Two bikes down near Akaroa 27/12 (fatality)

[Elysium]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situational_awareness

Some bikes also have a "flasher" button that makes the head light go to high beam when held down. Officaly its function is to make people in front aware you're passing. But unfortunately I find that drivers think I'm trying to get them to stop, or something wrong with their car or that I'm annoying them with my lights. So I just use the old simply rules of looking behind, indicate etc...

[T.W.R]

Sorry, but not the shot I saw on TV1 news - if they were taken on the Paekakariki Hill I'd be amazed as I didn't recognise the area. The shot I saw showed a large sweeping left-hand bend (just as they described where the guy overtook) with double yellow lines down the middle. You could see at least three bikes in the foreground so I am pretty sure it was the crash near Christchurch.

what I saw when it comes to footage of the accident scenes concerning yellow lines was a up hill piece of road, a piece of truck wheel guard and a red bike lying in the middle of the lane

The area where the prang happened on the Akers Highway runs across the mouth of one of the many wee valleys, isn't up hill or have bush converging down the roadside unless I've been missing something for the last 20+ yrs of riding through there

[MaxB]

Using the street view in Google maps gives a pretty good idea of what the road is like (SH75). Did not see any double yellows (?)

Been on that road many times in the past. What a tradegy.

[Beemer]

what I saw when it comes to footage of the accident scenes concerning yellow lines was a up hill piece of road, a piece of truck wheel guard and a red bike lying in the middle of the lane

The area where the prang happened on the Akers Highway runs across the mouth of one of the many wee valleys, isn't up hill or have bush converging down the roadside unless I've been missing something for the last 20+ yrs of riding through there

I just had a look at the TV3 clip that was shown on Sunday night and it shows the bikes spread over an area with no yellow lines - so I don't know what was shown on TV1 (can't find it online or on their website to check) as that did have bikes in the photo and there were yellow lines. Even without yellow lines, the overtaking manoeuvre was obviously not safe if it put others at risk and claimed innocent lives.

Here's another report of the accident, from the viewpoint of the innocent victim's family: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4804943a11.html

[quickbuck]

Some bikes also have a "flasher" button that makes the head light go to high beam when held down. Officaly its function is to make people in front aware you're passing. But unfortunately I find that drivers think I'm trying to get them to stop, or something wrong with their car or that I'm annoying them with my lights. So I just use the old simply rules of looking behind, indicate etc...

That would be "Almost All...."
In some countries the use of the "Flasher" Button is mandatory before passing the vehicle in front.
Unfortunately the hollier than thou attitude of NZ drivers means they take offence when this function of the vehicle is used.
Notice even cages have the same thing on the headlight stalk?

Not to worry though, as it is apparent not everybody checks their mirrors anyway.

[Ocean1]

That would be "Almost All...."
In some countries the use of the "Flasher" Button is mandatory before passing the vehicle in front.
Unfortunately the hollier than thou attitude of NZ drivers means they take offence when this function of the vehicle is used.
Notice even cages have the same thing on the headlight stalk?

Not to worry though, as it is apparent not everybody checks their mirrors anyway.

I believe the reason it's not commonly used as you describe here is that it's illegal to do so.

[Elysium]

I believe the reason it's not commonly used as you describe here is that it's illegal to do so.

What, really? Seems kinda stupid.

[FJRider]

I believe the reason it's not commonly used as you describe here is that it's illegal to do so.

So why is a vehicle manufactured with a device that is illegal to use...

[Ocean1]

So why is a vehicle manufactured with a device that is illegal to use...

Because they're not sold just here, dude. And there's other, valid purposes for which the function can be used.

[far queue]

So why is a vehicle manufactured with a device that is illegal to use...

You mean like the ability to exceed 100kph?

[FJRider]

You mean like the ability to exceed 100kph?

GOOD POINT... Perhaps speed limiters should be fitted to all bikes/cars...

[Armitage Shanks]

Mid 40's, Born again Rider ? ....Triumph retro machine ...is there a theme here ?

No more comments until I establish ... had the rider been drinking ?

I was in Akaroa that day and left earlier than the crash, only point I have is there were a couple or four Triumphs stopped and lounging in the good weather , most of them gave me a wave or a nod ....as Bikers do in Akaroa...

[Richi]

I think learning is the key here. If reading about this makes one person out there think twice before pulling out on a dodgy pass, then it's saved lives.



You've hit the nail on the head. I don't see why people here are too PC to just sit back and say, wait a minute, this should never have happened, there's absolutely no excuse for it and innocent lives were lost. All it takes is for us all to just breath a few more times before passing...

OK Im relatively new to riding. Today going around the roads near governers bay (near the accident) I was about to overtake a F***ing slow cage. At the last minute i sat back into my lane and decided to wait for a better place to take him. I had this incedint in my head at that particular time, funny thing is, a harley came around the corner in question up ahead almost the same time i pulled back in. We would have met wheel to wheel I reckon.

All im gettin at with this is, with all the different point of views nobody cares about whos fault it is/was. People need to learn about things like this. I never would have considered a bike coming around a corner ahead at speed, just a cage at normal cage speed, if not for this thread. I am still deeply saddened by bikers down, no matter where or why.

[Mom]

There is a road rule that says you must have 100m of clear space during an overtaking manouver. Oncoming traffic includes motorcycles, not just cars.

[Richi]

There is a road rule that says you must have 100m of clear space during an overtaking manouver. Oncoming traffic includes motorcycles, not just cars.

I guess this one is forgotten once the 35 Questionairre is done when ur 15 I usually dont overtake people when im in my car, but the bikes a wee bit different. U can get out an in so much quicker so it makes it "safer" to make a passing manover. maybe thats why they call bikers "maniacs" ? I have no concern about seeing motorcycles as traffic, its jst they come up on u quicker that cars. Gave me a wakeup today about passing as i said in the previous post