Truckulent:
Every single bit of advice ever given to bikers when approaching a junction he was ignoring.
Straight section of road with good visibility. Too fast, no anticipation, ■■■■ poor observation and no concept of the possibility that others may not have seen him.
A perfect example of how to have no idea how to ride a motorcycle defensively.
He paid the ultimate price for his stupidity, sadly.
As a biker myself, my opinion is the only person who is acting with “stupidity” is you with comments like this.
Ok he was going too fast, however I wouldn’t say excessively fast and the car would have had no chance of getting out the way even if he’d been doing 60. How anyone can blame him for someone pulling out on his is beyond belief!
The amount of people who drive around ALL DAY, with their eyes closed! Half of the idiots can’t see a unit and 45ft trailer coming towards them let alone a motorcycle.
Give me strength… 97 mph at a busy junction on a two way road and he’s not going excessively fast■■?
Your post is all about how car drivers don’t see you. And yet you defend a biker that is making the mistake of assuming the drivers will have seen you!
The car wouldn’t have had any chance of getting out of the way’ - The car pulled across the front of him FFS! If the biker had been riding slower and assuming the driver was about to pull across his path he would have been able to stop. Or at worst, a low speed impact resulting in a much less severe outcome.
If you’re a biker too, can I suggest you take some advanced training before the same thing happens to you. And read this:
Truckulent:
Every single bit of advice ever given to bikers when approaching a junction he was ignoring.
Straight section of road with good visibility. Too fast, no anticipation, ■■■■ poor observation and no concept of the possibility that others may not have seen him.
A perfect example of how to have no idea how to ride a motorcycle defensively.
He paid the ultimate price for his stupidity, sadly.
As a biker myself, my opinion is the only person who is acting with “stupidity” is you with comments like this.
Ok he was going too fast, however I wouldn’t say excessively fast and the car would have had no chance of getting out the way even if he’d been doing 60. How anyone can blame him for someone pulling out on his is beyond belief!
The amount of people who drive around ALL DAY, with their eyes closed! Half of the idiots can’t see a unit and 45ft trailer coming towards them let alone a motorcycle.
Give me strength… 97 mph at a busy junction on a two way road and he’s not going excessively fast■■?
Your post is all about how car drivers don’t see you. And yet you defend a biker that is making the mistake of assuming the drivers will have seen you!
The car wouldn’t have had any chance of getting out of the way’ - The car pulled across the front of him FFS! If the biker had been riding slower and assuming the driver was about to pull across his path he would have been able to stop. Or at worst, a low speed impact resulting in a much less severe outcome.
If you’re a biker too, can I suggest you take some advanced training before the same thing happens to you. And read this:
I’m alright thanks, I just can’t see how you want to put the full blame on the poor bloke who lost his life, he was at the ■■■■■■■ junction when the car pulled out on him, if he’d been doing 60 he’d of been going straight through the drivers door!
Because some incompetent person who obviously drives around with Stevie Wonders glasses on couldn’t see the wood for the trees, or the car behind him!
Truckulent:
Every single bit of advice ever given to bikers when approaching a junction he was ignoring.
Straight section of road with good visibility. Too fast, no anticipation, ■■■■ poor observation and no concept of the possibility that others may not have seen him.
A perfect example of how to have no idea how to ride a motorcycle defensively.
He paid the ultimate price for his stupidity, sadly.
As a biker myself, my opinion is the only person who is acting with “stupidity” is you with comments like this.
Ok he was going too fast, however I wouldn’t say excessively fast and the car would have had no chance of getting out the way even if he’d been doing 60. How anyone can blame him for someone pulling out on his is beyond belief!
The amount of people who drive around ALL DAY, with their eyes closed! Half of the idiots can’t see a unit and 45ft trailer coming towards them let alone a motorcycle.
Give me strength… 97 mph at a busy junction on a two way road and he’s not going excessively fast■■?
Your post is all about how car drivers don’t see you. And yet you defend a biker that is making the mistake of assuming the drivers will have seen you!
The car wouldn’t have had any chance of getting out of the way’ - The car pulled across the front of him FFS! If the biker had been riding slower and assuming the driver was about to pull across his path he would have been able to stop. Or at worst, a low speed impact resulting in a much less severe outcome.
