analysis of a crash

[sebjones906]

Being the safety officer for a club and an Abate chapter I am continually trying to come up with notions that will educate us all on how to ride more safely. It has occurred to me that when someone is involved in a crash we ask, "is he OK, is the bike OK" and that is about it. We don't force the issue, asking about details and what they could have done to help prevent it. We don't call them on the fact that they contributed to the crash. (Notice the word accident has not been used, there is no such thing as an accident. Accident implies that no one is at fault.)

 

To the point ... I am wondering if it would be a good idea to set up a club discussion in one of our meeting to analyse our mistakes. OKOK everyone's ego is going to get melted a bit, but if we can learn something and save some road rash isn't it worth a bruised ego.

 

Perhaps a forum discussion on how we could analyze crashes would be of interest and help me to implement or not implement the idea.

 

I am not interested in re-hashing any particular traffic mishap here but maybe we could talk about the structure of how I could put together a panel ...or ...??

 

This will also be posted on other forums.

[Silver Surfer/AKAButters]

IMO-Ride mishaps/misdeeds are covered extensively on this page as they occur. Most forum members seem to pony up whenever there is something to be learned or shared with the community, right here, real time, or as soon as they are out of the hospital anyway. No one seems too proud to share a dumb mistake, or a moment of inattention in an attempt to keep the rest of us focused and safe. Keep your eyes peeled here, and you will see it all.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

Being the safety officer for a club and an Abate chapter I am continually trying to come up with notions that will educate us all on how to ride more safely. It has occurred to me that when someone is involved in a crash we ask, "is he OK, is the bike OK" and that is about it. We don't force the issue, asking about details and what they could have done to help prevent it.

 

I'd agree with Rich that we're pretty open here on BMWST. When you speak of a lack of crash analysis, are you talking about your local ABATE chapter?

[Twisties]

Notice the word accident has not been used, there is no such thing as an accident. Accident implies that no one is at fault

 

 

I also don't use that word, although for slightly different reasons. First, my view of these instances is that they are entirely predictable, at least from an aggregate perspective. Highway engineers and insurance professionals can tell you how many will happen, how many will be killed or maimed.

 

My view, broadly, there is highway design and condition (includes traffic), vehicle design and condition, and human abilities and limitations.

 

Some well known human limitations: We all fail to pay constant attention. We sometimes fail to use proper judgment, as in bad weather, excessive speed or aggressive driving. We have limited reflexes and perceptual abilities.

 

Crashes occur when some element has not accounted properly for, e.g. is out of sync with, the other elements. These situations can be controlled.

[sebjones906]

Thanks for the comments. From this posting and other forums I have come up with a couple of ideas.

Like the military I can handle the analysis of a crash as a de-briefing.

Like the Hurt report I can dissect an incident and make the information known to all.

To glean as much information as possible, like Kinsey, I should keep people anonymous and keep their responses in confidence.

And when presented in front of a meeting I should moderate it closely and keep the subject on target.

 

Again, Thanks for the comments.

[Ken H.]

has occurred to me that when someone is involved in a crash we ask, "is he OK, is the bike OK" and that is about it.

Oh I wouldn't say that. Hang around here for a year and you'll soon see that we analyze most everything to death. Including crashes!