Swerving car was not road rage. WTF

MPCRUSHER

Check out the following article in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...8431711240.html

Seems even the judge thinks the road rage displayed by this driver was semi justified by the finger and abuse given by the roadies that were nearly bowled over by him.

The judge tells the inspector that the Australian road riders should conduct themselves in a more pasive manner considering the fact that Australian road riders were killed in Germany last year. He said they should undestand the dangers of riding on a motorway(He may as well have said ride at your own risk. You want to ride on the road, then expect that car drivers will treat you with impunity). Where they were riding, is a two laned road. It is not a motorway. Simply a road.
What the hell does he mean by saying there was no road rage. The car driver swerved his car in front of the cyclists to scare them which he acknowledged. How is this not road rage? What would have been the verdict if the car had hit the lead cyclists and killed them? Would it then be upgraded to road rage?


The inspector in question has been a cyclist for more than 20 years. He was formally a member of the cronulla triathlon club and now is a member of the Sutherland Shire Cycling club. He has been a policeman for as long as I can remember. He is honest and law abiding. The Judge in my opinion has fallen way short of taking this matter seriously.

Just another politician/law maker/legal knob demonstrating once again their ignorance and blatent predjudice against bike riders. Whats it going to take to change this mentality?

My suggestion is make the Judges ride to work in peak hour in Sydney.

artemidorus

I agree, it's outrageous. That driver should be off the road for at least 12 months.
Sounds like the policeman should have followed the book and got the highway patrol involved - maybe things would have turned out better.

piero

As Artemidorus suggested, things would have turned out better if the involved police didn’t conduct any investigation by himself.

In fact I think it is not a fair judgment that “Not Road Rage” was made as a conclusion.

But it is a wrong move that the involved police officer tried to “investigate” without reporting to the petrol right away. And I am pretty sure he understands that this just breaks the rules and certain level of “person interest” are involved in the case.

I think the judge conclude the case based on this wrong move.

And it is lucky for that driver to get away from the charge and it’s a shame that he can still drive on the road.

Aussie Steve

So the motorist got mad when he was sworn at. "Mad". Judge acknowledged this.
But it ain't road rage? I assumed Road Rage was when somebody took action against someone who abused them. So how can the judge say it's not, in this case?
Swearing at someone is one thing, the riders were within their rights to vent their anger at some turkey who can't drive and risks injuring them.
Yet another example of a judge with his head up his sphincter. None of these morons live in the real world.
If a policeman is involved in something like this, and this is the result, then what hope for the rest of us?
No wonder some of us follow an angry motorist until we see his car stop somewhere and then run a key along the door, or slash a tyre (never done it myself )

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piero

LOL, good call on those "turkey"

tell you another story happened in HK last year. It's a sad one.

During a cycling race, the HK police refuse to close the road for the race. As a result of that, a cyclist was killed by a Minibus who was trying to overtake a car on a "double white line".

Do you know what is the verdict? the driver of that Minivan was not charged negligent driving, he was just warned verbally, some fines apply plus cancellation of his license.

I couldn't believe that can happened in the real world and shame on the legislation system.

And the things that really p1ssed me off is, the judge dare to say that the cyclist has to take up some responsibility, as he is negligent to riding downhill with that speed. Totally rediculous

46kgToDate

Just goes to show that this magistrate is an effin' idiot.

A magistrate, who no doubt drove to work in a car annoyed by cyclists who had the temerity to get in his way, as he drove along the public street!

These people are supposed to be community leaders, by suggesting the cyclists did the wrong thing abusing this idiot who left the servo without looking at them, he just entrenches the wrong attitdes to cyclists as valid road users.




The driver ought to have done community service 100hours at least, working on the Gong ride or spring cycle massaging riders!

ozbiker2

As a consequence of the (in)action of the judge, a cyclist WILL be killed (eventually) by that motorist. Will it be a cycling friend of yours???? Will we consider the judge (morally) guilty of murder when that happens???

Report ALL incidents of road rage, no matter how trivial. Make a contemporaneous note of the incident and insist that it be recorded (I do). SWAMP the system with complaints until the pollies and law makers GET THE MESSAGE, loud and clear.

If inaction on the part of cyclists results in official inaction, then WHO can we blame but ourselves????

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"Live today as if it is your last, plan for tomorrow as if you will live forever"

piero

But who can we report the road rage to? also what sort of evidence are required?

ozbiker2

Here in QLD we have the TRACS reporting system. You must insist on it for it to happen otherwise lazy bureaucrats will defeat you. Where possible I report to the cop shop and make a statement, otherwise I phone the report in on the mobile. Either way, make that contemporaneous note - it's vital. If Mr Idiot Driver goes round the next bend and kills someone, your note may be the only thing left to get the sob behind bars.

Seems like a lot of trouble, and you sure will get known by the local cops (some of them) as a pain in the butt - but look at it this way - your contribution to road safety awareness is in the best interests of your own survival, not just that of your buddies.

Note: If you don't think this works, I've got news for you. I have had a lot of success. Not all cops are lazy and many are quite committed to their job. I actually got to see one jerk that I reported arrested by the roadside 10 klicks on from where I reported him - I suspect many other motorists reported him too because he was endangering the lives of everyone he got near to. So the system works if everyone does their part.

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piero

O… sounds good, do you know is there any local organization in NSW do the same job as well? I am more than happy to report those idiot.

Say if I really wanna report them to the police, what sort of information are essential?

Please give us a list and I am sure lots of us wanna make sure we can report those Mr Idiot Driver successfully rather than being fooled around by cops.

piero

good suggestion mate!!! I need that massage as well

Skull

I gave up abusing close calls long ago as in my experience, it does only infuriate SOME of the idiots out there. Does make you feel good at the time though.

Would be nice to have the ability to see the what ifs.

By that I mean what if the roadies did not sling abuse, would he still of done what he did?

Don't forget, amongst all the words spoken by the Magistrate, the words GUILTY appear. So forgetting the penalty, at least its a message of some sorts.


"wonder some of us follow an angry motorist until we see his car stop somewhere and then run a key along the door, or slash a tyre (never done it myself )[/QUOTE]"

Never seen or heard of any riders doing this in all my years of riding.

Aussie Steve

"...slashing a car tyre of a motorist who has cut in front of them..." have heard of it happening a few times. Serves the motorist right.
I heard of a big rider, 6' 2" and at least 100kgs, who had McDonalds wrappers and drink cups thrown at him and his mate...when he caught up to the car at a red light...rider dismounted and used his cleats in a manner not recommended by Look or Time. On the panels of the car. Look cleats cost about $24 ? but made him feel a lot better. Also made the young hoon driver think twice next time.

__________________
I have never had a problem with Premature Ejac... it's my partners that had the problem