Wiggo's status as national treasure means this particular SMIDSY event gets widely reported. SMIDSY is the excuse inattentive motorists give to the cyclists and motorcyclists they skim or hit: "Sorry mate I didn't see you."

Simon Best, IAM chief executive, said: "SMIDSY moments are happening far too often, and very few people are prepared to take responsibility for their part in them. It's always someone else's fault. All road users need to be more aware of who they are sharing the road with, and the risks they present."

Recently released figures show it is time for vehicle drivers to stop blaming motorcyclists for car/bike accidents. The statistics show that nearly half of all motorcycling accidents were caused by vehicle drivers and three-quarters of them occurred at intersections. Motorcyclists refer to drivers failing to see them as SMIDSY crashes for "Sorry Mate I Didn't See You".