Why Slow Down for them?

14th Jan 2009

2667851083_6fa537172d We’re bombarded with advertising telling us to watch out for motorcycle riders in Queensland. Whilst in NZ over Christmas, I heard the same style of advertising, so I’m guessing it’s the latest fad.

What really annoys me is motorcycle riders. They are one of the biggest pains on the road, more so than slow or bad drivers.

Sitting at traffic lights, a motorcycle rider will fly up in between the gaps and up beside you, making it either hard or very dangerous to turn, or go straight again. The arrogance of most riders is astounding!

Cruising down the highway doing the speed limit, or even keeping up with the “crowd”, it’s common for me to see a motorbike to fly up and overtake me, not uncommon for them to be breaking the speedlimit well and truly by 20km/h and passing over double white lines, making it so illegal and dangerous.

My thoughts are, why should these riders be treated with the same respect you give fellow motorists when they clearly don’t deserve it.

39 comments

Ironic you complaining about dangerous driving/speeding eh

Mike Beckham on 14th January, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Not really, there is going fast, and there is being stupid..

Ben May on 14th January, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I’d argue anytime anyone speeds is stupid.

Mike Beckham on 14th January, 2009 at 8:10 pm
That’s true, however, doing something stupid that is only going to harm yourself is one thing, doing something stupid that is going to harm many other drivers is another thing.

There are many ways to look at it / argue it

Ben May on 14th January, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Ben,
I was a little astounded by your comments. There is an old saying “to wrongs don’t make it right”. Getting annoyed by other road users eg
motorbikes, is the first step to Road Rage.
Motorbikes are by far safer than cars, it’s usually the bike ridder who gets hurt, not the car driver. Just make sure you always do the right thing on the road, that way should there be an accident your conscience will be clear.

Jonangel on 15th January, 2009 at 8:11 am
Thanks for the old saying Jonangle, I don’t see the relevance..??

I know what you said is true, and that is why there is so much advertising around “look out for riders” etc as in an accident, it will not be the person in the 4WD that is hurt as much as the rider.

The arrogance / self confidence of riders, which evolves into dangerous driving annoys me and they don’t get my sympathy (as a whole – there are plenty of good riders)

Ben May on 15th January, 2009 at 8:42 am
Ben,
The relevance of the quote relates to the other posts. It would appear you have been known to speed etc!
Say no more.

Jonangel on 15th January, 2009 at 9:28 am
I am a reformed speeder, yes, but I don’t see how that applies to the 2 wrongs make it right statement..

Ben May on 15th January, 2009 at 9:36 am
There is going fast then there is stupid? I think anyone who speeds is stupid! There is a reason, when you speed you get points taken off you!

If you can’t follow the rules that are set for everyone’s safety, then you are just as bad as any of those motor cyclists.

D on 15th January, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Ben,
I am sorry, I’ll try again, Bikies in you view do the wrong thing. But you have been known to do the wrong thing. The fact that both of you do the wrong thing, does not make you right. It mean you have both done the wrong thing.

Jonangel on 15th January, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Thanks for clearing that up jonangle, however I was never disputing that.

The point was that there has been an awful lot of media to protect riders, insinuating that they are the OK ones, and motorists are out trying to knock riders off their bikes and doing the bad driving.

Ben May on 15th January, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Hey Ben, what a load of rot especially when you whitnessed someone pull out in front of me on my Harley without indicating or looking causing me to crash into his car, hit another car on the other side of the road and could have killed me!!! (especially as I don’t speed or do any of the behaviours you are suggesting that may be from a small majority) More advertising the better and about time. Some car drivers shouldn’t have a licence and untill you ride a bike you won’t realise the real truth about who’s the bad drivers and who deserves the respect!!!!!!!!!!

Jeanette Maynes on 15th January, 2009 at 6:29 pm
That old guy who pulled out in front of you was not looking in general, it could have been a car or bus and it would have probably ended up the same!

What shits me is what you can get away with on a motor bike.. yesterday, once again, a motor bike overtook me (doing 100km/h) going Around a corner, up/down hills and on double lines, totally arrogant / 10ft tall and bullet proof.

When riding a powerful bike, you can give it some gas, and you’re flying, as apposed to most cars. Even in suped up cars, I’d guess a bike has better getup and go, unless its super mega turbo charged…

I have never, ever (only with my short driving history) seen a car do something so stupidly foolish.

