Idea for making people better drivers.

[Copie]

Originally Posted by mrbaxr6t

but with petrol prices skyrocketing, I am not so sure I would want to be a rolling million dollar target.

Its a good thing most clowns dont know how to work the internal valves, but it reminds me of topgear when you say it though, with only a rolled up porn mag for defence

[StrokedXT]

If people dont have the common sense to understand stopping distances etc for trucks they shouldnt be on the road, no amount of educating can cure stupidity

[torbirdie]

Originally Posted by john3136

I believe this was done in the US somewhere with scooters, and it's a superb idea !!

Ignoring all the anti bike comments: Your typical bike rider is (or at least should be) much more aware of traffic and road conditions than your typical car driver.

get tapped in a car - you might get a little scratch on your car.
get tapped on a bike - you might break your bones.

On the bike you need to pay attention to different road surfaces and brake appropriately - many car drivers don't even seem to know the difference between wet and dry driving.

I can't condone everything motor bike riders do, but in general on the bike you're better off in front of the traffic than stuck in it.

<rant_off/>
(edited for obvious typo)

Have to say, the idea is ridiculous. I dont want to end up in the wheels of some semi driver who isnt paying attention, so I dont ride motorcycles in traffic!

Why not make the silly scheme on pushbikes instead?, thats more dangerous than being on a motorcycle, it will achieve the same goals you wish to achieve.? and will make even motorcyclists more sympathetic to those on pushbikes?

Something to ponder, when the actual proportion of motorcycles on our roads is considered, statistics tell us there is no difference between the chances of two motorcycles crashing into each other, than there is for a car and motorcycle collision. Given motorcycles are smaller (make a smaller target), what does that tell you about motorcyclists in general?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by jeep_by_ford

If people dont have the common sense to understand stopping distances etc for trucks they shouldnt be on the road, no amount of educating can cure stupidity

People who arent into automotive stuff don't have a clue even on things like that, it'd be like the IT guy not allowing you to have a computer because you get viruses all the time from dodgy things.

[BOSHOG]

Originally Posted by john3136

in general on the bike you're better off in front of the traffic than stuck in it.

<rant_off/>
(edited for obvious typo)

says the bike rider, in general all car drivers follow road rules, even when it comes to swerving between traffic to get at the front of the line

nothing raises blood pressure more than bike riders doing what bike riders do

[zdcol71]

A little bit of a bike bashing theme there bosshog??
I agree with john that bike riders are probably more aware than anybody of the amount of morons of all vehicular persuassion who are on the roads.
I have ridden bikes for over 30 years, (also cars and trucks), and I always took the view to imagine I was invisible to all other road users.It seems to have worked for me, I ride a bike because I don't care to be stuck in traffic, and if that means making my way to the front of the line to get away from said traffic, I do so. Don't take this personally, but the next time you are awakened from your thoughts, with a start and a curse, when a bike passes you in traffic, spare a thought for the same bloke who may not make it home because someone has just run over the top of him changing lanes half asleep.
Just another thought on the bike issue, I think you will find the vast majority of bike riders actually enjoy riding(wether commuting or weekend pursuits)
Car enthusiasts aside, I don't think the same can be said for most car drivers.
If all young drivers were to spend time on a bike whilst in the process of gaining a licence, you may find there would be a lot more understanding of everybodys' requirements on the roads.

[BOSHOG]

my bikebashing is warranted, a vast majority of bike riders disobey road rules any chance they get

personally i dont mind you overtaking me, but the whole creeping past at the lights is a joke and just plain rude

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

my bikebashing is warranted, a vast majority of bike riders disobey road rules any chance they get

personally i dont mind you overtaking me, but the whole creeping past at the lights is a joke and just plain rude

I've got no problem with the creeping past me to get to the head of the queue at the lights - so long as ;
- They don't brush my mirror and
- They take off promptly, as soon as the lights go green.

