Another fatality

[hayd3n]

I was wondering if anybody would mention this .... I have been caught out, and ... to date ... got away with it.

Due to no skill on my part.

Pure luck.

I do hope my luck .... continues ...

2nd that i was lucky that being the 2nd rider
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-tim...-hurt-in-crash

[Berries]

It clearly states in the roade code that on the open road, pull over to the left before making a RH turn (drive way, side road). I've done many open road miles by car, bike and truck and see it every week. Funnily enough the cops don't seem to police it, motorists don't know about it, LTSA don't give a shit, maybe this issue doesn't pull the heart strings like the speeding/drink driving/seatbelt billboards do.

The Road Code has no legal standing. The actual Rule says you must move as far as practicable to the right before turning, but you may move to the left and not be in breach of the Rule if you can prove you did it for safety reasons. Which is why you don't see it policed.

[Conquiztador]

Although this is tragic and the tractor driver made a mistake, in the end if you can't see your stopping distance ahead then you take your life in your own hands. I know I do frequently but I would hate to think that the other driver would spend the rest of his/her life feeling guilty for something I could have avoided.

What does stopping distance have to do with anything if a tractor suddenly turns in front of you?

But this is KB after all and everyone knows more than the police that are investigating.

Please keep your opinions to your self in respect of the rider and his family.

[Katman]

What does stopping distance have to do with anything if a tractor suddenly turns in front of you?

They were both going in the same direction.

[Conquiztador]

They were both going in the same direction.

"Police say it appeared the tractor, also heading towards Waitara, was attempting to make a right hand turn into a driveway on the opposite side of the road across double yellow lines"

[Katman]

"Police say it appeared the tractor, also heading towards Waitara, was attempting to make a right hand turn into a driveway on the opposite side of the road across double yellow lines"

Looking on that googlemaps link there's a long straight leading up to the blind crest.

I'd be surprised if the motorcyclist didn't at least see the tractor going over the brow in the distance.

[Conquiztador]

Looking on that googlemaps link there's a long straight leading up to the blind crest.

I'd be surprised if the motorcyclist didn't at least see the tractor going over the brow in the distance.

Please Katman. We can speculate all we want. That changes nothing. I know you are on a crusade to blame bikers for everything that happens to us. But we do not know the facts. A man is dead. Try to show a little respect.

[Katman]

Please Katman. We can speculate all we want. That changes nothing. I know you are on a crusade to blame bikers for everything that happens to us. But we do not know the facts. A man is dead. Try to show a little respect.

This isn't an RIP thread.

We're discussing an accident - to see what can be learned from it.

[miloking]

Why would anyone just rely on luck?

Because thats what life is all about...fucking luck and nothing else.

Accidents will always happen whether you like it or not... and you can choose to be wraped in 2 tons of steel and increase the odds of survival or just sit on 170kg thing with two wheels, if its the later you are likely to get hurt.

lets just ban all motorcycles, Nick Smith and Katman will be happy....

[Katman]

Because thats what life is all about...fucking luck and nothing else.

Good luck with that.

[miloking]

Good luck with that.

Worked for me just fine so far...iam alive, young, healthy, have a friends/family and good job...so just an average joe like most of us... BUT all is just luck and can disappear in a instant so i make most of it while i can.

And things like this accident remind me of all the above and make me gratetful my luck hasnt run out just yet...

[willytheekid]

yeeeiissh!...of all the spikey,hard metal things to hit! ...damn that tractor looks scary.

R.I.P ride in paradise, thoughts go out to his family and friends (especialy his mate who was behind him....and had to tell his missus the bad news )

[Patrick]

I note the press article says the bike "slammed" into the tractor...no emotive language there, eh...

It is what it is.....

In addition to the double yellow lines the tractor would have been about to cross two lanes of opposing traffic (passing lane on "Big Jim's" hill) and just beyond a blind brow that prevented the motorcyclist from seeing the tractor until (obviously) too late.

It will be interesting to see if the tractor driver gets a death by careless use charge put on him ' cause it sure as hell appears that he should

NO, he shouldn't..... not that blind a brow of a hill, on a bike, looking at the big arsed tractor....

""Mr Prendergast said police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the bike before the crash.""

why????

From some witness comments already, moments before....

Looking on that googlemaps link there's a long straight leading up to the blind crest.

I'd be surprised if the motorcyclist didn't at least see the tractor going over the brow in the distance.

Tractor was a big fecker, there to be seen. Went to go around it over the yellows, then realised it was turning...

[Patrick]

yeeeiissh!...of all the spikey,hard metal things to hit! ...damn that tractor looks scary.

R.I.P ride in paradise, thoughts go out to his family and friends (especialy his mate who was behind him....and had to tell his missus the bad news )

Scary it was!

Sad, for sure... avoidable?

[Lurch]

What does stopping distance have to do with anything if a tractor suddenly turns in front of you?

But this is KB after all and everyone knows more than the police that are investigating.

Please keep your opinions to your self in respect of the rider and his family.

I said this because both the article, the police statement and the photos tell us that the rider impacted with the rear of the tractor whilst travelling in the same general direction toward Waitara.