Careless drivers overlook people riding motorcycles
In the July 28 edition, there was an article about Lee Hayes, 52, who was struck and killed by William Thomas Skinner. Skinner had failed to stop at a stop sign and struck Hayes on his motorcycle.
Cole Morton, a young Greensboro firefighter, was killed last year in a similar accident. This happens way too often and, while I understand that motorcycles are dangerous, they’re dangerous mostly because of people in cars not paying attention.
I ride a motorcycle for pleasure and to commute. I’ve seen multiple people not just talking on their cell phones but texting as they’re driving. I’ve passed people reading books, eating tacos, applying makeup, just about anything you can imagine. I’ve even been passed on the highway IN MY LANE.
What does it take for one such careless driver to be charged with vehicular manslaughter instead of “failure to yield”?
Two-wheeled vehicles are part of everyday traffic and will remain so. Those of us who choose two-wheeled forms of transportation are your neighbors, veterans of our military, doctors, firefighters, sons, fathers, daughters, mothers and grandparents. They come from all walks of life with people who love them and will defend them.
Keith Thompson
Ramseur
Comments (7)
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A few months ago a cyclist was seriously injured by a woman who admitted that she was texting while driving. It is time for the State to ban cellphone use while driving and increase penalties for driving while distracted.
Posted on August 4, 2008 6:22 AM
I find it absolutely amazing that a state that is so attractive to motorcyclists and are more than willing to take motorcyclists tourists dollars is so regressive as to not recognize the values of the motorcyclist. I live in Northern Rockingham County and was commuting to Thomasville on my bike and had to stop because of 2 reasons: #1 fear for my life with the inattentive drivers (cell phone, texting, reading the paper (!),etc and #2 the incredible stress of riding in these situations ruined the enjoyment of the ride for me.
This state has to realize that bikers are tax paying law abiding citizens and have the same rights that a person in a car has. You hit/kill a biker - you go to jail. period. sum. total. I am continually dumbfounded that a person in a car runs a red light, stop sign or is careless in their driving habits and kills a motorcyclist and gets a TICKET.
Posted on August 4, 2008 10:59 AM
There are exponentially far more injuries and deaths resulting from car on car accidents than car on motorcycle accidents.
The causes are irrelevant to one's duty to protect themselves, regardless of how the law tells us to drive.
Put yourself out there with no protection in a pinball game with 1-2+ ton vehicles and you are taking risks the state cannot protect you from.
Posted on August 4, 2008 12:17 PM
This letter forgets that many motorcyclists decide their own fate on the road. I often see motorcyclists weaving between cars on the interstate, pulling up next to cars at stoplights only to speed ahead of them when the light turns green, and passing in no passing zones. They also decide to transport intoxicated people on the backs of their bikes, which in my opinion should be considered drunk driving as a passenger on a motorcycle has a fair amount of control over the path of the bike. So, while I agree that there are many careless car drivers, the problem isn't theirs alone.
Posted on August 4, 2008 1:12 PM
People who cause an accident while texting and driving should lose their license and have their phone confiscated, in addition to the usual penalties for reckless driving. There is no excuse for such unbridled stupidity behind the wheel of a car.
Posted on August 4, 2008 3:02 PM
Yes, there are more injuries and deaths from car on car accidents only because there are porportionately more cars on the roads than motorcycles. That may be changing with the increase in gas prices. As for my duty to protect myself, does that mean we must all go out and buy hummers? After all, in an accident, wouldn't we all be safer? As a veteran I feel I have earned the right to ride a motorcycle if I so choose. I also have the right to expect you to obey the traffic laws. If you fail to do so you should be penalized. I don't expecxt the state to protect me. I simply expect you to obey traffic laws.
As for motorcyclist choosing their own fate, I have to agree in some cases. There are several of us out there that obey the traffic laws, slow down in residential neighborhoods, keep both tires on the ground, in other words we ride like mature respectful adults. Those that choose to ride like their butt's on fire irritate those of us who ride motorcycles responsibly
What I intended to make clear here is the attitude that it's the motorcyclists fault if they get seriously injured in an accident because they knew the risk when they deiced to ride. That's not the case. If you disobey a traffic law and there are no injuries you get a ticket for the accident. If I'm not mistaken isn't it different if the accident results in injuries?? Not if the injuries are sustained by someone on a motorcycle apparently. That's my point.
Keith Thompson
Ramseur
Posted on August 4, 2008 9:48 PM
The rules that apply to prosecuting traffic violators should be applied equally. I don't think everyone who is involved in an accident resulting in death is charged with manslaughter, nor should they be unless circumstances warrant.
Ride your bike, I'll drive my car. If unfortunate circumstances arise where we meet in an accident the chances are exponentially better that I'll walk away from it and you wont, it's simple physics.
Posted on August 4, 2008 11:12 PM