Can you find the Motorcycle?

[Spadinator]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

The Honda rider was traveling at such a "very high speed", his reaction time was not sufficient enough to avoid this accident. Swedish Police estimate a speed of ~250 KM/h (155mph) before the bike hit the slow moving car side-on at an intersection. At that speed, they predicted that the rider's reaction time (once the vehicle came into view) wasn't sufficient enough for him to even apply the brakes. The car had two passengers and the bike rider was found INSIDE the car with them. The Volkswagen actually flipped over from the force of impact and landed 10 feet from where the collision took place.


All three involved (two in car and rider) were killed instantly. This graphic demonstration was placed at the Stockholm Motorcycle Fair by the Swedish Police and Road Safety Department. The sign above the display also noted that the rider had only recently obtained his license.

At 250 KM (155 mph) the operator is traveling at 227 feet per second. With normal reaction time to SEE-DECIDE-REACT of 1.6 seconds the above operator would have traveled over 363 feet while making a decision on what actions to take. In this incident the Swedish police indicate that no actions were taken.

[Joseph]

The only impossible task is the one that no one tries to do.

I don't know about that. Looks to me like that motorcycle rider found himself an impossible task...

Joseph

[Ira]

If anyone wants to see the absolute worst images of a motorcycle accident that you're ever going to see, PM me with your email address and I'll send.

These have been circulating around the web I guess, and my friend sent them to me last week. It is totally unbelievable--so much so that I don't even want to DESCRIBE it here.

Anyone who gets on a motorcycle, or into any vehicle for that matter, should see this.

I'm going to lunch now, so if you PM me, I'll send it to you when I get back.

But don't say I didn't warn you.

[jbbooks]

What a shame! 3 lives snuffed out because on person chose to be totally irresponsible! At least the people in the car didn't have time to realize they were about to die.

[angib]

What a shame! 3 lives snuffed out because on person chose to be totally irresponsible! At least the people in the car didn't have time to realize they were about to die.

I'm sure you are right.

But, given the nature of the crash and the statistics of car-motorcycle accidents, it is likely that it was the car driver that was totally irresponsible - failing to pay enough attention to see if the road was clear before moving into the path of the bike. Obviously the bike's hugely excessive speed would then make the situation far worse than normal.

I don't know the data for the US, but in Britain over 75% of bike-car accidents occur at junctions where the bike has right of way over the car. Bikers in Britain even use an abbreviation, SMIDSY - it stands for 'Sorry, mate, I didn't see you', which is what most car drivers say after they've knocked a motorcyclist off.

Andrew

[oklahomajewel]

Be kind.... remember Hardin Valley Magic's stepfather (?) who passed away recently from a motorcycle accident.

[PaulC]

HiAndrew, Being a bike rider myself I understand all that you have written but I am yet to meet a car driver who would be able to estimate the speed of an approaching motorcycle whilst moving out into an intersection. If reaction time is important from first sighting to taking evasive action then the estimated speed that the nong on the bike was travelling at is the sole reason why 3 lives where extinguished. Lets assume that the car driver spotted the bike 1.6 seconds prior to impact. The bike was still over 350' away from him. If the bike was travelling at 40mph(approx 63kmh) it would have travelled 94' before taking evasive action leaving 256' to avoid impact. End result = no impact. If the bike was travelling at 50mph(approx 80kmh) he would have travelled 117' before taking evasive action, leaving 233' to avoid impact. End result= No Impact.
My opinion is that the bike rider is the only reason for this type of accident. The "sorry I did'nt see you" excuse does not come into play at all on this one.
Cheers
Paul

[Rob]

As a former bike rider myself (I have the pins and wire in my shoulder to prove it) I lay the blame on the biker. Travelling that fast by a newbie rider? That's why my parents call them suicycles. That style of bike is called a crotch rocket for a reason. Riders like that give the rest a bad reputation. Fotunately most riders are sane and responsible. This appears to have been a tragic accident caused by one irresponsible individual that was out to have a few minutes adrenaline rush for himself. Spad, thanks for the photos.

[Spadinator]

In my profession we call them donor bikes.......I am also a motorcycle rider and when I am on my bike I treat every car as if they are out to get me. I am also a crash investigator. There is no reason for a bike to be going that fast on a public highway.

[asianflava]

From my vast experience of forensic crash investigation (rubbernecking on the highway) It looks like the car pulled out in front of the bike. The bike would not have been able to get to those speeds if there were stop signs on his right of way.

It is true that it is difficult to estimate the closing speed of a bike. That being said, I can't tell you how many times I've pulled out in front of a jeep. With the headlights so close together, it makes it look like they are further away then they actually are.

[Chuck Craven]

That is what happened to me! A little pickup truck turned in to the intersection from behind a larger truck. I hit him doing 35MPH except I hit the box of the truck.
Tore out the rear end of the truck. The 700lb bike was totaled. I ended up with left leg broken in 20 places Pillion fracture. Right leg, skin pulled off from my ankle to my knee. Right and left shoulder joints grinding. Head aces with a stiff neck. I was warring a full-face helmet, leather jacket and gloves. If it were not for the helmet I would not be here today.
Chuck

[Laredo]

Those are some terrifying photos.
I wasn't there and didn't see the skid marks, so I don't think I'll put all the blame on either driver. I am sorry for all the people left behind to mourn, though, because a wreck like that always leaves a lot of pain and anger behind.

There are two reactions to photos like that, usually.

The kid who's the reason my dad made me sell my bike is older now than I was when he was born. Wonder if I still remember how to ride ...

[Ira]

Well, I sent my photos to Spad.

So Spad--what did you think?

[PaulC]

Laredo, Quoting the original post " the swedish Police said that in this case no reaction was noted" I'm assuming that there where no skid marks to see. Does'nt matter how you look at it- 3dead because of one ignorant and inexperienced bike rider.
Cheers
Paul

[Sonetpro]

Laredo, Quoting the original post " the swedish Police said that in this case no reaction was noted" I'm assuming that there where no skid marks to see. Does'nt matter how you look at it- 3dead because of one ignorant and inexperienced bike rider.
Cheers
Paul

I would have to agree. 155 mph is only something you do on a controlled track where there is no chance somebody would pull out it front of you. I have had mine up to 120 mph in my younger days, but that was on a 32 mile bridge going across Lake Ponchatrain in New Orleans and absolutly no chance of cars entering from a side street. I hit 120 and had plenty left but 120 was pretty scary. 155 mph on a city street is insane and would put the bike driver at fault for being so irresponsible.