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Thread: It Won't Happen To Me, I don't need to change.

  1. #1
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    It Won't Happen To Me, I don't need to change.

    Sickening.

    Certainly I make no reference to those have departed in the recent days and distant past. I post this in the (potentially vain) hope that it might open some eyes.

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    As a society we live with the belief that "it won't happen to me."

    Often this belief is reinforced by the lack of adverse outcome, which teaches us, subconsciously, that whatever we have done is safe.

    For example, I'm driving home from work, my phone sitting face up on the passengers seat. The phone rings, I look down, and there on the screen of the phone is a picture of my wife peering back at me. It's my wife calling. Several things go through my mind; if I answer that, I might get a ticket, I might kill someone (the ads say so), I might run over a child. All adverse outcomes. Then I realise that not answering a call from my wife carries a greater adverse outcome, so answer, quickly dispose of the call, and put the phone back down. Result? No adverse outcome. I've subconsciously reinforced the belief that what I did is safe.

    The next time the phone rings, It's just that little bit easier to answer, based on my previous experience. After 400 calls, I'll be snap chatting, instagramming, facebooking, updating my work calendar.........you get the idea.

    Same with other, motorcycle related behaviours. Those who don't wear gloves, and haven't for years, won't, because it's not going to happen to them. They are a good rider, riding for 30 years, never had a crash (that they will admit to), it won't happen to them. They don't need safety gear, it's not going to happen to them. No, this is not a rant about safety gear, this was just an example of historically reinforced risk behaviour.

    But each day in NZ it happens to someone. I've attended thousands of crashes over the years, and if I had asked each driver involved if they knew their crash was going to happen, of course they would have said no. Because of they knew it was going to happen, they would have prevented it.

    We don't know when it's going to happen to us, because if we knew that, we'd prevent it. We just don't think it'll happen to us.

    We see no reason to maintain good following distances, as we've been following too close behind our riding mates for years, with no adverse outcome. Nobody can tell us to maintain a legal or better following distance. We've been lane splitting for years, legally or illegally, with no adverse outcome. Nobody can tell us it's a marginal idea. We change lanes without head checking, because we've been doing it for years and never had a problem, where's the need to change that little number?

    How about we front foot stuff, and consider that however unlikely, no matter how flash a rider we are, it just might happen to us. Imagine that. We have the chance to change our outcomes. Wow, revelation.

    Just a wee bit of a rant, as I've heard so much about how everything is someone else's fault. Police's fault, gubbermits fault, foreign tourists fault, white-van-man's fault. It seems everything is someone else's fault. The discussion about fault means nothing to your broken arm, broken leg or ruptured spleen. Fault means little when you are the victim of someone else's mistake, let alone your own.

    And I repeat, I make no judgement regarding the crashes in the article. Poor beggars. But I bet they didn't think it was going to happen to them.

  2. #2
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    But it wont happen to me.
    Quote Originally Posted by Katman View Post
    but once again you proved me wrong.
    Quote Originally Posted by cassina View Post
    I was hit by one such driver while remaining in the view of their mirror.

  3. #3
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    it can happen to anyone, just enjoy the ride, that's life

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scubbo View Post
    it can happen to anyone, just enjoy the ride, that's life
    Just enjoy the ride.

    And don't worry about the things that you can do to prevent your enjoyment being curtailed, as it won't happen to you.

  5. #5
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    28th January 2015 - 16:17
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    I've had enough near misses over the years to know that sooner or later something's going to happen. Ride sanely, watch those following distances, keep the bike in good nick, wear the ATGATT, do the training. Ride rested, sober and calm. Be in the situation, whatever it is. It all helps. It doesn't reduce the risks to zero.

    Your point about following your mate too closely rings true Rastus - that's one I've got to work on.

  6. #6
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    I am surprised there have not been more serious accidents on group rides. That false sense of security all goes to pot, when one less skilled rider pulls on the brake a little too hard. I try and avoid those and only go out with riders I know well.

    I must say that I am a strong subconscious advocate of ATGATT. I didn't know I was until a couple of years ago, on a very hot summer's afternoon, when I thought I would pop down to the village to get some groceries. Just 5Km down SH16 in T-Shirt, Shorts, & Jandals. You know, just like in the 1970s & 80s!.It just felt so wrong and like everyone one was looking over and judging me. Particularly other riders. I didn't do it again.

    It seems that many of us have been conditioned by society to change our values, like many of us have with smoking in public.

    Very sad to read about such unnecessary loss of young lives. Very tough for family & friends to live with for the rest of their own lives.
    “PHEW.....JUST MADE IT............................. UP"

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by rastuscat View Post
    Just enjoy the ride.

    And don't worry about the things that you can do to prevent your enjoyment being curtailed, as it won't happen to you.
    this is true, but even when you do everything "EVERYTHING" right, something bad can still happen which you have no chance of avoiding ---- my point is at some point, you have to just accept the risk of life and enjoy living rather than worrying about dying

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scubbo View Post
    this is true, but even when you do everything "EVERYTHING" right, something bad can still happen which you have no chance of avoiding ---- my point is at some point, you have to just accept the risk of life and enjoy living rather than worrying about dying
    Plus 2000.

