Can you REALLY prevent being rear-ended?
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 20,411
Likes: 24,191
From: WetCoast
It is not possible to end the blinding stupidity of others. So ... NO, you cannot. What you can do is to be as much aware as you can, all the time. When I pull up to a light, I am always in the rear view mirror... always....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
I'm just now traveling home from a safety course which involved, among other things, surviving a helicopter crash at sea. Nobody giving or taking these courses was under the illusion that the prescribed tactics would work in other than what constitutes a pretty rigid set of circumstances, for a helicopter crash. Courses improve your chances vs just being a deer in the goddamn headlights but make no mistake, courses are no get out of jail card, when it comes to accidents. Anyone who thinks so is an idiot.
I have taken a MC safety course and do highly recommend them. That said, safety course zealots are pretty guilty of peddling high expectations when it comes to these things. Truth is, Industrial Safety departments justify themselves, in part, by under-reporting LTA's, CPR when actually needed, is a very long shot at best, and there is no course or certification that will keep you safe. The only way you can guarantee your own safety when operating a motorcycle is; don't !
I have taken a MC safety course and do highly recommend them. That said, safety course zealots are pretty guilty of peddling high expectations when it comes to these things. Truth is, Industrial Safety departments justify themselves, in part, by under-reporting LTA's, CPR when actually needed, is a very long shot at best, and there is no course or certification that will keep you safe. The only way you can guarantee your own safety when operating a motorcycle is; don't !
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 1,651
From: Olean, NY
The instructor of the MSF course that I took had been rear ended the year prior...in the drive through ATM lane at the bank. He showed us a picture of himself at the scene. He was heading to work so he had on his bright *** DOT neon green jacket and still got plowed into.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68,021
Likes: 3,276
From:
The only way that I know to prevent being rear ended while riding my motorcycle is to keep it in the garage and drive my car. That being said, sad to say, at least in the area that I live, the possibility of being rear ended is part of the experience of riding a motorcycle and when I come to a stop, I keep a very close eye in my rear view mirror just in case.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,349
Likes: 647
From: Vegas, baby!
My one close call of this nature, in 49 years of riding, occurred when the cage in front of me decided to back up and move from a left turn lane into a lane going straight across an intersection. As traffic, going straight in the lane to my right, prevented me from moving to the right and a concrete median prevented me from moving to the left, when I saw his backup lights illuminate I hit my horn.
Then he put his cage back in drive and pulled forward, illegally, across the intersection. Luckily this happened decades ago when the horn button on my metric was easy to find. That wouldn't have been so easily done on my Harley, at least until I moved the horn button to it's current set up.
My reason for posting is to offer an example of the need to 'think outside the box' and be aware that there is danger all around us. Some of it won't be seen in the mirror.
Last edited by rjg883c; Sep 9, 2017 at 03:42 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 695
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Yes, this is one of my great fears, getting rear-ended at a stoplight or stop sign. It happened to a good friend of mine and he was hurt pretty bad.
I have put the brightest and the most lights I can on the back of my motorcycle, and I always watch carefully in the rear view mirror at least until another car pulls up behind me to be a buffer. And always have an exit plan.
My biggest fear is the really old drivers. That seems to be who does it. There are some 90+ types driving around here that are absolutely terrifying. If you are around Leisure World, be damned careful.
I have put the brightest and the most lights I can on the back of my motorcycle, and I always watch carefully in the rear view mirror at least until another car pulls up behind me to be a buffer. And always have an exit plan.
My biggest fear is the really old drivers. That seems to be who does it. There are some 90+ types driving around here that are absolutely terrifying. If you are around Leisure World, be damned careful.
Supporter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 248
From: Milton Mills NH
To me, your scenario is just like any other part of any ride you take...first, always have an escape route or two. Secondly, head on a swivel...and be just as aware of what's happening in back of you as in front of you, by scanning the rear view mirrors. Third, keep your bike in gear and ready to move immediately when danger approaches. Fourth, be aware that it is HIGHLY unlikely that you will freeze at a critical moment rather than move to the right area. In my opinion, a lot of motorcyclists' deaths have occurred because of this last.
As you move into a place to stop as you approach a traffic light or stop sign, scan the areas available in front of you. It might even be that your escape route would include moving against the red light, but at a critical moment, laws can pretty much go out the window...it's about saving your life. Gotta keep your head in the ball game. And how about turning that fine stereo off as you ride down the road and spend that time thinking about scenarios, and practice looking for escape routes and going over 'what ifs' in your mind. At some point it will be second nature to you, but as a brand new rider...and you ARE a brand new rider...or even worse with the impediments that age brings on...you've gotta go back and start over.
As you approach a traffic signal or boulevard stop, pay close attention to your rear views. If you see someone coming up hard behind you, and it's clear they're not gonna stop, then you're gonna move to one of the escape routes that you've already scoped out. Likely, that will be between cars...let the cars take the impact, their survivability quotients will be MUCH higher. Or, if you've been a total idiot and your bike is right up against the car in front of you, bail off and run! Don't worry about the jiffy stand...it might be the only thing that survives the crash! And don't freeze up!
