 
| What's New | Recent News & Stories from Michael Padway, Motorcycle Accident Attorney | |
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| June 29, 2009
Excerpt from: Happenings | | SAE Test a Likely New Standard for Noise | If there are two things that non-riders agree on, it is that they dislike motorcycles because of 1) Loud exhausts, and 2) Lane splitting, particularly with high speed differences between the motorcycles and the cars.
I know the argument about "loud pipes save lives", but those loud pipes come at a huge cost in public relations.
Does this make a big difference? Probably not. I expect the new standard to be considered whenever legislatures discuss noise standards for motorcycles. It seems reasonable that the new standard will influence legislation.
But it seems most probable that enforcement will continue to be discriminatory, and that authorities will use loud pipes for leverage against riders that they want to ticket or stop for some other reason.
Still, it is interesting that such a large organization would come up with a noise standard for road bikes. Over time, it may focus the loud exhaust argument on the question of "how loud is loud?"
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| June 29, 2009
Excerpt from: Motorcycle Addict | | Observations from Early Summer Beginner Motorcycle Riders | A number of times in the last week I looked at riders on the road, and noticed that they were beginners.
How did I know they were beginners? Because their riding was deliberate and careful. They actually came to a full stop at stop signs and looked fully in all directions before starting up again. Everything they did reeked of thinking about it, and being careful.
Experienced riders, of course, don't need to make a full stop at stop signs. Experienced riders can get by with a quick glance. Experienced riders have no need to be careful or deliberate in what they do.
Really?
I am reminded of the traffic school lecturer who pointed out that if you really go 25 miles per hour in a 25 zone, you have enough time for almost anything. While I disagree, having seen too many cars that wait until the last second before jumping out in front of the motorcycle, I also agree that it is possible to ride much more safely, if that is your goal.
Combining the experience of a couple of decades on a bike with a deliberate effort to ride safely, and making some effort to keep current on your safety training (and wearing the right gear) can't avoid every accident, but it can certainly make your riding experience one heck of a lot safer.
Something to think about, courtesy of the newbies.
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| June 11, 2009
Excerpt from: Happenings | | Great Product; Great Service | Wayne Boyer has done it again.
One of my favorite summer pieces of riding gear is my Motoport (CyclePort) Cordura jeans. Even my wife likes the way these look, and they actually, truly, are more comfortable than my regular denim jeans.
I had these made a few years ago, when I sent my then-favorite jeans to be copied. A few weeks later, voila! Body armor where you would want it, same measurements as favorite jeans, softer and more comfortable, more breathable, and capable of saving my hide in a slide situation.
Fortunately, a miracle happened, and I lost a little weight. Suddenly, the riding gear was looking a little peculiar and baggy.
No problem. I called Wayne at Motoport, explained that even his regularly fast service might be put to the test, because I wanted the gear for an upcoming ride, and he gave me the royal treatment, once again. A few days later the jeans arrived, perfectly altered, and I am back on the road.
Incredibly, Wayne provides this service at his cost. No one can figure out how he does it.
Anyway, thank you once again. Very handy service, given that the gear lasts decades.
By the way, this kills riding in jeans that have Kevlar patches, but no body armor. It is so much nicer to know that the whole pair of pants is made to slide, and that the places most at risk have multi part armor covering.
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| June 11, 2009
Excerpt from: Motorcycle Addict | | Pay Attention, and Don't Stray | I just finished reading some incredibly interesting material about perception and reaction time, and some of the many factors that can affect them.
One of the factors that have a big effect on your ability to react, and on any driver's ability to react, is the extent to which they are paying attention, and where the attention is focused.
The example of this phenomenon is a cocktail party or other conversation, when suddenly you hear your name mentioned in another conversation in which you are not involved. Suddenly, your attention is drawn away. Even though the person you are speaking to has maintained the same sound level and speaking pattern, you are no longer able to absorb anything that is being said.
When you return your attention, you can again absorb what is being said, but you can't go back in your mind and reconstruct what you missed.
In my opinion, this is the greatest risk to motorcycle rider safety. Drivers of cars have ipods connected to their stereos, they are having conversations with their passengers, they are thinking about where they are going, and where they have been. They simply are not applying the amount of attention necessary to absorb the fact that if they pull into an intersection (for example), they will hit a motorcyclist.
The result: ever increasing numbers of motorcycle deaths as riders have exponentially more things requiring their attention, other than the task of safe driving.
The tests that have been done to demonstrate this phenomenon are amazing, including distraction by having a girl walk through a video carrying an umbrella, and even a gorilla. Believe me, when someone walks through a room in a gorilla suit, your ability to observe what else is happening drops dramatically.
Same thing in a car.
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