Road Safety - Rider Safety

[jedibiker]

Afternoon all.

 

It looks like the motorcycle season for most has officially started. Facebook groups are full of riders photos of locations and rides etc. But, the amount of crash reports and road issues seems huge.

 

I realise there are more groups now and social media grows all the time so maybe that's a factor. But it has provoked my thoughts on how safe people think they are when they ride. Maybe this will be useful to new riders.

 

So one crash was a guy who said a lady just decided to brake and turn right into her drive. From the replies it looks like maybe he was too close to her and or going to fast for the situation. Most people don't just go from fast to slow to go onto their drives.

Another was a car pulling out on a guy filtering past static traffic, turned out uninsured and smoking weed (the car). Hes ok but bruised.

 

My point is this, how safe do most people ride? Every ride out do you practice thinking ahead, do you use hazard perception as much as possible or do you often get from A to B and forget how you got there.

 

I personally think most should at least refresh their thinking for the new season, even seasoned riders get caught out and no matter how careful or good some idiot will catch us out, but its just a thought.

 

Im sure this topic has been a chat subject for decades. I'm also trying to get on the biker-down course asap. Its worth a look.

 

Also, loads of youtube videos for those wanting to refresh.

 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

The emergence of the fair weather riders always results in an increase in accidents. And it's always somebody else's fault.

[fastbob]

I actually did the second one . I decided to pass all the stationary cars in the queue for a Level Crossing . I wasn't going too fast but the last thing I expected was for the fourth car in to suddenly swing out in front of me . I went right down the side of the car wrecking all the body panels , crushed my foot and then went over the bars . Apologies to those who have heard this before . I picked up the bike before the pain arrived and shouted " I've only had this f*****g bike a week ! " To which the visibly shaken young lad in the car replied " I've only had this car an hour ! "  We were both at fault . He should have looked in his mirror but why would he expect anything to be traveling towards a closed crossing on the wrong side of the road . I shouldn't really have overtaken the queue at all . The lesson here is an old one . Always expect the unexpected . 

[husoi]

I'm still planning to have some free training with the Council support for low speed manoeuvring and control.

I got the green light from them but have to wait until the lockdown ends before going anywhere.

I never saw any riding school dedicating any time to it.

As driving schools are only interested in getting people passing the tests and paying for it.

[jedibiker]

5 minutes ago, husoi said:

I'm still planning to have some free training with the Council support for low speed manoeuvring and control.

I got the green light from them but have to wait until the lockdown ends before going anywhere.

I never saw any riding school dedicating any time to it.

As driving schools are only interested in getting people passing the tests and paying for it.

I must admit the school I was with were very good with safety. insisting on training to ride not pass a test. But still want to do bikesafe and other training. Can never train enough.. And as bob said always expect the unexpected.

[Spongefinger]

15 minutes ago, husoi said:

I'm still planning to have some free training with the Council support for low speed manoeuvring and control.

I got the green light from them but have to wait until the lockdown ends before going anywhere.

I never saw any riding school dedicating any time to it.

As driving schools are only interested in getting people passing the tests and paying for it.

I would think most training schools are probably too swamped with paying customers to fit in free training huge backlogs of training and tests to clear through.

[manxie49]

I agree with Mississippi,  we always see an increase in accidents at this time of year when people get the bikes out, dust them off, and presume that they're still as sharp as they were after a several month lay up.  I ride all year round so would like to think that my riding skills are pretty constant.  However I've still done advanced training above and beyond test standard.  I did a one day off road course in Wales a couple of years ago, more for fun,  but IMHO any training is good training.  I was going to do the bike master course but that was put on hold due to covid, this year I'm doing a half day refresher on slow speed manoeuvring with a local club.  After many years of riding bikes I would say I've become very focused on self preservation,  probably much more so than I was when I was riding as a teenager.  Through experience I've learned to keep my eyes open and my wits about me,  and to always expect the unexpected, especially when riding on rural roads.  As Jedibiker says though, even seasoned riders get caught out, and personally I think having your riding skills scrutinised by an expert once in while isn't necessarily a bad thing ..... That said, accidents happen, fact of life,  no one is ever going to stop them.  It's what we do as riders, to potentially mitigate accidents and serious injury that counts,  that includes the gear we wear,  riding skills,  and something that is often overlooked, rider attitudes.

[S-Westerly]

As has been said many times before - always assume every other vehicle on the road is trying to personally  get you and you won't go far wrong. Round here you can also throw in horses and pedal bikes. 

[Mickly]

So far on my bike in the last 2 weeks I have managed to avoid:

1/ An SUV indicating left then veering right across both lanes to exit a roundabout.

2/ Car coming head on on temporary traffic lights against the red light ( Fukker just swerved round me after I braked & hit the gutter )

3/ Van crossing in front of me against a red light

4/ Uber indicating left them doing a R U turn

5/ BMW car trying to undertake up to a LH lane closure & giving me abuse when they had to tuck in behind me - good luck to getting the molten rubber off your grille.

 

I hope that’s it for the rest of the year, had more than my share of bell ends to contend with.

As far as getting ready after a winter lay off? Couple of times rounds local roundabout to get rid of the chicken strips & get my knee down = good to go

Edited April 6, 2021 by Mickly

[jedibiker]

54 minutes ago, Mickly said:

So far on my bike in the last 2 weeks I have managed to avoid:

1/ An SUV indicating left then veering right across both lanes to exit a roundabout.

