ANOTHER police car does a u-turn in front of a biker = crash

[SPman]

Ultimately, every motorcycling accident is the rider's fault. He chose to get on a bike.

So, therefore - every car accident is the drivers fault - he chose to get in the car.

Where does that leave car/bike accidents?

.....parents fault for having kids who got onto/into vehicles and having accidents........

.......governments fault for letting people breed?..........

personally, I blame the Queen!

[madandy]

I imagine the Police will review thier U-Turn policy when one of thier own is cleaned up by a truck they turn in front of!

[Skyryder]

Do you realise how stupid that statement sounds? (The bit in bold).

No I don't. You tell me.

Skyryder

[98tls]

With better handling and observational skills, many offs could be avoided, but never all of them. And motorcycling does carry an inherently higher risk factor, no matter what you may say.

Says it all really.

[rocketman1]

Its a fact of life that doing a U turn anywhere in a car , van, motorcycle, is a dodgy business, there are too many accidents caused by people doing U turns, the Police obviously do many U turns in a days work, so they should be more careful and aware of the potential dangers, it should be part of their training.
My personal opinion is that you should not rely on your mirrors to do a U turn safely, you must pull over stop, start to turn a little, indicate, so your car is just turned enough to take a look back through your drivers window & STOP and physically look behind yourself, and then in once to the front, then look back again and turn.
On main highways I prefer to stop just past a driveway or the like, well off the road and reverse into the driveway, so I have a clear veiw each way.
I have almost been taken out by a police car turning whilst driving my car, the officer who was doing the U turn, near Tekauwhata just stopped in time or else my "big" car and me would have gone straight through his drivers door at about 100kph. If the officer is reading this he will know the incident.
I have also had an old lady in Morris Minor, do a u turn in front of me my trail motorbike once, I was both wheels locked up going sideways, but managed to hold it upright, and just miss her, it was a frightening experience.
Its a problem that is not going to go away, as Biker I was advised that you should watch the front wheels of the car that is parked beside the highway, its the first sign its going to turn in front of you.
Hope not,
A bloody loud motorbike may also help you be made aware of.

My thoughts are with this poor guy on his BMW, I hope he recovers well and this doesn't stop him riding.

The police obviously need to do some serious training of their officers in this respect. ie DONT trust your mirrors

[Skyryder]

a key skill in interpersonal communications is seeing through the exact words and picking up the intent or meaning behind them. Often harder when using text. How does this sound:

"So too is the assumption that bikers can avoid [all] crashes."

if you still think its a stupid comment, lets hire taupo track - you on a bike me in a car.....first one to do 10 laps wins....

Ursaka has read my statement correctly. Bikers can not avoid 'all' crashes. Whilst non of us are perfect riders, most experiance riders know how to read traffic.........and the key word is traffic. We see a car doing something out of the ordinary perhaps they look confused and slow down unneccesarily who knows but if we are reading traffic we see something that may pose a risk we take the appropiate action slow down, change line, look for an escape rout etc. It is the unexpected where there is no warning whatsoever that catches us out and then it can be only luck that can save us.

If there is a way to predetermine driver stupidity, I along with the biker community would like to know how.

Skyryder

[shafty]

All BS aside, does anyone know who the Rider is, what he was riding and most importantly, HOW HE"S DOIN?

[90s]

Just to clarify he was doing 142 not 110.

I was making a generalised point about cost-benefit.

In another incident the speed of the motorbike being chased was only 110kph (alleged), but again it does not matter. To cause grave risk by throwing the road rules and safe driving out of the window needs some mother of a reason to justify it.

And from my experience of the police driving system (slim, admittedly) there is never an excuse to throw them out.

[hedgier1]

And the cops wonder why we run away from them..........
We are scared that they will do a u turn in front of us........
Farqn PIGS........

[cowboyz]

devils advocate in all, but I wonder if the modern sportsbike coupled with the brave/stupid doing runners has got it in the police head that they have to get in front of a speeder to have a chance therefore U turn in front to slow them down???

[ManDownUnder]

Call this morning from a friend (a very reliable/trusted source).

He saw the whole thing happen and comented it's pretty hard to lay the blame but if forced to do so he'd actually side with the cop.

I don't know enough of the details to be involved in a discussion and I don't see how the cop could be taken off the hook personally, but I hugely respect the opinion given to me and told me it was an easily avoided situation had the motocyclist chosen to do so...

[Usarka]

..told me it was an easily avoided situation had the motocyclist chosen to do so...

Does this person ride bikes?

The reason i ask is some car drivers expect bikes to be able to handle like a car or even better because they take up less room..... not always the case breaking hard around a corner.

[ManDownUnder]

Does this person ride bikes?

The reason i ask is some car drivers expect bikes to be able to handle like a car or even better because they take up less room..... not always the case breaking hard around a corner.

Doesn't ride them but has 20+ years experience as a pillion (one of the better pillions I've had too). He has a very good idea of what bikes are capable of...

[Tank]

And the cops wonder why we run away from them..........
We are scared that they will do a u turn in front of us........
Farqn PIGS........

Now there is a sensible and well reasoned reply that adds to the thread.

[Toaster]

I expect there should be consequences for poor performance, in any profession.

Perhaps it's a training issue ?

Damn right there is. If a cop is found in the wrong then they are charged just like anyone else.