Road Rage

[Mick_Marsh]

American style.


Motorcyclist Kicks Car, Triggers Chain-Reaction Crash on S. California Freeway (http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2260911-motorcyclist-kicks-car-triggers-chain-reaction-crash-on-s-california-freeway/)

[Simon]

Crazy stuff. If the biker is wanted for road rage does that mean the car will be up for attempted murder given the apparent attempt to take the bike out?

[Chops]

If I were the driver of the car, I'd alledge I got a fright and that's when it all started. The biker is a dickhead and needs to be taken off the road.

[Spartacus]

If I were the driver of the car, I'd alledge I got a fright and that's when it all started. The biker is a dickhead and needs to be taken off the road.
As a bike rider that is the kind of Bull**** we hear all the time. or the good old SMIDSY. Sorry Mate I Didn't See You.
If some moron nearly killed me on a bike he or she would cop abuse too. Bearing in mind it was the Car that started the whole thing by nearly taking the rider out and you want to blame the rider.

[Eevo]

clearly the cyclist is at fault

[Tins]

As a bike rider that is the kind of Bullsh1t we hear all the time. or the good old SMIDSY. Sorry Mate I Didn't See You.
If some moron nearly killed me on a bike he or she would cop abuse too. Bearing in mind it was the Car that started the whole thing by nearly taking the rider out and you want to blame the rider.

The bike clearly had plenty of room. Sure, the car changed lanes when inappropriate, but the ensuing multiple accident was very clearly caused by the idiot on the bike kicking the car. If you behave like that I hope I never meet you on the road. A blast on the horn, a bit of a yell I can understand, but kicking the car is moronic behaviour, and I hope they throw the book at him.

[kenleyfred]

Caused by the bike IMO,but panicky reaction from the car. Isn't it scary how easily the pickup rolled?
Kenley

[Sitec]

So, we have another situation similar to the 'Garden Grove semi overtake thread'... Again we are only seeing a percentage of what happened, and again we have the divide.. Bike kicks car (not good in it's own right, BUT we don't actually know what had previously provoked bike rider to kick the car. He should not have kicked the car).. Car driver then tries to take bike out in retaliation. That in its own right is an attempt at someone's life. It doen't thake a genius to know that bikes don't have the protection of a car, so irrespective of the bike being in the right or wrong, the car driver should not have done what he/she did... Both have broken the law in one way or another. End of!

[Gordie]

Correct Sitec....and I am getting jack of this world we now live in...everyone is still human remember...we still make errors in judgement...all of us. But no, we all have to be 100% perferct, 100% of the time.

Anyone got a remote bush block I can move to and escape this modern society???

[strangy]

Gordie so cynical.
Everyone is only 100% perfect when "they" are not under scrutiny.,.

[Simon]

The car almost got the bike, looked like he wasn't far off smearing the central dividing wall. Neither covered themselves in glory.

[Tins]

Correct Sitec....and I am getting jack of this world we now live in...everyone is still human remember...we still make errors in judgement...all of us. But no, we all have to be 100% perferct, 100% of the time.

Anyone got a remote bush block I can move to and escape this modern society???

Everyone is still human. That's what you said. So, a car driver slowly changes lanes near a motorcycle. The biker had ample time to observe and react, which he did. After that part was over, he decided to ride up next to the car and kick it, precipitating a chain of events that injured people in an uninvolved car. The guy in the car could have been killed, as could the guy on the bike.

You want a bush block? So do I, to escape morons like that thug on the bike, who not only put multiple lives at risk, but lacked the guts or gumption to stick around and help the people whose lives he risked, or face the music. Watch it again with the blinkers off. There is no excuse for his actions. None whatsoever.

I wonder how all you apologists would react if it was your mother in that car.

[Tins]

So, we have another situation similar to the 'Garden Grove semi overtake thread'... Again we are only seeing a percentage of what happened, and again we have the divide.. Bike kicks car (not good in it's own right, BUT we don't actually know what had previously provoked bike rider to kick the car. He should not have kicked the car).. Car driver then tries to take bike out in retaliation. That in its own right is an attempt at someone's life. It doen't thake a genius to know that bikes don't have the protection of a car, so irrespective of the bike being in the right or wrong, the car driver should not have done what he/she did... Both have broken the law in one way or another. End of!

