An investigation of the June 12 crash in Dorset concluded a vehicle pulled in front of Williams, who was riding a motorcycle and was unable to avoid a collision, Vermont State Police said.
Koss was turning left into a parking lot in an Honda SUV when he collided with Williams’ oncoming motorcycle, police said. Williams, 71, of Manchester Center, was pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center in New York.
Note from me:
One thing they teach us in the MSF course is how easy it is for a driver to misjudge the closing distance of a motorcycle and assume there’s time to turn. If you see a bike coming, take an extra second and be sure - we’re smaller and look farther away at first glance than we often are.
Settle down, they’re right.
As a motorcycle rider I am very aware that every time I get out on the road I am putting myself in a much more vulnerable position where a simple accident could cause much more damage or death than most other forms of personal transportation. Basically, I’m riding outside at car speed, with just my clothes to protect me.
It would suck, but unless there is strong evidence that this driver intentionally mowed him down or something, the motorcycle rider does shoulder a lot of the blame by getting on the motorcycle in the first place.
I don’t agree. Obviously there are risks involved in riding, but it’s hardly equivalent to attempted suicide or Russian roulette.
My main point is how lightly anyone driving a car is treated; they are not given the seriousness that’s appropriate to operation of a frequently deadly piece of heavy machinery.
I’m not saying it’s equivalent to that at all, but it’s a huge known risk. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous, and it’s our prerogative to do so, but with that risk, we also have to take our safety into our own hands.
I know when riding that I must recognize cross traffic WELL ahead of time and be prepared for them to pull out in front of me because they may not see me.
We must ride like we are invisible, because the reality is that in many cases, we are.