Increasing Motorcycle Awareness - For Riders and Drivers
“I didn’t see it coming”! All too often those words are spoken by a automobile driver who came in contact with a motorcycle (or bicycle, for that matter). Statistics show approximately 70% of all motorcycle crashes involve drivers of automobiles, usually by making a left-hand turn at an intersection. The driver either does not see the motorcyclist at all, or does not see the motorcyclist in time to avoid the collision. This can be referred to as Unintentional Inattentional Blindness – The failure to notice something unexpected that is clearly visible and in one’s field of view, when attention is focused on something else other than what is clearly in the field of view. In other words, the driver was distracted by some other object (i.e. the countdown for the change of the traffic light), goal (“I will make the turn as soon as that car gets by”), or act, (“C’mon, move faster, I have to get going”) and failed to “filter out” all those distractions. The motorcycle and rider “disappeared” from the connection between eyes and brain.
At the same time, however, the motorcyclist must always be prepared to take evasive action and continually scan for the signs that other drivers, or riders are going to act without thinking or seeing you.
At the same time, however, the motorcyclist must always be prepared to take evasive action and continually scan for the signs that other drivers, or riders are going to act without thinking or seeing you.
At the same time, however, the motorcyclist must always be prepared to take evasive action and continually scan for the signs that other drivers, or riders are going to act without thinking or seeing you.
Why Didn’t They See Me and My Motorcycle?
Why Didn’t They See Me and My Motorcycle?
Automotive drivers tend to look for other vehicles that are larger in size, not something as small as a motorcycle. Due to the small size and profile of a motorcycle, many vehicle drivers find a motorcycle as being more difficult to see and to estimate the speed at which it is traveling, especially if it only has one headlight, and especially at night.
The motorcyclist’s riding actions and driving patterns differ from those of automobile. As an example, a piece of debris on the highway, or even a pothole, may be ignored or drove over by an automotive driver, while that same piece of debris could be deadly to the motorcyclists, and as such, quick avoidance or “evasive action” may be required to miss the debris may alarm a driver and make it hard for them to predict the actions of the biker.
To assist in being seen, don’t assume that you will be seen by the automotive driver, even if they seem to be looking at you. As a biker, it is your responsibility to do all you can to make your presence known to vehicle drivers (and other motorcyclist’s as well). What you wear can help make a difference as darker materials tend to “disappear” into the background. Try to wear bright clothing, such as hi-vis colours like lime green which makes you “outstanding”. Clothing with reflective material on them really helps at night, and if a reflective sticker is placed on the back of the helmet, it attracts attention as you move your head back and forth scanning your surroundings.
In addition, proper lane positioning is crucial to being seen and protecting your riding space. If you are overtaking a vehicle and you can see the driver in the side rear view mirror, they should be able to see you as well. Once you are past the point where you can no longer see the driver in the mirror, blow your horn several times to let them know that you are there, in the “blind spot”. But do not “hide” there, get through it as soon as possible. Communicate clearly with drivers, and signal your intentions as to what you intend to do.
The "Dirty Dozen" - 12 Situations Most Common To Creating Crashes
The motorcyclist’s riding actions and driving patterns differ from those of automobile. As an example, a piece of debris on the highway, or even a pothole, may be ignored or drove over by an automotive driver, while that same piece of debris could be deadly to the motorcyclists, and as such, quick avoidance or “evasive action” may be required to miss the debris may alarm a driver and make it hard for them to predict the actions of the biker.
To assist in being seen, don’t assume that you will be seen by the automotive driver, even if they seem to be looking at you. As a biker, it is your responsibility to do all you can to make your presence known to vehicle drivers (and other motorcyclist’s as well). What you wear can help make a difference as darker materials tend to “disappear” into the background. Try to wear bright clothing, such as hi-vis colours like lime green which makes you “outstanding”. Clothing with reflective material on them really helps at night, and if a reflective sticker is placed on the back of the helmet, it attracts attention as you move your head back and forth scanning your surroundings.
In addition, proper lane positioning is crucial to being seen and protecting your riding space. If you are overtaking a vehicle and you can see the driver in the side rear view mirror, they should be able to see you as well. Once you are past the point where you can no longer see the driver in the mirror, blow your horn several times to let them know that you are there, in the “blind spot”. But do not “hide” there, get through it as soon as possible. Communicate clearly with drivers, and signal your intentions as to what you intend to do.
The "Dirty Dozen" - 12 Situations Most Common To Creating Crashes
Apologies to the great movie of the same name!
1. Automobile Making A Left Turn: A driver is attempting to make a left turn in front of you. This is the greatest cause of automobile – motorcycle crashes, usually at an intersection, but not always!
1. Automobile Making A Left Turn: A driver is attempting to make a left turn in front of you. This is the greatest cause of automobile – motorcycle crashes, usually at an intersection, but not always!
2. Distracted Drivers – The increased use of mobile phones has had a significant impact on accidents in general. One main reason? It takes the eyes and concentration away from the road and places it on the smart phones screen. Inattention anyone? By the way, a motorcyclist using their Smartphone or playing with the GPS while riding is creating the same situation for themselves, and others. We cannot just blame vehicle drivers.
