0.2 Second Rule? [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

Big Dog

29th December 2006, 17:51

As a biker how do you feel when you see another biker following a Cage or other road user for that matter at excessive speed and following the 0.2 second rule?

Today I happened to be on my way home at innocent ( :innocent: ) speeds when I noticed the car in front of me was 3 seconds from me. Not a problem says you.
Ah, but I was also 2.5 seconds back from the bike in front of me says I!:dodge:
First thought that went through my head was doesn't he like his family, rapidly followed by thank fcuk he is on a different colored bike with visibly different gear on.

I'd hate to see how that "bike mincer" driver would have responded if I was wearing similar gear on a similar bike an needed him to give way later today or even this week.

When I am driving a cage I think I am very sympathetic to the plight of bikers.
But even I can feel a little less inclined toward being generous toward TWAT riders who carve me up for no good reason in free flowing traffic when there are empty lanes just to the left.

Thoughts please.

Motu

29th December 2006, 18:12

I saw quite a few bikes on my way home today (one with a QUASI plate),they were all going at just over 100kph and just flowing along with the traffic,very controlled considerate riding by all....good sensible stuff for SH1.

I get pissed off when I see riders doing stupid stuff around cars when there is no need to,it just takes a very small ''something'' for it all to go horribly wrong for no reason.They are probably all far better riders then me anyway and everything is all under control....in their mind at least.

Jantar

29th December 2006, 18:27

I just make sure that I am not going to get tangled up in the mess should the unthinkable happen.

NighthawkNZ

29th December 2006, 18:28

I just make sure that I am not going to get tangled up in the mess should the unthinkable happen.

me too I usually step back a bit more

boomer

29th December 2006, 18:29

I just make sure that I am not going to get tangled up in the mess should the unthinkable happen.

Thanks, i'm glad i won't get hit from behind :scooter:

McJim

29th December 2006, 18:41

I have yet to see another rider as big as me on a bike as tiny as mine so not really a problem but yeah, I get your drift, regardless of what you wear it pays to be courteous to cars so they don't develop an attitude and cream the next biker they meet - slightly off topic though - I think drivers that accelerate when being overtaken should have mandatory custodial sentences for attempted murder as that is basically what they are trying to do.

NighthawkNZ

29th December 2006, 18:45

I have yet to see another rider as big as me on a bike as tiny as mine so not really a problem but yeah,

hmmmmmmm....

Crisis management

29th December 2006, 18:48

I've seen the McJim on his bike and I think he overstates his case.....

NighthawkNZ

29th December 2006, 18:49

I've seen the McJim on his bike and I think he overstates his case.....

I will admit I haven't met him yet... but I am sure he does to... ;)

98tls

29th December 2006, 19:00

:gob: the guy on the Kawasaki redefines Tank slapper...............

NighthawkNZ

29th December 2006, 19:01

At least he is wearing riding gear...

98tls

29th December 2006, 19:05

:yes: acres of it................

NighthawkNZ

29th December 2006, 19:08

:yes: acres of it................

lol... 3 acres to a hecter... hmmmm thats a lot of leather

Swoop

29th December 2006, 19:32

and following the 0.2 second rule?
Thoughts please.
0.2 seconds is damn close. Right up against the towbar really, so incredibly dangerous...

lol... 3 acres to a hecter... hmmmm thats a lot of leather
A whole flock of cows worth...

Steam

29th December 2006, 19:36

I clicked the wrong one! Please forgive.

NighthawkNZ

29th December 2006, 19:37

A whole flock of cows worth...

heard of cows... why yes i have heard of sheep? :dodge:

onearmedbandit

29th December 2006, 19:57

hmmmmmmm....

Man, those knee sliders look sooo small.

bluninja

29th December 2006, 20:54

As said by others already, my approach is to make sure I'm not going to be caught in any mess....same goes if it was a car tailgating.

As for riders doing dangerous and stupid overtakes around cars; I tend to have a quick think to myself "Do I ever do that?", "Could I do that?", "Should I do that".

