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Dagger's Safety Tips
Southern Cruisers Riding Club
Star City Chapter 32
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Roanoke, Virginia
| T-CLOCS |
| OCTOBER SAFETY TIP |
How To Ride a Motorcycle in Heavy Traffic
Here are some simple steps that will help you as you venture into heavy traffic on your motorcycle.
Here's How to Ride in Heavy Traffic:
1. First, pass a motorcycle safety course and get your motorcycle license.
2. Ride with an experienced motorcycle rider as you gain experience.
3. Ride your motorcycle on safe suburban streets first.
4. Next, venture across busy highways without riding on them.
5. Then ride on local lightly traveled divided highways.
6. Next ride at high-speed on lightly traveled Interstate highways.
7. Continue to gradually increase your riding under heavier and heavier traffic situations.
8. Do not venture out into heavy traffic until you have mastered all basic motorcycle skills.
9. Maintain the 2-second rule at all times.
10. Keep scanning 5-6 cars ahead for possible problems.
11. Check your rear-view mirrors often.
12. Don't ride next to other cars and trucks.
13. Ride in the left tire track if alone.
14. When you are approaching an on or off ramp, position yourself in the lane farthest away.
15. At a stop, do not ride up to the bumper of the car in front of you. Leave room to escape if necessary.
Tips:
1. Take time to learn riding in traffic. As indicated in the steps, learn gradually.
2. Always assume you are invisible to other drivers and protect yourself at all times.
3. Always wear protective clothing and a helmet until you are experienced.
After that, you may have a legal option with the helmet, but remember, it is still your head under there.
Here are some simple steps that will help you as you venture into heavy traffic on your motorcycle.
Here's How to Ride in Heavy Traffic:
1. First, pass a motorcycle safety course and get your motorcycle license.
2. Ride with an experienced motorcycle rider as you gain experience.
3. Ride your motorcycle on safe suburban streets first.
4. Next, venture across busy highways without riding on them.
5. Then ride on local lightly traveled divided highways.
6. Next ride at high-speed on lightly traveled Interstate highways.
7. Continue to gradually increase your riding under heavier and heavier traffic situations.
8. Do not venture out into heavy traffic until you have mastered all basic motorcycle skills.
9. Maintain the 2-second rule at all times.
10. Keep scanning 5-6 cars ahead for possible problems.
11. Check your rear-view mirrors often.
12. Don't ride next to other cars and trucks.
13. Ride in the left tire track if alone.
14. When you are approaching an on or off ramp, position yourself in the lane farthest away.
15. At a stop, do not ride up to the bumper of the car in front of you. Leave room to escape if necessary.
Tips:
1. Take time to learn riding in traffic. As indicated in the steps, learn gradually.
2. Always assume you are invisible to other drivers and protect yourself at all times.
3. Always wear protective clothing and a helmet until you are experienced.
After that, you may have a legal option with the helmet, but remember, it is still your head under there.
Watch drivers' heads and mirrors
Watching the head movements of drivers through their windows and mirrors is an excellent way to anticipate sudden
moves. Most drivers won't lunge left or right without first moving their heads one way or another (even if they don't
check their mirrors).
Watching the head movements of drivers through their windows and mirrors is an excellent way to anticipate sudden
moves. Most drivers won't lunge left or right without first moving their heads one way or another (even if they don't
check their mirrors).
Traffic slowing? Stay left (or right)
When traffic slows suddenly, stay to the left or right of the car in front of you. This will give you an escape route if
needed. It will also help keep you from becoming a hood ornament if the car behind you fails to stop in time. Once
you've stopped, be ready--clutch in, your bike in gear and your eyes on the mirrors. You never know.
When traffic slows suddenly, stay to the left or right of the car in front of you. This will give you an escape route if
needed. It will also help keep you from becoming a hood ornament if the car behind you fails to stop in time. Once
you've stopped, be ready--clutch in, your bike in gear and your eyes on the mirrors. You never know.
Practice the scan
Constantly scanning your entire environment while riding--from instruments to mirrors to the road ahead to blind spots
to your left and right rear--keeps you aware and in touch with your situation, and therefore better able to react.
Dwelling on one area too long--watching only behind or in front of you, for instance--is just begging for trouble.
Constantly scanning your entire environment while riding--from instruments to mirrors to the road ahead to blind spots
to your left and right rear--keeps you aware and in touch with your situation, and therefore better able to react.
Dwelling on one area too long--watching only behind or in front of you, for instance--is just begging for trouble.
Left-turn treachery
When approaching an oncoming car that's stopped and about to turn left, be ready. Your brights should be on so the
driver can see you (during the day), but don't rely on this to save you. Watch the car's wheels or the driver's hands
on the steering wheel; if you see movement, be ready to brake, swerve or accelerate, whichever seems best for the
situation.
When approaching an oncoming car that's stopped and about to turn left, be ready. Your brights should be on so the
driver can see you (during the day), but don't rely on this to save you. Watch the car's wheels or the driver's hands
on the steering wheel; if you see movement, be ready to brake, swerve or accelerate, whichever seems best for the
situation.
Here's a few more tips...
KEEP THE SHINY SIDE UP