Do You Have an Action Plan?

Action plan? Action plan for what? Well, for those “Out-Of- Nowhere” hazards we all encounter at one time or another while riding our motorcycles. Pot holes, road kill, trash in your lane, things falling (or flying) off vehicles in front of you and those ever present sudden swerving 4-wheelers that apparently want your lane, even though you are still in it! These and so many other things that come at you out of nowhere. Missing these sudden hazards is a combination of luck and your riding skills.

Some riders tend to look 20-25 feet in front of their front tire. That just does not give you any reaction time at all. All Rider Courses stress for the rider to look further ahead. I know if you have taken a certified riding course, one of the things that you continually hear stressed is: If you look down, that is probably where you are going to go. And looking ahead is especially true during cornering exercises. “Look where you want to go“ is pretty good advice! If you are looking a few feet ahead of your front tire, you will move past what you see before you have time to think about it. If you are looking just 20-25 feet in front of you and see a pot hole while traveling at 50MPH, you will not have sufficient reaction time to avoid that obstacle. So, try to plan ahead. Look as far in front as you can clearly see. The sooner you know where the problem is, the more time you have to react to the potential hazard. So, now you can react to that hazard; BUT, can you?

What is around you? Which way do you go to avoid the problem? Try to know what is next to you, behind you and in front of you. You’ve got to react. You are either going to the right, left or brake. You do not have much time to figure out what you have to do. Know your surroundings. Left lane clear of vehicles? Right lane? Anyone tailgating you, to where you can’t apply brakes? Be aware of what is around you. Don’t tailgate! Give yourself room to move to an escape route if the rider/driver in front of you has a sudden change of travel or if an out-of-nowhere hazard confronts you. If someone wants to pass you, let them. Try to maintain your spacing when traveling with a group. It is safer for the entire group. With road debris, most people see it, stare at it and then hit it! Program your mind to think of what to do to NOT hit something. Your goal is to ride safely around the hazard. Alertness and reaction time go hand-in-hand. And choose wisely. If two or more potential hazards are facing you, a ladder in the road, a 4-wheeler next to you in the left lane, a pickup riding on your license plate, and the right lane open to a small ditch, which one are you going to choose? Not many options here and not much time to make a decision and react to that decision. The ditch may not be absolutely safe, but it is better than your other options.

Plan ahead, choose wisely and ride safely.

And, as always, always be watchful for the unwatchful . . . .

RSHF,
Chuck and Anne Reed
Georgia Senior District Educators