Rear awareness

[bogan]

Had a wtf moment this morning which got me thinking, how aware of things behind the bike should we be? How can we avoid rear ends if we see one coming? and how can we prevent them in the first place?

I was aware there was a car some distance behind me (so not right behind), noticed a pedestrian waiting to cross at a cross walk (from the left), so slowed to a stop, as did a ute driver going the other way. Hear a very heavy squeal of brakes coming up the inside as the pedestrian was about 2m out as the car following me comes flying up. He then tears off once the pedestrian is almost half way across. Me and the other driver shake our heads and carry on (think the pedestrian was largely oblivious).
Thing is, if he was a meter or more to the right, I would have been rear ended at about 30kmhr, and I had no idea he was coming up that fast.

Often at the lights I will watch for cars coming up in mirrors and flash the brakes, however in this case the timing was such that I had only just come to a stop myself. Is this just an area we have to trust (shudder) the drivers a bit? Or is there more we can do?

As a side note, I'm not too happy with the position of my mirrors and will be installing a screen in future which will hopefully cause me to notice things without conscious effort to stare at the mirrors.

[george formby]

It comes under the total awareness label for me but it is really, really hard to think for the vehicle behind you as well as what is happening ahead. If you need to watch oncoming hazards you can only really glance in your mirrors to weigh up what is happening behind you.

When I'm riding I tend to look at my left mirror, the road ahead, right mirror, the road ahead etc etc.

Situations like stop signs, crossings, merging lanes, I try to assess what is happening behind me early so I can be proactive about my speed, their braking distance, leaving space if I'm really worried as an alternative to them hitting me.

I think this is a lap of the gods situation for us until we literally get eyes in the back of our heads. I put bar end mirrors on my bike which give great rear vision but their is not a lot more I can do apart from using them.

[unstuck]

In the shower to get the soap when in jail.:yes: Whenever your out on the bike you have to be aware all the time, especially if you live in a city. Not just what you are doing but what everyone around you is doing, and be prepared to take some action when needed.:scooter:

[ducatilover]

As a fellow Honda rider and enthusiast I will offer to watch your rear for you.

Ahem.


I try to keep an eye out at all times for any approaching fuck-tards from all directions, every now and then though we do have a brain fart. Yes as Katman would say this can be avoided, but, the more I study psych and all that junk, the more obvious it is that the mind is very, very easily distracted, thinking these moments can always be avoided is naive.

[Katman]

In a situation like that I try to avoid stopping right in the middle of the lane. By stopping to one side or the other of the lane you're allowing a larger escape route for anyone behind you that's not paying attention.

[george formby]

In a situation like that I try to avoid stopping right in the middle of the lane. By stopping to one side or the other of the lane you're allowing a larger escape route for anyone behind you that's not paying attention.

Ditto. You have to make the best call for the situation. Admittedly I have been undertaken while sitting in traffic trying to keep myself in the most visible & observant place in my lane, pre-occupied with the melee ahead of me. I guess a fright is better than a contact.

[willytheekid]

Good thread.

And yes, personally I always check the traffic coming up behind me as soon as I start braking :yes:

Had an "incident" last winter when it started to hail on the northern highway into Chch...and a car driver (No shit!) STOPPED :shit:(to take photos, shake in fear...christ knows!):facepalm:
But "most" of the traffic managed to pull up in time....but the 4x4 I had passed earlier came thundering into view in my mirrors....and he was Moving!:bye:
I had just enough time to gas it & pull off the road (into the grass medium) the 4x4 locked up and did a "power-slide" into the car infront of me....right through the space where I had been.:blink:
Without checking my mirrors that incident would have left me either crippled or possibly dead. (just a change of undies was required)
Oh, and for the record, the idiot who was so amazed by hail that he had to stop in the middle of a highway, drove off!... apparently unaware of the chaos they had caused behind them....figures!

Rule of thumb- ALWAYS check for speed racers coming from behind, and ALWAYS leave enough room in front for an "emergency escape"

Ride safer, ride longer...take care KB's :love:

[DangerMice]

I always check the mirrors as I begin to brake to see how much of a buffer I have, especially if it's a late light for example, and leave enough of a gap in front so there's room to move if the car behind gets it wrong and I need to (for example) gas it up between the two cars in front. Had to do that twice in 3 years, once the car stopped where I was, the other time they rear ended the car in front.

[bogan]

Good advice regarding the moving over a bit. Had thought about bar end mirrors but I run fatbars anyway, so much wider and I may as well just turn right around for a look! Will work on being more aware too. Might see if I can tweak the mirrors a bit (number 3 tweaking hammer on the stems might do the trick).

