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Local m/c rider killed

The picture only shows the perspective of the major front end damage to and the large debis field left by the M/C. It (intentionally) didn't show the details of the intersection or the car involved. The details of the accident "are left to the investigation". Too many unanswered questions. Hope there's a follow up post giving more complete details.
Mike
 
According to Google Maps and the news article it appears the motor vehicle made a left turn into the path of the motorcycle. There is a left turn lane to SW Hart Rd on northbound Murray Blvd; ergo, the continued investigation about who had the right of way. Who ran a light?
 
Hi JayBros,

Re: There is a left turn lane to SW Hart Rd on northbound Murray Blvd; ergo, the continued investigation about who had the right of way. Who ran a light?

As I mentioned, I use this intersection numerous times a day. I know it well; in fact, I have been involved with both the county & the city on the light controls for this intersection.

IMO ( speculation only at this point ), the northbound car, in a left-turn lane, had a blinking yellow arrow. This means that he can go but must yield to all other traffic; or wait for the green left-turn arrow.

My money says that the left-turning car turned left in front of the m/c rider while seeing the blinking yellow arrow. The south-bound m/c rider would not have had a chance as the car would have 'instantly' been directly in front of him.

We use these left-turn blinking yellow arrows a lot in the city of Beaverton. I use them a lot myself. But one must understand when to go & when to yield.

When I am returning to my home & going south-bound & wanting to turn right/west-bound, I use the right-hand turn lane. More than once I have been nearly hit by a north-bound car turning left/west-bound using the yellow blinking arrow. So far, I have always been in my car when this has happened.

While I, personally, like the left-turn yellow blinking lights, I have concluded that they are dangerous for the north-bound traffic at this intersection. I'll get my $0.02 to the city & county on this.

Jerry Baumchen

PS) In all fairness, many times I have noticed m/c riders going way, way over the speed limit on Murray Blvd. I've done it a fair amount myself. However, I am very careful as to where I push the speed limits & how much.
 
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Sad to hear of these kinds of accidents. There has been a couple here in my area as well. Not the kind of news you like to hear.
 
Here in Western Texas we have had more than we would like. So far most have been the rider tring to outrun the cops and loosing control and crashing or DUI's. Unfortunately a lot have been from our local military base here in town. OH ya, seems to be a mix from crotch rockets to Harley's.
 
jaherbst said:

Yet another Left turn by automobile into the path of an oncoming M/C. Happens quite often.

Jack
Click to expand...

Yep … kept me out of the wind for nearly 20 years. She turned left, I had no time to react and hit dead center head on …. my custom built BMW K75 LT was totaled and I walked away. That was 1993 and I didn't ride again until I bought a Spyder in 2012.

Prayers for the family of this poor soul that was lost today …. All the best ….. Ann
 
Yes, Jerry, we have a lot of those blinking yellow lights around here. They require 100% concentration on the part of all drivers all the time. Sadly...
 
The right-of-way situation is no different between a blinking yellow arrow and a completely dark arrow: the left-turning vehicle must yield. Perhaps the innovation of the blinking yellow has confused more people than it has helped? Why create a new signal, plus all those new signs above them to describe the meaning, when a yielding left-turn option already existed without the new signal?

If this new flashing signal gives people the wrong impression about right-of-way, it seems to be a fatal mistake! :sour:
 
Hi missouriboy,

Re: Why create a new signal, plus all those new signs above them to describe the meaning, when a yielding left-turn option already existed without the new signal?

Prior to the blinking yellow arrow, the only left turn option was a full-time green arrow. The blinking left-turn arrows are IMO an improvement to moving traffic efficiently if, and a big IF, people understand the right-of-way req'ments and comply with them.

All the car driver would have had to do was wait until the m/c rider passed by & then make his/her left-turn.

Jerry Baumchen
 
Perhaps I misunderstand the law. I've been doing yielding left-turns on green all my life, unless there is a RED arrow. If the arrow is UNLIT it means the same as flashing yellow. At least, that's what I always thought... :dontknow:
 
What classifies " the misuse of a Helmet" ??? That bike took a real hard hit above 40 mph. I don't know how you could wear & misuse a helmet unless the chin strap wasn't buckled but the internal body organs can only handle so much before failure to function occurs.
Darrell
 
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Spyder_Cowgirl said:
Yep … kept me out of the wind for nearly 20 years. She turned left, I had no time to react and hit dead center head on …. my custom built BMW K75 LT was totaled and I walked away. That was 1993 and I didn't ride again until I bought a Spyder in 2012.

Prayers for the family of this poor soul that was lost today …. All the best ….. Ann
Click to expand...

A sense of fear sets in everytime I see an oncoming vehicle slowing down preparing to make a left turn in front of my riding :-(
Darrell
 
missouriboy said:
Perhaps I misunderstand the law. I've been doing yielding left-turns on green all my life, unless there is a RED arrow. If the arrow is UNLIT it means the same as flashing yellow. At least, that's what I always thought... :dontknow:
Click to expand...
If you're referring to a left through lane with a left turn signal then I would say you're correct.

If I saw an unlit left turn arrow in a left turn only lane I would think it's not working. As far as left turn only lanes all the left turn arrows I've seen were red, meaning of course stop, green, meaning you are clear to go, blinking yellow, meaning left turn OK if there is no on coming traffic - they have the right of way, and solid yellow, meaning the light is getting ready to turn red. I've never seen a functioning one with an off cycle.
 
I just checked one of our intersections with a left-turn arrow, and it's unlit (never red) when not green or yellow, but there's a sign above the "thru" light that says "Left Turn Yield on Green" with a big green dot beneath the letters. The "thru" lights are of course red when the arrow is green (normally... sometimes not, when the opposing left-turn lane is empty.)

Different strokes for different States? I dunno...
 
Wildrice said:
A sense of fear sets in everytime I see an oncoming vehicle slowing down preparing to make a left turn in front of my riding :-(
Darrell
Click to expand...

Whenever I encountered that: I'd flip my lights to high beam, and move laterally within my lane...
(Trying to be more easily seen...)
 
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