Drivers... again. *non horsey*

[HollyhedgePippa]

Apologies for the post but I just wanna share this.

Tonight I had a call off the paramedic which was at the scene of my boyfriends accident. A woman pulled out on him and knocked him off his bike. He wasn't in her blind spot and he could have sworn she saw him. He wasn't speeding, he wasn't tucked behind the car infront of him. She pulled out on him and he didn't have time to brake. He didn't lose consciousness (spelling?) but he didn't remember if he hit the side of car or traveled on the bonnet.

When the paramedics found him he was lying face down with his bike quite a way from him so they believed he travelled. He got the paramedic to phone me and she was lovely.

When I got to him he was all strapped up onto a board, head brace, neck brace and his clothes were all cut up. Oh and he was high on morphine & entonox. During the 4 hours we were there he had several x-rays on his legs, hips and spine and all suprisingly showed no breakages!!! Cue happy girlfriend & family! So he was sent home.

I just wanted to post this to show that as well as horses I don't think some drivers are as aware of bikers as they should be. Oh and it was a bit of a happy happy get-rid-of-shock pointless post. Oh and last thing: cherish every moment with loved ones!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

You are absolutely right, some drivers go around with their eyes shut!.
I've had 2 close shaves recently in my car. The first one I was on a mini-roundabout when a car came out from my left and almost grazed my headlights, apparently the dirvet thought it was my fault, then a driver coming towards me took a huge sweep out into my side of the road because he wanted to turn *LEFT* into the Golf Club entrance. I almost crashed into the bank at the side of the road, swerving to avoid him.
I'm glad to here that your bf is ok, although rather battered and bruised, I'll bet.

 

[HollyhedgePippa]

You are absolutely right, some drivers go around with their eyes shut!.
I've had 2 close shaves recently in my car. The first one I was on a mini-roundabout when a car came out from my left and almost grazed my headlights, apparently the dirvet thought it was my fault, then a driver coming towards me took a huge sweep out into my side of the road because he wanted to turn *LEFT* into the Golf Club entrance. I almost crashed into the bank at the side of the road, swerving to avoid him.
I'm glad to here that your bf is ok, although rather battered and bruised, I'll bet.

They're absolutely blind some! Glad you wasn't hurt!
Yeah he came away with an extremely swollen ankle (looked broken like the bone was sticking out!) battered, scraped and aching. I have a picture of him sitting outside A&E in a wheelchair in his t-shirt; long johns which were cut up to his knees so looked like he had flared trousers on and one of his work boots on! He's 17 as well and had only had his bike(brand new) since december last year so he was extremeley peeved!

 

[Blitzen]

Glad to hear he's ok! I don't like motorbikes, so much power and the rider is so exposed. Having worked in orthopaedic trauma, and seen some awful injuries, I will never get on one again! Bikers tend to be amongst the most careful road users, but get blindsided by idiots who are oblivious to their surroundings.
My OH had a few accidents on his (bright yellow!) motorbike, he's been very lucky not to have had any broken bones! His most recent one left him a bit battered and shaken up, but when he got xrays back clear and the ok to come home from hospital, I took him to the yard to help me finish clipping my mare! (I'm mean! TBF I was halfway through doing it when he rang to say he'd been hit by a car! Lol) He's got rid of the bike, admitted it was just too dangerous, and has a car now. The relief that the damn thing has finally gone is staggering!

 

[HollyhedgePippa]

Laura-C I agree with you! This is his 3rd accident with his bike! (two others were his own fault - put the break on too hard and fell off and rode into the back of a man who decided to pull out onto the island and then slam his breaks on at the last minute). I'm trying to persuade him that running a bike may be a lot cheaper than a car but you cannot afford to lose your life.I think it's working after what he went through tonight!!
Fair play to you about making him come and help you finish clipping your horse

 

[maisie06]

Glad to hear he is ok. Some drivers look but the just don't SEE. The amount that just pull out in front of me in the morning is unreal. Some are in such a hurry they fail to observe anything going on around them.

 

[HollyhedgePippa]

Maisie06 yup:-( but it's still no excuse. Are you a biker as well or?

 

[Littlelegs]

Glad he's ok. It's not just bikes & horses, I have days where I sometimes think my cars turned invisible. It's just in a car its more likely to be a last minute swerve or fender bender than a&e.

 

[*hic*]

Laura-C I agree with you! This is his 3rd accident with his bike! (two others were his own fault - put the break on too hard and fell off and rode into the back of a man who decided to pull out onto the island and then slam his breaks on at the last minute). I'm trying to persuade him that running a bike may be a lot cheaper than a car but you cannot afford to lose your life.I think it's working after what he went through tonight!!

After a similar crash when my husband, who'd been riding for 20 years, was almost killed, having suffered multiple fractures, internal injuries and head trauma, I did a detailed analyisis of the costs of running his bike - NTV650 so nothing exotic - versus running the only car on the market at the time he could then get into without assistance and drive - Mercedes A170Cdi auto - and for the 8,000 miles a year we did on the bike there was virtually no difference in running cost.

