The build-in distraction...

[SMSW]

I agree wholeheartedly with the text posted by @ST1100Y. Most every, 'duh, that was a dumb move' that I've made on my bikes has been when I reached for my phone's touch screen, gps touch screen, or tried to change something on the TFT display. Every single example required my eyes off the road and my attention elsewhere. Fortunately none of those had any untoward experiences, but each was a heads up reminder I had done something wrong - maybe I drifted over in the lane, maybe I lost some speed, whatever. For the last couple of years I've given up playing with those toys while riding. If a call comes in, I pull off the road, down the kick stand, then look at the phone. No more fiddling w/ the gps. If I forgot to reset the trip meter on the TFT, such is life. I know I'm older, my reflexes are slower, I take longer to heal, and I'm trying to ride more safely. We all know there are enough dangers out there, no need to make more.

@ibike2havefun - I used to ride w/ our BMW club. We ride in staggered formation and a recommended 2 seconds apart. From the start, I felt that was way too close and have always given the rider or car ahead much more space. I've posted that I have no idea how folks cruise along during rush hour at 65 - 75 mph 3 car lengths behind the car ahead. I come from the school of thought that you give 1 car length per 10mph, and at around 50mph and up, double that. I'm usually the guy who someone pulls in front of because there is so much space. I've also stopped riding with the group and ride w/ one or two guys...well spaced apart.

 

[Sadlsor]

Curious, were you also able to reduce speed by braking or laying off the throttle? I think braking would be the natural reaction even if swerving which might reduce control during the avoidance manoeuvre.

The important thing if doing this, is to SEPARATE the swerving and braking.
In a sudden, evasive maneuver you can do either safely, but remember that in the best of situations, we have a finite measure of traction.
Swerving while braking hard can easily - and often does - overwhelm tire grip.
Uh-oh. Lowside.
Practice both, in a safe environment. .
(Not the lowside.)

 

[Al st1100]

Having a cold morning track ride in a 500+ hp Charger at over 110 mph, the driver was trying to find how to turn off the heated steering wheel on a touch screen because it was getting too hot. Too many thing to navigate through all the while my wife is yelling from the back seat "both hands on the steering wheel please!"
So distractions are also built in cars maybe even more.

 

[diferg]

Wow! distractions; I remember when the biggest distraction and or confusion on a bike was trying to figure out which of the 3 finger levers on the handlebars to use. One was for the choke , One was for the compression release and the other was for the manual spark advance. The last one required a gentle touch, it seemed the more you gradually advanced it the faster the bike would run. (until it didn't)