MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

 
BASIC VEHICLE CONTROL

LANE SHARING Cars and motorcycles cannot share a lane safely. Lane sharing is permitted only for two motorcycles. Riding between rows of stopped or moving cars in the same lane can leave you vulnerable to the unexpected. A hand could come out of a window; a door could open; a car could turn suddenly. Discourage lane sharing by others. Keep a center-portion position whenever drivers might be tempted to squeeze by you. Drivers are most tempted to do this: In heavy, bumper-to-bumper traffic. When they want to pass you. When you are preparing to turn at an intersection. When you are getting in an exit lane or leaving a highway.

MERGING CARS Drivers on an entrance ramp may not see you on the highway.  Give them plenty of room.  Change to another lane if one is open.  If there is no room for a lane change, adjust speed to open up space for the merging driver.

CARS ALONGSIDE Do not ride next to cars or trucks in other lanes if you do not have to.  You might be in the blind spot of a car in the next lane, which could switch into your lane without warning.  Cars in the next lane also block your escape if you come upon danger in your own lane.  Speed up or drop back to find a place clear of traffic on both sides.

INTERSECTIONS The greatest potential for conflict between you and other traffic is at intersections.  An intersection can be in the middle of an urban area or at a driveway on a residential street anywhere traffic may cross your path of travel.  Over one half of motorcycle/car crashes are caused by drivers entering a rider's right-of-way.  Cars that turn left in front of you, including cars turning left from the lane to your right, and cars on side streets that pull into your lane, are the biggest dangers.  Your use of SEE at intersections is critical. There are no guarantees that others see you.  Never count on "eye contact" as a sign that a driver will yield.  Too often, a driver looks right at a motorcyclist and still fails to "see" him.  The only eyes that you can count on are your own.  If a car can enter your path, assume that it will.  Good riders are always "looking for trouble" not to get into it, but to stay out of it. Increase your chances of being seen at intersections.  Ride with your headlight on in a lane position that provides the best view of oncoming traffic.  Provide a space cushion around the motorcycle that permits you to take evasive action. As you approach the intersection, select a lane position to increase your visibility to the driver.  Cover the clutch and both brakes to reduce reaction time. Reduce your speed as you approach an intersection.  After you have entered the intersection, move away from vehicles preparing to turn. Do not radically change speed or position.  The driver might think that you are preparing to turn.    BLIND INTERSECTIONS If you approach a blind intersection, move to the portion of the lane that will bring you into another driver's field of vision at the earliest possible moment.  In this picture, the rider has moved to the left portion of the lane away from the parked car so the driver on the cross street can see him as soon as possible. Remember, the key is to see as much as possible and remain visible to others while protecting your space. If you have a stop sign or stop line, stop there first.  Then edge forward and stop again, just short of where the cross-traffic lane meets your lane.  From that position, lean your body forward and look around buildings, parked cars, or bushes to see if anything is coming.  Just make sure your front wheel stays out of the cross lane of travel while you're looking.

PASSING PARKED CARS When passing parked cars, stay toward the left of your lane.  You can avoid problems caused by doors opening, drivers getting out of cars, or people stepping from between cars.  If oncoming traffic is present, it is usually best to remain in the center-lane position to maximize your space cushion. A bigger problem can occur if the driver pulls away from the curb without checking for traffic behind.  Even if he does look, he may fail to see you. In either event, the driver might cut into your path.  Slow down or change lanes to make room for someone cutting in. Cars making a sudden U-turn are the most dangerous.  They may cut you off entirely, blocking the whole roadway and leaving you with no place to go.  Since you cannot tell what a driver will do, slow down and get the driver's attention.  Sound your horn and continue with caution.

PARKING AT THE ROADSIDE Park at a 90° angle to the curb with your rear wheel touching the curb.

INCREASING CONSPICUITY In crashes with motorcyclists, drivers often say they never saw the motorcycle.  From ahead or behind, a motorcycle's outline is much smaller than a car's.  Also, it is hard to see something you are not looking for, and most drivers are not looking for motorcycles.  More likely, they are looking through the skinny, two-wheeled silhouette in search of cars that may pose a problem to them. Even if a driver does see you coming, you are not necessarily safe.  Smaller vehicles appear farther away, and seem to be traveling slower than they actually are. it is common for drivers to pull out in front of motorcyclists, thinking they have plenty of time.  Too often, they are wrong. However, you can do many things to make it easier for others to recognize you and your motorcycle.

SIGNALS The signals on a motorcycle are similar to those on a car, They tell others what you plan to do.  However, due to a rider's added vulnerability, signals are even more important.  Use them anytime you plan to change lanes or turn.  Use them even when you think no one else is around.  It's the car you do not see that is going to give you the most trouble.  Your signal lights also make you easier to spot.  That is why it is a good idea to use your turn signals even when what you plan to do is obvious. When you enter onto a freeway, drivers approaching from behind are more likely to see your signal blinking and make room for you. Turning your signal light on before each turn reduces confusion and frustration for the traffic around you.  Once you turn, make sure your signal is off or a driver may pull directly into your path, thinking you plan to turn again.  Use your signals at every turn so drivers can react accordingly.  Do not make them guess what you intend to do.

BRAKE LIGHT Your motorcycle's brake light is usually not as noticeable as the brake lights on a car particularly when your taillight is on. (It goes on with the headlight.) If the situation will permit, help others notice you by flashing your brake light before you slow down.  It is especially important to flash your brake light before: You slow more quickly than others might expect (turning off a high-speed highway). You slow where others may not expect it (in the middle of a block or at an alley). If you are being followed closely, it is a good idea to flash your brake light before you slow.  The tailgater may be watching you and not see something ahead that will make you slow down.  This will hopefully discourage them from tailgating and warn them of hazards ahead they may not see.

USING YOUR MIRRORS While it is most important to keep track of what is happening ahead, you cannot afford to ignore situations behind.  Traffic conditions change quickly.  Knowing what is going on behind is essential for you to make a safe decision about how to handle trouble ahead. Frequent mirror checks should be part of your normal scanning routine.  Make a special point of using your mirrors: When you are stopped at an intersection.  Watch cars coming up from behind.  If the driver is not paying attention, he could be on top of you before he sees you. Before you change lanes.  Make sure no one is about to pass you. Before you slow down.  The driver behind may not expect you to slow, or may be unsure about where you will slow.  For example, you signal a turn and the driver thinks you plan to turn at a distant intersection, rather than at a nearer driveway. Some motorcycles have rounded (convex) mirrors.  These provide a wider view of the road behind than do flat mirrors.  They also make cars seem farther away than they really are.  If you are not used to convex mirrors, get familiar with them. (While you are stopped, pick out a parked car in your mirror.  Form a mental image of how far away it is.  Then, turn around and look at it to see how close you came.) Practice with your mirrors until you become a good judge of distance.  Even then, allow extra distance before you change lanes.

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