Nope. The car driver made a mistake, no doubt. The biker then reacted in a malicious and premeditated way. This vid isn't like the Garden Grove one, as we can see clearly what occurs, and we can hear the reaction of the people in the car.

I'm fascinated that you can take the car losing control and turn it in to an attack on the bike. Can you point out on the vid what it was that prompted that? Serious question. I can't see it at all.

[Tins]

The car almost got the bike, looked like he wasn't far off smearing the central dividing wall. Neither covered themselves in glory.

Watch it again. There is room for a whole lane between that bike and the wall, before the kick.

[Gordie]

Everyone is still human. That's what you said. So, a car driver slowly changes lanes near a motorcycle. The biker had ample time to observe and react, which he did. After that part was over, he decided to ride up next to the car and kick it, precipitating a chain of events that injured people in an uninvolved car. The guy in the car could have been killed, as could the guy on the bike.

You want a bush block? So do I, to escape morons like that thug on the bike, who not only put multiple lives at risk, but lacked the guts or gumption to stick around and help the people whose lives he risked, or face the music. Watch it again with the blinkers off. There is no excuse for his actions. None whatsoever.

I wonder how all you apologists would react if it was your mother in that car.I think you misinterpreted my message mate...the car driver made a mistake, the bike rider reacted to that mistake, in a mistaken way....what I am saying is...WE ALL need to take a deep breath in society. I ride a bike, many times I am compromised by dickhead drivers...I don't react(other than to save my skin)...I just shake my head. That is why I 'lane split' at the lights and get my own space on the road. I have flown planes, driven trains, trucks, cars and bikes....and I still make mistakes....

[p38arover]

C we all have to be 100% perferct, 100% of the time.

Yep! [bigsmile]

[Gordie]

Yep! [bigsmile]Hehe, well spotted...in my defence...I am a fan of 'the darling buds of may', where everything was 'perfick'.[biggrin]

[rangieman]

So, we have another situation similar to the 'Garden Grove semi overtake thread'... Again we are only seeing a percentage of what happened, and again we have the divide.. Bike kicks car (not good in it's own right, BUT we don't actually know what had previously provoked bike rider to kick the car. He should not have kicked the car).. Car driver then tries to take bike out in retaliation. That in its own right is an attempt at someone's life. It doen't thake a genius to know that bikes don't have the protection of a car, so irrespective of the bike being in the right or wrong, the car driver should not have done what he/she did... Both have broken the law in one way or another. End of!
Never a truer word said[thumbsupbig].
Im a Bike rider and unless some of these morons ever ride a bike in traffic full of oh sorry i did`nt see you Bull**** they will never get it,
Personally i have belted a few windows when stopped at the lights to get said morons attention then abuse the idiots:bat:

[Tins]

I think you misinterpreted my message mate...the car driver made a mistake, the bike rider reacted to that mistake, in a mistaken way....what I am saying is...WE ALL need to take a deep breath in society. I ride a bike, many times I am compromised by dickhead drivers...I don't react(other than to save my skin)...I just shake my head. That is why I 'lane split' at the lights and get my own space on the road. I have flown planes, driven trains, trucks, cars and bikes....and I still make mistakes....

Maybe I did. It was the 'getting jack" comment, probably. I have done all of those things you mention bar the train, and I hear you ( I never had to worry about getting kicked in the B-Double, and if someone was close enough to kick me in the PA 28 then I was already in trouble). I do my best to steer clear of traffic too, and hate being in a bunch of clowns where anything can happen, and probably will. It is getting worse rapidly, IMO.
The only part I don't agree with was that the biker made a mistake. What he did was deliberate, but I will give him the 'red mist' defence. He should have stopped though. He didn't, so he's at best gutless.

[V8Ian]

What we're not seeing could tell more of the story. How many swings did the car take at the bike before the rider retaliated?
I'm not prepared to cast judgement on the limited evidence presented but, a kicked in door is not life endangering; the car driver's action, particularly with his demonstrated limited skills, had potentially lethal consequences.
Obviously there was wrong from both parties.

[Gordie]

It is getting worse rapidly, IMO.
There you go...come with me, lets get a bush block and start up a landy-commune...lets leave the ***** behind!!

