Lord save us from these interfering busybodies. I don't know the figures but I wonder what proportion of "motorbike " accidents involve scooters and already restricted bikes? I don't even know many bikers but have a friend who has a lovely BMW thing (a bit like those ones that Ewan MacGregor and Charlie Sheen did that big trip round the world on ) and an old Harley and is currently planning his summer trip with wife round Europe this summer - he's a very responsible and sensible chap who is involved in rider training - why should he be penalised? Also met a group of bikers on a French campsite a couple of years ago - they were touring France, nice blokes, shared a few beers, had a good chat and I admired their bikes, they obviously loved biking and a "good blast" in the right conditions, why should they be deprived of their pleasure?
There are stupid idiots in all walks of life, bikers, drivers, pedestrians, teachers, solicitors, policemen (but most of all - politicians) but why must everyone be judged by the worst?
Same with 4x4s - they are "unnecessary" in certain circumstances so lets ban them all or at least tax them all heavily.
Wife now wants a 4x4, I now want a powerful motorbike. Better get some more red stuff down my neck in case they ban it because of that alcoholic on the street corner. Off for a cigar now as well.
Leave me alone - stop trying to regulate every aspect of my life!!!!
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Phil
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It's the same as the "Morris Minors for teenagers" post - not a huge amount of accidents happen over 75mph, the amount of knocks I see scooter riders have is unbelievable (try to find one that doesn't have damaged plastics in the city) and they only do 40mph
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it's obvious.....the press quote misquoted him.........there should have been a '1' in font of the figure quoted o-)
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Ahh thats better!
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Fullchat
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A 50cc scooter has to be the most dangerous machine I've ever ridden - all because it was restricted to 30MPH.
I can fully understand the 300KPH restriction, but a 65MPH restriction would just be silly.
Motorcycles should be the last road vehicles restricted :-)
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I know there are SOME crazy bikers who ride high-powered bikes but the most dangerous motorcyclists seem to be teenage scooterists who ride round oblivious to danger while concentrating on revving their engines to make these CVT-automatic machines sound as though they're changing up through the (non-existant) gears!
But I would say that rather than fitting speed limiters to new 'proper' motorcycles, their engine size and power output should be limited so that they cannot achieve such crazy speeds.
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The most dangerous motorcylcists are not the youngsters but born again middle aged bikers whose ability was honed in a differnet motoring enviroment. These should be forced to re-qualify unless there is an auditable trail of experience (e.g. insurance cover for years) - I have seen these and their riding style is scary.
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The most dangerous motorcylcists are not the youngsters but born again middle aged bikers whose ability was honed in a differnet motoring enviroment. These should be forced to re-qualify unless there is an auditable trail of experience (e.g. insurance cover for years) - I have seen these and their riding style is scary.
This tends to back up your observation.
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme5...4
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But I would say that rather than fitting speed limiters to new 'proper' motorcycles, their engine size and power output should be limited so that they cannot achieve such crazy speeds.
In France they dp just that with a 100BHP limit. That said, 100BHP on a 175kg sportsbike is good for 0-60 in well under 4 seconds, and 160 mph at the top end.
All Japanese bikes regardless of capacity are restricted to 186 mph, which is of course a heck of a lot, but as even a moderately powerful family saloon will now do 140, I find this focus on bikes a little discriminatory. After all, is 186 mph really any less socially acceptable or any more dangerous than 140? They either need blanket speed limit restrictions on all powered transport, or - and this would be my preference - leave well alone.
Cheers
DP
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"They either need blanket speed limit restrictions on all powered transport, "
Like say 70 mph on motorways? 60 on single carriageways ?
Thet'd never get away with it!
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Phil
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Only a passing observation but the worst driving of the last week was a young man (late teens?) on a L plate driving a bike behind me. If I had decidied to stop quickly at amy time he would have been into the back of me as he was only 3-8 metres away most of the time. Judging by his lack of control he was a new driver (obvious by brake/clutch control imo).
I breathed a sigh of relief when he left me..
As for motorcycle drivers on the Buxton- Leek road on a nice day, it's clear many are bent on an early death Suicidal? Yes.
I'm not surprised many are killed.
Personally I'm in favour of no legislation. Let Darwinism rule.
madf
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I'm surprised that no-one has pointed out that a number of the measures designed to make the roads safer for car drivers make them worse for the most vulnerable groups (motorbikers and cyclists). I'm thinking of the speedbumps around my area (treacherous after rain), the salt-mix they used on the roads this year (made them very slippery afterwards), the painting of extra instructions on the road (paint is slippery).
Couple this with the declining standards generally, and I'm more likely to get a car up my bum if I slow for any of these hazards.
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I'm thinking of the speedbumps around my area (treacherous after rain), the salt-mix they used on the roads this year (made them very slippery afterwards), the painting of extra instructions on the road (paint is slippery).
Couldn't agree more.
There's also a whole list of other failings in road planning and maintenance. Drain covers in the middle of corners or in the centre of roundabout lanes (which may as well be sheet ice in the wet), potholes that don't get repaired for months, overbanding (like sheet ice in the hot weather when it starts to melt), and road surfaces that are so worn out they collect standing pools of water after even a moderate downpour, pools of diesel within miles of filling stations which never get cleaned up. All these things are inconvenient in a car, but potentially life threatening on a bike.
I know three people who have crashed bikes in the past 6 months. Two were on diesel spills at low speeds (both shaken but uninjured), and the other was taken out as he overtook a car on a dual carriageway (smashed leg, broken collarbone, broken arm, but will mend). All three were riding within the speed limit at the time.
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I think they should restrict all vehicles to 70mph. That'd prevent all road deaths.
V
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I think they should restrict all vehicles to 70mph. That'd prevent all road deaths.
Good plan. I've also signed the petition to limit pubs to only sell one drink to each person. You know, just in case.
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None of you are going anything like far enough with this. People should be prohibited from going further than the end of their own driveways, you know, in case they fall over or get lost or someone shouts at them or it's raining or stuff. This should be enforced by GPS technology, using a national tagging system which will be easily and cheaply implemented by the Gov't, and heavy fines and criminal records dished out to offenders.
Oh, and we should all be made to wear nappies, and eat mashed-up veg from plastic bowls with plastic spoons, too.
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Much safer in bed (alone of course). People should be wired up at birth and supplied with nutrients, stimuli etc by a simple computer. Nutrient tanks refilled by robot devices.
With all human activity reduced to a virtual level, think of the benefits to the ecosphere!
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All well and good, lud, but who's going to check the roof in case it is in danger of falling in? And what about aircraft crashing onto it?
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What aircraft? They'll all be in the 'mind'.
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