Had a crash yesterday

[centaurus]

Binned my bike yesterday.

I was riding through an intersection and saw a car on the left side of the road trying to cross the road and make a right turn, planning to go across my path and over the yellow lines. Slowed down, tooted my horn a few times. Couldn't see through the windows whether the driver was looking my way or not so slowed down even more, tooted my horn again, and when I was just about to go past it, the driver decided to suddenly pull out in front of me. I leaned on the horn button to no avail. The guy never noticed me and didn't stop or slowed down until he heard my bike hitting his car. Tried swerving to avoid the nose of his car but he ended up eating all my lane and going over the yellow lines on the other side of the road. I had nowhere to go.

Hit the car, flew over the bonnet, did a somersault and ended up on my back. Fortunately I was in full gear so except one knee and ankle that got caught between the bike and the car I escaped unscathed. Even though the accident happened at very low speed, at am certain that I would have had a broken leg and multiple injuries on the arms and neck or head if I hadn't been wearing full gear.

Fortunately for me kiwis are a very friendly bunch. Immediately a few cars pulled over and helped me get the bike off the road, called the ambulance and made sure I was ok.

The police officer that took my statement was a very nice guy too. We are always complaining about police when they do bad things so I thought it would only be right to give credit where credit is due. He was friendly and polite. Even got me in the police car to take my statement, seeing the wind was picking up and I was getting cold.

Turned out he is a rider himself. He even helped me check the bike to see if it's ridable and start it. If he happens to be a kiwibiker member and reads this post: a BIG THANKS to you mate!

As far as I'm concerned after this I will never ride without full gear. This has proven to me that no matter how expert a rider you are, you can still get into trouble - all it takes is one stupid/blind/deaf driver to sort you out.

[madbikeboy]

Good on you for giving some bling to the cops. Also, good that you're in one piece. Make a note to get in touch with a mentor near you, there's some skills that may help you avoid this situation in future.

ATGATT +1

[Hanne]

Glad you are Ok. Yeah, you don't need to be goin very fast all to get munted up! (My ankle needed physio for 4 months and wasn't even broken when I came off)

Big ups to the cop too for being so nice, he deserves a chocolate fish :niceone:

[WasPhantom]

Ah I saw the police notices come out last night and was hoping that people were okay.

[TerminalAddict]

all that attention you gave to using the horn could have been used in avoiding the crash dontcha think?

[<Rhino>]

all that attention you gave to using the horn could have been used in avoiding the crash dontcha think?

How is the action of one thumb going to avoid the crash, I think he did the right thing, after all the horn is a warning device is it not? Not his fault it wasn't loud enough for the driver to hear.

Glad to hear your ok mate, I got rubbed up by a car the other day lukily enough just as it touched my leg I sat on the horn and he did hear it and pulled away. either that or he herd my arse puckering!! Was doing the speed limit on on the open road! comming off there would have been messy :sleep:

[Patar]

Here's something to mull over, had you not slowed down he might have pulled out after you got there.
This actually seems very common in these threads, where the biker slows down and the car pulls out.

[H00dz]

Dam the Filth :Police: just when I feel comforted in my antagonism, they go and something nice.... Curses!!! LOL:bleh:

seriously though good to hear you ok:niceone:

[centaurus]

all that attention you gave to using the horn could have been used in avoiding the crash dontcha think?

In principle I agree with you TerminalAddict. However, I was already breaking and was prepared to swerve. There was nothing I could do. He stopped at some point midway in the lane and pulled from a standstill a second or less before the impact (when I was 2-3 meters away) so I was just riding slowly watching the car, thinking he stopped because he had seen/heard me. The horn was just an additional measure of prevention (that proved futile in this case :( )

[SPman]

(My ankle needed physio for 4 months and wasn't even broken when I came off)

A badly sprained ankle is probably worse than a broken one (so the Doc said) - mines still a bit gammy, 3 yrs on....

[Nasty]

Glad to hear that you are ok ... we heard about the accident and have been waiting all day to hear this news!!

[Duke girl]

Good on you for giving praise where its due when it comes to the police force as so many people out there are always ready to bad mouth them but if you stop and think about some of the people they must come accross in their job then like you they would be given them praise where its due. I couldn't believe when reading your post how many times you tooted your horn at the cage driver without getting any response back and then having the idiot pull out in front of you onto your side of the road. Was this person not only blind but bloody deaf as well. Glad you came out of it like you did and good on you for having enough sense to wear the appropiate gear, full marks to you for that.:niceone::clap:

[chanceyy]

Glad to hear that you are ok ... we heard about the accident and have been waiting all day to hear this news!!

