To be annoyed at 'Think Bike' posters and other ads telling drivers to be considerate to motorcyclists ??

[Tinkerbell7373]

Every time I see one of these posters or adverts on TV it really irritates me in fact totally pisses me off
We are continually told to look out for motorbikes etc - when motorbike riders are thee most reckless, dangerous, inconsiderate people on the roads !! They speed, weave in and out of traffic, cut in when they feel like it and generally think they can do whatever they like !!! How about posters and adverts aimed at them saying 'Think Car' or 'Don't ride like a dick and you won't have, or cause, so many accidents !'

Yes yabu. Just as with car drivers, some motorcyclists are reckless and dangerous. They are not all by any means. The fact is that people who may otherwise be quite safe drivers don't consider bikes or motorcyclists as much as they could in their driving behaviour because they just don't think about it. My dh has stopped riding a motorbike in London because it is too dangerous. He is the safest driver I know and when driving the car he is constantly aware of what other drivers are going to do long before I am because he has learned from biking to anticipate poor driving from others to keep himself safe. He spots when someone's about the change lane without indicating etc. I'm sure if you looked at some statistics you would find way more bikers are hurt or killed by poor car driving than by poor bike riding.

My colleague lost both of her sons in motorbike accidents, just a few years apart.

When I was a child, my next door neighbours lost their son in the same way. I can still remember his dad coming to the door to tell us what had happened.

Cyclists and motorcyclists are far more vulnerable than those in cars. That is just a fact.

YABVU

YABU to make the generalisation that all motorbike riders are reckless, speed and do what they like. Yes, there are some, but there are also car drivers who do all those things too.

The point the advert tries to make is that a bike is smaller than a car so not as easy to see as a car/van/whatever, so you need to remember to keep your wits about you when driving. And it's as much about protecting car drivers as bikers - both would be injured in an accident.

Ok so maybe not ALL motorcyclists are dangerous etc. Badly worded by me. But I would say 90% just think Highway Code doesn't apply to them.

Havingg had two family members killed in motorcycles and another injured through someone else's careless driving I'd have to say YABU.

Yes, you get shitty bikers, but there are far more shitty drivers around and their vehicles are far more likely to cause serious harm than a motorbike.
I thik the think bike message is good, but would probably be better if it was directed a thing everyone on the road and read 'you don't own the road, don't drive like a dick' but it's not as punchy and people would get offended.

Even if it were true that all motorcyclists are dangerous riders, they're still incredibly vulnerable and I'm assuming you wouldn't want to be involved in an accident with one of them, op? So I can't see any problem with motorists being reminded be careful really.

YABU. My neighbour was badly injured in a motorbike accident that was not his fault, due to poor driving on a dual carriageway.

It's not unreasonable to look out for the more vulnerable people on the road, unless you're totally heartless and you'd rather they be seriously injured or die just because some of them don't stick to the rules. (And many many car drivers don't stick to the rules either, using phones, speeding, tail gating etc etc).

I think they should be made to wear hi vis whilst riding.

The riders in all black are the hardest to spot!

It's more that you don't see posters and adverts on TV telling motorcyclists to 'Think Car' and how they should be more considerate to cars. It's always aimed at the car drivers.

I'm sorry for your losses due to motorcycle accidents.

There'll be a reason for that though.

YA definitely BU - they're so much more vulnerable.

If you can't see that then there is really nothing more to say... marry a motorcyclist and then see how you feel.

Should the title be...

AIBU that signs are required at all to remind any road user to be careful and considerate when using the road network?

It's sad that we need anything at all to remind us not to be dicks to each other.

Car drivers wipe out motorcyclists and then go, "Oh, I didn't see him..."

That's someone's Dad - there is a reason for these adverts and who they are aimed at.

I am an ex motorcyclist, having lots several friends who were far better riders than me I called it a day a decade ago.

I always wore hi viz and put my lights on in daylight.

This did not stop the car drivers who 1) opened the car door in traffic to empty their rubbish out just as I (perfectly legally) filtered past them, or 2) the nice lady that drifted across me in the wrong lane on a roundabout and put me into the hedge, any more than it stopped
3)the particularly charming focus passenger that chucked their takeaway wrappers out of the passenger window straight into my visor on the M20!

I truly think that as well as the theory test all car drivers should have to do a basic CBT on a 125 before they can pass their car license

Ok, don't even care. OP - you're a dick.

*lost, not lost. Angry typing sorry.

My dh used to wear head to toe hi vis including helmet and still had car drivers act like he wasn't even there. In a car you are a little self-obsessed bubble and can easily ignore what's going on around your vehicle. On a bike you have to be 100% concentrating just to stay alive.

CatTheif - we understand - hard to type when you're cross, eh?!

Tell you what OP, go and do your CBT and see just how f**king scared you are and then come back and tell us what you learn?!

And bikers know they are more vulnerable than a car so are actually much less likely to be reckless drivers. 90%? Oh that's one of that 90% of statistics made up on the spur of the moment then. Op you should go for a pillion ride sometime and see how vulnerable you feel then you might change your tune.

YABU. They are far more vulnerable and people need reminding. I see cars pulling out in front of bikes at roundabouts and junctions far more often than i do for other cars. People need to take that extra split second and literally "think bike" before pulling out.

I do think a lot of bikers don't understand the difference between filtering and just down right dangerous overtaking though. I think it's especially important that they take all the steps they can to protect themselves and drive as safely as possible. The kind of small collision that can happen car on car can be catastrophic for a bike rider.

YANBU

Yes yes Bonbonours and Eevee - I think sometimes bikers are acting completely legally and still get shit from drivers who don't understand that it's perfectly legal to filter.

Mum2 - I don't need to do my CBT. I have had a car licence for 29 years and don't intend to ever get on a motorbike of any description. You're clearly missing the point. Why are car drivers continually told to watch out for bikes ? Are motorcyclists continually told to watch out for cars ?