U-turn cop to stand trial

[Katman]

Is that clear enough for an anti-biker such as yourself?

What part of "being able to stop within the distance visible to you" don't you understand?

[imdying]

Whilst being able to stop in the clear length of road ahead is both a legal requirement, and wise practcie (though lamentably often ignored - NZ worst motoring dereliction), there will always be situations where it is not possible.

Definitely, they have a justice system for sorting out sticky messes like this. Without the evidence, I'm not actually arguing that someone in particular was at fault, just that I can definitely see how it's potentially not all the cops fault, retarded move or not.

[Katman]

For instance you might be travelling along in your labne, nothing whatsoever in front of you. When without warning, an oncoming vehicle swerves out of HIS lane right in front of you at the last second. Stopping in such a case would be physically impossible.

And I'm sure you realise that is not the case in this particular incident.

[KiwiRat]

Can you honestly say that you take every blind corner at a speed which enables you to stop in the distance visible?

Every corner, every time?

Let's go on a ride together. You can lead.

Personally, I think you are full of it.

Didn't you use to be a hall monitor in school?

[Chrislost]

And it wouldn't surprise me if you actually believed what you've just written.

Because, of course, motorcyclists never lie to save their arses.

and cops never lie to cover theirs...
you DO know that some bikers actually follow every law to the letter 99.89% of the time dont you?

[Katman]

Can you honestly say that you take every blind corner at a speed which enables you to stop in the distance visible?

I can honestly say that every blind corner I take I am aware of the possibility that I may need to stop within the distance visible to me and therefore attempt to ride accordingly.

And if I should come to grief through my lack of riding to the conditions placed before me, you won't hear me bitching and moaning that it was totally someone else's fault.

[imdying]

Can you honestly say that you take every blind corner at a speed which enables you to stop in the distance visible?

Every corner, every time?

I know I don't... and I know that given the roads, the other people on them, and all the other hazards combined, I know it'll bite me in the arse one day, potentially taking my life.

Just because the actions I take are commonplace, that doesn't make them any less retarded.

Having said that, I do make a conscious effort to let the 'fast boys' go do there thing, dragging pegs around blind corners, whatever. Every group ride I go on, I see the same retarded stuff... Car drivers aren't killing bikers anything like bikers are killing themselves.

[Deano]

The requirement to be able to stop presumes that other traffic sticks to its own lane. If you are on the wrong side of the road (or sideways!) you are in the wrong.

Unless the vehicle cannot physically fit in their own lane ?

(Trucks on the Rimutaka Hill Road.)

[dipshit]

Let me spell it out to you.
Taking a corner at 95kph where there is no indication that it should be taken at a lower speed is not your fault.

Try reading your road code again...

"You can drive at any speed under or equal to the limit, provided:

• you can stop in the length of clear lane you can see in front of you on a road with a centre line or lanes."

I agree that maybe they could have been going slower, but really, would it have made a difference when someone unexpectantly swings out from the other side of the road? No, it wouldn't. Are you going to ride or drive around at 10KPH because someone possibly might swing out from the other side of the road? I doubt it.

If you commit yourself to a corner that doesn't have much visibility ahead, how quickly will you be able to stop when cranked all the way over onto the ragged edge? Even modern sports bikes will have a lot of trouble. An owner of a R6 was even commenting how the bike feels like it wants to stand up in a corner when only moderately braking. This is one area where cars, especially ones with ABS, have it all over bikes.

Anything could be around that next corner. A fallen branch, a cow, even a rock as some other R6 rider experienced recently.

If you leave no margin for era or the unexpected, then you are taking a role of the dice.

[avgas]

too many wrongs for there to be a right.
Yes the cop should get the book chucked at him. He could not handle his vehicle - those holdens not only have fantastic turning circles, but can rear wheel steel very well. Doing a 3 point turn is impractical on that road.
Yes the boys on bikes were doing wrong - but they are paying for that mistake right now. The cop is not yet.

[Mikkel]

Simply put, the driver (who happened to be a cop) made a stunningly bad call to do a three point turn on a road with limited visibility. (the question of "why" remains to be seen, but isnt really that relevant). Because he is a "professional driver" then his standard of accountability is, and should be, higher than that of an "average" driver: its the same principle as the standard applied to professional people (lawyers, accountants) dealing with their professional responsibilities: the standard is higher than for the ordinary punter.

And you're in this saying that the standard of the 'ordinary punter' is adequate?

Yes, eminently. Why the powers that be have deemed that 100kph is perfectly safe but 101kph is not.

Was there a sign or something saying that the SPEED LIMIT is 30 for this corner? It may seem lame to say 'well no one told me' but to be honest people rely on these 'speed limits' and 'recommended speeds' to gauge how fast they take a corner.

FFS guys what about engaging your brain while riding - look at the road and ride accordingly. Putting your life in hands of some 'professional' who has decided to put a sign that may be more or less appropriate for your riding is a pretty short-sighted approach to survival.

A few words to consider as well:
Black Ice
Snow
Grit
Wet leaves
...

If you don't leave room for the unexpected you're likely to end up in a world of hurt very very quickly.

Comments about "What if it were a tree, or a cat or a dog" or whatever are silly - if it were a tree, well that's just plain bad luck really, who can be blamed? No one, not the tree, it couldn't make a conscious decision to not fall on the road - unlike the cop that COULD make the decision to not make a dodgy U Turn.

You can not control anything except your own riding. Throwing caution to the wind and putting your money on Lady Luck is having inadequate regard for the safety of yourself and others - as well as the property of you and others.

I think everyone else has said what I was going to say in regards to punishment of this cop. It's pretty damn black and white to me.

Of course it's black and white to you - it's not exactly difficult to make everything simple by just forming an opinion and sticking to it. Now english is my second language - but I believe the word for this is bigotry.

Can you honestly say that you take every blind corner at a speed which enables you to stop in the distance visible?

Every corner, every time?

Can't speak for anyone else. Sure enough I am not that sensible all of the time - but I wouldn't go blaming anyone but myself if it landed me in the shit.

Guys, no one here are saying that what the cop did was right. All that is being said is that the blame is not his alone.

[_Shrek_]

I can honestly say that every blind corner I take I am aware of the possibility that I may need to stop within the distance visible to me and therefore attempt to ride accordingly.

And if I should come to grief through my lack of riding to the conditions placed before me, you won't hear me bitching and moaning that it was totally someone else's fault.

you're wrong Katman you can be mr super safe & still have some pull out at a stop, give way sign or x over into your lane etc... & have no say in the matter

[clint640]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the cop car was hit near the left hand front and rear wheel arches.

Having impacted my RZ350 into the left side of a Holden Gemini I can assure you that it is indeed possible for someone to pull out in front of an unsuspecting motorcyclist & be hit on the left side.

Here's one of the pics: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...&postcount=393

Other pic: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4309873a6510.html

Clint

[Headbanger]

This argument is now even sillier then last night.

Yep, You have to travel at speed that enables you to stop in the viewable distance.

yep, a dumb fucker doing a u-turn on a blind corner is performing an extremely stupid and dangerous maneuver.

The bikers are injured, Lay charges against the driver, who in this case is a cop.

What he done is as stupid as driving through a red light at a busy intersection, There is NO defence for it.

[unrealone]

For instance you might be travelling along in your labne, nothing whatsoever in front of you. When without warning, an oncoming vehicle swerves out of HIS lane right in front of you at the last second. Stopping in such a case would be physically impossible.

Thank you Ixion, this is exactly what I am trying to say.