Cycling Death in SA

dave said:

Tamyka Bell said:

Michael Warner said:

On Mon, 8 Aug 2005 15:26:19 +1000, SteveA wrote:

>The statement in the article in the Australian that concerns me the most
>(bearing in mind the first paragraph that said the cyclist was hit from
>behind) is from the local Supt of Police who is quoted as saying, "How
>can you miss seeing a truck - they are lit up so well."
>
>I guess you miss seeing it when it comes up behind you at speed.

Indeed. I find that that size of a vehicle doesn't necessarily indicate how
audible it will be, either, especially in an already noisy environment.

Modern buses are extremely quiet when coasting, and so are many
trucks; I often notice that a bus is right behind me only when
the driver plants his foot or brakes, or I see its shadow.

And while I'd like to say something along the lines of "if you're riding
without lights, it's kind of up to you to make sure nothing's coming
that isn't going to see you" (like when I run and get caught in the
dark)... we're really missing a lot of info, aren't we? I mean, if the
guy got dragged and his body was such a mess, how do we know there's not
a few small flashers lying out there, or in a driver's pocket? Back to
the other side... "How can a person driving a truck with it's headlights
on, miss seeing a dude on a bike in front?" As for the media harping on
the no helmet thing... um, I don't think a helmet would've helped him
much.

Tam

Slightly off topic. I met a guy once who had been run over by a leopard
Main Battle Tank. It had backed over him. YOu cannot fault the driver
he could not possibly have seen anything although the TC clearly had
screwed up. THe bloke I met hadnt heard it coming.. they are far queter
than most would believe, like a big and well muffled tractor (which
essentially is what they are)

It was soft soil and the track passed over his head. The leopard has a
very low pressure footprint and maybe his head was in a particulary soft
bit of ground. Anyway he survived looking ok but blinded. He had only
been in for a few weeks.. didnt even know enough to look for tanks.

WHat impressed me was that I met him cos some army mates were going in
to visit him. THey had only known him for that few weeks but years
later visited regulary.

That _was_ OT but we forgive you because the story had a really nice
outcome 😄 Thanks for sharing

Tam

dave said:

Tamyka Bell said:

Michael Warner said:

On Mon, 8 Aug 2005 15:26:19 +1000, SteveA wrote:

>The statement in the article in the Australian that concerns me the most
>(bearing in mind the first paragraph that said the cyclist was hit from
>behind) is from the local Supt of Police who is quoted as saying, "How
>can you miss seeing a truck - they are lit up so well."
>
>I guess you miss seeing it when it comes up behind you at speed.

Indeed. I find that that size of a vehicle doesn't necessarily indicate how
audible it will be, either, especially in an already noisy environment.

Modern buses are extremely quiet when coasting, and so are many
trucks; I often notice that a bus is right behind me only when
the driver plants his foot or brakes, or I see its shadow.

And while I'd like to say something along the lines of "if you're riding
without lights, it's kind of up to you to make sure nothing's coming
that isn't going to see you" (like when I run and get caught in the
dark)... we're really missing a lot of info, aren't we? I mean, if the
guy got dragged and his body was such a mess, how do we know there's not
a few small flashers lying out there, or in a driver's pocket? Back to
the other side... "How can a person driving a truck with it's headlights
on, miss seeing a dude on a bike in front?" As for the media harping on
the no helmet thing... um, I don't think a helmet would've helped him
much.

Tam

Slightly off topic. I met a guy once who had been run over by a leopard
Main Battle Tank. It had backed over him. YOu cannot fault the driver
he could not possibly have seen anything although the TC clearly had
screwed up. THe bloke I met hadnt heard it coming.. they are far queter
than most would believe, like a big and well muffled tractor (which
essentially is what they are)

It was soft soil and the track passed over his head. The leopard has a
very low pressure footprint and maybe his head was in a particulary soft
bit of ground. Anyway he survived looking ok but blinded. He had only
been in for a few weeks.. didnt even know enough to look for tanks.

WHat impressed me was that I met him cos some army mates were going in
to visit him. THey had only known him for that few weeks but years
later visited regulary.

That _was_ OT but we forgive you because the story had a really nice
outcome 😄 Thanks for sharing

Tam

On 2005-08-08, Tamyka Bell (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

And while I'd like to say something along the lines of "if you're riding
without lights, it's kind of up to you to make sure nothing's coming
that isn't going to see you" (like when I run and get caught in the
dark)... we're really missing a lot of info, aren't we? I mean, if the
guy got dragged and his body was such a mess, how do we know there's not
a few small flashers lying out there, or in a driver's pocket?

Exactly my suspicion -- it would be so easy to do.

