Expect the unexpected

stefano said:

Would you expect a white van to stop dead on a NSL dual carriageway? Well, no, but it happened to me. The worst scenario is the van stopped after a bend, and the ca tailgaiting behind stopped too, and then decided to pull out onto the overtaking lane. You can imagine the scene.....I was shaking for some time...

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Although not the cars fault i think i would have pulled them over and given them a piece of my mind - fookin idiots!!!:jack

Idiots

Here in the gun-happy midwest, (Oklahoma: land of cowboys, indians and gunshows!), this sort of thing can lead to over-ventilating of the cardio-vascular system and final overall cooling of the entire organic structure. All I do is grumble, "Get off the bloody mobile-phone!" and go home to a pint. "Live another day!":cheers

I guess its all about minimizing the damage to self, insurance covers the bike (its an inanimate object after all).

I guess its down to individual riding styles, I expect that when road riding everybody is out to kill me so I tend to give greater distances , signal for longer, and generally try to anticipate what differant vehicles are going to do (Dont worry I am a crap road rider and not very confident in heavy traffic/filtering type skills).
I make the assumption that that anything van/lorry/taxi/service vehicle is going to do any number of random manouvres at any second and will take great delight in adding me to a "notch" in his belt.
Anything driven by a woman with kids onboard is going to be given a very wide berth, in short no 4 wheeled or more device ever takes their actions into account (its a selfish thing , I want to go here now !), until motorcycle awarness is a mandatory part of the driving test nothing will change.
As far as minimizing injury goes thats just a lottery, it would be really easy to say relax dont be tense , slide rather than grip n flip but we all know that unless on the track there are just too many obstacles (moving & unmoving) in the way to permit this.

get ready to disembark..with a forward roll, to minimise damage to the new Arai.
Ck

So many variables......

So little time. It really depends on the situation, doesn't it? It is well worth practising emergency maneuvers whenever the opportunity presents itself. That is to say, before it is necessary! This builds "muscle memory" and may be the one thing you do in this situation without thinking. Remember, there is no time to think.

Rule one: Do not lock the brakes. Apply max braking, especially in the front, just don't lock either brake. Move your weight rearward and "check six" if you can. It is good to know what is bearing down on you. Slowing your speed can greatly lessen the damage.

Rule two: Stay out from under the bike. There have been people burned to death due to a ruptured fuel tank.

Rule three: As Kiwi suggests, avoid the situation completely. Give a wide berth and keep your mind on the business at hand. Observe your surroundings and behave as if the other drivers have it in for you! Be a bit paranoid. Oh, by the way, do this one first:thumbup

Got to say, it doesn't always matter how good a rider you are or how defensive you ride, if some old duffer is gonna have you off, it's gonna happen.

Most of these accidents happen so quick you don't have time to react (even if I knew what to do !). Have read articles about laying your bike down, avoiding highsiding it,etc, but in my experience before you know what's happened, you're on your arse in the dirt.

stefano said:

Would you expect a white van to stop dead on a NSL dual carriageway? Well, no, but it happened to me. The worst scenario is the van stopped after a bend, and the ca tailgaiting behind stopped too, and then decided to pull out onto the overtaking lane. You can imagine the scene.....I was shaking for some time...

Click to expand...

Hi Stefano, dont tell me it was on the A21 eh:devious

Idiots on that road all the time.:jack they are in the early mornings especially i mean @ 4.30am if only they got out of bed a bit earlier.:rant

I see this sort of thing day in day out on the roads peoples recklessness and regard for other road users is piss poor.but the traffic cops are never there to see it. Just Mr camera van man instead raking in the money hiding by the side of the road instead every now and then....:rant Rant over .:biggrin

What a day i had too must be this area i think.:eatcorn

Good to hear you live to fight another day tho....eh!