A life changing second

[old betsy]

In a second

Fighting inner Demons

Life in Micro Seconds

Thanks to the people who have ask about it to help me. I really appreciate your support

I'm writing this because I'm having trouble talking about it, as the flash backs are just to real and scary for me at this time.
For many years now, over 42 yrs I've been riding motorbikes. Over those years I've had many crashes , accidents and close calls. All of these I've walked away from knowing that I had pushed the limit too far. So from these I've re adjusted the limit for a while until I'm happy again and or recovered from the injuries. But from these I was in control most of the time and responsible for what happened. So I didn't really worry to much more about it. The other close calls in traffic have been a close call and the driver not looking, we've all had these. But mostly don't think a lot more about them.
The next day you go out to the shed hop on the bike thinking nothing of the previous day. Just happy to be back on the bike, back in the saddle again. Knowing the feeling of the seatt, just thinking back home again in the saddle
We have all been there.
But the other day. On my way to work. 3km from home things changed.
I enter a blind left bend, only to have a vehicle on my side of the road. I'm doing open speed limit
Instantly life slows down into micro seconds. Yes time does slow when you are about to die. Honestly I'm not joking.
I instanty start braking.
What amazes me is to how much you think about.
Firstly I thought I was going to die here today
Then, I thought about my boys
Next ,was where can I point the bike to get away from this. They was nowhere. I was headed right into the front of the Ford Territory.
The driver wasn't even looking in my direction.
Next ,thought was of Odette.
Next, this is going to hurt, bad.
What now, the ABS was working hard and I mean hard.
Where is the helicopter going land to pick me up.
I'm just about to jump up as I impact the front of the car. To help lessen the injuries
I'm still looking at the driver who just now looks up, who now pulls to the left onto her side of the road.
As now I pass the rear corner of the car still with the ABS working hard.
This all happened within 1-2 seconds. But for me it seems like 5 minutes.
I pull over turn around to go and see her. She apologise saying it was her fault.
I had a few words to say. As we all would have.
As I carry onto work thoughts of how close that was are just to real.
Even writing it down is hard, I also have many flash backs.
It's even hard to sit on the bike. It just doesn't feel the same, as the bike I just love to ride. Yet I know it was the bike that helped with the issue.
The main issue I'm have trouble with, his that I had no control of what had put me into that situation. Another bloody car driver. Ive never been in that situation, but I'm sure some of you have been.
So if someone says, life slowed down. I know exactly what they mean.
Thanks to my friends for asking, I'll be back to full speed soon.

Mike

[profoundly_disturbed]

I'm sure this post will generate a lot of comment. As always, I will have a lot to say about it; but not here, and not now

For the present, I'll just say I'm glad both you and I were able to enjoy your party.

[bully1]

When it happens to you......and it keeps playing in your mind, you don't want to close your eyes because it is always there, it will take a while to go to the back of your thoughts, but it does change your perspective on life a bit.

[Swampy]

An Horrific experience for you Mike, So bloody happy you survived in one piece mate as is everyone who knows you.

It's great that you are talking about it even if it is only on this forum at the moment.Let the demons go mate.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

Regards

Swampy

[spacey1]

Glad you are still around to tell the story Ol Betsy...

It got me thinking about all those statistics about lone motorcyclists who are found crashed somewhere out on the road.
Most are reported as lunatic bikies / inexperienced riders going too fast around corners. Well... that might be so.

However, as you've just experienced, what if the dice rolled the other way?

Say you didn't manage to hold things together? Skillfully avoided the vehicle, but...

Say control was lost, around the bend after said vehicle had passed, causing an impact with a tree, etc...

And the vehicle driver didn't know or bother to stop and check...
(Remember the recent TV video in our famous GFarmer tunnel showing a 4WD side-swiping a car, then driving off. Number plate on video!!!!)

That motorcycle crash would be written off as another lunatic going too fast around a bend.
With no evidence to the contrary, both police and insurance would point the finger and the blame fairly and squarely in your court...
Not a great outcome, nor accurate reporting...


Another 'Smidsy' (Link to the campaign FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/stopsmidsy)

'Sorry Mate, I didn't see you'


Just a few rambling thoughts that have been running around in my head since reading your tale...

[spacey1]

I think you are correct in considering the role your motorcycle (combined with modern ABS braking systems and stability control) had in saving your life.

Consider that you could have been driving your car with the family aboard...

We probably don't want to think about the end of that tale?

It's a balancing act Mate... couldah, shouldah, wouldah... but didn't...

[nickschober]

this sort of thing is the reason i got a helmet camera ,if anything happens i told my son to get the camera and not let the police and governments blame the motorcyclist as they always do

[bmwlefty]

Very glad you are still with us Mike

[DFS]

Mike, it has always been real privilege to know you.

I feel it an equal privilege that you were prepared to share this monumental moment in your life with us..... thank you mate.
Obviously and thank god it was not your time.

[wightman]

A shocker......

About 2 years ago I entered a roundabout on my daytona orange R90S, with my blue "Desert Raid" blue riding jacket. A car just swept in front of me and I managed to avoid him and stop to give the usual lecture. He said, "I'm sorry mate I just didn't see you!" I said Do you want me to paint the bike pink? Sometimes I think our insurance culture works against us because people think "If I have a crash, insurance will pay anyway!" I do think, that we should encourage a culture of wearing yellow bibs all the time (even if we get our own BMWMCCWA ones)

John

[spacey1]

If the driver is not looking at the road, yellow bibs are not going to help.

As our resident 'long arm' demonstrated with his video cam, that driver didn't notice him for 5 seconds, and he had his police lights flashing and was tapping the window!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His bike was less than a metre away!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a look at the video and laugh/weep... That's the enormity of the problem.

http://forum.bmwmccwa.asn.au/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2147

There are just too many distractions in modern motor vehicles.

My solution would be to legislate for the removal of windscreens from motor vehicles. That'll keep 'em awake

I remember a scenario years ago whilst waiting to turn right at a t-junction over in Vic Park.

Headlights on; indicators flashing; yellow helmet; light blue jacket with reflectors; broad daylight.

A vehicle came around the corner from the left and centre-punched me and my blue R80G/S. Luckily I saw her coming and jumped into the air at the last second as the impact happened and the bike was swept away underneath me. I was, again luckily, flipped onto the side of the road with no injury and complete disbelief of what had just occurred.

Lots of witnesses, complete denial by the driver of seeing me!!!!!!!!!!! She was also unappreciative of my language at that time. Completely ignorant of the fact that she had just tried to kill me... And all she could offer was that we needed to hurry up as her kids were waiting to be picked up...

Consider the thoughts running through the driver's mind for a moment... Pick up the kids 30 seconds late; kill the motorcyclist; Pick up the kids 30 seconds late; kill the motorcyclist... nah... kill the motorcyclist...

I think that even the type of motorcycle we ride has some bearing on our safety. The adventure/trail type bikes with long-travel suspension allow for mounting kerbs/gutters/round-a-bouts to avoid becoming a victim of distracted driver.

Those stupid 90 degree gutters scare the heck out of me, as do those stupid wire rope barriers. Both examples of lounge room legislators uncaring of motorcycle road safety.

[BenSmith]

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[Goldie1]

Shit mike good to here your still here and ok it takes a while to get over the scare. Years ago it would have been dealt with in a different way but now no matter what you say some people just couldn't care less probably texting or listening to music or what ever. Being a long time in the auto body repair industry the work shops are full of smashed vehicles because people aren't paying attention I don't even think it's even speed its attitude. Stay safe over the xmas brake people