Head-on collision between group cyclists and car (video)
#2
Senior Member
How is everyone?
#4
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The phrase "too fast for conditions comes to mind", but in all cases of this kind, the devil is in the details.
Years ago a very good friend had a head-on collision with a motorcycle while riding on a twisty, hilly 2 lane road. He was descending through an S turn, and apparently both he and the oncoming MC were crowding the double yellow. All of us were shaking our heads in wonder, what are the odds?
Years ago a very good friend had a head-on collision with a motorcycle while riding on a twisty, hilly 2 lane road. He was descending through an S turn, and apparently both he and the oncoming MC were crowding the double yellow. All of us were shaking our heads in wonder, what are the odds?
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FB
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Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#5
Senior Member
Vol, "EMS" where I come from stands for emergency medical services. So that could mean no one was hurt and the call was precautionary to doa. Seeing that info was not provided, I asked. You could be very well be right but you are assuming.
#6
Senior Member
#7
Senior Member
One thing about driving on a narrow unmarked road. Always drive as if you were in your own lane when going around corners. I.E. the car should have been about 5 feet to the right.
But, the bikes should also have had control of their bikes on the corners. Yes... fast descents can be fun, but if it isn't a closed course, expect the unexpected, and poor drivers.
Hopefully injuries weren't severe.
#8
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In all fairness, I don't think there's anyone who's been riding for a long time, who hasn't at some time (or many times) ridden in that zone where the only thing separating us from disaster is favorable alignment of the stars. (Note the "us" rather than "him")
We all take chances and make mistakes, but fortunately life is "organized" with plenty of forgiveness. In my experience the difference between disaster and "whew, that was close" is millimeters and microseconds, and not anything we can take credit for.
We all take chances and make mistakes, but fortunately life is "organized" with plenty of forgiveness. In my experience the difference between disaster and "whew, that was close" is millimeters and microseconds, and not anything we can take credit for.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#9
Senior Member
In all fairness, I don't think there's anyone who's been riding for a long time, who hasn't at some time (or many times) ridden in that zone where the only thing separating us from disaster is favorable alignment of the stars. (Note the "us" rather than "him")
We all take chances and make mistakes, but fortunately life is "organized" with plenty of forgiveness. In my experience the difference between disaster and "whew, that was close" is millimeters and microseconds, and not anything we can take credit for.
We all take chances and make mistakes, but fortunately life is "organized" with plenty of forgiveness. In my experience the difference between disaster and "whew, that was close" is millimeters and microseconds, and not anything we can take credit for.
I always attempt to learn from mistakes, even mistakes when there was no close call.
BTW, where did this happen?
#10
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#11
Senior Member
Thanks.
I only asked, because I got a quick ad that seemed to advertise a British newspaper, so I thought there was a small chance this happened over there, which, of course would dictate which side of the road is to be ridden on.
I only asked, because I got a quick ad that seemed to advertise a British newspaper, so I thought there was a small chance this happened over there, which, of course would dictate which side of the road is to be ridden on.
#12
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Narrow road. Fairly sharp turn. Not great visibility.
It's common for cyclists move to the outside. It's common for cars to move to the inside.
Neither cyclists or driver expected an opposing vehicle.
Thus, the result we saw.
It's common for cyclists move to the outside. It's common for cars to move to the inside.
Neither cyclists or driver expected an opposing vehicle.
Thus, the result we saw.
#14
Senior Member
The newspaper concerned was the Daily Mail, one which has the usual right wing hatred of cyclists. To get a flavour of their intellectual ability, read the number of respondents who claimed that the cyclists deserved it because they were on the "wrong side of the road", in spite of readers repeatedly pointing out the collision happened in the USA, where, strangely enough, our ex-colonials ride on the right.
#15
Cycle Year Round
Three of the four cyclist were on the right half of the road the entire time. One cyclist was slightly right of center. The first cyclist got sideswiped by the car front quarter panel and side mirror and went into the air. Two cyclist avoided contact with the car even though the car was on their side of the road; but one got hit by the first cyclist that was thrown in the air and the other looked to endo his bicycle over the first 2 cyclist. The fourth cyclist tried turning left to avoid the oncoming car as he was the most center of his lane and got hit in the rear wheel by the car bumper.
As a minimum, 3 of the cyclist had control of their cycles and were riding reasonably. They did not run into a stopped object in the road, the had a moving car heading at them in the wrong lane at speed.
It seems too many blame the cyclist first here would have blamed these cyclist even if they had been stopped in the right lane and a car came along and drove head on into them.
This video seems to have a clearer picture:
As a minimum, 3 of the cyclist had control of their cycles and were riding reasonably. They did not run into a stopped object in the road, the had a moving car heading at them in the wrong lane at speed.
It seems too many blame the cyclist first here would have blamed these cyclist even if they had been stopped in the right lane and a car came along and drove head on into them.
This video seems to have a clearer picture:
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Last edited by CB HI; 12-11-16 at 02:23 PM.
