This is problem of inexperienced superbike convoy riders, cant blame other for this tragedy! They caused other to caused an accident and they really it is their fault from my point of view!!!
From one of my experience - they keep flashing their headlight and sirens!!!!! who are they to do that? God know what I did that day!
Why most drivers suddenly change lane? It is because the superbikes is so fast & loud, and worst when in a convoy and when the 1st bike past a car in the fast lane (and they do it on the left side) with their their sudden loud exhaust that scared and shocked the car driver, who immediately reacted by checking his/her side mirrors and when he/she see more bikes coming from the back? out of normal reflect action they are sure to steer left and into the middle lane for these bikes to pass without thinking these inexperienced (thinking they are king on the road) superbikes that are doing at easily from 160kph onwards, and there it goes!!!! I have adviced all my family members, friends, and relatives to keep calm and just stay put on the same lane you are driving and don't steer to avoid this tragedy!!! my experienced superbikes friends (many had died this way) are aware of this problem - always happens and it is not the car drivers fauls, so he usually do drive alone or max 1 -3 riders at 260kph!!!!!!!! Experience riders never rides fast in convoy!!!!! they have money to buy superbikes - no money to pay for track maybe?
You certainly got a point there. However, in this accident no one knows who is more at fault, but from the reporting and also the manner which the mishap has occured, the driver certainly appears to be more at fault here irrespective of whether the noise from the superbikes are too loud or they are going too fast on the highways or whether they are permitted to be on the highways in the first place.
There may be motorcyclists who cause accidents, but it is almost always the driver's fault when a motorcyclist is knocked down or worse, a life is sacrificed.
You have mentioned the superbikers may have flashed their sirens or headlights. Even they have done so, the driver of car in front will definitely have looked at the side or rear mirrors. Even if the driver is slightly perturbed or for the lack of better term, panicked, he/she shouldn't have changed lanes abruptly, due to inexperience or something else. And nobody knows what happens on this day. The superbikers may have been driving on legal speed limits but the driver of the car didn't look at the side mirror and suddenly changed to the fast lane, knocking down the superbikers.
At any rate, this accident could have been avoided if the driver of the car looked at the side mirror before changing lanes. You have a point that the driver is inexperienced and may have panicked, but that if all the assumptions have translasted to real life. Nobody knows what happens on that day. The laws do not prohibit superbikers from using the highways.
Yes, race tracks may be more appropriate for superbikers who want to have their adrenalines running, but the superbikers may not be in race mood on this day. In the news article, it was mentioned that the convoy was heading up north from JB.
In summary, I suppose any vehicle that knocks down a motorcyclist will always be held accountable ie. in the wrong, especially when a life is lost, irrespective of who is more at fault with regards to highway rules or ethics. It is always wise to be more alert when on the road, especially with motorcyclists weaving in and out in between lanes in heavy traffic. And I agree there are equally as many irresponsible motorcyclists on the road as with other vehicle drivers.