[Eevo]

Two wrongs dont make a right. I understand the riders frustration

[Chops]

As a bike rider that is the kind of Bullsh1t we hear all the time. or the good old SMIDSY. Sorry Mate I Didn't See You.
If some moron nearly killed me on a bike he or she would cop abuse too. Bearing in mind it was the Car that started the whole thing by nearly taking the rider out and you want to blame the rider.

And just "how" was he nearly killed in that scene?

Having ridden a bike for many years, through summers and many wet winters, I have almost been taken out by cars and trucks more times than I can remember. Not once did I ever take out my anger on other peoples property. I have however given mouthfuls of abuse when beside offending vehicle. Not once in all that did I ever yell at old people, who obviously don't see as clearly as they may once have, or have the reaction times, but just calmly asked them to be more careful. I may have thought they were stupid old *****, but upsetting them whilst their behind the wheel could cause more issues.

What I really would have liked to have seen, was to see dickhead kick the car, lose his balance and clean up the wall,,, he deserves that.

I watched with baited breath today on the way home, again, as some clown was splitting lanes at about 60+clicks, thinking he owns the road, only to have a car pull out from his right on him,, "missed it by that much",,,, bugger. They split lanes at speed, and seem to believe that they are to be seen by everybody,,, forgetting, or not realizing, that as a driver, your left hand mirror can be blocked by a car behind you, or you as a rider may have slipped behind a car, so again, not seen. No one watches their left hand mirror "all" the time.

So tough on his bike,, kick the car,, but to **** weak to even stop and help. He's a gutless turd, I hope they find him and lock him up.

[Tins]

What we're not seeing could tell more of the story. How many swings did the car take at the bike before the rider retaliated?
I'm not prepared to cast judgement on the limited evidence presented but, a kicked in door is not life endangering; the car driver's action, particularly with his demonstrated limited skills, had potentially lethal consequences.
Obviously there was wrong from both parties.

Possibly true. Let's assume you are right. Ian. You are a 'pro'. Would you 'engage' the way the biker did? Or would you back off and let him go his way? I know what I would have done. It doesn't really matter what transpired before. The biker had the choice to change things. He could have backed off. On a bike, he could have chosen to simply twist the handle on the right hand side and ridden off. He didn't do either of those things, he chose to kick the car. Red mist, perhaps, but it could have cost him his life.

I actually really welcome these debates. I have seen far too many roadside tragedies for one lifetime. If anyone gains even one little insight, and I most definitely include myself here, then the debate, or sometimes loud argument, has been worth it.

Was it 'Hill Street Blues' that used to say, "Take care out there"?

[Tins]

There you go...come with me, lets get a bush block and start up a landy-commune...lets leave the ***** behind!!

Can I bring my Disco, or will you only accept my Series?

[Tins]

Hehe, well spotted...in my defence...I am a fan of 'the darling buds of may', where everything was 'perfick'.[biggrin]

Now, that's a bush block I could handle. My ideal perfick life. Even had the Tax Man flummoxed. ( Catherine Zeta Jones could do that to a bloke)

[Tins]

And just "how" was he nearly killed in that scene?

Having ridden a bike for many years, through summers and many wet winters, I have almost been taken out by cars and trucks more times than I can remember. Not once did I ever take out my anger on other peoples property. I have however given mouthfuls of abuse when beside offending vehicle. Not once in all that did I ever yell at old people, who obviously don't see as clearly as they may once have, or have the reaction times, but just calmly asked them to be more careful. I may have thought they were stupid old *****, but upsetting them whilst their behind the wheel could cause more issues.

What I really would have liked to have seen, was to see dickhead kick the car, lose his balance and clean up the wall,,, he deserves that.

I watched with baited breath today on the way home, again, as some clown was splitting lanes at about 60+clicks, thinking he owns the road, only to have a car pull out from his right on him,, "missed it by that much",,,, bugger. They split lanes at speed, and seem to believe that they are to be seen by everybody,,, forgetting, or not realizing, that as a driver, your left hand mirror can be blocked by a car behind you, or you as a rider may have slipped behind a car, so again, not seen. No one watches their left hand mirror "all" the time.

So tough on his bike,, kick the car,, but to **** weak to even stop and help. He's a gutless turd, I hope they find him and lock him up.

