Moron Motorists #3

[fat and old]

But the logic being applied is flawed and the message being sent to drivers regarding road safety still is one about numbers rather than SAFE ATTITUDES. If I slow down below the speed limit due to the presence of cyclists or pedestrians Australian motorists are very inclined to honk their horns.

Nah, not really flawed. Numbers are where the message starts. Keeps it simple. In the 60's it was .05. Nearly 50 years later it's a safe attitude. Change is generational.

[GeoffInBrisbane]

That's a classic example of a MM just having no understanding of how to safely pass a cyclist!

Very little traffic on that road by the look of it, and a few seconds earlier or a few seconds later he could have passed as easily as you like. But then he seems to sit behind you just waiting to overtake at the *only* time when it's absolutely not safe to do so.

Driver needs educating. Has been reported. Will see if the Tamborine police are any more inclined to do something than Ferny Grove police were...

[jasonc]

That's a classic example of a MM just having no understanding of how to safely pass a cyclist!

Very little traffic on that road by the look of it, and a few seconds earlier or a few seconds later he could have passed as easily as you like. But then he seems to sit behind you just waiting to overtake at the *only* time when it's absolutely not safe to do so.

Driver needs educating. Has been reported. Will see if the Tamborine police are any more inclined to do something than Ferny Grove police were...

have dealt with the nerang police station. definitely not interested in keeping the roads safe

[BJL]

I am not arguing that lower speeds aren't aren't safer. But the logic being applied is flawed and the message being sent to drivers regarding road safety still is one about numbers rather than SAFE ATTITUDES. If I slow down below the speed limit due to the presence of cyclists or pedestrians Australian motorists are very inclined to honk their horns.

I agree but when we're in a country full of people who treat driving the same way as watching TV, what can you do?
And then there's those who complain about cyclists on shared paths riding too fast and being a danger to pedestrians, and then hop in their smoke box and think nothing of passing cyclists on the road within a foot or 2 at 100kph. But then it's the old "cyclists don't obey road rules", or the classic "They put themselves in danger by being on the roads".

How do you instil safe attitudes in hypocrites like this, especially when it the vast majority? They think that being safe is a right that only they are entitled to and to hell with everyone else.

[human909]

How do you instil safe attitudes in hypocrites like this, especially when it the vast majority?

We've done it plenty of times before on numerous issues.

[Mulger bill]

How do you instil safe attitudes in hypocrites like this, especially when it the vast majority?

We've done it plenty of times before on numerous issues.

Only where the political will exists (is there any votes in this or will it NOT cost votes?)
Saving riders lives has no perceived tangible benefit to most pollies...

[caneye]

this happend on a busy stretch of North Rocks Road that i often try to avoid during my commute (the irony). but today, i was rushing to get the kids from school and it was the fastest route. i was literally just 100m from the school.

when i saw the car sped across the road, initial thoughts were that she would easily clear the road (why else would you make the effort for?). i tooted her with the Air Zound but she didn't move. Jammed the brakes but too late. i hit her Forester on the side.

i went over the bar and hit my face against her car (face pushed skywards, i remember vividly the strain on my neck upon impact). fortunately, it wasn't a high speed impact. but impact against a stationary object is still a painful impact!
so far ..
- no fractures, no lacerations
- broke 2 front tooth (preferable to broken nose or split lip???)
- big contusion on my elbow (presumably landed on my elbow)
- stiff neck and wrist
- big/deep gash on my shin (should've gotten a Doc to stitch this up but i didn't want to bring the kids to the clinic unnecessarily)

i was wearing my fluoro yellow commuter helmet. yellow winter jacket. flashing light in the front and she said she didn't see me. i don't really know what else i could've done to make myself more visible. it was sunny, dry and she had the sun on her back (i.e. no glare)

so, so lucky i had my Virb switched on. i don't always use it and even when i do, it's not switched on the whole time (especially on a 4-hr ride).

the lady behind the Forester was very helpful. she saw the whole incident and offered to be my witness.

my bike is ok. no damage. front wheel is also fine.

