Shifty the statistic

[Shifty]

If every rider has only one moment that was perilously close call between life and serious injury or death, I just had it.

Last night I was riding along the Ipswich Motorway into Brisbane. For those that don’t know it, it’s a fairly poor quality bit of tarmac and instead of fixing it, they’ve simply acknowledged the poor conditions by applying a lower speed limit of 90km/h. This is despite the fact that the road is the main link between Brisbane and Ipswich (a satellite city to Brisbane’s west) and carries virtually all traffic in that direction.

So here I am last night, returning from a rained-out session at the drags in Willowbank. As I came past the Northern Suburbs/Centenary Motorway turnoff, it started bucketing down, and coming through Oxley the rain lightened up but the road was mighty wet and it was still falling pretty steadily. Coming back into suburbia the speed limit normally reduces to 80km/h, but there are some roadworks in action (perhaps finally fixing part of the road?) so instead it drops to 60km/h prior to this.

I checked my mirrors and rolled off the throttle and slowed to a steady 60km/h, flashing the brake light a few times and then trailing the rear brake lever a little to let people know I was slowing. Checked the mirrors again and the next car was still a fair way back, a few hundred meters at least, and it didn’t appear to be approaching particularly fast.

So, my attention was concentrated on the road ahead, assuming after that check of the mirrors that all was well. Only a couple of hundred meters along I’m still minding my own business at the speed limit and as is habit check my mirrors again to ensure everything is traveling fine. How I didn’t have a heart attack then and there I honestly don’t know. The car behind me was about 20m away doing well over double my speed. Nowhere to go for Mr. Shifty, I just jumped on the throttle and moved as far as I could to the edge of the road and used the brief remaining moment to have visions of me being dragged along under the car. The guy obviously either heard the bike or finally saw me, and just panic braked. He sailed past, sharing my lane and about two inches from my bar end, all four wheels locked up, at about 120km/h.

The only lucky thing is that I had managed to move over just far enough to give him room to pass, and where his car had been pointing when he locked up the brakes happened to direct him ever-so-slightly around me. I can play it over in my head time and time again, it’s like it’s in slow motion – and I did everything right… following the speed limit, checking my mirrors, flashing my brake light… and I still nearly got fucked on. After the massive adrenaline rush I was pretty wired for the next few minutes until I got where I was going (a friend’s house at Tennyson) where I took off my gloves and all but collapsed on the spot.

[diesel]

jesus christ mate.
ur a very lucky man to get outta that with the shiny side up.
well done.

[aardvark]

Like I say, you can't protect humanity from stupidity.

Luckily we don't need coppers to catch fuckwits like this. The cops are better off being used to catch real criminals.

Sounds like you were very, very lucky.

[balanse]

Sounds very close to a major one and very lucky (well, apart from actually being there).

What happened when he/she gathered it together? Anything acknowledged or said?

[Smitty]

Shifty
not nice mate

and a reminder I guess, its not only the farkers in cages next to you
that can take you out....gotta watch the ones behind too

[esie]

I am glad to see you got out of that one ok Shifty! At least you know you were doing the right thing, unlike the d|ckhead behing you!

[javaman]

Sorry to hear that mate, but *lucky* you got out allright.

[Shifty]

Being in a straight line, not long after he want past he lifted off the brakes then slowed right down. I caught up and looked over.. he was unfogging his windscreen with his hand!

He eventually caved and looked over giving me a polite 'sorry' wave... I threw my hands up in the air as if to say "what the fuck are you doing!?" all the while screaming at the top of my lungs (of course he couldn't hear), then pointed at my chest and made a motion of running my finger across my throat as if to say "I could have been killed".

Anyway I gave up and decided that people like this wouldn't learn anything from being abused so I headed off on my merry way... about 60 seconds later he had sped up to 90km/h and was overtaking me again, weaving along in his lane as if he couldn't see a thing or was half pickled.

The thing I hate is that the ambos would have scraped me up and continued to hate us, the papers would have said "motorcyclist killed" and make everyone else hate us, and the cops would have ticked the "cause of accident: speed" box and gone out and felt justified booking more people for 120km/h out on the open road and fining motorcyclists for loud exhausts. All the while this pinhead has probably never had a fine in his life because you don't get fined for being a shit driver.

[Glen]

Great work to keep yourself outta that dickheads grill. Hopefully the dipshit might have learnt something, although it doesn't sound like it.

Your analysis on what would have happened is spot on I reckon. Thank christ it didn't.

I would prescribe many beers/beverages of choice, in a hurry!

[Black Betty]

Shifty,

Your analysis of 'what might have been' and the follow action from those in the community not aware of the issues we riders face is absolutely spot on.

Good to hear you o.k. and an excellent reminder to us all that we need to drive for everyone around us ........ well those of you licenced to ride on the roads do

Cheers

[Shifty]

Thanks mate... glad to be here to tell the tale!

[mrmina]

no good but atleast ur ok.

[Pabs]

Iam glad your still with us to tell the tale.
Your a lucky bugger Shifty and a very aware rider.
Good for you

[ttc]

Shifty... leave the bloody black cats alone!!


ok that might have been a grey one...

take care mate

[Sulli]

Glad to hear you are still here to tell the tale and yes that section of motor way is very bad for that.
I only ride it when I have to and if you stay at the legal speed limit you are swamped by cars and trucks and given the bird for obeying the speed limits after that section it drops to 60kph and this moron passed you at 90 kph if he was caught he would be suspended from driving 3 months
Any way ride smart and stay safe