| Author | Message | ||
     Barker |
take a look at this news video. Man Crashes Scooter Into Van, Critically Injured http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=887 6770 headline says scoot hits van, not van hits scoot? the cop makes it sound like it was the scoot rider's fault that a van pulled in front of him and he was injured. am I watching this right? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It's our fault for being small and hard to see. I'll have to remember that when I run over a kid.  | ||
| Northernyankee |
That is ridiculous, "its the scooter riders responsibility because he rides a smaller vehicle and people can't see him." God how stupid can that cop be. | ||
| Northernyankee |
Here is the email address for the Chief of Police. chief@police.nashville.org I write him a nice email about how the comments of his officer are absurd and unfounded. His comments really bothered me and I could not let it go without saying something. | ||
| Tom_b |
WTF! that alledged LEO is a complete idiot. Not only is he on T.V., he is publicly blaming the scooter rider when the van failed to yeild right of way. This could lead to a VERY interesting insurance suit. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
The officer said, "the burden of safety is on the scooter rider". I dont believe that's the same thing as saying he (the scooter) was at fault. I believe what the officer was attempting to say is cycle riders have to practice defensive driving, which is something we all know whether or not we practice it. There wasn't enough details given to give much of an opinion on the accident. Cycles ARE harder to see - that's just a fact. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
We need a network like verizon. Can you see me NOW ?!? ass hat | ||
| Northernyankee |
Yes he did not come straight out and say fault and officers rarely do that's why insurance is so ridiculous. But his comments are so ambiguous that it could be construed that he is, so he should not be on TV making those comments either way. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Thanks for the email link. My email: I recently was made aware of an accident that occurred last night involving a scooter and a van. I was not surprised that the accident occurred. I was not surprised at the outcome of the accident, a van driver who was uninjured and a scooter rider left in critical condition. I was not even surprised at the cause of the accident, a car failing to yield the right of way to a motorcycle or scooter. I was COMPLETELY surprised by the statements made by your officer, Sgt. Bob Sheffield with regard to the accident. “The burden of safety is on the motorcycle rider, scooter rider. They are on much smaller vehicles, and [it’s] a lot harder for individuals in passenger cars to observe them.” Are you kidding me? The burden of safety is on the motorcycle rider? When did size become the determining factor in responsibility for safety? If I run over a Mini Cooper with my sport utility vehicle, is it the Mini Cooper owner’s fault for being small? Should it have been painted yellow with flashing lights to make it more “observable”? Motorcycles and scooters are legal modes of transportation in Nashville and the rest of TN. As such, the riders of these vehicles are afforded all the same rights and privileges of other motorists. The burden of safety is with every driver of every mode of transportation tagged and legal on the streets of TN. It is the driver of the van’s responsibility not to fail to yield right of way to a motorcycle just as much as it is the responsibility of the motorcycle rider not to run a red light or run into the back of a passenger vehicle. Please tell me this isn’t the training all Metro Officers are given. If so, I will have to make sure not to drive in Metro Nashville on anything smaller than a Caterpillar bull dozer. | ||
| New12r |
Nice Email Jeremy! | ||
| Barker |
"the burden of safety is on the scooter rider" safety is everyone's responsibility. Is the van driver is not responsible for safety? Is the van driver not responsible for looking/seeing a vehicle before he pulls in front of them? | ||
| Teddagreek |
We don't know what he meant to say, all we know is what he said... All I know he came off sounding like a Asss wipe.. | ||
| Barker |
I live in the same area the this LEO patrols. I would hate for my wife to find out that I committed suicide by riding a cloak of invisibility when the truck did not yield the left turn @ the light. friggen awesome email fatty!! im working on one right now. i would encourage other motorcyclists to do the same if you have a moment to spare. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I'm going to e-mail the Cheif when I get home from work. I can't believe that he blamed it on the scooterist for not being a big vehicle. Absurd. On the bright side, the vehicle that hit him is a commercial vehicle... If the scooterist makes it out alive, he can afford more than a scooter... My father in law was rear ended by a semi at a slow roll and was awarded $1,000,000 for not much more than whiplash. He hadn't even mentioned an attorney... | ||
| Kyrocket |
Ft_bstrd please keep us abreast of any replies from the Chief. I'd be interested to know what he has to say for his officer. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
If I run over a Mini Cooper with my sport utility vehicle, is it the Mini Cooper owner’s fault for being small? Should it have been painted yellow with flashing lights to make it more “observable”? Should it? No Would it possibly help if it were? maybe The federal government changed the rules and mandated that motorcycles have an "always on" headlight and automobiles have a center stoplight. Some motorcyclists have started wearing those bright reflective safety vests. It's arrogant and foolhardy to go around assuming automobile drivers are always going to see and react to cyclists. Furthermore, what is this obsession, by some, to assess blame. Could it be that most accidents are just that - accidents with no malice or intention of harm. All drivers, whether they be autos or cycles, need | ||
