Drunk drivers slammed after two cyclists killed

[MagicDude4Eva]

The NRTA makes it very clear who can travel when in the emergency lane. As horrible as this accident was, I am sure if you combine the circumstances (drunk driver / 5am in the morning - probably still dark or possibly even sun rising and blinding motorist / I doubt that cyclists drove in single file / possibly no streetlamps or artificial lighting) the accident was unavoidable.

The emergency lane in SA is probably the most dangerous place to be - especially when stationary or driving at low speed. If the driver was not drunk and drove into the group of cyclists (i.e. blind corner / avoidance of obstacle on the road which forced him into the emergency lane), I wonder if the reasonable foreseeability/preventability would still apply (i.e. who would expect cyclists on the freeway?).

During winter it is a weekly occurrence to run into cyclists at 4:30am in the morning where they do not wear proper reflective gear (or for their own safety travel against traffic in the emergency lane). South Africa is not cyclist friendly and those accidents will continue to happen unless dedicated/barricaded off cycle lanes are created.

 

[Nemus]

See reg 323 for rules on freeways – where cyclists are prohibited

Reg 323.


(1) No person shall operate on a freeway—

(a) a vehicle drawn by an animal;

(b) a pedal cycle;

 

[DA-LION-619]

But 4 way stops are a lot of fun...

Its like gambling, but you don't have to spend any money at all...

Very common for it happen in the mornings here, https://www.google.co.za/maps/@-29....xIjtxNQNDBINYRJAE5fg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
As usual truck drivers give a *****

 

[Sinbad]

https://youtu.be/Rb2VXVmUga4

 

[Hemi300c]

This is very sad no matter what.

Typical GTI driver IMO

/Popcorn.....................

 

[rwenzori]

Cyclist on freeway = Darwin Award candidate. No sympathy from me.

 

[Dude Crush]

I know this is a bit off-topic, but I was wondering about the legality of cyclists riding on Clarence drive (that pass along the mountains and coast between Gordons Bay and Rooi Els/Pringle/Betty's Bay. It's a normal 60/70km/h road but it has no shoulder or even boundary lines for much of the distance, and cars already pass each other very closely around blind corners and narrow sections. Surely cyclists are considered a hazard on that stretch (as pleasant as I'm sure it is to ride)?

So here's the thing... Most people aren't aware that cyclists are legal Road users and have every right to be on the roads as any other user. Of course this doesn't include certain highways, etc. But it does apply on 99% of any other road.

It's shocking how so many people have so little tolerance for other users of PUBLIC assets and amenities.

Anyway, as an avid cyclist myself, I can only hope that nobody is irrational enough to harm me intentionally just because they have no idea of the rules/laws and are simply intolerant. Not saying this is you specially, but just a general comment.

 

[HBee]

This is very sad no matter what.

Typical GTI driver IMO

/Popcorn.....................

Add to that any Honda where the rims cost more than the car.

 

[Nether]

I'm surprised we still allow cyclists on the roads.

Its not about who's right or wrong here, it's about who's left.

 

[Sinbad]

So here's the thing... Most people aren't aware that cyclists are legal Road users and have every right to be on the roads as any other user. Of course this doesn't include certain highways, etc. But it does apply on 99% of any other road.

It's shocking how so many people have so little tolerance for other users of PUBLIC assets and amenities.

Anyway, as an avid cyclist myself, I can only hope that nobody is irrational enough to harm me intentionally just because they have no idea of the rules/laws and are simply intolerant. Not saying this is you specially, but just a general comment.

Many many cyclists don't know the rules that well themselves.

Specifically:
Reg 311.


(2) Persons riding pedal cycles on a public road shall ride in single file except in the course of overtaking another pedal cycle, and two or more persons riding pedal cycles shall not overtake another vehicle at the same time.

 

[Nirv]

So here's the thing... Most people aren't aware that cyclists are legal Road users and have every right to be on the roads as any other user. Of course this doesn't include certain highways, etc. But it does apply on 99% of any other road.

It's shocking how so many people have so little tolerance for other users of PUBLIC assets and amenities.

Anyway, as an avid cyclist myself, I can only hope that nobody is irrational enough to harm me intentionally just because they have no idea of the rules/laws and are simply intolerant. Not saying this is you specially, but just a general comment.

Thanks for the clarification. My only concern is that I've experienced two narrow misses because of having to avoid cyclists on this route with no way of knowing they were there prior and with oncoming vehicles, while below the speed limit. It's just a very narrow route and it's frankly impossible to 100% avoid cyclists or other road users when 1/4 of the road width is taken by the cyclist at certain points on the road, especially when they're riding two abreast. I'm an occasional cyclist myself and I'd personally avoid that route knowing it from the perspective of a careful motorist.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Very common for it happen in the mornings here, https://www.google.co.za/maps/@-29....xIjtxNQNDBINYRJAE5fg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
As usual truck drivers give a *****

I know that intersection very very well... has always been a really interesting place to try and get across at rush hour time.

 

[Rickster]

I just don't understand this tbh.

I have driven drunk before and even did so again 3am Sunday morning. At no point did I drive anything faster than 40km/h it took me about 40 minutes to drive 10 kms. I'm not condoning drunk driving, I am however amazed at how people can go driving like maniacs and even more so knowing that they drank too much?

You get tipsy, drunk and blind drunk.

Which were you on that day?

 

[Dude Crush]

Many many cyclists don't know the rules that well themselves.

Specifically:
Reg 311.


(2) Persons riding pedal cycles on a public road shall ride in single file except in the course of overtaking another pedal cycle, and two or more persons riding pedal cycles shall not overtake another vehicle at the same time.

Granted, no objection here... There's a debate on the hub relating to exactly this point. A UK study found that riding two-abreast is much safer than single file, while SA law specifically states single file (also intended for cyclist safety). I won't debate this point here as it has little to do with this issue.

Point is that they could have been following all the rules and still been killed coz of our attitudes regarding drinking and driving. The other debates are a sort of red herring other than the one about not cycling on a highway... Those cyclists shouldn't have been there strictly speaking. Hopefully lessons will be learned from both the driving and cycling communities.

Avoidable loss of life is a tragedy. Those who have no sympathy coz they feel high and mighty about a technicality should really see a shrink. Some clear anger issues there.

 

[Pitbull]

Granted, no objection here... There's a debate on the hub relating to exactly this point. A UK study found that riding two-abreast is much safer than single file, while SA law specifically states single file (also intended for cyclist safety). I won't debate this point here as it has little to do with this issue.

Point is that they could have been following all the rules and still been killed coz of our attitudes regarding drinking and driving. The other debates are a sort of red herring other than the one about not cycling on a highway... Those cyclists shouldn't have been there strictly speaking. Hopefully lessons will be learned from both the driving and cycling communities.

Avoidable loss of life is a tragedy. Those who have no sympathy coz they feel high and mighty about a technicality should really see a shrink. Some cleat anger issues there.

I see in an article today the point of them not being allowed on the road was mentioned in court. Looks like we'll get a ruling on this any which way going forward from this case.

 

[Dude Crush]

Thanks for the clarification. My only concern is that I've experienced two narrow misses because of having to avoid cyclists on this route with no way of knowing they were there prior and with oncoming vehicles, while below the speed limit. It's just a very narrow route and it's frankly impossible to 100% avoid cyclists or other road users when 1/4 of the road width is taken by the cyclist at certain points on the road, especially when they're riding two abreast. I'm an occasional cyclist myself and I'd personally avoid that route knowing it from the perspective of a careful motorist.

Yeah, there's always two sides to it... As cyclists, u also need to be sensible and choose your routes carefully. If u put yourself on a road like that, u are in fact causing an unnecessary problem. Can't argue here.

I've had this exact argument with by BIL once on a ride. He took me on a really dangerous Road that he used to ride frequently. Although he has a right to be there as much as a car or truck, he should have the sense not to!

 

[FNfal]

"Durban - A 32-year-old Phoenix man appeared briefly before a Durban magistrate on Monday in connection with the deaths of two cyclists on the M4 Ruth First Highway at 5.10am on Sunday."

http://classic.iol.co.za/news/crime...er-two-cyclists-killed-1.1981445#.VriN6xh95No

"Omesh Ramnarain, 32, appeared in court after he crashed into two cyclists while allegedly being under the influence o..."

"Proctor-Parker acknowledged it was “technically” illegal to cycle at the scene of on Sunday’s crash: the M4 Ruth First Highway (northern freeway) after the Swapo Drive (Broadway) off-ramp."

 

[Ninja'd]

http://classic.iol.co.za[/QUOTE] ...And I still get directed to the new one :mad:

 

[Pitbull]

"Durban - A 32-year-old Phoenix man appeared briefly before a Durban magistrate on Monday in connection with the deaths of two cyclists on the M4 Ruth First Highway at 5.10am on Sunday."

http://classic.iol.co.za/news/crime...er-two-cyclists-killed-1.1981445#.VriN6xh95No

"Omesh Ramnarain, 32, appeared in court after he crashed into two cyclists while allegedly being under the influence o..."

Proctor-Parker acknowledged it was “technically” illegal to cycle at the scene of on Sunday’s crash: the M4 Ruth First Highway (northern freeway) after the Swapo Drive (Broadway) off-ramp.

Yea this is the article I was referring too.

 

[Deadmanza]

The idiot hasn't decided how he is going to plead?!

Pretty straight forward if you ask me, I hope he gets life!