I'm so sorry you got hit. From reading your posts, it appears that you 1) believe that when you were hit you were probably fairly far right (definately not out in the lane) and that 2) evidence appears to suggest that you were struck by more of a glancing blow. It appear that your conclusion is that had you been been out in the lane, you would have been struck directly from behind and probably killed.

I understand that you do not remember anything about the accident.

Perhaps you are right.

Just sharing my experience / observations from situations I can remember.

What I am describing are rural 2-lanes, 35-55 MPH speed limit that are not packed with motorists.

BTW, I said less than 3 feet. I wasn't too clear about it, but that includes 12 inches or less on rare occasions. This cushion at 60 MPH, no, I'm not too comfortable with that. Especially with all these big side mirrors on trucks, duallies and trailers. And my opinion is the more cushion, the better.

I made a change this spring from riding inside of a foot from the white line (which is usually about the edge of the pavement) to a position around 3 feet from the white line. Before making the change, I'd often move even further right when being overtaken and still get buzzed regularly *inside* of 2 feet (once within inches) by motorists going up to 45 MPH faster than me. This happened even if no one was in the opposite lane! In that lane position, motorists made adjustments so late that it was difficult to tell what they were going to do.

My obsevations based on my new position are that motorists make their adjustments much earlier (speed and passing cushion) and give me more room. And any not behaving this way gives me an earlier warning signal than before.

I'm not guessing what they are doing. I see it because I use a mirror.

I am not "playing games with drivers". I am actively attempting to manage my risks rather than leaving it all up to a 16 year old whose poor judgement leaves them with the notion that they have the room and skill to shoot the gap in mom's SUV. I believe that as cushions decrease, your chances of being struck by a glancing blow increases in proportion. My observations are that riding close to the white line encourages motorists to pass more closely, and to take more chances with my life.

Does being out in the lane increase my chances to be rear-ended?

Well, I will conceed that that's where most of the cars are *most* of the time. But the ones that are paying attention have seen me. These folks don't want to run me over and have easily concluded that there is no room to squeeze by in the lane. These folks have slowed down and if it's clear, have moved almost completely in the overtaking lane.

That leaves either someone who is not paying attention or someone who is trying to buzz me or kill me. If it's the former, they might hit me even if I was 8 feet outside of the lane. These people regularly drift over the white line where I'd be if I rode over there. If it's the latter, it doesn't matter what I do, except to just stay home.

But if a motorist is not following the normal pattern, I'm using a mirror I can see it. If they are not slowing or moving over like someone would normally do, I prepare to execute appropriately.

I would not ride this way without a mirror.

Maybe I took your response as a little condescending when it wasn't meant that way ("play games with drivers", "smarter (or something)")

I am 45 and ride an average of almost 4000 miles per year on a bicycle. I was a formally trained motorcycle safety Instructor which included extensive coursework on "street strategies". I've ridden over 250,000 miles on a motorcycle without being run over. Since my formal training, I've only been caught off guard (failed to predict a possible action) by another motorist just once. That situation gave me another possible action to predict. The fact that I've not been run over does not make my views stupid, irresponsible or uninlightened. In fact, some might think exactly the opposite.

My success could end at any minute. There are no guarantees, and I really hope it does not happen, but realize it could as long as I'm anywhere near motorists. While I'm out there, I try to take everything into account, including how my actions might help to reduce my risks. I am very serious.

I cannot fully appreciate what you've been through and am very sorry it happened. I hope it never happens again. Peace.