I see bikes on busy motorways weaving and lane splitting in a traffic flow that is in excess of 110 kmh almost every working day. So far I've not seen any of them come to grief or have a near miss (thank goodness) though I've seen one down lane splitting in very slow moving traffic.

To be brutal, how many of you would listen to a stranger who walks up to you and starts to tell you how you should be riding. It's bad enough people accepting riding tips and critiques on KB.....how would most drivers/riders react when someone in the real world comes up and gives (no matter how well meaning) verbals. After all how many take 'advice' from the boys in blue, other than if there's a chance of getting off a ticket?

Big Dog

29th December 2006, 21:58

I see bikes on busy motorways weaving and lane splitting in a traffic flow that is in excess of 110 kmh almost every working day. So far I've not seen any of them come to grief or have a near miss (thank goodness) though I've seen one down lane splitting in very slow moving traffic.

Alas Blu this was on a near empty stretch of motorway next to two empty lanes.

FFS if the car was too slow and he wanted to go faster, change lanes.

I did not persue this lad. I was tempted.

bluninja

29th December 2006, 22:20

K, understand better now. Maybe he was a pom and didn't understand he could undertake if there was 100m of clear lane on the left???

BTW I have a hatred of CLODs (centre lane owner drivers) who insist on sitting in the centre lane even when the motorway is empty. I have been known, when in a group to split either side drop a couple of gears and scream past just to wake them up. Very silly, very childish, possibly hazardous....but hey I'm only human.

Jantar

29th December 2006, 22:33

BTW I have a hatred of CLODs (centre lane owner drivers) who insist on sitting in the centre lane even when the motorway is empty.
I am one of those CLODS at times. If I am driving on a motorway in a strange city, and I'm not sure what the laout of the exits are, then I WILL sit a centre lane so that I don't suddenly find myself in a lane where I must exit, and I'm not blocking traffic by sitting in the right hand lane. What would you suggest I do instead?

Big Dog

29th December 2006, 23:08

I am one of those CLODS at times. If I am driving on a motorway in a strange city, and I'm not sure what the laout of the exits are, then I WILL sit a centre lane so that I don't suddenly find myself in a lane where I must exit, and I'm not blocking traffic by sitting in the right hand lane. What would you suggest I do instead?
In a perfect world all road users would use lane 2 of three except when passing a slower vehicle on the right or taking the next exit.
If all road users did this and maintained good lane discipline there would be less accidents.

Why this system breaks down is too few people do it and there are too many people going the same way.

If more businesses had a staggered start eg people starting at 7,8,9,10 and finish at 3,4,5 and 6 especially those businesses that are not customer facing instead of blindly following the convention of 9-5 we would cut rush hour traffic in 1/4 with out spending 9 billion dollars over 10 years.
It has gotten obscene how many businesses are open for hours without a single customer and are not open when other people who work 9-5 are able to come in.

yes that would mean most businesses are open 4 hours longer a day but they would also be avialble for 33% more customers.

Oops getting a bit off topic there.

Denniso

29th December 2006, 23:44

I realise that as motorcyclists we are a diverse bunch and as such there are some riders I aggree with wholeheartedly and would ride with on the road anyday I like to call these people my friends , there are others that need to be shot with a ball of there own shit , they can stay the hell away from me . Genrally I have found that they get quite upset when told to fuck off coz they ride like twats and I ain't going to be the one scraping them off the road. If they want a Darwin award don't include me. Sorry bout the f word but nobbers piss me off.

NighthawkNZ

29th December 2006, 23:47

bluninja

30th December 2006, 00:34

I am one of those CLODS at times. If I am driving on a motorway in a strange city, and I'm not sure what the laout of the exits are, then I WILL sit a centre lane so that I don't suddenly find myself in a lane where I must exit, and I'm not blocking traffic by sitting in the right hand lane. What would you suggest I do instead?

