…so the proverb goes. Evidently this semi trailer driver doesn’t think so.
https://www.facebook.com/DashCamOwnersAustralia/videos/1417196668339969/
My apologies if you don’t have Facebook, I can’t seem to find a link outside of the Dash Cam Owners site.
Anyway, I’m going to get a bit “preachy” today so, if you’re not in the mood for some harsh realities perhaps you might like to give today’s article a miss.
Fact is that, on a motorcycle you have vastly better acceleration than almost any other vehicle on the road so taking risky overtaking opportunities is simply stupid. I know riders (I am one of them) who, if they find that the way through some favourite “twisties” is impeded by some slow-moving traffic and overtaking (legally) is not going to be possible, will pull to the side of the road, cool their heels for 10 minutes or so then set off again on a clear road. There simply isn’t any justification for doing anything else.
Tacking onto the back of the traffic stream is only going to lead to frustration and a probably incautious and illegal overtaking manouever just so that you can get in front and enjoy an uninterrupted run. This was perfectly illustrated a few years ago when a Triumph 675 rider, out for a Sunday blat through the Royal National Park (speed limit 60km/h, mostly double unbroken lines and filled with slow-moving tourists on a weekend) pulled out and overtook 4 cars across the unbroken lines. Failing to leave himself time to get back in safely as the next corner rushed up on him, he panicked, locked up the bike and skidded off the road. He was 37 years old but one stupid overtaking move cost him his life, traumatised those who had to deal with the after-effects and brought grief to his family and friends, and it was all so unnecessary.
While you are riding, the clues to the speed at which you are riding can be hard to determine. Once the brain becomes used to a certain pace, it all becomes a bit relative. If you want a reminder of just how quickly things happen at 100km/h, stop out on the highway, get off the bike and stand on the side of the road and watch the traffic go by. The sensation is vastly different than when you are out there travelling at the same speed as the traffic and I’m sure many of you have experienced this. It doesn’t hurt to be reminded, though.
The constant need for patience and caution does not just apply once you reach highway speed; it applies at whatever speed you happen to be moving. Increased speed only changes the rapidity at which it can all go wrong if you’re not attuned to what is happening around you.
My worst memory from the road goes back to the late 1970’s. Paul and I were travelling home from a Winter meeting at Hume Weir. At that stage the Old Hume Highway passed through the little town of Coolac and climbed a small range to the north of town. The twisty section was bypassed not long after this and a straighter section of road was built. Even later the whole area was bypassed by the present Hume Freeway. However, this night we crested one of the rises (in Paul’s Peugeot 504) to see a string of stop lights ahead and an obvious hold-up on the road. We idled down to the back of the queue and got out to ask what was happening. “I wouldn’t go down there if I were you,” said the driver of the car in front, “It’s pretty horrible.” Further enquiries revealed that a motorcycle had had a head-on collision with a southbound truck. Several of our mates had ridden down to the meeting and it was easy to presume the worst, so, against good advice, we walked down to the crash site to (hopefully) eliminate any of our friends from involvement.
The headlights of the first two cars to stop were illuminating the scene and it was at least as horrible as we had been told. A blanket from under which blood was seeping was covering what was obviously a body lying on the road. But far worse than this were the agonised screams of the pillion passenger who had obviously survived the impact but was suffering from horrific injuries. It seems that the bike, travelling, we suppose, at well over the speed limit, had arrived too quickly upon a group of slower-moving cars and, without pausing to check the road ahead, had pulled straight out to pass on the crest of the rise. Unfortunately, a cattle truck was just about to crest the rise heading in the opposite direction. The rider was killed instantly, decapitated in a moment of time. The pillion passenger had done slightly better but, were he to survive, he would have been without an arm. However, he too, passed away at the scene from massive blood loss and multiple injuries.
What remained of the bike was nearly as horrific. I have seen lots of crashed bikes from my racing days but I have never seen a bike as comprehensively destroyed as this one. What started out as a Honda 750/4 was utterly unrecogniseable as one. Not only was the running gear smashed beyond recognition but the motor and gearbox were literally torn apart with pieces of broken gearbox clusters littered across the road. When you think of how hard gears are, you can only speculate at the impact it must have taken to shatter them.
And for what? To gain a few seconds. Such devastation for no good reason at all. That was nearly 40 years ago and yet it is indelibly etched on my memory. So, the next time you’re losing patience with the traffic, pause for a moment and ask yourself, is gaining a break on these guys REALLY that important? The answer will usually be no. So be patient, hang back and wait. The road will still be there, make sure that YOU’RE still there to enjoy it.