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free rider
22/07/2005, 16:24
British Colombia Safety Council © 2002

Years behind-the-steering wheel prepares you for 2-wheel traffic, doesn't it?

Not always, and here's why: When you get on your motorcycle you become invisible!
At least to drivers who aren't paying much attention, which seems to be a lot of them.
Here's where basic black isn't a good fashion statement - brighter colors for your leathers and helmet actually make you stand out!

Motorcycles are narrow, single-track vehicles. Perception testing has proven that they are indeed much more difficult to spot in a busy traffic situation. And even if the other driver does see you - he or she will probably estimate that you are further away than you actually are, and that you're going slower than you really are.

These two scenarios account for about 60% of bike-car crashes! In both cases the other driver either didn't see the motorcycle, or thought it was further away and/or going slower than it really was.
1 - A car turning left just as a motorcycle approaching in the opposite direction enters the intersection.
2 - A car pulling out from a side street (to cross, turn left or right) just as an approaching motorcycle enters the intersection.

Motorcycle Tips

1: ASSUME YOU ARE INVISIBLE
When approaching an intersection, expect the oncoming driver who wants to turn left to actually do it - just as you enter the intersection. Expect the driver on the side street to pull out right in front of you. Their perception, even if it's wrong, is their reality and they act on it.
2: BE PREPARED

Don't worry about who's at fault - you don't have a steel cage to protect you - only your wits and your skill (and a loud horn won't hurt either). Prepare for possible confrontations in intersections - slow down, cover the brakes and look for an escape route.

The time to learn emergency maneuvers is not when you're in it. You need to understand what response will work best, and why. Not to mention how to execute it properly.

Most riders involved in crashes don't use the correct technique for the situation. Those that try to do the right thing often don't do it properly, usually because they wait too long and/or they don't reach the necessary performance level. These are scary events that require nerve and precision execution to escape from. Developing skills takes time and hard work, and lots of practice. That's why professional training programs are so effective for new and experienced riders both.

zireous
17/09/2006, 19:51
:a27:
Η επανάληψη είναι η μαμά της μαθήσεως (-της δικιάς σου ρε που θα μου πείς για τη μαμά της μηχανής μου), περίληψη:

Έντονα χρώματα στα δερμάτινα και στα κράνη πάντα βοηθάνε, συχνά οι αυτοκινητιστές δεν μπορούν να διακρίνουν μια μηχανή ή τη ταχύτητά της και βγαίνουν από στενά με τα γνωστά αποτελέσματα.

1. Πάντα να υποθέτεις ότι είσαι αόρατος -αυτό σημαίνει πχ να περιμένεις ότι θα σου βγει το κουτί που έχεις μπροστά σου στη διασταύρωση ενώ θα έπρεπε να σε δει.

2. Να είσαι προετοιμασμένος. Μη περιμένεις να σου κάτσει να βγει το αυτοκίνητο ξαφνικά μπροστά σου για να δοκιμάσεις εκτροπές, φρένα πανικού κλπ για πρώτη φορά.

Το να εκτελέσεις σωστά σε καταστάσεις ανάγκης τέτοιες μανούβρες θέλει εξάσκηση και σκληρή δουλειά, και γι'αυτό συχνά η εκπαίδευση σε αυτές από εξειδικευμένους ειδικούς είναι πάρα πολύ αποτελεσματική.