Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

aardvark wrote:From the HS - "Police said they believe a car was trying to make a u-turn in the foggy conditions when the motorcycle ran into the car. It is believed neither driver could see each other."

I'm assuming that they couldn't see each other because the fog was was thick as pea soup. And it sounds like the motorcyclist ran into the side of the car. I guess one of the questions is - how fast was the motorcyclist going in fog that thick?

I've ridden down the highway in fog so thick youcould barely see 50 metres in front of you (see photo below). Yet cars and trucks were still travelling at over 100km/h. Ludicrous!!

fuckin crazy aye... shows u how carefull u be even if you're just riding in a stright line or attempting any sort of manouvre...

i feel for both the driver and the rider... would hate to have been the poor police woman tho...

Last year a woman in a 100km/h zone, turned to her toddler in the back seat of her car, drove onto the wrong side of the road and killed two oncoming motorcyclists on the one bike. Went to court yesterday. Got off.

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/20 ... ds-prison/

...and now we have this...

So that is what a rider's life is worth?

http://www.theage.com.au/national/drive ... -ammg.html

Driver spared jail over motorcyclist death
April 29, 2009 - 11:33AM

A driver who while tuning his car radio veered onto the wrong side of the road and killed a motorcyclist, has walked free from court.

Prentice Watson, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after driving his Toyota Hilux utility into motorcyclist John McEniry, 40, of Greensborough at Warrandyte North.

The Victorian County Court was told Watson later told police he was "mucking with the radio" when he drifted across double lines and collided with Mr McEniry about 7am on June 8, 2007.

The court was told Watson had suffered a momentary lapse in concentration and was deeply remorseful over the incident.

The victim was on his L plates and riding a motorcyclist more powerful than his licence allowed, the court was told.

Judge Margaret Rizkalla sentenced Watson to 15 months' jail, wholly suspended for three years. His licence was cancelled for 18 months.

AAP

Prentice Watson
What a stupid Name

Farkin soft kawk judges... but hey that's what a life is worth the system sux

Now, I'm not suggesting that the policewoman involved in the original incident this thread spoke of, was in any way doing anything wrong. However, yesterday, I witnessed some idiotic police driving behaviour.

I mentioned in my ride report yesterday about a car who ran off a straight piece of rd into a tree and died. As I drove through the scene, the police were covering the car and the body with a tarpualin. At this point, I counted no less than 4 marked police vehicles. The weather was still horrible, with it pissing with rain. the road is almost dead straight for klms and is single lane each way.

After pssing the scene, about 2-10klms up the rd, I witnessed not one, but 3 marked police cars rushing to the scene. As mentioned, there were already 4 police vehicles in attendance at the scene, yet, ALL 3 police vehicles were travelling WELL ABOVE the speed limit. They ALL were double passing cars!!! What I mean, is they were pushing cars aside and running up the double yellow lines!! I was following a bus, so my vision was partially obscured when the first one crossed onto my side of the rd missing my bar end and mirror by inches!!! I dropped well back from the bus immediately. Thank god I did, as the next two police vehicles who passed by, were even further over the centre line!!! They were weaving in and out and forcing cars to the side, not waiting for the drivers to pull over! Frankly, even in dry conditions, I would have found this excessive speed and aggression to be unwarranted when going to the scene of a single fatality!!! Remember, there were 4 other police vehicles already at the scene!! What was the hurry??? Did the other three police vehicles carry the donuts of something??????

Strika wrote: Remember, there were 4 other police vehicles already at the scene!! What was the hurry??? Did the other three police vehicles carry the donuts of something??????

Overtime?

Sad reality is that your life as a motorcyclist at least here in victoria is worth 2/5ths of fuck all. It's happened time and time again and I daresay the MRA will be organising yet another County court rally as this sort of shit just has to stop. What makes this guys life worth less because of his method of transport??

Colette wrote:...and now we have this...

So that is what a rider's life is worth?

http://www.theage.com.au/national/drive ... -ammg.html

Driver spared jail over motorcyclist death
April 29, 2009 - 11:33AM

A driver who while tuning his car radio veered onto the wrong side of the road and killed a motorcyclist, has walked free from court.

Prentice Watson, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after driving his Toyota Hilux utility into motorcyclist John McEniry, 40, of Greensborough at Warrandyte North.