Every word. Marcus. Every word.

[Gordie]

Now, that's a bush block I could handle. My ideal perfick life. Even had the Tax Man flummoxed. ( Catherine Zeta Jones could do that to a bloke)Oooh yeah, the perfick wife and the perfick father 'n' law! Life would have been good!!

[Gordie]

Can I bring my Disco, or will you only accept my Series?Well....I am a bit of a sensitive new age guy...so you 'modern-landy-lovers' are more than welcome.

[Tins]

This thread is the "us and them" crap all over again. For heaven's sake, traffic is a 'chaotic system' in mathematical terms. It is almost as unpredictable as the weather or the stock market. Ride, or drive, to survive. Stay away from others as much as you can, keep watch for idiots, acknowledge that those around you should keep watch for you, and NEVER forget that you have people to go home to. Understand that people make mistakes, including YOU. Knowing that you were "in the right" will be cold comfort to your family when the Police knock.

[trout1105]

Today I had some stupid woman pull out in front of me doing a right hand turn, I was in the right hand lane as I needed to turn of the road about half a click further on.
There was bugger all traffic so she would have had a perfectly clear view of my D2 coming down the road with the headlights on ( I always turn the headlights on when driving) But she pulled out anyway, Luckily I have a Disco with good brakes and a collision was avoided.

Did I yell and scream abuse or chase after the tosser? No I just shook my head and did the "Shrug" thing at the bloke who was turning left from the same intersection who saw it all happen and carried on.
You come across useless twerps on the roads and highways all the time and getting angry and bent out of shape is absolutely pointless.
I also did quite a bit of riding in my time as well, I Loved my Yamaha 650 even though it rattled and vibrated much like a Blender.
It was not only good on bitumen it went bloody well on the dirt as well considering it was only a road bike.

[Tins]

Well....I am a bit of a sensitive new age guy...so you 'modern-landy-lovers' are more than welcome.

:wub: Guess that means the RRC can come too. And the 69 Fiat.

[Tins]

Today I had some stupid woman pull out in front of me doing a right hand turn, I was in the right hand lane as I needed to turn of the road about half a click further on.
There was bugger all traffic so she would have had a perfectly clear view of my D2 coming down the road with the headlights on ( I always turn the headlights on when driving) But she pulled out anyway, Luckily I have a Disco with good brakes and a collision was avoided.

Did I yell and scream abuse or chase after the tosser? No I just shook my head and did the "Shrug" thing at the bloke who was turning left from the same intersection who saw it all happen and carried on.
You come across useless twerps on the roads and highways all the time and getting angry and bent out of shape is absolutely pointless.
I also did quite a bit of riding in my time as well, I Loved my Yamaha XL650 even though it rattled and vibrated much like a Blender.
It was not only good on bitumen it went bloody well on the dirt as well considering it was only a road bike.

As I posted somewhere else, this was common, even when I was driving a 26 metre long, 4.6 metre high B-Double. Like you, I always drive with my lights on, no matter what I'm in. I have been known to shout, especially when I have just flat spotted 30 something tyres. And then I see the look of astonishment on the face of the driver I'm shouting at, because all the blue smoke and red face was the first time he or she had seen me. Nuts, but I always went 'Phew. Another one I didn't kill.'

I loved my bikes. My first was a Kawasaki Mach III, probably the stupidest motorcycle ever built. Then there was a Mach IV 750, which was a little more civilised. But the best, one I truly miss, was the Z1000. I had a 900 rear guard and fairing on it, and it was sublime to look at and bliss to ride. Your average 250 these days would probably wipe the floor with it, but it was magnificent. Had to let it go. Wife of those days hated it. Only had two since then, a Z1R briefly ( dropped it) and a Honda VFR 750, which was nice, I guess. Handled and stopped way better than the Kwakas, but no soul. I'll never ride again. Oh, if someone offered me a ride on a Z1000, and there was no possibility of traffic, I'd have a go. On the road? No way, not these days. I guess I'm old.

[Mick_Marsh]

I'm amazed at the narrow vision some people have.

The petty squabble between two people with selfish attitudes put the innocent ute driver in hospital.

Those two who caused the incident should never be allowed on the roads again. They're a danger to the public.

[Wraithe]

Gee what a lot of comments and arguing...