I see plenty more bad riders around than safe ones

Ben May on 15th January, 2009 at 8:08 pm
What an absolute crock of crap…no further comment here

Jeanette Maynes on 15th January, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Ben,
I’m sorry, but I can’t agree with this post at all. Especially with THIS comment you made – “The arrogance of most riders is astounding! ” Ben, “MOST”? Do you know “MOST” riders? In your whole few years of driving have you REALLY experienced MOST riders? I ride a bike, but I NEVER do any of the things you describe in your post that MOST riders do. I’m sorry, but I’m offended.
Pat

Patricia Meat on 15th January, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Good to hear from you Patricia, haven’t heard from you in quite a while.. good to see you’re still around.

I agree with you, and what I probably should have done in my post, is specify that I’m only regarding this post at those type of riders that I’m talking about.

I may just see all the dangerous riders, or just not notice the good ones as they’re not doing anything stupid to get my attention.

Ben May on 16th January, 2009 at 8:59 am
OK, I have to jump in here.
To Ben: HI!
To Jonangel: Quote”Motorbikes are by far safer than cars”.. REALLY? your remaining post “The riders are the usual ones that get hurt, not the drivers.”
Riders are exposed and have no protection apart from helmet and riders gear (should they even be wearing them)
A driver, even in a small vehicle is safer.
Bikes, even in the hands of experienced riders are far more dangerous then cars.
My nephew just lost his leg because of a stupid accident on a ‘safe’ moterbike, he’s 19.. yeah bikes are great.

Pat: I think what Ben maybe refering to is his personal experience, obviously he doesnt know every biker rider in the universe, that objection is mute. he would be reffering to the bike users he has interaction with.
Personally, myself, i agree with him that most of the riders i have seen ribe between the cars to get up to the front so they can win.
To to be fair, the bikes that you dont see are the ones that sit in their place behind you and you may not notice them.

Its a common factor, the ones who cause trouble, act unsafely etc are the ones who bring negative attention to their group/race etc.

Jeanette: you own a harley?? Rock on!

finally- everyone should just be safe and respect eachother.

peace.

Richard Neville on 16th January, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Interesting statistics I found;

Last year, 4,008 motorcycle riders were killed in highway accidents.

Latest Coalition Fatality for soldiers in Iraq is 3041.

Ben May on 16th January, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Jeez, I caused a lot of problems! Sorry! Ben’s a great driver. He drove me to the petrol station, although I did ask to go to the newsagent. Oh well.

Mike Beckham on 16th January, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Ben,
I love stats – Australia wide 2008, car driver deaths = 214. Motor bike riders = 56.

South Australia same period – car drivers 88.
Motor bikes = 2.
Statistically in a single vehicle accident a motor
bike rider has a greater chance of survival.
Car drivers kill bikies, not the other way around.

Jonangel on 16th January, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Round 2.

If a rider is safer then a driver, yet cars kill riders.
This would likley be because there are alot more cars then bikes. And a bike head on with a bike is extremely rare. But you make it sound like drivers are out to get riders.

There are safe motorists and fools in both vehicles.

Just saying.

Richard Neville on 18th January, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Richard,
Regarding your post “this would likely be because there are a lot more cars than bikes”. You then go on to say there are “fools in both vehicles’. So statistically there are more fools driving cars!
No, the reality is bikes are more manoeuvrable,
accelerate quicker and are lighter, so their impact is less. More importantly, because bike ridders know they are vunerable, they take more care. The truth of the matter is many car drivers have a poor attitude when it come to motorbikes.

Jonangel on 18th January, 2009 at 3:34 pm
For reference, the stats I quoted were from the USA,

Jonangle you seem to think you seem to know all the answers of life. Every theory and every answer, yet like a gutless blogger you don’t disclose your name, making everything you say/argue meaningless. Even though many people I know, know who you are.

I don’t know how you can think a motor bike can be safer on any account?

I would debate further but I am on my phone.

