But, what can you do?

geg.. as you are limited to the 80kph as a learner (bloody stupid
idea), one suggestion is - if you see someone coming up behind you at
100kph - just move as far as possible (and safely) to the left of the
road and let them pass.. being on a bike - there should be plenty of
room for them to pass.

John <also in Adelaide> <don't hold that against me >


PS. What are you riding?

 

then he has the chance of some pedantic boy in blue, booking him for
failing to keep as far as practical to the left hand side of the
road..


John

 

umm... I am assuming you meant the centre lines


John

 

As a newbie, I went for my first long ride today and found out first
hand just how stupid some drivers can be. Riding from Adelaide to Victor
Harbour(100km south), still on L's so stuck on 80kph on the open
highway. Double solid line, cars coming the other way, keeping position
about 20cm left of dead centre in my lane and keeping a very close eye
on the tailgater behind me. Nowhere for him to get around me so no point
in slowing to let him pass. I thought I was pretty safe in assuming that
the asshole behind me wouldn't pass - I was wrong.

He decided that the right half of my lane that I wasn't using was enough
for him so he moved through, right wheels over the double solid lines
and about 30cm from my right knee with about 15kph of overtake on me.
Cars on the other side swerving to avoid. He made his move just after I
had glanced at him in my mirror so I had no idea he was coming. Scared
every ounce of shit out of me. Luckily I didn't flinch and lose control.
He was past me before my moving further left and slowing made any
difference. I wanted to follow him but he was doing 100 and I would have
to do 20 over the limit to follow.

I thought about it after I had calmed down and the rage had passed and
did as is suggested - thought about how "I" could have avoided that
happening. But I drew a blank. Any suggestions?

 

Yes, if you're going to claim ownership of your lane you must do so. Ride in
the right hand wheel track, not the centre or to the left of centre. Don't
leave enough room for a car to pass you on the left, and at the same time make
ensure any car overtaking you has to move completely out of your lane. If I
am being overtaken in a situation such as this I'll usually drift to the right
as the following car moves out... just to ensure that they do leave my lane
completely, and not try to keep a couple of wheels over the line.

Personally I think having lower speed limits for learners is ridiculous and
causes bad situations such as this. I understand that you'll be breaking the
law if you exceed 80, but you really should place safety ahead of absurdity
and keep in mind that people have successfully defended speeding charges in
court where they have substantiated that the actions of a following motorist
caused them greater personal danger travelling at the speed limit than by
exceeding it.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

Go faster?

 

Mate, glad you made it OK. I've driven that route many times and enjoy the
good produce from the Mclaren Vale region 'hic'.

Outrunning a fool like this wouldn't make sense in your situation (and some
would say any situation...) and so perhaps next time you could indicate left
and pull off and let the thoughtless idiot pass by without threatening your
rightful space on the road. Best to remain calm and remember to always have
a very precise awareness of everything that is going on around you. A
constant scan of mirrors and surrounding traffic/conditions will help you
avoid surprises and we hope live to a very old age.

Enjoy yourself and sadly you have to treat other drivers as contemptuous
fools.

Cheers,
Dave ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => '03 XX

 

It is an interesting point regarding Learner speed limits. I pretty much
constituted a moving road block today causing lots of drivers(and some
riders I'm sorry to say) to do some really stupid things, the guy
previously mentioned being the worst. If I'd been allowed to do 100,
there would have been 90% less drama. Then again, 100kph is pretty fast
for someone with as little experience/skill as I have at the moment. I'm
still getting my head around using all feet and hands at once!

Nev.. wrote:

 

Of course I would have pulled over and let him pass, as those who know me
will attest... ;-)

Maybe when you get some experience and a bigger bike (and quite possibly a
smaller brain...) it will be unlikely that these situations will occur.
hehe

Mature Dave ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => '03 XX

 

NEWS FLASH: Nev.. and I agree on something. 80 speed limits for
learners are madness.

If you must travel below the speed limit, for legal reasons or
because one carb has sucked a great bit lump of crap in its main
jet or something[*] take up the lane until someone is behind you
then pull over to the left and let the poor pricks past whenever
it's safe to do so.

After all, no-one likes having their Tarago held up by a CBR600.
They might miss the bingo!

-----sharks

[*] Ouyen to Mildura at 60 is a LONG LONG way.

 

Tough one but I tend to agree Nev. It's my understanding that most danger
results from speed differentials between vehicles travelling together. As a
long time cyclist years ago here in Sydney I can speak from some experience
here. (These days I sometimes have less tolerance of cyclists than I used
to - especially arrogant ones...).

Cheers,
Dave

 

True, but when you're cruising along the highway at the speed limit, there's
not much to think about doing with your hands and feet. Keep scanning the
road ahead and keep an eye in the mirror. If you get someone tailgating,
don't get fixated on watching them in the mirror. Weigh up your options,
start scanning for opportunities to move aside and let them pass, even if that
means waving them past across double lines if the road is clear. Better to
have them passing on your terms, rather than theirs... and it's not going to
be you who gets the ticket for crossing the lines. When they do pass, back
off the throttle a bit as they pass in case they pull back in right over the
top of you.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

At the risk of being flamed:

If you ride to the left of centre, that is what will happen.

If you ride in the centre, its not as good as the right as it will tend to
be a bit more slippery and still leave enough room for the odd idiot
(especially if you drift a bit left again).

Right of centre is as good as it gets.

That's what I was taught...

-bcg

 

~
Yep; I agree 100%.
Whether you're on a 50cc moped or an RGV you have to "own" your lane or
they'll just run you into the gutter.
(And try to look scary too!)
Clem

 

I didn't think it was possible for you to be wrong all the time

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

If it helps - take off your L plates and take a chance with the law.
When I was on my L's and P's I purposefully left off the plates because
whilst I had a gold drivers licence, the speed limitations I had to
endure made me a rolling road block just like you have experienced.

The sad fact is drivers act like fuckwits - and riders as well - when
around an L or P plater. This is quite concerning because the plate
should indicate to rational people that they should give you some space
and courtesy.

Unfortunately the intention of the law making you travel slower and
display a plate has not produced the response the lawmakers hoped for
because people are cunts.

Take your L plate off - do the speed limit - you will immediately see
the difference. You are safer this way as drivers will treat you with a
bit more respect and you will be less of a hazard on the road.

BVR

 

I would be reluctant to urge someone to break the law, and equally
reluctant to suggest they avoid fast roads while on L plates.

Here in Vic, the law is a little more reasonable, allowing L platers to
do the limit.

A year or so back, when I was teaching my son to drive[1], I noticed
that he seemed to get tailgated and passed more frequently on the open
road than I did. I put it down to his driving style until I
accidentally left the L plate on the back one day when I was out for a
drive. It seems that some drivers take severe offence at the idea of
driving behind a learner. It somehow diminishes their self-esteem. I'd
put it down to testosterone, but that wouldn't explain the 'girls' in
Hyundai Excels.

Moike

[1] He has since decided that driving a car is something he doesn't
really want/need to be able to do.

 

I agree with both of you. Limit for P-Platers in Tas is 80 or 85kmh. On
the freeways traffic moves at 115 - 120 (indicated), and given the
propensity for two-headed morons to not notice other vehicles until they're
almost on top of them one sees plenty of brake/swerve manoeuvres where there
is a 50% speed differential.

Ouyen is just near Mildura, just as Spreyton is just near Deviot.

 

No such rule.

Moike

 

You have to try?

Theo