Subaru vs bike head on collision.
Discussion
There are never any positives in these scenarios. 
I feel for the biker who through no fault of his own has had his life completely destroyed for a long time, perhaps permanently, by this needless crash.
I also feel for the driver who seems to be a decent sort with no history of issues, and through a simple mistake has ended up in his prison, his life also now destroyed.
I suppose one "positive" might be that nobody was killed, but it's not much comfort. Indeed if I were the driver I'd have preferred it if I had been. Certainly I could never drive again knowing I'd been solely responsible for that.
I feel for the biker who through no fault of his own has had his life completely destroyed for a long time, perhaps permanently, by this needless crash.
I also feel for the driver who seems to be a decent sort with no history of issues, and through a simple mistake has ended up in his prison, his life also now destroyed.
I suppose one "positive" might be that nobody was killed, but it's not much comfort. Indeed if I were the driver I'd have preferred it if I had been. Certainly I could never drive again knowing I'd been solely responsible for that.
GC8 said:
I think that we can be divided into two groups when watching the video: those who immediately think ‘steer right!’, and those who think ‘what? what?’
Hopefully everyone here (and on the roads) is in the former group. Sadly, it appears, most are not.
If you think that I am wrong, then know that I think that you should take the bus.
In reality, in sudden unexpected situations such as in this incident, very, very few people will be able to take definitive objective action. 99.99% of people will just drive straight into the thing in their way, no matter what anyone might think before or after the event!Hopefully everyone here (and on the roads) is in the former group. Sadly, it appears, most are not.
If you think that I am wrong, then know that I think that you should take the bus.
Baldchap said:
As a biker, I find it astonishing (and occasionally terrifying) just how often cars end up on the wrong side of the road on blind crests and bends.
It does make me consider whether to hang up my leathers, sometimes.
It's not just car drivers, I once met a biker coming round a blind bend on the wrong side of a solid white line whilst he was overtaking a tractor, I pulled as far to the left as I could and he passed between me and the tractor, he was lucky that the road was just wide enough and I was paying attention. It does make me consider whether to hang up my leathers, sometimes.
He was the last bike in a group and was presumably trying to follow the rest of the group past the tractor and not get left behind as they had some fun on this road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8&fe... , I was also having fun in my Maserati.
This was a tragic accident and I have huge sympathy for the innocent victim whose life will never be the same again but some people on here would do well to remember that we are human and all make mistakes, sending the driver to prison for years for an accident achieves absolutely nothing. He was not driving particularly fast or recklessly, he misjudged one corner and if there had been nobody coming the other way there would have been no consequences.
V8RX7 said:
Which isn't much conciliation to the biker with live changing injuries.
I'm not sure what the point of an 8 month sentence is, it was a mistake that many have made and got away with, but the consequences were horrific.
Personally I'd see a lifetime ban as more appropriate.
My brother was killed by an idiot in an Impreza - he got 4 yrs (out in 2) not much for depriving my / his family of a son / brother / father
I'm not making light of the situation & I'm sorry for your loss, I met the driver who almost killed me & she was so shaken up she hadn't driven since, she told me she was navigating her iDrive & hadn't realised she'd crossed into my lane until she hit me. I'm not sure what the point of an 8 month sentence is, it was a mistake that many have made and got away with, but the consequences were horrific.
Personally I'd see a lifetime ban as more appropriate.
My brother was killed by an idiot in an Impreza - he got 4 yrs (out in 2) not much for depriving my / his family of a son / brother / father
I wouldn't want her banned for life despite how close I came to not being here & that I now have injuries that prevent me from walking to far etc that doesn't constitute a lifetime ban for me people are human & sometimes make mistakes which could sometimes cost someones life but I don't see a lifetime ban as an answer.
GC8 said:
I think that we can be divided into two groups when watching the video: those who immediately think ‘steer right!’, and those who think ‘what? what?’
Hopefully everyone here (and on the roads) is in the former group. Sadly, it appears, most are not.
