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I have an interesting and TRUE story I want to share with everyone, and it is the basis on which I came up with the title for this article.
On Sunday morning, September 6th, 2009, I was working a Sheriff’s detail at the Romeo Airport. It was basically a “PR” thing and nothing strenuous or even remotely dangerous. That is unless you consider small aircraft buzzing around or a swarm of wide-eyed kids and hungry grandparents dangerous (yeah, I know – they can be).
At noon the event was ending, so I attempted to clean off as much of the kid’s handprints, footprints, candy residue and snot off the motorcycle as I could, then I headed out. I traveled east on 32 Mile Road, and then headed south on North Avenue. If you know the road (North between 28 & 29 Mile) you’ll know the curve I’m referring too – it is the first left handed curve you encounter when riding south bound from 29 Mile Road.
It was there that I experienced one of those “defining moments,” where an immediate maneuver is required to keep from getting schmucked. This was [again] one of those moments I had trained & practiced for, and I honestly believe that had it not been for the training, you may have been reading about me in a different article.
As I entered into the sweeping turn, so was a car coming in the opposite direction. The problem was, I followed the curve, *she* was doing everything BUT! I say “she” because I looked right at her when she passed me. As she drifted across the double-yellow lines and into my path of travel I held the fog line watching her every move. It took 100% concentration and application of the skills I learned in training to avoid an impact with this person, or at minimum, avoid running off the roadway and crashing. I know she never even saw me till after I passed her (if even then), and remember…I was in uniform on a police motorcycle.
I survived it (obviously) and about a half mile down the road, I pulled over and stopped. As my heart raced and my legs shook I closed my eyes and said a little silent prayer and thanked God that I had learned and practiced these motorcycle skills. I knew for sure that if I hadn’t, I could have been killed. About that time I also realized that I needed to change my shorts…and soon!
But as in all stories, there is a lesson to be learned for the wise among us. Let’s think for a moment about the driver of that opposing vehicle. Think about what may have happened *IF* I would have impacted her vehicle head on at that speed. Judging by how far she came over the line, and *IF* I had stayed in my lane position and not moved, I would have caught her vehicle dead (no pun) center, or perhaps a bit towards the driver’s side. An 800 pound motorcycle with a 200 pound rider traveling at 45-50mph impacting a car heading in the opposite direction would have not only caused her (at minimum), serious injury, but it may have killed her (not to mention me). Had I been a car or a semi-truck, this lady may have lost her life as a result of her lack of attention to driving. The scary part is that she isn’t the only person out there driving a “cage” that is pre-occupied…so be warned.
The woman didn’t die that afternoon, not in that curve anyway. That’s because a trained rider on a mechanically sound motorcycle, concentrating on what he was doing, avoided a crash and perhaps this woman’s life was spared. You may call it crazy, but I honestly believe because it was me on my motorcycle, being where I was in that particular moment in time is what saved HER life. And my guess is that she doesn’t even realize it…not even now. But a driver of a car that was following me did (he was back some distance and witnessed everything). When I was stopped at 28 Mile Road, he pulled up and told me that was a “great piece of defensive riding,” and that she was an “idiot!” He asked if I was okay, and that helped a bit, but I still needed to go change my shorts. I just smiled and thanked him.
The “message” in this story that I want to pass on to you is simple…
PLEASE take motorcycle riding seriously, and PLEASE make the effort to get whatever training is available to you…and LISTEN to the instructors. Take seriously the lessons taught, and remember to practice-practice-practice.
Why? Because you just never know what is coming around that next curve. One sunny Sunday afternoon when the warmth of the sun is on your face, you and your motorcycle are running perfectly together, you are in your element and life is good…you just may be tested. And failure to pass this test could cost you your life, or at the very least leave a nasty mark.
In closing, I would like to offer you one simple word…a word that I would like everyone to try to etch into your minds (tattoo it on your brain) and that word is: “CONCENTRATE!” Then practice doing exactly that…from the time you swing a leg over a motorcycle, till the time you dismount… “CONCENTRATE!” and do it100% of the time. No exceptions – period.
Remember, when you ride a motorcycle, it is always your fault – no matter what happens. So ride as if your life depends on it – because it does.
Gary
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