By Dr. Donald L. Green, 18 October 2022
I was at a “T” intersection this weekend, a regular part of my commute to accomplish my errands, when a motorcycle drove past, moving left to right through the bustling and restricted view area. I noticed the motorcyclist was in a very relaxed position, right hand on throttle only, left hand resting on his hip, and his torso shifting slightly to the left side of the motorcycle. It just so happens I was sitting centered, looking at the “T,” and he wasn’t paying attention to the light, the lane entering the intersection, nor was he looking for a situation where another vehicle could “left-turn” across traffic. Seemingly his mannerisms portrayed nothing could happen in the intersection, which got me thinking. Now the kicker – he was not the only motorcyclist to go through the intersection without being prepared for the possibilities…
1) It is always the ONE extra factor in the interaction of factors that tips the scale against the motorcyclist and contributes to the crash. We must always be aware of what could happen and know where it could happen to us – being vigilant – and doing our risk assessments. We want to be able to respond to the possibility before we have to react to a situation.
2) Having both hands on the controls covering the clutch lever, Front Brake Lever with both feet on the foot pegs prepared to swerve or apply the rear brake could provide the TWO seconds minimal distance you need to prevent or lessen the severity of a crash.
3) Being relaxed on a motorcycle can be a good thing, but the motorcyclist I observed did not seem to be in the relaxed state of “Alertness,” which allows crash survivability. Performing the Three-step stopping process in time can save a motorcyclist’s life. It takes time to involve Perception – Reaction – and Braking when things do not happen in our favor.
I hope this stirs thought and exploration of the RCG. I hope everyone has a great week!
-Don
