Nothing you do will guarantee that other drivers will see you. The only eyes you can really count on are your own. A good rider is always "looking for trouble" not to get into it, but to stay out of it.

Scan–search aggressively for potential hazards. Looking ahead for hazards and potential escape routes is especially critical at intersections.

Identify–locate hazards and potential conflicts which include:

• Cars, trucks, and other vehicles share the road with you and they move quickly. Your reactions to them must be quick and accurate.
  
• Pedestrians and animals are unpredictable and make short quick moves.
  
• Stationary objects such as potholes, guard rails, bridges, roadway signs, hedges, or rows of trees will not move into your path, but may influence or complicate your riding strategy.

Predict–anticipate how the hazard may affect you. Speed, distance, and the direction in which the hazard is moving are important. Estimate the consequences of the hazard. How might the hazardor your effort to avoid it–affect you and others?

Decide–which of the three things you can do to reduce the hazard:

• Communicate your presence. This is the most passive action you can take since it depends on the response of someone else. Use your lights and horn, but don't rely on the actions of others.
• Adjust your speed. Accelerate, slow down, or come to a stop.
• Adjust your position. Change lanes, lane position, or completely change direction to adjust your position. This will depend on the nature of the hazard and how much time and space you have.

Execute–carry out your decision. Your riding skills should be second nature to you. Even the best decision is meaningless if you do not have the skills to carry it out. Know your limits and ride within them.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The best way to stay out of trouble is to see it coming. Experienced riders make a practice of looking well ahead. In the city, they are always looking from one-half to a full block ahead. On the highway, they look about as far ahead as they can see clearly, giving themselves plenty of time to adjust to problems. They avoid panic stops or sudden swerves that can cause even more trouble.

• Keep checking the road surface ahead for slippery spots, bad bumps, broken pavement, loose gravel, wet leaves, or objects lying in the road. Curves and ramps are known collectors of oil and gravel.
• Use your height advantage. Look over or through the vehicle in front of you for vehicles stopping or turning ahead.
• Check the roadside. Watch for vehicles that may leave the curb or enter from side streets or driveways. In heavy traffic look for places where you can leave the road in a hurry if needed.

LOOKING BEHIND YOU

Checking your mirrors is not enough. Motorcycles have blind spots just as other vehicles do. When changing lanes, make sure to turn your head and look over your shoulder at traffic behind you. That is the only sure way to see a vehicle behind you in the next lane. It is particularly important when making rapid lane changes, as many riders do.

On a roadway with several lanes, check the far lanes as well as the one next to you. Another driver may be headed for the same space.

USING YOUR MIRRORS

Traffic situations change quickly. To know what is behind you, check your mirrors every few seconds. That way, you won't be caught off guard if a vehicle overtakes and passes you.

Many motorcycles have rounded "convex" mirrors. They show more of the road behind them than flat mirrors do. However, they also make objects seem farther away than they really are. If your motorcycle has convex mirrors and you are not used to them, try this:While stopped, pick out a parked car in your mirror. Try to form a mental image of how far away it is. Then turn around and look at it. See how close you came. Practice this until you become a good judge of distance. Even then, allow extra distance before changing lanes. Be sure to signal and look over your shoulder before changing lanes.

When slowing down or stopping suddenly.

The driver behind you may not expect you to slow, or may be unsure where you will stop or turn. If there is someone close behind you, it may be better to keep moving.

When stopped at an intersection.

The greatest potential for conflict between you and other traffic is at intersections. An intersection is any where traffic may cross your path of travel. Watch cars approaching from behind. If the driver isn't paying attention, he could be right on top of you before he notices you are there.

Lane changes.

Make sure no one is about to pass you.

Turning.

Watch cars behind, especially when turning at places where others may not expect it, such as alleys, driveways, and side streets.

LANE POSITION

In some ways the size of your motorcycle can work to your advantage. Each traffic lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel: right side, center, and left side.Your lane position should:

• Increase your ability to see and be seen.
• Avoid other drivers' blind spots.
• Avoid surface hazards.
• Protect your lane from other drivers.
• Communicate your intentions.
• Avoid wind blast from other vehicles.
• Provide an escape route.

As a motorcycle rider, you can put yourself in a position to see things that a driver of a vehicle cannot see.

On curves

A primary cause of single-vehicle accidents is motorcyclists running wide in a curve or turn and colliding with the roadway or a fixed object.

You can move to one side of the lane or the other to get a better view depending on traffic and road conditions.

Every curve is different. Be alert to whether a curve remains constant, is banked or flat, gradually widens, gets tighter, or involves multiple turns.

Ride within your skill level and posted speed limits.

At intersections

You don't have two to six feet of vehicle sticking out in front, so you can peek easily around buildings, parked cars, or bushes to see if anything is coming. Increase your chances of being seen at intersections by riding with your headlights on in a lane position that provides the best view of oncoming traffic. Remember to keep a space cushion around you in case of an emergency.

Another option at intersections is to ride alongside a larger vehicle when you cross an intersection or other dangerous place. This larger vehicle can run interference for you.

NOTE: Some motorcyclists experience problems with "tripping" the signal devices at intersections. Try positioning the motorcycle approximately 2 – 3 feet from the crosswalk, so the signal device "can pick you up."

At the roadside

You can angle a motorcycle across the road to see in both directions without straining. This is particularly important if you plan to turn across a lane of traffic. If possible, back into the parking space so you can ride the motorcycle out into traffic.

Back || Table of Contents || Next