Author Topic: Not the sort of news you want to read (Read 9274 times)

Andy M · « **Reply #40 on:** June 26, 2013, 18:16:18 »

The truck one we had on the track back in 2007 would take a 40 tonner round a three foot tall inflatable penguin. "Olaf" was smaller than a bike but probably harder to spot. He didn't make it though, someone got him a cigar at the end of winter test **** up. In his case smoking really did kill.

Some sports bikes might be an issue. Carbon fibre at flat angles is heading towards stealth technology. Steel diamond pendant on your head like a yacht?

Andy

Juvecu · « **Reply #41 on:** June 26, 2013, 22:00:14 »

I wonder if one of those headlight oscillators would significantly help with getting seen?

Juvecu · « **Reply #42 on:** June 27, 2013, 21:54:04 »

Barry, surely insurance companies see that the majority of accidents involving motorcyclists are the fault of another vehicle's driver and not the motorcyclist. Wouldn't insurance companies benefit bringing this to the attention of the law makers so that car drivers are taught better to look for us? Less motorcycle accidents, less deaths, less cost to the country (no police needing to attend if there's no accident), less payout for the insurance companies. Win, win, win, win...

Descolada · « **Reply #43 on:** June 27, 2013, 22:03:41 »

Quote from: "Juvecu"

I wonder if one of those headlight oscillators would significantly help with getting seen?

This is a good point, and until 18 months ago I was set on adding the BikeViz PodMod oscillator to my system - so the lights would 'twinkle' just enough to make people look twice. Then I had a chat with one of the bods over at BikeViz and he pretty much confirmed that they had doubts over the legality of the system because it was in effect turning the LED's on and off very quickly. You're not allowed to do that with lighting systems other than the indicators under UK law.

So, we are limited to what we can do in order to get more visibility. Thus I am going down the road of fitting the BikViz bullets fore and aft as well as some LED indicator strips for added side visibility.

Des

Juvecu · « **Reply #44 on:** June 27, 2013, 22:16:05 »

It is an oscillator or is it perhaps a rectifier/regulator is on it's way out?

Buggrit · « **Reply #45 on:** June 28, 2013, 00:21:54 »

The comment by Jeff999 regarding the door pillar obstructing vision is correct in my opinion (but she should be aware of this limitation). We used to have an Audi A2 (the little snub-nosed model, no longer current) which had wide pillars at the windscreen/door junction. Approaching roundabouts it was possible to lose a car behind the pillar from certain angles, let alone a bike - we always moved our head to see around it.
I am convinced the same thing happened when a big merc pulled out in front of me at a roundabout a couple of years ago when I was on the old CB500 - I managed to miss him but came off & smashed a collar bone, scapula, cracked a rib & punctured a lung. He didn't stop but I don't think he saw me come off. I said at the time I guessed it was the door pillar. :scared-eek: I WAS wearing a high viz jerkin too!

Fatbelly · « **Reply #46 on:** June 28, 2013, 09:54:09 »

If they can't see a headlight that is permanently on, why would you expect them to see hi-viz?

John316 · « **Reply #47 on:** July 12, 2013, 09:03:30 »

Outcome of hearing out today:
http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/1053 ... month_ban/

Keith Cross · « **Reply #48 on:** July 12, 2013, 11:01:22 »

No real surprise their then.

But note the women driver is also a motorcyclist as well. Accidents like this are often caused by the silliest of distractions and maybe thinking about other things other than driving.

I know its no excuse, but can all here who have driven cars for a number of miles honestly say that they have never driven in a manner that could have caused a similar collision?

As a motorcyclist I know the hazards out their and make allowances for others carelessness or stupidity. We need to hone our skills to take into account others lack of driving skills. I know this driver was at fault, but knowing this won't effect the outcome of the collision.

Do I think the sentence was right? Well I don't really think a life driving ban is really suitable in this occasion. If she had been drunk, or on a phone or another activity then yes ban someone for life, but this lady was not breaking any other laws and careless driving change was more appropriate than dangerous driving.

Standing by for flak

Keith C

frez · « **Reply #49 on:** July 12, 2013, 11:25:15 »

Personally I think she should have had a small custodial sentence. People need to realise there are consequences to causing death by driving carelessly.

If you accidentally shot and killed someone on a game shoot because you were not paying proper attention would you get you gun licence revoked for a year and 200 hours of community service?

She killed someone, no doubt effecting numerous lives, all because she was not paying proper attention, and just because we all might not pay proper attention at times does not mean that we should not pay the price if that incompetence results in loss of life.

Big Al wi the Vee · « **Reply #50 on:** July 12, 2013, 11:31:12 »

I've got to say it, I'm shocked at the sentence passed out by this judge.

What an easy way to commit murder and effectively get away with it

fair enough she admitted fault and will have to live with it (the same as the mans family will) but that in no way should be used in mitigation. she should hang.

Jacko · « **Reply #51 on:** July 12, 2013, 11:45:33 »

Wow. Watch yourselves out on the roads of South Yorkshire in 12 months time folks, looks like it's open season on us. When will it ever change?

Keith Cross · « **Reply #52 on:** July 12, 2013, 12:11:25 »

Quote from: "Big Al wi the Vee"

I've got to say it, I'm shocked at the sentence passed out by this judge.

What an easy way to commit murder and effectively get away with it

fair enough she admitted fault and will have to live with it (the same as the mans family will) but that in no way should be used in mitigation. she should hang.

Not murder I am afraid, manslaughter maybe (which has never been a hanging offence). Murder is killing someone with intent.