[388cube_edxr8]

Originally Posted by Pinch

I can't cop that you can do a licence test in an automatic Barina, then go and buy and legally drive anything up to an F250 with a 5th wheeler caravan combo! Just madness... People will just continue to die and suffer until those in power grow a pair.

+1
...

[BlackLS]

Not many people know but bikes are allowed to lane split in stopped traffic.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by XCPWSF

Driving instructor only teaches you how to pass the test, not how to drive properly.

At present yes, but there should be some training on how to drive properly (rather than simply how to pass the tests, which I agree is pretty much all the current setup achieves) How many parents do you know that cant drive and then unfortunately they teach their kids how to drive

[chevypower]

I just hate people that think that only the types of cars they choose to drive should be the only ones on the road. Anything bigger (Large 4x4) should be banned, anything smaller (motorcycle) should be banned - because they do not think it is sensible, so it should be banned for everyone. Seriously, what is it with people wanting to ban everybody else from doing things they are not in to? People stereotype other drivers because of what they drive. Personally, I think fishing is really boring. I never go and do it, I have no interest in it. But I don't go and petition for people to want it banned, because people drown when they go fishing? And so many fish die? Sorry, but this is where I keep reading petitions to ban things. This really gets to me. I hate reading on here, people condoning the notion, that everyone else should be taxed and penalized because they want to do things they are not interested in?
Road rage (this comes up a lot on this forum)- it takes two to tango. I often read about the victim on fordforums, and their story about the idiot they came across. You can't get heated about somebody else's behavior. If you do, you probably were just as much a part of the road rage as the person you are mad at. "Oh but they were at fault, they cut me off!" Boo Hooo, build a bridge! If someone cuts you off and doesn't signal... if you can't just brush that off, and you have to speed up and make sure you teach the guy a lesson, then you have a road rage problem.
Trucks - light, medium or small... they move the economy. They move small businesses to large businesses. Often, people who drive semis are driving them all the time. They are very experienced drivers, they are doing a job. People need to realize this. You can't hate trucks, then expect everything to be on the shelf on time when you do your shopping. You getting to point B in your car, moving just yourself is no more important than Truck driver, moving a big trailer full of goods because the company he works for is relying on him to get there on time because their client and their customers (who while on the road are complaining because they are sitting in the wrong lane) are demanding him to get there on time.

And Pinch, people don't go and learn how to drive a Barina and then on day 2, jump in to an F250 hooked up to a 5th wheel - sorry, but it just doesn't happen. yes, it is legally "possible." But I bet you can't find a legit example of that happening. People grow up with the vehicles they usually become interested in. Usually, you get used to the vehicle first, before you hitch up a trailer. And pulling a 5th wheel is actually safer and easier than pulling a bumper hitch trailer. If it did happen, it would be a one-off very rare example, something that the majority should not be punished for.

also cause deaths for the other people in the "safer" but smaller cars.
People just need to use courtesy and (un)common sense when they are driving. It is really simple. It's not going to work with more penalizing, taxes, licenses and all that crap. It is simple respect and courtesy to other motorists, despite the fact that people might make mistakes. You don't get that in lessons, licenses, fines, or watching TV commercials. You just make a simple choice not to be a on the road, don't try to challenge everyone that ****es you off, whether they did it deliberately or not.

Sorry, rant over now :-)

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

my bikebashing is warranted, a vast majority of bike riders disobey road rules any chance they get

personally i dont mind you overtaking me, but the whole creeping past at the lights is a joke and just plain rude

It completely lacks common scense. There is no need for it, they are putting themselves into more danger. Oh well, their skin.

Originally Posted by Peter B - CV8

I've got no problem with the creeping past me to get to the head of the queue at the lights - so long as ;
- They don't brush my mirror and
- They take off promptly, as soon as the lights go green.

If they do, theyu don’t stop. Hit and run..
Oh and it’s annoying when any vehicle pulls in front of you to get at the lights, only to take forever to leave when the light changes.

