German track cycling team hit by driver in major Mallorca collision, three riders seriously injured

[simonhill]

When I saw this post I thought it was about the German track cyclist team being involved in an incident.

However, I've not seen one single mention of that team or the incident.

What you're having is a discussion on the age of drivers and whether there should be some mandatory upper limit or retesting or whatever. No problem with that, but it doesn't bear any resemblance to the title of the post.

Reading the cc link, it's very upsetting for the cyclists obviously, but there's nowhere in it that even mentions that the driver was at fault. While he quite likely was, it could have been a mechanical failure or something else. It seems to me you're very much hanging the man before he's found guilty.

More info on the German team would be pertinent.

[cycle tramp]

When I saw this post I thought it was about the German track cyclist team being involved in an incident.

However, I've not seen one single mention of that team or the incident.

What you're having is a discussion on the age of drivers and whether there should be some mandatory upper limit or retesting or whatever. No problem with that, but it doesn't bear any resemblance to the title of the post.

More info on the German team would be pertinent.

Yes, I take your point, its entirely possible that the whole of the German track team failed to observe any road craft which may have reduced their chances of collision and as a result the older driver collided with them through no fault of their own.... Do you feel like a wager, on this one?

[Ron]

More info on the German team would be pertinent.

To combine two popular idioms, at last the elephant in the room is out of the bag.

[cycle tramp]

While he quite likely was, it could have been a mechanical failure or something else. It seems to me you're very much hanging the man before he's found guilty.

More info on the German team would be pertinent.

So, if you follow the link to the first website (in english) there's then a further link to another website (non english) in which is recorded footage of the aftermath of the incident. https://www.cronicabalear.es/sucesos/ac ... apo-palma/
In the footage of the incident is a car with a missing right hand wing mirror, a dented front spoiler, and marks to the front wing and car door. Does anyone fancy their chances of being Sherlock?

[cycle tramp]

Another link with more information https://lavozdeibiza.com/en/current-new ... -cyclists/
..but not that much more, apparently both the cycling group and the car were travelling in the same direction when the car collided with the group for 'an unknown reason'..
... at which point it's down to speculation until witness statements are read and the course of further action is decided.
However it's worth remembering every other vehicle managed not to collide with the group of cyclists..

[simonhill]

Thanks for that link Cycletramp, I had searched but couldn't find any info on the cyclists.

In That link:

"The German federation confirmed in a statement that although none suffered serious injuries, some have fractures that will keep them away from competition for some time. "

Phew, not as bad as I first feared but still pretty awful.

[mattheus]

...
However, I've not seen one single mention of that team or the incident.

What you're having is a discussion on the age of drivers and whether there should be some mandatory upper limit or retesting or whatever. No problem with that, but it doesn't bear any resemblance to the title of the post.
found guilty.

Yes.

Some people have very odd ways of using the internet
:shrugs:

[Airsporter1st]

Here in Spain, I have had to renew my licence every 5 years since passing 65.

The renewal process consists of physical coordination test and medical examinatiin - the latter akin to that which I used to have for my HGV1 renewal.

As is often the case, the blanket ban on drivers over the age of 80, proposed earlier in the thread, targets a whole generation of people for the transgressions of the few.

[mattheus]

Here in Spain, I have had to renew my licence every 5 years since passing 65.

The renewal process consists of physical coordination test and medical examinatiin - the latter akin to that which I used to have for my HGV1 renewal.

Sounds very sensible.

[simonhill]

I'd be happy with that.

Trouble is the physical fitness side. I know plenty of people who are mentally fit, but in very poor physical shape, usually due to being grossly overweight. Just watch a very fat man sitting in a car. Very limited ability to use the steering wheel due to his shape.

The Govt would have fun legislating that one.

Of course those who want to ban over 80 drivers, surely that should apply to all road users, cyclists included. No thanks. I'll go for the physical.

[cycle tramp]

As is often the case, the blanket ban on drivers over the age of 80, proposed earlier in the thread, targets a whole generation of people for the transgressions of the few.

By "transgressions", do you mean running over other people resulting in life changing injuries or death?

And actually to describe the incident which resulted in the collision of the German track cycling team as a 'transgression' seems pretty disrespectful and de-humanising.

[cycle tramp]

Of course those who want to ban over 80 drivers, surely that should apply to all road users, cyclists included. No thanks. I'll go for the physical.

No, because a) cyclists have a right to use the road, rather than it being granted by licence b) as far as I am aware no one has ever been run over and killed by a cyclist over the age of 80... as apposed to large powerful suv vehicles driven through an automatic gearbox and kick down pedal.

[Ron]

Another link with more information https://lavozdeibiza.com/en/current-new ... -cyclists/

I'm beginning to have some sympathy for the driver.
The unproven claims made in the press report are quite outrageous. The police investigation is barely started but the press has already got the driver hung drawn and quartered.
Read the press cutting again and pause and consider ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"man runs over seven cyclists", "seven cyclists....injured.. after being hit by a car" , " the driver was travelling in the same direction when he hit them"
It would be nothing short of a miracle had there been no fatality after seven cyclists had been hit and run over. by a motor vehicle.
I doubt if any British newspaper would print such an article.

[cycle tramp]

Another link with more information https://lavozdeibiza.com/en/current-new ... -cyclists/

I'm beginning to have some sympathy for the driver.
The unproven claims made in the press report are quite outrageous. The police investigation is barely started but the press has already got the driver hung drawn and quartered.
Read the press cutting again and pause and consider ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"man runs over seven cyclists", "seven cyclists....injured.. after being hit by a car" , " the driver was travelling in the same direction when he hit them"
It would be nothing short of a miracle had there been no fatality after seven cyclists had been hit and run over. by a motor vehicle.
I doubt if any British newspaper would print such an article.

...given that the car in the film clip belonged to the older driver and given the damage to the front and side of the car, its hard to reach any other conclusion, other than the car collided with them.. when all other traffic was able to avoid them...

Sadly of course, you're right, many road injuries and deaths which are of a result of a collision which involves a vulnerable road user and a motor vehicle are left unreported... apparently it may damage car sales or something...

Strangely, attempts to makes roads safer, either by reducing the speedimit of reducing motor traffic which uses road are featured and debated endlessly...

If you want to have sympathy for the driver, that's your prerogative... certainly he's not getting alot from anyone else. Perhaps moonpig.com do a card 'sorry people blamed you for colliding with vulnerable road users - clearly it was their fault for being on the road'.

[fastpedaller]

I doubt if any British newspaper would print such an article.

A Britsh newspaper would probably start with "cycling team collides with vehicle" as the headline.