16 Rider-Proven Collision Avoidance Tips

Posted on Posted in Motorcycle Tips Tagged with ,

Can you recall a scenario in which your actions behind the bars resulted in successful collision avoidance? Taken from a recent chat I facilitated on Motorcycle Mojo Magazine’s FaceBook page, these riders weigh in on what worked for them.

Post your tips in the comments below.

  1. Collision AvoidanceOliver Kadrija Several times I have avoided something serious by my ability to not freeze up when something bad happens. A lot of my friends have crashed because they panicked and didn’t do anything.

 

  1. Tom Moreau. Almost sideswiped on the 401 at 120km/hr. Stayed on the horn and stayed focused on avoiding collision. Panic was not an option.

 

  1. Tony Kay. Paying attention to EVERYTHING around you is definitely key!

 

  1. Oliver Kadrija. Keep scanning and think what if what if. Your mind should be sore after a ride. Once you get complacent and have tunnel vision you’re done.

 

  1. Don Mustard. Look ahead, miles ahead. Watch those around me constantly. Watching my mirrors, off ramps as often as I’m looking ahead of me.

 

  1. Oliver Kadrija. Just this weekend, I was taking an on ramp with another bike. I had a lot of glare from the sun setting and started to think ok where are the lines. The bike in front of me started to wobble and put his feet out. First thing I thought was where am I going if he crashes?

 

  1. Mike Pesdirz. I agree with “don’t panic”. In any riding situation, we are In control of the bike/ situation. As soon as panic hits, you give up the control, and at that split second it boils down to fate.

 

  1. Chris Townson. Riding like I was invisible… Roll to a stop behind a pick-up truck that only has one tail light, and ‘nervous’ that the car behind was closing way faster than I was comfortable with. I moved up to beside the pick-ups drivers door, just as the car rear ended the truck…. Wrote off the car, would have killed me I’m sure!

 

  1. Roni Van Der Velden-Clark. Heads up riding… watching the road ahead and thinking about what people might do… that kept me safe when a lady pulled out from a stop in front of me… the heads up riding and the motorcycle safety course kept me from becoming part of her car that day… I got of easy with a slight interaction with her back tire and minor damage to a highway peg… calm and focus and looking where I wanted to be were key to keeping me in one piece

 

  1. Darlene Duncan. Hyper-vigilance & always being aware of what & who is around me. Head & eyes up and listening to the ‘spidey sense’. Saved me when a truck with an unsecured load who changed into my lane blew a tire. I kept calm, avoided the debris & made a safe lane change.

 

  1. Pam Vickery. Your attention must always be on what is around you. Constantly scanning and playing the “what if” game will give you extra time to react properly. I don’t think you should come back from a ride with a tired mind – it’s all about training your mind to do these things all of the time. The other thing that is true is to always practice your skills such as always using both brakes. In an emergency, there is often no time to think but, your muscle memory will do what it has been trained to do if you practice it religiously.

 

  1. Robert Martin. ABS… Never leave home without it.

 

  1. Glenn Ranger. Reaction time from many dirt bike years and paying attention, Power over breaking. Always look where you want to go.

 

  1. Juice Cutler. Saw him stop and was ready for him to pull out of the stop sign like he did. I was expecting him to cut me off and cracked the throttle to get the inch I needed to not hit him. It was an 80kph zone and I rode the ditch out till I could lay it down safely

 

  1. Andy Hertel. Murphy’s Law… what can go wrong…will. The driver in front of you, beside you or behind you IS going to try to be in your space. Be prepared for it, plan you evasive action and execute with precision. If it doesn’t happen… GOOD! But at least you were ready for it.

 

  1. Andy Hertel. ALWAYS – Ride within your own limitations. Proper gear, good planning and enjoy…

 

Note: Andy Hertel, Manager of the Motorcycle Training Program at Humber College was interviewed on CBC Radio about this very topic. You can listen to it here: www.cbc.ca/hereandnowtoronto/episodes/2012/09/13/keeping-motorcycle-riders-safe-on-the-road/

About

Author, writer, and student Liz Jansen combines her artistic mediums to create stories that inspire readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery.