"History will be kind to us, because we will write it"
[First filed: Sep 2, 2010 @ 9:42]
If there’s one thing the above photo tells us, it’s that you don’t need to do much more than 204km/h to get out of the frame of speed cameras.
Here’s the story from the AFP:
ACT Policing is appealing for witnesses to a motorcycle travelling at high speed on the Tuggeranong Parkway yesterday (Wednesday, 1 September).
At approximately 1.38pm, police commenced a pursuit of a motorcycle from the Tuggeranong Parkway Stromlo, which terminated 1 minute later due to speed and loss of visual contact. Speeds from the motorcycle reached in excess of 204Km/h.
The motorcyclist failed to stop initially for excessive speed through the 40km/h and 60Km/h roadwork’s zone at the Glenloch Interchange.
Superintendent of Traffic, Mark Colbran said this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.
“This is extremely reckless driving that could seriously endanger the life of the rider, other road users and those working at the roadworks.
“In the event of a collision, the speed at which the motorcycle was travelling would result in almost certain death of the rider and anyone else involved. With our road toll already at 17 this year, this is something we are trying to avoid at all costs,” he said.
The motorcycle is described as a predominantly black road bike, with possible red stripes. The bike appears to be a MV Augusta 1000cc make and model. Police believe the rider is male, of large build and was wearing a black, possibly ARAI branded motorcycle helmet.
Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the motorcycle or who know the identity of the rider to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.act.crimestoppers.com.au.
Any thoughts on the bike model and helmet rioters?
Loading ...
I hope they catch him. He needs a good slap on the wrist and they need to tell him he is a naughty boy.
Don’t know if he ca hide but he sure can ride!
And he also now has the world’s best Facebook profile pic.
I’m assuming that the plates were fake? Or did he also run from the cops so fast that they couldn’t read them?
Another good reason to have a number plate on the front of the Bike. That’s is if indeed its registered.
What!! a motorcylist not doing the speed limit? No way……….
Black MV Augusta’s aren’t very common bikes. I imagine they will find him pretty easily by searching the ACT Rego database (assuming the bike has been registered)
Pretty good pic, considering he was alledgedly riding at 200+ km/h. If they know the make and model of the bike, surely there aren’t that many of the same bike registered in ACT, can’t they track them down that way? Or have I seen too much CSI?
Unless the coppers chasing had a witness to his rear number plate, that’s circumstantial evidence and I don’t think you’d be able to use it @RAGD
That said though, fair effort doing 200+ down a busy road in the middle of the day. He’d have a job in touring bikes if he wanted…
Dunno that doing 200kmh+ in a straight line along the Parkway indicates the guy can ride. What it does indicate tho’ is that he’s a bloody idot. Pity he didn’t blow a tyre, really.
braddonboy said :
Yup, I can do 200km/h in a straight line, and I’m pretty unco.
Does anyone know if the rules re: breaking off dangerous chases are the same for motorcycles as cars? And for cop bikes vrs cop cars?
I mean, really speed is only part of the equation when thinking about danger. Speed affects distance travelled while you are reacting to something, but when actually thinking about a crash, the energy in the vehicle would be more relevant, and that is going to depend on the weight of the vehicle….
braddonboy said :
Yup, anyone can go fast in a straight line…….
Lardman, the Parkway is not that busy in the middle of the day, what he did could be easily done.
Arai helmet – just like mine actually!
So in summary:
The rider apparently survived travelling along the Parkway at twice the legal limit without crashing or his blood turning to sewage.
The speed camera could not positively identify a bike or it’s rider breaking the law – fail.
The speed camera could not prevent the rider from speeding – fail.
The speed camera did not deter the rider from speeding – fail.
I don’t condone the rider’s behaviour (and if I was travelling along at 100km/h I’d probably have been pretty shocked/distracted by someone overtaking at that velocity) but it does highlight that cameras are great for generating a voluntary taxation invoice for Joe Average tootling along just over the limit, whereas they are totally ineffective against those who drive/ride at reckless speeds.
Reprobate said :
He was running from the cops who were attempting to pull him over. I doubt the camera even occurred to him. At least the camera gives the cops the opportunity to identify the guy.
On your logic the cops must have failed as well.
Gungahlin Al said :
Found him!