Do I think a custodial sentence should have been given - maybe. Would this change the way things are - probably not.

As for the analogy on shooting guns. Well if someone crossed in front of a game shoot and they got shot, I doubt if the person shooting the gun would go to prison or have any judgement passed is remote (the organisers might though).

Not a defence for this lady, but we do put ourselves in a dangerous position riding motorcycles on the road, much like other hi risk activities such as mountain climbing and pot holing. Sometimes this results in injury or death due to others lapse in concentration. All we can do is try to develop our skills and try our best to survive others mistakes.

Keith C

Descolada · « **Reply #53 on:** July 12, 2013, 13:11:27 »

I think the fact that she was also a biker should not count in her favour, she should have been doubly aware of the issues and the dangers and driven as if she was on a bike, instead of daydreaming in a car. Most bikers are aware of the slogan "Think Bike, Think Biker".

However this has all been said before. I am sure this will live with her for the rest of her life and I am also sure that she will not be allowed to forget it.

It only takes a momentary distraction.

There, but for the grace of (enter name of deity here) go I.

loggamatt · « **Reply #54 on:** July 12, 2013, 13:43:58 »

I'm with Keith on this... It's a tragedy, but it was a split second decision that led to it. At the risk of coming across all biblical, let he who is without sin cast the first stone... And let he who has never made a split second mistake while driving a car or riding a bike cast the first demand for jail time.

Frankly, any one of us could have killed that motorcyclist.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be consequences for her mistake... But the fact is, mistakes happen and motorcycling is dangerous.

Jacko · « **Reply #55 on:** July 12, 2013, 14:08:41 »

Yes, mistakes happen, but a 12 month ban for causing a death? Not sure that's right, I'd be expecting jail time.

alex wight · « **Reply #56 on:** July 12, 2013, 15:34:06 »

we need to prevent the deaths happening in the first place. I got hit from a blind driver (he must have been, as he said he didn't see me). I was turning into a junction on the right, where he was pulling out off, he didn't stop at the junction, just pulled right out, (it was a give way junction). Now, if that had been a STOP junction, I wouldn't have been hit, only if he abided by the highway code that is. I feel petrified when I'm out on the bike now, because I feel as though no-one see's me, or cares about me being on the road. I have a constant feeling that I'm going to be hit at any time, and have these thoughts that this is my last ride out, where I won't see my family again, just like the outcome of this topic. I'm not sure if I'll keep riding or not, but if I do, I tend to want to do it in a group, and when we are approaching junctions on the left and right, I close right up to the bloke in front, in the hope that he has been seen, and so will I. However this isn't always practical, and junctions now scare the shiit out of me. My own thoughts would be to have traffic lights on permanent red at side junctions, until the main road is clear of ALL traffic. I know that's never going to happen, so leaves me in a quandary as what to do, go riding, and hope for the best and be glad when I make it back home. Or forget about riding all together. As for that woman that killed this poor biker, I don't have any sympathy at all, as she has used her car as a weapon, this is not an accident, this is death by dangerous driving, and she needs to be punished accordingly. That will never bring the biker back, but I hope and pray that something (don't know what), happens to allow us bikers enjoy riding a motorbike, in a safer manner than we do at the moment. By the way I was doing about 10 mph at the time of being hit, and ball bag was doing about 30. I had a TDM 900 that was written off, just glad I wasn't. I have Brenda from Motorcycle law Scotland representing me. I damaged my shoulder in the COLLISION, and am due to see a specialist on 5th august. Ride safe people, I know it may not be enough but we can only cross our fingers and hope that it never happens to us.

alex

MartinW · « **Reply #57 on:** July 12, 2013, 16:46:18 »

Hmmm ..... Everything I would like to put in this post would be libellous.

Andy M · « **Reply #58 on:** July 12, 2013, 17:42:01 »

Quote from: "alex wight"

..... I'm not sure if I'll keep riding or not, but if I do, I tend to want to do it in a group, and when we are approaching junctions on the left and right, I close right up to the bloke in front, ...

Please take this in the spirit it is intended. We can't help the bloke near Skipton, but your post has me worried and there are things that can be done. The other members of a riding group will want to personally murder you if you are too close. I detest riding in groups for this very reason, but if your mental state means you can't ride your own ride I'm afraid you really need to sort if out.

I would suggest you get up early one morning and go for a nice gentle ride. Go somewhere familiar and try to use as little petrol as possible by being smooth, accurate and in control. Go for longer rides and get into more traffic until you are back on form. Read Roadcraft and try to apply it. Consider some advanced training or just go to your local training outfit and book an hour with an instructor. Book yourself on a track day course or off road course. If it is that bad quitting may indeed be the right thing to do and I applaud for thinking of the toughest solution. I really would most strongly suggest that doing something before you are the one that hits your mates because you were too close and not in control enough to brake when they did is the right thing to do.

Apologies if I got this all wrong.

Andy

alex wight · « **Reply #59 on:** July 12, 2013, 19:01:53 »

Hi Andy, I read your post with interest, and already have put in place some of the advice you have given.

I don't ride right up their exhausts, but have a space between us that, if there's a car at a junction can't dive out between us, or at least deters them.

I've been out on the bike totalling 1400 miles since my accident, and 90% of that time has been most enjoyable. The other 10 is where the alert state goes sky high, which then takes the shine of the ride out.

I've applied to do some courses, which will build my confidence back up and also get me in the right frame of mind, to be back where I was.

I'm looking to better myself as a rider, but to be honest its scary that the bloke that got killed done everything possible and more, and it wasn't enough.

Thank you for your advice, I took it as intended.

regards alex.