2 yanks have a fight on the freeway, somebody innocent gets hurt, now its become a small war...

Dont know what was more interesting, the news article or the thread...

At least it was only 2 cars crashed, normally there prangs involved a dozen cars, a few trucks and the odd bus, and thats only on a week day...

[Tins]

I'm amazed at the narrow vision some people have.

The petty squabble between two people with selfish attitudes put the innocent ute driver in hospital.

Those two who caused the incident should never be allowed on the roads again. They're a danger to the public.

Good sentiments, really. Both people need to explain themselves in court.

[Tins]

Gee what a lot of comments and arguing...

2 yanks have a fight on the freeway, somebody innocent gets hurt, now its become a small war...

Dont know what was more interesting, the news article or the thread...

At least it was only 2 cars crashed, normally there prangs involved a dozen cars, a few trucks and the odd bus, and thats only on a week day...

Lol. Hang around here for a while and you will see this is only a minor skirmish. Small wars are far more likely to occur on threads concerning recovery, or LED lights.

That said, as I posted earlier, arguments like this one should be welcomed. Makes us all sit up and take notice. Don't make the mistake that this stuff is all about "2 yanks".

[V8Ian]

Possibly true. Let's assume you are right. Ian. You are a 'pro'. Would you 'engage' the way the biker did? Or would you back off and let him go his way? I know what I would have done. It doesn't really matter what transpired before. The biker had the choice to change things. He could have backed off. On a bike, he could have chosen to simply twist the handle on the right hand side and ridden off. He didn't do either of those things, he chose to kick the car. Red mist, perhaps, but it could have cost him his life.

I actually really welcome these debates. I have seen far too many roadside tragedies for one lifetime. If anyone gains even one little insight, and I most definitely include myself here, then the debate, or sometimes loud argument, has been worth it.

Was it 'Hill Street Blues' that used to say, "Take care out there"?
Firstly, in order of importance, yes it was Hill Street Blues.

Next, no I wouldn't 'engage' in that manner, for a number of reasons:



My bike has never been grounded, I'd like to keep it that way.
Sure as, they'd be an unmarked one behind me.
I have a decent sense of self preservation.


Even on a bike, there are times that it is not possible to throttle out of trouble, you can find yourself going too fast to avoid the clown who is determined to carve you up.

A couple of years ago I was on a weekend ride with another forum member. We were northbound on the southern end of the M1 on the Gold Coast, the traffic was very heavy but travelling at the speed limit. We were in the right lane with solid traffic in front, when some clown who wanted to travel considerably faster than the flow, cut me off, missing me with a pillion by a foot. He disappeared into the distance, carving up all who held him up. We stopped for a drink a few kilometres further, lo and behold there's our idiots car in the service station. It took remarkable restraint not to mash my fist into his dial, or my helmet into his windscreen. My restraint was influenced more by the CCTV than any sense of civilized behavior, I've left it too late to get a criminal record.

[Tins]

Even on a bike, there are times that it is not possible to throttle out of trouble, you can find yourself going too fast to avoid the clown who is determined to carve you up.

Know that. was that what was happening here?








A couple of years ago I was on a weekend ride with another forum member. We were northbound on the southern end of the M1 on the Gold Coast, the traffic was very heavy but travelling at the speed limit. We were in the right lane with solid traffic in front, when some clown who wanted to travel considerably faster than the flow, cut me off, missing me with a pillion by a foot. He disappeared into the distance, carving up all who held him up. We stopped for a drink a few kilometres further, lo and behold there's our idiots car in the service station. It took remarkable restraint not to mash my fist into his dial, or my helmet into his windscreen. My restraint was influenced more by the CCTV than any sense of civilized behavior, I've left it too late to get a criminal record.

I don't really blame you, but my question to you was about your professional behaviour, as a long term heavy vehicle operator. Because, if you can snap on a bike, you can snap in a truck. Dealing with someone 'later' works fine for me. But that 'kick' could have just as easily been a 'swerve' in the truck. Not OK, IMO.

[Sitec]

That said, as I posted earlier, arguments like this one should be welcomed. Makes us all sit up and take notice. Don't make the mistake that this stuff is all about "2 yanks".


