We are the prey of the "I did not see you" and this will never change

[MIXONE]

What are you, a cop?

No a specialist in forcibly removing wing mirrors...

[Kermit250]

No a specialist in forcibly removing wing mirrors...

LOL, love it. Good man!

[Tigadee]

FYI yesterday in the Garden City two people cut me off, where I had to brake to avoid a collision. Those two people are now $150 poorer.

150 poorer is still better than a 'devastating' 4,500 fine for offing you, aye?

[Conquiztador]

Assuming the rider is cautious and safety-aware, is there a higher safety factor for upright riders as opposed to lower-seated (cruisers) or bent-over (sports) riders? i.e. those sitting more upright and higher can view the traffic ahead better and pinpoint potential dangers.

Would a high-vis vest in this case have helped? Or was the Moto Guzzi a low bike, or too small to be easily visible or too fast?

I was trying when I did read this. I really did. But sadly I must admit that you failed.

Try this:


Assuming the driver is cautious and safety-aware, is there a higher safety factor for small car drivers as opposed to SUV's (tanks) or expensive cars with all the safety giszmos (executive) drivers? i.e. those having cars with less protection and a higher risk of self being injured in the traffic making them more interested in the traffic ahead and pinpointing potential dangers.

Would a flashing light on the roof once he pushed the accelerator in this case have helped? Or was his car one with poor view from inside, or was his brain too small to be easily usable or did he come too fast?

[Conquiztador]

Roads are dangerous places. Shit happens. Without all the facts a circumstances perhaps labelling a crash manslaughter is too harsh. Some times with the best of intentions/actions shit is unavoidable, though others have well documented contrary opinions on this which would land part of the blame on the rider and are are in some aspects correct, just too inflexible for my taste.

And while I am on a roll:

Roads are dangerous places. Shit happens. Without all the facts and circumstances perhaps labelling a manslaughter a crash is not hard enough. Some times with the best of intentions/actions shit is avoidable, though others have well documented contrary opinions on this which would take any part of the blame from the rider and are are in some aspects correct, just too pc and easy way out for my taste.

[gatch]

If his view was obstructed by another vehicle, that means the driver must have been uncertain as to whether to proceed or not. If you are uncertain about the safety of a situation, do you just bumble on into it ? Evidently, yes, just put your head down and forget reason.

Some irony. I am meant to be a professional fixer of things. If I "don't see something wrong" when I'm doing a crane service or repair job. And this unseen thing breaks down, causing a tonne of steel to drop on someone and it kills them. I am in serious shit. I may never work in the engineering field again. My company is in serious financial shit. I would probably go to prison. I'd have to come up with some serious answers to a lot of angry people. There would be reviews of work practices, site procedures, safety laws, compliance standards etc. It would have THUNDERING repercussions. It's not just a "oh that's life" situation.

But when some shit like this happens on the road (regardless if it's a dead biker or car driver or cyclist), it's just another road incident. "Oh sorry I didn't see him". His word against the dead guys. FUCK ! BULLSHIT YOU CUNT, you didn't look, you were thinking about getting home 4 minutes later than normal, about how the wife was going to be pissed again cause your dinner got cold. Or why he didn't have enough time to walk the dog. AHHHHHHHHHHH

Ok, sorry about the rant. I know I am preaching to the choir.

It's just so maddening when you are out on the road and you are following peoples eyes to see if they look or not (usually not), then inevitably pull out into your space, then give you shit for being there. Every single time that happens, it could have been your life. And it happens so often. SO often.

I didn't see him.

RIP biker dude.

[Tigadee]

Assuming the driver is cautious and safety-aware, is there a higher safety factor for small car drivers as opposed to SUV's (tanks) or expensive cars with all the safety giszmos (executive) drivers? i.e. those having cars with less protection and a higher risk of self being injured in the traffic making them more interested in the traffic ahead and pinpointing potential dangers.

I think the car equivalent of my question is more accurately the opposite of what you stated: Upright rider = SUV with a higher view of the environment/road situation.

Would a flashing light on the roof once he pushed the accelerator in this case have helped? Or was his car one with poor view from inside, or was his brain too small to be easily usable or did he come too fast?

Again, my version is more like: Would a yellow/neon victim's SUV or 4x4 be more visible than a Ferrari? Was the victim's vehicle a low car that it was obstructed by another vehicle in front of it from the view of the errant driver? Or was the victim's car a small one that it was obstructed by another vehicle in front of it? (I am unfamiliar with moto Guzzis so I don't know if the rider's bike is a tall or low one...)

Granted, we all don't want to drive only yellow Ferraris or SUVs, but in our case as motorbikers, I just want to know if the high-vis vest really, really helps (is noticed and would have a made a difference in this situation)... I see so many bikers just wearing their black jackets and pants, sans high-vis vest, so does that mean it's ineffective and that's why so many don't bother?

[nudemetalz]

What annoys me is how the pr1ck is more concerned with keeping his 3 positions in council than the rider's life.
"Flaunty has been a businessman and pharmacist for 40 years"
What relevance does that have?
All of a sudden we're supposed to respect him?

RIP fellow Guzzi dude.

[Gremlin]

Having a sizeable cruiser with three headlights plus running lights certainly minimized the chance of being missed,

I thought that would be the case with my BMW, 2 spots on low plus bright main beam and the bike is massive... Turning right through a traffic light controlled intersection a car turning left into the same street from a Give Way simply failed to Give Way. They stopped, looked for oncoming vehicles (I was half way through the intersection - middle of the day, sunny btw) then pulled out as I was almost on top of them. Hauled the bike up (ABS and linked brakes are useful) then sat on my horn.

Some people really shouldn't be allowed on the roads was all I could conclude.

[Katman]

Hence why I think it wrong to "blame the biker".

You're still too hung up on this word 'blame'.

The need for all of us to accept 'responsibility' for our well being doesn't mean we necessarily have to accept 'blame'.

[oneofsix]

You're still too hung up on this word 'blame'.

The need for all of us to accept 'responsibility' for our well being doesn't mean we necessarily have to accept 'blame'.

not the word, it's the attitude when you expect the biker to take "responsibly" for others mistakes you are effectively blaming them.

BTW Happy Birthday (wrong thread but what heck)

[Katman]

not the word, it's the attitude when you expect the biker to take "responsibly" for others mistakes you are effectively blaming them.

I'm not expecting motorcyclists to take 'responsibility' for others mistakes.

But if there's the slightest chance of them having failed to notice something that could have resulted in an accident avoided, then they certainly need to take responsibility for that.

[Katman]

Only when "Fuck it, I should have noticed........." replaces "Waahhh, they didn't see me" as our focus on motorcycle accidents, will we see any real improvement in our stats.

[pritch]

II just want to know if the high-vis vest really, really helps (is noticed and would have a made a difference in this situation)... I see so many bikers just wearing their black jackets and pants, sans high-vis vest, so does that mean it's ineffective and that's why so many don't bother?

There has been research into this and I would expect a Google search could find some of it it. On the other hand there are also previous threads here on the topic.

Wear your hi-viz if you think it'll help, but it wouldn't pay to rely on it.

[RDJ]

You're still too hung up on this word 'blame'.

The need for all of us to accept 'responsibility' for our well being doesn't mean we necessarily have to accept 'blame'.

The need for all of us to share the road with other 'users' doesn't necessarily mean we are 'responsible' when they 'are not'.