The Victorian County Court was told Watson later told police he was "mucking with the radio" when he drifted across double lines and collided with Mr McEniry about 7am on June 8, 2007.

The court was told Watson had suffered a momentary lapse in concentration and was deeply remorseful over the incident.

The victim was on his L plates and riding a motorcyclist more powerful than his licence allowed, the court was told.

Judge Margaret Rizkalla sentenced Watson to 15 months' jail, wholly suspended for three years. His licence was cancelled for 18 months.

AAP

The victim was on his L's and riding a more powerful bike. Big firetrucking deal!!! He's dead because of the inattention of a car driver, who gets a suspended sentence and 18 month loss of licence.........for what amounts to manslaughter . I guess our so called justice system is showing us that we really ARE second class citizens .

Nosferatu wrote:

Colette wrote:...and now we have this...

So that is what a rider's life is worth?

http://www.theage.com.au/national/drive ... -ammg.html

Driver spared jail over motorcyclist death
April 29, 2009 - 11:33AM

A driver who while tuning his car radio veered onto the wrong side of the road and killed a motorcyclist, has walked free from court.

Prentice Watson, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after driving his Toyota Hilux utility into motorcyclist John McEniry, 40, of Greensborough at Warrandyte North.

The Victorian County Court was told Watson later told police he was "mucking with the radio" when he drifted across double lines and collided with Mr McEniry about 7am on June 8, 2007.

The court was told Watson had suffered a momentary lapse in concentration and was deeply remorseful over the incident.

The victim was on his L plates and riding a motorcyclist more powerful than his licence allowed, the court was told.

Judge Margaret Rizkalla sentenced Watson to 15 months' jail, wholly suspended for three years. His licence was cancelled for 18 months.

AAP

The victim was on his L's and riding a more powerful bike. Big firetrucking deal!!! He's dead because of the inattention of a car driver, who gets a suspended sentence and 18 month loss of licence.........for what amounts to manslaughter . I guess our so called justice system is showing us that we really ARE second class citizens .

i noticed that too. they brought it up as if it contributed to the accident. Never ride an overpowered bike on your L's otherwise people will swerve to hit you and it'll be your own fault!

dutch80au wrote:

Nosferatu wrote:

Colette wrote:...and now we have this...

So that is what a rider's life is worth?

http://www.theage.com.au/national/drive ... -ammg.html

Driver spared jail over motorcyclist death
April 29, 2009 - 11:33AM

A driver who while tuning his car radio veered onto the wrong side of the road and killed a motorcyclist, has walked free from court.

Prentice Watson, 29, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death after driving his Toyota Hilux utility into motorcyclist John McEniry, 40, of Greensborough at Warrandyte North.

The Victorian County Court was told Watson later told police he was "mucking with the radio" when he drifted across double lines and collided with Mr McEniry about 7am on June 8, 2007.

The court was told Watson had suffered a momentary lapse in concentration and was deeply remorseful over the incident.

The victim was on his L plates and riding a motorcyclist more powerful than his licence allowed, the court was told.

Judge Margaret Rizkalla sentenced Watson to 15 months' jail, wholly suspended for three years. His licence was cancelled for 18 months.

AAP

The victim was on his L's and riding a more powerful bike. Big firetrucking deal!!! He's dead because of the inattention of a car driver, who gets a suspended sentence and 18 month loss of licence.........for what amounts to manslaughter . I guess our so called justice system is showing us that we really ARE second class citizens .

i noticed that too. they brought it up as if it contributed to the accident. Never ride an overpowered bike on your L's otherwise people will swerve to hit you and it'll be your own fault!

Yes, I picked up on that as well, not to mention the word "motorcyclist" instead of "motorcycle". I'm sure his family wishes he WAS "riding a motorcyclist", then the outcome would have been far different.

Colette wrote: Yes, I picked up on that as well, not to mention the word "motorcyclist" instead of "motorcycle". I'm sure his family wishes he WAS "riding a motorcyclist", then the outcome would have been far different.

Dunno, he may have then been distracted twidling other dials!!!!

Strika wrote:

Colette wrote: Yes, I picked up on that as well, not to mention the word "motorcyclist" instead of "motorcycle". I'm sure his family wishes he WAS "riding a motorcyclist", then the outcome would have been far different.

Dunno, he may have then been distracted twidling other dials!!!!

Good point!