By MIKE Phillips |
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TRAFFIC in town in heavy
RIDING traffic presents some of the biggest challenges to motorcyclists . Riding in traffic can be more stressful than any other type of riding . Staying safe requires riders to stay focused , remain calm , be positive , and , most of all , be patient . The Bible tells us to be patient in Galatians 5:22-23a ( ESV ): β But the fruit of the Spirit is love , joy , peace , patience , kindness , goodness , faithfulness , gentleness , self-control .β Patience in traffic is one of the best safety strategies we can use . There are several other things we can do to ride safely in traffic .. Riders must see and be seen . Use turn signals and activate the rear brake light even when slowing a little , so cars know what you are doing . On multi-lane roads , ride in the right or center lane most of the time to have more options for escape paths . Stay away from a car β s blind spot . This is the area from the driver β s door to several feet behind and to the side of a vehicle . Blind spots increase for larger vehicles . When you are close to large vehicles in front , behind , or beside them , other drivers have a more challenging time seeing you . I do not ride close behind large vehicles because I cannot see other traffic , road conditions , or traffic signs .
Do not speed through traffic . Aggressive driving , like weaving quickly around cars and jackrabbit starting and stopping , saves little time . Car drivers may not see you coming up behind them and might
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move into your lane . Traffic studies show aggressive driving in traffic saves only about 4 minutes an hour . Stay safe and leave 4 minutes earlier . There are times when you need to pass . Use your turn signal early as you change lanes and reenter the lane again . Check your blind spot with a quick turn of your head . Pass quickly so you only spend a little bit of time beside a car . When you are beside a car , and the driver looks at you , they usually drift toward you . Riding in front of traffic may be the safest position to keep you from getting boxed in between cars .
I ride in one gear lower than normal when in traffic . I do this because I may need to get out of the way quickly . At 40 mph in 5th gear , a large cruiser bike may not accelerate very quickly . Riding in 4th gear at that speed , my RPMs are higher , which will give me quicker acceleration . Have you ever practiced a quick acceleration ? Riders should practice going from 40 to 60 mph in a safe area to know how their bike will respond in an emergency .
Watch for cars turning in front of you and pulling into your lane from intersections . Looking at the car β s front tires gives you the first indication of movement . Cover your controls with your hands and feet to increase your reaction time . I see a lot of riders in traffic with their feet up on the highway pegs or only one hand on the handlebars . How much longer is the reaction time if you are in this position ?
When you stop in a line of traffic , do not stop in the center of the lane directly behind a car . Stop at the
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edge of your lane close to the side with your best escape path . Leave at least one bike length between you and the lead car . Keep the bike in gear and your hand on the clutch . Watch your mirrors for the cars stopping behind you . Watch the vehicle in front also . I had a driver in front of me start backing up toward me . I honked the horn and pulled to his left side . The car stopped with the driver β s door right beside me . The driver changed lanes and pulled away . I don β t think he ever saw me .
Riding in traffic can be very stressful . This causes our bodies to become tense , which slows reaction time . With stress , we get tunnel vision and do not see danger . We must ride relaxed to be able to react to any situation . Your vision must move from front to back and side to side . Check your mirrors often , at least every few seconds . Check your blind spot often . Search for any danger and identify as many escape paths as you can . Riding in traffic gets easier the more we do it .
Practice by riding in light , slow traffic , then gradually ride in heavy traffic . Patience in traffic reduces stress and keeps us safe . Patience is a virtue we should practice . In Ephesians 4:2 ( NIV ), the Bible says , β Be completely humble and gentle ; be patient , bearing with one another in love .β Patience helps us to ride within our abilities and allows us to forgive and pray for those car drivers that do stupid things in front of us . CMA
Mike Phillips is a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation ( MSF ) instructor in Arkansas .
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