2/ Car coming head on on temporary traffic lights against the red light ( Fukker just swerved round me after I braked & hit the gutter )

3/ Van crossing in front of me against a red light

4/ Uber indicating left them doing a R U turn

5/ BMW car trying to undertake up to a LH lane closure & giving me abuse when they had to tuck in behind me - good luck to getting the molten rubber off your grille.

 

I hope that’s it for the rest of the year, had more than my share of bell ends to contend with.

As far as getting ready after a winter lay off? Couple of times rounds local roundabout to get rid of the chicken strips & get my knee down = good to go

thats a shitty 2  weeks

[Pie man]

On Sunday I was overtaken by a biker on a blind summit. Total fookwit, forcing oncoming traffic to veer nearside just to miss him. I ride all year and just because I do ride all year and commute, I pick up bad habits, therefore I like to complete an annual bikesafe course (last year cancelled due to C19, just waiting for the next available course, voucher good for 2 years). Any further training is better than none. I try to ride defensively and think ahead, but sometimes I do wonder how I got to work 

Edited April 6, 2021 by Pie man

[Six30]

3 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

As has been said many times before - always assume every other vehicle on the road is trying to personally  get you and you won't go far wrong. Round here you can also throw in horses and pedal bikes. 

[Stu]

There is too many people out there looking to blame someone else for their screw ups! 

[Bender]

Just take the first few rides steady till you get back in the zone.

 

The number of pricks who can't navigate a roundabout or who don't think red lights are for them is getting ridiculous.

 

I was passed by a harley last year on one of the narrow country lanes near kielder, I'm by no means the fastest rider in the world but I wasn't going particularly slow either,  I just kept over to one side and let him past, 2 bends latter I found him almost in the hedge, farm was relocating a 4 wheel bailing trailer taking up the whole road, he wasn't so quick after that.

[skyrider]

7 minutes ago, Stu said:

There is too many people out there looking to blame someone else for their screw ups! 

its going like america where's there's a blame there's a claim

[Stu]

Just now, skyrider said:

its going like america where's there's a blame there's a claim

 

To be honest I just think people are always out to point the finger regardless of what it is! 

 

Have an accident its someone else's fault! 

 

Trip up! blame someone else and try and claim! 

 

Flounce off a forum blame @Bender 

[Bender]

13 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

To be honest I just think people are always out to point the finger regardless of what it is! 

 

Have an accident its someone else's fault! 

 

Trip up! blame someone else and try and claim! 

 

Flounce off a forum blame @Bender 

Twat  

[Six30]

45 minutes ago, Bender said:

Twat  

dont you get paid more if you get a flounce ?

[Stu]

6 minutes ago, Six30 said:

dont you get paid more if you get a flounce ?

 

Triple pay! 

[Bender]

12 minutes ago, Six30 said:

dont you get paid more if you get a flounce ?

0x0+0x3=0

 

 

 

[manxie49]

4 hours ago, Mickly said:

So far on my bike in the last 2 weeks I have managed to avoid:

1/ An SUV indicating left then veering right across both lanes to exit a roundabout.

2/ Car coming head on on temporary traffic lights against the red light ( Fukker just swerved round me after I braked & hit the gutter )

3/ Van crossing in front of me against a red light

4/ Uber indicating left them doing a R U turn

5/ BMW car trying to undertake up to a LH lane closure & giving me abuse when they had to tuck in behind me - good luck to getting the molten rubber off your grille.

 

I hope that’s it for the rest of the year, had more than my share of bell ends to contend with.

As far as getting ready after a winter lay off? Couple of times rounds local roundabout to get rid of the chicken strips & get my knee down = good to go

Fook! And I thought it was bad here

[SometimesSansEngine]

There's a reason I avoided the Mendip and especially Cheddar Gorge like the plague last week.

 

I've had a few rides since restrictions eased but all have been with the mindset to get back into it, and purposefully avoiding 'biker hot spots'. A mix of rural, town and city roads. 

 

Every ride I do, I have a reason to get home and that's always my aim. I'm quite a risk averse rider in general.

[jedibiker]

11 hours ago, SometimesSansEngine said:

There's a reason I avoided the Mendip and especially Cheddar Gorge like the plague last week.

 

I've had a few rides since restrictions eased but all have been with the mindset to get back into it, and purposefully avoiding 'biker hot spots'. A mix of rural, town and city roads. 

 

Every ride I do, I have a reason to get home and that's always my aim. I'm quite a risk averse rider in general.

I dont think its bike hot spots that are a risk as such, as most will have seen loads of bikes and know there about. Its places loads of cars go and they don't see many bikes. And from what Ive seen, its bikers taking daft risks and getting to close to unpredictable traffic. But it does make sense to ease in if you don't ride much over winter

[SometimesSansEngine]

I dunno, if you ever ride around Cheddar and get close passed by someone on a pocket rocket thinking they're Rossi then you'll know what I mean!

 

Someone once dived up my inside in a corner when I had my son pillion - luckily I was watching my mirrors. Stupid really as there was a straight just after they could have safely and easily passed. My concern is them involving me in their accident.

 

Guarantee every time the weather warms up first time in a year there are incidents and crashes involving motorcycles in that area

 

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/motorcyclist-airlifted-hospital-cheddar-gorge-4385448

 

Attached is the last five years of reported incidents involving motorcycles in that area.

Edited April 7, 2021 by SometimesSansEngine

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Cheshire police always have an initiative tackling bikers riding like nutters this time of year. I've seen a few idiots on bikes but more in cars really. Some drivers see a bike a just have to make it into a race. I always back off, play it cool, then filter past them very slowly at the next set of lights. 

 

I particularly enjoy filtering past those muppets who exceed the speed limit to get past me. And doing it repeatedly because despite their heroics they always end up behind.