Check your six... drunks are everywhere

This is not about a motorcycle wreck, simply because I had just swapped it for my SUV to pick up my son from the airport.  The story starts a mile earlier when an unlicensed drunk in a pickup rear ended a car at an intersection and ran from the scene.  Witnesses to that wreck followed him and were on the phone with the sheriff's office when he approached the next intersection.  They reported he made no effort to brake and estimated his speed at 35 to 40 mph when he hit the car behind me as we were both stopped for a red light.  It was a violent collision and pushed us both approximately 20 feet, with my foot hard on the brakes, into the intersection.  He again tried to run, and backed into one of the witnesses from the earlier wreck.  However, his truck was belching every vital fluid and unable to keep going.  The people in the car behind me had to be removed with the jaws of life and hauled to the ER.  I had my bell rung and was temporarily a bit loopy, but otherwise unhurt.  He also sent the two people in the car he hit from the previous accident to the ER.

When riding, I always try to remember to keep it in gear and check my mirrors as traffic approaches me from behind at stops.  However, I usually quit worrying about it after one vehicle stops behind me.  Not anymore, I now want at least a two vehicle cushion before I relax.  Please make it a habit of watching your mirrors when you stop and be ready to make a quick emergency exit.  I am fortunate, and I look forward to riding with you at TMac.

P.S.  Driver was arrested and charged with aggravated DUI, open container, no license, hit and run with personal injury (2X) and giving false info to police.  I was in a company car and don't have screw with the insurance.

Glad to hear that you were in the car.  Better still, not your car. I talk to my 11 year old every time we are in the car together about defensive driving and riding.  Helps keep me on my toes.

When will people learn? I have lost at least two family members due to drunk drivers. My older cousin, who was killed while on his motorcycle and another cousin's grandson who was a passenger in a car that was t-boned by a drunk driver. I learned a long time ago that it's not worth the "one more for the road", not only because of what happened to my cousin but I have seen some friends and other family members screw up their lives because of drinking and driving. Glad that you came out OK but it just irks me that in this day and age, we still have those who think they are above being socially responsible!

BIll - glad you are ok - that is a scary situation.  I was waiting to read that you dragged the SOB out of the car yourself and introduced him to a good beating!!

I'll add that motorcycling habits saved my backside just 2 days ago.  While waiting to turn left - (in my car) I kept checking my rearview to see a big rig wasn't slowing down behind me.  At the last second - I saw blue tire smoke bellowing out from the tires - and I was able to floor it just after the oncoming car passed - made it out unscathed by about a foot of clearance.

Motorcycling can save your bacon - use the skills all year round!!

The six is just as much a liability as any other angle .... rule of thumb .. keep at least a couple of vehicle lengths behind the guy in front of you at stoplites. That space gives you two two opportunities if things go south in a hurry ... 1: gives you room to dodge left or right if something ugly is coming up from behind, and 2: if the guy in front stalls/breaks down .. you got the room to pull around him and avoid being just another vehicle in a jamb. That defence technique saved my bacon a few times driving semis.

With respect to anybody behind you who wants you to "move up" ... uhh everybody is on his own in dealing with them... I never found a cut and dried method that pleases everyone.

I'm glad you are ok.  This same thing happened to some good friends of mine. Both have permanent neck and back problems now. Luckly some good sams followed the driver to his house. Unfortunately in their case. the Drunk Drive is a habitual offender and its ops normal for him to injure people, go to jail for a few months, then get released. He also has had no license for years.  Interesting he was not licensed. Do you know why? Previous drunk driving charges? I to keep my motorcycle in gear until the car approaching from behind slows to a stop.