Waterslides aren't fun.

**Sable** · 19th May 2010, 22:48

I was heading home from work, going up Kent Terrace towards the basin, there's a layby for cars to wait before pulling out to continue round. Saw a white sedan coming at speed towards the stop sign, prepared to slow down in case he kept going, he started to slow down so that's okay, kept going. He came to nearly a stop, looked my way, then peeled on the gas right in front of me and shot out so he obviously saw me. If I hadn't locked both my wheels and gone for a slide he would have had a big dent in his door and I would have been in A&E. Lots of bystanders came running to see if I was okay but noone got the asshole's plate. Not even the pigs 5 cars back. Don't say anything about closing speeds because I was definitely doing the limit. I'm fine because the road was wet, went for a slide. Just some gravel rash. Bike's fucked. The thing that bothers me is that it very much looks like he did it on purpose. Why in fuck's name would you do that?

**zahria** · 19th May 2010, 22:51

Glad your ok. Unable to think why anyone would do that.

**onearmedbandit** · 19th May 2010, 23:13

It's called hesitation, and it's one of the biggest killers on the road I believe. The driver thinks there is an opportunity, they then either make a move and stop or don't move at all, but regardless they second guess themselves, only then deciding to go for it, wasting precious seconds from their first observation. I treat every driver at an intersection like they will act like that.

**firefighter** · 19th May 2010, 23:15

Seems to be a Wellington thing. Has been a couple of threads lately about this and welly drivers......(Guy who punched someone on the Rimutakas?, then the car swerving at someone several times trying to shove them into the barrier)

**ktm** · 19th May 2010, 23:22

onearmedbandit's answer makes sense, see it all the time. (indecision) Usually either immigrants or silly women. Did I say that out loud?

**Lurch** · 20th May 2010, 06:54

Wellington drivers are fucking dangerous at the moment, people are half asleep and the conditions are frequently bad. The fact that we're nearly averaging two accidents per day on SH1 and 2 at the moment is a sign to either be super vigilant or just leave the bike at home (for commuting) until people settle into winter driving.

**JimO** · 20th May 2010, 07:00

Originally Posted by Sable

Not even the pigs 5 cars back.

pigs?? there were pigs in a car

**Trudes** · 20th May 2010, 07:04

There are definitely some dozey half-asleep dimwits out on the roads at the moment. Give everyone a wide berth.

**p.dath** · 20th May 2010, 07:08

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

It's called hesitation, and it's one of the biggest killers on the road I believe. The driver thinks there is an opportunity, they then either make a move and stop or don't move at all, but regardless they second guess themselves, only then deciding to go for it, wasting precious seconds from their first observation. I treat every driver at an intersection like they will act like that.

+1. Often the simplest explanation is the right one, and this sounds very plausible.

Think of it this way Sable. Hopefully your bike was insured, so now you have an opportunity to get a new bike!

**Urano** · 20th May 2010, 07:20

i agree.
can't believe he did it on purpose.
probably, simply, thought "i can do it" and waited a second too much...
what he surely did on purpose is to run away after you were on the ground.

i'm developing a new model of mine that explodes when a car doesn't stop after putting a biker on the gravel... Interested?

you're fine, and that's the main concern.

**Urano** · 20th May 2010, 07:20

double post...

**CookMySock** · 20th May 2010, 09:15

He will be thinking "I can just get through there", so he tried it.

You will be thinking "Fuck, I'm going to hit him" so you panic brake in the wet and low-side it.

Possibly, one or both of you is right, or wrong.

What do you think with the advantage of hindsight?

Steve

**Sable** · 20th May 2010, 14:18

Considering I missed the back of his car by about a metre. Even if I hadn't locked the wheels I would have ended up in the gutter, there was that little room. Changing lanes wouldn't have worked either because he crossed all three of them after he pulled out.