
Originally Posted by
Ixion
Given the recent propensity for police officers to cause crashes, no few of them injuring motorcyclists in the process, one could suggest that the youth and inexperience (not to mention immaturity ?) of the average police officer does not match the size and power of their police cars?
I'd be inclined to agree with you there. I don't know the age you can become a cop (no interest in the job myself) but if it's say 18, then someone could be a very inexperienced driver if they joined not long after gaining their full licence. They are then put into situations where they could be involved in a chase situation or just getting to an incident in a hurry and those cop cars are not Morrie Minors! I remember on the Targa rally a few years ago when a cop overshot a corner when acting as a zero car (I think) and went into a ditch. Not to mention the cop who was seriously injured while doing a training run on a bike out the back of Wairarapa. He was going too fast for the conditions and crashed, causing injuries that ended his police career before it started.
I think this needs further investigation for riders and drivers. If someone is returning to motorcycling after an absence of more than five years, perhaps some form of graduated licence system is warranted. Or, even better, how about people learn what their limits are and ride within them until their skills match their bike's capabilities?
Yes, I am pedantic about spelling and grammar so get used to it!
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