Jantar....it's the pommieness coming out. Here it's illegal to undertake on the motorway even if the lanes are totally clear. There are very few right hand lane exits, and those that are, are signed 1.5 kms in advance. I have no issue with people sitting in outer lanes at slow speeds coming up to intersections where they are looking to find an exit (to the right) or moving over to allow traffic to join immediately after the exit. I'm talking about the people that just sit there for no reason miles from the next junction that cause a traffic jam......cars move out to lane 3 to overtake and effectively make 3 lanes into 2. Whilst in NZ I overtake in whatever lane was clear and didn't think about CLODs at all.

JimBob

30th December 2006, 06:12

Jantar....it's the pommieness coming out. Here it's illegal to undertake on the motorway even if the lanes are totally clear. There are very few right hand lane exits, and those that are, are signed 1.5 kms in advance. I have no issue with people sitting in outer lanes at slow speeds coming up to intersections where they are looking to find an exit (to the right) or moving over to allow traffic to join immediately after the exit. I'm talking about the people that just sit there for no reason miles from the next junction that cause a traffic jam......cars move out to lane 3 to overtake and effectively make 3 lanes into 2. Whilst in NZ I overtake in whatever lane was clear and didn't think about CLODs at all.

so traffic flow is determined by the slowest vehicle in the RH lane?
I have this mental picture of someone sitting at the speed limit in the RH lane, all lanes chockablok with people also doing the speed limit because it's illegal to 'under' pass, and traffic backed up for miles..and empty motorway ahead as far as the eye can see!!
Utopia for the western governments we have nowadays, everyone blindly obeying the law for no other reason other than 'its the law'
Any of you mature KBers remember "The Tripods"

Steam

30th December 2006, 06:59

Here it's illegal to undertake on the motorway even if the lanes are totally clear.

Wow, I didn't know that. Are you sure? That seems stupid.
Ya learn something every day eh!?

Nitzer

30th December 2006, 07:13

Wow, I didn't know that. Are you sure? That seems stupid.
Ya learn something every day eh!?

Apparently so:
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/23.htm#241

I'm from the UK and I never knew this!

Ixion

30th December 2006, 08:21

The extraordinary thing , is the number of PoMs who come here and (often quite vociferously) want to introduce the same silly rule here.

The "pass in any lane" system is one of the things that is very superior in this country.

bluninja

30th December 2006, 10:39

I think the best thing would be to have a code that says you should move over to the leftmost lane after an overtake when it's clear to do so....but should the lane to the left be clear you may underpass a vehicle....oh you already have that...silly me...sounds like the best of both worlds.

And yes....lots of anal pommies sit in the centre lane at the speed limit on the basis that since they are doing the speed limit nobody should overtake them so they aren't an obstruction to good traffic flow.

What this has to do with wannabe lemmings inches from the car in front when they could pass easily up the inside I don't know.....oh yes...they're probably poms!

Ixion

30th December 2006, 10:51

The "do not overtake on the left" ethos was developed when most roads were single lane . Since the rule was that vehicles should keep as far left as possible, the necessary assumption was that passing someone on the left (the left of left, so to speak) must be very dangerous. Either to the overtaker, who risked ending up in the ditch, or to the overtaken, forced out to the right into the path of oncoming vehicles.

On such roads the rule is still a good one (and is the law in NZ). On multilane roads it is a nonsense, and NZ law has very sensibly recognised this.Passing a vehicle in a DIFFERENT LANE, on the left ,in itself, presents no dangers whatsoever.

bluninja

30th December 2006, 11:03

Passing a vehicle in a DIFFERENT LANE, on the left ,in itself, presents no dangers whatsoever.

Yeah right !!:shit: "Let's just move to the left while I find my mobile and answer it"...."What's that sound? Hey mate, I'm gonna have to call you back...some wanker is bipping me and giving me the finger...almost tapping on my window he is"

I know what you mean though.......usually I give them a gentle flash, if they don't move over (as they should in UK) I just illegally and (reasonably) safely undertake them.....at least they know I'm there (I hope).