Biker Down - How to avoid the average driver

Someone I know was hit by a teen driver that turned into him. He is in the hospital with some injuries that require surgery, but should recover. So I started thinking about the situation and thought this would be a good opportunity to introduce a concept that I like to call "aggressive-defensive riding." I am sure I am not the first person to come up with this concept, and surely it is documented by someone more knowledgeable than I am.

BTW, if you have a link to a writeup that better explains what I am about to so shrewdly do, please comment. As always, anonymous comments are welcome, but moderated.


Aggressive-Defensive Riding

The basic idea is to be a defensive rider at all times. Most of us are, yet we still get into accidents that "are not our fault." The first thing you must learn is that it is always the riders fault. Yes, that means it is your fault for putting yourself in a position that landed you in an accident in the first place. Of course legally it may not be your fault, but from the perspective of defensive driving principals, it is your fault.

On a bike you have to be a little aggressive about your defensive riding. The basic principals apply: don't follow too closely, always keep your options open so that you can find a way out, don't ride in blind spots, pass with a purpose, watch your mirrors, always check your blind spot... you get the idea. It is all of the same stuff your kids are learning in drivers-ed.

Here is where the aggression comes in. While observing all of those above mentioned elements add in some offensive techniques.


Passing

I see most riders passing cars wide, which I have found to get me into more trouble than anything else. Ride closer to the car taking the tire rut left behind by the cars as you approach. That will put your headlight in their side-view mirror prior to entering their blind spot. This will also allow you to see the drivers face in the side-view mirror. This is also why lane splitting is as safe as it is (that and most Californians know you are there and give way). You are in the drivers side-view mirrors the whole way down the lane.

Another tip for passing is to flash your headlights a few times to get the driver's attention. Simply leaving the high-beam on is not enough. Also consider getting a headlight modulator. They are legal by Federal law, and California law enforcement happens to be one of the few states that realizes they are not allowed to ticket for it.


Approaching Intersections

The best thing to do when approaching an intersection (or anywhere a car might pull out) is to watch the driver's body language while keeping an eye on their tires. If you don't see any movement in the rims, then the car is obviously stopped. If you see some motion in the rims, it may indicate that the driver is considering pulling out and you need to start making some decisions.

Remember that it is hard for someone to judge the speed of a motorcycle due to the smaller footprint. You have to clearly communicate to an unsure driver that they should NOT pull out. I always ride with my low-beam on so that if I need to, my high-beam becomes a caution beacon to the drivers on the road. In the case of the unsure driver starting to pull out in front of me, I will turn on my high-beam to signal that I am coming through the intersection and they should stay put.

There have been situations where that does not work, but I know it is not going to work because I can see that the driver is not paying attention to me. In that case I start to take action way ahead of time to ensure my safety. I brake, change lanes (if possible and legal), and in one case I had to come to a complete stop. In this situation you should by all means utilize the little button on your left handgrip that activates that thing called a horn, and do it with prejudice! They need to know they screwed up, and your making them aware of the fact might cause them to pay more attention on the road, thus saving another biker's life.


City Riding

Always be prepared to brake, and maneuver when doing city riding, especially when there is any kink of cross-traffic hazard. Get used to watching multiple vehicles and mentally prioritizing their hazard to you (seems like it takes the fun out of riding, but once you make it a habit, you will do it without even thinking about it). This will help you to be prepared for finding a way out of just about any situation. I also ride with two fingers (index and middle) resting on the front brake lever and my foot cocked back hovering over the rear brake.


Freeway

Don't let people ride next to you. It is OK to communicate via hand signals that you don't want someone riding parallel with you. Wave them forward or back or accelerate away and reestablish your cruising speed. If they come up on you again be sure you rock your bike in the lane to show you are not happy with their presence and wave them away. This time make your hand and arm movements authoritative so they understand you are upset.

In most cases when this happens it is because the driver wants to check out your bike. You have to balance diplomacy with safety. Most of the time they will get close to take a look and then back off. Give them an opportunity to check out your bike and then move away. Most, if not all, people understand they shouldn't be riding side-by-side with another vehicle, especially a bike, traffic permitting (Los Angeles).


Conclusion

No matter what you are doing you need to be aware of everything around you. It is easy to space-out while riding and I imagine that is a big cause of accidents. Think about the close calls you have had. Think about your accidents. In hindsight I am sure you can think of several ways in which you could have avoided the accident. Introspection is the key to developing your skills as a rider. You should be learning something from yourself every time you get on the bike.