10 Steps To Accident Avoidance
No one sets out to be involved in an accident, but, unfortunately, they do happen, and for the motorcycle rider, we usually are the losers when more than one vehicle is involved. At the same time, most motorcycle accidents are single vehicle (note: the rider and bike only) and are created by the direct actions, or in-actions, of the rider.
So, how do we avoid becoming a statistic, or at least, give ourselves better odds to not become involved in an accident? The following order of 10 ways to avoid an accident are in the order of importance as I see it, but some may shift up or down, depending on your skills and abilities. Please keep in mind that the list is by no means the only ways to avoid an accident but a listing of what I believe could be your top 10.
10. Get to know your bike / ride
Every bike is different (weight, handling abilities, braking, acceleration, etc.), even those of the same make and model can have a different “feel”. You want to get to know the different characteristics of your bike before you get a rude surprise as to how well it reacts to an emergency situation.
9. Bike Itself
Is the bike mechanically sound, are the brakes doing their job? Are the steering head bearings tight and not lose? Are the tires of “good rubber”? Is the chain or belt tight as per manufacturers specifications? Have you been doing regular maintenance and doing proper circle checks on the bike? The bike is a mechanical device and objects with as many parts as it has tends to need things fixed, adjusted, or replaced at certain intervals. For more information, become familiar with the Owner’s Manual that came with the bike. If it didn’t you can order one from a brand dealer, or in many cases, on-line. As well, many manufacturers have placed the manuals in PDF form on-line.
Also keep in mind the limitations of your bike, as to acceleration, cornering, braking, and over-all handling.
8. Time of Day
The busiest times of the day to be out riding are early morning, and late afternoon. These are the times when people are rushing to get to work, and then rushing to get home from work. Good driving habits at these times seem to be secondary as compared to getting where one needs, or wants to go. Intersections become even more unpredictable with more drivers racing to “beat the light”. In the city I live in (Ottawa, Ontario) I have noticed through my own research a spike in accidents at these times, and I do my best to limit my riding on roads that are known to be a major artery to work in the morning and from work in the evening.
Another issue with time of day is the sun. The sun in the morning and evening tends to be low in the sky, and shines into the eyes of drivers. This is most noticeable if you are traveling in an east - west direction. When the sun gets into a drivers eyes, you as a motorcycle rider, do not make a very large silhouette, and you can actually “disappear” in the glare. If you have the sun in your eyes, and you are having a hard time seeing what’s ahead, then the same goes for the drivers behind you. In contrast, if the sun is behind you, you may have no trouble seeing, but those facing you will indeed have problems seeing you, especially at an intersection or on a two lane road. Be aware of this (if the sun is directly in drivers eyes coming toward me, I have a tendency to ride with my high beam lights on to stick out better. Please note that in a number of jurisdictions, this is considered illegal. That decision rests with you, but I would rather be seen and pay a fine if need be, then to become that statistic mentioned before.
7. Prepare Mind and Body
We prepare our bike for the road, but did you prepare yourself, both mentally and physically. How are you feeling? Are you upset? Do you have things “on your mind” that could possibly distract you (yes, bikers can also be at fault for distracted driving). The mental preparation before you get on your bike is as important as the mechanical prep of your bike. In addition, is your body ready for the trip? Are you tired? Are you ill? Have you hungry or thirsty? Have you gone to the washroom? Did you stretch and get your body ready? You would be surprised what stretching before riding does. It does the same as stretching before or after a sport you may play. It loosens you up, and also causes you to inhale more, which in turn causes more oxygen to be carried to the brain and makes you more aware and awake. For me, I do the same regime for riding as I would in preparation for playing hockey or refereeing basketball. My knees and back thank me each time. I even do a quick stretch each time I stop for gas or after several hours of riding.
6. Know Your Limitations
Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) once, or twice, said, “A man’s got to know his limitations”. (this applies to everyone as well). This is especially true if you are a rider. Knowing one’s skill set, and one’s own abilities determines the kind of riding you are going to do. Is your bike too heavy and big for you? Are you having to stretch your arms and legs in order to reach all the controls? Is the hp too much for you to comfortably handle? Are you riding a sports bike when you would be more comfortable on a cruiser style, and vice versa? Do others try to push you along too fast when you group ride, and you actually try to stay with them even though you seem to be soiling your pants? You know what is right and what is not, and how to stay safe and comfortable with your ride, but, if you want expand your limitations, it takes experience, practice, and #1 on this list to help you do it.
