Hit and run

[flying haggis]

As a biker myself, I have on many occasions been chatting to other bikers who have complained bitterly about how they were knocked off by some "idiot car driver" who "stupidly" changed lanes without seeing them whilst they were either whisking between two lines of traffic or zooming down the outside of a queue on a single carriageway road.

It never ceased to amaze me that they could not for one second see the insanity - and selfishness - of their own actions. Accordingly, I imagine that many were doomed to repeat the stunt at regular intervals until they finally met the big one.

I remember watching in the door mirror, one biker approach between the two lanes of traffic, as he passed me and went to go between the two cars ahead that werent as far apart as all the previous ones I think he suddenly remembered the two huge pannier boxes that stuck out from each side of the bike. The front of the bike dipped amazingly as he stopped just before scraping the boxes down the side of two cars,

 

[Ted]

Far too many motorcyclists seem to be blissfully unaware of their own mortality.

 

[John]

I move over for them if I see them - I don't want them scraping my car.

You can't drive constantly looking in the mirror and some of them speed through at crazy speeds.

Darwinism...

 

[Dieselman]

not enough motorcyclists seem to be blissfully unaware of their own mortality.

 

[kinaero]

Far too many motorcyclists seem to be blissfully unaware of their own mortality.

You do feel kind of invincible when you're wearing helmet, padded protective leathers, gloves, boots

 

[paulshep69]

You do feel kind of invincible when you're wearing helmet, padded protective leathers, gloves, boots

I don't, I feel very exposed and at risk from everybody on the road, people don't seem to understand how quickly a bike accelerates and often pull out on you.

 

[Dieselman]

people don't seem to understand how quickly a bike accelerates and often pull out on you.

Does the rider not have any control over that on a motorbike?

 

[Dieselman]

The reason for doing so is that it will be of little consolation to my family to know that the driver who hit me was later prosecuted and found guilty.

Not if they admit they did it deliberately...then it's not a traffic offense and they get a Police caution...

 

[balge]

Funny you say that, I don't recall cutting in between lanes at speed being part of the Highway Code.

Can you show me the part in the HC where it states it?

If they 'can't see' a motorbike (unless it not got lights and it's dark) it's either because they're blind or not looking. I've had cars pull out on me in whether I'm in cars or on bikes - they're apparently not sight-impaired so I assume they just don't look.


Indeed, the HC says 'only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so'

however it also says 'give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car'

Not sure which bit gets ignored more.

 

[balge]

Far too many motorcyclists seem to be blissfully unaware of their own mortality.

Most of them are young, it goes with the territory...

 

[Dieselman]

Most of them are young, it goes with the territory...

How can that be when the greatest number of deaths is the Born again Bikers?

 

[balge]

How can that be when the greatest number of deaths is the Born again Bikers?

Got a source for that?

 

[renault12ts]

Motorcycle deaths at lowest rate | MCN

 

[paulshep69]

Does the rider not have any control over that on a motorbike?

No, you don't have any control over people pulling out on you, just the same as in a car really.

 

[Dieselman]

No, you don't have any control over people pulling out on you, just the same as in a car really.

The difference being that car drivers regulate their acceleration when faced with an obviously hazardous situation.

Bikers seem unable to do that, so I wondered if it was a design defect in the bike as opposed to rider stupidity?

 

[Dieselman]

Most of them are young, it goes with the territory...

Got a source for that?

Touche...

 

[paulshep69]

The difference being that car drivers regulate their acceleration when faced with an obviously hazardous situation. Bikers seem unable to do that, so I wondered if it was a design defect in the bike as opposed to rider stupidity?

I was referring to idiotic car drivers, who so often try and pull out when the gap isn't really big enough for them, which they do on annoying regularity on bikes.

Bikes do accelerate much faster than most cars and the aforementioned drivers do not take that into account. That's the point.

 

[Dieselman]

I was referring to idiotic car drivers, who so often try and pull out when the gap isn't really big enough for them, which they do on annoying regularity on bikes.

Bikes do accelerate much faster than most cars and the aforementioned drivers do not take that into account. That's the point.

At which point do the bikers stop acceleration, or blindly carry on?

Surely, the speed of acceleration has little relevance up to 30mph, the rider will be able to stop easily.

 

[Dieselman]

Got a source for that?

And as it happens.

UK motor bike accident statistics for types of motorcycle accident age ranges

'Born again' bikers
The "born again" bikers seem to be becoming somewhat of a public health problem as middle aged (and older) men take to the roads again on ever increasingly powerful vehicles but with possibly rusty riding skills. This is important in framing new policy towards rider training and licensing which to date has focused on younger riders and less powerful machines and which has assumed a continuity of motor cycle use.

Fatal accidents often involve the motorcycle running off the road (41% of fatalities). These are often late at night, weekend crashes involving a drunken motorcyclist (Preusser et al 1995).

Elliot et al (2003) showed that almost two-thirds of the riders killed on non-built-up roads were aged over 30 and were riding bikes with an engine capacity greater than 500cc.

Motorcycles have poor sensory conspicuity (the physical qualities of the approaching vehicle that distinguish it from its background) and cognitive conspicuity (the degree to which the observer’s experience or intentions affects the salience of the approaching vehicle) due to the smaller size of the motorcycle and being less frequent and hence less expected than cars.

Lastly, a note on Filtering

- Right of way violation accidents (38% of cases)
- Loss of control at bends at speed (11% plus of cases)
- Overtaking/filtering accidents (15% of cases)

 

[219]

I was referring to idiotic car drivers, who so often try and pull out when the gap isn't really big enough for them, which they do on annoying regularity on bikes.

Bikes do accelerate much faster than most cars and the aforementioned drivers do not take that into account. That's the point.

It is irresponsible of any driver ( bike or car ) to accelerate disproportionately to the availability of hazard free road space ahead .

Even in response situations , police drivers are taught to look for 'positive response' or evidence that the other driver is aware of them before closing into proximity of other vehicles where there might be potential for conflict or collision .