A car drivers mindset, wonder what they are thinking !!

[Celtic32]

I definitely found though that after I did my CBT (I'd never even sat on a motorbike before that day) I noticed bikes a lot more. I guess it comes down to being aware of how vulnerable a biker is. I know it isn't realistic, but I think if everyone undertaking a driving test had to complete a CBT, and so experience riding on a road with cars and lorries etc around, that incidents of cars taking out bikes would fall.

[Kiwifruit]

Good post Barmy. Makes a lot of sense. I must ask if we have any courses like that. I don't know enough about First Aid.
We have a course you can do that is about 'Crash scene management' more about keeping the victim safe from being hit while down.

[daveh]

My experience as. Bus driver as well as motorcyclist makes me think a bit differently.
Many see us, and go anyway.
Same with pedestrians, how many of you cross in the middle of the street, away from the crossings, do you look, see a car, and go anyway, thinking he'll stop, I'm in the right.
I see it everyday.
Same attitude exists at stop signs and the like, cars and bikes.

[Mrg]

yes one thing i have asked my self    roundabout  what ever you call them

so you give way to the right ok

but how many time are you sat there and you give way to one car only to see a car 20 yards 30 40 yards from the line to you right and you say to your self were does the give way start

when there at the line to your right or when there ten yards from the line to your right 
you have got to say there not on the roundabout 10 /15 /20 yards to your right then you can go but they wont stop as they see it as there right  of way 
but there not on the roundabout until there on or just passing the roundabout line to you right


 

[Kiwifruit]

I hear you Dave. In Nz if anyone is on a pedestrian crossing you must stop......yep makes sense.
But the pedestrian often just walks straight out without looking as they know we must stop. Now we have motorists slamming on their brakes because someone might be near the crossing. If im using the ped crossing and see a bike coming i will step back and wave them through......and usually get a wave back.
Being a motorcyclist has also made me a better car driver im sure.

[daveh]

I reckon they should change the law.
If you get hit by a car when not using the lights or on a crossing then your automatically at fault.

[Basil Brush]

Mate of mine run a woman over. I was following him. She ran out from behind a bus with a mobile glued to her ear. Did not even look. As she was (ahem) on the rather large side. She bounced very well. Totally to blame. Still got a big pay off though...

[KiwiCol]

I hear you Dave. In Nz if anyone is on a pedestrian crossing you must stop......yep makes sense.
But the pedestrian often just walks straight out without looking as they know we must stop. Now we have motorists slamming on their brakes because someone might be near the crossing. If im using the ped crossing and see a bike coming i will step back and wave them through......and usually get a wave back.
Being a motorcyclist has also made me a better car driver im sure.

Not quite correct Col, Yes we have to stop for people on a crossing, but they have to wait till the way is clear, they can't just walk (or run) out onto a crossing and expect cars to stop.

[KiwiCol]

I reckon they should change the law.
If you get hit by a car when not using the lights or on a crossing then your automatically at fault.

Yep, completely agree on that Dave.


Unless they happen to be on the sidewalk whilst being mowed down - then I reckon it'd be the drivers fault, probably.

[Kiwifruit]

I hear you Dave. In Nz if anyone is on a pedestrian crossing you must stop......yep makes sense.
But the pedestrian often just walks straight out without looking as they know we must stop. Now we have motorists slamming on their brakes because someone might be near the crossing. If im using the ped crossing and see a bike coming i will step back and wave them through......and usually get a wave back.
Being a motorcyclist has also made me a better car driver im sure.

Not quite correct Col, Yes we have to stop for people on a crossing, but they have to wait till the way is clear, they can't just walk (or run) out onto a crossing and expect cars to stop.

Yes Col, I know they are supposed to wait until its clear..............but so many don't. (Might be a North Island thing ?)
I have had to stop behind a car that stopped because someone was near the crossing..........no one crossed !!

[seth]

we have school children walking through the hospital i work out of there i a wide foot path diwn 1 side of the road in but they walk down the road hoods up earphones in never looking at cars,vans and lorries behind them
so lucky none of them been hurt of worse 

[Del]

Being a biker and a lot of the time being in the front of the queue at traffic lights -  has anyone else noticed how many of the drivers that cut red light are of the female persuasion

[Mrg]

i had a lad crossing the road were i live.. and my road is a cul de sac  quiet .... he just walked out in front of me ,,,,

headphones in   hood up and not a care in the world ,,,

he didnt even notice i was there behind him in the middle of the road until i hit the horns and a little rev  of the bike to make sure he heard me

i just wished id had my gopro on ,, his face of sheer fright and wot the fuck .... made me giggle inside ive got to say 

but the thing is will he learn form it no he wont

there all the same they dont give a f*&^%ck   

[Mick_J]

As has been said treat all other road users as nutter who are out to kill or maim you.  Remember that in all accidents with a car the biker has to accept half the blame but all the pain.

[VladTepes]

On your post Barmy. Here in Australia all bike headlights now have to be hardwired so low beam is ALWAYS on.
The theory being that it means we'll be seen... well we all know how that works...

Now in  theory that's all very well, but if you have the sun behind you, you'd appear as a dark blob to drivers coming toward you.  With a headlight on though, that silhouette is broken up, making your HARDER to see....