good to hear the insurance people arent being an arse BMW. Thats usually where we get let down the most.
good to hear other peoples viewpoints. ooobaby, its not about offending anyone, if you are hurt, then you are hurt. I think my point was missed slightly.
Tomsk, good to hear your point and point taken. IMO financial threat really doesnt work. most people drive without insurance and tax in london... I believe there a finacial threat to make them. In my experience with accidents and the way (good people) respond when they hit you, is that they are really shaken. To see a couple of defencless people(as in BMW's accident) come off and take a tumble from the safety of your cage makes you realise how vaunerable we are and in the seconds of getting out and assesing the accident, its very clear the potential for total disaster. There is no finacial penalty worse than knowing you took a persons life (ESPECIALLY, from being irresponsible). It's someting unrevokable. This is what we should be teaching and spreading. Like you I'd like it if we all loved each other, but we don't come any closer to that by involving money and apperently "getting whats due". Of course its different if youre hurt.
If I may bore you with an example. I found my bike on its side one morning and i was heartbroken. The bike was scratched and the mirror and brake lever snapped. it was pissing with rain but there was a little piece of paper in a plastic bag by my bike, it read "dear bike owner" and had a number. I called it and the guy wanted to help me out and was very appologetic. My insurance skanked him for all the damage and rental bike. To get "what i deserved". Total insurance bill,£4,500... for a tip over! His insurance would have gone up too.
So one persons good nature (love) is crippled by our need to punish. I wouldnt blame him if he drove away next time, like you say in "fear of being financially spanked". I've found my bike knocked over a couple of times and none have shown such good nature, just left it there. He wasnt english (aussie), and I hate to say it, but maybe thats why he was so kind, other than other motorcyclists, car drivers arent so caring.
anyhoo, I guess its my idealist ways but the tougher we get, the harder life is. Like everything in life, when we involve money and fear, love leaves pretty fast.
I wish during a car driving course like the emergency stop, they'd throw a body dummie arcoss the car just out of the blue. Harsh I know and would properly sh*t up the newbie driver, specially when the instructer says "ah yes.... you just killed someone... it really is as easy as that... pull away when ready..." :hammer:
we're all on the same tip, its about looking out for each other and understanding how easy it is to hurt us bikers. Thats why its hard not to get frustrated with it all. Don't get me wrong, I'd sue the sh*t out of someone if I was badly hurt tho.
