By MIKE Phillips |
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SEMI
RECENTLY , I had a terrifying experience while riding on the highway that reinforced the need for training , practice , proper protective gear , and , most of all , pay attention to what you are doing . I was riding with five other bikes on an eightlane highway through Dallas , Texas . All five riders are Motorcycle Safety Foundation or Ride Like-A- Pro Instructors . I have ridden with these men many times . We were in the inside lane , riding in a staggered formation . I was the third bike in the lane . There were three cars in front of us . A semi-truck was pulling a flatbed trailer in the lane to our right . There was a lot of other traffic to our right and behind us . The end of the trailer was even with the first car in our lane . Our first bike was about 70 feet behind the trailer . The speed limit was 70 mph , and we rode at about 65 mph .
As the first car started passing the end of the trailer , the left rear inside trailer tire exploded . I have seen the tread come off a tire before , but I have never seen a tire explode like that . Large parts of the tire hit the three cars in front of our group . The lead vehicle jerked to the left and stopped on the inside shoulder . The tire smashed that car ’ s windshield . The second car jerked to the right and crossed two lanes of traffic . The third car slammed on its brakes and stopped in front of our group . All of our bikes got pelted by bits of rubber from the tire . The parts that hit us were not very big and did not cause any
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damage to our bikes , but they still hurt when they hit us .
We had to apply emergency braking , release the brakes , and swerve to the left to avoid the car stopping in front of us . We passed the stopped car by riding on the left shoulder and then swerved back to the right to avoid the car that had stopped on the shoulder . I believe all five of us avoided a serious problem due to training , practice , gear , and paying attention .
The most important thing a rider can do for safety is to pay attention to their riding . I do not use cruise control , look at GPS , or answer my phone when I ride . All of these things are distractions to the rider . I want to be able to react instantly to any conditions I encounter . I concentrate on what my bike is doing and what other roadway users are doing . I constantly assess where my escape path will be in case of an emergency . I plan for several escape paths .
All of the riders wore helmets with face shields and riding jackets . Bits of the tire pelted all of the helmets and face shields , including my jacket . The gear protected the riders . Without the gear , the tire parts to the head , face , and body could have caused serious injury ; at the least , the tire parts may have distracted the rider enough to cause him to crash .
Training and practice are essential for safe riding . Riders react to emergencies by doing what they are taught and what they practice . Training teaches us how to control the bike to avoid a crash . Without
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proper training , riders will not know what to do in an emergency . Riders will think about what to do instead of reacting instantly . Time and distance are the rider ’ s best friend in an emergency . Thinking about what to do , rather than reacting , wastes both time and distance .
Practice is extremely important for riders . All five of these riders practice a lot . We get together and practice as a group . We always practice emergency stopping and swerving . Practice gives you the knowledge and confidence to react to emergencies . Practice is more fun with a group , and we hold each other accountable for our riding . We often go for rides with our friends , but when was the last time you called your riding buddies to practice stops , swerves , and other basic skills ? Practice may save you from a crash , but more importantly , it may save your friend from a crash .
Emergencies will happen on the road . Riders can avoid trouble through training , practice , riding gear , and paying attention . An interesting statistic is that 90 % of riders involved in a crash have never had any formal training . A rider ’ s mind is the most valuable asset to safe riding . Keep your mind on your riding . Check those other things when you stop for a break . Riders should all join a riding group called the LERTS . That is a promise to yourself that you will be ALERT every time you ride . CMA
Mike Phillips is a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation ( MSF ) instructor in Arkansas .
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27⎪JULY 2024⎪www . cmausa . org |