D’oh – me and my big mouth…
Reprobate said :
It’s all about the speed differential. You’re travelling at 100 km/h on a road with a speed limit of 100 km/h, you won’t be expecting a vehicle to pass you going at twice your speed.
That speed differential argument works both ways. You’re travelling at 100 km/h on a road with a speed limit of 100 km/h and you come up behind a car travelling at say 60 km/h – that is almost as unreasonable in my opinion.
Police & politicians like to point to reckless drivers/riders like our as-yet unknown biker when they say speeding is dangerous – while most of the time the people they catch (via speed cameras) will be guilty of little more than drifting slightly above the speed limit.
I can go way faster on my Ducati.
Not only is this guy dumb, but poor aswell
Is that his headlight on in the middle of the day??
Better not let joepublic see it.
He’d have a fit.
lol
Reprobate: you would dismiss the entire concept because of one anomalous outlier?
Most people don’t travel past speed cameras at 200+kph.
KB1971: I still wouldn’t even try that at anything but a deserted road.
“Superintendent of Traffic, Mark Colbran said this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Unless they get a witness, I don’t think they have a choice.
Rawhide Kid Part3 said :
Or, we could, you know, have the camera take photos from behind
The AMC is against it
http://www.amc.asn.au/node/4
and various state based organisations
http://www.mccofnsw.org.au/a/33.html
How about we have identifying marks on the sides of cars so we can take a photo of the side rather than the back or front
georgesgenitals said :
As if. Since when do cops need independent witnesses to issue a summons or sworn statement.
Many a young driver has suffered at the hands of the cops who can and do make up offences and are (obviously) believed over the victim.
Like speed cameras, it’s just a risk of driving.
If those copulators did get the bike’s rego number all they need to do is find the bike, then the rider, and he’s gone mate, gone.
The Axe Man said :
there are reasons as to why that camera will only take front photos, some of which i cant go into, Also as for side photos the cameras have to be pointed at on-coming or away-going traffic, or they cannot detect the correct speed.
Rawhide Kid, if you gave the suggestion of a front licence plate a bit of thought, you’d realise that there are a myriad of safety and design issues. That’s why no western country has them now, and why, when they did early last century, they were removed.
And it ain’t me – my cruiser couldn’t get to 204 (I don’t think) and if it did, I’m not sure I’d want to be on it.
Have the rozzers been to your place yet Al?
I’m not saying this one person makes speed cameras pointless, rather cameras simply don’t acheive their aim of increasing road safety.
Recent figures show more accidents have occurred in may areas of the ACT where speed cameras are installed, so the simplistic argument that cameras reduce accidents is false.
The ACT road toll has stayed relatively steady since the introduction of speed cameras, and any decline in fatalities in this time could be apportioned equally to safer cars, differing weather conditions, luck, or even variables such as greater access to mobile phones to report and respond to emergency calls for faster paramedic treatment, etc etc. So I can’t buy the claim that speed cameras save lives.
And the idea that speed cameras change the culture of speeding? Consider this. Cameras constantly catch a similar number of people each year, and government budget forecasts incorporate raised expectations of infringements issued when calculating forward revenue streams. No matter whether this increase may be due to more cameras or speedometer fatigue by drivers, it clearly shows that the fundamental culture is not changing. Speed cameras are purely and simply a voluntary additional tax.
What really made me cross the last time I saw a speed camera infringement notice (issued to a colleague)was that it was made out like a phone bill with lots of easy payment options (pay by phone or net, Bpay etc) to make the revenue collection process as easy as possible. An incriminating photo as proof isn’t even included by default, no doubt to keep costs down and to maximise the return. No advice about the consequences of excessive speed or incremental increases of speed on stopping distances. No advice to reconsider your attitude towards those who share the road with you. Just pay up, please. Soon as you can, thanks. See you again soon.
BTW over the last 25 years of driving my last speeding fine was in 1989, issued on the spot. I have never had a fine since, so don’t think the above rant is from a serial speed camera sucker.
I was under the impression that the fixed speed cameras were set up to only take a shot from the rear, where the motorbike would have had a number plate displayed. Was he riding on the wrong side of the road?
I checked google maps and the Cotter Rd cameras don’t appear to be behind armco, and failed to locate the Hindmarsh Dr cameras… I guess the age of the images in google maps is sus.