On the Scene
This section describes the On the Scene articles from previous issues. If you would like to order the magazine in which an article appeared, please fill out the subscription form by checking the "Back Issue" box and indicating the appropriate month.
On the Scene is provided by the California Highway Patrol and the Washington State Patrol to make motorcyclists more aware of the dangers involved in the exciting and satisfying sport of motorcycling. There are those who learn from the mistakes of others, and then there are the others. Read On the Scene and learn!
May 2008—California Why It Is A Bad Idea to Direct Traffic
This collision occurred on a cold February afternoon. The dark, grey clouds which hung low over the somber funeral procession threatened rain but never delivered. The death of a loved one is always grim, but today one particular griever would not have the loss of a friend on his mind. He would be in a fight for his own life…
April 2008—Washington Three Ways to Get Busted—Speed, Alcohol, and No Motorcycle Endorsement
On an early spring evening, a Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper was working speed enforcement on a two-lane state route highway that is straight, has no grade, and was bare and dry. He observed a motorcyclist approaching quickly. Using a laser speed measuring device, the trooper clocked the motorcyclist's speed at over 100 mph in the posted 55 mph zone. The motorcyclist was closing in on traffic, which was still a substantial distance out in front of the rider…
March 2008—California Three Indicators of Danger Lurking Ahead
On a cool, mid-January evening, a rider with approximately two years riding experience was riding on a two-lane residential street with a posted speed limit of 45 mph. He was traveling southbound at 45 mph and approaching the rear of an SUV (Scene 1). The SUV was traveling at 35 mph with its left turn signal on…
February 2008—California Scarf Pulls Passenger Off Bike
It was a warm December afternoon. The Christmas season was upon us and the roadways of the normally bustling metropolitan area were unusually light. Many of the commuters that normally crowd the expressways were home with their families or engaged in last-minute shopping. I spent the day, as I often do, rolling from call to call, but the open roadways made the riding noticeably more enjoyable…
January 2008—California Still Number One After All These Years
I usually like to stick with a theme when it comes to the crashes for this article. In light of this month's CHP Connection question, I was on a mission to locate a collision involving a three-wheeled motorcycle or even a sidecar. I looked long and hard, but to no avail. That is not to say they never crash, only that the resources I have at my fingertips were unable to locate one. Instead I chose one that represents the vast majority of motorcycle crashes, one that possesses the most common primary collision factor for both motorcycles and automobiles alike. Any guesses?…
December 2007—Washington Never Drop Your Guard
This collision is unique in the fact that the rider was not actually riding his bike when the crash occurred. It is a good reminder that even though the engine is not running, you may still be in harm's way…
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