Car hits motorcycle
Turning left into oncoming traffic
Sequence of events:
On a bypass and under the influence of alcohol, the driver of a car turned left at a junction. A motorcyclist with a pillion passenger was oncoming in the opposite lane. The motorcyclist was behind a van which was also driving along the bypass. The van turned right at the junction, while the motorcycle behind it kept driving straight on. At the junction, a collision occurred between the motorcycle and the car that was turning left. The front of the motorcycle crashed against the right-hand side of the car. This impact threw the motorcyclist against the car, causing him to hit his head against the edge of the car roof.
On a bypass and under the influence of alcohol, the driver of a car turned left at a junction. A motorcyclist with a pillion passenger was oncoming in the opposite lane. The motorcyclist was behind a van which was also driving along the bypass. The van turned right at the junction, while the motorcycle behind it kept driving straight on. At the junction, a collision occurred between the motorcycle and the car that was turning left. The front of the motorcycle crashed against the right-hand side of the car. This impact threw the motorcyclist against the car, causing him to hit his head against the edge of the car roof.
Persons involved in the accident:
One motorcyclist with pillion passenger plus one car driver
One motorcyclist with pillion passenger plus one car driver
Consequences/injuries:
The motorcyclist was killed by the impact; the pillion passenger suffered severe injuries.
The motorcyclist was killed by the impact; the pillion passenger suffered severe injuries.
Cause/problem:
The accident was caused by a number of factors. Firstly, the motorcycle was approaching the junction and the van in front of it at too high a speed (at least 90 km/h in a 70 km/h zone), causing it to be temporarily obscured from view. Secondly, the motorcycle was only briefly visible to the car driver due to a combination of the bend and the slope of the road. However, the car driver’s blood alcohol level of 0.09 percent may also have contributed to causing the accident.
The accident was caused by a number of factors. Firstly, the motorcycle was approaching the junction and the van in front of it at too high a speed (at least 90 km/h in a 70 km/h zone), causing it to be temporarily obscured from view. Secondly, the motorcycle was only briefly visible to the car driver due to a combination of the bend and the slope of the road. However, the car driver’s blood alcohol level of 0.09 percent may also have contributed to causing the accident.
Avoidance measures, mitigation of consequences/ strategy for road safety measures:
The motorcyclist could have prevented the accident by keeping to the 70 km/h speed limit and reacting to the turning car by executing emergency braking and evasive maneuvers. Without a medical assessment, it is not possible to determine the exact extent to which the car driver’s blood alcohol level impacted the sequence of events. However, if all the parties involved in the accident had been exercising due attention and consideration for others when using the road, it would have been possible to prevent the accident.
The motorcyclist could have prevented the accident by keeping to the 70 km/h speed limit and reacting to the turning car by executing emergency braking and evasive maneuvers. Without a medical assessment, it is not possible to determine the exact extent to which the car driver’s blood alcohol level impacted the sequence of events. However, if all the parties involved in the accident had been exercising due attention and consideration for others when using the road, it would have been possible to prevent the accident.