I think I'm very lucky, some police are great!!

[Babelfish]

I agree, but i didn't even know that the car was there.

You knew the lane was there, you couldnt see it, so you should assume something is in it, and it wants your ass

[scumdog]

You knew the lane was there, you couldnt see it, so you should assume something is in it, and it wants your ass

You think the way I do - I'm as paranoid about that kind of thing as much as the average KBer is about cops.

[Matt_TG]

Just as a heads up, Section 11 of the Insurance Law Reform Act 1977 deals with damage happening that is no fault of the claimant, regardless of whether there is an exclusion in place (like riding outside the terms of your licence).

A common example is an un-warranted vehicle / intoxicated driver behind rammed by behind whilst stopped at traffic lights. It doesn't matter that it shouldn't have been on the road in the first place, if it was through no fault of the driver of the damaged vehicle that they were hit there should be cover (that's not to say that Police can't prosecute for the infringement though).

This section also applies to the third party liability section of the policy (ie the insurer of the driver who hit you). Mention the above statute if the car driver's insurer gets tetchy.

Further info can be found here. Click on "I" then choose Insurance Law Reform Act 1977. Go to section 11.

In any case however, insurers will head to the Disputes Tribunal if they don't agree with you and it depends what sort of referee you get on the day...

[Babelfish]

You think the way I do - I'm as paranoid about that kind of thing as much as the average KBer is about cops.

Yeah mate, the day I spend too much time checking out the girl on the footpath is the day I'll end up on the tarmac...there's too wet marks on the inside of my visor where my eyeballs stick out to.

I use the bus lanes on domion road each morning and night and if i'm not 5 steps ahead of the dumbass's I share the road with I'll end up a hood ornament for sure. I'm usually pretty pumped by the time I get to work/home.

[Babelfish]

Oh, and good info Matt, that'll come in handy one day.

[mark247]

Thanks for that Matt_TG.

TempBJ, I agree that maybe if i had looked 10 seconds before i may of been able to see the car coming in ( depending on if it was right beside the van or not. ) I also agree that for a split moment i was turned around checking my tyre because i thought that a flat tyre was a bit more serious at that point in time, i wouldnt want to fall off on a round-about if i car was accelerating up behind me as well. Possibly if i hadn't had to look at my tyre i would of been able to see the car coming, but as i said, at that point in time, making sure my tyre wasn't flat was the most important thing to me. But then, saying that, their is the chance that i would of assumed the car was going to wait for me. But I cant say if i was going to have done that or not, because from what i had done and how the car was position behind the van when i did eventually pull out, i did not manage to see the vehicle. I have learnt to be a lot more weary at roundabouts now. I am not disagreeing with you in anyway by saying that i did everything perfectly. I am only human, and certainly not a perfect bike rider. I do certainly try to know where all the cars are around me though.

Thanks for everyone who is commenting, I'm learning a lot. It's good to hear other peoples opinions.

[Babelfish]

Yeah Mark, its amazing how that sort of even makes your learning curve turn exponential. I just didnt want this thread to be a whole bunch of "fark what a bitch" comments. When of the best things I like about riding is the constant learning and talking about other people experiences n stuff.

Just after I had my u-turn accident, I had exactly this interraction with a really experienced rider and it kicked off the attitude I have now in terms of uberdefensive riding...sure I go mad at times but its usually in open spaces and fairly calculated to make sure I say hi to the kids I said bye to.

Main thing mate is we're talking to you about it rather than talking about you.

Ok, I'll stop being trash heap-esq now....about the two female cops....(cue barry white music)

[Ixion]

I agree, but i didn't even know that the car was there.

Always best to assume that there IS another vehicle hidden there, in such circumstances.

A good idea on roundabouts, if someone pulls out in front of you. don't brake, just edge right and go right round the roundabout parallel to them , until they exit. Did that last night when a dopey woman shot straight onto the roundabout without slowing or looking - just leaned a bit more and did a full 360 loop of the roundabout.

[mark247]

Always best to assume that there IS another vehicle hidden there, in such circumstances.

A good idea on roundabouts, if someone pulls out in front of you. don't brake, just edge right and go right round the roundabout parallel to them , until they exit. Did that last night when a dopey woman shot straight onto the roundabout without slowing or looking - just leaned a bit more and did a full 360 loop of the roundabout.

Excellent idea. In the position i was in i was at the point of leaving the roundabout and was unable to do so. Had about 3meters to stop/turn with a bloody car infront of me. She came from the left lane so it was right at the exit of part of the roundabout, if you know what i mean.

[Babelfish]

Excellent idea. In the position i was in i was at the point of leaving the roundabout and was unable to do so. Had about 3meters to stop/turn with a bloody car infront of me. She came from the left lane so it was right at the exit of part of the roundabout, if you know what i mean.

Yeah, taking what Ixion said, it all about preemptive thought...give yourself a jedi mind trick before enterring roundabout: "a car will come out from behind that van, and I when it does I will turn away from it rather than twack it"...and wave hand accordingly. THEY ARE GOING TO JUMP OUT FROM EVERY ORIFICE THE ROAD CAN PROVIDE, never think otherwise or suffer the consequences (and since I've now interracted with you I hope you dont).

The big point here: whatever she did does not matter. It what you didnt do that bent your bike.

Thats not an attack on you, its an attack on your subconscious and hopefully a realignment off process. (look into my eyes, not aorund the eyes, not above the eyes, not below the eyes, look directly into my eyes...and.......yer under...)

[mark247]

haha full on

[okeh]

Mark, I have a x-ray vision setup here, it clips on over your visor and is made of a microwave and 3 blenders. PM me for details.