Bikers collide with Police car in Buller Gorge (1 December)

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Sorry to say but it goes nowhere

If they get enough bloody complaints it does go somewhere... The thing with Kiwis is we don't complain enough we are too laid back

[Mikkel]

It's a very sad thing!
I'm sure, as someone has pointed out elsewhere, that the cop driving the car is in a shitty place as well.

If they get enough bloody complaints it does go somewhere... The thing with Kiwis is we don't complain enough we are too laid back

You'd hope so.

I very much doubt that most cops are going to bother indicating if they're doing a U-turn to pursue a speeding vehicle.
You have to indicate right for 3 seconds and make sure the way is clear if you're doing a U-turn. Can't remember if you're required to stop and pull over to the left before making the U-turn though.

[jimbo600]

You should be reporting these incidents... goes too show that its just not a one off thing that has happened, and there has been many near misses...

As for the dirty number plate and double yellow... againg report it and dispute it, point out it was a near miss and you could have been killed for a messily fine...

Didn't to the first, and in hindsight should have, and in the second example I'm pretty sure he did report it, but was worried about being targeted.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Didn't to the first, and in hindsight should have, and in the second example I'm pretty sure he did report it, but was worried about being targeted.

With this latest incident you should re-report... what is it going to take... an injury, a death or how many deaths will it take two, three, yours...

Now I have nothing against cops doing a chase to a certain degree chases can be done safely by the cop, the person running is the one not being safe then... but when it doings others in danger... I think that goes a little far don't you... Generally speaking the Police and HP are doing a tough job, and in my point of view do ok, but they should be just as accountable for there actions on the roads as much as well are...

"To serve and protect..." hmmmm

[Patrick]

Shit driving deserves reporting, doesn't matter if it is a boy racer or a marked patrol car.... I guarantee you something is done about it!!!! Seen colleagues get tickets for failing to indicate at roundabouts, not stopping at stop signs, careless use for U turns in front of following traffic, just to name a few.... locally, and in Auckland in this new age of Policing. It happens!

[puddytat]

Thanks for the post. It clears a lot up but I'm a bit confused. Nothing new there. Was it north or south of the swing bridge? Either way it is pretty tight round there.

When the riders come right they will be able to tell their side of the story. Hope they will make a full recovery.

It was south of the Swingbridge,bout 1-2 ks past the old Newton Livery...

[Katman]

So Patrick, was the end result worth the attempted pursuit?

If you're answer is "no", if the cop had managed to catch the speeding motorcyclist but left two wrecked bikes and bodies in his wake would it then have been worthwhile?

[HenryDorsetCase]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4310163a11.html

note that the bikes hit the passenger side of the cop car, which implies they were FOLLOWING the lead bike.

Anyone who has driven through there will know why it isnt a good road to be doing a U turn on.

Nice bikes too

I hope the riders recover. Look at the dent in the tank on the Duc. If that guys child fathering days werent over before this, I suspect they are now.

[Ixion]

This has a piccy from another angle.

No way a Commodore would make a U turn on that road, he was doing a three pointer. Which fits with him being square on across the road with his front in the far side verge.

And the site looks to be mid way through an S bend!

Also note the small amount of damage to the car. Either they're making Commodores out of damn strong steel, or those bikes weren't going that fast (which would fit with the road). The report also says there is no reason to suppose the two that hit were connected with the first one.

[Swoop]

Also note the small amount of damage to the car. Either they're making Commodores out of damn strong steel, or those bikes weren't going that fast (which would fit with the road).

Or both! Commodes have decent panel steel compared with jappa imports.
Perhaps the bikers were riding to the conditions? One wouldn't expect to find a cop car blocking the road in a tight section of turns.
I wonder who paid for the mag wheels on the car?

[Goblin]

You should be reporting these incidents... goes too show that its just not a one off thing that has happened, and there has been many near misses...

Nearly happened to a mate of mine too. Cop was parked up on the opposite side, standing outside his car pointing at me. I only just caught him out the corner of my eye cos of sunstrike. I immediately indicated to pull over. I couldnt stop right there as the road was narrow and drivers going in the same direction would have sun in their eyes too, so I pulled into the rest area about 50 meters away. Meanwhile the cop jumped into his car and U-turned right in front of my mate who was following me. He had to brake hard to avoid T-boning him. The cops left side front fender was covered in grass and dirt, he'd plowed up the grass verge in his panicked CHASE! I was told I was doing 90 in a 70 zone and because my speedo cable was broken I had to take his word for it. I asked to see his gadget to prove my speed and it said 90kph so I asked how can I be sure that was my speed and not the last person he pinged. He says "Oh you can trust me!"
A couple of days later we did a speedo test with both bikes and I was doing 5k in fourth gear which is 80km/h. I knew it was a 70 zone so was just bumbling along slowly. If I was speeding I wouldn't have bloody well stopped!

[avgas]

in my mind there are too many things wrong here to point finger. basically everyone sounds like they fucked up here. the cop, the riders.....everyone.

[riffer]

Until the truth comes out you're all speculating.

I would suggest it would be best to wait until this happens. There's definitely a story behind this one.

[spudchucka]

No way a Commodore would make a U turn on that road, he was doing a three pointer.

Perhaps they need to reinstate the hand-brakie as a legitimate 180 degree turn option?

[scumdog]

Can't remember if you're required to stop and pull over to the left before making the U-turn though.

If you drive a new model Commode you do - they have the crappiest turning circle of any rear-wheel drive I've driven yet barring my '66 Thunderbird.

And they have massive blind-spots due to air-bags in the front pillars and the shape of the rear ones.

And stability/traction control makes doing a 'fancy' U-turn tough going.

So all-in-all I don't like doing U-turns on anything other than SH1 unless I can find a side-road or gate-way etc.