I had yet another SMIDSY today

[shrub]

And it's happening too often. I was just heading down to the shops to get some bits. Travelling along in my lane, obeying the speed limit and this turkey pulls up at a side road, looks at me and pulls out leaving me with all four wheels locked up to avoid hitting the loser.

Yep, all four wheels.

I reckon I get more SMIDSY events in my car than I do on my bike, and I ride around 200 kms a week on my bike and 10 kms a week in the car. I would experience no more than half a dozen SMIDSY events a year on my bike, yet regularly in my car. I put it down to riding a noisy black bike and wearing black leather (threat) whereas my car is a grey box shaped thing that is easy to ignore (I ignore it). From there comes my hypothesis that people actually see bikes, but don't register them because they're (a) not a threat and (b) don't matter in the way a, say, child matters. Would Mary Pajero pull out in front of a child as happily as she pulls out in front of the kid on a 250?

I think we need Mr and Mrs Citizen to either be scared of us (silly) or recognise that when they pull out in front of us they could be killing a daughter, father, brother etc, and not only that, will cop a careless use causing injury charge at best with a lost license, big fine and reperation.

[PirateJafa]

Or we need judges with the balls to levy sentences to those who cause injury and loss to others that actually provides a deterrent to others.

[shrub]

Or we need judges with the balls to levy sentences to those who cause injury and loss to others that actually provides a deterrent to others.

Maybe we simply need a law that says if you hit a motorcyclist and claim not to have seen them, then you will get the book thrown at you.

[twotyred]

Maybe we simply need a law that says if you hit a motorcyclist and claim not to have seen them, then you will get the book thrown at you.

It's an admission of guilt,sadly it will probably never be seen that way in a court in NZ...

[CookMySock]

Maybe we simply need a law that says if you hit a motorcyclist and claim not to have seen them, then you will get the book thrown at you.They will get something thrown at them, thats for sure.

I ride around like I'm going to kill everyone. It polarises fuck out of everyone, but hey its 1.) safe. and 2.) fun!


Steve

[Bad Gixxer]

Noisy Yoshi's and a tinted visor is a good deterrent, and always ride around in a gear lower than necessary in built up areas so it makes even more noise. Tinted visor looks evil, no matter if you're wearing black leathers or not.

I got a theory about tinted visors and eye contact - wearing a clear visor, I've had heaps of near mises from car drivers. When they seem to be able to make eye contact, they think "Oh ok, the biker dude has seen me, he knows I'm gonna pull out in front of him, so it's up to him to slow down and let me in." I've rarely had that situation when wearing a tinted visor - you can almost see the look of apprehension on their faces when they're looking at you.

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

[CookMySock]

... always ride around in a gear lower than necessary in built up areas so it makes even more noise. ....you can almost see the look of apprehension on their faces when they're looking at you... a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.mwahhh! funny! It works though. :yes:

Steve

[Eyegasm]

I got a theory about tinted visors and eye contact - wearing a clear visor, I've had heaps of near mises from car drivers. When they seem to be able to make eye contact, they think "Oh ok, the biker dude has seen me, he knows I'm gonna pull out in front of him, so it's up to him to slow down and let me in." I've rarely had that situation when wearing a tinted visor - you can almost see the look of apprehension on their faces when they're looking at you.

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

Interesting theory, and actually makes sense.

Off to go and get tinted visor!

[Usarka]

Most sprotbike riders are skinny IT geeks who couldn't kick the arse off a beat up mkII cortina.

Oh here comes a man dressed like toothpaste :rofl:

[sinfull]

"Wow, Great advise there DB."

[shrub]

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

Pulling up beside errant motorists and just staring at them from behind a tinted visor is incredibly effective. They look across, their eyes widen and then they snap their attention to the the road in front of them and you can actually see their knuckles tightening on the wheel. After a few seconds they take a quick glance, but you're still staring at them, so they turn to the front and pray to every deity ever created for a green light as their pulse races and their mouths get dry. The light turns green, and the big ugly Triumph snarls away with it's even uglier rider. Relief.

Pity I can't do that in my grey car thing. Very hard to look menacing in a battered bluebird with cobwebs all over it.

[neels]

I get it in the car more than the bike also, on 80k road people pull out in front of me and pootle up the road at 65. Look in the mirror and nope, there was nothing behind me. Follow them to the next 50k zone at 65, then slow down to 50 and watch them disappear into the distance still doing 65. I suspect even when I turn on the driving lights on the 4wd they still don't notice me behind them, my car must have some sort of invisibility cloaking device built in.

[Bad Gixxer]

Most sprotbike riders are skinny IT geeks who couldn't kick the arse off a beat up mkII cortina.

Oh here comes a man dressed like toothpaste :rofl:

Yeah, but I'm a skinny EVIL looking IT geek that drives a beat up MkII Cortina - now I'm having an insecurity complex! I know, I'll tint the windows on the Cortina, problem solved!

[Hiflyer]

Had to ask, What is SMIDSY!?

EDIT: Wait I got it now.

[JR1]

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

iv just purchased my first tinted visor and there fucking awesome. its kinda like wearing you sunglasses at night, just a lil in intimidating but looks far less stupid.

[scooute]

With a tinted visor, they can't see your eyes and because of the "evil" look that it gives off, they aren't sure if you're a kid that will run scared, or a tough looking bastard that will kick the crap out of them.

