Rear ended on highway 17

[Farfle]

Hello all, long time lurker here, but would like some advice on what I could have done better.

A bit of back story: I commute between Summit road and Hayward every day, and rack up quite a few miles. My bike is a 2015 Zero DS with ABS, that I had owned since Feb of that year, I had put 23,091 miles on it at the time of the accident. The only aftermarket parts are a 17" front wheel conversion, PR4 tires and a light bar for night riding thru the woods (The thought of hitting a deer scares the hell out of me)

The crash happened on Dec 9th at 9:00 PM on south bound highway 17 south of the bear creek exit.

I was riding in the left hand lane at 60mph, and came around the corner to stopped traffic, I gradually slowed to a stop (I don't lane split on 17 normally, as it is pretty sketchy at best), and right about the time I went to put my foot down, I casually checked my mirror right as I got rear ended by a small black sedan.

The bike took almost all of the impact and cartwheeled end over end a handful of times up the middle line between the lanes. It somehow did not hit any of the other stopped cars, and came to a stop 60ft in front of the collision.

I remember seeing the sunroof on the VW that hit me, and then landed flat on my back behind the car that hit me. I was totally winded and flopped about for a bit before rolling on my hands and knees and was helped to the side of the road. The guy I had stopped behind heard it and saw the bike go past and was on the phone with dispatch as he came running over to help.

I got three broken ribs that the doc said broke in funny places (We are guessing they broke where they did because of the laptop and lunchbox in my backpack)
The ribs took forever to heal and have just recently stopped giving me troubles.

The bike was deemed a total loss, as I guess nobody in the area wanted to touch an electric bike repair quote. The damage was mostly cosmetic even after going end over end a few times.

From some other rider friends, I have heard that you should lane split whenever possible, and if you have to stop behind traffic, that you should stop at an angle and be ready to GTFO while watching your mirrors. In this case, I am not sure there is anywhere to go, as there is no shoulder on either side (6 inches to a 3ft concrete median to the left, and 1ft of space to tree filled cliffside/guard rail going up on the right)

I now avoid as much of Highway 17 as possible, and I take old santa cruz highway to summit road. It adds 10mins to my trip, but I could not think of a way to ride that part of 17 safely. Any thoughts?

Accident happened here if you want the street view:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/S...2!3m1!1s0x808e47844c98545d:0x64a936a964f2eba1

Pics of bike:






Back pack contents:






Bike got smacked so hard it pulled the keys out of the ignition, which got run over by a few dozen cars. Lost a flash drive with some important stuff on it, and also broke the only key to the gun safe at the house (that was an expensive one to get sorted)

 

[clutchslip]

You have to position yourself between the stopped cars, even if you don't want to split. If the traffic is stopped or creeping on 17, it is no different than splitting elsewhere, except it is slightly curved. You shouldn't have fear of moving to a safer position. I always plan an escape route. Thus, I would have automatically placed myself to one side of the lane or the other. Your accident is a prime reason that many want lane sharing to stick around.

Broken ribs are awful. Sorry to hear about those things.

 

[El Feo]

Lose the backpack.

I don't stop on freeways. I scan far enough ahead that if I see stopped traffic and no possibility to split, I will slow to a crawl and watch my six.

 

[Aware]

100% get between the cars, not behind.

Shame about the Zero.

 

[El Feo]

Haha, wasn't Farfle the dog on Seinfeld?


youtu.be/l7e4Vt8n004

 

[Aware]

Your accident is a prime reason that many want lane sharing to stick around.

Including a report commissioned by CHP

"Not shockingly, it said lane splitters were less likely to be rear ended, but were more likely to rear end a vehicle."
http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/uc-berkeley-study-on-lane-splitting


More
http://news.berkeley.edu/2015/05/29/motorcycle-lanesplitting-report/

 

[DataDan]

I was riding in the left hand lane at 60mph, and came around the corner to stopped traffic, I gradually slowed to a stop (I don't lane split on 17 normally, as it is pretty sketchy at best), and right about the time I went to put my foot down, I casually checked my mirror right as I got rear ended by a small black sedan.

