One more reason

...to be safe on the rode while riding. This occured in Mexico during a road tour. One rider died and I believe 10 others were injured. And this is apparently a drunk driver in the car. Horrible.

This is not a scene one likes to see, especially someone who's been on the road with terrible drivers who pay no respect to the rider. This has happened too many times - even when the driver was sober - to be taken lightly. Take the accident that involved a highway patrol officer who fell asleep at the wheel and killed two riders and injured another. Just do a search online and tons of stories pop up about cyclists being killed.

Some drivers may argue that cyclists should pay attention, shouldn't be on the road, etc. Cyclists have the same right as a motor vehicle to the road as much as some who drive. This is tragic and frightens many, especially my mother for sure.

I have been a bike wreck which luckily did not involve a car, and I hate to imagine what would have happened if a car was involved. I, oddly enough, was hit from behind by another rider in our group while I was stopped at a light and the rest of them were flying through (which is NOT a good idea and IS the cyclists' faults). But how did he not see me? I had been stopped for well over 5 seconds - enough to unclip my right foot and set it on the ground and start turning back to yell "red light." But, he didn't see and instead slammed into me at about 18 mph which threw me over the handlebars, chin first into the pavement, into the middle of the intersection while the rest of the group was past the light. They only turned around because they heard my scream before I hit and blacked out. *Shudder* I do hate that day. January 29, 2007. Less than three months before my first Ironman. And the same day I was to meet my future father-in-law for the first time (I guess it helped that I was drugged up on Vicodine, huh??)!

THIS is why I yell at horrible drivers while riding. THIS is why I get angry when other riders in my group want to roll through a red light or stop sign. THIS is why I still get stressed when I have to ride with more than just me and my husband. THIS, dear hubby, is why I get angry on rides...

MC200 in less than two days!