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Not many people know but bikes are allowed to lane split in stopped traffic.

Sad but true.

[torbirdie]

Originally Posted by chevypower

I just hate people that think that only the types of cars they choose to drive should be the only ones on the road.

Who in this thread has said that? or is that just an in general observation?
Personally, the more pushbikes out there the better.

Originally Posted by chevypower

Trucks - light, medium or small... they move the economy. They move small businesses to large businesses. Often, people who drive semis are driving them all the time. They are very experienced drivers, they are doing a job. People need to realize this. You can't hate trucks, then expect everything to be on the shelf on time when you do your shopping. You getting to point B in your car, moving just yourself is no more important than Truck driver, moving a big trailer full of goods because the company he works for is relying on him to get there on time because their client and their customers (who while on the road are complaining because they are sitting in the wrong lane) are demanding him to get there on time.

Ah ha, thanks for pointing out why we have trucks on the road, just in case we thought they were there for the amusement of those that just liked driving large rigs?

I dont care how many tonnes of valuable cargo has to be whereever by time whatever, they can obey the road rules in the process of getting there.
Not all truck drivers are idiots, certainly the tanker drivers seem not to put a foot wrong.... yet there are many instances of them mucking up causing a lot of grief, the jailing of the driver responsible for the melbourne tunnel fireball comes to mind.

Having sat behind 65 tonnes? of B double today doing 66km/h along a suburban road, seemingly with impunity, I pondered as to why there shouldnt be an automatic jail sentence for the driver of this vehicle considering the danger he is choosing to expose every one to.

[Feathers]

I completely agree with the heavy vehicle drivers that have posted. Sadly it will never happen, and 90% of people couldn't care less about anyone but themselves anyway, so no one would volunteer to do it.

I did the competancy based assessment for my HR licence, and the driving test was 8 hours long. I was buggered by the end of it. It was so mentally draining to be "switched on" for that long.
I'm not looking forward to doing the HC test.

I cop it in the bus as well. Car drivers seem to think that as I'm not as long as a semi, it's much easier for me to turn corners, so even when I'm sitting at lights, splitting two lanes, they still creep up the side and block half of another lane, then cut straight across in front of me, causing me to have to wait for them, and the people behind me to get angry because I'm not moving.
Or I get rude remarks and gestures for blocking half their lane. How inconsiderate of me!

The bus doesn't bend like a truck, so I need more room to turn, as I cut in more.
And personally, I prefer to take a little more room, just in case, rather than hope I make it without clobbering something.

Last week I had a full load of year 3 kids, travelling on Canterbury Road, going back to school, and as I started to make my left hand turn from the right lane - which I had to do, as I couldn't get around with the traffic filters and signs in the street, I hear a car coming up from behind me at full tilt.
By the time I could see it in the mirror (a silver Monaro) I was already part way into the left lane. I had no choice but to stop hard. There was no way he could have pulled up, and he only just made it through with centimetres to spare. (I was already convinced that he was going to clip me)
The teachers were stunned that anyone could be that selfish and stupid.

Thing is, it's not uncommon. Most people don't understand, and the rest just don't care.

Maybe the RTA should also add some of the knowledge questions from the heavy vehicle handbook to the car test. Sure most of it goes in and straight back out again, but it can't hurt. Perhaps add a truck/bus to the computer based test so they can see how much different it is to manoeuvre?

If you are in a car (or on a bike) and you take on a bigger vehicle than you, you WILL lose. Always. Though you may be 'in the right', there is no point being dead right.

[Grunter]

I wish some of the truck drivers doing the roadworks in Brisbane had your guys thoughts, because not a week has gone past without one of these clowns sitting less than 3m off my rear at highway speeds, all fully loaded and carting dog trailers.