My impression is that you were insufficiently nervous about stopped traffic just beyond the blind right bend. In that location, in the dark, on a motorcycle, you were extremely vulnerable.

Once you've begun braking, traffic behind demands your attention. If there's any doubt, dive into the split as you slow. It's your only escape route.

I completely disagree with your friends who think you should split whenever possible. I accept your judgment that splitting can be dodgy on 17, and in the conditions leading up to your crash--traffic moving at the speed limit +10mph--it's a bad idea. But as soon as you saw the brake lights ahead, splitting became a potentially lifesaving option.

 

[Aware]

I completely disagree with your friends who think you should split whenever possible. I accept your judgment that splitting can be dodgy on 17, and in the conditions leading up to your crash--traffic moving at the speed limit +10mph--it's a bad idea. But as soon as you saw the brake lights ahead, splitting became a potentially lifesaving option.

Right. There's only a handful of places on 17 where splitting is going to be anything like ok at normal speeds.

And then, only in daylight.

 

[Farfle]

Haha, wasn't Farfle the dog on Seinfeld?


youtu.be/l7e4Vt8n004

Yes Bastard dog on Seinfeld, and my nickname.

I agree with all of your guys statements, and I will ride while being more vigilant on keeping an eye on traffic behind me, as well as coming to a stop off to the side or at least when I stop, ill make sure I am pointed at an escape route if I can watch traffic approach behind me.

I think for now and in future, I will just continue avoiding 17 as much as I can. Taking old Santa Cruz Highway, and then bumping across summit road to San Jose Soquel rd is a much more fun ride anyway :rolleyes

 

[Zerox]

I agree with all of your guys statements, and I will ride while being more vigilant on keeping an eye on traffic behind me, as well as coming to a stop off to the side or at least when I stop, ill make sure I am pointed at an escape route if I can watch traffic approach behind me.

That's pretty much it, what else can you do? You weren't even fully stopped yet and then, boom. Hard to even keep an eye on rear traffic on 17, since it's so curved.

If a driver sucks at driving so badly they can't avoid ramming people in front of them, it's a bleak situation. Driver was obviously not paying attention to actually driving. Hope that driver's insurance pays you well, very well.

I would be lane-splitting there, for these reasons. If the traffic was stopped or moving slowly.

 

[afm199]

My impression is that you were insufficiently nervous about stopped traffic just beyond the blind right bend. In that location, in the dark, on a motorcycle, you were extremely vulnerable.

Once you've begun braking, traffic behind demands your attention. If there's any doubt, dive into the split as you slow. It's your only escape route.

I completely disagree with your friends who think you should split whenever possible. I accept your judgment that splitting can be dodgy on 17, and in the conditions leading up to your crash--traffic moving at the speed limit +10mph--it's a bad idea. But as soon as you saw the brake lights ahead, splitting became a potentially lifesaving option.

Totally this.

When you come upon stopped traffic, ASSUME and Believe there is someone immediately behind you who is going to run into you. Flash your lights as you brake, check your mirror, aim for a safe spot. You made the classic mistake of trusting others. Don't. Scan the mirror the entire time you are riding, always know who is behind you. Always assume they want to kill you.

 

[GAJ]

Totally this.

When you come upon stopped traffic, ASSUME and Believe there is someone immediately behind you who is going to run into you. Flash your lights as you brake, check your mirror, aim for a safe spot. You made the classic mistake of trusting others. Don't. Scan the mirror the entire time you are riding, always know who is behind you. Always assume they want to kill you.

Even in my car if I come on that situation, as I'm slowing, I hit the hazard lights as warning for those behind.

On my BMW I can do this but on my Suzuki I can't so in that case I'd definitely be monitoring my mirrors and heading between cars even if I couldn't fit all the way due to narrow lanes.

Hazards should be required on all bikes IMHO as just one more tool in the bucket.

To the OP, amazing you got off with relatively minor damage to yourself even though the bike was sacrificed.

 

[sanjuro]

My last close call on NB 880 right after the EB 92 merge. Traffic slowed as usual and I was slowing while setting up for a HOV merge/split. But a Prius in front of me did not recognize the big truck ahead, and it looked it was actually accelerating, but likely just going at 25mph until the driver stepped on the brakes way too late and slammed into the back of the truck.