  9. #9
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    I won't/can't happen to me


    ... at the moment; my bikes in pieces
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  10. #10
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    If you're worried about what might happen you'll never get out of bed ..
    "So if you meet me, have some sympathy, have some courtesy, have some taste ..."

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Banditbandit View Post
    If you're worried about what might happen you'll never get out of bed...
    Is it about being "worried about what might happen" or is it "being aware of the risks and mitigating them as best you can"?

  12. #12
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    Read the same article on Stuff yesterday, very sobering.

    My personal level of self confidence means I don’t feel comfortable on the bike without gearing up, but what I wear is dictated more by the practicalities of cost vs convenience than outright safety (pants are usually overpants I can take off easily and store, boots are often workboots so i can walk around easily, armour is whatever comes in the jacket etc.)

    I’d really like to rock one of these one day http://www.aerostich.com/suits/one-p...iece-suit.html and it would ‘suit’ me down to the ground, but the cost/hassle of buying overseas and importing one is so far too much of a disincentive.

    Which I guess means I’m mostly operating on the theory it won’t happen to me either, price shouldn’t be a factor.
    Moe: Well, I'm better than dirt. Well, most kinds of dirt. I mean not that fancy store bought dirt. That stuffs loaded with nutrients. I...I can't compete with that stuff.
    - The Simpsons

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scubbo View Post
    this is true, but even when you do everything "EVERYTHING" right, something bad can still happen which you have no chance of avoiding ---- my point is at some point, you have to just accept the risk of life and enjoy living rather than worrying about dying

    This is true, but this is about risk mitigation. I used to be involved in a sport that is considered high risk - whitewater kayaking. Its a lot like motorbike riding in a lot of ways and attracts similar sorts of people. After a few near misses and cockups I did some training/rescue courses and so forth. After the training/courses becoming available - there was nothing when we started except "Yeah, so this is your boat and paddle, there's the river, go for your life". Anyway, my point is that you wouldn't be involved in it at all if you didnt have some appetite for and enjoyment of risk - this is a pastime that by definition attracts a personality type who embrace and enjoy that risk. What "sensible" people do, on the water or on the road, is mitigate that risk as much as they can, while accepting that some risk remains. And sometime that will kill you or someone you know or someone who is really, really good at what they do. As an example, Louise Jull, who was a top (world class) paddler who died on her local last year.

    So what we're talking about is HOW that risk is mitigated - sure you can bleat on about ATGATT but the fact is that shit is only good AFTER shit has gone down. and it wouldnt matter how good your gear is in most impacts over about 50kph. I wouldnt be without it (though I do ride in jeans a lot) but the biggest risk mitigation factors are attitude and awareness. In fact one of my resolutions this year has been to do some more advanced training, and to stop riding a "sporty" bike on the road. YMMV of course.
    I thought elections were decided by angry posts on social media. - F5 Dave

  14. #14
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    You are assuming people think it wont happen to me... but many people ACCEPT that yes it could happen under the guise of living a workable life.

    Under OSH in New Zealand its called a "managed risk", you know something is dangerous but you take steps to mitigate the risks. I raised a certain issue at last forklift course that a certain activity is said to be not allowed by standard code of practice but its subsequently ok when done as a managed risk.

    Eg the person taking the call from the wife might briefly reduce their speed, pay more attention their driving instead of thinking whats for dinner etc... during the brief call time. Whats made cellphone use while driving now is having to hide the phone and fumble about lest someone *555 you a wreck your licence. I cant see why its anymore damngerous than operating any of the other controls in the car or talking with passengers etc.
    But I don't do it as I need my licence for work.

    It would be interesting to see real accurate data on crashes where following distance was the primary cause. I've been hit three times from behind in, motorbike, truck and car. In none of those crashes was following distance an issue, it was failing to pay attention.

    What we should really be upset about is the extreme poor standard of driver training, aging vehicle fleet with worn suspension and shitty cheap plastic tyres...

    In an ideal world we should complete a written precheck (so we don't miss anything) of our vehicle and riding gear, consult the metservice website, consult the transit website for road info, file a flight plan style report of our intended route and email it to all other road users like a workplace site safety alert.... That's the standard for moving vehicles in a large workplace/worksite, if we want to really talk safety why don't we do the same for citizens daily vehicle use???? Because of the impact it would have on living, so we manage that risk with a lesser standard so society doesn't grind to a halt.
    In the end road safety is a game cause that's the way the government (the people you voted for) set it up. You can do dumb wrong stuff multiple times with small penalties till we consider maybe not letting you drive, even then you can play the next level and ignore those rules too... So don't hate on the players, hate the game, the rigged game...

    But hey this is a society where its deemed proper to chase a dangerous nutbar (probably on P) at high speeds through suburban areas in a shitbox car with crappy worn tyres rather than just put a bullet through the windscreen to start with.... all comes back to managed risks I guess....
    Govt gives you nothing because it creates nothing - Javier Milei

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Banditbandit View Post




    If you're worried about what might happen you'll never get out of bed ..
    I understand to some extent but can't help to think such IDGAF attitude won't save you/ prevent from "what might happen" either.


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