Two motorcyclists dead. Family of ducks, alive.

[lonesoldier84]

Two killed in Quebec after driver stops for ducks

Seems to me the person who stopped in the middle of the road must have stopped around a blind corner or something. Not just one person, but 3 plowed into them. The odds of three separate people tailgating one another and moving at break-neck speeds seems unlikely, especially since they seem to be a father and daughter and another unrelated woman.

 

[alanrim]

Not just one person, but 3 plowed into them. The odds of three separate people tailgating one another and moving at break-neck speeds seems unlikely, especially since they seem to be a father and daughter and another unrelated woman.

Are we reading the same story ?

It says a father with his daughter on the back hit the car, then the mother who was following hit it too.

It is a difficult situation, but this could easily have been a broken down car or truck with the same result. You have to try to be prepared for most eventualities when driving, especially when riding.

 

[Have2BeFree]

How sad. People just don't think.

I came around a blind corner this weekend to find two cars stopped dead in the road. The driver in the first car was talking to a woman who was standing in the middle of the road bent over and leaning her elbows on the car door. DUMBA**. I was going pretty slow and had enough time to stop (albeit quickly) as I prayed no one came up behind me.

 

[Wh0M3]

That is really sad.

I have learned not to try to swerve around animals on the road because you can lose control. On a bike I don't know yet, I just try to stay away from them.

 

[dean2287]

I heard about this one too. Devastating, and totally rediculous circumstances. I understood that the woman motorcyclist swerved to avoid the car but still laid the bike down and was taken to hospital. Not sure about that. One thing's for sure, you don't come to a screeching halt in the middle of a highway without a VERY good reason, like someone lying on the road right in front of you, or a 10 foot crevass that you are going to drive into. Some ducks and goslings are cute, but let's face it - if they're stupid enough to saunter across a highway they're not going to live very long anyhow.

 

[lonesoldier84]

Common sense thing to do?

Go around the ducks and stop on side of road. Walk back and around the blind corner and wave people to slow down. People going slow will not run over ducks.

Irresponsible people caused this to unfold as it did.

 

[Dennis in NH]

Stopping around a blind corner is plain stupid and dangerous .

I've had to slam brakes (in one of my cars with super brakes) because someone decided to stop around a blind corner. You better believe I blared the horn at his total stupidness.

When I walk or ride a bicycle, I make sure I don't go near corners where possible oncoming traffic can't see me. If I'm on a MC, I'm extremely cautious about roads like that; they scare me.

Dennis

 

[lonesoldier84]

Even if you have a catastrophic mechanical failure you can always swerve towards the shoulder. That's what it's there for. People who stop in the middle of the road are idiots.

 

[Tailgate]

This is why tailgating is not only stupid, but dangerous. I know: most people do it anyway. Sure, the driver could've been more cognizant since she should have realized that this would've caused the tailgaters to wreck. Don't tailgate! Okay, it was ducks this time; what if it was a deer? You should expect the unexpected. It amazing me how 90%+ of motorists tailgate. Something similar to not carrying life vests on a boat or something. I know, I'm going to get a lot of flack for this...If it's a blind corner, then that's why traffic laws might stipulate 15 MPH.

 

[Evitzee]

Sad for sure, but the ultimate fault lies with the following motorists. Anything can happen on blind corners, if you can't see your way through than slow down, cover your brakes and prepare for the worst. No excuse for barrelling around a corner and plowing into a stopped vehicle. Of course the motorist was dumb to stop to let the ducks pass, but what if was a pedestrian, or a previous accident? Anything can happen on the open road and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable ..... you have to keep that in mind 100% of the time.

 

[dean2287]

Sad for sure, but the ultimate fault lies with the following motorists. Anything can happen on blind corners, if you can't see your way through than slow down, cover your brakes and prepare for the worst. No excuse for barrelling around a corner and plowing into a stopped vehicle. Of course the motorist was dumb to stop to let the ducks pass, but what if was a pedestrian, or a previous accident? Anything can happen on the open road and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable ..... you have to keep that in mind 100% of the time.

+1 there. It's called defensive driving. I'm pretty confident with my own riding ability and always ride in my comfort zone, but also keep a darned close eye on other drivers and what's going on around me.

This old timer war vet once told me about when he was learning to drive a jeep. His Drill Sargeant told him "just remember that everyone else on the road is an idiot, and you'll do just fine."

 

[lonesoldier84]

If it's a blind corner, then that's why traffic laws might stipulate 15 MPH.

Agreed. If you can't react to the worst case scenario when riding or driving, you are moving too fast or are being too aggressive. I am always the first in line to go over the limit when the limit is stupid, but many times I go under the limit when the situation demands it.

And regarding defensive driving:

I tell my friends and relatives that want to get into riding that until they understand the theory of defensive driving and put it into practice, they shouldn't operate a motorcycle.