Although not directly related to a motorcycle incident “YET”, the rash of accidents involving the Los Angeles County’s MTA’s new Orange Line is a prime example of a percentage of motorists who have little regard or concern the safety of others much less the rules of the road.
Today marked the seventh accident involving a four wheeled motorist and the new Orange Line. Although not yet proven, all indications are that the cause was the motorist running a red light.
For those of you not from the San Fernando Valley area of Southern California, the Orange Line is a new addition to the Los Angeles County’s MTA system that runs across a congested 14 mile stretch of the valley. It has its own dedicated lane that parallels other traffic lanes. The Orange Line has surpassed all expectation of ridership and looks to be a great success. But with the rash of accidents involving the Orange Line, it is coming under attack by many groups and individuals. Already, the MTA has incorporated changes to the Orange Line that slow its travel. And why does MTA need to do this? So as to make the Orange Line safer and more visible to those motorist who CHOOSE to drive irresponsibly and run red traffic lights.
In addition to today’s incident the following are a few clips from local news sources that describe other incidents that have recently taken place with the Orange Line:
“The circumstances of the crash were under investigation. Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Mark Littman said the bus driver told officials that the pickup truck ran a red light at the intersection.”
“Littman said the MTA's Orange Line bus drivers are "our top operators." The previous accidents on the Orange Line were determined to have been caused by motorists and not by bus drivers, Littman said.”
"He said the motorist, a Woodland Hills woman, struck the rear of the bus. The car's air bags deployed and she was wearing a seat belt.”
“Earlier that day, an elderly woman allegedly ran a red light and hit an Orange Line bus near Topham Street and Corbin Avenue. No serious injuries were reported.”
On the day before the Orange Line opened, while on a “test run”, an incident occurred as a result of a motorist running a red light. The following statement regarding this incident was also stated in a local new source:
“The driver of the car did not have a valid license and his vehicle was impounded, MTA spokesman Marc Littman told The Times. There was minor damage to the bus.”
The following statement by the MTA really sums things up:
"In the case of the two accidents we've had and most of the close calls, the culprit appears to be motorists running red lights or making prohibited right turns," Yaroslavsky wrote to MTA CEO Roger Snoble. "I have already seen many of our drivers take this defensive approach, but I have also seen some of them move through the intersections at speeds that would make it more difficult to avoid a collision when cross traffic runs the red lights."
So, how do those of us on two wheels stand a chance when we have four wheeled motorist who can not see a 65 foot long orange bus with flashing lights approaching nor cares enough to follow the basic rules of the road and stop for a red traffic light? Implement mandatory rider education? Put a strobe light on the top of our government mandated helmet? Make us wear safety orange vests with reflective tape? The MTA is jumping through hoops to make the Orange Line rout safer for those running red traffic lights by doing such things as making the buses slow to 10 mph through intersections, so as to allow the Orange Line driver the opportunity to take evasive actions if needed (seems a bit counterproductive to the whole concept of rapid transit), installing giant strobe lights to attracted motorist attention of an oncoming, 65 foot orange bus bus, lowering signs to an eye level that allows the offending motorist to see it while viewing his dash mounted DVD player, lengthening the delay between the cross traffic red light and the Orange Line green light ( I guess this gives the red light runner a better chance at making it through the intersection) and I am sure the MTA has a number of other things they have or will be implementing, all so that those who choose to drive irresponsibly have a better chance of being able to do so safely.
Instead of continually penalizing the folks who manage to follow the few simple rules imposed on us, how about we start making the irresponsible motorist responsible? Did we not forget that driving the roadways in a privilege not a right? Run a red light, loose your privilege to drive. Take all the damn cell phones, DVD players and all the other crap that creates distractions to the driver and make him or her drive. If they can’t do that, take their license away. And if someone is simply unable to manage all the decisions that need to be made as a responsible driver, be it due to old age or any other reason, take there driving privilege away as well. You do all these things and mass transit will become more popular and more affordable and also will result in far fewer motorcyclists going down at the fault of another irresponsible motorist.
Respects,
Russ & Sweet Cindy Lou
BikerCrap.com
