An interesting story...

[Dakara]

Just finished talking to a 'student' at the flying school where I work as she commented on my Dark Visor on the helmet.

Back in the UK, her husband was driving home at night, in the rain, in a residential area. The lights on his car were partially broken in the sense that only the 'paking lights' worked (i.e. very dim).

As he made a right turn of the main road, he failed to see a biker coming from the opposite direction. The biker clipped the car, went under and was unfortunately killed.... typical story of a cager failing to see a biker I'm thinking....

But...

The biker, was wearing a full face helmet with a dark tinted visor like mine (In the rain, in the dark) and had a few too many down at the pub.

The verdict was both were at fault, her husband loosing his license for 6 months and the biker paying the ultimate price.

Really got me thinking though.... how would that have gone in NZ? Not to mention, I've been caught out a few times lately where I've had to fly after dark and then ride home with my tinted visor.... only I flip it up!

[Nagash]

I've been caught out a few times coming back from a ride with my tinted visor at night, simple enough just to flip it up and deal with the bugs/wind/dust.

The rain however, at anything over 50-60K's probably reduces your visiability even more.. being unable to open your eyes and what not.


These days I just ride with a clear visor and sunnies, much easier.


---

Can't really comment on the situation given though, it has too many variables. Was the motorcyclist speeding? Was there a fair distance for the car driver to see the motorcyclist and vice versa had he not been speeding? Could the motorcyclist have had the reaction time to avoid the car had he not been drunk? Did the motorcyclist see the car at all?

Just an unfortunate situation where everyone involved should reconsider their ability to drive..

[Dave-]

what would happen?

same thing, cager would lose his lisence and the motorcyclist would die.

geographical position doesnt make you less likely to die.

unless it happened at the exact same time, if this is the case it would've been day (+12 hours) so the tinted visor would be acceptable, however the cager would've still clipped the motorcycle and he would have died anyway.

so nothing really.

[Dakara]

what would happen?

same thing, cager would lose his lisence and the motorcyclist would die.

geographical position doesnt make you less likely to die.

unless it happened at the exact same time, if this is the case it would've been day (+12 hours) so the tinted visor would be acceptable, however the cager would've still clipped the motorcycle and he would have died anyway.

so nothing really.

Yea outcome would of been the same. But in the back of my mind I can't help but wonder if they'd simply point the finger at the Alcohol and leave it at that.

As mentioned, far too many unknown variables. But it was quite interesting discussing it with from the "Wife of the cage drivers" perspective and mine as a biker.

[The Stranger:Me]

As he made a right turn of the main road, he failed to see a biker coming from the opposite direction. The biker clipped the car, went under and was unfortunately killed.... typical story of a cager failing to see a biker I'm thinking....

But...

The biker, was wearing a full face helmet with a dark tinted visor like mine (In the rain, in the dark) and had a few too many down at the pub.

You wear a dark visor you will get caught out sometime, but lets face it death is worth the price of looking cool, so it's far better than wearing sunglasses (which you can take off and put in a pocket) and a clear visor.
Give me cool or give me death!

Really got me thinking though.... how would that have gone in NZ?

Same deal, just as dead!
Who really cares about who gets charged, you'll be just as dead if they get charged or not.

Not to mention, I've been caught out a few times lately where I've had to fly after dark and then ride home with my tinted visor.... only I flip it up!

In the rain?

[Mully]

If i use a tinted visor, I keep a paid of safety goggles under the seat - if I get caught out, I flip the visor up and wear the safety goggles.