5. Be Seen - In Protective Gear
A good majority of bikes are black, many riders wear black, and to top it off, a helmet that is black. They may look cool but black is a very hard colour (correction - absence of colour) to see, as it can blend in with the surrounding landscape very easily. A small black object on black asphalt with dark surroundings makes it difficult to determine your direction, approaching speed, and distance. You can even “disappear” in the summer when the sun bakes the highway and you get those “black puddles” on the road which is really the light from that area being refracted by the heat to create an illusion.
Wear bright coloured clothing and helmets to make yourself “outstanding”. You will be far easier for “cagers” to see you and dramatically reduce them occupying the same space at the same time as you!
As far as your bike goes, adding lights to both front and back will also help you stand out. At night, a single light from a bike can get lost in the “clutter” of all the other lights, especially. In busy areas, and around light controlled intersections (I have mentioned somewhere that I really hate intersections). Again, by adding other lighting, especially bright LED’s, you have a better chance at being noticed.
4. Expect The Unexpected - Assume Nothing!-
I share the same sentiment as Fox Mulder of the X-Files, “Trust No One”. That is how I ride (and drive). Never assume (you know how that goes) you have been seen by others; that the vehicle at the intersection will not pull out in front of you; that the vehicle behind the slow moving large truck thinks to look down the road before they pull out to pass; that the vehicle you are overtaking on the freeway will check their blind spot before they move over into your lane, and the list can go on. the unexpected could also come in the shape of a deer, raccoon, moose, or skunk. Anticipation plays a key role here, and plan for an “out” if something occurs. I am not advocating becoming paranoid, enjoy your ride but be prepared. #3 will help with that.
3. Practice Threshold Braking-
As riders, we love to get on the road and let the wind blow in our faces and feel the excitement of the open road. Yes, these are all cliches but true. We practice riding the road under power, but very few riders practice removing the power, as in braking exercises. To use an analogy, I coached many levels of basketball over a 30 year period, and almost all players upon entering the gym would grab a ball and start shooting or dribbling. Almost no one would come in and practice their defensive stances, Why? It is not the glamorous part of the game, but one of the most important. The same as braking. It is not what we want to do, but the ability to brake fast, and brake properly is rarely practiced. Threshold braking is a learned skill, whereby you as the rider can maximize the bikes ability to stop in the shortest distance, just shy of locking up the brakes. Again, it goes back to knowing your bike, and what you can expect when an emergency occurs.
Just a note: you have probably heard the stories of someone who had to “lay the bike down” when trying to make an emergency stop or avoid an accident. This is absolutely the wrong thing to do for several reasons. When you lay the bike down on the road, you no longer have any control over your direction, speed (you just gave up your braking ability by removing the tires from the road!), and you are now relying on your protective gear (you do ride with protective gear, right?) to keep you from losing weight by the sandpaper action of sliding across the asphalt. In addition, due to physics, it would be better to collide with the object you are trying to avoid with the bike because it will absorb some of the energy of the crash instead of you absorbing all of it. Remember, you and the bike continue to follow Newton’s rules.
2. Eye Eye, Sir!
The eyes have it! The biggest part of see and be seen. Constant scanning down the road, the sides of the road, behind you, beside you, and of your instrument cluster will help insure that you are not taken by surprise, and you are able to anticipate and predict possible scenarios because you where scanning far enough down the road (12-14 seconds ahead). It cannot be emphasized enough the importance of keeping your eyes up and active. This could be considered the single biggest accident avoidance technique there is. However, the best accident avoidance technique is #1
Number 1 -Take A Recognized Motorcycle Training Course, And Keep Taking Them!
- How much is your life worth? It is funny how many riders will use their money. They will spend a small fortune accessorizing their ride to make it look the best they can, but refuse to spend any on learning how to be a better rider, or even how to ride. This makes no sense, especially when the most important thing on your motorcycle is you! Motorcycle courses, such as the Gearing Up Motorcycle training Program offered across Canada, are excellent ways to get into motorcycling, by learning the proper skills and education needed to get the newbie underway, safely (the key element). But don’t stop there. There are other, more advanced courses offered that enhance your riding skills by challenging you go outside your comfort zone, safely. These are designed for riders whom used to ride and are getting back at it, and those whom want to learn more and become evn more skilled, thereby enjoying the sport even more.
Unfortunately, sometimes, no matter how much we prepare ourselves, an accident may occur. That skunk or deer may jump out of the bushes at the very last second and the only time you see it, is now. Preparation is the key and that starts with your abilities, mind set, and always wearing protective clothing just in case the situation occurs.