My point, not all car drivers are perfect, not all motorbike riders are perfect and not all truck drivers a perfect. All drivers should understand this and drive accordingly.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by princeplanet

Try pulling up a Truck full of expensive livestock hard, when some idiots take up your braking space- some stock might fall ,other may be trappled...most car drivers are comlete W*TS. Every time you brake the stock feel it-you brake all so gently. Then some bozo jumps in front of you.

Is there a law that states clearance for the front of a truck at X km/h?

I'm assuming that the 'do not overtake turning vehicle' is a road rule enforceable by law if broken??

How about a law that mentions large vehicles (anything that isn't a 'car') be given a certain amount of space in front when slowing down to a stop. Should you be witnessed cutting in, and closing the gap, you are then braking the law?

Just a thought.

In regards to educating drivers by being in trucks. Don't think it will work to be honest. Generally people know they are doing wrong. How many people still smoke, even though they know they are killing themselves? How many people know that speeding 10-20km/h reduces your ability to react and brake in an emergency? Most do, yet at that point in time, it was the right thing to do, for whatever reason.

Appealing people to be nice and follow the rules may work, making it LAW and harshly fining people or introducing MINIMUM sentences for being a tossa on the road will certainly make people think twice.

Anyone ever notice how nice and sedate people drive during double demerits?

[john3136]

Reason for lane splitting has already been stated.
To get in front of the traffic cos it's safer to be in front (and visible) than behind (often in a drivers blindspot)

Agreed that it's rude if you touch a car and don't stop or if you are slow to take off from the front. But lets face it, that acceleration of most road bikes should have the bike across the intersection before the car behind has even crossed the lines.

...and for the record: I'm an ex rider. After "My other leg" was busted by a car driver doing a right hand turn into me - he couldn't see cos of sun glare so figured he'd do a RH turn anyway...

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

my bikebashing is warranted, a vast majority of bike riders disobey road rules any chance they get

personally i dont mind you overtaking me, but the whole creeping past at the lights is a joke and just plain rude

no none off it is warranted ,i drive( like others) all of these vehicles regularly .you sir are putting people in a box ....if people would just relax ,learn the rules ,be patient and considerate of others on the road there would be way less deaths, and perceived knowledge of how other people think while they are driving such vehicles can only be understood if you have actually have driven them...

[BOSHOG]

Originally Posted by vanman_75

no none off it is warranted ,i drive( like others) all of these vehicles regularly .you sir are putting people in a box ....if people would just relax ,learn the rules ,be patient and considerate of others on the road there would be way less deaths, and perceived knowledge of how other people think while they are driving such vehicles can only be understood if you have actually have driven them...

everything you said is true, except for the first sentence as you dont have a damn clue what ive been through. inconsiderate bike riders damage more than themselves, so keep POOR ASSUMPTIONS about me to yourself

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by BOSHOG

everything you said is true, except for the first sentence as you dont have a damn clue what ive been through. inconsiderate bike riders damage more than themselves, so keep POOR ASSUMPTIONS about me to yourself

i apologize if you thought i knew you, but as in many of these threads ,people always complain about other motorists and their chosen vehicle on said day .

you obviously have had some idiots do stupid things to you ,im just asking for all the good people not to give up on what is a fast declining society .i have been close to many times in all of my vehicles ... but obviously i am most aware and scared when i am on my bike it really is a high risk EVERY time you pull the leathers on

.and i hope no matter what you have been through i dont get tarred with that same brush because that scares me more, bikes are hard to see just look for them as most will be riding just to stay alive ,dont think they are out to get you .and idiots can drive anything .... there isnt a test for this unfortunately

:

[BOSHOG]

idiots can and do drive everything, but if people had manners on the road everything would be so much better

by manners i mean learn to indicate, use merging/turning lanes, keep left unless overtaking, learnt that people arent mind readers and be aware that there is in fact other people on the road. that goes for everyone, trucks, bikes, cars, pedestrians and pushbikes.

sometimes the way people act it makes it so frustrating to be on the road

[vanman_75]

: i knew we would agree :