Think

[Slave]

I posted this on the TB forum.

 

Wanted to share it here as well.

 

"I saw an accident scene on Friday night that left me bummed out for the entire weekend. I'm probably only getting to grips with it now.

On Friday 27 Feb 2009 at about 19h00 there was a head on collision between two "cages" on JG Strydom Road Alberton.

An old Jetta slammed head-on into (either a new Jetta or what looked to me to be a Passat. New model.)

At the schene there was a lot of speculation as to how the accident happened and I won't get into that as I do not have the facts.

Suffice to say that both drivers were killed instantly and that there was a huge traffic jam for many hours afterwards. What left me bummed out though, was the fact thet the old Jetta was so flattened in front as to be unrecognisable. The length ofthe vehcile was reduced by over a meter, so bad was the impact. The young driver was crushed in his seat and judging by the length of the car, his engine was probably somewhere where his gear lever used to be.

It is obvious that there was very high speed in the equation. The new car was pretty much intact as far as damage goes (battling to get my head around that one) in that it appeared to be far less damaged than the old car. An elderly chap was the driver of this one and he was the second fatality.

So why am I telling this story?

Simple, it is not speed that kills, but the sudden stop. Your chances of being involved in an accident at high speed are infintely higher and the injury or death factor is increased exponentially, the higher the speed.

Had the guilty party in the accident, applied a little thought to his actions before he went speeding around the hood, there would be two less grieving familes today.

Think Bike is an excellent forum. I listen to the way some chaps fly down the R59 on Sunday mornings and wonder how many grieving families there will be by lunch time. Speed is a rush, there is no doubt about it. However, the risks are just too high and the price the same.

If, you knew somehow, that when you open up that throttle on Sunday (or any other day) that it would certainly result in your death, would you still do it?

What I'm trying to advocate is this. THINK. You ride a bike, think. Think Bike. Think car too. Think about how much room you leave yourself to react to an emergency and how much time you have left to prevent a serious or fatal accident.

If, you are an adrenaline junkie and need the speed, take it to the track because you just may be the reason why someone else has to grieve the loss of their loved one. Your actions may take you out AND someone else.

It matter not so much what you drive as to how you drive. You want to risk your own life, fine. Leave me out of it.

But for the sake of five minutes, my wife would have been in that spot at that time. I'm very thankful that she wasn't."

 

In shortour safetyis up to us and how we think and react.

 

Be safe out there.

[Marius]

I saw a Corsa this morning with a "Think Bike" sticker on, I thought, wow that's nice, I should get one as well, of maybe there will be a stand at the Expo handing them out. Then I realized the stupid cow was riding in the Yellow line were cyclists would want to be...guess it's the idea that counts.

[gianni]

think

[paulvs]

 

I saw a Corsa this morning with a "Think Bike" sticker on' date=' I thought, wow that's nice, I should get one as well, of maybe there will be a stand at the Expo handing them out. Then I realized the stupid cow was riding in the Yellow line were cyclists would want to be...guess it's the idea that counts.[/quote']

 

Seems I'm not the only one who is awake!!!

 

 

 

 

 

[slowpoke]

paulvs, i dont know what your problem is... you see 1 person with a publically available TB sticker or such like on it doing something wrong and now you say that all TB supporters or anyone and everything to do with TB is an issue. guess what, i see MANY cyclists fluanting the law etc so maybe i should just say ALL cyclists are numbnuts. you are as narrow minded as the idiot that S2L is having an argument with on the motoring forum - no wonder that dude thinks the way he does about cyclists - because of people like you, who are identical to him.

[intern]

Nice post Slowpoke. I have been on 3 advanced driving courses, one with BMW and 2 with Mercedes Benz including a 'high speed' one. After each one, I drive slower than before, realising how easy it is to lose it, even in a fancy schmancy C63 AMG. And having done the blood and guts beat like Holy Roller has, in the past, I also know very well the consequences of poor judgment and high speed...

[gummibear]

Intern,i am lucky as my work has sent me on a few and the same thing...always end up driving slower and more careful afterwards.I also always wear my seat belt after a accident scene. 

[Slave]

WndblownPE, I'm not sure you stated you case correctly.

 

You telling us you wear your seatbelt after accident scenes?

 

And the rest of the time? I wear mine all the time.

[cat-i]

 

paulvs' date=' i dont know what your problem is... you see 1 person with a publically available TB sticker or such like on it doing something wrong and now you say that all TB supporters or anyone and everything to do with TB is an issue. guess what, i see MANY cyclists fluanting the law etc so maybe i should just say ALL cyclists are numbnuts. you are as narrow minded as the idiot that S2L is having an argument with on the motoring forum - no wonder that dude thinks the way he does about cyclists - because of people like you, who are identical to him.[/quote']

 

slowpoke, i didn't read in his post that all people driving cars with TB stickers on are idiots?? what am i missing?

 

 

 

[slowpoke]

cat-i - he "had a go" at TB on another thread saying that he will not support them in anything because he always sees people with TB stickers and vests doing things wrong. then this chirp.