[InTheWoods]

this happend on a busy stretch of North Rocks Road that i often try to avoid during my commute (the irony). but today, i was rushing to get the kids from school and it was the fastest route. i was literally just 100m from the school.

when i saw the car sped across the road, initial thoughts were that she would easily clear the road (why else would you make the effort for?). i tooted her with the Air Zound but she didn't move. Jammed the brakes but too late. i hit her Forester on the side.

i went over the bar and hit my face against her car (face pushed skywards, i remember vividly the strain on my neck upon impact). fortunately, it wasn't a high speed impact. but impact against a stationary object is still a painful impact!
so far ..
- no fractures, no lacerations
- broke 2 front tooth (preferable to broken nose or split lip???)
- big contusion on my elbow (presumably landed on my elbow)
- stiff neck and wrist
- big/deep gash on my shin (should've gotten a Doc to stitch this up but i didn't want to bring the kids to the clinic unnecessarily)

i was wearing my fluoro yellow commuter helmet. yellow winter jacket. flashing light in the front and she said she didn't see me. i don't really know what else i could've done to make myself more visible. it was sunny, dry and she had the sun on her back (i.e. no glare)

so, so lucky i had my Virb switched on. i don't always use it and even when i do, it's not switched on the whole time (especially on a 4-hr ride).

the lady behind the Forester was very helpful. she saw the whole incident and offered to be my witness.

my bike is ok. no damage. front wheel is also fine.

Ouch I hope you heal well. You even had good road positioning by not riding in the gutter so you couldn't have been more visible.

She either didn't look properly, or didn't look "through the turn" to see that another car was going to block her getting off the road. Maybe even both...

[bychosis]

^ typical "I didn't see you" to try to compensate for "I stuffed up", or probably more accurately "I thought you were going to stop for me". Hope you scratched the car good. Heal well.

[jasonc]

+1 to good road position.
driver was an ass

[biker jk]

Sorry to hear about your crash Caneye. I hope you heal well. I can't believe your bell didn't prevent that driver from turning in front of you.

[mikesbytes]

caneye, I could feel my gut watching your video knowing you were about to crash. That really sucks, there is no reason for it to have happened. The excuse "I didn't see you is complete rot, there was nothing else out there to see, I couldn't think of a more visible place to be.

[g-boaf]

Caneye, you were doing everything right there. Unbeleivable the driver didn't see you. Totally unnacceptable. I was watching the cars coming from the driveways, I always expect them to force their way out in front of fast moving riders on the road, but what happened instead was inexcusable.

It doesn't surprise me though, cars will give way to other cars usually, but in this situation, they expect a bike to give way, or otherwise claim SMIDSY or otherwise, "didn't you see I was turning, why didn't you stop" sort of reaction.

Drivers have to realise that bike riders on the road on modern road-bikes or even single-speeds or flat-bar commuter bikes can go pretty quickly, often similar to car speeds. They must be more aware of this.

[fat and old]

It doesn't surprise me though, cars will give way to other cars usually, but in this situation, they expect a bike to give way, or otherwise claim SMIDSY or otherwise, "didn't you see I was turning, why didn't you stop" sort of reaction.

Drivers have to realise that bike riders on the road on modern road-bikes or even single-speeds or flat-bar commuter bikes can go pretty quickly, often similar to car speeds. They must be more aware of this.

They just don't give a flying. That pos just expected Caneye to pull up, and wasn't concerned how because it thought worse case scenario was a scared cyclist; no risk to the driver or her precious car.

People like that need a beating; no laws are gonna help there

[Kev365428]

Can you put the rest of the video up? I'd be interested to hear the conversation following her "Whadaya mean?" comment.

Kev.

[cp123]

whadya mean?




Are you frigging serious lady? you just frigging turned across in front of him and damn near killed him and you wonder why he's !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !!?


Please show us the REST of the video. Itching to know what conversation followed.

[biker jk]

Driver playing Pokemon crashes into school.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/drive ... qg9ae.html

[duncanm]

Ouch -- that looked like a serious IDGAF or 'I wasn't paying attention'

If you took some impact with your head - PLEASE make sure you see your GP and watch out for any tingling in the fingers or other evidence of spinal bruising.

I did a similar thing some time back -- went to hospital for the cuts I received -- they x-rayed my neck but missed a fractured vertebrae. ... my GP sent me off for an MRI when I outlined the crash and where I was sore -- and the radiologist there spotted it.

[TheShadow]

this happend on a busy stretch of North Rocks Road that i often try to avoid during my commute (the irony). but today, i was rushing to get the kids from school and it was the fastest route. i was literally just 100m from the school.

