What Separates Safe Riders From The Rest

Summary

This video emphasizes the importance of both judgment and skill in motorcycle riding. It highlights how riders must use sound judgment to avoid dangerous situations and skill to handle emergencies. Through various real-life scenarios, such as lane splitting, swerving, and interacting with other vehicles, the video teaches riders how to stay safe by predicting potential hazards and reacting appropriately. Key tips include positioning for visibility, practicing counter-steering, and always staying prepared for unexpected situations, ensuring riders can navigate safely whether on city streets, highways, or twisty mountain roads.

Takeaways

• 😀 Judgment and skill are both essential for being a well-rounded rider. You need both to avoid crashes and handle various riding scenarios.
• 😀 Simply being a good rider isn’t enough. Poor judgment, such as lane splitting at high speeds, can still lead to dangerous situations.
• 😀 Good judgment involves thinking ahead and using your brain to avoid risky situations, reducing the need for skill-based reactions.
• 😀 Riding too close to cars increases the risk of accidents, like swerving to avoid open car doors. Always leave enough space for evasive maneuvers.
• 😀 Counter-steering is an essential skill when swerving. You need to push on the handlebars to initiate a fast lean and clear an obstacle like a car door.
• 😀 Practicing swerving and braking in a controlled environment is crucial. Don't wait until you're in an emergency to figure it out.
• 😀 In city and neighborhood riding, always ride near the middle of the lane, but not too close to cars, to give yourself more visibility and escape options.
• 😀 Never assume that drivers will see you, especially when approaching intersections. Always position yourself to increase your visibility and prepare for possible hazards.
• 😀 When approaching a left-turning car at an intersection, adjust your speed, cover the controls, and prepare for the possibility that the car may not see you.
• 😀 On the highway, stay visible and avoid riding in blind spots. Predict drivers' behavior (e.g., texting, weaving) and adjust your positioning accordingly.
• 😀 When lane splitting, only do so when it's safe and the traffic is moving slowly. Always be aware of the space around you and potential lane changes by other vehicles.

Q & A

Why is it important to have both judgment and skill as a rider?

Having both judgment and skill is crucial because judgment helps you avoid dangerous situations, while skill ensures you can handle unexpected events when they occur. Without judgment, you might put yourself in a risky position, and without skill, you won't be able to react effectively if something goes wrong.

What is the main takeaway from the example of riding next to parked cars?

The key point is that judgment should dictate where you position yourself while riding. Riding too close to parked cars increases the risk of a car door opening and forcing you into a dangerous situation. It's better to ride away from parked cars to give yourself more room to maneuver.

How does counter-steering work in an emergency swerve scenario?

In an emergency swerve, you use counter-steering to quickly lean the bike in the direction you want to go. To swerve left, you push forward on the left handlebar or pull the right one. This creates a fast lean that allows you to avoid obstacles like a car door. Once you've cleared the obstacle, you counter-steer in the opposite direction to straighten the bike.

Why is it not a good idea to rely solely on your skill during a ride?

If you rely only on your skill, you're setting yourself up for failure if you don't have the judgment to avoid dangerous situations in the first place. Skill is a tool for when things go wrong, but judgment helps you prevent those things from happening.

What should you do when approaching an intersection where a car might pull out in front of you?

You should use judgment to predict the car might pull out and prepare by making yourself visible. You can slow down, cover your controls, or weave slightly to get the driver’s attention. Always have an escape plan ready, whether that means swerving or stopping.

How can you improve visibility when you're riding near an intersection with a car waiting to turn?

To improve visibility, you should ride in a position where the driver can easily see you, avoid riding directly behind another car, and use maneuvers like weaving or tapping the brake to get noticed. Don't assume the driver will see you automatically.

What does the script recommend when dealing with a car in your blind spot?

If you find yourself in a car’s blind spot, it’s recommended to move to a position where you’re more visible to the driver. Ideally, you want to ride so that the driver can see you in their rearview mirror and avoid being in a blind spot, which reduces the chances of them making an unsafe lane change.

What should you do if you’re lane splitting and two cars are too close together?

If the cars are too close together, you should avoid lane splitting. If there’s enough room, you can split lanes carefully, but always be aware of potential hazards. Lane splitting is only safe if there’s enough space and the traffic speed is low, generally not more than 10 miles per hour faster than the flow of traffic.

What’s the importance of predicting a car’s actions in highway riding?

Predicting a car’s actions is essential in highway riding, especially when you notice signs like a car weaving in and out of its lane. Being able to predict that the driver may not be paying attention allows you to anticipate potential risks, such as a car suddenly changing lanes, and take action to avoid it.

What is the recommended position to ride in while on a multi-lane highway?

On a multi-lane highway, it’s recommended to ride in a position where you can be seen by other drivers, typically near the right side of your lane. This position allows you to see the traffic ahead and provides a better chance of being noticed by drivers in the rearview mirrors of vehicles in the lanes next to you.