However with two own fault accidents and one serious not his fault accident in six months I think I'd agree that perhaps bikes are not for him! Hope he's not too uncomfortable today.

 

[HollyhedgePippa]

Dee is he ok now?! Oh gosh that must of been a horrible experience for you both. I have told him plenty of times to get a car (so he can take me to the yard as well hehe), but as he is only doing an apprenticeship he doesn't have enough money to get a car and pay for the insurance ATM. He doesn't have time to find a job too. His dad is retiring next year and giving him his car so hopefully no more accidents on that devil machine.

 

[OpalFruits]

poor tom!

 

[Shellby27]

I hope your bf is ok? My husband and I have motorbikes and (touch wood) been quite lucky so far! Though its really hard work thinking for everyone on the road!!!

I drive for a living (coach/bus driver) and on a daily basis I have to put up with all the "Stevie Wonders" out there! My main duties involve taking all your kiddies to school safely and on time. You will be amazed how many drivers hate the fact that the school bus is holding them up for all of 2 minutes while the children get on in the mornings. Why do they feel the need to over and undertake??? One day one if these children will be killed by their lack of patience!!!

I really do believe that everyone should have to re-take their test every 5 years or so! This will solve the problem of too much traffic as at least 50% will fail!!!

 

[Sarah Sum1]

So glad he is ok! I really don't think some drivers are aware of what's going on in the roads. That's why whenever I see someone driving along whilst talking on their phone I mouth at them to 'Get off it!' I don't care!

My best friend witnessed a man knocked off his motorbike while she was walking down the road. She stayed with him, held his hand and talked to him until he passed away.

 

[Tillypup]

Glad to read he is OK, I'm not a fan of motorbikes I must admit, Hubby has one and it worries me so much when he's out on it! I did insist that he Hi-Vizzed himself up to the max though!!

 

[ROG]

I really do believe that everyone should have to re-take their test every 5 years or so! This will solve the problem of too much traffic as at least 50% will fail!!!

Compulsory driving assessments or tests will never happen for full licence holders because whichever Govt introduces them will lose the next election

 

[HihoGinger]

Glad to hear he is ok. Some drivers look but the just don't SEE.

Absolutely agree with this, and we are ALL guilty of it occasionally.
I had an experience quite a few years ago on my bike.
It was a bright lime green bike, and I was wearing full orange clothing with Hi Vis stripes (railway gear on the way from one job to another). I pulled up at a roundabout and stopped as there was traffic coming from my right. At the entry to the roundabout on my left were several cars also waiting.
We all sat there for a reasonable amount of time, and when my exit was clear, I proceeded onto the roundabout, just after I did this, so did the first car to my left.
She pulled straight out on me, and then just to cap it all, panicked and stopped dead on the middle of the roundabout, right in my path. I came to a stop just short of her drivers door, and delivered a few pleasantries before she went on her merry way.
I don't know how I could have possibly been more visible to her, and for at least a minute, she was looking directly at me, but she didn't SEE me.
Luckily there was no harm done, and on the plus side, as I rode off I noticed a very animated conversation going on in a driving school car which had been behind the lady and seen the whole incident, so hopefully that learner driver had seen first hand how vulnerable bikers can be.

OP. I'm glad your OH is relatively unhurt. Being pulled out on is terrifying.

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

All car drivers should be made to do their CBT would make them better more aware Car drivers (Life Savers) and wake them up to the vulnererability of Motor Bike Riders.

I have a pet hate of most cycle riders No Lights, Dressed in black, on the road when it suits, on the pavement when it suits, through the Red light, and then on to the pavement going like jo stink.

 

[HollyhedgePippa]

Thank you every one for your comments wishing him well.
He's fine ATM, taking lots of pain killers and hopping around the house because he hates the crutches

To me his bike looks like it's going to be written off.

I'm one of those people who like to take pictures of everything - my boyfriend hates it! Soooo, here are some pictures:

The swelling had gone down A LOT. It honestly looked like his foot was broken and was about to pierce his skin yesterday.
And here are some of his scrapes and his swollen knee:

I bet you're all thinking 'oh that's nothing' now, but I honestly cannot believe he walked out of A&E the same night; we all thought we were going to lose him.

 

[EmmasMummy]

I am glad your OH is fine. I agree that there are some drivers that do not pay attention at all......and really, how hard is it to see a biker?!?! I rarely see either motorbike or pedal cyclists who are not dayglo - thank god.

We all share the road, and we all have to be civil and polite and aware. Not all drivers are saints, and not all bikers are saints either - especially in rush hour when they think its acceptable to be between my car and a bus and to smack the side of my car cos they don't have enough room being where they legally shouldnt...........that breed of biker are a danger.