I'm not convinced... Arguments should be welcomed... if the parties arguing are presented with all the facts... As with most videos posted these days, only a small part is shown.. The BAD bit! Accidents, wars, cruelty, disaster... The list goes on.. We all now have instant access to the dilemma's of the world, and due to the poor way it's reported with insufficient facts, we only get to see the worst.. The bad bits.... The stuff that makes news. We then all sit there and dwell on it.. 'Oh, that was bad'.. 'Why would they do such a thing' etc etc, which then in turn gives everyone an 'opinion' on what should be done.. or how it should be fixed, or in this case 'who was at fault'! Facebook is the worst for it. Drama after drama, story after story. That is half the reason the world is going the way it is. As I said in my earlier post, we have two people having a disagreement on a freeway.. We do not have all the facts, so every opinion on who is in the wrong is just that. Too many people are sitting up and taking note of what's being fed to them.. and then believing it as fact.. The sad part of that vid is that the two clowns managed to involve a third innocent person.

[V8Ian]

"Know that. was that what was happening here?"

We'll never know from that brief clip.



"I don't really blame you, but my question to you was about your professional behaviour, as a long term heavy vehicle operator. Because, if you can snap on a bike, you can snap in a truck. Dealing with someone 'later' works fine for me. But that 'kick' could have just as easily been a 'swerve' in the truck. Not OK, IMO."

I'm known for keeping a cool head and making rational decisions, in a crisis. I have only ever once lost my rag, about 35 years ago.

[Eevo]

i wonder if the car driver has learnt a lesson

[Wraithe]

What is it with truck drivers and motorbikes????

One is a deadly occupation and the other is a temporary australian...

Taking a look in the mirror, I cant see what is the cause of this one extreme to another...

I have found a cure tho, "AGE" with a dash of injuries, seams to cure most problems...

And who ever wrote, they havent laid there bike down, I think they are over cautious or dont ride hard enough...

I dropped my little Suzuki in the dr's car park and then out the front of a mates, both times I needed a bystander to help right my old bike... So to save embarrassment, it is rotting away in the shed....

As for the trucks, luckily I havent owned one for years thus my last boss still turns the wheels, albiet without me,...[bawl]

[Tins]

I'm not convinced... Arguments should be welcomed... if the parties arguing are presented with all the facts... As with most videos posted these days, only a small part is shown.. The BAD bit! Accidents, wars, cruelty, disaster... The list goes on.. We all now have instant access to the dilemma's of the world, and due to the poor way it's reported with insufficient facts, we only get to see the worst.. The bad bits.... The stuff that makes news. We then all sit there and dwell on it.. 'Oh, that was bad'.. 'Why would they do such a thing' etc etc, which then in turn gives everyone an 'opinion' on what should be done.. or how it should be fixed, or in this case 'who was at fault'! Facebook is the worst for it. Drama after drama, story after story. That is half the reason the world is going the way it is. As I said in my earlier post, we have two people having a disagreement on a freeway.. We do not have all the facts, so every opinion on who is in the wrong is just that. Too many people are sitting up and taking note of what's being fed to them.. and then believing it as fact.. The sad part of that vid is that the two clowns managed to involve a third innocent person.

Got you talking and thinking, didn't it?

Thats my point. I don't give a stuff if anyone agrees with me. I don't believe that I am always right. In fact, I know I'm not. I just want to challenge fixed and rigid thinking, because I KNOW that is the wrong way to change things, because rigidity is inherently the opposite of change. If anything I say makes people think, then I don't care if it makes their blood boil. Better here than out there.

[Wraithe]

Back to the thread...

The bike rider may have been stupid for kicking car, but if thats what caused the car driver to lose control, then the car driver shouldnt be on the road...

If the car driver intentionally swerved and then lost control, then he had no control to start with and a danger on the road...

The bike rider had no right to leave the scene, at fault or not, it was an accident...

The way I see it, lock them both up and sort it out... The car driver showed very little respect for any others, the bike rider was stupid to kick the car, but the car driver showed no ability to drive(like 90% of people on the road)...

Still its a yank thing, I just wish we looked the gate but alas the horse has bolted and that attitude has arrived here...

[trout1105]

Is it just me and am I wrong in thinking that City drivers are more prone to fits of road rage than their Country cousins?
I don't try to imagine how it would be stuck in traffic every day on the way to and from work, It would drive me insane as well.

