1ST LT. ISAAC GUIZA
Headquarters Support Company
158th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
Arizona Army National Guard
Papago Park Military Reservation
Phoenix, Arizona
My vision hadn't returned yet, but the muffled noises around me began sounding like discernable voices, shouting directions to redirect traffic, support my neck and check if I was conscious. As my eyes adjusted, I focused on a bright-green traffic light set against the deep-purple Arizona evening sky. I laid on the blacktop dazed, confused and in searing pain as the adrenaline wore off. Slowly, it dawned on me — I had just been in a motorcycle accident and lived to tell the tale.
Considering the circumstances, I count myself lucky. When compared to the statistics, surviving a motorcycle accident is no small feat. There’s a saying that riders know all too well: It’s not a matter of if you will fall, crash or drop your bike, but a matter of when. That night, my "when" arrived.
I had taken the motorcycle rider training course and earned my certification and a motorcycle endorsement on my Arizona driver’s license. I was a seasoned rider and wore all the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including a helmet, gloves, jacket and over-the-ankle boots. Despite all this, I found myself at the mercy of another driver’s distraction.
It all happened so fast. A driver, distracted and making a left turn in front of me, admitted they didn’t see me approaching the intersection. I remember the sudden terror as their car cut across my path. With no time to spare, I made a split-second decision. I slammed on the front and rear brakes, forcing the bike into a skid. At 40 mph, I set the bike down onto the ground on its left side. The impact was hard, and I hit the ground, rolled three times and ended up on my back in the middle of the intersection.
As I laid there, my body riddled with pain, I realized how fragile life can be on two wheels. The lesson here is tough: Even if you do everything right, you are still vulnerable to the actions of others on the road. I thought about the motorcycle safety course, the hours of practice and my investment in top-quality gear. Yet, none of it could protect me from the unpredictability of another motorist.
The experience underscored the importance of constant vigilance and defensive driving. Every time I get on my motorcycle now, I’m aware of the risks and the unpredictable nature of sharing the road with other drivers. Defensive driving isn't just a skill; it's a survival tactic.
That night in Arizona, beneath the green traffic light and the darkening sky, I learned a hard truth about motorcycle riding. The freedom and exhilaration come with inherent risks that no number of controls can fully mitigate. It's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security by our gear and skills, but the road is an ever-changing battlefield. We must respect it and always ride with a heightened sense of awareness.
That night changed me forever. The scars remind me daily of the vulnerability we face as motorcyclists. Each ride now is approached with a renewed respect for the road and a commitment to staying safe. At the end of the day, it's not just about enjoying the ride; it's about making sure we come back home to the ones we love. For every rider out there, remember this: Gear up, stay alert and never underestimate the power of defensive driving. Our lives depend on it.