If you’re a biker too, can I suggest you take some advanced training before the same thing happens to you. And read this:
I’m alright thanks, I just can’t see how you want to put the full blame on the poor bloke who lost his life, he was at the [zb] junction when the car pulled out on him, if he’d been doing 60 he’d of been going straight through the drivers door!
Because some incompetent person who obviously drives around with Stevie Wonders glasses on couldn’t see the wood for the trees, or the car behind him!
I didn’t put the full blame on him. The car driver wouldn’t have been prosecuted if the biker had been fully to blame.
I merely said, that the rider should have had better observation, been prepared for the driver to pull across the front of him and been in a position to take avoiding action and/or stop.
Which he wasn’t, because he assumed he’d been seen ( one of the most basic errors a motorcyclist can make) and continued to ride at nigh on 100mph.
Having the right of way does not mean the bit of road you need won’t already be occupied by someone else.
You have to be particularly defensive on a motorcycle. Other drivers can and do make mistakes, and you have to be far more observant than the average motorist to stay safe. This biker did have the right of way at this junction, I hope that is some comfort to the people that he’s left behind, but I doubt it.
Truckulent:
Every single bit of advice ever given to bikers when approaching a junction he was ignoring.
Straight section of road with good visibility. Too fast, no anticipation, ■■■■ poor observation and no concept of the possibility that others may not have seen him.
A perfect example of how to have no idea how to ride a motorcycle defensively.
He paid the ultimate price for his stupidity, sadly.
As a biker myself, my opinion is the only person who is acting with “stupidity” is you with comments like this.
Ok he was going too fast, however I wouldn’t say excessively fast and the car would have had no chance of getting out the way even if he’d been doing 60. How anyone can blame him for someone pulling out on his is beyond belief!
The amount of people who drive around ALL DAY, with their eyes closed! Half of the idiots can’t see a unit and 45ft trailer coming towards them let alone a motorcycle.
Give me strength… 97 mph at a busy junction on a two way road and he’s not going excessively fast■■?
Your post is all about how car drivers don’t see you. And yet you defend a biker that is making the mistake of assuming the drivers will have seen you!
The car wouldn’t have had any chance of getting out of the way’ - The car pulled across the front of him FFS! If the biker had been riding slower and assuming the driver was about to pull across his path he would have been able to stop. Or at worst, a low speed impact resulting in a much less severe outcome.
If you’re a biker too, can I suggest you take some advanced training before the same thing happens to you. And read this:
I’m alright thanks, I just can’t see how you want to put the full blame on the poor bloke who lost his life, he was at the [zb] junction when the car pulled out on him, if he’d been doing 60 he’d of been going straight through the drivers door!
Because some incompetent person who obviously drives around with Stevie Wonders glasses on couldn’t see the wood for the trees, or the car behind him!
I didn’t put the full blame on him. The car driver wouldn’t have been prosecuted if the biker had been fully to blame.
I merely said, that the rider should have had better observation, been prepared for the driver to pull across the front of him and been in a position to take avoiding action and/or stop.
Which he wasn’t, because he assumed he’d been seen ( one of the most basic errors a motorcyclist can make) and continued to ride at nigh on 100mph.
Having the right of way does not mean the bit of road you need won’t already be occupied by someone else.
You have to be particularly defensive on a motorcycle. Other drivers can and do make mistakes, and you have to be far more observant than the average motorist to stay safe. This biker did have the right of way at this junction, I hope that is some comfort to the people that he’s left behind, but I doubt it.
I apologise, I thought it was you that said “its a shame that the car driver was prosecuted”, having looked back I see it wasn’t you.
Truckulent:
Every single bit of advice ever given to bikers when approaching a junction he was ignoring.
Straight section of road with good visibility. Too fast, no anticipation, ■■■■ poor observation and no concept of the possibility that others may not have seen him.
A perfect example of how to have no idea how to ride a motorcycle defensively.
He paid the ultimate price for his stupidity, sadly.
As a biker myself, my opinion is the only person who is acting with “stupidity” is you with comments like this.
Ok he was going too fast, however I wouldn’t say excessively fast and the car would have had no chance of getting out the way even if he’d been doing 60. How anyone can blame him for someone pulling out on his is beyond belief!
The amount of people who drive around ALL DAY, with their eyes closed! Half of the idiots can’t see a unit and 45ft trailer coming towards them let alone a motorcycle.