Thanks ducatilover and unstuck for the provisions of some 'rear' jokes, inevitable really :laugh:

[unstuck]

Would hate to see you REAR ended,or any other bloke for that matter.:yes: Just be aware as much as possible and you should live longer.:woohoo:

[YellowDog]

In a situation like that I try to avoid stopping right in the middle of the lane. By stopping to one side or the other of the lane you're allowing a larger escape route for anyone behind you that's not paying attention.

Good advice - The guy changing his MP3 selection whilst not realising the lights have changed needs an alternative escape route (preferably through you).

[martybabe]

It's a dodgy one for sure, I'm always relieved when the driver behind me comes to a halt but....
Once upon a time waiting at the lights a guy pulls up behind me and waits in line, as you do. With both vehicles stationary for several minutes and the lights still on red the nice fella behind decides to accelerate from a standstill straight in to the back of my bike. Dismounting my wedged upright steed to have a word with the gentleman, he explained that he thought I had gone :gob:

Alternatively using KM's suggestion and waiting to one side at a pedestrian crossing, I had a woman try to squeeze in-between the white centre line and myself shunting me sideways, not happy with the tightness of the situation she decided to move on quickly missing the crossing pedestrian by millimetres.

Bearing in mind then that anything can and will happen, I tend to keep an eye on any traffic approaching from the rear when stopped or slowing, pick myself an escape route and be prepared to use it if the approaching traffic shows no sign of slowing down. I concur with several flashes of the brake light too, it does wake some from their slumber though not all.

[unstuck]

Dont stop, just keep on truckin.:shutup:

[Latte]

Saw a very near thing on the Commute yesterday morning. Scooter in L2 Nearly got taken out by someone in a 4wd looking for a gap in L3 and not realising traffic had stopped on front of her. Swerved to the right avoiding the scooter by maybe a foot, and the car in L4 (just in front of me) had to swerve into L4.

Scooter didn't even realise. The 4wd had the full swerve/body roll going on.... very near thing indeed.

[martybabe]

Dont stop, just keep on truckin.:shutup:

Ideally yes :yes:, wouldn't that be nice.

[Gremlin]

Maintain your space... all around, including behind. I hate being rear ended, it's very uncomfortable.

Closest I have had was in traffic on the moronway. Traffic came to a stop in the fast lane (not others) in a predictable place. I flashed my brakes, as always, then started applying brakes. Heard a screech behind, dived to the left of the fast lane (going too slow to get into the left lane without causing more issues). Car pulled up on my right, with a metre to spare to the car in front of me. :blink:

With "unexpected" braking like that (ie, drivers are even less likely to notice that traffic has slowed), I always try to flash my brake lights first. This gets most driver's attention. If they're still closing, I brake harder than required, to get them hauling on their brakes, then I'll ease off to approach the cars, having given myself a comfortable buffer.

If they are still not braking, then you're hopefully giving yourself some room to move, before you're right behind the cars and stuck. On the rare occasion, I've come to a halt on the motorway, and putting my feet down means I've stopped, and it gives me the shits, making me feel extremely vulnerable.

Maintaining your space is a combination of riding styles. Be aggressive when appropriate so they stay away, or ride meekly so they feel sympathetic and give you a bit of room (this also involves the subtle games of blocking their line of sight, so they have less tendancy to tailgate). I'll distance myself from a car to give me reaction time, or I'll ride near them to make them aware of me and/or make them move.

[DrunkenMistake]

If im in a traffic situation, I like to take my rear brake one or two times before i start actually braking leading up to the likes of a crossing or lights or whatever it is, gives a couple of flashes on the brake lights, so I dont know if it helps, but I tend to pull to either side of the lane when stopped at the lights or crossings, to make sure If I can avoid been hit from behind I can either slot to the slide a little more, or If I do get hit, I dont go under a car or into another.

I like to check my mirrors every few mins when riding, just encase there is that fuck head in his souped up civic coming up beside me on a blind corner, But sports bike mirrors are really there for a WOF, I find my elbows are always in the way and I try to set them for when I ride in an aggressive position rather than bolt upright, but when you start moving around it becomes a pain.

[swbarnett]

if the car behind gets it wrong and I need to (for example) gas it up between the two cars in front.
Even when there's only one car in front of me at the lights I'll lan split if there's room. That way I've got an already stopped car behind me and I don't have to breath their exhaust.

[The Singing Chef]

is this the same rear awareness as when you somehow walk into a slightly homosexual club? if so you should change the title to "how do all you Honda riders deal with it?"

