Very sad I was involved in such a crash a large number of years ago but was lucky to be in my car when the van turned across my path so only had whiplash and cuts and bruises, but it has made me very (almost over) cautious at junctions like that when on my bike, I was lucky to live and learn, R.I.P. David
I can't add more than is already on the thread. but agree 100% with Nav. All I will add is Speed in the right area is OK with me, but you have to be very careful where you do it. Not for getting caught but for something like this happening.
I have seen the video and it's all over social media...I just hope that the mainstream TV channels show it and if they do, not in a "bikers are bad" kind of way. It would certainly make some car drivers a bit more bike aware Though those ones lost in their texting and mobile conversations will never change..
You know as well as me if the media get their hands on this it will be be all about Bikers, speeding. How speeding kills (bo**cks, hitting something kills). Enlightening road users on how best to avoid this, IE checking before crossing, Not speeding at junctions does not sell. But a speeding biker who died does A bloody shame and yes I hope you get the idea I dislike the general media as a hole.
Well my lad showed my missus and they both looked at me and said "You've got to see this We are more worried about your next ride out now". My answer was simple: Those lads that take Jctns for granted, at speed would have only themselves to blame.In that video there were two road users that made mistakes If one had not made a mistake it wouldn't have happened.The rider could have been doing 40mph and the driver again not judging properly could still have caused a collision.Unfortunate as it is, both were to blame. So if the media get hold of this, it may do more good than harm.It will bring home to drivers as well as bikers to go careful.Wish they could do footage of those idiots in the left lane on roundabouts turning right
I hope people actually bother to read the article, rather than just watch the video. The fact is, the driver WAS prosecuted for driving without due care and attention... I think many car drivers would be surprised to learn that, even though the biker has to take a large chunk of responsibility for trying to do 90mph past a junction, the biker's speed does not exonerate the driver from responsibility. I would like to see the Police really push that point home.
Basicly! if you treat every other driver on the road like a prick that wants to kill you....you won't be far wrong. And you'll live a lot longer too. Took me a major accident as a teenager to realise this and Ill never forget. Ride defensively people...live longer!
This video has made me think a fair bit over the past 12 hours or so, and whilst it has reminded me how dangerous it can be out there I don't believe the video would have an impact on the multitude of car drivers out there who have never ridden a bike. As I mentioned earlier I watched it with the wife and as soon as I saw the junction I told her that was where it would happen. The signs were there to highlight it as a possibly dangerous junction, but the biggest danger was an incompetent or at best distracted driver, a driver who by their own admission not only didn't see the bike, but also didn't see the car behind the bike. OK the light, weather and visibility was good, but he was relying on other road users to know what they were doing, and sadly a lot of them don't, and that means the bike was going too fast because he couldn't react in time. If he had overtaken the car and dropped down to 50/60mph for the junction he may still have been killed by the car, but as is frequently said it is inappropriate speed that is dangerous. I am sure that a lot of people will take different things from the video, but to me it just reinforces what my Dad told me and my siblings when we first went on the road - "Treat everyone on the road like an idiot and you won't be surprised or disappointed" Ride safe and try to expect the unexpected.
I think the video does put us in a very bad light unfortunately for one reason David's speed that's all the majority of car drivers will focus on viewing it! ''For all bikers are reckless and speed everywhere no wonder they get hurt or killed'' and unfortunately that video portraits that! Putting the emotional impact of the video aside and it is hard to say this but David was 100% to blame he was hyped up after spending an amazing day with his friends and simply got carried away and didn't give the respect needed on a busy junction! It is very hard to judge the speed of a bike coming toward you compared to a car with our tall thin profile and drivers have so many in car distractions with passengers, even a song on the radio that you hate look down for a second to change station and bang as quick as that! I have been using the road via Car, Bus and Bike for 29yrs and I have Think Bike stickers on my car and bus but I know I don't look out for bikes 100% of the time! No one does! so something involving a bike or cyclist could happen to anyone of us in our cars It's us that are getting hurt and killed and its us that need to be educated! We can't keep blaming other road users. We need Think Road Craft stickers for us! I don't mean to sound crass and insensitive but we need to wake up to the fact we are 100% responsible on the road for ourselves and need to ride appropriately for the situation or videos like these will just keep coming! More needless loss that could have avoided! accidents will happen we can't stop that but try and make them less serious! Sorry guys but something needs done and we need to look to ourselves for the answer!
To be fair, when I started to watch the video and he set off like he was on a MotoGP grid, I did think that the end result was going to be no surprise. The fact that he was doing nearly a ton on a busy road said to me that he had an overconfidence in his own abilities. I ride fast, sometimes too fast, but it's tempered by a caution at obvious danger points, honed by 30 driving experience and knowing my ability limit. I also understand that everyone else on the road is an idiot and in this day and age of the mobile phone, 80% of those will be using one behind the wheel and not looking out for me on my bike. It would be interesting to know whether the police looked into that drivers phone records to see if it was in use at the time, and what the outcome was..
It seems that the BBC have anyway BBC News - David Holmes: Head-cam footage of motorcyclist's fatal crash
Awful to watch and very brave of the parents to allow to be seen. Both rider and driver at fault with a life gone and many more ruined. Certainly made me think today on seeing the footage.
Out on my bike today and has changed my riding. a lot more careful when approaching junctions, never trusted anyone before, just even more so !! Rip David
Rip David Its a shocking video. I couldn't get it out of my head for a day or two after watching it. It will make me think twice about speeding past junctions for sure. Well done to his family for releasing the footage, lets hope it changes a few riders perspectives and does some good. Safe riding.
