My accident

[eldog]

its good that your OK

I learnt a long time ago as a front seat passenger all about blind spots in a car caused by pillars.

Two vehicles travelling either together or at right angles, one vehicle 'disappeared' from the drivers view - I know because I saw the driver check TWICE before turning, then I looked myself out of natural reaction.

It was a revelation to me about what blind spots are caused by pillars. It was a perfect accident waiting to happen, both vehicles just at the right speed so the pillar covered the oncoming cars position.

I always check over my right shoulder when I change lanes and I move my head forward to check if any cars etc 'hiding' in the pillars to the left or right. when I am in the cage.


Saw part of a 'traffic' show about the intersection - Waiuku/Kingseat road, seemed obvious to me the accident there was caused by the 'pillar effect' although this wasn't even a suggestion.


So when I ride I try and maintain what I think is a good position for the driver to see me.

From your observations it appears that you had already noticed what the driver was doing which is great.


It sounds like you have a healthy attitude to your accident which is awesome (it can eat you up and demoralise you - I Know)

now go out and get a new bike.

[Erelyes]

I wondered how long it would be before someone started stroking their cock.

I was paging you, not stroking you.

[caseye]

You can't entirely eliminate the risk of something like this happening again, so:

1: Ride as defensively, and with as much situational awareness as possible. Do training. Practice emergency braking and maneouvering.
2: ATGATT, for the chance that 1 lets you down.
3: Full insurance, for when 1 has let you down and 2 has hopefully protected your body.

1 is about preventing an incident wherever possible, 2 is about minimising risk to your person, and 3 is about mitigating the damage.

All good points. Only thing I'd change is the one about "riding defensively"
Don't!.
Always ride Offensively, be in their face, make sure they see you. Ride where they can't help but see you, weave across your lane if you're not sure they have. Watch em all for the little signs.
Even when they have seen you, they will still try to turn before you, it's the old, I'm bigger than them thing.
The little signs. Indicators, never trust em but if they've bothered to use em at least they're trying. Road position.
Head position Where are they looking.How they drive,confident, looking, not confident, hands clutching wheel, looking straight ahead.
Naturally you have to do this for every vehicle in your vision and yes this includes behind you, they sneak up and run you over and Yep, they'll still say I didn't see him/her.So Make sure your'e brake lights work, make sure you! are turning the way you indicate, look in your mirrors.
Add it all up and 90% of your job is done and you will get home OK.
Forget one, don't keep looking at their front wheels when they're doing dumb shit and it's you in the hospital.
Being right on a bike is not important.
Still being on the bike and unhurt IS!
Glad you're OK op.
Sometimes even doing everything, it still happens unless you fail to learn from your mistakes, you will be an even safer rider from now on I'm sure.

[eldog]

All good points. Only thing I'd change is the one about "riding defensively"
Don't!.
Always ride Offensively, be in their face, make sure they see you. Ride where they can't help but see you, weave across your lane if you're not sure they have. Watch em all for the little signs.
Even when they have seen you, they will still try to turn before you, it's the old, I'm bigger than them thing.
The little signs. Indicators, never trust em but if they've bothered to use em at least they're trying. Road position.
Head position Where are they looking.How they drive,confident, looking, not confident, hands clutching wheel, looking straight ahead.
Naturally you have to do this for every vehicle in your vision and yes this includes behind you, they sneak up and run you over and Yep, they'll still say I didn't see him/her.So Make sure your'e brake lights work, make sure you! are turning the way you indicate, look in your mirrors.
Add it all up and 90% of your job is done and you will get home OK.
Forget one, don't keep looking at their front wheels when they're doing dumb shit and it's you in the hospital.
Being right on a bike is not important.
Still being on the bike and unhurt IS!
Glad you're OK op.
Sometimes even doing everything, it still happens unless you fail to learn from your mistakes, you will be an even safer rider from now on I'm sure.

+1 on this

too often I am the nice guy on the bike, but you do need to in some circumstances take the bull by the horn and be on the offensive
weaving, being annoying with you lights and exhaust can save you grief (I am a believer in loud but not too loud pipes)

[Ixion]

One thing not mentioned which might have helped, is to melodiously tootle your tootler at any sign of oddness.

I make much use of my tootler, a brief tootle at any oddness, just to say "You do know I'm here don't you ?". And an eardrum bleeding blast (my tootler is non standard) to say " WTF. Get the fuck off NOW " if anyone starts taking liberties.

I get the odd spot of abuse , but I figure they have to see me to abuse me so it's all good.

