Actually gobsmacked

[Hawkeye]

3 weeks ago, my son was sitting at a set of lights behind 3 other cars. The lights change to green and everyone pulls away. This is a 70k stretch so the cars were not hanging around. 15 secs later as they get across the intersection, the front car slams it's brakes on because a plastic bucket blew across the lane. The other cars also follow suite and brake. Unfortunately for the son, he hit the brakes but didn't stop in time and hit the car in front.
Not a problem with that. It's a learning experience. He exchanged details with the other party and came home. I rang the insurance company immediately and give them all the details.
7 days ago, the other party rang up wanting him to accept liability, to which he informed them it was in the hands of the insurance company and to discuss it with them.
This obviously pissed off the other party because they have put a complaint into the police.
Today, a letter arrived from the police stating that, as it was his fault and there was a complaint against him, he was being fined $154.

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.

[CookMySock]

I know its nasty, but he has to be able to stop. Because you didn't admit liability they took the next step to force it, and that was to lay a complaint with the feds and get you processed for it, THEN they claim against you using a copy of the police report.

Yep, not nice, but thats rugby. :weep::oi-grr:

Steve

[KiwiKat]

Gob smacked is a polite way of saying how you feel. My understanding is that it's the old rule of being able to stop within the clear distance in front and this has screwed up many an inexperienced driver. Unfortunately your son was probably just starting to accelerate when he had to brake so he would have been slower to react.

A real bummer. at least it's only a fine and insurance costs. Everyone's OK?
Amazing what we do to protect endangered buckets. You and he keep smiling.

[hospitalfood]

yep, have to be able to stop. sucks......
next time im in my car and some dumb arse does something similar ( stops with no warning for a sparrow or whatever ) i will not be bothering with the brakes, i will be straight on the gas and doing my best to kill the stupid fucker!

hit them as hard as my V8 can manage.

[maybe]

Apparently if you hit any one in the rear its your fault no matter what they tell me

[nadroj]

My understanding is one must be able to stop within half the clear distance ahead.......unless riding a motorcycle!

[xwhatsit]

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.
It's a bit stink that they complained to the police, as the insurance companies should really have taken care of it on their own. That said the police would've been notified anyway. But really, your son is at fault, and you have to side with the police here; hell, if I slam on my brakes leaving a green light because, say, a red light runner comes screaming through, or a wee child runs out across the road, then I don't want to have somebody serve me up the arse because they couldn't stop in time.

I think the only defences against running into the back of somebody is if they cut into your lane without leaving enough room (I see people do this in front of trucks coming up to traffic lights very often, absolute madness), or if somebody pulls out from a side-street and didn't give you enough room.

[Mully]

Could slappy have been uninsured, which is why he is being a dick?

[Bren]

I agree with the above comments....always leave enough space to do an emergency brake if needed...Have a safety zone between you and the car in front...and if some prick decides to pass you and jump into your zone then pull back...even when stopped at lights you should have some kind of zone so if you get bumped up the arse ya dont plow into the car in front of you...
If ya gonna drive or ride on the roads ya gotta do things to minimize risk, and a good gap is one of those things...

[Skyryder]

Could slappy have been uninsured, which is why he is being a dick?


That's problay the case. I've done a bit of driving one way or the other and it's a 'standing order' that you never admit liability even if it is obvouse that you are in the wrong. But you should always ask the other party.


Skyryder

[CookMySock]

Could slappy have been uninsured, which is why he is being a dick?He's not being a dick, he's using the law to his benefit and thats just the way of the jungle. Its nasty I know, but the only way past it is to climb the food chain somewhat, and get sneakier, if you like to live your life like that.


That's problay the case. I've done a bit of driving one way or the other and it's a 'standing order' that you never admit liability even if it is obvouse that you are in the wrong. But you should always ask the other party.Yup. It's a jungle out there.

Steve

[portokiwi]

yes mate thats the law.... Tail gating.
Thats why I had to drop the bike in Panmure, Same situation leaving the lights behind another car but in my case another car pulled out causing the car in front of me to hit his brakes.
I droped my bike so I wouldnt hit his flash BMW. I knew no matter what I would be in the wrong and have to pay out.
It sucks my bike still has the damage on her.

[Duke girl]

and all in the case of a plastic bucket. I too think that rule sucks as there is that much road rage on our roads today, all it needs is some dickhead to overtake you then once in front slam the brakes on that hard that you haven't got time to react and then end up slaming up the arse of them. I see it all the time on our roads and its usually those who dont care about themselves without caring about anyone else out there who use the roads. Doesn't seem to matter who's at fault like what others have said on here its always the one from behind who ends up coughing up the money for damages as well as for the fine. Will that rule ever change, who knows but in the mean time it is the law and i guess we have nothing more to do with it than except it regardless of our thoughts on it.

