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Road Safety ; Look Out For Bikes
Letter from a MAG Member: -
Sirs,
Last night whilst on the daily motorcycle commute home from my business, I suffered the old cliche " Sorry, Mate, I didn't see you." Not too unusual, you might say.
However I was riding my large Harley Davidson motorcycle complete with 7" 55W Halogen Headlight burning and was hit by a car driven by another motorcyclist. The driver had even more driving and riding experience than my 30 years.
My experience and the training course I helped the No6 Region Police Driving School set up in the late 1980s, meant that the collision was minor and I retained control of my motorcycle.
The point of this letter?
Well over the last 10 days whilst riding my own and customer's motorcycles I have experienced the following examples of careless and or thoughtless behaviour all of which present a danger to other road users:
- Car turning Right from side road (Victoria Road into Wyke Road) across my path - both vehicles had to stop to avoid collision.
- 200 yards after 1 above car turned Right across my path from parked position on other side of The Down without looking to enter private drive - I stopped, driver oblivious of my presence despite twin 55W halogen headlights being wired on and horn sounded as warning.
- Car pulls onto small (not mini) roundabout at A350 Yarnbrook into my path - both vehicles had to stop to avoid collision.
- Car pulls onto same small roundabout at A350 Yarnbrook into my path - both vehicles had to stop to avoid collision.
- Whilst riding 50cc scooter rear wheel skids on mud left on road by Wessex Water contractors
- Car pulls onto same small roundabout at A350 Yarnbrook into my path - car stopped, I rode around front avoiding collision.
- Whilst following a snack delivery vehicle along Marsh Road in Hilperton, a Road Safety Camera van pulled out to overtake parked cars causing delivery vehicle and myself to brake sharply and stop. When reported to Police at Divisional HQ, Melksham, I was told that the Police Driver remembered the manoeuvre and stated that the incident did not occur(?) (Should the driver of the delivery vehicle read this, please contact Sgt Blanco at Divisional HQ, Melksham with your evidence. Incident occurred at approx 10:30/35 on Thursday 26th October.)
- Whilst pulling away from a junction rear wheel of Harley Davidson spins on slick of mud left by Wessex Water contractors and breaks away sideways - control regained.
- The incident last night detailed above.
I have not bothered to detail the numerous examples of drivers using hand held mobiles, applying make-up, combing hair in review mirrors etc. these seem to be accepted behaviour now.
Baz Sullivan Lightning Services www.lightning-services.co.uk
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