Biker down. Yep I just got bowled...

[MarkH]

and I still don't think I did anything wrong

From what I understand of the incident from what has been posted here I don't think you did anything wrong either. But what I wonder is whether you learned anything and whether you would do anything differently in the future if presented with the same situation.

[Patrick]

Leave him alone, you big bully. There were no other children around and he drew the short straw for who was going to scare the girls...

It is what it is... stop PC ing it... It's just plain wrong...

[MSTRS:Me]

Cruel, dude. Just cruel. The evening was cold...

[Phreak]

So it seems I STILL need to point out a few of the facts of my accident, because people think they are God and that they know better than those that were actually there (ie. Me, the two witnesses, etc etc...)

1. I did NOT accelerate to go around the car, I maintained my rate of speed (around 40 to 45 km/h), resulting in the (attempted) overtaking maneuver, as the car was still accelerating from a stopped position at the intersection.

2. The car pulled out of the side-road only a matter of 10 to 15 metres in front of me (as both witnesses attested) to which I would have only had (at most) one second to react to, and completely failed to indicate right into the adjacent driveway on the right hand side of the road.

3. As there was no oncoming traffic, with white centre road-marking lines, I was well within my rights to overtake the car, who was moving slower than I, and creating a hazard to me by pulling out in front of me.

4. The car driver finally admitted he did NOT perform an adequate 'look' up the road (in my direction), only a mere glance, and did not see me so close.


HOWEVER, if the exact same thing happened to me again, would I do the same thing, and attempt to overtake the car...? No, methinks not. For what it's worth (and I bet more than a few of you will say 'I told you so!' to this) I am upgrading my brakes to ensure I can at least reduce my speed (if not stop completely) if someone decides to pull out in-front of me again. Of course, if you've been reading this thread from the very start, you'd know that I am in the precess of upgrading a lot of my bike's features, to ensure it is completely safe for the road again. I still don't think I did anything wrong (apart from being in the wrong place at the wrong time!) but, when I do get back on the roads again I will take what I've learnt from this experience and be a better rider for it. Like they say, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!

And once again, thanks to those of who have been supportive of me for the past month or so!

[Phreak]

Oh yeah, the whole 'polishing my helmet' thing - I was cleaning the bugs off my new Shark RSi, you filthy buggers... Gees!

[MarkH]

HOWEVER, if the exact same thing happened to me again, would I do the same thing, and attempt to overtake the car...? No, methinks not. For what it's worth (and I bet more than a few of you will say 'I told you so!' to this) I am upgrading my brakes to ensure I can at least reduce my speed (if not stop completely) if someone decides to pull out in-front of me again.

No 'I told you so' from me, I think your actions were reasonable and that you shouldn't have to anticipate the driver doing something stupid & illegal. Unfortunately experience often teaches us that we need to do things that we shouldn't need to.

The important thing is that you are OK and therefore have had the opportunity to learn from this experience. I wish you many more decades of happy motorcycling.

[Katman]

I wish you many more decades of happy motorcycling.

I think he's more interested in another twenty posts to his thread - thanks all the same.

[Phreak]

I think he's more interested in another twenty posts to his thread - thanks all the same.

Lol just for you, Katman, just for you...

[Kickaha]

3. I was well within my rights to overtake the car, who was moving slower than I, and creating a hazard to me by pulling out in front of me.

So does being in the right make it hurt any less?

[terbang]

Why? Were you pissed off that he pulled out in front of you?

Here we go, more self serving grandstanding.

[Katman]

Here we go, more self serving grandstanding.

You're welcome Bruce.

I'm here to ask the tough questions.

[MarkH]

So does being in the right make it hurt any less?

To be honest - for me it would. I get really annoyed with myself when I make a mistake, unfortunately being human I can't stop it happening now & then - but I always try. If I was injured by the stupid actions of another motorist that would be bad enough, but if it was due to my own mistake that would add another level of pain to me.

TBH
I think some of you guys are misunderstanding Phreak.
I suspect that "I was well within my rights to overtake the car" does not mean "I am happy with the outcome, I would do the same thing again but next time I'd speed up and really ram that cunt, if possible flying through the window and head-butting the fucker!"

Most of us would prefer to be in the right, but prefer even more to avoid the accident in the first place. I think that we have all take evasive action to avoid accidents even though the other person is in the wrong (failing to give way or whatever) because we value our lives/health/vehicle. Being in an accident hurts and causes great inconvenience, being in the wrong adds insurance costs and possibly fines/demerits as well. I guess being wrong just adds insult to injury, pretty much literally.

I think that the other driver was at fault, showing no consideration for other road users, caring only about what he wanted to do and causing an accident. Phreak didn't just ride into the back of the other vehicle, he took evasive action to avoid the accident - that was a sensible thing to do and we could have congratulated him on his actions had the other driver not committed his second offence and turned without indicating causing the accident that Phreak was half way through avoiding. From Phreak's account I can imagine no way that the other driver legally turned right to cause the accident, if he had indicated for at least 3 seconds before turning then Phreak would have been long gone.
Sometimes you just need to work extra hard to avoid the accident that another road user seems determined to have.

[Katman]

Here's my take on the accident. (Yes, I know I wasn't there but trust me, I'm psychic).

Car turns left in front of Phreak. Close but not that close judging by Phreak's use of the words "pretty much right in front of me". (He also thought he'd passed the pedestrian crossing but couldn't be sure - go back and look at the street view to see how far back the crossing is from the corner).

At 40-45kph I believe there would have been plenty of room to slow and remain behind the car but unfortunately Phreaks 'fuck you cager' manoeuvre coincided with the driver thinking "Opps, that was a bit close, I'll get my right hand turn done as soon as possible so that motorcyclist isn't held up behind me".

Two wrongs that made a wrong.

[Edbear]

Here's my take on the accident. (Yes, I know I wasn't there but trust me, I'm psychic).

Car turns left in front of Phreak. Close but not that close judging by Phreak's use of the words "pretty much right in front of me". (He also thought he'd passed the pedestrian crossing but couldn't be sure - go back and look at the street view to see how far back the crossing is from the corner).

At 40-45kph I believe there would have been plenty of room to slow and remain behind the car but unfortunately Phreaks 'fuck you cager' manoeuvre coincided with the driver thinking "Opps, that was a bit close, I'll get my right hand turn done as soon as possible so that motorcyclist isn't held up behind me".

Two wrongs that made a wrong.

Sums you up nicely doesn't it. Do make sure to share your lottery wins around eh?

[swbarnett]

Close but not that close judging by Phreak's use of the words "pretty much right in front of me".

Did you read this?

2. The car pulled out of the side-road only a matter of 10 to 15 metres in front of me (as both witnesses attested)

From what I can see the only mistake phreak made was maintaining speed. I can't say for certain (no, I wasn't there either and, unlike you, I'm not psychic) but it appears to me that if Phreak had twisted the wrist in a big way he may well have been past the car before they turned right (I've done this myself once or twice).