I'm sorry about your teeth and your neck. You might want to get a Dr report and referal to physio/Personal Injury lawyer/spine specialist. I wouldn't underestimate the neck issue, particularly long term. That's a problematic issue for everyone once you get over 40YO, and it's not helped by impacts like these.

I know hindsight is 20/20 and it's been pointed out you were riding in the middle of the lane, which is good, but if you really want to survive these MM, forget the horn and even the brakes often. The only time I'll pass within a meter or two of a car waiting to pull out of a driveway these days is if there's a car just ahead of me, or passing me, going in the same direction...the passing car might prevent me from moving out wide, but they also 'block' the car from turning out of the driveway. For me, there has to be a car 'escorting' me past the MM, or I'm positioned and ready to take some hardcore evasive action.

The danger of a MM pulling out in front of you is highest when there is no other cars around you, but the flip side is you are clear to use the entire road to evade them - as long as you have maintained awareness of what's coming from behind when you first realise you're about to enter a potential FUBAR zone, like a supermarket driveway, or a school zone at 3pm.

[jasonc]

Caneye - just saw a post stating your video is now on dash Cam Australia Facebook page

[human909]

I know hindsight is 20/20 and it's been pointed out you were riding in the middle of the lane, which is good, but if you really want to survive these MM, forget the horn and even the brakes often. The only time I'll pass within a meter or two of a car waiting to pull out of a driveway these days is if there's a car just ahead of me, or passing me, going in the same direction...the passing car might prevent me from moving out wide, but they also 'block' the car from turning out of the driveway. For me, there has to be a car 'escorting' me past the MM, or I'm positioned and ready to take some hardcore evasive action.

The danger of a MM pulling out in front of you is highest when there is no other cars around you, but the flip side is you are clear to use the entire road to evade them - as long as you have maintained awareness of what's coming from behind when you first realise you're about to enter a potential FUBAR zone, like a supermarket driveway, or a school zone at 3pm.

Agree 100%. Both on the horn and the issue of the danger when there is clear traffic behind/aside you. When there is clear traffic is when I am MOST on guard for the MM. I saw a good female friend get cleaned up in front of me while I helplessly slowed and shouted warnings that were not heard.

Also I think all cyclists should practice emergency braking. If you rear wheel isn't beginning to lift then you really aren't reaching your braking limits.

[BianchiCam]

Jeebus mate. Thought those other cars were going to pull out. Yep. Major stuff up. Car in front of her hadn't cleared the roadway. Dumb move.

[caneye]

thanks for the support guys.

the remaining video is here, only a few more seconds. .

not much in the dialogue. She was actually talking to the RAV4 driver (who had rushed across the road to ensure i was ok). a proof that there are still decent drivers out there! double thumbs up to her.

...
Also I think all cyclists should practice emergency brak ing. If you rear wheel isn't beginning to lift then you really aren't reaching your braking limits.

oh, the irony!! i was testing my brakes the whole day - braking until the rear lifted off. i *was* pretty pleased with the old BB7s, they'd saved me from a couple of close shaves in the past.
that's why i was bewildered and somewhat bemused just a split second before impact .. wondering why the bike was still going ...
could've saved a few precious seconds if I had yanked the brakes first instead of going for the horn, on hindsight.

[TheShadow]

With the car I hit a year ago, if I'd had my hands down on the drops instead of on the hoods, I could have braked harder I'm sure. It would have made just enough difference to eliminate damage or injury. I was very frustrated the back wheel didn't lift up, not even towards the end. There is no time to get ready or move into position after a MM makes a move on you; you have to BE ready before you get near them 'cos you only have a few seconds to do something.

[trailgumby]

not much in the dialogue. She was actually talking to the RAV4 driver (who had rushed across the road to ensure i was ok). a proof that there are still decent drivers out there! double thumbs up to her.
...
could've saved a few precious seconds if I had yanked the brakes first instead of going for the horn, on hindsight.

Yeah, that was good. There are still some non-cyclists who still empathise with vulnerable road users, despite the radio shock jocks' best efforts.

Don't beat yourself up on the choice to hit the horn. Hindsight is always 20/20.

What your learning experience highlights is precisely why these increased fines for not having bells are so mindless. It makes no difference whether it's on the bars, under your saddle or on the front wheel hub, you *still* have to take your hands off the controls to use the warning device and when you do it compromises your ability to avoid the crash in any emergency situation.