3. Excessive Speed – The Hurt Report stated that 50% of all motorcycle accidents occurred in the first 5 months of a new riders experience. Many of these accidents occurred because the rider was not used to the speed a motorcycle can obtain, and any imperfections in the road may send a motorcycle off the road, hard. Stats from the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) from 2008 - 2014 found that 25% of all motorcycle deaths came from excessive speed.
4. Riding In The Driver’s Blind Spot- Keep in mind that a motorcyclist and the bike are not large objects, and can get lost in the “blind spot” every vehicle has very easily. As a rider, do not “hang out” in a vehicles blind spot (remember- if you can’t see the drivers face in the vehicles outside mirror, the driver can’t see you). Either back off so that you are visible in the mirror of the vehicle, or overtake the vehicle, or at least ride where the driver of the vehicle can see you. Do not assume that the driver of the vehicle will do an adequate shoulder check before changing lanes or making a left turn. In addition to what has already been mentioned, try to predict and be ready for the vehicle moving into your area by looking up the road (“Rider Radar”). Are we coming up to an intersection? Are we coming up to a slower vehicle and will this vehicle try to pass? These, and more questions are going through your mind as part of your preventative measures.
5. Alcohol- After all the statistics, after all the issues surrounding alcohol and driving, the message to not drink and drive still seems to be lost on a number of motor vehicle drivers. And that also includes motorcycle riders. According to the OPP study on motorcycle deaths from 2008-2014, over 40 deaths were attributed to alcohol, caused by both other vehicle drivers, and impaired (or not even legally impaired) motorcycle riders. We all know that alcohol can, and does, impair judgment and the ability to operate a motor vehicle. However, it is even more profound on a motorcycle where you have to be more alert, and where the inputs from the rider (lean, 2 wheel braking, clutch control, etc.) affect the bike far more than the same effects on a four-wheeled vehicle. A person may do all right, with some impairment after only one drink with a car, that same drink can, and will throw the riders ability to balance the bike off, and as we need to be able to properly balance the bike, something not-so-good can happen easily.
6. Curves- Most single vehicle motorcycle accidents happen on curves for a number of reasons. Reasons such as riding too fast for the curve and Newton’s Laws come into play; riding too fast for the riders skill set to negotiate the curve; riding where you look – if the guard rail is there and you continue to look at it, you will hit it; material on the road or other surface issues that could cause the rider to lose control; along with a host of other ways to crash. A bike does not take to a curve or corner like a car does.
3. Excessive Speed – The Hurt Report stated that 50% of all motorcycle accidents occurred in the first 5 months of a new riders experience. Many of these accidents occurred because the rider was not used to the speed a motorcycle can obtain, and any imperfections in the road may send a motorcycle off the road, hard. Stats from the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) from 2008 - 2014 found that 25% of all motorcycle deaths came from excessive speed.
4. Riding In The Driver’s Blind Spot- Keep in mind that a motorcyclist and the bike are not large objects, and can get lost in the “blind spot” every vehicle has very easily. As a rider, do not “hang out” in a vehicles blind spot (remember- if you can’t see the drivers face in the vehicles outside mirror, the driver can’t see you). Either back off so that you are visible in the mirror of the vehicle, or overtake the vehicle, or at least ride where the driver of the vehicle can see you. Do not assume that the driver of the vehicle will do an adequate shoulder check before changing lanes or making a left turn. In addition to what has already been mentioned, try to predict and be ready for the vehicle moving into your area by looking up the road (“Rider Radar”). Are we coming up to an intersection? Are we coming up to a slower vehicle and will this vehicle try to pass? These, and more questions are going through your mind as part of your preventative measures.
5. Alcohol- After all the statistics, after all the issues surrounding alcohol and driving, the message to not drink and drive still seems to be lost on a number of motor vehicle drivers. And that also includes motorcycle riders. According to the OPP study on motorcycle deaths from 2008-2014, over 40 deaths were attributed to alcohol, caused by both other vehicle drivers, and impaired (or not even legally impaired) motorcycle riders. We all know that alcohol can, and does, impair judgment and the ability to operate a motor vehicle. However, it is even more profound on a motorcycle where you have to be more alert, and where the inputs from the rider (lean, 2 wheel braking, clutch control, etc.) affect the bike far more than the same effects on a four-wheeled vehicle. A person may do all right, with some impairment after only one drink with a car, that same drink can, and will throw the riders ability to balance the bike off, and as we need to be able to properly balance the bike, something not-so-good can happen easily.
6. Curves- Most single vehicle motorcycle accidents happen on curves for a number of reasons. Reasons such as riding too fast for the curve and Newton’s Laws come into play; riding too fast for the riders skill set to negotiate the curve; riding where you look – if the guard rail is there and you continue to look at it, you will hit it; material on the road or other surface issues that could cause the rider to lose control; along with a host of other ways to crash. A bike does not take to a curve or corner like a car does.
While we may be waving or acknowledging a passing motorcyclist, keep several things in mind here. On a curve with one hand off the bars, and two, does the driver of the truck understand the intended signals the riders are displaying?