Give me strength… 97 mph at a busy junction on a two way road and he’s not going excessively fast■■?
Your post is all about how car drivers don’t see you. And yet you defend a biker that is making the mistake of assuming the drivers will have seen you!
The car wouldn’t have had any chance of getting out of the way’ - The car pulled across the front of him FFS! If the biker had been riding slower and assuming the driver was about to pull across his path he would have been able to stop. Or at worst, a low speed impact resulting in a much less severe outcome.
If you’re a biker too, can I suggest you take some advanced training before the same thing happens to you. And read this:
I’m alright thanks, I just can’t see how you want to put the full blame on the poor bloke who lost his life, he was at the [zb] junction when the car pulled out on him, if he’d been doing 60 he’d of been going straight through the drivers door!
Because some incompetent person who obviously drives around with Stevie Wonders glasses on couldn’t see the wood for the trees, or the car behind him!
I didn’t put the full blame on him. The car driver wouldn’t have been prosecuted if the biker had been fully to blame.
I merely said, that the rider should have had better observation, been prepared for the driver to pull across the front of him and been in a position to take avoiding action and/or stop.
Which he wasn’t, because he assumed he’d been seen ( one of the most basic errors a motorcyclist can make) and continued to ride at nigh on 100mph.
Having the right of way does not mean the bit of road you need won’t already be occupied by someone else.
You have to be particularly defensive on a motorcycle. Other drivers can and do make mistakes, and you have to be far more observant than the average motorist to stay safe. This biker did have the right of way at this junction, I hope that is some comfort to the people that he’s left behind, but I doubt it.
I apologise, I thought it was you that said “its a shame that the car driver was prosecuted”, having looked back I see it wasn’t you.
Again apologies.
Not guilty, your honour!
I’d have thrown the book at the car driver. I hope they did. Take their licence away for good would be nice in a situation like this.
As a biker, you have to look out for yourself more than this guy did because, as this video shows, other ■■■■■■■ won’t!
Both to blame , I’m guessing the biker will of had lights on so how the car didn’t see him or hear? I wonder how old the person is who was driving the car , I wouldn’t be suprised if it was an older driver …
With a bike coming directly towards you and traffic behind, it’s more difficult to judge the bikes speed and to pick him out. My opinion is that the car driver was assuming all the traffic coming towards him was doing the same speed and made the judgement that he had enough space to make his manoeuvre.
I’m a biker and go out with the attitude that as fun as it is, I want to come back and do it all again tomorrow, so I ride close to the speed of traffic around me and even on a clear bit I ride to conditions.
It is brilliant flashing along, having fun doing crucifixes on hills and that sort of thing and it’s a shame David isn’t still riding. RIP, mate.
Irrelevant really, 60mph was too fast in this situation. The staggered junction was clearly signed, there was the chevron ‘hatching’ in the road, used to protect right turning traffic (which he entered to overtake the car before he reached the junction) and the visibility was such that the car that turned in front of him was clearly visible, and it’s intention known, long before he reached the junction. There is so much evidence to be wary and cautious and he ignored (or was unaware) of all of it.
It scares me that a lot of bikers are probably watching this video and cursing the car driver without actually questioning their own actions in such a situation. Sure, the car driver was guilty and at fault - no doubt. But a defensive rider with the right skills set would likely have not had this accident.
bazza123:
Apart from riding slower, how can a biker avoid accidents like this??
You answered your own question.
By anticipating the driver will pull across the front of him and riding at a speed that will allow him to stop in the distance he can see to be clear. In this instance he MUST assume thatthe car is going to pull into his path and be prepared to stop. All the evidence is there that the vehicle is intending turning across the front of him, long before it hit him, He ignored all that evidence and continued to ride like he was on the racetrack.
Yes, he had right of way. But that is no defence against a car hitting you - as he found out.
SMIDSYs are everywhere. As a biker you assume every single other road user is going to be one of them.[/riding
Another way which could also help, would be hi-viz clothing and riding with head lights on. I regularly get a slagging for dressing like a police rider. I wear a white helmet, a hi - viz over jacket as well as always having head lights on. I’ve seen people drop their phone into their foot well as I pass. Would this have helped the rider in the video? We will never know. Has it helped me? Yes!!! Mates and fellow bikers complain about people cutting out/turning in on them ect, I can count on my one hand the amount of people that have done this to me in 6years of riding.
