Wow, even rural roads aren't safe...

[UtahPete]

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/hay-bales-fall-from-trailer-cause-fatal-motorcycle-crash

[guzzihack]

I see unsecured loads going down the road all the time. I haven't seen a farmer throw a strap on his hay bales or chain down equipment on a trailer for quite a while. If I did that as a professional driver, I'd be stopped in a heartbeat. Unsafe is unsafe, no matter who you are, in daylight or darkness. Give them plenty of room, just in case.
Coke

[pegasus1300]

Same here in Utah in so far as hay bales are concerned. Always be alert, you just never know. Speaking of rural roads, Pete I was up in your neck of the woods yesterday with about 10 other riders, riding Wolf Creek Pass UT35. Great day for a ride.

[Jeriatric]

The same thing happened to one of our previous members. He was a motorcycle cop, on duty when it happened. Obviously he survived but it banged him up.....big time.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I looked at several articles about this. None of them say whether he died from injuries from the impact or from injuries when he went into the median. If it was one of the big bales I think he would have been stopped dead by the bale and thrown off his Spyder. But the article says he lost control and went into the median which makes me think it was a small bale, or the big bale broke apart. Would be nice to have more details, particularly what were the injuries that did him in.

[BoilerAnimal]

I would also like to know if the farmer was ticketed. Around here, I've seen some farmers (I'm not lumping all farmers together, but far too many are guilty) do stuff that would get a professional truck driver in enough trouble to lose his license permanently! Farmers are not the only ones guilty of poor or outright illegal practices when it comes to hauling stuff or operating equipment on our roads.

Just last Saturday, we were on our way to the state fair and about 15 miles from Springfield, a lady was driving an F150 with about five plastic folding tables stacked against the cab and going 55 MPH down the highway. We were following at what I thought was a safe distance behind with two guys on Harleys behind us, right on our tail.

The inevitable happened. One of the folding tables caught the wind just right and flew out of the truck and slid down the road in front of us. I slammed on the brakes hard because the table was airborne a lot longer than I dreamed it ever would be before landing on the road and beginning its skid.

Well, the riders behind us were pissed that I had slammed on my brakes and nearly hit us before getting their ***** together to fly around us. After receiving the obligatory dirty looks, sans sign language, they realized what the problem was and swerved around the still moving table and chased the lady down and proceeded to convey their displeasure at her mindless act of transporting the tables without being tied down in any way and probably not giving another thought to the danger they had put themselves in by following so close to us.

If they had been behind her as close as they were to us, the outcome would have most likely been much more serious.

[Chupaca]

Well to be honest it happens on all roads. I do ryde more causiously on farmland areas for that very reason. Too many feel they are just going down the road a mile or two so why tie things down...What could happen...??:yikes:

[canamjhb]

Three years ago I was riding north in Utah followed by my wife on our Goldwing and another couple following her on their Spyder. We were on a secondary road doing about 60. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw "something" air-born as a hay truck passed us going the opposite direction. A hay bail (small one) left the truck. It landed in our lane between my wife and the other couple. Upon landing, it exploded and the other couple safely rode through the mess of hay. There was zero time for any of us to react. Our angles were watching out for us..... Jim

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Well to be honest it happens on all roads. I do ryde more causiously on farmland areas for that very reason. Too many feel they are just going down the road a mile or two so why tie things down...What could happen...??:yikes:
In states like Idaho where agriculture is a major part of the economy, and farmers exercise strong influence over the legislature, farmers are partially or totally exempt from many regulations, like tying down loads and covering loose material, that apply to commercial haulers.

[Motorcycledave]

I sure hope he was arrested and placed in jail
with no bail for driving with an unsecured load and
causing the death of some one




https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/hay-bales-fall-from-trailer-cause-fatal-motorcycle-crash

[Haikanko]

175002

This happened on our narrow road last year!!!

[Mikey]

175002

This happened on our narrow road last year!!!

What in the hell was that! omg

[blacklightning]

I was on hwy 17 in north Myrtle Beach for mustang week. I was actually riding my M109 and one of the large inflatable tubes that are pulled behind boats went airborne and landed in front of me. My front wheel went over it, and the tube actually got caught underneath the bike and had my front wheel off the ground. I had absolutely no steering for over 50 years, until the tube finally burst from being slide down the road underneath the 800 pound bike, with a 250 pound rider. I wanted to chase after them, but I was too busy counting my blessings that I didn't wreck, after I pulled into a store parking lot.

[Haikanko]

It was a cutter from one of these - maize (sweet corn) cutter - being transported on a truck and not held down correctly - luckily the driver got out alive - JUST!!!!175004

[Lew L]

Hay bail trucks on the way back from Glacier National Park------- SWAYING too and frow and bales moving on the trailer. Fallen hay bales by the side of the road too. Thank goodness for the stage 1 ECU upgrade. Trucks are going 70 to 75 on 2 lane roads. The chipped :spyder2: pulled up to over 100 mph ( two up with full luggage) quickly and dispatched this road hazard.

Lew L

[billybovine]

I am sorry to hear of the man losing his life and my condolences to his family and friends.

Road debris is always a problem no matter where you are. Farm country has different stuff then more urban areas. Road gators are a problem everywhere. In farm country this time of year there will be hay and straw bales, spilled manure, spilled grain and mud. Students are going back to school soon. So the roads will soon be covered in mattresses and other furniture. So be careful out there.

[ARtraveler]

We see hay bales being transported on a daily basis on road in front of our home. Both small square bales and the large round ones. In all cases, we have seen the loads fastened down. So far, no hay falling off trucks or bales being deposited on the road.

I always look at loads being transported. If they appear to be a threat, we try to avoid them.

[LeftCoast]

I learn something every day here.....

[SuperG]

I just stay away from vehicles with dodgy loads. Either hang *way* back for plenty of reaction time, or, pass 'm up quick.

[pegasus1300]

Living in rural Utah, I see and encounter farm loads, Lumber loads, livestock loads, cattle on the road, sheep on the road, goats running loose, Horses, Deer, Elk, Mountain Lions, Rabbits, etc. It keeps me alert all the time. I have had to dodge all of the above and so far been successful except for the deer that caved in the front of my car then got up and ran off and the one that the truck launched into the air,deer don't fly well. No damage to the truck. Oh and one dog I got with the Spyder that did about $3000.00 damage to the front end plastic. I hate the log trucks the most as they always look like they are going to topple over, even with those big chains around the loads. I am sorry for the fellow who was killed by a moments carelessness on the part of the hauler. Just cause you never lost anything before doesn't mean you wont. Be safe out there and keep your eyes open.