And, although it is non PC , loud pipes save dings, if not lives. If you had been riding a Crack of Doom Harley, the taxi driver would have been aware that there was something making that racket off to the right.

But, in the end, sometimes ShitJustHappens and you can't avoid it.

[samgab]

...If you had been riding a Crack of Doom Harley, the taxi driver would have been aware that there was something making that racket off to the right...

As long as he could hear it over his playlist:

[mattian]

I wondered how long it would be before someone started stroking their cock.

My only contribution is that if the cab was prepared to chuck a turn in front of you there was probably nothing much coming the other way.

The erratic move to the left would have me moving as far out the the right of the lane as safety allowed.

Yep. I always try to position myself in the right hand wheel track of the car in front, How he didnt see me behind him is a mystery to me. Unless he thought I was much further back when he checked his mirrors (amost certanly the case)

I probably couldve given it just a little squirt as well just to get past him quicker. As it happens I just mantained my normal speed.
but yeah. cheers for that.

[mattian]

Sorry to see about your accident. I've nothing to add regarding constructive criticism etc, it appears to have all been covered.

What's the story on your next motorcycle though?

Insurance came through.... many weeks later ! topped it up a little and got myself a 2015 GSR750.
just breaking in the new engine. Still geting used to it bu wow what a lovely bike to ride.

[eldog]

Yep. I always try to position myself in the right hand wheel track of the car in front, How he didnt see me behind him is a mystery to me. Unless he thought I was much further back when he checked his mirrors (amost certanly the case)

I probably couldve given it just a little squirt as well just to get past him quicker. As it happens I just mantained my normal speed.
but yeah. cheers for that.

Dude, don't ASSUME what ANY driver will do as you do. MOST don't check their mirrors let alone over the shoulder......

there and ASS in front of U and ME.

you only have to watch how MOST drivers merge onto the Mway - they don't even move their heads, they have the special ability, If I cant see them They wont hit me as I merge.

I need to go back to Bangkok to see how the Tuktuk drivers merge - its so smooth - a little toot here a little toot there, everywhere a toot toot. LOL
(there ain't no U turns there) - felt quite safe after 5 minutes apart from the diversions through about 500 clothes shops - it was run by the fuzz.

(Mainlanders needn't worry they don't have a Mway only one way bridges where the biggest vehicles have ROW)

[Gadget1]

Insurance came through.... many weeks later ! topped it up a little and got myself a 2015 GSR750.
just breaking in the new engine. Still geting used to it bu wow what a lovely bike to ride.

Good one!

I went for a ride to Wellsford yesterday, no pics to prove it but a trio of riders I saw had cameras, maybe they're members.

Plenty of other motorbikes around, I wouldn't be surprised if you were one of them. A great day.

[Gremlin]

As said, it's hard to say without being there (or a video). You mention a respectable following distance, but that's really no clear data. I've seen plenty of motorcycles following far too close and they think it's fine.

The only reason I mention this is that it might have increased your reaction time, put you in a different position to the taxi etc. Ultimately, the taxi drivers are mostly a menace (I ride around the CBD often enough). Double parking, parking in non-taxi bays to have a chat, paying no attention to the road and only fares etc. Yeah, stay well clear and like any road user, assume nothing except that anything can happen.

After all, they won't see you if they're not looking... Which is highly probable.

[FJRider]

...this would not happen back in Bradford...

He is in Auckland ... it does happen there ... apparently ...

I avoid the place myself ... and have had no such issues ...

The OP should have had the assumption that all the drivers ... of all vehicles witthin 50 meters of him ... will attempt to kill him.

He then might have then looked a little harder ... and taken steps to avoid him ... a little earlier.


The "It wont happen to ME" syndrome is still alive and well ... apparently ...

[swbarnett]

I wondered how long it would be before someone started stroking their cock.

My only contribution is that if the cab was prepared to chuck a turn in front of you there was probably nothing much coming the other way.

The erratic move to the left would have me moving as far out the the right of the lane as safety allowed.

I would do this but also go one step further. I've been in this exact situation before and was nearly stationary before the car pulled right which allowed me to stop in plenty of time. Either that or zoom past before they have a chance to be a problem (depends on how close you are at the time).

I never trust anyone that veers left without making a proper turn. At times like this paranoia is your friend.

[Kickaha]

loud pipes save dings

The don't save fuck all, in most vehicles I've driven with the windows up and radio barely audlible you don't even hear them coming

[swbarnett]

in most vehicles I've driven with the windows up and radio barely audlible you don't even hear them coming

While on the face of it I think you're right, there was marked increase in vehicles moving over for me while lane-splitting after I had my Yoshi put on. Can't think what else could've made the difference.