describing almost any major urban center on this continent.

Because you never drove trough an italian highway...or, extensively, one in Europe (excluding Germany, maybe).
I wonder why there are so few deads/woundeds on our roads, speed, idiots, cellphones, blonde ladies with sunglasses, SUVs, and many more factors calls for daily slaughter.

[oldjapanesebikes]

Coyote.
It sounds like you're describing almost any major urban center on this continent.

Because you never drove trough an italian highway...or, extensively, one in Europe (excluding Germany, maybe).
I wonder why there are so few deads/woundeds on our roads, speed, idiots, cellphones, blonde ladies with sunglasses, SUVs, and many more factors calls for daily slaughter.

I never felt safer than when driving in Europe (lived there for several years) - high speed, but generally excellent drivers. Not like here in North America at all.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

You guys kill me,,LOL, compared to the majority of idiot drivers I have to deal with on the island, the places in the world i've driven fail miserably in comparison for bad drivers.
Calgary?? its mostly a piece of cake, the only real issue I see is the Deerfoot 'suicide' trail where some of the on-ramps are a bit short or none existant. You have to be 110% aware on that road as its route snakes, dips and rises in the section east of the town centre. I've ridden it on the GT in full traffic conditions, very interesting observations I must say.
Florida?? a few minor issues, but mostly cell phone yakkers are to blame, nothing to really to complain about there.
The UK?? pretty much no issues either, except the traffic lights on those large roundabouts some brilliant person dreamt up.
Heres a few things the islanders do constantly that just piss me off.
Pull from a side road directly into the overtaking lane on a dual carriageway and drive at 40kms in a 80kms zone,WHEN vehicles are clearly seen approaching them fast as they casually pull out.
Staying in the overtaking lane traveling BELOW the speed limit, and will not move over even if you flash your lights. You are forced to undertake to go by them.
Stopping to have a chat with someone they know, either in a car going the opposite direction or walking at the roadside and selfishly hold up traffic on a two lane road.
Driving too slow in a posted speed zone and keeping back traffic with a long line on a two lane road where theres not many areas for overtaking.
Drifting close to the edge of their lane when in a dual carriageway.
Tailgating in general, but still driving below the posted speed limit. huh?????
Slow to react to a red light turning green so only a few cars can get through the signals.
Driving through a red light even after it has changed to red before they reach the junction. Probably linked to the slow start off of the drivers who SLEEP at the other light turning green.
Pulling up way too close behind a stopped vehicle such as a bus or van so they cant see to overtake it safely, BUT then figure its not a big deal to the unsuspecting oncoming traffic to try and blindly overtake it.
Turning without any use of indicators, also done on roundabouts and on changing lanes,, no warning, just turn anywhere anyhow.
Stopping on a blind corner as if you're supposed to see them there.
Parking or stopping on the road to let off or pick up a passenger when theres usually a place less than 30 feet away where they could have pulled over on the shoulder. Remember this is a two lane road so this keeps back traffic.
Lacking judgment of any sort at the 'yield' sign entering a roundabout.
Cutting over the centre line of corners on NARROW two lane roads
Swinging wide into the opposite lane to make a left turn ('we drive on the left') as if they are driving a semi or long vehicle. (usually the owner of a cheap low rent type Econobox car)
This is even done at exiting road junctions, it shows totally poor driving habits and a lack of knowing your vehicles perimeter 'points'

This topic has not even touched on a lot of other minor items and those of public service vehicles or pedestrians bad habits.
I always wonder how these same clowns would fair on places like the Palmetto Expressway in Miami or on the same Deerfoot trail in Calgary.
Thats probably why they never attempt to drive when on a vacation, it may just be the wake up call they dont live to get.
Fred, Rick or Ian, have any of you ever watched Canadas worst drivers??
If you watch that show, it brings new meaning to the word idiot, BUT we have the whole family to those few distant cousins living on the island.

[spike]

Slow to react to a red light turning green so only a few cars can get through the signals.
Stopping on a blind corner as if you're supposed to see them there.

Same here… Blind corners stopping is usually in mountain passes… very scary.