#17
New Orleans
Wow
What a surprise-
a car cutting a somewhat blind curve
that never happens!
No way could they have expected that-slowed down-and hugged the right side of their lane-
Rural roads=most dangerous-
No freakin' shoulder-no place to bail-and they don't slow one bit coming on a blind curve
Lucked out -they could all be dead or maimed
Wonder what the speed limit is on a dangerous POS rural road like that- 40 mph maybe-
no SLOW FOR CURVE
Oh well-lucky
What a surprise-
a car cutting a somewhat blind curve
that never happens!
No way could they have expected that-slowed down-and hugged the right side of their lane-
Rural roads=most dangerous-
No freakin' shoulder-no place to bail-and they don't slow one bit coming on a blind curve
Lucked out -they could all be dead or maimed
Wonder what the speed limit is on a dangerous POS rural road like that- 40 mph maybe-
no SLOW FOR CURVE
Oh well-lucky
#18
Senior Member
The motorist is 100% at fault since he was the one driving on the wrong side of the road. All of us have doubtless been in the same situation as those riders. Some of us didn't get hit because we were going a bit slower, some of us are just a bit quicker (probably because we expect motorists to behave badly), some of us have gotten whacked and some of us fit more than one category.
My favorite short loop to ride when I don't have a lot of time involves similarly narrow descents (for CliffordK: Fox Hollow and McBeth). I encounter cars on the wrong side all the time and I just deal with them. In fact, because poor driving is so common hereabouts, I expect every car to be on the wrong side of the road when the roadway curves to my right and I'm rarely disappointed.
My favorite short loop to ride when I don't have a lot of time involves similarly narrow descents (for CliffordK: Fox Hollow and McBeth). I encounter cars on the wrong side all the time and I just deal with them. In fact, because poor driving is so common hereabouts, I expect every car to be on the wrong side of the road when the roadway curves to my right and I'm rarely disappointed.
#19
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Did this happen in England?
#20
Cycle Year Round
#21
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#22
What happened?
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Three of the four cyclist were on the right half of the road the entire time. One cyclist was slightly right of center. The first cyclist got sideswiped by the car front quarter panel and side mirror and went into the air. Two cyclist avoided contact with the car even though the car was on their side of the road; but one got hit by the first cyclist that was thrown in the air and the other looked to endo his bicycle over the first 2 cyclist. The fourth cyclist tried turning left to avoid the oncoming car as he was the most center of his lane and got hit in the rear wheel by the car bumper.
As a minimum, 3 of the cyclist had control of their cycles and were riding reasonably. They did not run into a stopped object in the road, the had a moving car heading at them in the wrong lane at speed.
It seems too many blame the cyclist first here would have blamed these cyclist even if they had been stopped in the right lane and a car came along and drove head on into them.
This video seems to have a clearer picture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UY7upQvI3g
As a minimum, 3 of the cyclist had control of their cycles and were riding reasonably. They did not run into a stopped object in the road, the had a moving car heading at them in the wrong lane at speed.
It seems too many blame the cyclist first here would have blamed these cyclist even if they had been stopped in the right lane and a car came along and drove head on into them.
This video seems to have a clearer picture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UY7upQvI3g
If there are multiple versions of the same video, which one is the original and sometimes you have to ask are YT videos all that pertinent?
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#23
Cycle Year Round
Likely the video I linked to is closer to the original due to better quality, all the other YT post I saw were poorer quality. This particular video seems to be reposted on several channels.
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Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
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#24
I try to keep safe with certain aphorisms in my head that come to mind to alert me when I encounter a situation where unseen dangers may lurk, such as “Like a weapon, assume every stopped car is loaded, with an occupant ready to exit from either side.” or “Don’t ride over an area (such as puddles or leaves) when you can’t see the road surface.”
After seeing this video, I’m adding “When approaching a curve with no forward sight lines, hug the curb…’tight to the right’ .“
After seeing this video, I’m adding “When approaching a curve with no forward sight lines, hug the curb…’tight to the right’ .“
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 12-12-16 at 05:36 AM.
#25
New Orleans
Tight to the Right
not bad-sorta rhymes
Of course the motorist is at fault-
but the riders would be "dead right"-great for their heirs-not so good for them
Cars routinely cut curves and corners-
it should never be a surprise for an adult-riding or driving
Probably not so good for heirs-5 dead riders-$ 50,000 policy -dead young person worth $2,000,000 or so
Like Jim said
Tight to the Right- love that-I will steal it-forever
not bad-sorta rhymes
Of course the motorist is at fault-
but the riders would be "dead right"-great for their heirs-not so good for them
Cars routinely cut curves and corners-
it should never be a surprise for an adult-riding or driving
Probably not so good for heirs-5 dead riders-$ 50,000 policy -dead young person worth $2,000,000 or so
Like Jim said
Tight to the Right- love that-I will steal it-forever