Ditto :) .. At least your about to tell us what happened :yes:

[centaurus]

Glad to hear that you are ok ... we heard about the accident and have been waiting all day to hear this news!!

Where did you hear about the accident?

[Oakie]

the horn is a warning device is it not?

In theory but it's not very effective for that and it's certainly not to be depended on. They'll tell you that at a Defensive Driving course.

[roy.nz]

Yip so true thats why i wear full leathers and everything already had a fall with the fuell leathers and only came out with four broken bones on my foot when the bike landed on it but........ but besides that i didnt even come out with a scratch and the copper who helped me was also a good bloke... :clap:

[wysper]

In theory but it's not very effective for that and it's certainly not to be depended on. They'll tell you that at a Defensive Driving course.

It is posts like this that make me glad the previous owner of my bike installed an air horn. That does not get ignored. I am sure there will be some cases that people still won't hear it but most times it gets attention.

I am glad you are not too badly roughed up Centaurus. A good advert for full gear all the time.

[Quailboy]

Good to hear your fine.

Its scary when your not sure if they have seen you even after slowing down and getting ready to stop/countersteer.

Sometimes I wonder whether anyone would hear some motorbike horns (e.g. mine) as they aren't very loud, and definitely wouldn't be heard over a minimal volume car radio.

[Petal05]

I'm just a learner... the guys at work laugh at me because I wear ALL my protective gear, just purchased some second hand leathers for summer.
I will remember your words, and thank goodness your ok. I may not have got back on the bike if that were me.

[Ixion]

I have never figured out what strange convoluted process it is that prompts them to do this.

Nothing seems to stop them. They will see you, watch you approach, then when you are 2 or 3 metres away some strange explosion seems to occur in what would, in other species, pass for their mind . "Oh, derz a mudderboike cummin. Oi'll wait for him to go by. Oh, ez geddin clozer. N clozer. Oh, e'z almoz ere, so Oi'll go now, aw WTF da muddboike's hit me"

I've tried flashing lights, weaving, shaking my fist, beeping my horn (even the very loud one on the BMW) : nothing stops them.

And oddly, it is not, as you might think, a case of them being bastards trying to "scare the biker". Most of the time they have no idea at all why they decided to pull out. I've asked some (having stopped them after avoidance measure), and they simply don't know

The saving grace is, that with experience you will find the spidey sense gets quite good at identifying them before they do it, and you can be ready to ride behind them (I find that is usually best - there will be exceptions to be sure)

[FJRider]

Such times as those, air horns may not warn/stop them pulling out. "i'm in a cage ... what are they gonna do...hit me ???" situation. Or kids in the back seat, hands free cell phone conversation, or just away in la la land. Mind just not concentrating... on the road anyway...

[discotex]

I have never figured out what strange convoluted process it is that prompts them to do this.

Speed perception is very difficult with a narrow object. Slowing down or speeding up makes it harder a driver to guess your speed.

If you've ever stood at the pit wall you'll know what I mean. All you see is slow slow slow (coming towards you) fookin neowwwwwwwwwww (as they pass) slow slow slow (as they go down to turn 1).

Of course a decent driver would just wait until you've passed. An impatient retard on the other hand will convince themselves they have time to make it. Not to mention their ego makes them think you're slowing down to let them in.

Simple answer is to weave in your lane to trigger their speed perception. Probably would have avoided this accident. Try it and you'll be amazed.

[Charlie41]

Glad to hear you're ok!!
Major damage to bike???

[Forest]

It is posts like this that make me glad the previous owner of my bike installed an air horn. That does not get ignored. I am sure there will be some cases that people still won't hear it but most times it gets attention.

An air horn won't help if the driver is deaf.

But that's not an argument against airhorns! They're an excellent investment.

Glad to read the OP is ok. Am hoping the cage driver gets pinged.

[centaurus]

Glad to hear you're ok!!
Major damage to bike???

No structural damage as far as I can tell but most of the fairings will need to be replaced, mirrors,levers, bar ends, at least one exhaust, so on... the list is quite long, but nothing essential ( like engine, frame or the like).

I'll find next week when it gets assessed by the mechanic :shutup: .

