Former Astronaut Dies After Cycling Accident

[lph]

I took my drivers licence when I was 35. I was freaking terrified. I was adult, conscientious, aware, a mother, a seasoned cyclist well used to duelling it out at close quarters with cars, trucks and motorcycles at high speed, and I was terrified I'd kill someone.

I realize now that much of that feeling was not having car handling under my skin, and now that I drive regularly I know the car and how to position it a lot better. But I try to never forget that feeling of how much you don't see from a drivers seat, and how very little time it takes to lose control. The feeling of danger I had was exaggerated, but still real and justified. I use that memory to remind myself to practice often and keep up my skills, and to actively judge if I should drive at all under difficult conditions.

I would welcome a compulsory re-test for a drivers licence after ten years. At age 16 (18 here) you may be old enough to master the physical act of driving, but at age 26 you're a responsible adult old enough to really come to grips with what you're doing and how it can affect lives.

[jessmarimba]

A repeat test would be good, but what about people who WILLFULLY don't follow laws? I'm sure plenty of people know that they SHOULD use their turn signal and not run red lights, and that tailtgating while going 80 mph is a bad idea...but would remember well enough to behave with an instructor in the car.


A lot of people get so entitled behind the wheel. I like the theory - I can't remember who wrote the essay - but if we all drove around with a giant metal spike sticking out of our steering wheels and no seatbelts, we'd all be much better drivers.

[sundial]

When I see a cyclist riding on a busy highway, I almost cringe. So many drivers are distracted and it only takes a second for a life to be completely changed.

[channlluv]

I saw three riders today on the streets near my school. Two men and a woman all riding and chatting -- it was a great day for it -- and then as I was leaving the school parking lot, I saw them again, only this time the woman was lagging behind because she was focused on dialing her phone. It took her a few seconds and both hands off the handlebars to do it, and then she rode on down the road one-handed while holding the phone to her ear. I'm glad it was the middle of the day and traffic - cars and kids crossing at the crosswalk between the schools - was minimal.

Roxy

[OakLeaf]

A week ago Wednesday I saw a boy riding in the grass and not actually in the road at all, on a road that I avoid on the bici as much as possible (I was in my car at the time). It's a narrow, high-traffic country road. I don't remember exactly what he was doing, but I remember thinking it was very unsafe.

The next day, a boy was killed on that road when he reportedly hit a patch of gravel and veered into the path of a truck. The age and location match the boy I saw.