| Barker |
I just learned this, it is not just any scooterist. it was Will Hoge http://www.willhoge.com/ the crash is documented in his wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Hoge | ||
| Teddagreek |
Vests stemmed out from the military they have been mandatory since the 80's I think.. In fact in 93, I was told if I did not have my vest on and I was in a accident my life insurance would not pay out.. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
No, I'm talking about the safety vests the road workers wear...those bright orange or green color | ||
| Teddagreek |
I had a crappy orange one I bought on the base in 93.. Its was definitely a construction safety vest.. Funny thing it was same vest that guys doing roadside clean up wore..  There is a military standard for reflective motorcycle vest not sure what it is.. I wear a Safety Vest for work... Our standard are Ansi I,II and III. We only wear II's because most III's have a zipper and can be dangerous for us.. You should check out DOT night sight those cats even have reflective pants.. looks like a scene out of Tron..  | ||
| Xl1200r |
Call me crazy, but I don't really have a problem with what the officer said. Saying the burden of safety is on the scooter is correct - it's up to him (or her) to ride defensively, wear the right gear etc. He said that scooters and bikes are small and hard to see. He's right. He never said the burden of safe driving was on the scooter, or excused the van of any illegal maneuvers. I think the short video made it pretty clear that the van pulled out in front of the scooter. I can't imagine having a real issue with how it was presented unless you were looking for a fight. Just my opinion. | ||
| Tom_b |
Ferris von Bueller: Yes the officer did say the burden of safety was on the scooter rider. Does the same apply to a family riding in a mini van when a forty ton semi cuts them off and kills them because he didn't see their small minivan? Or you riding your buell home from work? Gimme a break! Do you wear bright orange everywhere you ride? most people don't. What about about at night with the headlight on does the orange vest make a difference, it said the accident occured at 8 pm, was the sun down? Your logic is totally waaayy off. A simple look twice before you cross lanes is all that is required. the person who cut the guy off was at fault. The alledged cop was out of line. I did use the email and tell the cheif of nashkille police i thought so. By the way "accidents" are usually caused by someones indifference or negligence wheter intentional or unintentional. so in theory ther are no "accidents" only someone being STUPID (Message edited by Tom_b on August 26, 2008) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
"Man Crashes Scooter Into Van, Critically Injured" The title indicates that there was a lone defensive van sitting all by it's lonesome and this crazy scooter rider crashed into it and critically injured himself. How about: "Van driver fails to yield and critically injures scooter rider." I agree completely that it is our responsibility to make ourselves as visible as possible. This is why I don't mind if I burn the hairs off the necks of car drivers in front of me with my light set up. It's also why I have a giant big bird yellow set of leathers. It's why, on cloudy days, I will break out my dayglow orange mil-spec vest. None of these actions on our part negate the driver's responsibility to look for us and see us. The officer might as well have said, "Yeah it sucks, but you can't see these little scooter bastards. It's what they get for riding scooters." My email has been read twice so far. We'll see if it goes any farther. (Message edited by ft_bstrd on August 26, 2008) | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"Jerrreemmmyyy spoke in cllllasssss tooodayyyyyy"...Pearl Jam. | ||
| Iamike |
I write my paper when they print headlines like that. It should have said "Van driver negligently pulls out in front of scooter driver, critically injuring him" | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
"Gnashed his teeth and bit the recess lady's breast, Oh how could I forget!" | ||
| Northernyankee |
"He hit me with a surprise left, my jaw left hurtin!" | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
oooo dropped wide open...just like the dayyy, Just like the daaayyy I heeeeaarrd...Daddy didn't give affection and the boy was something mommy wouldn't wearrrrrr.....king jeremy the wicked ruuuled his wooorrrlddddd. Jeremy spoke in clllllassss todayyyy. "Black" is my fav though. (Message edited by buellinachinashop on August 26, 2008) | ||
| Seanp |
Sir, I recently viewed a clip on the Internet of one of your officers telling a reporter about a scooter accident where a van turned in front of the scooter. The officer implied that it was the scooter rider's fault, because he was small and hard to see. Might I ask if you have any smaller sized officers? If so, would it be their fault if they were run over by a dump truck? Or perhaps if one of your cruisers was destroyed by a cement mixer turning into its path - would it be a fair assessment that it was the officer's fault for not giving way to the larger vehicle? After all, when you're riding up high in that cement mixer, those little police vehicles are hard to see. I was unaware that the law of mass takes precedence over the laws of the road. If I am ever in Nashville, I will ensure that I ride as fast as possible through your town. After all, KE=1/2*m*v^2, or Kinetic Energy equals 1/2 times mass times velocity squared. Therefore, if I am going fast enough on my motorcycle, then I have the most kinetic energy of any vehicle on the road, and all the cars should yield. It's how bullets work - you might know about them. Thank you for the public service announcement. I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Sean McCafferty Tallahassee, FL | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
If anyone gets a response from the Chief, make sure and post it. I'm preparing a nice bowl of popcorn in anticipation. |