One scortching summers day I left the hi-viz at home, on the way home a BT van nearly wiped me out at a round about, I saw him look my way, I disregarded him as a threat, turned my head to face my exit, out came the van!!!..had I had on my hi-viz I doubt this would have happened.
Other advantages… Filtering on motorways, the traffic parts like the sea, mates are always saying how sick they are of people not letting them past.
In the video, IMHO, both parties are to blame. However I don’t believe the motorist should be charged with Death by Dangerous / careless driving.
Rip to the biker, I’d say he was the lucky one as it’s his family who must suffer now
bazza123:
Apart from riding slower, how can a biker avoid accidents like this??
You answered your own question.
By anticipating the driver will pull across the front of him and riding at a speed that will allow him to stop in the distance he can see to be clear. In this instance he MUST assume thatthe car is going to pull into his path and be prepared to stop. All the evidence is there that the vehicle is intending turning across the front of him, long before it hit him, He ignored all that evidence and continued to ride like he was on the racetrack.
Yes, he had right of way. But that is no defence against a car hitting you - as he found out.
SMIDSYs are everywhere. As a biker you assume every single other road user is going to be one of them.[/riding
Another way which could also help, would be hi-viz clothing and riding with head lights on. I regularly get a slagging for dressing like a police rider. I wear a white helmet, a hi - viz over jacket as well as always having head lights on. I’ve seen people drop their phone into their foot well as I pass. Would this have helped the rider in the video? We will never know. Has it helped me? Yes!!! Mates and fellow bikers complain about people cutting out/turning in on them ect, I can count on my one hand the amount of people that have done this to me in 6years of riding.
One scortching summers day I left the hi-viz at home, on the way home a BT van nearly wiped me out at a round about, I saw him look my way, I disregarded him as a threat, turned my head to face my exit, out came the van!!!..had I had on my hi-viz I doubt this would have happened.
Other advantages… Filtering on motorways, the traffic parts like the sea, mates are always saying how sick they are of people not letting them past.
In the video, IMHO, both parties are to blame. However I don’t believe the motorist should be charged with Death by Dangerous / careless driving.
Rip to the biker, I’d say he was the lucky one as it’s his family who must suffer now
No idea what happened here ^^^^^ my post began with “Another way” all above that is someone else’s post, which I quoted
This has appeared on some motorcycle forums…as you’d expect.
Pretty much everyone accepts he is going too fast for that stretch of road.
I ride headlamps on all the time…and most modern bikes now have no headlamp on/off switch.
The light does make you easier to see…but I suspect more difficult to judge speed/distance because the headlamp is all you can see.
I suspect the real villain of the piece here is the trend for cars to have ever-thicker pillars …I changed my Volvo V40 for a Ford Focus…and the Focus has terrible blind spots in comparison
Truckulent:
Every single bit of advice ever given to bikers when approaching a junction he was ignoring.
Straight section of road with good visibility. Too fast, no anticipation, ■■■■ poor observation and no concept of the possibility that others may not have seen him.
A perfect example of how to have no idea how to ride a motorcycle defensively.
He paid the ultimate price for his stupidity, sadly.
As a biker myself, my opinion is the only person who is acting with “stupidity” is you with comments like this.
Ok he was going too fast, however I wouldn’t say excessively fast and the car would have had no chance of getting out the way even if he’d been doing 60. How anyone can blame him for someone pulling out on his is beyond belief!
The amount of people who drive around ALL DAY, with their eyes closed! Half of the idiots can’t see a unit and 45ft trailer coming towards them let alone a motorcycle.
You say yourself “straight section of road with good visibility”.
Smoggie89:
I wonder how old the person is who was driving the car , I wouldn’t be suprised if it was an older driver …
Actually the car driver was 29, hardly and OAP was he.
He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was disqualified from driving for 18 months, sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 130 hours unpaid work and was also ordered to pay a £60 surcharge and £200 costs.
I feel sorry for the car driver, motorbike doing 97mph towards you it’s like a bullet, blink and you miss it!
I’ve never been keen on bikers id say its 50/50 between really good advanced drivers and wallopers. The speed some of them do on the public highway is disgusting, if they want to be in the moto gp keep it for track days.
There is a hella a lot of bikers at my depot, seems to go hand in hand lorry drivers being bikers.
