A lesson on Defensive Riding

Defensive Riding – staying safe starts with YOU.

There is no one more responsible for your safety than you. Defensive driving skills keep you safe, by helping you to be prepared for the unexpected.

SIPDE - Scan, Interpret, Predict, Decide, Execute

SCAN:

All too often drivers/riders fall into the bad habit of only focussing only on what is directly in front of them, allowing their mind to wander and losing sight of what is up ahead.

The smart approach to driving/riding is to be constantly thinking ahead in order to assess the oncoming hazards and potential risk factors that could lead to an incident.

This ensures that you are adequately prepared to handle any sudden change in conditions (like an obstacle or pot hole), other driver behaviour (aggressive high risk drivers or inattentive drivers) and take the necessary steps to avoid danger.

One of the best ways to keep yourself safe is to keep your eyes moving – KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD and BESIDE you.

Use your eyes to check your mirrors, as well as performing frequent shoulder checks to evaluate your blind spots, and KNOW what/who is around you.

Scan the ditches and side streets/approaches.

INTERPRET

Another common mistake made by drivers is that they take the actions of other motorists for granted. 

The smart approach is to focus on your driving and be consistently giving yourself enough room to move and AVOID a collision if necessary. 

Never put yourself in a bad position, especially not out of retaliation for another’s bad driving habits or mistakes.

When you see another driver who is driving aggressively, predict the WORST thing this driver could do.

DECIDE

Decide how you are going to handle that driver (hazzard), move yourself away from potential harm. 

In the case of dealing with someone texting or exhibiting road rage/aggressive driving, you might be right, but is it worth being dead to prove that you were right?

EXECUTE

Once you have decided where the safest place for you to be is, execute your move ensuring you know where the other drivers are in relation to you.

The Edmonton office of the Alberta Safety Council has given us some courses to giveaway.

I chose the Gearing Up course for our first contest.

I came across a video that I felt would challenge people's knowledge of the rules of the road and decided that the first person who could tell me who caused the crash, not who would be charged, but who is responsible for the crash happening would win the course.

I hosted the contest on one of my Facebook Pages - Belt Drive Betty

Sadly, no one from Alberta answered the question successfully.

Here is the video from the Facebook Page of Tyga :

Video dissemination:

At 11 sec there is a sign that I believe reads "State Law white lettering in the black portion at the top and Keep Right Except To Pass in the white portion (You see the black bar at the top of the sign and can ALMOST make out the words at the 11.5 second mark). Its a very familiar sign if you have done any riding/driving in the US.

At 28 seconds you see a shadow of another vehicle in front of the pick up is clearly visible. 

The pick up is clearly very close to it.

In fact the ALL auto drivers, including buddy with the dash cam drive too close to the other drivers around them (Tailgating).

At 30 seconds you see a 65 MPH sign – this is clearly in the US

At 32 seconds the Camaro enters on the right of the screen, if you look ahead of the pick up you can see a shadow of another vehicle in front of the pick up

At 36 seconds the Camaro attempts to move into the left lane.

At this point, the pick up should have backed off and let him in.

At 47 seconds the pick up bails on his brakes

At 58 seconds, you can see that the shadow of the other vehicle that had been ahead of the truck is gone and it is obvious they are going up a small incline.

At 1:06 you see the pick up pulling ahead of the semi.

At 1:15 you see that the Camaro is almost at the semi’s door.

At 1:17 as they are cresting the small grade, you see the semi begin to pull ahead of the pick up.

At 2:26 you can clearly see that the vehicle that had been in front of the pick up is a long ways ahead.

So who is at fault for causing this crash?

The Answer is ALL THREE. All three drivers played a roll in what happened, here's how:

# 1) The driver of the Camaro is an idiot, broke several laws, tailgating, passing by using the shoulder, median or ditch, dangerous driving and will ultimately be charged for causing the crash.

HOWEVER, both the driver of the pick up and the semi are at fault for impeding the Camaro’s progress. The driver of the pickup more so than the driver of the semi…BUT….

#2) If the truck driver was truly a professional, he would not have colluded with the driver of the pickup by keeping pace with him, he should have slowed down and given the Camaro room to move ahead of him.  (Or for the pickup driver to move over to the right, as he should have – although with his mindset he probably wouldn’t have moved over.)