Here is some Bush road curtesy that works both ways.[biggrin]
On most of the "Skinny" one lane bitumen roads I have travelled on the majority of the drivers in the bush tend to pull right off the blacktop to let a Truck pass and not force the poor Bugger to have one side of his rig swinging on the dirt.
There are two reasons why we do this.
1/ it makes it safer and easier for the truckie to pass.
2/ with all the trucks wheels on the blacktop there is little danger of it flicking a stone up into your windscreen or spotties.
Win Win

[Wraithe]

Trout, you been in WA too long...weekends and holidays, they are not the days to go into town..

That being said, I went east when I joined the Army, thought I knew what a city person was, until I met them at basic training..Now I was either nieve or stupid, but there weird...

Meeka to Kumarina, now that was fun... Some sections you didnt want to share the road if you had a high load and double deckers where the scariest...

But a road to remember, Fitzroy to Halls creek pre bitumen... criss cross gravel track, try to guess who had left and right when you meet... Tourists would be the funniest...

[trout1105]

[QUOTE]But a road to remember, Fitzroy to Halls creek pre bitumen... criss cross gravel track, try to guess who had left and right when you meet... Tourists would be the funniest...[QUOTE]

HeHe
That brings back some memories, I did Geraldton to Darwin on my Yamaha 650 in the seventies.
I had just got a few miles into the dirt from Fitzroy Crossing on the way to Halls Creek and the heavens opened up and the road turned to mush, That was definitely an interesting ride.

[Wraithe]

That would have been fun with those holes in the middle full of water... When dry you could lose a car in them...

I have seen a truck stuck in the middle of the road, new bloke running the road, didnt know it was the danger zone in the middle... [bigsmile1]

[Tins]

Back to the thread.



When did we leave it?

[Tins]

Is it just me and am I wrong in thinking that City drivers are more prone to fits of road rage than their Country cousins?

No, it's not just you. I believe city life destroys courtesy, on almost all levels, these days. Everyone is in a hurry, everyone has "rights", everyone is self important, and everyone else is in everyone's way. It's hideous. Everyone 'expects' to be safe, and will sue when they find out that that doesn't work.

The very first time I experienced road rage I was in North Sydney, in 1973. I was up there in the army from Wodonga, and I obviously didn't understand something that I should have. This fat, bald bloke in a suit got out of his car (ironically the same model Fiat that I was driving) and crossed the traffic to kick my passenger door. I was so gobsmacked that I didn't react at all. I guess Sydney was crazy even then.


Here is some Bush road curtesy that works both ways.[biggrin]
On most of the "Skinny" one lane bitumen roads I have travelled on the majority of the drivers in the bush tend to pull right off the blacktop to let a Truck pass and not force the poor Bugger to have one side of his rig swinging on the dirt.
There are two reasons why we do this.
1/ it makes it safer and easier for the truckie to pass.
2/ with all the trucks wheels on the blacktop there is little danger of it flicking a stone up into your windscreen or spotties.
Win Win

I can't tell you how much that means to blokes like I used to be. I only ever drove a couple of trains, but B-Dubs are bad enough. The biggest things I'm asking, on a road like that and you are coming the other way, are where are the spoon drains, how soft are the edges, where are my run offs; so some courtesy from the 'locals' is very much appreciated, and I thank you, even if it wasn't you in person. One thing you don't mention, but I bet you did it, was to get off to the side early, so we'd know what you were up to. One of the best ways to pick a smart local from a transient is the anticipation shown.

[Tins]

That being said, I went east when I joined the Army, thought I knew what a city person was, until I met them at basic training..Now I was either nieve or stupid, but there weird...



That's a trifle tiresome, Wraithe. People can't help where they're from. I did my basic at Kapooka. Maybe you did too. I had to put up with country boys who were no doubt tougher than me. But, I was far brighter than the ones I had to share with, and I could shoot better. What does this mean? Nothing at all. We came from different walks of life, that's all.

Time we all accept that we are different.