[CM2005]

lucky you're all goods mate... bad luck eh

[carver]

Good on you for giving some bling to the cops. Also, good that you're in one piece. Make a note to get in touch with a mentor near you, there's some skills that may help you avoid this situation in future.

ATGATT +1

most bins wins!

[FJRider]

most bins wins!

so whats your score...???? are you a winner or a loser ????

[carver]

so whats your score...???? are you a winner or a loser ????

this year i loose hard, not one!
fingers crossed!

[dpex]

The saving grace is, that with experience you will find the spidey sense gets quite good at identifying them before they do it, and you can be ready to ride behind them (I find that is usually best - there will be exceptions to be sure)[/QUOTE]

Ixion, yours is probably one of the more insightful comments I've read (except most of mine, of course/Chortle).

The Spidery-Sense, as you call it comes only after having traveled at least tens-of-thousands of Ks, if not hundreds of thousands, in any transport on wheels.

A couple of years ago I was teaching my grand-daughter to drive. We'd be pootling along and I'd say something like, 'Careful, that car is going to run right.'

At the time of my observation the driver had not signaled, but he'd touched his brakes twice, on a clear-ahead road. Also he'd drifted closer to the centre-line.

I actually don't know what sixth-sense enables me to predict some many unexpected maneuvers.

My GD would often ask, 'How did you know that was going to happen?'

My answer was always, 'I don't know. Just a lot experience, I guess.'

Experience= The Spidery Factor. Somewhere, deep inside your knowledge base you feel the web slightly shudder.

Because I've been around since the Dead Sea was only seriously sick, I figured, the other night, I've probably driven well over a million Ks. You simply can't get that level of exposure experience out of a training course, no matter how good it is.

[FJRider]

this year i loose hard, not one!
fingers crossed!

confirms our suspicions then... by admission... a loser

[carver]

confirms our suspicions then... by admission... a loser

you were only suspicious....
how amny bins you had this year?
most bins wins, how do you stack up?

[The Stranger]

It is posts like this that make me glad the previous owner of my bike installed an air horn. That does not get ignored. I am sure there will be some cases that people still won't hear it but most times it gets attention.



All that does is daze and confuse them.
They are dangerous enough without being dazed and confused too.

[Fatt Max]

Main thing is you are ok mate, sounds like a shocker.

Good on the cop as well, you are right, we tend to bag them most of the time (and sometimes quite rightly) but there are good guys about.

Take it easy

[FJRider]

you were only suspicious....
how amny bins you had this year?
most bins wins, how do you stack up?

You can only WIN or LOSE... if you're in the race....


You seem to have a problem with your spell check... or is ENGLISH your second language...???

[carver]

You can only WIN or LOSE... if your in the race....


You seem to have a problem with your spell check... or is ENGLISH your second language...???

thats a good quote from a good song, and from a even greater movie
MFSC missionary practice (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dh14z5gqi80)

i am bi lingual eh...
and lisdexic

[CookMySock]

Get a brighter headlight, and leave it on fullbeam 24/7.

Steve

[mattian]

[QUOTEDangerousBastard "Get a brighter headlight, and leave it on fullbeam 24/7."

And wake up in the morning with a flat battery :weep:

[Goblin]

Get a brighter headlight, and leave it on fullbeam 24/7.

SteveWorst piece of advice ever! Dazzling all other motorists does not make you safer. :blink:

[centaurus]

Get a brighter headlight, and leave it on fullbeam 24/7.

Steve

That's a very interesting quote DangerousBastard. I've actually been thinking about this for quite a while now and I still haven't arrived at a conclusion.
On one hand it's good because it increases visibility and makes you stick out on the road among the cars, but on the other hand it has the potential of annoying and/or dazzling the drivers. I've personally been (driving a cage) in front of a motorbike with the headlight on hight beam in broad daylight and I cursed him plenty in my head.

I am very curious to hear the EXPERIENCED riders' opinions. pros or cons, and why.

[wysper]

All that does is daze and confuse them.
They are dangerous enough without being dazed and confused too.

Thats a good point.

I think I would still rather have a horn that can be heard rather than the tiny little peeps that come out of most bikes though.

