Helmet Cam Video Shows Why a Black Bear, Speeding Motorcycle and Noisy Train Do Not Mix

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have released a video that provides what it says is a lesson showing the "importance of driving defensively."

The players: a motorcyclist, a young black bear and a train.

It all happens so quickly. The motorcyclist accelerates from zero up to nearly 87 miles per hour. He seems to be looking down at his odometer. But to the left in his peripheral vision, a train starts up. The young black bear, perhaps startled by the train, jets out in to the road and bam -- collision.

One second: looking at the odometer. (Image via YouTube video screenshot)

Two seconds: Bear starts to run across the road. (Image via YouTube video screenshot)

Two-and-a-half seconds: Motorcyclist can't react fast enough to avoid the bear.(Image via YouTube video screenshot)

Three seconds onward: Motorcyclist and the bear collide, sending the driver to the ground in a series of somersaults before his body comes to a rest at eight seconds. (Image via YouTube video screenshot)

The RCMP's Fraser Valley Traffic Services was assisting the injured motorcyclist in British Columbia when they saw his headcam, reviewed the footage and later decided to make an example out of it.

"We've spoken in the past about motorcycle stunts and how dangerous they are; we always say you never know what could happen at high speeds. This is a perfect example. The video clearly shows nobody else on the road, and a nice clear dry day. Who would expect a bear to run across the road?" Corporal Robert McDonald of E Division Traffic Services said in a statement.

Although the bear actually walked away from the crash, the motorcyclist incurred serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Law enforcement said it believes excessive speed and distracted driving (looking at the odometer instead of focusing on the road) were factors that led to the accident.

"We hope this short video will help people realize the importance of slowing down, and concentrating on the complicated task of driving a motor vehicle," McDonald said. "While motorists don't often need to avoid bears, every day drivers may need to react to events such as dogs running out suddenly in front of their vehicle, or a cyclist swerving to avoid something, or even a child running out of a driveway."

Check out the footage:

And although we've seen a few run-ins between deer and motorcycles (and skateboards), bear are not as uncommon as you might think. Here's footage of a close call by a motorcyclist driving through New Jersey last year (Note: we hope enjoy the tunes in this one):

 (H/T: Yahoo!)

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