[yegedox]

So I've been riding for a year now (consistently) and I ran into a potential problem which I never encountered- wondering what some experienced riders had to say.
There is this 'Highway; that I travel often, it's a three lane highway speeds up to 55 mph. This 'highway' has many intersections with stop lights.
While riding down it, there was little traffic in the lanes I was travelling, maybe two vehicles- but they were at a light, and not moving although the light was green. I slowed some because of the uncertainty, but I went though as planned.
It wasn't until I was in the intersection that I heard the sirens from an emergency vehicle coming from my left, and it clicked why the vehicles were stopped.
The emergency vehicle was not even close to entering the intersection as I exited it, and I quickly pulled over. So no danger.
However it had me wondering why I didn't hear the sirens, and what you riders have experienced and solutions. Is this common?
My exhaust is not loud and this is my helmet, and I don't ride with earphones in for music or ear plugs (since my exhaust isn't loud).
TL;DR Ever have a problem not hearing emergency vehicles while approaching an intersection? If so, what were your solutions?

 

[yegedox]

So I've been riding for a year now (consistently) and I ran into a potential problem which I never encountered- wondering what some experienced riders had to say.
There is this 'Highway; that I travel often, it's a three lane highway speeds up to 55 mph. This 'highway' has many intersections with stop lights.
While riding down it, there was little traffic in the lanes I was travelling, maybe two vehicles- but they were at a light, and not moving although the light was green. I slowed some because of the uncertainty, but I went though as planned.
It wasn't until I was in the intersection that I heard the sirens from an emergency vehicle coming from my left, and it clicked why the vehicles were stopped.
The emergency vehicle was not even close to entering the intersection as I exited it, and I quickly pulled over. So no danger.
However it had me wondering why I didn't hear the sirens, what you riders have experienced and solutions. Is this common?
My exhaust is not loud and this is my tricycle safety, and I don't ride with earphones in for music or ear plugs (since my exhaust isn't loud).
TL;DR Ever have a problem not hearing emergency vehicles while approaching an intersection? If so, what were your solutions?

thanks for any help.

 

[CarGuy]

I seems there were "telltales" about what you encountered that maybe you didn't pay attention to. First off, anytime you approach an intersection, regardless of traffic or light status (green, yellow or red), you should look left and right as well as ahead into the opposing lane where a vehicle might be turning left, to make sure you're clear to go through. Just because you have a green light isn't good enough; people run red lights all the time. Secondly, there's the fact that the other cars weren't going through a green light. Many times it's because they're on their phones and not paying attention. But, it could be for other reasons such as that emergency vehicle that they saw and you didn't, or maybe they saw another car that wasn't stopping for their red and were waiting for it to pass.

I recently read about a test where a fire department was curious about how far ahead their sirens could be heard. It was in a car but I think the same premise would apply to a motorcycle. They found that even with their forward directed sirens they had to be within 3 car lengths before anyone in the car while at highway speeds heard their sirens, and those fire dept sirens are LOUD!

The bottom line is this. Intersections are dangerous places and going through one requires being alert. Be aware of what others are doing all the time and how their actions might be indicative of something else. At the same time though, don't rely on their actions to dictate yours. Good luck and safe travels!!!!

 

[vulcandoc]

You went through the intersection and the emergency vehicle wasnt close, so you did nothing wrong and you pulled over after you saw it, so dont feel like you failed!!!
As above it takes awhile for you to hear the siren.

 

[whoaru99]

Yeah, technicically nothing wrong but the point seems to be why the stopped vehicles were able to detect the emergency vehicles, yet the OP was not until later.

I'm with where I think CarGuy is at on this. Have to always use all senses avilable, can't rely on just hearing or sight or feel. It's all senses all the time. Head on a swivel, always, not just the immediate. Have to look way ahead, way to the side, behind too. Emergency vehicles en route typically have pretty bright flashing colored lights visible from quite a distance. Despite not hearing them, there is that visual.

Who is doing what, why might they be doing it? Anticipate potential multiple scenarios, how will you react to each?

 

[KickstandSD]

It happens. I once had the Highway Patrol Code 3 on my tail in the HOV lane, didn't know they were there until I looked in my mirror. I didn't have my earplugs in at the time but even with them the wind noise is no joke. The cars probably weren't moving so no wind noise, and may have seen the vehicle before proceeding through the new green light as you would have if you'd been stopped and not approaching. Slowing was good though as you should always wonder why someone's stopped at a green.