If you think that I am wrong, then know that I think that you should take the bus.
Honestly, I think most of us would do precisely what he did - mash the brakes and freeze.Hopefully everyone here (and on the roads) is in the former group. Sadly, it appears, most are not.
If you think that I am wrong, then know that I think that you should take the bus.
What I don’t understand is how he ended up on the wrong side of the road - it doesn’t look fast, he didn’t lose the car, there’s no howling tyres, he just drove onto the wrong side of the road and stayed there.
Pooh said:
It's not just car drivers, I once met a biker coming round a blind bend on the wrong side of a solid white line whilst he was overtaking a tractor, I pulled as far to the left as I could and he passed between me and the tractor, he was lucky that the road was just wide enough and I was paying attention.
He was the last bike in a group and was presumably trying to follow the rest of the group past the tractor and not get left behind as they had some fun on this road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8&fe... , I was also having fun in my Maserati.
This was a tragic accident and I have huge sympathy for the innocent victim whose life will never be the same again but some people on here would do well to remember that we are human and all make mistakes, sending the driver to prison for years for an accident achieves absolutely nothing. He was not driving particularly fast or recklessly, he misjudged one corner and if there had been nobody coming the other way there would have been no consequences.
You make it sound like he was commuting to work, he was on a hoon. He was the last bike in a group and was presumably trying to follow the rest of the group past the tractor and not get left behind as they had some fun on this road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8&fe... , I was also having fun in my Maserati.
This was a tragic accident and I have huge sympathy for the innocent victim whose life will never be the same again but some people on here would do well to remember that we are human and all make mistakes, sending the driver to prison for years for an accident achieves absolutely nothing. He was not driving particularly fast or recklessly, he misjudged one corner and if there had been nobody coming the other way there would have been no consequences.
FrenchCarFan said:
You make it sound like he was commuting to work, he was on a hoon. f
k the driver.
Did you notice the speed on the dashcam footage - within the old ACPO limits for an NSL single carriageway....k the driver. The problem wasn't his speed, it was his lack of attention.
I wonder how many folks on here would be driving along there at over 70, and yet not have a problem staying on their own side of the road?
FrenchCarFan said:
Pooh said:
It's not just car drivers, I once met a biker coming round a blind bend on the wrong side of a solid white line whilst he was overtaking a tractor, I pulled as far to the left as I could and he passed between me and the tractor, he was lucky that the road was just wide enough and I was paying attention.
He was the last bike in a group and was presumably trying to follow the rest of the group past the tractor and not get left behind as they had some fun on this road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8&fe... , I was also having fun in my Maserati.
This was a tragic accident and I have huge sympathy for the innocent victim whose life will never be the same again but some people on here would do well to remember that we are human and all make mistakes, sending the driver to prison for years for an accident achieves absolutely nothing. He was not driving particularly fast or recklessly, he misjudged one corner and if there had been nobody coming the other way there would have been no consequences.
You make it sound like he was commuting to work, he was on a hoon. He was the last bike in a group and was presumably trying to follow the rest of the group past the tractor and not get left behind as they had some fun on this road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8&fe... , I was also having fun in my Maserati.
This was a tragic accident and I have huge sympathy for the innocent victim whose life will never be the same again but some people on here would do well to remember that we are human and all make mistakes, sending the driver to prison for years for an accident achieves absolutely nothing. He was not driving particularly fast or recklessly, he misjudged one corner and if there had been nobody coming the other way there would have been no consequences.
As an owner of three French vans and a French car, you have my sympathy.
Gojira said:
Did you notice the speed on the dashcam footage - within the old ACPO limits for an NSL single carriageway....
The problem wasn't his speed, it was his lack of attention.
I wonder how many folks on here would be driving along there at over 70, and yet not have a problem staying on their own side of the road?
That looks like you could take it at 90 without drifting across. Maybe not if you are updating you status on your phone.The problem wasn't his speed, it was his lack of attention.
I wonder how many folks on here would be driving along there at over 70, and yet not have a problem staying on their own side of the road?