He will not be charged.

#3) The driver of the pick up who was clearly pissed when the Camaro attempted to sneak in front of him was as big of an asshole and as much at fault for this crash as the Camaro driver. 

He will potentially be charged if the police have the video footage.

You are to keep right unless passing. That is the rule of the road in this instance.

Remember folks you might be in the RIGHT, but you can also be DEAD and in the Right.

NUMBER ONE RULE OF THE ROAD - DRIVE WITH YOUR HEAD - NOT YOUR EMOTIONS.

NUMBER TWO RULE OF THE ROAD - KEEP YOURSELF SAFE BY BEING AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU AND HAVE YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE PLANNED.

NUMBER THREE - DON'T PLAY THE ROLE OF TRAFFIC MONITOR - LET THE POLICE DO THAT BY USING YOUR HANDSFREE DEVICE TO CONTACT THE POLICE. YOUR ACTIONS WILL PISS OFF ANOTHER DRIVER AND CAUSE A CRASH.

KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS.

That's how I see it.

And you, what did you see besides a self centred a$$hole in a Camaro that was is some kind of hurry?

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider

More people speak out about Joan Krenning of the SHSS

This "article" if you will, is composed of the stories from a couple that were partners with Joan for a brief time and that of a former volunteer of the 2014 SHSS (Steel Horse Sisterhood Summit).

I agreed to give them this space to share their experiences and tell their stories.

(Joan has refused to comment on any of the people and their statements of their experiences with her.
She has refused to allow me to interview her over the controversy.)

Only you the reader can decide how you feel about what you read.

BDB

My "Joan Krenning" Story 

by Darlene M.J.

I was a volunteer for the 2014 SHS Summit in Denver CO. 

I attended most of the organizational meetings prior to the Summit and my main job for the Summit was to greet attendees as part of the "ASK ME" Committee, give hugs, and I was the main transportation to and from the airport for the guest speakers.

We were encouraged to spend our own funds to get the things we needed, and were told we would be reimbursed after the Summit was over. I purchased 12 or so pink safety vests for the "Ask Me" committee to wear, never being reimbursed, but thought I was donating to a good cause.

We were caught up in this idea of Sisterhood and togetherness.

Sara Symons was her sidekick and one of her business partners, then abruptly quit. 

Sara told me that she was unable to speak to the situation till after the Summit.

George Ofiesh and Kyle Dowling took over Sara Symons in the organizational role for the Summit.

Most of the volunteers quit prior to the Summit, due to various issues that kept arising and many of those that did stay to work did not stay to the end of the Summit.

I was in attendance when Joan wanted to take out sponsor monies to fund her trip and she was told to table that till after the meeting. 

Joan made herself seem important as "Lady Road Dog" visiting all the dealerships in the US. 

I had never heard of her prior to the advertisement of the Summit on Facebook. She was a name dropper and found things she had in common with you in order to gain your loyalty and help. For instance, I am also a Christian and I also lost my husband (mine was killed on a motorcycle run), I also had to raise my kids on my own, first hubby had been military too, and I was from Wisconsin. She kept saying that after the Summit we would sit and talk, but that never happened.

I was booted out of the SHS website in early 2015 when I questioned where all the monies had gone after the summit, and had asked why they were setting up a website that would require the sisterhood members to pay for access.

I do know that George Ofiesh made out the last check to the last charity and had Joan sign it, which she did not wish to do. George told me that Joan intended to "borrow" the money to start a new business, he resigned after that.

I have no love for Joan, she uses people until she has what she needs and then discards you like dirty underwear, at least that has been my experience.

Darlene

Sara and Bill Symons Story 

We (Sara and Bill Symons) met Joan Krenning through a mutual friend in June 2013. Our friend and another couple that had met Joan in Denver during the Women’s Ride Day, May 2013 were having a meeting and we were invited.

Joan spoke with such conviction, it was difficult to resist her strong belief that she was on a mission. She envisioned a major meeting of women from all over the country, coming to bond, and hear the biggest (female) names in the motorcycling world share their stories. We were made aware that Joan was a majority shareholder in DesignWrap Brands (DWB) and felt that her business experience and knowledge of the motorcycle industry, coupled with her passionate vision made good sense.