I was able to execute emergency braking and swerve around a fallen bumper. But in my after-analysis, I was distracted enough not to look in my rearview mirrors before I started braking.

Whenever I think I will be in a situation where I have to brake, I try to know what is behind me when I start braking. If there is a distracted driver behind me, maybe I will merge or lanesplit. When I am in my car, I do tap the brake pedal to warn off tailgaters.

 

[NorCal Factory]

I always check my 6 o'clock whenever I see a situation that even might require braking. I create a larger space cushion in front to allow more time to slow down.

I always watch my mirrors as I brake and flash the brake light until I see the car behind reacting, all the while planning an escape route. But on 17 there are times that there is no real escape option.
So, on 17 I create even more space in advance of the area where there are blind curves.

I never allow for big trucks to be behind me when there is a chance of stop and go traffic.
All of the above goes for whether in a car or on a bike.

I also avoid 17 on a bike but I don't need to commute.
I do think hi vis outerwear and a brake light modulator would be helpful as well.

 

[El Feo]

I always check my 6 o'clock whenever I see a situation that even might require braking. I create a larger space cushion in front to allow more time to slow down.

I always watch my mirrors as I brake and flash the brake light until I see the car behind reacting, all the while planning an escape route. But on 17 there are times that there is no real escape option.
So, on 17 I create even more space in advance of the area where there are blind curves.

I never allow for big trucks to be behind me when there is a chance of stop and go traffic.
All of the above goes for whether in a car or on a bike.

I also avoid 17 on a bike but I don't need to commute.
I do think hi vis outerwear and a brake light modulator would be helpful as well.

Very good post.:thumbup

 

[MysterYvil]

I've always been paranoid about getting rear-ended, quadruply so at night...

I always do a staccato strobe thing when slowing down until I have a vehicle or two safely stopped behind me. Also, I leave at least a car-length, and angle for getaway just in case.

Nighttime is worst, as a moto's brake/taillight can blend in with the stop/tail lamps of the vehicle in front of you. Especially bad when stopped behind trucks...

Glad you're okay, OP, and sorry your moto got ruined.

 

[onto1wheel]

...
I now avoid as much of Highway 17 as possible, and I take old santa cruz highway to summit road. It adds 10mins to my trip, but I could not think of a way to ride that part of 17 safely. Any thoughts?

That's a good way to do it!
I've been taking the long way to work and back every single day for decades to minimize my hiway 17 exposure.
77 extra turns each way :thumbup


and sorry to hear about your bad accident.
I spend alot of time watching behind, and trying to maintain space.
many many years ago I had to make a real panic stop on 17. I was so scared of getting rear-ended I moved up to occupy the 2 feet of space between the car in front of me and the center divider wall on his left. That was a very risky place to be, but it was the best I could mange in a split second. I learned to keep more space and stay more focused from that one.

 

[kongjie]

Anytime on 17 that I come around a corner and have to suddenly slow down for stopped traffic, I am looking in my rear view mirror in dread. And that's driving a car. I would not want to be in that situation on a bike.

Back last winter I was going to Santa Cruz one Saturday morning. Went around a curve and all of a sudden everyone is slowing down. As I slow down I glance in the rear view and a car drives off the shoulder right up the hill. Insane.

 

[5150ninja]

I'll take my chances splitting 17, rather than stop behind traffic or even be slowed enough to get ass reamed. I commute 17 and split always, rain or shine. There's only a few places that are too narrow, even for the old Connie beast with the side cases mounted. Once in a while you have to stop for a second if you're getting squeezed to much, but generally it's fine. In the rain you must account for the wet bot dots, as they'll F U up in a curve while splitting through.

 

[barfer]

If you stop near edge (p1 or p3 but closer to line) of lane then there is another option for escape. Forget the bike and jump to the side (perpendicular to the lane).

Riding/driving wise the basic practice is that you check mirror before and during slowing (applying brakes, rolling off throttle, engine braking,..) down.

I suggest that you skim through the rider skills and crash analysis sections to check if you missed on any other basic level practice. If you find something new to you then adapt it to your way of riding.

Hwy 17 is a challenging road.