•
Avoid
others’ blind spots.
•
Avoid
surface hazards.
•
Protect
your lane from other drivers.
•
Communicate
your intentions.
•
Avoid
wind blast from other vehicles.
•
Provide
an escape route.
Select the appropriate path to maximize your space cushion and make yourself more easily seen by others on the road.
In general, there is no single best position for riders to be seen and to maintain a space cushion around the motorcycle. No portion of the lane
need be avoided — including the center.
Position yourself in the portion of the lane where you are most likely to be seen and you can maintain a space cushion around you. Change
position as traffic situations change. Ride in path 2 or 3 if vehicles and other potential problems are on your left only. Remain in path 1 or 2 if
hazards are on your right only. If vehicles are being operated on both sides
of you, the center of the lane, path 2, is usually your best option.
The oily strip in the center portion that collects drippings from cars is
usually no more than two feet wide. Unless the road is wet, the average
center strip permits adequate traction to ride on safely. You can operate to the
left or right of the grease strip and still be within the center portion of the
traffic lane. Avoid riding on big buildups of oil and grease usually found at
busy intersections or toll booths.
FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE
“Following too closely” could be a factor in crashes involving motorcyclists.
In traffic, motorcycles need as much distance to stop as cars. Normally,
a
minimum of two seconds
distance should be maintained behind the vehicle
ahead.
To gauge your following distance:
•
Pick out a marker
, such as a pavement marking or lamppost,
on or near the road ahead.
•
When the rear bumper
of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count off the seconds: “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two.”
•
If you reach the marker
before you reach “two,” you are following too closely.
A two-second following distance leaves a minimum amount of space to stop or swerve if the driver ahead stops suddenly. It also permits a better
view of potholes and other hazards in the road.
A larger cushion of space is needed if your motorcycle will take longer than normal to stop. If the pavement is slippery, if you cannot see through
the vehicle ahead, or if traffic is heavy and someone may squeeze in front of you, open up a three-second or more following distance.
Keep well behind the vehicle ahead even when you are stopped. This will make it easier to get out of the way if someone bears down on you from
behind. It will also give you a cushion of space if the vehicle ahead starts to back up for some reason.
When behind a car, ride where the driver can see you in the rearview mirror. Riding in the center portion of the lane should put your image in the
middle of the rearview mirror — where a driver is most likely to see you.
Riding at the far side of a lane may permit a driver to see you in a sideview mirror. But remember that most drivers don’t look at their sideview
mirrors nearly as often as they check the rearview mirror. If the traffic situation allows, the center portion of the lane is usually the best place for
you to be seen by the drivers ahead and to prevent lane sharing by others.
BEING FOLLOWED
Speeding up to lose someone following too closely only ends up with someone tailgating you at a higher speed.
A better way to handle tailgaters is to get them in front of you. When someone is following too closely, change lanes and let them pass. If you
can’t do this, slow down and open up extra space ahead of you to allow room for both you and the tailgater to stop. This will also encourage them
to pass. If they don’t pass, you will have given yourself and the tailgater more time and space to react in case an emergency does develop ahead.
PASSING AND BEING PASSED
Passing and being passed by another vehicle is not much different than with a car. However, visibility is more critical. Be sure other drivers see
you, and that you see potential hazards.
PASSING
1.
Ri
de in the left portion
of the lane at a safe following distance to increase your line of sight and make you more visible. Signal and
check for oncoming traffic. Use your mirrors and turn your head to look for traffic behind.
2.
When safe
, move into the left lane and accelerate. Select a lane position that doesn’t crowd the car you are passing and provides space
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FOLLOWING
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