[imdying]

Yep, not nice, but thats rugby. :weep::oi-grr:Pretty much, the other party are doing exactly what they're supposed to do. Although, could've been the insurance company that passed on the details to strengthen their case?

Amazing what we do to protect endangered buckets.Or possibly a paint job...

next time im in my car and some dumb arse does something similar ( stops with no warning for a sparrow or whatever ) i will not be bothering with the brakes, i will be straight on the gas and doing my best to kill the stupid fucker!Excellent, some others might as well do the same... maybe it'll be an XB12R in front of them when they do it...:rolleyes:

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.Don't be too upset, your son did all the right things by not admitting liability and letting the insurance company deal with it, it's just the way the game is played. $150 is a pretty cheap lesson in following distances.

[avgas]

do the crime do the time.
its the sad fact - but he is required to not crash into anything by law.
$150 is a valid lesson - considering his excess could be more than the damage to the car.

[sels1]

This obviously pissed off the other party because they have put a complaint into the police.

They might have been advised to by their insurance company.
I know of other similar incidents where the cops didnt bother with sending a ticket later....

[MSTRS]

There is also a small matter of a law that says you must report an accident to the cops within 48 hours of it occurring (and 24 hours if injury resulted).
Of course, many don't bother, because precisely this sort of thing happens...a ticket in the mail. Gotta have those tickets for their quota, eh?

[vifferman]

Damn.
I thought "actually gobsmacked" was a story about someone being punched in the mouth. My Thursday morning boredom is intact, in fact. :(

[slimjim]

or that he'd brought a Honda.......... bugger another i hit them up the ass thread......

[Tank]

They might have been advised to by their insurance company.
I know of other similar incidents where the cops didnt bother with sending a ticket later....

I was thinking the same thing. Their insurance company wants you to male a statement to the police (a legal requirement btw) and thats their 'proof' that you were at fault so their insurance company can claim off yours.

If they didn't lay the complaint and your company argued against theirs about responsibility they have nothing to back it up.

Regardless - bugger he got a ticket on top of the other bits.

On the bright side at least you were insured. (Insurance sure helps ay DB??)

[xwhatsit]

yes mate thats the law.... Tail gating.
Thats why I had to drop the bike in Panmure, Same situation leaving the lights behind another car but in my case another car pulled out causing the car in front of me to hit his brakes.
I droped my bike so I wouldnt hit his flash BMW. I knew no matter what I would be in the wrong and have to pay out.
It sucks my bike still has the damage on her.
I don't want to come across as a prick, but I'm genuinely confused by this. Why did you drop the bike? Surely you can get a much shorter stopping distance by using the brakes and tyres -- metal and plastic sliding down the road with no direction is going to take much longer to stop. Plus, you give up the ability to change direction (swerve down one side of the car if you can't stop in time). And, most importantly, it hurts less and you don't beat up your bike.

[Falcon]

Do not pay any fines until the insurance is settled. Right a letter to the cops stating that the other party was at fault for excessive braking. By paying any infringement notice he is admittimg liability.

[Patar]

I don't get it, everyone complains that the police do nothing and rarr rarr wank wank etc.

The kid was following too closely, hit the car infront, he got a ticket for following too closely. Am I missing something?

Sure it's stink, but it's also the law. No doubt that if the roles had been reversed, many of you would have been screaming bloody murder at the car driver.


Reminds me of the time my brother low sided in the Auckland domain a couple years back and got a ticket for riding with bald tyres. Sure it sucked that he crashed, but it served him right getting a ticket for riding with bald tyres. And guess what, he didn't ride with bald tyres after that (although it didn't stop him from being a dumbass, but that's another story)

[Falcon]

wait til you get stung when it's not your fault

[yungatart]

Would you feel any differently about this if your young one was the one that was hit?
Our young fella was rear ended...I'm glad the cops are still writing tickets for this offence.

[Fatjim]

3 weeks ago, my son was sitting at a set of lights behind 3 other cars. The lights change to green and everyone pulls away. This is a 70k stretch so the cars were not hanging around. 15 secs later as they get across the intersection, the front car slams it's brakes on because a plastic bucket blew across the lane. The other cars also follow suite and brake. Unfortunately for the son, he hit the brakes but didn't stop in time and hit the car in front.
Not a problem with that. It's a learning experience. He exchanged details with the other party and came home. I rang the insurance company immediately and give them all the details.
7 days ago, the other party rang up wanting him to accept liability, to which he informed them it was in the hands of the insurance company and to discuss it with them.
This obviously pissed off the other party because they have put a complaint into the police.
Today, a letter arrived from the police stating that, as it was his fault and there was a complaint against him, he was being fined $154.

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.

Doesn't quite add up, but anyway, your son can always write denying the charge. I doubt it would be taken further as the complainant now has to go to court.

