U-turn cop to stand trial

[dipshit]

Comments about "What if it were a tree, or a cat or a dog" or whatever are silly - if it were a tree, well that's just plain bad luck really, who can be blamed? No one, not the tree, it couldn't make a conscious decision to not fall on the road.

Why are you forgetting the motorcyclist?? He is the one that road his bike into the stationary object.

[KiwiRat]

I can honestly say that every blind corner I take I am aware of the possibility that I may need to stop within the distance visible to me and therefore attempt to ride accordingly.

And if I should come to grief through my lack of riding to the conditions placed before me, you won't hear me bitching and moaning that it was totally someone else's fault.

Point well taken.

[unrealone]

FFS guys what about engaging your brain while riding - look at the road and ride accordingly. Putting your life in hands of some 'professional' who has decided to put a sign that may be more or less appropriate for your riding is a pretty short-sighted approach to survival.

Note I also said people use them to GAUGE appropriate speed. 'Rely' may not have been the best choice of words. Apologies, I sure don't Rely on them myself however it does help in choosing an approach to the corner.

[Headbanger]

Posted speed on corners helps me, Add an extra 25km/h to her and its just about spot on.

[imdying]

What he done is as stupid as driving through a red light at a busy intersection, There is NO defence for it.

If you want to be that cut and dry about it... what the bikers did is as stupid as driving through a red light at a busy intersection with their eyes closed... no defence for that either.

[Swoop]

If this accident happened where i think it did, the speed that would "allow them to stop in the visible distance" would be about 30kph. Seriously.

Simply put, the driver (who happened to be a cop) made a stunningly bad call to do a three point turn on a road with limited visibility.

Nicely put.

Wondering about this last night and I came to the conclusion that possibly the best way to have prevented this accident would have been for the bikes to have radar detectors.

[unrealone]

What part of "being able to stop within the distance visible to you" don't you understand?

I kindly refer you to Ixions post.

[imdying]

I kindly refer you to Ixions post.

Which would be wonderful, if that's what happened, but it didn't...

[Mikkel]

Note I also said people use them to GAUGE appropriate speed. 'Rely' may not have been the best choice of words. Apologies, I sure don't Rely on them myself however it does help in choosing an approach to the corner.

No apologies needed

I was just pointing out that this:

Add an extra 25km/h to her and its just about spot on.

Is a pretty damn quick way to get into trouble...

The recommended cornering speeds are most often very conservative and you can double the indicated speed, add 50, 40, 30, whatever km/h.

The thing is though, the signs are not consistent. E.g. they are much more conservative on the Campervan trails than they are on less travelled backroads.

However, if you use the signs just to get an idea about the lay of the land ahead of you and then ride to the vanishing point you have much better probability of avoiding undue harm.

[unrealone]

Giving evidence in Nelson District Court yesterday motorcyclist Brent Russell said that the vehicle appeared suddenly across the road, leaving him only a few seconds to work out how to survive.

That would seem to me like that is what happened...

[Mikkel]

Giving evidence in Nelson District Court yesterday motorcyclist Brent Russell said that the vehicle appeared suddenly across the road, leaving him only a few seconds to work out how to survive.

Appeared at the vanishing point as he was coming around the corner - or appeared coming into his field of vision from the side?

[unrealone]

Appeared at the vanishing point as he was coming around the corner - or appeared coming into his field of vision from the side?

Hard to tell, I guess. Only they will know.

[unrealone]

Try reading your road code again...

"You can drive at any speed under or equal to the limit, provided:

• you can stop in the length of clear lane you can see in front of you on a road with a centre line or lanes."

I know this and I was not disputing that. I am talking about the signs being helpful in helping you decide on an appropriate speed for the corner.

[clint640]

Hard to tell, I guess. Only they will know.

Exactly. That's why it's a bit harsh having a bunch of internet experts convicting the riders of going too fast when there's a good chance that they were quite able to stop in the length of lane visible to them, but that lane suddenly got filled by a cop car.

Clint

[Mikkel]

Exactly. That's why it's a bit harsh having a bunch of internet experts convicting the riders of going too fast when there's a good chance that they were quite able to stop in the length of lane visible to them, but that lane suddenly got filled by a cop car.

Clint

And vice versa for that matter...