New Hazzard to add to the list...

**stig** · 30th July 2009, 13:24

I've had a couple of days to cool off but thought I'd share the story,

I was traveling up a steep incline, in the suburbs, behind a car @ ~40km. They decided I was following too close and preformed an emergency braking maneuver to a complete stop. I got enough braking done so it wasn't a hard impact, stayed upright. They drove off again and I single wheeled past them and pulled over. They got out to say they were "Going to report me" (?) and said they did it to "teach me a lesson"
In my newly aquired mood I managed to fit 'idiot' and 'trying to kill me', into a colourful sentence.
I thought it was so flaming dangerous it would have tested the patience of even Gandhi himself. 3 outta 4 of my limbs managed to stay in control, that'll have to be good enough for me on my trip to enlightenment (or theirs).

I really wasn't close but I think the noise and high headlight made it seem that way. I never saw the brakelights due to combination of checking slow speed on dash and evening sun. I think the KTM's extra suspension travel saved the forks from any damage.

I had wondered before if someone was silly enough to do this to a biker, now I know.

Anyway, safe riding everyone, and keep you wits about you...

**Jantar** · 30th July 2009, 13:32

Originally Posted by stig

...it wasn't a hard impact, stayed upright. .....

I really wasn't close but I think the noise and high headlight made it seem that way. .....

You hit them? You were too close. The only way to learn from this is to first off admit that you were in the wrong, then to ask yourself what you can do to avoid this in the future.

**The Baron** · 30th July 2009, 13:36

Sorry to hear your story but it is a reminder to stay away from idiots like this.

Good to hear you are OK.

**Virago** · 30th July 2009, 13:43

Originally Posted by jantar

you hit them? You were too close. The only way to learn from this is to first off admit that you were in the wrong, then to ask yourself what you can do to avoid this in the future.

+1 .

**jetboy** · 30th July 2009, 13:52

Yeah sounds like you were a bit close, HOWEVER what a complete hairy, sweaty nutsack for slamming on brakes to "teach you a lesson".

Also, I thought men had 5 limbs

**Squiggles** · 30th July 2009, 13:55

For all the OP knew a 4yo mighta just ran infront of the car... he wouldnt of seen and would've still hit the car

Cars have always been a hazard, so theres nothing new about it

**stig** · 30th July 2009, 13:57

Originally Posted by Jantar

You hit them? You were too close. The only way to learn from this is to first off admit that you were in the wrong, then to ask yourself what you can do to avoid this in the future.

Boring.
Technically a lot of things, 40kph is hardly an unsafe speed. At some point you have to assume people aren't going to deliberately try and endanger you and cause an accident.
It wasn't like I sat their ass for 100's of metres, I came up behind the driver and started preparing for a slow pass.

The logic of "You looked like you might hit me, so I thought I'd slam on my brakes so... you have an increased chance of hitting me" hardly washes. Is that how you drive? offensively?

**Usarka** · 30th July 2009, 13:59

Yeah the other guy was not in the wrong at all. Shame on you stig it's all your fault.

/sarcasm

**stig** · 30th July 2009, 14:04

Originally Posted by Squiggles

For all the OP knew a 4yo mighta just ran infront of the car... he wouldnt of seen and would've still hit the car

Cars have always been a hazard, so theres nothing new about it

The 640's pretty tall and I can see plenty far ahead of one car. Part of the reason I got it.

I know where the logic comes from and do try and ride to suit. Just convincing people that I don't ride like an ashole is kinda hard on a forum so I'll just take the hits.

**cmoore** · 30th July 2009, 14:10

chill......if there is one thing riding a bike teaches you.....no matter how much you believe your in the right......you hitting them don't hurt them....

**Deano** · 30th July 2009, 14:12

Originally Posted by Jantar

You hit them? You were too close. The only way to learn from this is to first off admit that you were in the wrong, then to ask yourself what you can do to avoid this in the future.

They are both in the wrong. You can't do an emergency stop and endanger someones life just to teach someone a lesson FFS.

**Jantar** · 30th July 2009, 14:22

Originally Posted by Deano

They are both in the wrong. You can't do an emergency stop and endanger someones life just to teach someone a lesson FFS.

Oh, I agree. And I hope if Stig is ever lying on a hospital bed waiting for an Xray he can say to himself, "Well the other driver is just as much to blame as I am".

At 40 km per hour, a 2 second gap would allow him 22 meters of seperation, or if he was in the process of overtaking as he suggested in a later post then he should already be further to the right and able to avoid a collision. The car driver is an idiot for trying to teach a lesson to a motorcyclist in such a dangerous manner, but the motorcyclist should be prepared to avoid these unexpected situations.

**wickle** · 30th July 2009, 14:45

I dislike tailgaters and find that a large % of NZ drivers(bikes cars trucks) do follow to close behind , following distance is about five metres approx per ten km's per hour,