[1 Free Man]

First up I must say glad to hear your OK.
Try as you might reading assholes like that can be damb near impossible.
I guess we have all seem this sort of thing at one time or another either in our cages or on the scoot.
before I started riding (March this year) I never found it necessary to do any of the bloody stupid things that I have had done to me since I've been riding.
I have gained the impression that the fact that you are on two wheels attracts all of the silly barstards on the road and that they are out to target you BECAUSE you are on two wheels.
I am going for my restricted licence next wednesday and then I am going to do a defensive driving course to shorten the time until I can do my full licence. (I will have a brand new S83 boulevard in the shed next weekend and I can't legally ride it.):argh:
It will be interesting to see how BIKER oriented the driving course will be.
Being a somewhat surly old prick I can see myself asking a lot of questions as to how do you deal with the sort of situation that has generated this thread.

[Goblin]

That's a very interesting quote DangerousBastard. I've actually been thinking about this for quite a while now and I still haven't arrived at a conclusion.
On one hand it's good because it increases visibility and makes you stick out on the road among the cars, but on the other hand it has the potential of annoying and/or dazzling the drivers. I've personally been (driving a cage) in front of a motorbike with the headlight on hight beam in broad daylight and I cursed him plenty in my head.

I am very curious to hear the EXPERIENCED riders' opinions. pros or cons, and why.In my experience, I would never intentionally ride with my light on high beam. You said yourself you cursed someone else doing it to you so why do it to others? It just pisses people off. Unless you are a dangerous bastard who likes to piss people off. Plus, as others have said, the morons who have no idea of speed perceptoin are going to be even more confused when they're dazzled. A loud horn is a better option imo.

[Lias]

A badly sprained ankle is probably worse than a broken one (so the Doc said) - mines still a bit gammy, 3 yrs on....

I'll second that.. Took me alot longer to be able to bear weight on mine when I blew all the ligaments after a crash than when I actually broke my other ankle years ago.

[shafty]

Well done on surviving;

What was the legal outcome of Mr Plod's visit?

[Jantar]

Get a brighter headlight, and leave it on fullbeam 24/7.

Steve

Have you heard of target fixation? Do this and you become the target that others may fixate on. The safest way is to have your headlight on dip, next is headlight off. Full beam dazzles oncoming drivers, and seriously annoys those you may be following.

[HTFU]

A badly sprained ankle is probably worse than a broken one (so the Doc said) - mines still a bit gammy, 3 yrs on....

try an Osteo. I twisted mine landing on someone's foot playing BBall and for 2 years it was still tender, especially running cross country. Osteo moved around a few bones and a ligament and good as new.

[Shiny side up]

A badly sprained ankle is probably worse than a broken one (so the Doc said) - mines still a bit gammy, 3 yrs on....

Bugger you are making me feel worried. I rotated my foot 180 degrees and had it pinned under the bike at about 20 Kph a month ago. No break but I was sure it was going to..... Now it gets stiff if not moving for a short time.

I agree about gear though. Got nudged off by a cage hauling in front of me about a year ago. Strange feeling sliding on tarseal and not getting hurt..... Gotta love that kevlar.

[centaurus]

Well done on surviving;

What was the legal outcome of Mr Plod's visit?

The accident report hasn't been released yet.

The f...n cage driver, although on the spot admitted that he didn't even look in my direction and apologized many times, when logging the insurance claim refused to accept any responsibility pending the police report, so now the insurance company won't do anything until the police issues the accident report.

[centaurus]

It feels really good to have so many people inquire about your health and be happy you're ok. It makes me feel part the big "kiwibiker family". Thank you everybody for you kind thoughts.

[jrandom]

It feels really good to have so many people inquire about your health and be happy you're ok. It makes me feel part the big "kiwibiker family". Thank you everybody for you kind thoughts.

You're welcome!

:sunny:

Just a thought for future reference. When faced with the potential of the situation you were in, which as Ixion and others have pointed out happens all the fucking time, the best preventive maneuver I've found is to move right in the lane. It increases your visibility and maximises your swerving options if the car does decide to pull out.

Bicycle commuting gives me useful data; I've found that the further right on the road I am, the more likely a car driver turning from a street on the left is to see me. Makes sense, I guess.

If a car pulls out on you like that and you've already moved toward the center of the road, your best option will usually be to apply full throttle and swerve right onto the other side of the road so that your path no longer intersects the car's.

On the bicycle, I don't usually have the ability to accelerate hard enough to achieve that, so my avoidance plan is usually to do a hard left turn and head up the street the homicidal car came from.

The general rule is, think about swerving, not so much about braking. Look for spaces on the road, think about possible vehicle trajectories and how you can modify yours to not intersect the car's.

Don't get stuck in the "I'm travelling down this side of the road in a straight line, gee I hope the car doesn't hit me" mindset.