Ben May on 18th January, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Ben, Jonangle is John Neve who reads the paper everyday and writes stories for Bring Back Strewth then uses his alias to comment on his own stories!!!! I have already informed him he is barred from my blog due to rubbish he wrote on Bring Back Strewth about me! I don’t know why he doesn’t use his own name and get a gravatar!…seriously, and these people run for council, what next!!
Oh and this story still sux! lol

Jeanette Maynes on 18th January, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Ben,
I have never suggested I know every thing, I am not sure I know any thing. What I endeavour to do is research and be logical. Every thing I have stated is factual.
As to Jeanette’s post! I won’t even go there.

Jonangel on 18th January, 2009 at 7:20 pm
or someone with way too much time.

The life and times of Hervey Bay eh? Sounds like a soap.

Mike Beckham on 18th January, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Johnangle, I’d be keen for you to post a link or a couple to where it it documented that a motorcycle is safer than a car.

Are you infact a rider? Or are you going off what your “sources” tell you.

We’ve heard from 2 motorbike riders (on the road – I ride motor bikes, only off road) however, both are female, who I would go out on a limb to say, would probably be more conservative…

J, I don’t read BBS or any of the old strewth sites, as they are just the same half dozen anonymous responders posting the same garbage over and over. I got sick of it within a few weeks

Ben May on 18th January, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Ben,
I have never said “a motorcycle is safer than a car”. Regarding the data I put out, scroll through Driver deaths in Australia for various years, I chose 2008.
As to my personel knowledge of bikes, I started witha BSA Bantam, moved on to an OEC and finnished with a Triumph Speedtwin.

Jonangel on 19th January, 2009 at 5:12 am
You never said it in those words, however when addressing Richards comments, that is what I read your posts to be.

Ben May on 19th January, 2009 at 8:50 am
Quote:
‘Motorbikes are by far safer than cars’
Jonangel on 15th January, 2009 at 8:11 am

Quote:
Ben,
I have never said “a motorcycle is safer than a car”
Jonangel on 19th January, 2009 at 5:12 am

Err.. Yes you did.

Richard

Richard Neville on 27th January, 2009 at 9:41 am
Richard,

The two statements, ‘Motorbikes are by far safer than cars’, and “a motorcycle is safer than a car” do NOT mean the same thing. One statement is statistically true, and the other isn’t.

Pat

Patricia on 27th January, 2009 at 10:40 am
Pat,

‘Statistically’ would indicate some sort of count, a variable to show one value over another, to say one is ‘by far’ safer and the other is ‘safer’ would mean you believe that ‘by far’ is a viable statistic.

its not.

Besides, my POINT was that the statement was written, then denied that it was written.
Sure, its not verbatim, but the wording, either including or excluding ‘by far’ still indicates the poster to believe that bikes are safer then cars, then states that it (the original statement) was not said.

Richard

Richard on 28th January, 2009 at 1:02 pm
“Sitting at traffic lights, a motorcycle rider will fly up in between the gaps and up beside you, making it either hard or very dangerous to turn, or go straight again.”

Just one question for you. If you are stationary in your car at traffic lights and a motorcycle pulls up beside you, how can that make it hard for you to turn or go straight?? When the lights change the motorcycle will be gone before you can even get your foot off the clutch.

Riff-Raff on 15th March, 2009 at 4:26 pm
That’s not always the case, If I wanted to put my foot down and go, I’d trample a motorcyclist..

Ben May on 16th March, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Then you are a FOOL, and anyway haven’t you got some pimples to pop?

Riff-Raff on 16th March, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Mmm.. Great Rebuttal

Ben May on 16th March, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Alright try this one, how often does a motorcyclist pull up beside you at the traffic lights, 1 in 20 times, maybe even 1 in 10 times? If you can’t restrain yourself from putting your foot down 1 out of 10 times, then as I said, YOU ARE A FOOL!!

Riff-Raff on 17th March, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Of course I can restrain.. otherwise I’d be in jail wouldn’t I. That was only one point in my argument…

Ben May on 18th March, 2009 at 9:03 am
Sounds like the usual car driver to me shure theres bike riders that dont obey the rules but car drivers that break the rules outnumber the bike riders that do it 5000:1 anyway if u ask me everyone needs to slow down obey the rules and for christ sake car drivers learn how to use a 2 lane round about ive almost been taken out about 50 times (mostly by 4x4s driven by aragont pricks)

Troy on 12th July, 2010 at 1:20 pm