Sudden spike in bad driving- sudden lane changing!!!
Since going back to work- i.e. commuting again since Monday, I have had to go into town from Bellville several times.
I have noticed a sudden increase in cars that swap lanes suddenly without checking behind or alongside.
They see a gap ahead and to one saide and they jump for it.
On Thursday 19th feb, 17H17 while approaching the Exit 7a (Koeberg Interchange, inbound), a car jumped for the left lane right into the path of a young rider (100m ahead of me) taking him out in spectacular fashion.
As FBOS, I took photos, parked to protect him, called the EMS and treated him until more qualified help arrived.
Then Friday 20th 09H45, at almost the same space but right hand lane I saw the tell tale tumble marks of a bike and there was a very smashed up green superbike lying agianst the Armco.
All day, going from place to place and later commuting home, I saw cars twitching across lanes and not looking.
Much more than usual.
Driving has suddenly gotten quite bad. I don't care whether they look or not (most times they won't see me anyway). If only they would indicate.
Matthew rides Brenda through the Koeberg interchange. He has had two collisions there from such twitching. Both times at low speed, and Brenda's footpeg tore up the side of the cars. Matt just looks at the damage to Brenda, the damage to the car, sees that he is ahead by many thousands of Rand, flips the driver the bird and rides off. (I get to fix the damage)
Be careful out there, we had two incidents in the traffic yesterday with bikes hitting cars. One salesman with a broken collar bone!!
I seem to remember that this was common practice on the reef.
Maybe we are seeing an imported trend after the Xmas holidays.
Feed back from people in Hout Bay is similar, there seems to be an upswing of lane changes without warning.
This I always see and even anticipate when traffic is slow bumper to bumper and just before off ramps.
But it seems there is more than usual.
How does one make a statment that there has been a sudden spike in unsignaled lane changes
How is this stat determined?
The driving and riding has always been shocking, it increases now because we have new students, new riders, everyone is back from leave. We have to be super vigilant and please slow down, you will still get to your destination before everyone else who is in a cage.
I have also noticed a trend for "bikers" to race and perhaps prove my bike is better than yours, go to the track and show us how good you are, not a public road in thick traffic...
As a daily commuter whose survival depends on vigilance, mental risk assessment and classification, continuous trend analysis and riding adjustment - it becomes obvious when you find yourself avoiding dangerous lane splitters 5 times a day on the same route at the same time, vs a typical 3 times.
Then you post your observations on this forum and gather similar perceptions from others - and hey presto!
How often have you not seen scientists prove something that everybody already knew (like the fact that animals have emotions, or that dogs can read human expressions, etc)?
Max, I think you are very close. sounds plausable.
Definitely an increase and seen some hairy antics.
Again, it is bikes that are the worst enemies of bikes in so far as car driver attitudes toawards bikers go.
Riders of bikes often make mot morists hate bikes and actually it is the poor decent biker following that collects the invective from the car.
Even ER24 has noted an increase in accidents involving motorcycles.
Today on the R300, I came up on a bike going much slower than me.
When I tooot totted, instead of pulling over, he put on speed.
Stupid clot.
i backed off and evne change lanes, he was heading to his accident, beyond his capability.
If I have a bike come up on my '6', I see it for awhile and pull over if he is faster.
I certainly will not try stay ahead.
If he wants to go faster than what my brain tells me is a safe speed, thtas his indaba, let him go on and get ahaead.
I'm alive and accident free after >600 000 kilometers because I do not let another motorists dictate how I should behave or speed.
Hi Andy, Lekker chat with you at red robot while splitting lanes in traffic this morning!
I was returning from my rondavel at Meerensee near Hawston when you pulled up next to me at Broadlands Road.
We should stop meeting while wearing helmets! Its happened a few times!
The local Pizza house is much more sociable...
Done deal Peer.
Was a super morning for a ride, notwithstanding the wind.
Afternoon Andy, What time do you commute on the R300?
Ag, it varies,
I never have a set time.
I come off the N2 around 07H40 and onto R300 as far as N1 South.
some dys earlier, some days later.
But if the helmet has an ostrich feather, then its very likely I am under that helemt.
Last week as a maroon feather, RHS of helmet
This week it is a white one, LHS of helmet
Cool ,the reason I ask is to get your take on the van riebeek offramp, and what they can do there to stop the madness, I am on that road everyday and I am waiting for a big accident.
The amount of people and taxi's that jump from the right lane to the left at that intersection is crazy, and I am not sure that the police can do anything about it.
Cool ,the reason I ask is to get your take on the van riebeek offramp, and what they can do there to stop the madness, I am on that road everyday and I am waiting for a big accident.
The amount of people and taxi's that jump from the right lane to the left at that intersection is crazy, and I am not sure that the police can do anything about it.
Solid white lines being crossed, then fines can be issued?
They just need a camera there
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