When riding with other motorcyclists, riders ahead will move within their lane, so be sure to adjust your lane position as necessary to make yourself visible. A staggered formation makes this possible. (More about group riding in a later chapter.)
Hiding Away
One of the most common errors in lane positioning is when a rider hides behind a vehicle by tailgating in the center or right-hand portion of the lane. This is especially risky when following large trucks and vans.
Blind Spots
Motorcycles can easily get lost in driver’s blind spots, which typically fall just behind a car’s front doors all the way to the rear bumper, out of range of the mirrors. If you can’t see the face of the driver in her mirror, she can’t see you. Large trucks have very large blind spots, commonly referred to by the cautionary moniker “The No-Zone.” Continually monitor your position to avoid riding in this blind spot. Remind yourself to ride through blind spots by continuing to accelerate past the vehicle until you are in a position where you are seen.
Never make lane changes into the blind spot of a driver who is next to you because he might attempt to change lanes simultaneously as he tries to occupy the same lane. Change lanes gradually to allow drivers time to predict your intentions.
Motorcyclists have blind spots, too; unfortunately, typical motorcycle mirrors do a rather poor job of revealing what’s behind and to the sides. Take a quick glance over your shoulder to be sure it’s safe to merge or change lanes.
FIGURE 3.4
Figure 3.4 shows what can happen if you are “hiding away.” The rider was tailgating behind a vehicle and therefore was hidden from view from the car making a turn across the lane.
FIGURE 3.5
Figure 3.5 shows the position of a car’s blind spot.
FIGURE 3.6
Figure 3.6 illustrates the “No-Zone” for large trucks.
LESSON LEARNED
Wear Your Gear!
It’s one of the first moderately warm days of the season, so you decide to go for a ride. You gained weight over the winter, and your riding jacket is a bit too snug for comfort, so you throw on your work jacket to keep away the cold. You live in a state that allows riders to choose whether or not to wear a helmet, and you often go without for the sense of freedom and the sensation of being completely immersed in the environment.
The air is cool, so you put a knit hat on to keep your head warm. You must navigate through a maze of intersections to get to the outskirts of town where the roads are more enjoyable. The intersection where you need to turn is just ahead. As you approach the crossroad, you see the green arrow turn to yellow for the left-hand turning lane, so you accelerate to avoid needing to stop. Just after you begin to lean into the turn, your tires slide out from underneath you and you land hard on the pavement.
You wake up later in a hospital bed with no recollection of what happened. You have a headache that rivals any pain you’ve felt before. You hit the call button to summon a nurse who comes in a few minutes later. You ask what is happening and she explains that you were in a motorcycle accident.
What’s the Lesson?
Your plan was to enjoy a leisurely spin out of town, but it soon turned into an expensive and painful event. What could have been a relatively minor incident ended up being a calamity because you chose not to wear a helmet. Your work jacket minimized other injuries, but the lack of head protection is what landed you in the hospital.
Your choice to beat the light caused you to miss seeing the surface hazards. You forgot about the dangers of accumulated fluids and sand left over from treating winter roads. Many months off a motorcycle dulled your ability to recognize hazards that are of little concern when driving a car but can be a big problem when piloting a two-wheeler.
Next time, make sure you are fully prepared for the challenges of operating a motorcycle and always wear full protective gear, just in case.
LESSON LEARNED
Hiding Away
Rusty is riding down a two-lane road. He usually rides in the middle of his lane thinking it’s the best way to keep distance from oncoming cars and roadside hazards. A minivan is ahead of Rusty moving at what seems like a snail’s pace, and his frustration causes him to ride closer than he should.
There are several side streets and intersections along the way, but Rusty pays them little attention, focusing on the minivan’s rear bumper instead. As the minivan passes a side street on the right, a car suddenly appears to Rusty’s left, accelerating hard across his lane to enter the street. The driver apparently did not notice Rusty hidden behind the van and thought it was safe to go. Once he sees the motorcycle, the driver slams on his brakes. Rusty swerves to the right, but it’s too late as the car smashes into his motorcycle’s rear wheel and fender.
Rusty was riding close behind the minivan and in a portion of the lane that did not allow oncoming cars to see him, nor could Rusty see that a car was waiting to turn across his lane to enter the side street. As soon as the minivan cleared the way, the driver made his move, not knowing that Rusty was there until the last moment.
What’s the Lesson?
Had Rusty been more aware that he was hidden from view, perhaps he would have selected the left-hand lane position. But the very first thing he should have done was to back away from the minivan for a greater angle of view to see approaching vehicles and to make it easier for drivers to see him.
Next time someone suddenly veers into your lane as if they never saw you, ask yourself why this happened. It could be that you were hiding away without even knowing it.
LESSON LEARNED
Blind Spot
You gather your things and pack your bike for the ride up North where you will meet family for an annual reunion. The route you select minimizes traffic, but unfortunately will require a stint on a section of road that is known for being crowded.
The ride is going well; the weather is nice, and the traffic is surprisingly light. However, traffic volume eventually picks up, and you find yourself among a mix of cars and trucks funneling to a crawl as the highway transforms to a surface artery. As you slow, you notice a truck in front of you and a silver sedan to your left. You don’t think much about the surrounding vehicles because everyone is rolling at a steady 20 mph (32 kph) with no apparent intent on changing lanes.
Suddenly, the sedan moves to the right into your lane. You have little time to react. You try to swerve away from the car, but it’s too late. Your front tire makes contact with the right rear bumper. You are thrown to the pavement in an instant. You wake up in an ambulance with a wicked headache and a searing pain in your left arm.
The driver who crossed into your lane did so because she thought the lane was clear. She claimed to have looked in her side mirror and even glanced over her shoulder before turning, but could not see you in her blind spot. The driver is responsible for making sure the lane was clear, but you are also responsible for making sure it was possible for her to see you. The problem would have been avoided