Thursday misadventure. How to win a week in hospital.

[mattian]

This seems to be a familiar pattern. Somebody shares their story so that the rest of us can learn from what may (or may not) have been done differently to avoid it. Katman pipes up and it becomes a big bitch-fight between Katman and the rest of kiwibiker. For christs sake, stay on topic and lets show Terbang some respect. If you have something positive to contribute then lets hear it. otherwise stfu. please and thankyou.

[Katman]

If you have something positive to contribute then lets hear it. otherwise stfu. please and thankyou.

Someone posts a thread saying 'fucking car driver - it's not my fault at all' and you all lap it up.

Wake the fuck up people.

Who gives a fuck about 'fault' when you're lying on your deathbed?

[Smifffy]

Do you want me to ride all your bikes for you?

Nawp, but either put up or shut up about being able to achieve a different outcome in the same circumstances.

[Katman]

Nawp, but either put up or shut up about being able to achieve a different outcome in the same circumstances.

That's the trouble - everyone wants the answers spelled out to them - no-ones's prepared to use their own brain.

[mattian]

Someone posts a thread saying 'fucking car driver - it's not my fault at all' and you all lap it up.

Wake the fuck up people.

Who gives a fuck about 'fault' when you're lying on your deathbed?

but I don't think Terbang is whinging about that. This is just what happened to him. Who was right or wrong in this situation IS irrelevant when you are lying on the deck with a mangled bike/arm. I am much more interested in a discussion about what, if anything, could have been done differently to prevent it. That has to be the point of such a thread..... am I wrong?

[Katman]

but I don't think Terbang is whinging about that. This is just what happened to him. Who was right or wrong in this situation IS irrelevant when you are lying on the deck with a mangled bike/arm. I am much more interested in a discussion about what, if anything, could have been done differently to prevent it. That has to be the point of such a thread..... am I wrong?

I don't see too many responses other than the standard "fucking cager" bullshit. Do you?

[onearmedbandit]

Firstly, gutted to hear about your off, hope you and your daughter heal up well.

Secondly Gibbo89, not all asians are poor drivers. People in general are bad drivers, regardless of nationality.

Thirdly, it is an interesting point that Katman raises. Is there anything, within reason, terbang that you think you could have done differently to change the outcome?

[beyond]

Can't believe that Terbang shares his story and bang, straight away Katman is in there inferring that it could have been avoided.

Facts: I've ridden with Terbang on heaps of occassions and he is one of the best riders I've had the pleasure of riding with. Also, he is very aware, is very careful and I know dam well extremely careful when he has his daughter on the back.

When some arsehole pulls left, does not indicate and swerves in front of you, tell me what the hell are you supposed to do? Give a little kick that takes you and your passenger into the air, you sprout wings and glide gently to the side of the road?

When Bruce says the driver swerves I believe him 100% because he knows his stuff period.

Accidents happen and when they do in this manner there is bugger all you can do about it. It's over in an instant.

Katman, either you have never been in a real accident or you're living with your head in the clouds. Give the man some credit that both he and his daughter are still alive, thank God.

[Katman]

I've ridden with Terbang on heaps of occassions

Why does that comment fail to inspire any confidence in me?

Accidents happen and when they do in this manner there is bugger all you can do about it. It's over in an instant.

U-turns are generally preceded by the wheels of the car turning to the right. Maybe there was a clue missed there.

[Al]

Good to hear you and your daughter are ok (ish)...
The problem is that many people DO veer left before turning right, we cannot predict weather the driver is pulling off the road or wanting to turn right because they do not use the vehicle's INDICATORS!
Fking arseholes!

***RANT OVER***

[terbang]

Yes the decision to overtake at that point was obviously the wrong one. I had followed the vehicle, changed my position by wandering left to right across her rear shining my light into the car avoiding the blind spots trying to make myself as obvious as possible in her mirrors. As we entered the straight area I moved into a position in preparation to overtake and mistakingly interpreted her shift to the left as recognition of my presence. I had the visibility, the road was clear so I indicated and commenced the overtake manouvre.
What she was really doing was trying find an address on the other side of the road, had her head down in a map and was reading gate numbers. When she spotted her destination, she was almost past it and aggressively swung to the right, totally oblivious of the two motorcycles that had followed her for the past 2K's. She achieved her goal, made the entrance but by then had a large imprint of my motorcycle on her front guard.
Unfortunately for me, I had positioned my self into the wrong place at the wrong time with another road user who had tunnel vision over finding an address and never kept a suitable lookout or offered any indication of her intention.
She has openly admittted to the police that she had no idea that I was there.

The reason I posted this here was to share the event with the intent that others might learn and I think that all comments are fair. Those that bag the driver are correct, she should have kept a more vigilant lookout, those that bag me are also correct as I misread her actions. Those that bag asian drivers also have point as we hear this story time and time again. Like all accidents, the cause is systemic or the result of an error chain.

[p.dath]

Whew! What a scary story. I'm glad your child is ok (and you too).

Having an accident is one thing, but having one with your child would be my worst nightmare.

I hope the recovery for both of you continues.

[Goblin]

So sorry to read this Bruce. I wish you and Georgie and her boyfriend all the very best for a speedy recovery.

[James Deuce]

Well, bugger.

Good luck with the recovery, make sure your ARC18s are lined up correctly and rest as much as you can.

Katman's right and terbang has expressed his support for the concept so let's try and learn instead of ignoring the message.

Terbang has a point about 'Asian" drivers that needs to be evaluated in light of it's cultural origins. Most SE Asian roads have a pecking order rather than road rules. Motorcycles are very much toward the bottom of that pecking order and are generally disregarded. It's the SE Asian motorcyclist's job to stay out of the way and avoid issues. Sure, that's not a legally supported position in NZ, but as we know most people learn to drive/ride with the intention of getting a licence and from then on only learn from financial or physical pain. Combine that with a culture where there's no incentive to not run motorcyclists over if they get in the way and you have a nasty accident on KB.

Simply put, take responsibility for putting yourself in the position of getting hurt, irrespective of fault or blame, and you'll have a much more successful motorcycling career. If you live to tell the tale.

Good luck with the recovery terbang and best wishes to your daughter as well.

[chasio]

Thanks, terbang, for sharing what happened although it sent shivers down my spine. I am still working my way up to putting my daughters (14 and 16) on the back and can't bring myself to do it for exactly this sort of reason. There but for the grace of ...

I have been running the scenario in my head and wondering what I might have done differently with the benefit of hindsight. I find it unlikely I would have come to a stop to wait and see, that's for sure. The only thing I wondered about is perhaps a bit of horn before passing (Stebel, FTW). If they manage to hear it above the "I want to go over there" routine running in their heads, maybe it could help.

The trouble is that people tend to take horn use as a "you twat" statement even if what is meant is "look out for me". Maybe there would be no time to do it; maybe they'd take it wrongly, get angry and take me out deliberately. Who knows?

Certainly if I find myself in a similar situation (with or without precious pillion) I'll be running this scenario in my mind and doing my best to avoid it, which is now more likely to include "wait and see".

I hope you all heal quickly, in all respects.

Chasio