 

[Fast cheese]

Once the car infront of me pulled over and slowed way down unexpected so I passed em and it was a cop. I can't hear them either over wind I guess. I don't the neck current in any of my helmets because I can't breathe with it in.

 

[GCooper]

My question is this, are there any other higher pitched sounds you don't hear when others do hear them?

If you were over 45 mph, and had no ear plugs in, wind noise could have prevented you from hearing the siren.

 

[Jcimino]

Wind noise is always a problem, I don't rely on my hearing very much and just keep my eyes open. I worked on an ambulance for 14 years and we did not run our sirens constantly. We would turn it on when needed and approaching an intersection but a lot of the other time we just ran the lights as the siren can upset some patients.

 

[dewjr12156]

So I've been riding for a year now (consistently) and I ran into a potential problem which I never encountered- wondering what some experienced riders had to say.
There is this 'Highway; that I travel often, it's a three lane highway speeds up to 55 mph. This 'highway' has many intersections with stop lights.
While riding down it, there was little traffic in the lanes I was travelling, maybe two vehicles- but they were at a light, and not moving although the light was green. I slowed some because of the uncertainty, but I went though as planned.
It wasn't until I was in the intersection that I heard the sirens from an emergency vehicle coming from my left, and it clicked why the vehicles were stopped.
The emergency vehicle was not even close to entering the intersection as I exited it, and I quickly pulled over. So no danger.
However it had me wondering why I didn't hear the sirens, and what you riders have experienced and solutions. Is this common?
My exhaust is not loud and this is my helmet, and I don't ride with earphones in for music or ear plugs (since my exhaust isn't loud).
TL;DR Ever have a problem not hearing emergency vehicles while approaching an intersection? If so, what were your solutions?

You'll kinda just have to train yourself to better hear your surroundings!! I'm the same way!! I don't listen to anything other than try to listen to what's around me!!

 

[guruzenguy]

This was perhaps a good lesson 4 you, luckly you wernt hurt. However the moral or lesson here is pay attention! Especially when riding a motercycle you are vonruble and you may not alaways see or hear potential encounters that is why i am Constantly scaning the road ahead, behind,left,right even the sky above me i move around in the lanes ;to see, and be seen, another tactic that can help yoh in the future is to predict constant scenerios of what could happen that way the next time you ride apon a predicament you wont have to question WTF? Becauce you already have an action plan........ ,good luck thanx 4 shareing

 

[rick howerton]

So I've been riding for a year now (consistently) and I ran into a potential problem which I never encountered- wondering what some experienced riders had to say.
There is this 'Highway; that I travel often, it's a three lane highway speeds up to 55 mph. This 'highway' has many intersections with stop lights.
While riding down it, there was little traffic in the lanes I was travelling, maybe two vehicles- but they were at a light, and not moving although the light was green. I slowed some because of the uncertainty, but I went though as planned.
It wasn't until I was in the intersection that I heard the sirens from an emergency vehicle coming from my left, and it clicked why the vehicles were stopped.
The emergency vehicle was not even close to entering the intersection as I exited it, and I quickly pulled over. So no danger.
However it had me wondering why I didn't hear the sirens, and what you riders have experienced and solutions. Is this common?
My exhaust is not loud and this is my helmet, and I don't ride with earphones in for music or ear plugs (since my exhaust isn't loud).
TL;DR Ever have a problem not hearing emergency vehicles while approaching an intersection? If so, what were your solutions?

Get your ears checked!!!!

 

[Timbox]

The more you ride and in all types of situations, the better you will become at predicting what the traffic will do. One of the worst I have seen is bikers passing on the left and then a car will turn left in front of them and that is it. Another is coming over a blind hill, I will ride in the far right of lane as I don't know what is coming at me over the hill. I am alive today because of this. People on phone or what ever and crossing the center line.

Normally I ride close to the center line just to make the oncoming cars see me and pay attention. If they feel a little uncomfortable that is okay with me, they see me.

Bottom line, I don't trust other cars/trucks at all. I drive like they don't see me at all. My right of way only works if they see me, so I tend to yield a lot more when I am on my bike. Nothing personal to the people driving in vehicles I just have learned from my riding yrs.

Only so much you can do as things do happen. Just do the best you can, learn from the close calls and always be in a good frame of mind before you hop on your bike.