7
Colorado Motorcycle Operator’s Handbook
4.1 USING YOUR MIRRORS
: While it’s most important
to keep track of what’s happening ahead, you can’t afford
to ignore situations behind. Frequent mirror checks should
be part of your normal scanning routine. Make a special
point of using your mirrors in these situations:
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coming up from behind. If the driver isn’t paying atten-
tion, he could be right on top of you before seeing you.
Before you change lanes make sure no one is about to
pass you.
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expects to slow or if he may be unsure about exactly
where you will slow. For example, he might see you
turn and think you plan to slow for a turn at a distant
intersection, rather than a nearby driveway.
Many motorcycles have rounded convex mirrors. These
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mirrors. They also make cars seem farther away than they
really are. Practice with your mirrors until you become a
good judge of distance.
4.2 HEAD CHECKS
: Motorcycles have blind spots like
cars. Before you change lanes, turn your head and look at
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On a road with several lanes, make sure to check the far
lane as well as the one next to you. A driver in the far lane
may head for the same space you plan to take.
4.3 HORNS
: Be ready to use your horn whenever you
need to get someone’s attention. It is a good idea to give a
quick beep before you pass anyone you think may move
into your lane. In an emergency, press the horn button
loud and long. Be ready to stop or swerve from the danger.
Here are some situations:
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the vehicle ahead and may want to pass.
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5. LANE POSITION
You can make the size of the motorcycle work to your
advantage. A car driver has very little choice about
where he positions his car in a lane. However, each
marked lane gives a motorcyclist three possible paths
of travel as indicated in the diagram. Remember,
3-wheeled vehicles are larger than 2-wheel motorcycles
and require more space in a lane, similar to an automobile.
In general, there is no best position for riders to
be seen. Ride where it will be easiest for drivers to
see you. No portion of the lane need be avoided -
including the center. Unless the road is wet with rain, even
the average oily strip gives enough traction to ride safely.
Do not ride next to cars or trucks in other lanes if you do
not have to. A car in the next lane could switch into your
lane without warning. Do not ride in other vehicle’s blind
spots. Either pass the other vehicle or
drop back.
Let the driver ahead see you. When be-
hind a car, try to ride where the driver
can see you in his rearview mirror. Rid-
ing in the center portion of the lane
should put your image in the middle
of the rearview mirror, where it’s most
likely to be seen. Riding at the far side of a lane may let
you be seen in a side view mirror. But most drivers don’t
look at their side view mirrors nearly as often as they check
the rearview mirror.
As a motorcycle rider, you can put yourself in a position
to see things that a car driver cannot see.
CURVES: You can move from one portion of a lane to
another to get a better view through a curve. Moving to
the center portion of your lane before a curve, and staying
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coming toward you as soon as possible. This also allows
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for debris that is blocking part of your lane. With a 3-wheel
motorcycle on a curve, follow a path of travel that makes
the most gradual turn.
ROADSIDE: Angle your motorcycle so that you can see
in both directions without straining and without having
any part of the cycle in the lane of travel. A clear view in
both directions is particularly important if you plan to turn
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6. KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE
The best protection you can have is distance, a cushion of
space - all around your cycle. If someone else makes a mis-
take, distance gives you time to react and room to maneuver.
