Speed Camera Van Causes Biker's Death?

[Im-a-Ridah]

AN independent investigation has been launched after a motorcyclist died in an accident close to a mobile speed camera on Saturday morning.

The incident closed a long stretch of the A338 and caused traffic chaos for hours around Bournemouth.

Police were called to the northbound Cooper Dean Flyover at 9.26am on Saturday to find a black Suzuki motorbike had crashed.

The rider – who has not yet been identified – was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both sides of the road were closed for several hours before the southbound carriageway was reopened at lunchtime on Saturday.

The northbound stretch stayed shut for almost seven hours while experts combed the scene for clues as to what happened, reopening at around 4pm.

A police spokesman said: “Due to the proximity of a stationary safety camera van at the incident, the matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.”

The deceased’s family have been informed and the coroner has been made aware.

The road closure caused traffic problems on many surrounding roads and on the A31 approach to the A338.

Several police cars and an ambulance attended.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8966077.Probe_into_biker_death_crash_on_A338/

[RichieZX6R]

does it state what caused the accident, cant open the link at work for some reason (maybe the proxy).
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[DrDonnyBrago]

[UrbanRacer]

Doesn't say what the cause of the accident was, i'm guessing the biker hammered the front brakes on and lost the fornt end or a a car in front suddenly stopped and he tried to avoid.

[dragstaar]

I'm thinking he probably grabbed a fistful of brake and lost it. RIP, his family must be devestated

[Sham]

If excessive speed coupled with maybe a late visual on the speed camera van (which does seem entirely likely - if speculative) was the cause, then it clearly demonstrates that the label 'Road Safe' on that van is completely at odds with reality.

If they really wanted to reduce speeds and make it safer, then they should clearly identify the presence of the vehicle well ahead of it's position to make people slow down gradually. This will never happen of course, because I fear that prevention has nothing to do with it, when it comes to traffic offenses.

Getting a ticket is one thing, to loose your life because of it (maybe in this case) is simply awful. I feel for the family and friends.

[UnknownStuntm...]

You know I've been waiting for this to happen somewhere. I reckon the scamera van crew and the Po-po are feeling guilty as fuck straight away by the wording of that report. IF that report is factually correct.

In any case, it's another bad thing. RIP.

[mjn51]

METRO paper this morning
"The 64-year-old was thrown from his 1,000cc Suzuki after spotting the van where the speed limit changes from 50mph to 70mph.

Two off-duty doctors helped him but he died at the scene on Saturday.

'It looks like the motorcyclist came over a slight hill in the road, saw the camera van, hit the brakes and crashed into the central reservation,’ said a motorist."



Read more: https://www.metro.co.uk/news/860506-biker-died-braking-for-speed-camera#ixzz1JDTgdScU

[chillyman0]

Thoughts are with his family.
____________________
preivious : 2007 Skyjet 125 (died), 1991 gsf400 (problems, rotting in garden)
1996 gsf600n (sold)
current : 1996 VFR750 for sale, PM for info! 2000 E1 ZX-9r

[chris-red]

Lets get this straight, the biker caused his own death. By the sounds of he braked too hard and lost it.

Did the speed camera contribute to this, Yes of course it did. People start paying too much attention on a number on a dial rather than an the road there are bound to be problems.
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[UrbanRacer]

[RichieZX6R]

[Bru]

If the report is accurate enough that the cause of the accident was due to the rider grabbing a handful of brake because he spotted a camera van, then that can only be the rider's fault. It is a tragic loss of life for no good reason. I appreciate that the 'no speed, no fine' argument may be simplistic, but a rider's over-reaction (if that is what is was) cannot be protected in law. No use blaming the police.

Try to find the location on Google maps, and judge for yourself how much visibility the rider would have had. If I found the right location, then it looks pretty straight to me.

[Daimo]

[Easter Bunny]

Isn't the camera van illegally parked on a verge?

I think I got caught by a van parked on a paved area, I turned round, stood in front of him and took a picture of the van and where it was parked, never heard anything of the ticket!
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[Im-a-Ridah]

If the guy died because he tried to avoid the speed camera, then the speed camera is still the deciding factor in the death. That’s not to say the guy couldn't have avoided it by simply ignoring the van, or by going slower, but rather that given a situation without the speed camera van's presence the accident would almost certainly have not occurred.

Yes, this is an extreme, and it’s not too often that we get cases that are as obvious as this, which is why I posted it. It's common knowledge on here that speed cameras cause people to brake sharply, or change their focus of attention, and this can does contribute to accidents. As the purpose of speed cameras is exclusively to prevent accidents, any rise in the potential for accidents due to their presence means that their use needs to be reconsidered.

[MarkJ]

[chris-red]

[chris-red]

[UnknownStuntm...]

[UrbanRacer]

[chris-red]

Completely disagree, you know how hard you can brake before you get close to losing grip, if you panic brake when nothing is going to hit you aren't in control of the bike. Knocking 10-20mph of your speed is moronic and likely to have somebody crash into the back of you if the speed limit is 30 go through the camera at 30 not 20.

I see a camera I quick check of my speed and I usually roll off the the throttle and maybe drop a gear, I rarely brake for them.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[JP7]

Without being in possession of all the facts, it looks like the biker didn't see the van early enough and made a panic reaction when he spotted it. Not the wisest idea given that the van would already have clocked his speed before he even saw it, but we can't always control our panic reflexes. I would suggest that he was probably going at a fair speed for him to grab a fistful of brake on sight of it.

Very sad that he should lose his life for the sake of a speeding ticket. RIP.

[chris-red]

[UrbanRacer]