Thread: Traffic accidents. What do you do?

This week I was slowly cycling across a road with stationary traffic when a mad moped rider came hurtling down the inside of the stopped cars, didn't see me, did the usual amateur thing of jamming his foot down hard on the back brake and immediately locked up the wheel which sent him skidding along the road, bouncing off a pot plant and he landed about 10 meters past me on his front leaving his bike in several pieces. I was quick enough to get out of the way so wasn't hurt and nor was my bicycle.

Needless to say he wasn't wearing a helmet and looked to be in bad shape. Of course, I stopped in case he was badly hurt and needed help. However, he struggled to his feet and started towards me clearly intent on causing trouble. I realised that he thought he was not at fault (he must have been doing 30 to 40 km/h easily in view of how far he flew past me), so I simply sped off leaving him to bleed into his clothes.

I have spoken to a couple of people about this and both think that it was probably the right thing to do given that he was a. a nutter and b. Thai. I didn't feel bad about it (might have done if he'd died) but if I'd entered into a 'discussion' about it there's a chance he would have started asking for money for treatment and repairs to his bike. Not being a Thai speaker I am sure I would have been at a disadvantage and definitely outnumbered if the police had been called.

I would like to ask your opinions on what you think is the right thing to do in these situations. Has this happened to you? Do you know anyone who's been ripped off for accident bills despite being innocent?

As I have said in another post: 1 down, a few million to go.

Yes, I'm a bicycle fascist but when you see how badly people drive here and how recklessly many regard other people's lives on the road, you have to start somewhere. The fewer crap drivers on the roads, the safer they are for the rest of us.