Ok, here is another old timer post about things I've learned over decades of riding of how to avoid getting hit by things that have 4 wheels or more. Its not about riding fast or slow etc or becoming a more expert rider, simply about things that make you street smart. Full disclosure, I have been an idiot once or twice and have had to suffer the consequences of those decisions but hey, still kicking and riding after 40+ years so here goes:

Rule #1: Protect your bubble. Pretend you have a bubble enclosing you (mine gets bigger the faster I ride) and don't let any other vehicle inside that bubble. So don't tailgate or let others tailgate you, weave in or out of close traffic unless you are willing to give up my most basic traffic safety rule and assume the risk.

Rule #2: Be paranoid. Cagers do not see you, do not hear you, doesn't matter if you have loud pipes, yellow vests etc. Ride in a position where you can see the driver in their side mirror and they will see you maybe. That is the best reason to ride the left or right line depending on what lane you are in. When changing lanes, do the head bob. Check your mirrors to make sure you are clear and then turn you head and physically check the space you are going to occupy to make sure it really is clear!

Rule #3: Signal your turns ahead of time. Use your hand signals and your turn signals in heavy traffic. Left turns are way more dangerous than right turns. This includes the traffic coming towards you making left turns or you making a left turn infront of them or the car in the right lane adjacent to you coming into your lane without seeing you. I watch the space between the vehicles front left tire and the center line and if it start to shrink, I brake to let them over.

Rule #4: What they teach you in MSF classes, SEE works. However, expect the worst before it happens. Assume the car infront of you is going to slam on their brakes and have enough room so you don't ride up their tail pipe.

Rule #5: Your throttle is as much a safety device as are your brakes. If you follow the above advice, you can accelerate away from danger just as you can by hitting your brakes.

Rule #6: Lastly, never never never pass a semi on a multilane highway on their right side. Also never ride adjacent to a semi in the passing lane, if you don't have a clear shot of passing it, stay back. Those retreads will take your head off.

 

Good things there.

I'll add a few.
#7 Always have an out at a red signal. Do not stop too close to the car in front, stay in gear until at least 2 cars are stopped behind you to avoid being hit from behind. Give yourself room to get between stopped cars in front of you if necessary, and tap your brake light to warn the car behind you that you have stopped.

#8 When the traffic light goes green move off right away. The car behind you may not be paying attention and anyway will expect a motorcycle to go quickly.

#9 Use your spidey senses. Watch for the head twitch in the cars driving around you. If you're lucky a driver will just have a quick look in their left mirror before pulling out or changing lanes. Look at the wheels of cars waiting to turn in the median or from a side street. If they are moving then prepare to take evasive action.

 

Head on a swivel.

Never draft a semi.

Cell phones will kill you.

 

Great advise. I like that you've called it "street smart" not just for it being on the streets, but a lot of this is common sense if you ask me and some people....well you know.

 

I don't buy into #8, going as soon as the traffic light turns green. I don't even do this in my car. Some idiot will run the light and you will be "T" boned. Look both ways before you move, watch that cross traffic.

I use store fronts to reflect moving vehicles before I pull out of blind areas.

 

This is how I try do ride every day. Thanks for posting this!

 

Well, if it saves someone from grief, I guess its worth it! Probably the only other thing would be the rider's attitude. I always assume responsibility for my own safety, if someone else is being unsafe it's still my fault if I wreck. But it's not easy for some people to get to this mindset, I know. I was one of them. 600k miles and decades plus 2 serious mishaps got me here

 

Glad I clicked on this....
the thread was "being street smart"

I wear my BB cap on sideways sometimes and say, "yo, yo, yo" w/ my pants down low...that's what I thought this was going to be about...

 

I agree, a cage running a red light will do a whole lot more damage then a car behind you that has been stopped.

 

Ditto this! This is one of the first things taught in MSF. Look both ways at the intersection before proceeding through a initial green light. There are way too many folks blowing through red lights nowadays!