Forum

[Midge]

I saw a van reversing today who was unaware of a motorcyclist right behind him. Quite a bit of damage to the bike, forks & wheel bent. Luckily the rider had only scratches. I had visions of the wheels going over him and the bike. Take care out there.

[Beezabryan]

or a truck. There was I believe a tragic accident of that nature in Blockley the home of Watsonian Squire. I am a retired trucker who had a bloody great sticker on the back end reading - IF YOU CANNOT SEE MY MIRRORS I CANNOT SEE YOU. Seems too simple for many a silly sod to understand that in "a coming together" the only thing that will come off better than a truck is a bigger truck!

[PeteF]

Bryan says it all. If you hide yourself behind a van you can only blame yourself. I usually position myself on a van's O/S rear where the driver can see me and I can see past him.

[Alan R]

Hi Guys------- How old was the biker ?? It's not unusual to see "Jack-the-Lad" up close and personal with whatever's in front. Mind you, same can be said for most urban car drivers as well------too close, too fast, too bad !!

[Grumpy]

Not the van/truck drivers responsibility to look behind then?

And what if it was a child or OAP crossing behind? Tough luck is it?

[Martin C]

For several decades, I've fitted a very loud set of Fiamm airhorns to all my bikes & cars soon after purchasing them (apart from a Toyota Avensis which had a surprisingly loud standard item fitted).

These sometimes fully justify their existence - if I need/want to hoot at somebody, I really DO want them to HEAR me!! A few weeks ago, I was able to cause an artic driver to pull back into his own lane after he quite deliberately started to cut me up in my current little car.

[PeteF]

Well Grumpy, what is the van driver to do? Get out the cab and look behind him? - OK, but then he gets back in the cab and .........well well, he can't see behind again. So he gets out of the cab to look behind him.......................... That's why we have rules for pedestrians crossing roads. It's called the Green Cross Code (or was whwn I was a lad) Part of the code says that pedestrians should not cross behind van, buses or even cars where they are vulnerable.

[Alan R]

----------I was referring to the "Blind-spot" that most rear-view mirrors have. Like BEEZABRYAN I had an HGV Class 1 Licence for over 20 years--along with my car & bike, plus panel vans (large & small) so have seen things from both points of view. It's a pity they don't teach "Roadcraft" in schools as part of our "Preparations for life". PETE F }---- Actually yes, that OR employ the use of a look-out before manoeuvring.It doesn't take a couple of seconds just to ask someone to help you, does it ?? I've found that most will. But as this list heading says---- Be careful when behind a van, or anyone else out there. Remember, as motorcyclists WE ARE A MINORITY GROUP.

[PeteF]

I also spent many years driving vans of all sizes and the ONLY time I had an incident while reversing (concrete post fortunately - not a bike or person) was when I relied on a friendly passer-by to "help" me.

[Bullet thrasher]

A few weeks back I was rattling along east Hill when a carpet ruck pulled out from the loading bay with back roller open and his massive carpet moving trolley rolled off the back into the road in front of me.
With luck I was slowing anyway but I was jolly cross I tell thee.
Pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, car driver, van driver, truck driver and skateboardist at one time or another.
Being a cyclist is the worst. Your at the mercy of all the idiots and their fkin with your life. They just have to get past you (too close) so they can turn left In front of you, sit at the lights while you overtake them again etcetc. So stupid!
People moan about cyclists but rarely if ever caused me any bother at all. Just give them space.
And don't get me started about 4x4 drivers who wouldn't give way for their 70 year old mums.
Makes my blood boil