Lucky Escapes...

[philshort]

Back in my biking days, I had just had several stiches removed from my knee following a spill. I couldn't straighten my right leg, but found that I could rest it on the crancase cover (Suzuki GT750, very wide crankcases). No back brake, but who needs 'em? Well, they can actually come in very handy when you stand the thing on the back wheel. Especially when you want the front end on the deck to get round a bend. Plod comes along to find me sat against a wall, skid marks from the apex to the kerb, and my bike propped up against a lamppost (standing on end), with skidmarks down 3/4 of the lamppost itself. The younger of the two took one look at the evidence and was right in my face ready to do me for any and everything. His mate, a bit older and wiser, took one look at the bike (forks mashed into the engine, which in turn was a good six inches forward of its mountings) and old him to "calm down, I think he's suffered enough!". Good call! Bike was totalled, I had TPF&T insurance - total loss. See, some of them are human!

[pbrettle]

Hi all, Thought that I would share a nice little "Lucky Escape" that my sister managed around 3 years ago. She lives in the High Wycombe area and used to work in Reading. While on her way to work one day she was driving at 40 in a 30 zone (naughty). Out pops Plod with a radar gun in hand and promptly zaps her. Now is the good bit. Having recently changed cars she braked heavily and came to a skidding stop (not used to the brakes). Jumped out of the car and promply "laid into" said Plod on the inappropriate action of litterally jumping out from behind a car into the middle of the road. She then started pointing out how dangerous it was and considering he was holding something in his hands pointing at the car, she thought the worst - a gun! Plod then duely admitted that it could have been percieved as that and he should have given much more warning..... So, nicely let off for that one. However, three weeks later she got caught by a camera doing 40 in a 30 zone and ended up with 3 points and a £60 fine! Could have been worse though... PJB

[grantberkeley]

Some years ago a friend & I were on the way to Italy on a couple of bikes. We planned to go via Geneva and the Mont Blanc tunnel. We eventually arrived at the entrance to the tunnel - just as the Italian customsd were going on strike - however it was just starting to snow, was @ midnight and a kindly Mr Italian Plod on a bike took pity on us and waved us through following us into the tunnel. Of course we stuck to the speed limit - next thing over the double white lines he goes - pulls up alongside me and gestures to me to open up and get going pdq - he then overtakes us still waving us on - can't tell you what a pleasure it was to a: overtake a copper on double white lines & b: do 115mph (as fast as the old 850 beamer would go flat out!)through the Mont Blanc tunnel with full Police approval!