Im in!!! need a new visor atm anyway maybe then I'll stop having cars hurl themselves at me?!:yes:

[bogan]

Im in!!! need a new visor atm anyway maybe then I'll stop having cars hurl themselves at me?!:yes:

stick two bits of white tape on the visor at the right angles to give the angry eyebrow look for added effect:angry: <-kinda like that guy

[scooute]

stick two bits of white tape on the visor at the right angles to give the angry eyebrow look for added effect:angry: <-kinda like that guy

:shit: was gunna try that one, Kinda like "I can see youuu" but then, thought the cops might think I was on somthing I shouldnt be lol and then Ive got another type of car hurling itself at me (at least with all the lights and sirens I'd know they were coming :Police:)

[Bad Gixxer]

Doh!! I forgot to add that if you're riding from afternoon into the evening don't forget to take a clear visor with ya. Nothing worse than riding at night with a tinted/smoked visor in fact its effing near impossible. First time I got caught out I had no choice but to ride with the visor open.

Didn't get bugs in the teeth but got them everywhere else, and it sure stings when a fat juicy moth gets ya right in the eye!!

[SPman]

Or we need judges with the balls to levy sentences to those who cause injury and loss to others that actually provides a deterrent to others.Interesting but:-
- Most people don't actually venture onto the roads with the intent of taking out as many other vehicles as possible
- Deterrent sentences don't work

[PirateJafa]

Interesting but:-
- Most people don't actually venture onto the roads with the intent of taking out as many other vehicles as possible
- Deterrent sentences don't work

It'd keep the dangerous fuckers off the road for long/permanently though.

And there is no downside to that.

[scooute]

Doh!! I forgot to add that if you're riding from afternoon into the evening don't forget to take a clear visor with ya. Nothing worse than riding at night with a tinted/smoked visor in fact its effing near impossible. First time I got caught out I had no choice but to ride with the visor open.

Didn't get bugs in the teeth but got them everywhere else, and it sure stings when a fat juicy moth gets ya right in the eye!!

Good point lol, :laugh: other wise when you stop at the lights people think theres somthing wrong :crybaby: I had a bug in the eye experience on a scooter I had a few years back (open face helmet, forgot sunnies :wacko:)

[Berries]

Had to ask, What is SMIDSY!?

Some Mofo In Drag Said Yes.

IIRC.

[shafty]

Heres your answer Shrub: Pity I can't do that in my grey car thing.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Yeah, but I'm a skinny EVIL looking IT geek that drives a beat up MkII Cortina - now I'm having an insecurity complex! I know, I'll tint the windows on the Cortina, problem solved!

make sure to wear a hoodie and or a baseball cap. and acne. and smoke those really thin roll your own fags. and have a fat ugly knocked up skank in the car.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Interesting but:-
- Most people don't actually venture onto the roads with the intent of taking out as many other vehicles as possible
- Deterrent sentences don't work

who cares? If you ride with the attitude that every other road user is a homicidal maniac intent on nothing other than killing you dead then backing over your lifeliess body, it engenders a healthy level of paranoia.

at least if some fuckwit is serving a "Deterrent sentence" they are not at liberty to be on the roads and fuck up my shit some more.

[IdunBrokdItAgin]

Keep a pair of safety goggles (available from mitre 10/ bunnings for bugger all) underneath your seat.

Then, if you get caught out and have to ride at night with a tinted visor, you can just ride with the visor up and put the goggles on to protect your eyes.

I went with an iridium visor not long ago. Better than tinted at low light but they are a right bastard to keep clean.

[release_the_bees]

6+ SMIDSY incidents a year seems incredibly high. I am curious whether other posters experience a similar number of incidents. In no way am I commenting on your driving or riding (so sorry if this post appears that way) - I'm just curious whether other posters have had the same experience.

I can only recall 2 instances of drivers pulling out in front of me in 13 years - once in the car and once on the bike.

[Swoop]

With a small amount of rain on the roads yesterday, d'Auckland drivers were unable to cope and the SMIDSY monster raises its ugly head.
"Let's be careful out there"...

[scooute]

With a small amount of rain on the roads yesterday, d'Auckland drivers were unable to cope and the SMIDSY monster raises its ugly head.
"Let's be careful out there"...

Yeah whats with that, :blink: a bit of bad weather here and a portion of the population forget how to drive...?:shit: its just the same, they just need to be more cautious and give more space, not the other way around!!! Ride safe :ride:

[shrub]

With a small amount of rain on the roads yesterday, d'Auckland drivers were unable to cope and the SMIDSY monster raises its ugly head.
"Let's be careful out there"...

I think the average car driver's road skill is on a par with my flying skill - I can do it, but not particularly well and if conditions aren't perfect or there is the hint of an emergency I'm in deep shit. the difference is that I haven't flown a plane for nearly 20 years and I know I'm completely crap at it and wouldn't dream of taking the controls of anything with wings; whereas most car drivers are convinced that they are plenty good enough to pilot 2 tonnes of steel down the road at 30m per second. When conditions are perfect they can kind of pull it off, but the moment things get dangerous they're a huge liability.

Ask any truck driver about the skill level of the average car driver, we're not the only ones who can see it.

[slofox]

Had an almost t'other way round SMIDSY today myself...

Ventured out earlyish and ran into the usual Waikato pea-soup fog west of SH3...

Muttering and mumbling and cursing to myself, I eventually turned for home.

Had to join the main road from a T intersection. Visibility was about 50 - 70 metres. I come up the stem of the T to turn right.

Complete stop. Look both ways - can't see fuck all, but don't see any lights glimmering like glow-worms in the fog. Take deep breath, start to move, with some degree of alacrity, across the intersection. Just as well there was some alacrity involved. No sooner had I left the edge of the road than an SUV (isn't it always?) looms out of the fog, on my side of the road - totally unlit and going like the clappers. Squirt of throttle and all is good - apart from a slightly sweaty feeling in the nether regions. Had the fog not been so thick I would have been tempted to wave to the driver with the special KB wave - economy version.

Every year I see this. Roaring through the fog, unlit, minimal visibility, at high speed. WTF makes these people tick? Clockwork?

Fuckwits all IMO. :weird: