I think it's a whole-Texas thing for safety on a motorcycle. Cage drivers are really something else here...i've yet to form a concrete theory on the how's and why's. From the Ft Hood area (through temple, between Waco/Austin), I could hazard a guess it's attributable to rural drivers suddenly getting a lot of out-of-state traffic. And a lot of rural roads that are similarly unprepared. Southern CA the traffic is a lot more dense and you're technically in more danger, lane splitting and everyone's going at a decent clip...but in TX, it's just like they're all unaware of anyone else. There are drastically less cars here, but there are drastically more stupid things being done on TX roads--this from my own eyes, not anecdote. I truly am scared of traffic on my bike in TX.

Still better than iraqi drivers! WHile I get a tax payer funded steel cage to ride around in, their compact vehicles crush pretty easily. Funny, i don't see too many collisions unless it's between military and civilian. Guys on 50cc bikes buzzing around weaving through traffic and over bumps/holes...not one traffic incident caused flying body!