Not a good day

[mick56]

Saturday morning 10am,500yds from my door,some poor bloke got killed on a Harley.From what i can make of it,he was overtaking at a junction,and had a head on with a van.Had he been sitting upright,on an old classic,or head down arse up,on a pocket rocket,he would have gone over the top on impact,and maybe survived.I suspect he was riding feet forward,like i do,and would have had less of a chance.Any thought's.

[radco]

WOW sorry to hear that ! Makes you think which is a good thing when riding !

[redjay]

I think hitting anything head on at speed is likely going to be deadly no matter what your position on the bike.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by redjay

I think hitting anything head on at speed is likely going to be deadly no matter what your position on the bike.

Depending on the speed i imagine.It is a 40mph limit on the stretch at that junction.He was really unlucky that it was a van.He might have gone over the top of a car.Poor bugger.https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/167...several-hours/

[redjay]

Would a Mercedes Sprinter be what the Missenden Flyer on YouTube calls the "white van man", in other words a courier ?

[mick56]

Originally Posted by redjay

Would a Mercedes Sprinter be what the Missenden Flyer on YouTube calls the "white van man", in other words a courier ?

You got him.90% them are "recent arrivals", who are used to driving on the wrong side of the road.Plus they are rushing around like lunatics,trying to deliver an impossible amount of parcels.

[dhuttonkc]

Can't imagine passing at speed on a lane where 12 seconds ahead visibility is not possible. Can't imagine passing (overtaking) at a junction (intersection) regardless, whether it be 2 lane or 4 lane.

If I remember correctly, from a brief driving stint in the UK, the slanted lines across the median are "barrier markings" and indicate a no passing zone. Same as our own (US) often violated solid white or yellow markings.

Sad to say, but sometimes our own bravado is our worst enemy.

In jeans, boots, and leather gear I am probably not heading to a meeting with the CEO or President. I would rather be a few seconds late than remember my last thoughts as "that was a stupid thing to try".

Ride Safe, Arrive Alive.

[mick56]

You are right on every count mate.I reckon he was coming towards you in that photo.and the road curves to his left at the junction.So his vision would not be very far,especially as it appears he was overtaking a truck at the time.

[Brydgy]

A few rides ago I watched a rider, Harley but I don’t think it matters, pass a p/u pulling a trailer and a transport. He barely made it in from a header with a dump truck. Very foolish.