China - Biker Slams Into Car Doing U-Turn

[v1r]

[TerminusV]

I mean most speed limits are set depending on the amount of traffic projected to enter and leave the roadway.

He already had one warning to slow for traffic conditions by that scooter. Now this completely avoidable incident. Oh well. Bikers should think like boaters. The bigger boat has the right of way. Lol

[nudibranches646]

…. Exactly, and he’s riding in China for god sake. So half the speed limit, half it again, divide it by 4.34 and then walk.

[ride]

He totally had time to stop that bike - if he had used proper braking technique.

[durt]

should have just center punched the car

[kellyhound]

Originally Posted by ride

He totally had time to stop that bike - if he had used proper braking technique.

he already slowed down so he also could have passed the car on the left imo. Seeing the long shadows makes me think the driver got sun blocked and didn't see him in time no matter if it's an illegal u-turn or not.

[ride]

Originally Posted by kellyhound

he already slowed down so he also could have passed the car on the left imo.

Agreed. He didn't even think about it, though. To swerve around the car to the left was entirely possible, but not in this guy's wheelhouse of skills. He was committed to let this play out by charging straight ahead.

He went for the front brake but then never put more than a token, "I'm doing the right thing here, see?" pressure on the lever. I was looking to see if the front end dipped, indicating initiation of serious front brake being applied. I counted two seconds between fingers on the front brake and impact, and a whopping four seconds from when he actually rolled off the throttle to impact. At 96 KPH (about 58 MPH) he should have been able to stop the bike. At his top speed of 120 KPH (74 MPH) he would have had to be at front wheel threshold braking (wheel is still rolling but the tire is just starting to howl), but he still could have done it. MHO.

Application of the rear brake would have helped, too, I got no indication he was using it at all. Normally that would have been making noise (skidding rear tire) early on in the stop.

At least he rolled off the throttle as he gazed into the afternoon sun, watching through squinty eyes (NOT an Asian stereotype, but because the sun was bright, racists) waiting for the car to stop and give him enough space for an out.

I sure wish GoPro's and the like were commonplace when I was doing crash analysis and reporting in the Air Force. So much easier than measuring tape/wheels, actor and witness statements, and voodoo math - plus the propensity for people to outright lie to cover their asses.

[Trucked up]

He's walking home now.