I got stoned tonight

**Str8 Jacket** · 20th August 2008, 18:46

On my way home I got stuck behind one of those trucks carrying gravel/stones. All of a sudden I started getting stones flying at me, not heavily but steadily. I finally got passed him and all of a sudden the stones stopped flying at me so it mustve been what the truck was carrying?!

When I got home my bloody almost brand new helmet has chips all over it and a crack in the visor. Im a bit pissed off I am! I suppose that I should be happy that I didnt blow the bike up on the way home!!

Ranteth endeth.

**martybabe** · 20th August 2008, 19:13

Was following a double rig in the car last summer and got hit by what I thought was a stone, then another. I stopped the car double quick like, when I realised what was occurring and the good lady said, wtf ya doin?

I gestured in the direction of the truck, sure enough within 100m or so, one of it's tyres exploded hurling loads of big weighty rubber chunks behind it, any one of which would put a biker down.

Yip. as if we hadn't got enough to think about, add miscelenious truck missiles to the list of things trying to get ya.

Glad your ok str8.

**bully** · 20th August 2008, 19:30

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

On my way home I got stuck behind one of those trucks carrying gravel/stones. All of a sudden I started getting stones flying at me, not heavily but steadily. I finally got passed him and all of a sudden the stones stopped flying at me so it mustve been what the truck was carrying?!

When I got home my bloody almost brand new helmet has chips all over it and a crack in the visor. Im a bit pissed off I am! I suppose that I should be happy that I didnt blow the bike up on the way home!!

Ranteth endeth.

thats insercure load, they can be fined, next time get the company name, ask them to pay for damages, if not go to the police.

**quallman1234** · 20th August 2008, 19:43

What bike you riding?

**Subike** · 20th August 2008, 19:46

Its always been a good defence thing never to follow a cattle truck or dump truck over a railway crossing.
And yes, the trucking co can be done for insecure load if shigle is falling from the load. Yes they are liabile for damages.
Check your insureance, you will be covered for that helmet, I would replace it as the stones can cause fractures in the material.
Happy to know that you were not injured, it has happened that riders can be knocked off their rides from stones falling from trucks, a large stone under you front wheel, all over!
Pity you did not get the company name from the truck, as it would be worth calling them if you did.

**Str8 Jacket** · 20th August 2008, 19:46

Originally Posted by quallman1234

What bike you riding?

Malcolms VFR..... My RG is having a wee rest for awhile

**cs363** · 20th August 2008, 19:48

Originally Posted by bully

thats insercure load, they can be fined, next time get the company name, ask them to pay for damages, if not go to the police.

Correct - these two pieces of legislation apply:

* If a vehicle’s load is found to be insecure,it is not only the driver’s responsibility to ensure that the load is secure; the person who loaded the vehicle will also be liable and can be fined.
* If a vehicle’s load is found to be overloaded, it is not only the driver’s responsibility to ensure that the load is correct; the person who loaded or directed the load will also be liable and can be fined

(Land Transport Amendment Act 2005)

Personally I would report them to the Police AND go the company/driver/loader for damages as the rules on this are very clear and all transport operators should be well aware of them. (Preferably via your insurance company)

**Str8 Jacket** · 20th August 2008, 19:52

Yep, im a bit peeved that I didnt get the company name on the truck but I was just trying to get past it. I couldnt see the numberplate as I had backed away from the truck to try and avoid the stones and its number plate was covered in black diesel stains.

Can I claim insurance on my helmet if I wasnt riding my bike? Will I have to pay excess if I claim? I really dont think its worth it, just glad that I had my visor down!!

**Ocean1** · 20th August 2008, 19:53

Originally Posted by martybabe

Was following a double rig...

Me too.

Long loooong ago, following a dual-wheel rig, and missed what shoulda bin obvious. Funny flicker between the tyres... daydreamdaydreamdaydream... Wait, that... that there's a... A FUCKING BRICK PASSING MY RIGHT EAR.

I exagerate of course, was a half brick.

Still, I knew lumpy bits get stuck there and I knew they fling out when the truck speeds up. I was daydreaming, and it was fookin' near the last time.

And yes, if you get the details they're usually desperate to fix the problem, a collar-feeling for insecure load hurts way more.

**sels1** · 20th August 2008, 19:58

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

I suppose that I should be happy that I didnt blow the bike up on the way home!!

I think we should be running a sweepstake on that one.....

What they said about following trucks and claiming against them

**cs363** · 20th August 2008, 20:01

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Yep, im a bit peeved that I didnt get the company name on the truck but I was just trying to get passed. I couldnt see the numberplate as I had backed away from the truck to try and avoid the stones and its number plate was covered in black diesel stains.

Can I claim insurance on my helmet if I wasnt riding my bike? Will I have to pay excess if I claim? I really dont think its worth it, just glad that I had my visor down!!

'Some' household contents policies 'may' cover you for the helmet, best to check with the insurance company. Some bike policies cover accessories but I'd guess only for the actual bike insured.
Depending on the extent of the damage the helmet 'could' be deemed unsafe (would depend on depth of chips etc), if you did actually go down that route the normal process would be that you'd pay the excess and the insurance company would get it back from the third party (truck driver/company etc).
Shame you didn't get some info on the truck, cops could have done him for an obscured number plate probably too!

If its a place where you ride every day you may still be able to track that truck down as its probably doing contract work within that area, so may well travel that same bit of road regularly (for a while at least). probably showering untold people with stones on a daily basis!!

**cs363** · 20th August 2008, 20:05

Anyway, moving on - its probably a timely warning for everyone to watch your following distances -especially behind trucks.
Whether its gravel, bricks, exploding tyres, bits of animals or anything else trucks have a habit of throwing stuff out the back (must be all those wheels....lol) which are bloody annoying in a cage and potentially lethal on a bike.

**Str8 Jacket** · 20th August 2008, 20:08

Originally Posted by cs363

Anyway, moving on - its probably a timely warning for everyone to watch your following distances -especially behind trucks.
Whether its gravel, bricks, exploding tyres, bits of animals or anything else trucks have a habit of throwing stuff out the back (must be all those wheels....lol) which are bloody annoying in a cage and potentially lethal on a bike.

Yeah, for sure! That's the thing that worried me most as I have always made sure that I maintain a good following distance, sometimes alot more than the people I ride with, yet the stones were really pelting me at that distance! I hate to think of what wouldve happened if I was tailgaiting him!

**cs363** · 20th August 2008, 20:14

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Yeah, for sure! That's the thing that worried me most as I have always made sure that I maintain a good following distance, sometimes alot more than the people I ride with, yet the stones were really pelting me at that distance! I hate to think of what wouldve happened if I was tailgaiting him!

Well main thing is you are ok, just the helmet's not quite as shiny as it used to be...

Good to see someone who thinks for themselves when riding and doesn't get caught up in peer pressure.