Amber
|
grrrrrrrrrrrWhy don't car drivers (yes i'm one) take that extra look for biker's /cyclists, it takes seconds just to double check.
My son was involved in a motorbike accident yesterday, fortunaly though he is injured he was lucky. A stupid driver came out of work without doing a double check and only due to sons quick action he dropped the bike and slid into car, rather than go over he was saved from serious injury.
The guy driving car admitted he only took a quick glance and didn't see him.
I'm not saying all drivers are the same , also you bikers out there it may be a pain wearing leathers but could well save you from serious injury always wear your leathers. Son was, and still came out of it with broken bones, grazes and severe bruising.could have been alot worse without leathers.
|
Serenity
|
Oh Amber he must have been so shaken up! hope hes ok and it doesn't put him off. I worry about that too as Paul has a motorbike, but usually he wears one of those flourescent work jackets so he's easily spotted. Drivers should always think once think twice think bike, like the advert suggested! On the flipside, some bikers do nothing to make themselves more easily seen, its often hard to spot someone in black leathers on a dark bike, with no lights or reflectors. But anyway I'm do glad he's ok, and well done for his quick thinking of sliding the bike!
|
Amber
|
i dont know what more he could have done to be visiable, bike is bright yellow and also has the fluurcent gear , even on his helmet.
|
Serenity
|
Thats really frightening Amber, to think he was SO visible they STILL missed him!
|
toni38
|
sorry to hear of your sons accident,,glad that he will be ok..my husband has a motorbike and i too worry all the time he is out,,i was always going on the back of him when i was younger!! he passed his bike test years ago so has the bigger bikes now and keeps asking me to get on the back,,theres NO WAY im getting on a bike now..i am older n wiser i say when he says '' you use to love it''
|
daxxxx
|
I hope your son is better real soon and back out on his bike quickly..hope bike hasn't too much damage as well..my last bike was a write off after my accident.
I have long said that anyone that passes their driving test should be put on a motorbike and sent out to drive in traffic for a week....it'll teach them to be a better driver and show more care to others on the road.
The majority of bike accidents in my experience happens because of car drivers, they don't give a fig about bike riders at all.
|
Amber
|
I totally agree with you daxx it would make us drivers more aware of bikers.
hope his bike is repairable awaiting on the insurance to come and collect , i feel so sorry for him as he hasn't finished paying for it yet. It was only a small size as i begged him not to have a bike, but understand his reasoning as the car was to pricey for petrol for work.
|
Sadie
|
My son had a similar accident a few years back but he was on a bicycle! He was peddling along when a car came out from a side street and knocked him off his bike, he broke his ankle, was off work for what was supposed to be weeks but it turned out indefinately because his boss sacked him. Said he needed someone who could do some work - so unfair.
I think, in all fairness that the blame his to be divided. Not saying in your son's case amber or in my son's, but as a general thing.
Bike riders here, whether it be pushbike or motor bike, by law have to wear a helmet. Motor bikes are required to have their headlight on at all times whilst on the road so as to be seen. I don't know if that is the same in UK - I am guessing it would be.
How many times have we, as drivers, taken a quick look before driving out on to another road? How many of us have stopped and taken that second look?
And how many of us have actually said "thank goodness we took a second look, I never even saw that car there!" Hundreds of times?
I really don't think it is a case of drivers not giving a fig about bikers, I think it boils down to drivers not taking that second look, to be sure that no one is coming or in the way...goodness it could just as well be a pedestrian or a truck or anything!
There is also a duty of care for the bike riders. I have seen them whizzing in and out of traffic - because they can. It only takes a second for a car to be wanting to change lanes at the same time the bike is weaving. So where does the blame lie? I think it lies with everyone who uses the road.
|
Amber
|
by law also crash helmets, not sure about lights , though his lights would have been on as just getiing light, It is the car drivers fault no excuse as it was a straight road which you can see well up ,he(car) is being done , ithink son said was for undue care and attention .
Yep your right i know i was guilty of a quick look till i saw a terrble bike accident years ago which made me think twice.
That is soooooo bad with what happened to your son losing his job.Also agree about bikers weaving sometimes they whizz past and scare me.
|
knewlove
|
Oh thank gawd your son was okay Amber. Bikes are so dangerous! I've lost too many good friends on them. I am always careful of bikers because I know they don't have the protection of metal around them.
I saw a bad accident a while back too and haven't been able to get on a motorcycle since. A young couple on a bike were turning left at an intersection and a truck blew a red light doing about 90 km/hr and plowed right into them.
It was a horrible thing to see. I was working at a gas station then and it happened no more than 20 feet away from me and I saw both their bodies fly in the air about 30 feet and saw the man's leg cut in half and flying up too. It was awful. I was the one who had to phone 911. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Please advise your son to be extra careful if he goes back out on his bike. I hope other drivers too take extra caution when they see a biker on the road especially now with summer and nicer weather approaching there will be a lot more bikers on the road.
|
Serenity
|
Oh Kris, what an horrendous thing to have to witness 
My hubby rides a motorbike and I too worry about him on it. Usually it's just around town to and from work, with no great speed involved. (even though I know at times thats as bad). The thought of the boys wanting motorbikes when old enough terrifies me
|
|
|
|