acpo guide to dealing with motorcycles

What about cars and loud exhausts There are chavs round my way who drive past with exhausts louder than most bikes, there's also a guy with an american muscle car (dodge charger or similar) that makes a sound like the world's about to end

Originally Posted by timwilky

But wtf is the problem with loud cans if it can add to any other road user thinking there is a motorcycle somewhere round here and forcing them to start looking, they an only be a positve tool in improving motorcycle safety.

My thoughts are kind of along the same lines but towards us bikers...

Wtf is the problem with sticking with a set size of number plate?

I absolutely deteste these people who complain about getting caught and receiving a fine for plate/exhausts. You know the rules!

I do find amongst my family and friends that they find loud cars a bigger problem than loud bikes. Cars do really boot out the bass line, very low, deafening rumble. Very, very irritating. You can't even drive quietly with exhuasts like that on.

I cant see how sports/road bikes are targeted when there are customs/easy riders which are far far louder.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by instigator

I absolutely deteste these people who complain about getting caught and receiving a fine for plate/exhausts. You know the rules!

Yep, my plate's fairly small, if I do every get bother for it that's just part of the price of a small plate.

Talking about cars- talk to 4-wheeled petrolheads and I guarantee you'll hear them complain about how they get persecuted while bikers ride around making all the noise they want. The grass is always greener on the other side. They don't get mentioned in this report, though, perhaps because it's about bikes

Couple of things stand out ofr me...

They discuss the fall in KSI accidents, manage to make a reference to the peaks the previous year, but fail to acknowledge that PWTs (that includes scooters) have become more popular over the last few years too (especially since the C charge in London). More statistics twisted to give a particular view....

Age: The reason that thare are more accidents with over 35's is because they're the people that can generally afford to run a fairly new bike and insure it, especially litre sports bikes... If you have a look at the amount of people in the UK who have a bike licence, I bet the average age is way over 35..... More crap statistics.

It's good to see they are taking a reasonable view on plates and visors. And loud cans save lives, fact. But I agree with Nemo, if some **** was abusing his race can outside my house he'd have something thrown at him....

.

[northwind]

That's what statistics are for

Average age of licence holders may be over 35, but if you map that against miles I'm pretty sure you'll find a different result. Same if you map it against people who currently own bikes.

According to RiDE average age of UK biker is 41, if you also ride a CBR600. You are Mr Average

[embee]

Seems very fair and reasonable. In summary, don't be a complete pr@t and you should be OK.

I suppose you'll always get one "jobsworth", but if these basically common sense guidelines are applied in practice it should be fine for everyone.

I still think there needs to be a much more aggressive education programme regarding road safety, the standards of driving definitely seem to be deteriorating IMO.
Use of handheld mobile phones and not wearing seat belts seems to be of epidemic proportions, both of which should be comparable to speeding I reckon, there is simply no excuse for either. Wear your belt, it doesn't cost anything and just might save your life, and turn the damn phone off FFS

Originally Posted by instigator

I absolutely deteste these people who complain about getting caught and receiving a fine for plate/exhausts. You know the rules!

That is a bit strong.

I agree with you - eg do the crime and all that, but I think the point is that why are the Police worrying about victimless crimes like that when there is so much they ignore (bad driving and mobile phones come to mind)

I think the ACPO recommendations are about right, I would love to see the ACPO report on mobile phone use......

Originally Posted by embee

I still think there needs to be a much more aggressive education programme regarding road safety, the standards of driving definitely seem to be deteriorating IMO.
Use of handheld mobile phones and not wearing seat belts seems to be of epidemic proportions, both of which should be comparable to speeding I reckon, there is simply no excuse for either. Wear your belt, it doesn't cost anything and just might save your life, and turn the damn phone off FFS

Agree with all that - it is a massive problem that is getting worse and the Police seem to be doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about it.

I wonder if the offical accident stats even include a section "accidents caused by or partially caused by someone invloved being on a mobile phone (handsfree or not)"

Figures from Sweden (I think) showed that just being on the phone (handsfree) was similar to being drunk in terms of attention and reaction times......

When will the dicks in power wake up and stop the carnage....