Why Bikers die on Welsh Roads - TV tonight

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by MiniMatt

Did notice in the section by the caravan park how there was a shot of a car towing a caravan and overtaking on a particularly bendy road just as the commentary was talking about "dangerous bikers in gangs" tho

On the part shot at the caravan park, I was very disappointed when talking about the accident that took place outside, that they did not point out that it was a car pulling out in front of a bike that caused it!

The program did talk of accidents that were obviously not the bike rider's fault (well to a biker anyway) but did not make this clear enough. This was a major fault of the program, as it could have been more balanced if they had done this. Perhaps they were trying to show that bikes are more vunerablr, but made a bad job of that?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Law

Have you taped it? I want to watch the whole thing.

I taped it.

is it possible to put the bit of you on youtube? just so we can see how pretty you are?

i dont think bbc1 repeat things like this do they (if it was chanel 4 or 5 it would have been on 3 times by now)

OK, deep breath....

Originally Posted by Stu

I thought it was a very good program with no reason for Baph's complaint link. Seriously.
It showed that some bikers are knobs - True
It showed that freak accidents happen - True
It showed that when accidents happen on a bike like hitting a pole or a post, whereas in a car you've got a far chance of survival, but you'd better know that on a bike there's a fair chance you'll just die.
It was quite forward in promoting that accidents are not generally speed related - True so the program was much better in that respect than Wales police.
It showed that Wales could do with some motorways. Sounds like a good idea to me & leave the good roads for just the motorbikes that want to use them.

+1.

I thought that they did quite a good job of showing reasons other than speed that kill. They could of done more to point out that inappropriate speed kills, and not simply breaking the speed limit.

Originally Posted by Law

Still thinking about the consequences of being on a bike after that program, but it won't stop me biking. I am so selfish.

I live in the area that the show was filmed (as do a few members of the org). I'm certainly not put off.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

When the guy was interviewed off the Bikesafe course, I'm in the background waving me arms about with the guy in the Fluo jacket. I am also seen stuffing me sarnie in me face....

I noticed, and pointed you out

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

40 a year isn't bad to say how much fun it is and how close a lot of bikers push the edges.

Sorry, but 40 a year is terrible!! As one woman on the show put it (caravan park owner I think), you can't put a price on a human life.

Originally Posted by Stu

I think you will find that the statistics bear out that most motorcycle accidents are single vehicle AFAIK Can't argue with statistics.

Can't you? Granted through, I won't argue that most bike accidents are single vehicle. Everytime I've hit the floor, there was only me involved.

Originally Posted by TheDangerousQuietOne

Welsh roads are gorgeous but deadly too, I didn't fully understand how much until I came a cropper, now I have full respect for them, unfortuanetly it took a major incident to get this across to me along with a £2000 repair bill!

I would just say to ANYBODY on here, no matter how experienced, NEVER underestimate strange roads that you haven't ridden before. I didn't realise that there was a 200m cliff 2m away from where I landed until the medics told me...I was 2m away from certain death...it could well have been anybody on here.

+1. Special note on this for the North Wales ride please.

TheDangerousQuietOne, I don't know where you came off, but I'm sure that you're now all too aware, the fact that you were 2m from a 200m drop is actually pretty tame for some roads. There's a road I ride regularly that takes you up the side of a mountain. Certainly more than a 200m drop, and the only thing stopping you is a chicken wire fence!! Take that road too fast, and meet ANYTHING coming the other way, evasive manouvers time & if you're extremely lucky, scrape past, as it's single track!!

Back to the programme, I honestly thought it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Yes they could of done this & that, but at the end of the day, they did highlight that 4% of fatalities were due to speed.

As for the guy doing 110mph in a 30mph zone? That is one lucky mother.... His number was up that day, how he's still around to tell the story I'll never know. He came around the bend far too fast & the car had absolutely no chance. Just as he had no chance of avoiding. However, I thought he did well to stay upright until the moment of impact whilst his rear was locked up & stepped out. It's probably only because he stayed upright that he's alive. I suspect he was thrown over the car whereas if he'd of gone down, he'd of been in the car.