Ride safe, ride aware, ride skilled, and most of all, enjoy the ride.
So, how do we avoid becoming a statistic, or at least, give ourselves better odds to not become involved in an accident? The following order of 10 ways to avoid an accident are in the order of importance as I see it, but some may shift up or down, depending on your skills and abilities. Please keep in mind that the list is by no means the only ways to avoid an accident but a listing of what I believe could be your top 10.
10. Get to know your bike / ride
Every bike is different (weight, handling abilities, braking, acceleration, etc.), even those of the same make and model can have a different “feel”. You want to get to know the different characteristics of your bike before you get a rude surprise as to how well it reacts to an emergency situation.
9. Bike Itself
Is the bike mechanically sound, are the brakes doing their job? Are the steering head bearings tight and not lose? Are the tires of “good rubber”? Is the chain or belt tight as per manufacturers specifications? Have you been doing regular maintenance and doing proper circle checks on the bike? The bike is a mechanical device and objects with as many parts as it has tends to need things fixed, adjusted, or replaced at certain intervals. For more information, become familiar with the Owner’s Manual that came with the bike. If it didn’t you can order one from a brand dealer, or in many cases, on-line. As well, many manufacturers have placed the manuals in PDF form on-line.
Also keep in mind the limitations of your bike, as to acceleration, cornering, braking, and over-all handling.
8. Time of Day
The busiest times of the day to be out riding are early morning, and late afternoon. These are the times when people are rushing to get to work, and then rushing to get home from work. Good driving habits at these times seem to be secondary as compared to getting where one needs, or wants to go. Intersections become even more unpredictable with more drivers racing to “beat the light”. In the city I live in (Ottawa, Ontario) I have noticed through my own research a spike in accidents at these times, and I do my best to limit my riding on roads that are known to be a major artery to work in the morning and from work in the evening.
Another issue with time of day is the sun. The sun in the morning and evening tends to be low in the sky, and shines into the eyes of drivers. This is most noticeable if you are traveling in an east - west direction. When the sun gets into a drivers eyes, you as a motorcycle rider, do not make a very large silhouette, and you can actually “disappear” in the glare. If you have the sun in your eyes, and you are having a hard time seeing what’s ahead, then the same goes for the drivers behind you. In contrast, if the sun is behind you, you may have no trouble seeing, but those facing you will indeed have problems seeing you, especially at an intersection or on a two lane road. Be aware of this (if the sun is directly in drivers eyes coming toward me, I have a tendency to ride with my high beam lights on to stick out better. Please note that in a number of jurisdictions, this is considered illegal. That decision rests with you, but I would rather be seen and pay a fine if need be, then to become that statistic mentioned before.
7. Prepare Mind and Body
We prepare our bike for the road, but did you prepare yourself, both mentally and physically. How are you feeling? Are you upset? Do you have things “on your mind” that could possibly distract you (yes, bikers can also be at fault for distracted driving). The mental preparation before you get on your bike is as important as the mechanical prep of your bike. In addition, is your body ready for the trip? Are you tired? Are you ill? Have you hungry or thirsty? Have you gone to the washroom? Did you stretch and get your body ready? You would be surprised what stretching before riding does. It does the same as stretching before or after a sport you may play. It loosens you up, and also causes you to inhale more, which in turn causes more oxygen to be carried to the brain and makes you more aware and awake. For me, I do the same regime for riding as I would in preparation for playing hockey or refereeing basketball. My knees and back thank me each time. I even do a quick stretch each time I stop for gas or after several hours of riding.
6. Know Your Limitations
Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) once, or twice, said, “A man’s got to know his limitations”. (this applies to everyone as well). This is especially true if you are a rider. Knowing one’s skill set, and one’s own abilities determines the kind of riding you are going to do. Is your bike too heavy and big for you? Are you having to stretch your arms and legs in order to reach all the controls? Is the hp too much for you to comfortably handle? Are you riding a sports bike when you would be more comfortable on a cruiser style, and vice versa? Do others try to push you along too fast when you group ride, and you actually try to stay with them even though you seem to be soiling your pants? You know what is right and what is not, and how to stay safe and comfortable with your ride, but, if you want expand your limitations, it takes experience, practice, and #1 on this list to help you do it.
