Modern Vespa

Warning the video contains graphics of a scooterist in an accident.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f48_1397490482

I believe the rider could have avoided or at least minimized their fate if only they stopped behind the line in front of the crosswalk. By stopping behind the line the buffer zone might have given the rider additional time to react and avoid or lessen the impact.

Wonder if he had his helmet buckled? I'm thinking he was toast even if he was behind the line. The trucks back end swerved way into where he would of been before or after the line. The truck behind him was to close also. He literally was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sad.

I didn't look at it. I am certain that there is nothing to be learned. Only seeing someone get hurt. Let's please stop showing these things.

Judy, I agree. It's called fate.

Not going to look. Nope.

That's one of those things I'd just as soon be able to un-see. But for what it's worth, a pedestrian would have had the same, um, event.

I have a koi pond in my back yard, and every once in a while a frog gets stuck in the pump intake. I retch when I have to clean that out, so yeah, not a film for many here. Not that there is any movie special effect stuff going on, it's just that it's a human being and all.

That said, I do think there is something to learn. Be aware. I for one tend to stop at or behind the intersection line, especially when there is a car behind me. Not exactly for the reason in the movie clip, but this does tend to reinforce my habit.

Of course, being in the wrong place, karma, fate, whatever may make that a bad place to be at some point. Get busy living....

Cheers all, be safe.

M there is something to learn IMHO. It also reinforces the dangers out there. Sure we know them but i tend to get complacent, even tho i ride like everyone is out to kill me. That said being a nurse i've seen it all so to speak. Never gets easier but it doesn''t affect me as much. I used to harvest skin off of dead people for our burn center back in the day. The organ donor center would call me if they had a donor who consented to donating their skin.

I think the value to incidents like this is to make us extremely vigilant and remind us to take nothing for granted. I got tapped a couple of weeks ago by a delivery truck backing down the street. He was too far over the center line to see me in his rear view mirror. Luckily only the Stella got hurt. The driver received a ticket but I also learned a bigger lesson - always have and leave room for an escape route. When you don't think they can see you - they can't. Meanwhile I'm picking up my new Stella tomorrow. Same color.

I came damn close to having an accident just like that when I was leading a ride a few years ago. Pretty unnerving.

Brendan

I agree with you and Belkwinith, ain't gonna look either.

Tempted, but didn't look. I've made a conscious decision to not look at youtube accidents anymore. All they do is make me cringe and give me bad thoughts. I know riding can be dangerous, so there is no point in reveling in others misery or death. Just reminds me to stay alert and be careful.

After watching a few videos and from seeing a fair few pictures, it has taught me that the next time I get on my scoot, may well be my last.

Didn't watch the video.. I've seen enough of this kind of stuff to know how it ends.

The truth is, there are inherent dangers in everything we do. When I ride my motorcycle or scooter I know what I am doing, and I choose to take the risk.

Some things are out of our control, but there is something to be said about quality of life vs risk. I love motorcycling and as long as I am physically able, I will continue to ride. All I can do is try and be as safe and as mindful as possible.

I agree that refreshers on the hazards out there is good for keeping risk awareness at the max.

Back when I was an avid mountain climber and member of the American Alpine Club, I poured through the annual Accidents in North American Mountaineering for the same reason. Unfortunately I was involved in one of the incidents where a woman I had climbed with for many years died in a crevase fall on Denali when a snow bridge collapsed. In this case knowledge of other accidents didn't help, so I guess it goes both ways.

I vote for stopping posting the gory videos. If the video shows a close shave and the rider is more or less OK, I'm fine with it. This was a bizarre incident and I can only hope the rider in question did not suffer.

As a moderator I had to watch, you know, part of the job though I was pretty sure what I was going to see. While painful looking I have seen much worse, really much worse. I don't see a lot of lesson here except maybe to make sure your chin strap is engaged and snug. I really don't see where stopping on the stop line or one length ahead would have made much difference but who knows. Do we need a reminder that a rare and freaky accident could happen to us? Thought about locking but if some see value here then I won't.

Even when you are doing everything right shit can still happen.

I'm all for a good reality check, and that sometimes comes in the form of a nasty picture or video. If there are people here that are offended by this then don't click the link - It's that simple. OP gave fair warning of the videos graphic content and I decided not to click.

Exactly. Do your best to prepare for shit to happen - and if that fails - your time was up. Nobody gets out of this lifetime alive.

Sorry to be a buzz kill but every day above ground is a privilege and we who ride PTWs ask for a more largesse than those who hide under the covers. However, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just sayin'.

that is seriously some really bad luck. No chance too avoid destiny. Hope the guy recovers and gets back on his ride. That really sucks.

Amen!

I watched it. Just a reminder why I am happy to look 3 stone bigger then I am in all my gear so that when situations like these come around, I've done all I can to cushion the blow.

Sad to see this happen to anyone

Not watch.

H

I watched the clip. Luckily the resolution was low.

If one thinks can tolerate gory scenes and doesn't mind having nightmares, google for 'Dagestan six'. I guarantee you won't sleep well thereafter.

I did watch the clip,

The only thing i take from it is that shit happens, and when it does, you don't really want to be on 2 wheels

oh, and fasten your helmet as well

This is clearly a situation of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing more, nothing less.

Not that proper gear would have prevented the accident, but the fact the helmet did not stay on the rider's head, and they had no back protection....


the survivability/injury would have been greatly increased.

Poor soul. Hopefully he has a 100% recovery.

A proper fitting helmet is a must! Let alone having it buckled as Judy pointed out!

I will say i don't have a dog in the fight over whether or not you wear a helmet. It's a personal choice in the states that have no helmet laws IMHO but don't slap one on your head and don't buckle it. Drives me nuts. Tourists who rent do it more than anybody over here.

My BF watched it for me and said, "I don't know what you could learn from that other than crap happens, so wear a full face."

He didn't think it was that bad but he will watch anything!

On the odd chance I might learn something, I watched.But I turned off the sound and tilted the laptop so my wife wouldn't accidentally see it.
I thought about this and how I ride - which is nervous in traffic. I try not to pull up to a line when I am first in traffic. If someone gets close behind me, I move up or over and away. I look left and right all the time I'm stopped. I'm not distracted by listening to tunes or on the phone when I ride. All routine behavior way before I saw this.
This event is the equivalent of a plane crashing into your house while you're sleeping. So, no real lesson to be learned. Shit happens. Kiss your loved ones on the way out the door, every time, whether you're riding a bicycle, walking, or in a two-ton armored SUV that simply sinks faster in a flood.

At first I thought there was nothing to learn but watching it again, the guy definitely runs the light, stop sign, whatever you want to call it. He shouldn't have been so aggressive into the intersection and he definitely should have stopped behind the line.

You should always maintain a good road position. If you squeeze over for aggressive drivers, they will squeeze past you and potentially cause an accident. If a car wants to pass you they should do it respectfully & overtake you with lots of space - don't treat yourself as a second class citizen, occupy the space you need and don't be bullied by other traffic.

This is actually a safer way to drive (IMO) & gives you more protection.

I watched it, but I'll watch just about everything.

As others have said, probably the only thing you can take from it is that sometimes when you're number's up.. it's up.

There's another video that I won't post that shows a rider who was wearing sandals and is missing about half his foot which got torn away in a crash. I could barely watch that but that sure served it's purpose..