[1nando]

I've had a bloke nearly kill me on Southern cross drive by changing lanes quickly and without notice. When i beeped my horn and put my hands up in the air to suggest "wtf" he decided to give me the finger and I could tell that he was telling me to **** off. He had his mrs in the car and im not sure if he was trying to look tough or he was just a dick head
I was so angry that I wanted to follow this bloke until he stopped and bash him in front of his mrs. As I was following him he decided to hit the breaks on a few occasions trying to stop me on the motorway. Eventually we came off on the m7 and stopped at a set of lights where I rolled up to his mrs window and asked him to step out off the car. It was at this point he started apologizing and that's when my better judgement kicked in.
I left it at that and some choice words. I can underatand why some riders get frustrated to the point of acting like that. Once a pon a time I would have had no issue dealing with that differently to today but im older and wiser I'd like to think.
For a bloke on a bike to kick out at a car I'd bet my left testicle that the driver deserved it. I know it's illegal to retaliate but as a rider you always get the "i didnt see you, sorry!". One day you might not be lucky enough to hear this and that might be your last day, people in cars that don't ride don't get that.

[DiscoMick]

People are so angry on the roads here in Australia and it's often over nothing. I mean, a bloke cuts you off - so what? Shrug and move on. It is what it is.
I lived in Bangkok for 3 years where the traffic was far, far worse than here, and I never saw these road rage incidents. Everyone knew the traffic was terrible so why get angry?
Friends from Australia would freak at the Bangkok traffic and I'd tell them to just chill and flow with the go. It made me a very defensive driver. I just assume other people are going to do the wrong thing and often I'm right.
Come back to Oz and there are people behaving like angry idiots all the time. Why?

[Simon]

To badly channel Yoda, frustration leads to anger, anger leads to rage, rage leads to being a d-head

As a city dweller I reckon a large part is being stuck in traffic takes away people's sense of control, leaving them frustrated.

Most have the good sense and self control to accept it and as DiscoMick said, just chill.

Some don't and get angry, then do dumb angry things in a way of trying to reclaim control, cutting off to get ahead, giving the bird, tailgating and onwards until someone gets hurt. A bit like the bully in the playground at primary school.

There's probably a mix of other factors in there as to who will go loco - self entitlement, social ineptitude - but that's one for the shrinks.

It's funny though how Sydney drivers don't seem keen to bully a 110, makes my day a lot easier. Either that or they are just all faster than me anyway......

[DiscoMick]

Recently my wife was in the centre lane slightly ahead of a young bloke in a battered Hilux when the lanes ran out. She was ahead so she kept going and he should have just pulled in behind. Instead he revved up behind her, beeped repeatedly and gave her the finger. At the next dual lane roundabout he roared up alongside, gave her the finger again and then roared ahead and pulled over in front of us, giving the finger out the window.
The wife and I just sat there roaring with laughter at his moronic behaviour. Seriously, where is natural selection when you need it?

[Wraithe]

That's a trifle tiresome, Wraithe. People can't help where they're from. I did my basic at Kapooka. Maybe you did too. I had to put up with country boys who were no doubt tougher than me. But, I was far brighter than the ones I had to share with, and I could shoot better. What does this mean? Nothing at all. We came from different walks of life, that's all.

Time we all accept that we are different.


Your probably right, as I do have a few friends(well probably more acquaintances as I keep getting told I dont have friends) that live in Perth...

Mind you, Perth was a country town when I left the farm and ventured north to more open country...
Now its a ??? well city I spose...

I did have a friend during basic training that was from Brisbane, nice guy... The other 2 in the room where from the country... Others from the city I got on with, didnt mix so well with the other city people...

But it probably didnt help that I came from a station in the Kimberleys, straight into the Army... Carrying my gear from the station...

[AllTerr]

Still its a yank thing, I just wish we looked the gate but alas the horse has bolted and that attitude has arrived here...

How is it a "yank thing"? I've witnessed more road rage here in 5 years than I have in the USA in 40...... Have had my car kicked more than a few times at traffic lights by pushbike and motor bike riders alike for not being far enough to one side or the other in MY lane.....

[Eevo]

the reason i'm an "anger motorist" is cause i'm sick of the declining driving standards. and driving is risky. your mistake might kill me.

[bee utey]

Seriously, where is natural selection when you need it?

Kid's in a LowLux, give him another month on the outside... there used to be a kid down the road from us who went to the same school as our lad, drove an old FJ40 like it was a Skyline. Didn't last all that long after he got his P's.