5. Be Seen - In Protective Gear
A good majority of bikes are black, many riders wear black, and to top it off, a helmet that is black. They may look cool but black is a very hard colour (correction - absence of colour) to see, as it can blend in with the surrounding landscape very easily. A small black object on black asphalt with dark surroundings makes it difficult to determine your direction, approaching speed, and distance. You can even “disappear” in the summer when the sun bakes the highway and you get those “black puddles” on the road which is really the light from that area being refracted by the heat to create an illusion.
Wear bright coloured clothing and helmets to make yourself “outstanding”. You will be far easier for “cagers” to see you and dramatically reduce them occupying the same space at the same time as you!
As far as your bike goes, adding lights to both front and back will also help you stand out. At night, a single light from a bike can get lost in the “clutter” of all the other lights, especially. In busy areas, and around light controlled intersections (I have mentioned somewhere that I really hate intersections). Again, by adding other lighting, especially bright LED’s, you have a better chance at being noticed.
4. Expect The Unexpected - Assume Nothing!-
I share the same sentiment as Fox Mulder of the X-Files, “Trust No One”. That is how I ride (and drive). Never assume (you know how that goes) you have been seen by others; that the vehicle at the intersection will not pull out in front of you; that the vehicle behind the slow moving large truck thinks to look down the road before they pull out to pass; that the vehicle you are overtaking on the freeway will check their blind spot before they move over into your lane, and the list can go on. the unexpected could also come in the shape of a deer, raccoon, moose, or skunk. Anticipation plays a key role here, and plan for an “out” if something occurs. I am not advocating becoming paranoid, enjoy your ride but be prepared. #3 will help with that.
3. Practice Threshold Braking-
As riders, we love to get on the road and let the wind blow in our faces and feel the excitement of the open road. Yes, these are all cliches but true. We practice riding the road under power, but very few riders practice removing the power, as in braking exercises. To use an analogy, I coached many levels of basketball over a 30 year period, and almost all players upon entering the gym would grab a ball and start shooting or dribbling. Almost no one would come in and practice their defensive stances, Why? It is not the glamorous part of the game, but one of the most important. The same as braking. It is not what we want to do, but the ability to brake fast, and brake properly is rarely practiced. Threshold braking is a learned skill, whereby you as the rider can maximize the bikes ability to stop in the shortest distance, just shy of locking up the brakes. Again, it goes back to knowing your bike, and what you can expect when an emergency occurs.
Just a note: you have probably heard the stories of someone who had to “lay the bike down” when trying to make an emergency stop or avoid an accident. This is absolutely the wrong thing to do for several reasons. When you lay the bike down on the road, you no longer have any control over your direction, speed (you just gave up your braking ability by removing the tires from the road!), and you are now relying on your protective gear (you do ride with protective gear, right?) to keep you from losing weight by the sandpaper action of sliding across the asphalt. In addition, due to physics, it would be better to collide with the object you are trying to avoid with the bike because it will absorb some of the energy of the crash instead of you absorbing all of it. Remember, you and the bike continue to follow Newton’s rules.
2. Eye Eye, Sir!
The eyes have it! The biggest part of see and be seen. Constant scanning down the road, the sides of the road, behind you, beside you, and of your instrument cluster will help insure that you are not taken by surprise, and you are able to anticipate and predict possible scenarios because you where scanning far enough down the road (12-14 seconds ahead). It cannot be emphasized enough the importance of keeping your eyes up and active. This could be considered the single biggest accident avoidance technique there is. However, the best accident avoidance technique is #1
Number 1 -Take A Recognized Motorcycle Training Course, And Keep Taking Them!
- How much is your life worth? It is funny how many riders will use their money. They will spend a small fortune accessorizing their ride to make it look the best they can, but refuse to spend any on learning how to be a better rider, or even how to ride. This makes no sense, especially when the most important thing on your motorcycle is you! Motorcycle courses, such as the Gearing Up Motorcycle training Program offered across Canada, are excellent ways to get into motorcycling, by learning the proper skills and education needed to get the newbie underway, safely (the key element). But don’t stop there. There are other, more advanced courses offered that enhance your riding skills by challenging you go outside your comfort zone, safely. These are designed for riders whom used to ride and are getting back at it, and those whom want to learn more and become evn more skilled, thereby enjoying the sport even more.
Unfortunately, sometimes, no matter how much we prepare ourselves, an accident may occur. That skunk or deer may jump out of the bushes at the very last second and the only time you see it, is now. Preparation is the key and that starts with your abilities, mind set, and always wearing protective clothing just in case the situation occurs.
Ride safe, ride aware, ride skilled, and most of all, enjoy the ride.