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Heads Up!! Highway hazards when you least expect t...
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12/8/2019 4:34 PM

Coworker had a similar ladder encounter a few months ago. Luckily on his Ducati and able to lift the front wheel before impact. Bounced over the ladder and stayed upright but pretty shaken up when he got to the office!

My warning: almost went down on 3090 near Navasota today. Fresh fairly deep gravel on the blacktop in one of the blind curves. I had to drift to the other side of the road when it broke loose to keep it upright - fortunately there was no other traffic. We all need to be alert and aware of our options constantly!
12/8/2019 11:00 AM
So yesterday I was driving in my cage (car) on the Grand Parkway going the speed limit which is 75 there. I came up behind a few slower cars in the right lane so I put on my turn signal for the left lane. But I had to wait for this guy to pass me, then I drifted over behind him in the left lane. It was a pickup truck with a ladder tied on and hanging over the cab. 

Just as I pulled in behind him, about several car lengths, the ladder slid off the pickup and into the lane in front of me. It slowly drifted to the left so I went right. I couldn't hit my brakes too hard because there was some traffic behind me and also to my right. But I had to cross the center dashed line to my right, especially since then the pickup was braking and pulled tight against the concrete barrier on the left. He was slowing quickly and taking up half of the left lane. The cars behind me also swerved right to go around the pickup but I couldn't see what happened after that as traffic was moving swiftly and we all had to keep going. 

Just amazing! It turned out ok, and I wasn't on my bike, but I could have been, and the ladder could have behaved differently. 

I tell this story because there is a sales guy at one of the local dealerships who encountered this exact scenario earlier this year. Except he was on his bike and had no time to react or maneuver. He ended up going over the ladder and high-siding with some serious injuries. He is ok now and riding again. (Name withheld because I don't have his permission.)

So this is just a quick reminder to expect the unexpected. Always have an out. Save yourself some maneuver room. Don't follow too closely so you lose visibility of the road ahead of you. Most of us know this and have stories of our own, but not everyone so I just wanted to share this. 

Your comments and experiences welcome. 


Jerry

"I ride because it frees my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
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