What I typically do at a traffic signal, if there's room, and if your state laws allow it...that leaves out 49 of our states...I move between the cars in the #1 & #2 lanes...preferably...or any others that are clear...up to the head of the line. Thataway, I know a car can't get me...the only vehicle that can get me is another motorcycle, and you'd hope that their head's in the game.
So, to boil it down, it's just like any other thing on a motorcycle...awareness, reaction, and action. This has worked well for many years for me, and as involved as it seems, all of this happens extremely quickly and becomes second nature. But don't be timid in your riding...be cautious...not timid. The worst thing you have going for you is that you think your experiences of 35 years ago are the same and will benefit you. Nope. You're worse off now than if you were just coming into it, and that's just one guy's opinion, others may poo poo this...your reaction times are much longer, your reaction decisions aren't honed, and basically...you may simply be scared at times. And right there can get you killed mo ricky tick. Fear is a good thang...scared...nope.
If you haven't already done so, please take a basic motorcycle safety course. You might want to research the Ride Like a Pro series, but that's gonna be after you get thru the basics.
Keep in mind that the skills of motorists across the board have degraded to a huge degree in the years that you have been away. That includes other motorcyclists, and especially the Harley crowd. (Oh, boy, I'm gonna get some hate on that one, but for every hater, there's ten old bikers who are sittin' back goin' "Amen brother") If you are a guy who got your Harley to go to Real Biker Events, and a lot of Real Bikers are on the road, this is where the fear factor comes in, my friend! Personally, I avoid any and all of these, since it's just about a guarantee that someone's gonna get hurt or killed on any mass riding event! Your choice...my suggestion is get out there and ride by yourself in traffic situations by yourself for a while, then move up to small groups...
Good luck to ya sir...you can agree with any of the stuff I've written or not, but it's what's kept me alive and well for almost fifty years...with the one exception of last January, during a panic stop situation, and BOTH of my escape routes escaped, and I had to lay the bike down...it happens. If you're not ready to die...stay in your cage.
As you move into a place to stop as you approach a traffic light or stop sign, scan the areas available in front of you. It might even be that your escape route would include moving against the red light, but at a critical moment, laws can pretty much go out the window...it's about saving your life. Gotta keep your head in the ball game. And how about turning that fine stereo off as you ride down the road and spend that time thinking about scenarios, and practice looking for escape routes and going over 'what ifs' in your mind. At some point it will be second nature to you, but as a brand new rider...and you ARE a brand new rider...or even worse with the impediments that age brings on...you've gotta go back and start over.
As you approach a traffic signal or boulevard stop, pay close attention to your rear views. If you see someone coming up hard behind you, and it's clear they're not gonna stop, then you're gonna move to one of the escape routes that you've already scoped out. Likely, that will be between cars...let the cars take the impact, their survivability quotients will be MUCH higher. Or, if you've been a total idiot and your bike is right up against the car in front of you, bail off and run! Don't worry about the jiffy stand...it might be the only thing that survives the crash! And don't freeze up!
What I typically do at a traffic signal, if there's room, and if your state laws allow it...that leaves out 49 of our states...I move between the cars in the #1 & #2 lanes...preferably...or any others that are clear...up to the head of the line. Thataway, I know a car can't get me...the only vehicle that can get me is another motorcycle, and you'd hope that their head's in the game.
So, to boil it down, it's just like any other thing on a motorcycle...awareness, reaction, and action. This has worked well for many years for me, and as involved as it seems, all of this happens extremely quickly and becomes second nature. But don't be timid in your riding...be cautious...not timid. The worst thing you have going for you is that you think your experiences of 35 years ago are the same and will benefit you. Nope. You're worse off now than if you were just coming into it, and that's just one guy's opinion, others may poo poo this...your reaction times are much longer, your reaction decisions aren't honed, and basically...you may simply be scared at times. And right there can get you killed mo ricky tick. Fear is a good thang...scared...nope.
If you haven't already done so, please take a basic motorcycle safety course. You might want to research the Ride Like a Pro series, but that's gonna be after you get thru the basics.
Keep in mind that the skills of motorists across the board have degraded to a huge degree in the years that you have been away. That includes other motorcyclists, and especially the Harley crowd. (Oh, boy, I'm gonna get some hate on that one, but for every hater, there's ten old bikers who are sittin' back goin' "Amen brother") If you are a guy who got your Harley to go to Real Biker Events, and a lot of Real Bikers are on the road, this is where the fear factor comes in, my friend! Personally, I avoid any and all of these, since it's just about a guarantee that someone's gonna get hurt or killed on any mass riding event! Your choice...my suggestion is get out there and ride by yourself in traffic situations by yourself for a while, then move up to small groups...
Good luck to ya sir...you can agree with any of the stuff I've written or not, but it's what's kept me alive and well for almost fifty years...with the one exception of last January, during a panic stop situation, and BOTH of my escape routes escaped, and I had to lay the bike down...it happens. If you're not ready to die...stay in your cage.