[Ducati] NDC: Don't pass at the Gap

[the_lammster at comcast.net]

I am not a lawyer, but I agree with vduc on the liability.  In the states that I have held licenses (PA, WV, VA, and MD) only those involved in an accident must stop unless directed by the Police.  Having said that, I also believe there exists a moral imperative to render assistance if one can; the decency vduc mentioned.

I disagree with Garth on the target fixation.  I think this was just plain stupidity or cockiness or both.  The rider's rear end broke loose (probably was locked up) and he didn't know how to handle it.  Panic is the typical response and I think that was exhibited in his response.  I also don't think he knew just how far over that bike could lean for the oncoming turn so he thought his only options were to hit the mountainside or brake hard.  You will note that none of the other riders had a problem, including the second bike that was right behind him.

Could I have handled the situation?  Not on his bike and maybe not on mine because I just don't have enough experience to do so.  I have locked up the rear both on flat roads and twisties in both wet and dry condtions, and recovered successfully so far.  Would I be in his situation (i.e., passing on a descending blind curve on a double yellow line)?  I'd like to think I am not that stupid, but only time will tell.

Ken Lamm
-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "vduc" <vduc at prodigy.net> 

> The "cager" should have stopped out of decency or only to check how the guy 
> was. In the end the cager didn't cause the accident and wasn't really 
> involved so legally in my opinion didn't need to stop, therefore wasn't 
> fleeing the site of an accident. The biker passed on a double yellow and 
> proceeded to go off road. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message----- 
> > From: ducati-bounces at ducati.net [mailto:ducati-bounces at ducati.net] On 
> > Behalf Of jules 
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 2:48 AM 
> > To: 'Ducati Owners Group' 
> > Subject: RE: [Ducati] NDC: Don't pass at the Gap 
> > 
> > also sprach Garth Williams on Monday, July 31, 2006 6:09 PM: 
> > > That video is (most likely) a classic case of target fixation. You go 
> > > where your eyes do! 
> > 
> > is it just me or is anyone else really pissed off that the drivers of 
> > that cage minivan suv roadblock or whatever it was don't stop at the 
> > scene of the accident? I don't care how much of an idiot that harley 
> > guy was, you still stop, dammit. and the whole: "they're gonna kill 
> > us"... please! 
> > 
> > friggin cagers... I wonder if the police could use that as evidence of 
> > fleeing the site of an accident. 
> > 
> > -- 
> > j u l e s @ p o p m o n k e y . c o m 
> > http://www.popmonkey.com/jules 
> > 
> 
> 
> 
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