just rear-ended a bike..

this is bit fraudy because I was in my van, but I am trying for the life of me to work out what happened, & thanking the stars above that the poor chap in front seems to be OK.

I was in a 40 on a road that's not unfamiliar coming into town with bike in front of me, 2 cars in front of him & a bus. Well we all know what buses do so I was waiting for this & sure enough there's the stop, bus indicates, we all slow & I've my foot on the brake pedal. There are 2 side junctions left & right. Nothing of concern in the right, but to the left junction was a a bike with hi Viz textile on & I was, I think, observing that to see if they were waiting to turn right out if it or left. This is I think where it all went wrong. Because eyes back forward & fuck, they've all stopped. Brake & kabang. I didn't have enough distance to wrench to the right. What I didn't clock was the keep left bollard, which meant that the traffic couldn't drive round the bus. Well the cars couldn't...

Three things from this:

1 WTF was I even looking at the bike at the junction? There wasn't a gap for it to emerge regardless of which was it might have been turning.

2 Failed to clock the implication of the bollard directly opposite a bus stop

3 Going down the road in bikes only mode. I've been caught out like this before

And possibly of significance just had a right ding dong with the GF & was going out to really have a walk by myself round the park & clear my head. Not sure about that-I knew it was an impacter the second I went eyes forward. Just enough time to think 'oh no not a bike-this is going to be bad.'

Not that's of much consolation to the biker, but I suppose it was 'lucky' it was the van as my bumper went over the rear wheel & whacked his tail up. The rear wheel broke & was pinned under the van, so effectively stopping the bike from pitching forward. He stayed on it-fuck knows how. Bike looks bent in half, deformation to van bonnet & huge crush in the bulbous tray that's underneath the engine. Bumper gone. Est speed of impact dunno but possibly as much as 20mph. What a mess. Amazingly chap was seemingly OK. I insisted he went to his doctor asap-he must have gone right forward because the ignition key was bent right over. Police in attendence.

what a bloody muppet. And thank goodness I wasn't on the bike. Don't beat me up please-I've been doing that for the last 3 hours.

Incidentally I don't see what the biker could have done at all (all accidents are avoidable theory). Even if he had clocked my van bearing down on his chuff the bollard gave him nowhere to go. Hope he's OK tomorrow.

Tell you what-both vehicles were over 10 years old & fair play to the designers who put the crush zones into them.

EDIT: the worst of it all is that I knew something was going to happen. If I hadn't HAD to get out of the house I wouldn't have gone & my head was in the wrong place for the bike. I feel awful.

I think WB should chuck you in the NC.

Glad you both are OK.

These things happen, don't be a cuddly wuddly beary beary boo and accept full responsibility.


If you took the guys personal details down, send him a bottle of whisky or something with an apology card.

Oh noez!

In future try and spot any hazards well in advance and apply the brakes in good time.

Originally Posted by vereor

These things happen, don't be a cuddly wuddly beary beary boo and accept full responsibility.


If you took the guys personal details down, send him a bottle of whisky or something with an apology card.

what a stupid statement
his bike sounds like it's written off a bit of booze and an apology isn't going to help !! if that was my pride and joy it certainly wouldn't , running into the back of someone is a cut and dried case with insurers i know it happened to me too

Originally Posted by vereor

These things happen, don't be a cuddly wuddly beary beary boo and accept full responsibility.

If you took the guys personal details down, send him a bottle of whisky or something with an apology card.

c'mon fella-you've some idea of me by now. Of course I did & have made that quite sure to my insurance company. It's his welfare that I'm most worried about. Plus the fact is a superb bike-mint.

I'm going to call him tomorrow & see how he is. And ask what he drinks.

Originally Posted by NigelC

what a stupid statement
his bike sounds like it's written off a bit of booze and an apology isn't going to help !! if that was my pride and joy it certainly wouldn't , running into the back of someone is a cut and dried case with insurers i know it happened to me too

In what way is it a stupid statement?

I'd rather know someone that made an error that could have ended me, was remorseful over their actions than ignored me and dealt with through insurance only.

Originally Posted by Editor

c'mon fella-you've some idea of me by now. Of course I did & have made that quite sure to my insurance company. It's his welfare that I'm most worried about. Plus the fact is a superb bike-mint.

I'm going to call him tomorrow & see how he is. And ask what he drinks.

Reading that back, I should perhaps have added, I know you aren't in any way likely to be, but just in case, don't be a cuddly wuddly beary beary boo?

Even that sounds too harsh!

Fair play for holding your hands up to the bloke and to the bearpit on here. You've generated a nice SMIDSY thread on a forum somewhere.

Glad you're both OK.

For what it's worth, arguably, you were travelling too close. Just as the bike in the side road needed space to pull out, you need space to brake. The bike in front didn't have the space to take any action even if he had seen it coming.

Space is good, very good. Create space, create time.

Originally Posted by Editor

And possibly of significance just had a right ding dong with the GF & was going out to really have a walk by myself round the park & clear my head.

I think this is your problem, never IME a good idea to drive/ride whilst your mind is on other things.

Glad everyone's ok though.

Originally Posted by Jasper

I think this is your problem, never IME a good idea to drive/ride whilst your mind is on other things.

Glad everyone's ok though.

Yes, most of my near-misses have been when I was in a strop over something, not necessarily driving/riding like a twat, but emotionally upset. Plays havoc with your concentration although you don't realise it at the time.

Glad everyone is OK. Metal can be replaced.

Originally Posted by DefTrap

Fair play for holding your hands up to the bloke and to the bearpit on here. You've generated a nice SMIDSY thread on a forum somewhere.

that's utterly insignificant to those micro seconds of slo-mo that gives you enought time to think 'fuck this is going to change his life-if he get's up'. And I DID see him, unfolded it all in my head & still....

On a persoanl note about the honesty/genorosity of people, those that stopped (inc matey at the junction) were kindness & practicality itself & the poor chap I whacked shook my hand. 3 people phoned the police. The police were wonderful. Got 2 cars for this one!!

On a much sadder note, the reason for the blockage on my usual roads the other day was:
Biker, 42 dies at scene of accident | Retford People

I think I'm going to log out, have a little drinky & a bit of a blub. It's been building for a while. Night darlings. And thank you.

The "hazard" of the other bike held your attention too long. Easily done especially if you are distracted, Glad it wasn't more serious, I hope he checks out OK, quite an impact. Don't beat yourself up I know you will though.

Originally Posted by vereor

These things happen, don't be a cuddly wuddly beary beary boo and accept full responsibility.


If you took the guys personal details down, send him a bottle of whisky or something with an apology card.

Nice thought, but if he comes right out and admits responsibility the insurance may kick up, because they specifically tell you not to. That's not to say he should deny it however any admissions of guilt or offers to pay MUST come from the insurance.

Unfortunately while this may come over as a bit callous he needs to say nothing to the other party until the claim is agreed. No reason why he can't pop round after that and offer a personal apology though.

Editor, you are a good man. OK you made a mistake but nobody died and I know you will do the right thing for this chap. So chin up and console yourself you are doing what you can to make it right, and don't beat yourself up over the mistake, learn from it.