[slimjim]

wait til you get stung when it's not your fault

..:drool:

dude.. the ticket's for failing to stop... period..:nono:

and thats a ...fact.... still gona cost ya's the instant ticket cost...:drool:

an lordy lordy.:clap:you're old man's gona get some mileage with this one....:cool:

[Indiana_Jones]

This really winds me up sometimes.

Why does the police have to send a fine to the poor bastard?

they seem to do it for anyone who crashes for whatever reason, do I get fined if I crashed my bike by myself and not into anyone?

He accepted he did it and was sorting it out!

-Indy

[scumdog]

This really winds me up sometimes.

Why does the police have to send a fine to the poor bastard?

they seem to do it for anyone who crashes for whatever reason, do I get fined if I crashed my bike by myself and not into anyone?

He accepted he did it and was sorting it out!

-Indy

Go and ask insurance companies why they want proof of liability and you'll find out why he got the ticket..

[scumdog]

Excellent, some others might as well do the same... maybe it'll be an XB12R in front of them when they do it...:rolleyes:

I thought the same - and then thought "nah, he's godabe trollin' eh?"

He was wasn't he? eh? eh?

[Indiana_Jones]

Go and ask insurance companies why they want proof of liability and you'll find out why he got the ticket..

so you're saying if I low side my bike, and wanna claim the insurance I have to get a ticket? Lame :Pokey:

-Indy

[scumdog]

so you're saying if I low side my bike, and wanna claim the insurance I have to get a ticket? Lame :Pokey:

-Indy

No ya dummass, if you hit somebody else they want to have proof who was in the wrong - they make us the 'bad boys' by us doing the dirty work for them so to speak.

[Indiana_Jones]

No ya dummass, if you hit somebody else they want to have proof who was in the wrong - they make us the 'bad boys' by us doing the dirty work for them so to speak.

Ok, in that sense that seems fine, but if matey agreed he was in the wrong and let the insurane know etc, can't the cops give a 'ticket' (in the legal sense, but with no $$ fine, just for legal purposes?

-Indy

[Patar]

Ok, in that sense that seems fine, but if matey agreed he was in the wrong and let the insurane know etc, can't the cops give a 'ticket' (in the legal sense, but with no $$ fine, just for legal purposes?

-Indy

You can also be given a ticket if it's just you who crashes into the side of a ditch. If they determine that you were speeding and/or driving recklessly then you can be done for reckless use of a motor vehicle. If you think that's unfair you can a) drive/ride within the law b) get into a position of power and do something about it or c) get off the road.

[Indiana_Jones]

You can also be given a ticket if it's just you who crashes into the side of a ditch. If they determine that you were speeding and/or driving recklessly then you can be done for reckless use of a motor vehicle. If you think that's unfair you can a) drive/ride within the law b) get into a position of power and do something about it or c) get off the road.

I don't think it's unfair to be ticketed if I was doing something stupid, but let's say I touched some wet paint etc on a corner and went into a parked car?

-Indy

[McDuck]

3 weeks ago, my son was sitting at a set of lights behind 3 other cars. The lights change to green and everyone pulls away. This is a 70k stretch so the cars were not hanging around. 15 secs later as they get across the intersection, the front car slams it's brakes on because a plastic bucket blew across the lane. The other cars also follow suite and brake. Unfortunately for the son, he hit the brakes but didn't stop in time and hit the car in front.
Not a problem with that. It's a learning experience. He exchanged details with the other party and came home. I rang the insurance company immediately and give them all the details.
7 days ago, the other party rang up wanting him to accept liability, to which he informed them it was in the hands of the insurance company and to discuss it with them.
This obviously pissed off the other party because they have put a complaint into the police.
Today, a letter arrived from the police stating that, as it was his fault and there was a complaint against him, he was being fined $154.

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.


I got arssfucked when i did that, 150 odd bucks fine and over a grand to fix the other car, why shouldnt he?

[Headbanger]

Yeah, And I got done when I hit that car and then broke the power pole off at ground level.

Cost me over ten grand.


Muhahahahahahaha






Wasn't the most cunning move I have ever made.

[McDuck]

Wasn't the most cunning move I have ever made.

The others must have been real good...

[Patar]

I don't think it's unfair to be ticketed if I was doing something stupid, but let's say I touched some wet paint etc on a corner and went into a parked car?

-Indy

If you can show that you were riding within the law (or they can't show you weren't) and that the crash was completely unavoidable by all reasonable standards, i.e blow out mid corner, gravel, etc. and if your bike was fit to be on the road before the accident happened then you shouldn't be getting a ticket.

[xwhatsit]

I'm all for people getting tickets when they crash. There's no sense of responsibility with a lot of riders -- they've got full insurance, the leathers saved their arse this time -- who cares? Just get a shiny new bike, I was meaning to upgrade anyway...

