Risk Management Magazine

A near-miss incident where a left-turning sedan cut off an oncoming motorcycle highlights that crossing vehicles represent one of the most lethal threats to riders. This close call demonstrates that active situational awareness, rapid defensive swerving and high-visibility gear are a rider's critical lines of defense against driver inattention and cognitive miscalculations.

The date was April 26, 2023. I was TDY and had just returned to my hotel room after having dinner with a co-worker. About 7:45 p.m., I received a phone call from a number I did not recognize. I answered it anyway. The person on the other end of the line identified herself as a representative from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and explained she obtained my number from one of their patients. That was the moment I knew something terrible had happened and it wasn’t going to end well.

It all started when I bought my first motorcycle. I’ll never forget that initial ride — the adrenaline, the vulnerability and the surreal sensation of moving so fast while feeling every bit of the road beneath me. Thoughts rushed through my head faster than the pavement under my feet. But even in the middle of all that excitement, I had to focus on the friction zone, shifting gears, turning left to go right. It was all new, and it demanded my complete attention.