We approached her about “buying into” the Lady Road Dog business, which included the Steel Horse Sisterhood and the Summit. We offered Joan $5,000 cash (plus our sweat equity) for 50% interest in the business. Joan countered with $10,000 cash for 15% interest. 

We countered with a $10,000 loan to the company, to be paid back to us after the first year, for 25% interest; everyone agreed to these terms.  

Looking back, we now realize that the only thing she was bringing to the table was the Lady Road Dog name, a persona she presented to the public.  There was no company; no products, no business license, just a name.  Joan provided a list of things for Sara to do, which included filing for the business license, and obtaining trademarks for LRD and the SHS. There was no “business” to buy into; Sara created it.

Joan said she could get a vendor spot on Main Street for the Sturgis Rally, but didn’t know how she could run it by herself. We “volunteered” to help, as we go to Sturgis for a week every year. Bill did the majority of the work, as JK was always on her computer “working” or walking around to find what she called “sponsors” (i.e. free gear or parts to put on her bike.) 

We worked long days (8am to 10pm) and sold DesignWrap Brands headbands and t-shirts as “Lady Road Dog” gear. The huge banner outside with “Lady Road Dog” and “Made in America” announced our presence. Over the 10 days of Sturgis, we made enough to cover the store rent and the Sturgis taxes, but not much more. Joan, who stayed in our motorhome the entire time neither paid, nor offered to pay anything, towards her own upkeep. For those of you who have been to the Sturgis Rally, you know what a motorhome spot in downtown Sturgis costs, and it’s not cheap.

By September 2013, things were in full swing with planning the SHS Summit. Sara had found a hotel big enough to accommodate the 1,000 women Joan was expecting. As LRD/SHSS had no income or credit, Sara put the hotel deposit on my personal credit card.

In December 2013, Joan brought on a man named George Ofiesh, to be the event facilitator for the Summit. Sara readily gave up that role, and informed George that she and Bill were business partners, and would be his main contacts in Denver. Also in December, Bill had agreed to become the warehouse manager for DesignWrap Brands and moved the warehouse to Denver. Part of the deal was that once the move was completed, we would have the option to become an equal partner in DesignWrap Brands.

In early January 2014, Joan flew into Denver for another volunteer meeting. There was already a draft Summit schedule, but things kept being added and removed. We were frustrated, as we felt the summit needed to start small and build itself up. This seemed to upset Joan, who said that we didn’t understand her vision, that we “needed to do what she wanted because other people agreed with her.” This happened many time while in business with her. If we didn’t agree she would ask people outside the business to side with her in order to sway our decision.

In mid-January 2014, Joan started demanding money for travel expenses, yet we had understood that DesignWraps Brands was paying those expenses. Joan insisted the Summit registration money should be used to pay her expenses, which Sara refused to do, as it did not seem appropriate. At the end of January 2014, we sent Joan a cease and desist letter via our attorney; the intent was to stop her from talking to others, namely George Ofeish and Kyle Doying, about our business. Joan promptly changed the Summit’s PayPal email so that the funds went to her personal account and Sara could no longer access any data or funds. Also at this time, the emails from everyone involved with the summit that were making major decisions were withheld from us.

In mid-February, it was discovered that George and Kyle had tried to convince the hotel contact that Sara was no longer the contact person, in spite of it being her personal credit card that held the hotel for the Summit. After a nasty conversation with George, Sara resigned from the Summit on February 25^th; Bill resigned from the Summit shortly thereafter.

On April 18, 2014, the contract for the hotel was finally, after some doing, transferred out of Sara’s name. 

We subsequently learned that Joan, George and Kyle had filed for a Colorado Business License for the Steel Horse Sisterhood Charities, (which is the same license that after the summit George and Kyle were removed from and Charles Guthrie was assigned to) in contravention to our contract that had made us business partners in the Summit and Lady Road Dog. 

We chose to take the high road and stay quiet and not tell our side of what transpired, while Joan did a whole lot of talking and blaming.

We walked away from our investment and all of the time we spent working for Lady Road Dog and the SHSS, we lost “friendships”, and are embarrassed and angry that we got conned the way we did. 

We are speaking out now, after having heard/read the stories of others who have experienced similar treatment at Joan’s hands.

Sara & Bill

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