1 out every 3 car drivers thats moving in Greek roads you will see that they are using their phone while driving, another 1 every 3 cars are still using their phones while driving but they are using a bluetooth device. Even if using phone by bluetooth is legal, its still distracts the attention of driver out of the road and its dangerous. Most accidents are because of lack of attention, and that is something that car drivers are by far exceeding bike riders.
Also, lighter vehicles can go faster and safer than larger ones, even if that distinction in most countries laws are between tracks and all other vehicles, it should be another category : bikes
Also because of the above reasons bikers don't feel secure (and they are not) by being near of larger vehicles, and my suggestion is : overtake when its safe to do, or if the larger vehicle is speeding, slow down for it to get far away, and then continue with your cruising speed.
many car drivers , especially in cities with much traffic do the opposite of defensive driving.
as you see, in everything in life, there are bad people and good people.
But just think, in a collision between car and a bike who will survive and who will not.
Well said - there are good and bad drivers regardless of what they ride/drive. I regularly make eye-contact with drivers who then proceed to pull out right in front of me, many of them on the phone while they do it. I also encountered one horrific experience last summer, where a couple of kids (obviously drunk or high) literally attempted to run me down in their truck, without any provocation whatsoever.
No doubt there's also the small group of inconsiderate or uneducated bikers. The two biggest "risk factor" groups are the stereotypical 18-year old kid who's parents buy him a GSXR as his first bike, followed by the 50-something group of guys, who haven't been on a bike in 20 years or more, and think they can handle an 800 pound hog whilst hopping from bar to bar.
I also agree that stiffer regulation and training can make a difference. In my experience, the more educated the rider, the less likely they are to take risks or behave foolishly - regardless of their amount of actual riding experience. Spending time reading books, and researching how and why most motorcycle accidents happen *will* save your ass.
IMO, a tiered licensing system is a good idea. No child should be allowed on public roads with a 100+ horsepower bike, period. Older folks returning to motorcycling should have to undergo thorough training before receiving a license. While you'll never eliminate all the idiots, stiffer regulation would definitely thin the herd IMHO.