Looks to me like the driver assumed the road continued straight even though he had no way to see it.
He only reacted to the bend when it became visible to him, which was too late even though his speed beforehand didn't seem excessive.
Either that or he simply wasn't paying attention, admiring the view or looking at the car following him.
A small driving mistake with devastating consequences.
It reminds me how important it is to drive with appreciation of what you can't see, as much as what you can.
Maybe they'll put some chevrons up to avoid similar happening again.
He only reacted to the bend when it became visible to him, which was too late even though his speed beforehand didn't seem excessive.
Either that or he simply wasn't paying attention, admiring the view or looking at the car following him.
A small driving mistake with devastating consequences.
It reminds me how important it is to drive with appreciation of what you can't see, as much as what you can.
Maybe they'll put some chevrons up to avoid similar happening again.
On the subject of cars and bikes crossing/driving on/close to the white line on bends, I always make sure I'm to the far left on a right hand corner and tucked in to the inside on a left, it ensures I leave room for the increasing number of people that do not stay on their side of the road as it happens all the time on the rural b roads near me.
The Subaru wasn't driving quickly from what I can judge on that video but it was a tight corner and he turned in far too late and ran it out wide, not sure what his vision would have been of the bikers as he approached the corner if he'd been looking across the corner and up road (as he should have been) although from the camera it doesn't look like there was much of a view.
To me it looks like a terrible accident caused by a mistake rather than a wanton disregard for others, if the road was unfamiliar to him he should have been looking miles ahead and giving himself a greater margin on the cornering speeds.
The Subaru wasn't driving quickly from what I can judge on that video but it was a tight corner and he turned in far too late and ran it out wide, not sure what his vision would have been of the bikers as he approached the corner if he'd been looking across the corner and up road (as he should have been) although from the camera it doesn't look like there was much of a view.
To me it looks like a terrible accident caused by a mistake rather than a wanton disregard for others, if the road was unfamiliar to him he should have been looking miles ahead and giving himself a greater margin on the cornering speeds.
Edited by Wills2 on Saturday 11th January 12:23
Dont like rolls said:
Is 60-65 too fast on that corner ?....it seems so but I still wonder how a "sporty car" can wash out that badly.
Can the Subaru owners please tell ?
+1, absolutely laughable amount of understeer exhibited in that video.Can the Subaru owners please tell ?
Renowned understeery chassis combined with s
tty tyres with limited mechanical grip?I'm convinced that most modern FWD hot hatches on decent rubber would have made it round that corner.
Olivera said:
Dont like rolls said:
Is 60-65 too fast on that corner ?....it seems so but I still wonder how a "sporty car" can wash out that badly.
Can the Subaru owners please tell ?
+1, abaolutely laughable amount of understeer exhibited in thay video.Can the Subaru owners please tell ?
Renowned understeery chassis combined with s
tty tyres with limited mechanical grip?I'm convinced that most modern FWD hot hatches on decent rubber would have made it round that corner.
The driver was either s
t or concentrating on something else.Or both.
or just over reacted to the verge condition.
Olivera said:
+1, absolutely laughable amount of understeer exhibited in that video.
Renowned understeery chassis combined with stty tyres with limited mechanical grip?
I'm convinced that most modern FWD hot hatches on decent rubber would have made it round that corner.
If your definition of modern hot hatches includes a 1972 Maxi on Michelin Xs, I can say with confidence that you are right...Renowned understeery chassis combined with s
tty tyres with limited mechanical grip?I'm convinced that most modern FWD hot hatches on decent rubber would have made it round that corner.
100% lack of observation/attention from the Subaru pilot.
Here's the approach to the bend on street view:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.3940124,-1.66537...
Gojira said:
100% lack of observation/attention from the Subaru pilot.
Not buying that at all. The bend was what, 45 degrees at best? It's not particularly severe looking at google maps.The video shows the vehicle starting to turn slightly, indicating the driver has wound on lock, then washes out into terminal understeer.
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