Then again, if he left his friends place with lights, surely friend
would have come out by now and said "but he did have lights!".

--
TimC
"Meddle not in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle, and will
[censored] on your computer." - Jeff Wilder

Tamyka Bell said:

"How can a person driving a truck with it's headlights
on, miss seeing a dude on a bike in front?"

Dark clothing, dark bike, dark road.
Wee hours tiredness and slow reaction times.

TimC said:

On 2005-08-09, Terry Collins (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

Tamyka Bell said:

"How can a person driving a truck with it's headlights
on, miss seeing a dude on a bike in front?"

Dark clothing, dark bike, dark road.
Wee hours tiredness and slow reaction times.

The latter excuses are absolutely no excuse *whatsoever*.

Excuses! No. Just an explanation of a highly likely occurrence. It isn't
exactly the best action to ensure your survival to go bicycling in the
wee hours with no lights, no reflectors and dark clothing.

On the occassions when I've ridden the wee small hours, I don't argue
about "my rights" with a guy/gal/? that is just trying to do his job and
whom I know is liable to be just a little fatigued. I think that is
ignoring the education I've picked up about body cycles in my life.

Nor do I hear too many people complaining about how food, clothing, etc,
etc is just too cheap, because it is so because truck drivers those wee
small hours.

I am not going to [censored] on about him being clobbered. Nor how long his
body was dragged for. Trucks take that long to stop.

It is a different kettle of fish if the driver was drug tested and found
to be seeing pink elephants (local ex-truckie story about why he gave up
taking the uppers).

Terry Collins said:

TimC said:

On 2005-08-09, Terry Collins (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

Tamyka Bell wrote:

>"How can a person driving a truck with it's headlights
>on, miss seeing a dude on a bike in front?"

Dark clothing, dark bike, dark road.
Wee hours tiredness and slow reaction times.

The latter excuses are absolutely no excuse *whatsoever*.

Excuses! No. Just an explanation of a highly likely occurrence. It isn't
exactly the best action to ensure your survival to go bicycling in the
wee hours with no lights, no reflectors and dark clothing.

On the occassions when I've ridden the wee small hours, I don't argue
about "my rights" with a guy/gal/? that is just trying to do his job and
whom I know is liable to be just a little fatigued. I think that is
ignoring the education I've picked up about body cycles in my life.

I've driven the New England Hwy in the middle of the night, I was tired,
I still saw the wildlife on the road and they certainly didn't have
lights or reflectors. Not to say the cyclist wasn't being a bit of a
[censored] and not doing much to help his safety, but there is NO excuse
for not driving to conditions and those truck headlights light up the
road a LONG way ahead.

Quoted message said:

Nor do I hear too many people complaining about how food, clothing, etc,
etc is just too cheap, because it is so because truck drivers those wee
small hours.

Perhaps you've gotten confused between underpaid truck drivers and
underpaid factory workers?

Quoted message said:

I am not going to [censored] on about him being clobbered. Nor how long his
body was dragged for. Trucks take that long to stop.

It is a different kettle of fish if the driver was drug tested and found
to be seeing pink elephants (local ex-truckie story about why he gave up
taking the uppers).

Ew. I heard one about parked cars turning into lizards.

Tam

Tamyka Bell said:

a few small flashers lying out there, or in a driver's pocket? Back to
the other side... "How can a person driving a truck with it's headlights
on, miss seeing a dude on a bike in front?"

Putting on my driver's hat, I've found myself getting quite close to darkly
clad, unlit cyclists at night before seeing them. Certainly well within the
stopping distance of a semi.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Tamyka Bell said:

a few small flashers lying out there, or in a driver's pocket? Back to
the other side... "How can a person driving a truck with it's headlights
on, miss seeing a dude on a bike in front?"

Putting on my driver's hat, I've found myself getting quite close to darkly
clad, unlit cyclists at night before seeing them. Certainly well within the
stopping distance of a semi.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

12 years it's been since I lost not only my partner but the father to our 3rd baby I was carrying, just WOW too see such comments especially from the police officer who was suppose to have said such a cruel thing!! Thanks all for the kind words and for everyone else! Please think of his loved ones that see this like I have tonight ! and NO he didn't have dark clothes!
YES he did have lights and etc.! an just for some REAL info from his widow!! ME he wasn't in the wrong! The truck driver was speeding not too mention wrong side of road, and the [censored] up of all he wasn't suppose to be driving or where he was cause he was ment to be sleeping but didn't abide by his log book.. COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE.. we finally had a girl too and she arrived on Valentine's Day 2006.. a gift from heaven.. jay will forever live on thru me and his 3 children. Much love and please be safe on the roads