Obey the rules of the road

This article was in our local newspaper - Randburg Sun - yesterday.
Looks like a 1200GS Adventure in the pic

Yes also saw that one. I am afraid that the section of highway mentioned has become a disaster because of the road works. They have narrowed the lanes and moved the emergency lane to the right. It is very difficult to lane split now and so the joy of riding in traffic on a bike is diminished in that section. You need to have eyes all over your body now in that area and just slow down. A bike even in very difficult traffic will always beat a cage so as long as one just takes that much more care when road works are present you still arrive at your destination sane and happy.

Saw this on the TB forum. If the rider was in fact in the emergency lane when this happened I have no sympathy for him.

Often see bikers in the emergency lane to avoid the traffic and it does not portray a good image at all.

My 2c!

I totally agree... If you are a motorist or a motorcyclist, driving in the emergency lane is wrong (legally and morally!) If you drive in the emergency lane, YOU could be responsible for somebody else's death, due to emergency vehicles not being able to reach their destination in time!!!
PS> Everybody who knows me, know that I am very passionate about this subject!!!

We have a person here at work that has an amzing sense of humor and if you are not careful, you will believe him!

He said that the lane on the right hand side of the freeway was especially made for him because when he rides there, all the policemen wave at him. He never stops to greet them, otherwise they charge him to ride there.

He complained that the cobblestones on the N1 between Midrand and Pretoria was too bumpy and he is grateful to see that they are now upgrading it.

All jokes aside, motorists are so decent that they open up a lane for us to drive between the fast and the middle lanes, we really do not have to use the safer-looking emergency lanes.

Fully agree with Dave - i would rather weave amongst traffic where you know you have to be extra aware - riding in the open emergency lane might cause one to be less aware and make mistakes. Principle is stay in the correct lane and drive safely (Defensive not Offensive)

So, I wonder, how did the collision take place...?

From the picture of the GSA, the front end is bent backwards to the motor, indicating the bike hit something else - the Metro police car?
So did the rider go into the back of a stationary vehicle? Unlikely, I think.
More likely, the vehicle changed lanes. (I've seen how some of them MP people drive!)
So here's my limited verdict:
Someone was riding where they shouldn't (the bike) and someone changed lanes (the metro police car) without checking the rear-view mirror...?

What would the article say if the bike had been an ambulance and it went into the back of the Metro car changing lanes...who would be blaming whom?

The bike was still in the emergency lane wasn't it. One of the reasons not to ride in the emergency lane is that you are not expected to be there and cars tend to expect nobody to be there - especially the MP.

They will pull off into the emergency lane to either stop there or drive in the lane and watch the traffic.

Bottom line - the biker should not have been there unless he had an emergency.

I'm in no way disputing that the bike was at fault - the rider was riding illegally.

I just hate it when articles immediately blame the biker...

Richard H wrote:
I just hate it when articles immediately blame the biker...

If he was in the emergency lane and rode into the metro car then I guess he is to blame?

Richard H wrote: I'm in no way disputing that the bike was at fault - the rider was riding illegally.

I just hate it when articles immediately blame the biker...

I think bikers are stereotyped to be always breaking the rules of the road. So although I agree that in this case it was justified, I also have to agree with Richard

There are bikers and bikers. Unfortunately it takes one idiot to "prove" to everybody that motorcycles are driven by kamakazi pilots.

We should never ride in the emergency lane, but pointing fingers before people know exactly what happened also gets by back up. I really feel sorry for the person who was driving this GS. I myself have made stupid mistakes and with God's grace I got away with it. Some people are not that fortunate - as in this case.

Agreed. Must say I have been guilty of riding in the emergency lane in the past. Was working in centurion and some days the highway past Hans Strijdom to Rivonia was so bad that I would use the left emergency lane to travel quickly. Realize now it was not a good idea and did not do it often. I have held my hand out for the smack. OW

I commuted to Johannesburg for over ten years. I have seen how most of those JMPD vehicles drive and believe me, they are guilty of DAILY traffic offenses...and NOT in the line of duty ! Running red lights, unnecessary use of their sirens, illegal parking when going shopping for KFC... Name it, I've seen it.

(This is the same group of people that fired at the SAPS staff sent to clear the illegal roadblock the JMPD created by using their OFFICIAL vehicles to block the M2 during recent labour unrest.)

Take note next time you see our own Tshwane Metro Police - I have NEVER seen them wear seatbelts. When I was stopped next to one recently, I asked why they were not wearing seatbelts, they said they were not required to wear them and made a derogatory remark (in an African language I couldn't understand) that drew a gaffaw from the others in the vehicle with follow-up insults, more laughter and visible scorn for me.

I concur with Richard. I have also seen numerous offences by JMPD vehicles not in the line of duty. If they, and any other official law enforcement body want to have the respect of the general public, they will have to show their respect for the laws of this country too. No-one is above the law

I wanted to say that they are clowns, but clowns are qualified

Fortunately not all of them are like that. We had a JMPD guy staying in our complex and he is really a great guy! Unfortunately the other elements are causing this bad view.

Why are there so many bad elements? Because of the fantastic example being set to them by their boss-men! It seems like the saying still holds true: A fish rots from its head.