At least getting a ticket they might get the clue that they did something wrong in the first place.

[jrandom]

I'm all for people getting tickets when they crash. There's no sense of responsibility with a lot of riders -- they've got full insurance, the leathers saved their arse this time -- who cares? Just get a shiny new bike, I was meaning to upgrade anyway...

You're just bitter because your bike wasn't insured for enough to cover the purchase of a new one.

:lol:

[xwhatsit]

You're just bitter because your bike wasn't insured for enough to cover the purchase of a new one.

:lol:
It wasn't even insured! :laugh: At least it was my own bike wot I crashed, not summun elses, eh/aye?

Just got renewal letter, might get comprehensive, not that much more.

The valuer valued it at twice what it's insured for and I paid for it, perhaps I'm doing well to hang on to it :innocent:

[jrandom]

At least it was my own bike wot I crashed, not summun elses, eh/aye?

I couldn't possibly comment, hey.

Edit: By the way, if 'twere to be 'aye', there should be no question mark. And I would be prepared to support spelling it 'ay' without the 'e', but I'm not too sure about making 'eh' do double duty.


The valuer valued it at twice what it's insured for and I paid for it...

$3.70 would also have gotten you a Big Mac, y'know.

I'm just sayin'.

[Laava]

This obviously pissed off the other party because they have put a complaint into the police.
Today, a letter arrived from the police stating that, as it was his fault and there was a complaint against him, he was being fined $154.

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.
Having been in the same situation, no 4 of a 5 car nose to tail, if there is no injury and everyone has insurance, there is no reason to call the cops. All they will do is take statements and issue fines. This is exactly what insurance is for, taking your mistakes and sorting it out with someone elses insurance company.

[scumdog]

Having been in the same situation, no 4 of a 5 car nose to tail, if there is no injury and everyone has insurance, there is no reason to call the cops. All they will do is take statements and issue fines. This is exactly what insurance is for, taking your mistakes and sorting it out with someone elses insurance company.

Thing is crashers, the insurance companies all want the nasty Police to say (by way of a ticket) who is at fault.

So they can say to the other parties insurance company 'it's not OUR clients fault, YOU pay up..."

JUST in case some of you lot are a tad thick and haven't figured it out......NOT that youz wouldn't eh??

[NighthawkNZ]

Having been in the same situation, no 4 of a 5 car nose to tail,

So you are tailgating... and couldn't stop in time... way I see it you are all in the wrong

[CookMySock]

I'm all for people getting tickets when they crash. There's no sense of responsibility with a lot of riders -- they've got full insurance, the leathers saved their arse this time -- who cares? Just get a shiny new bike, I was meaning to upgrade anyway...Gawd, someone who thinks like me. Some "insured" riders are just plain fucken dangerous - they seem to have no qualms about goofing off, and no morals about hurting those who ride next to them. "Shrug, I'm insured."


At least getting a ticket they might get the clue that they did something wrong in the first place.I doubt it. People who think this way PERMANENTLY think this way.

I watch my own arse and pay for my own mistakes. It gets expensive. Ya learn fast what works and what doesn't. :crazy:

Well, I'm not insured.. Ride next to me and note the rope around my neck.. and don't worry.

Steve

[Laava]

So you are tailgating... and couldn't stop in time... way I see it you are all in the wrong
Correct, never denied it either but didn't admit to it. Bit harder for the cops to dish out a ticket tho if they do not attend the incident. Served me right, I know, but the funniest thing was listening to the bullshit excuses people were making as the cops turned up, such as " I can,t stay bro, I have to be at a tangi" and from the lady I hit, moments after admitting to us that she hit the car in front of her, " I had stopped when I was hit and pushed into the car in front" All part of the big learning curve isn't it?

[Hawkeye]

Gob smacked is a polite way of saying how you feel. My understanding is that it's the old rule of being able to stop within the clear distance in front and this has screwed up many an inexperienced driver. Unfortunately your son was probably just starting to accelerate when he had to brake so he would have been slower to react.

A real bummer. at least it's only a fine and insurance costs. Everyone's OK?
Amazing what we do to protect endangered buckets. You and he keep smiling.

Yeah! He has just bent over and taken it. Used it as a learning experience.

It's just the idea that he stopped, exchanged details and knowing my son as I do, he would have been very polite. You just don't expect to get a fine from the cops for what was a very minor incident.

As you said, he was just accelerating away from the lights. He needed to change lanes as he was going to be turning right at the next junction. Checked the mirror for traffic behind/right hand lane only to find that when he looked forward again, the traffic had come to an abrupt halt in front of him. Too late by then. Easily done and I'm sure there are a number of others on here who have been in a similar situation.

These things should just be looked on as a learning experience and I'm sure in future, he will give the cars in front more time.
Youth and inexperience! Who would have it eh!