Seeing the future – lessons learned

June 21, 8:47 PMDC Motorcycle Travel ExaminerMark Poesch

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“Live or die, it’s your choice.”  Unfortunately, it’s both a choice, and a skill.  At the beginning of this series, I noted an exponential decline in my accident rate over the past 25 or so years.  My driving hasn’t changed a whole lot, but clearly something has.  I attribute the change to the factors discussed in these articles:

• Managing risk as a tool to safer riding
• Being seen is a rider's responsibility
• To survive, you must see the future!
• Seeing the future – situational awareness
• Seeing the future – anticipating drivers’ attitudes
• Seeing the future – anticipating drivers’ decisions
• Seeing the future – literally

Driving and riding inherently involve trust in other drivers.  Defensive driving involves carefully managing how much trust we put in other drivers.  And “offensive” driving is about reducing your need to trust other drivers.

From these articles, a few “lessons learned” should be clear.  To summarize:

• If the rider is to make one assumption, it should be only that he/she is invisible to drivers.  Never assume that a driver will make the “right” choice, if the “wrong” choice means they’ll run you down.

• Be patient – never let your impatience drive you to make decisions you wouldn’t have made if you hadn’t been in a hurry.

• Pay attention to yourself:  Is your attention completely on your riding?  Are you riding smoothly and consistently?  Are you maintaining a good speed, separation from other vehicles, and using lane position to maximize your visibility to other drivers?   Are you using your turn signals (and turning them off) – especially at intersections?  And, most of all, are you being patient.

• Always be hyper-aware in intersections – when moving, and especially when stopping.

• Sometimes the danger on the road isn’t due to riding.  Sometimes the road is just dangerous – for everyone.  Avoid roads and intersections where you sense that the risk is too high.

• Avoid carelessness and ignorance – that of drivers and yourself.

• If your “little voice” is warning you that you’re too tired, it’s not a good time to ride, the weather isn’t shaping up the way you’d like, etc. – LISTEN!

And, of course, don’t forget the most basic guidelines reviewed by Orland Motorcycle Examiner, Jamie Beckett:

• Slow down 
• Don't drink and ride – ever!
• Wear a helmet!

We call them “accidents” when mistakes are made.  But, when an accident occurs, it doesn’t mean that the mistakes that were made were unavoidable.  Unforeseen and unplanned, perhaps – so, make the choice to see the future, and plan ahead to avoid the accident.

Ride safe!  And, stay up!

For more information:
- To survive, you must see the future!
- Seeing the future – situational awareness
- Seeing the future – anticipating drivers’ attitudes
- Seeing the future – anticipating drivers’ decisions
- Seeing the future – literally
- Seeing the future – lessons learned