I’m pretty sure that stopping in the middle of an intersection and reversing without looking back or…using the brakes when hitting an object isn’t taught in driving school.
This happened in Edmonton, Canada, with the biker’s helmet-cam recording the incident as it went down. The rider was able to jump off the motorcycle before the Japanese SUV ran over it and he was fine. We can’t say the same about the bike or the student’s insurance premiums…
Along with sharing the video footage of the accident, the motorcyclist also responded on a Reddit thread explaining how it happened:
“Ok boys and gals. I am the actual rider in the video and will once and for all dissolve all speculations and such that to my amazement have come up so far.
We both started slowing down when the light turned orange. The red SUV ended up in the middle of the intersection. Cars seen on the right started turning left, one car actually made it in front of the stalled/frozen driver. The car then proceeded to back up – IN THE LEFT LANE – i was aware about its presence all the time. And yes I was in the 1st with the clutch in as can be seen on video (anyone see the Neutral light?).
As some have pointed out, only have I noticed it changing directions a couple of seconds before impact. Yes, a rider with tens of years of experience MAY HAVE been able to sprint to the right (risking clipping the car and being at fault for running a red light into potentially left turning traffic, as the light for the oncoming lane was changing to a left turn go), but given the circumstances… the horn wouldn’t have done squat. Again, we’re talking seconds. Disbelief that the car was going to back into me was up there. I was in the dominant position for my lane (left half of the lane, where cars in the left lane have the best chance of seeing you in their mirror), watching the driver… but again… how often do you guys assume that a car will decide to reverse into your lane from a different one and floor it?
The video ends where it does because there is absolutely nothing exciting happening afterwards. The two occupants get out, we exchange remarks, and then I take the helmet off and turn off the camera. No swearing or yelling. The adrenaline pumping through my system was so high, I was kinda happy to not be under the car. The car was resting on the bike, they had to lift it to get the bike from underneath.
Yes please, all those that could’ve avoided this – I salute you and your superhuman reactions. I’m just human and did the best I could when I realized what was going to happen to get my sorry ass out of the way.
The aftermath… if I can figure out how to post pictures here I will. The driver got a ticket as it is illegal to back out of an intersection (or something thereof) and yes, because they are on a learner’s permit (can only drive supervised), they may have very high insurance premiums. And as far as the bike – it will be looked at by an insurance adjuster on Monday where I will find out what happens next.”