The numpties from Stoke-On-Trent need not come back to North Wales TYVM!

Personally, I think that the law should be changed slightly. First (and maybe second) offence caught speeding, and yes, you get points. However, the fine should be used for a "discount" (where you pay the balance) on an advanced driving course, regardless of the type of vehicle. This course should be made mandatory if you're caught speeding.

Originally Posted by sarah

early on in the prog they showed that think bike ad where the driver pulls out of a side road into a bike. first time i've seen it since the crash. wasn't very nice.

I haven't come off due to a SMIDSY (quicky runs & touches wood), and I've always hated that advert. It's one of the few things that I can't watch on TV because it turns my stomach. I know it's a distinct possibility, I'd rather not see it on TV though.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by hovis

is it possible to put the bit of you on youtube? just so we can see how pretty you are?

I really am not so vain that I would post a bit of footage with me in the background! Plus it is too much hassle to transfer it all off tape to computer to YouTube!

You will all see me soon enough (to soon for some) on the North/south or AR07. If you are desperate to see me, Hovis come on the N. Wales rideout on 26th-28th!

Originally Posted by Luckypants

(to soon for some)

+1

I found the programme interesting even if it was slightly bias towards the anti-bike lobby.

I respect the bereaving father, he is perfectly entitled to want all motorbikes banned, if my child was killed, I would probably feel the same. It was a shame that they did not interview any female bikers. More could have been made of the higher training many bikers take. I was hoping that they would point out that the cause of death is the impact with road furniture.

Wales offers the roads that are fun for bikers, it’s proximity to the large cities such as Liverpool, Birmingham makes it the playground. However it also makes it a deathtrap. Many of the fun roads are at higher elevations, the microclimates make the conditions change very quickly. One moment you can be riding in near perfect sunny conditions the next you’re in the shade, a ten degree drop in temperature is not uncommon, the road is often wet and leaf strewn. Maintaining these roads to a good quality is hard for the Local Authorities, given a budget according to the population.

I ride these roads regularly, all year round, I’ve leaned to respect them, and I think I can ride them well and safely. Put me in any major city and I’m going to feel vulnerable and a novice, my riding will reflect this. However the inexperienced urban biker, does not get the same vulnerable feedback and rarely experiences rural conditions, so it should be no surprise that they come a cropper.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

If you are desperate to see me

, i am,i am

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Hovis come on the N. Wales rideout on 26th-28th!

im working on the sunday .......... guess i will have to wait only 30 days

[dizzyblonde]

thought it was startin to get a little heated in here last night, but glad to hear there are like minded individuals that ride safe, doesn't mean you still can't enjoy though does it, and as for im indoors well he gets sarky cause he's been knocked off so often. After 11 years of biking and numerous accidents I think he's a very experienced rider. It doesn't matter how old you are to be that

Originally Posted by Mogs

I respect the bereaving father, he is perfectly entitled to want all motorbikes banned, if my child was killed, I would probably feel the same.

I understand that he is greiving, and he gets a lot of credit in my book for saying that he realises what he wants can't happen. But in that situation, I would hope that I could look at it as though my son was doing what he wanted to do, and was enjoying himself. A quick exit is always better than a long drawn out one in my book. Still, the family have my sympathies.

Originally Posted by Mogs

Many of the fun roads are at higher elevations, the microclimates make the conditions change very quickly. One moment you can be riding in near perfect sunny conditions the next you’re in the shade, a ten degree drop in temperature is not uncommon, the road is often wet and leaf strewn.

Something I've found out the hard way. I've ridden on the A470/A5 before, set off wearing sun glasses, expecting to be home in about 40mins (not including stopping off for a bite to eat). I stopped at Betws-y-coed for lunch. When I set off, it was light hail stones. 3hours later I got home, after riding through snow & sheet ice interpsersed with hail stones.