7. Hazardous Road Conditions- Road conditions can change very rapidly, and the rider must be aware of this. Potholes, wet leaves, railroad tracks, wet pavement with hidden deep water puddles, wet road paint, “tar snakes”, temperature of the road, and other obstructions may dictate that the motorcyclist take an action that a vehicle driver might not or does not anticipate happening. What may not affect 4 tires can certainly matter to two, such as "Tar Snakes" in the accompanying photo, and on a curve!
7. Hazardous Road Conditions- Road conditions can change very rapidly, and the rider must be aware of this. Potholes, wet leaves, railroad tracks, wet pavement with hidden deep water puddles, wet road paint, “tar snakes”, temperature of the road, and other obstructions may dictate that the motorcyclist take an action that a vehicle driver might not or does not anticipate happening. What may not affect 4 tires can certainly matter to two, such as "Tar Snakes" in the accompanying photo, and on a curve!
8. Obstructed Line of Sight – Large vehicles, such as SUV’s, RV’s, delivery trucks, and other large vehicles may block a motorcycle from other vehicles view, either following the large vehicle, or approaching it, and all of a sudden the bike appears out of nowhere. Proper lane positioning plays a large role here. If approaching a large truck, be aware of possible vehicles close behind, unable to see around it. If you can’t see them, they can’t see you. Also, if you can see under the large vehicle, look for tires of a following car, and depending on the suns position, shadows given off by following vehicles on the road or along the ditch. Is the truck moving slow, are the drivers behind anxious to get by, has the truck gone from a no passing to passing zone? You can help all situations by moving over in your lane to the outside giving you the ability to see around the truck or large vehicle, and also giving the vehicles behind the large vehicle a better opportunity to see you.
9. Failure To See The Motorcycle – Motorcyclist have a tendency to “disappear” from sight of many vehicle drivers because of the small size, being in the “blind spot” not only of a vehicle but the blind spot of ones own eye, and as well, the brain sometimes creates an issue by expecting to see a motor vehicle, not a motorcycle. This gets even worse in rain, darkness, or the “twilight zone” times – early morning just as the sun is rising or at night when the sun is just setting. In both cases, the eye is having problems adjusting to the changing light conditions, making it even harder to see motorcycles. Oh yes, dark motorcycles on dark pavement on hot days with heat ways off the pavement creates “black areas” on the road due to the optical phenomenon caused by light being refracted, or bent. Motorcycles can disappear into this mirage until you get much closer to them.
10. Not Knowing Your Own Bike / Loss of Control – whether it occurs in a curve, a straight away, two lane or four lane highway, or wherever, taking into consideration all the factors that could effect the riders loss of control, one factor many riders fail to think about is whether they properly know their bike or not. What is the braking distance of your bike, Are the brakes ABS, and if so, what type – separate, combined, linked? Threshold braking – how much pressure can you apply to your brakes before lock-up? What is your acceleration speed? Do your mirrors vibrate making viewing behind all but useless or are the mirrors giving you a great view of your shoulders? What is the lean angle of your bike in a corner? How far can you lean over if needed before you lose traction? What size tires (tyres for my across the pond friends). How heavy is the bike? How far does your bike “dip” under hard braking? How does your bike react to a passenger or with the extra weight of traveling gear? These are but a few examples of items you should know about your bike. Oh yes, practice continually, improve your skills on your bike by taking an Enhanced or Advanced Motorcycle Course, and check your manual!
11. Lane Sharing – Not to be confused with Lane Splitting. This occurs when two riders share the same lane riding beside or so close to one another that if one swerves to avoid something on the road a collision with the other bike occurs. Again, good lane spacing and distance (minimum of 1 second, better with 2) if you are going to ride together gives you room for error, or at least, swerving. The following picture is neither smart lane splitting or lane sharing. It is more like a free-for-all!
11. Lane Sharing – Not to be confused with Lane Splitting. This occurs when two riders share the same lane riding beside or so close to one another that if one swerves to avoid something on the road a collision with the other bike occurs. Again, good lane spacing and distance (minimum of 1 second, better with 2) if you are going to ride together gives you room for error, or at least, swerving. The following picture is neither smart lane splitting or lane sharing. It is more like a free-for-all!
12. Complacency- The last of our "DIRTY DOZEN", but by no means the last of the causes.
The mind set. Even though a rider may have been riding for many years, and everything seems like “Old Hat”, many riders lose sight of what lies down the road because they have done it so often, and their focus draws inward allowing surprises to creep up on them. This is especially true when the rider is out “sight seeing” or “day dreaming” and fails to pay enough attention to what is happening on the road versus what is happening elsewhere.
Never stop being aware!
The mind set. Even though a rider may have been riding for many years, and everything seems like “Old Hat”, many riders lose sight of what lies down the road because they have done it so often, and their focus draws inward allowing surprises to creep up on them. This is especially true when the rider is out “sight seeing” or “day dreaming” and fails to pay enough attention to what is happening on the road versus what is happening elsewhere.
Never stop being aware!