[GrayWolf]

Even when there's only one car in front of me at the lights I'll lan split if there's room. That way I've got an already stopped car behind me and I don't have to breath their exhaust.

What He said :yes:


Had a wtf moment this morning which got me thinking, how aware of things behind the bike should we be? How can we avoid rear ends if we see one coming? and how can we prevent them in the first place?


As a side note, I'm not too happy with the position of my mirrors and will be installing a screen in future which will hopefully cause me to notice things without conscious effort to stare at the mirrors.

Can I draw your attention to another thread discussing the 'Police Motorcycle Roadcraft' book that is available. Mirrors are NOT reliable for rear viewing, the manouver is called by the English Police (the lifesaver) or Right rear observation, look over your right shoulder before changing lanes, turning etc..... it covers the 'blind spot' rear mirrors have

[FJRider]

As a side note, I'm not too happy with the position of my mirrors and will be installing a screen in future which will hopefully cause me to notice things without conscious effort to stare at the mirrors.

The view you get in the mirrors of a LOT of bikes ... is a good one ... of YOUR armpits ...

A glance in the mirror at each bend/kink in the road ... or a slow weave on a straight road will reveal lots ... Dont STARE at the mirrors, whats in FRONT is more important ...

The habit of checking your mirrors at each change of direction MAY save your life ... or at least a great deal of grief ...

[unstuck]

This is one of the questions i got wrong in the online roadcode test,because i always like to stop where i can get the fuck out of the way if some tard comes upon me too fast,but apparently you are supposed to stay in the center of your lane. Whats the go??:blink:

[bogan]

The view you get in the mirrors of a LOT of bikes ... is a good one ... of YOUR armpits ...

A glance in the mirror at each bend/kink in the road ... or a slow weave on a straight road will reveal lots ... Dont STARE at the mirrors, whats in FRONT is more important ...

The habit of checking your mirrors at each change of direction MAY save your life ... or at least a great deal of grief ...

yeh I generally shimy my head a bit as the mirrors on the bros are actually not too bad comparatively, but there is a better solution, and it's on the to-do list :yes:

[FJRider]

Can I draw your attention to another thread discussing the 'Police Motorcycle Roadcraft' book that is available. Mirrors are NOT reliable for rear viewing, the manouver is called by the English Police (the lifesaver) or Right rear observation, look over your right shoulder before changing lanes, turning etc..... it covers the 'blind spot' rear mirrors have

This applies in MOST cases ... to/of Cars too ... look for the face(eyes) of car drivers in the mirrors of the cars around you ... you can't see them-they won't see you.

EXPECT them to lane change without indicating ... so you're not supprised when they DO ...

[baptist]

Would hate to see you REAR ended,or any other bloke for that matter.:yes: Just be aware as much as possible and you should live longer.:woohoo:

I thought Honda riders carried KY Jelly to help in case they got shafted from behind...:innocent::whistle:

I tend to stop to the side of the lane as well, I won't stop in the centre of the lane behind a car and I give it a few taps on the brake before stopping as do others. I share the opinion of a previous post, I would rather get knocked off than rammed into another object.

[tigertim20]

Had a wtf moment this morning which got me thinking, how aware of things behind the bike should we be? .

depends on two things.
how fast are you going? and
do you see any flashing lights?

[jaffaonajappa]

I thought Honda riders carried KY Jelly to help in case they got shafted from behind...:innocent::whistle:


Not lately....its now considered impolite.

[unstuck]

[QUOTE=baptist;1130070821]I thought Honda riders carried KY Jelly to help in case they got shafted from behind...:innocent::whistle:

As a great man once said "You fuck me in the ass, you get shit on your dick".:bleh:

[willytheekid]

I had a rear awareness moment on the way home last night....and got repeatedly tooted at for evading a free "bonnet ride".

Myself and a guy on a GN125 were crusing along in traffic beside each other, when the 5-6 cars in front had a cluster fuck moment....they got confused about the large green traffic light! :facepalm:
So one of them slammed on their brakes...and the others, who were jammed up the arse of the car in front, had some difficulty stopping.....not my problem right?
WRONG!.
Because the car behind us failed to witness this exercise in green light braking....and alarmingly continued to travel at 50kph straight at us...then he locked up.
So the little GN went left & I went for the right, past the now stationary traffic, to avoid a bonnet ride. (Not really my thing)
But the Q of cars started to move and we were left with no place to pull back in....so I MADE a gap.:innocent:
And then continued down the road to the sound of "toot"...broom..."TOOT!"...BROOOM!!, from the guy in his family van, obviously pissed that I thundered past his open window made said gap infront of him and possibly interupted his cell phone call and celine dion music.
Tough Shit! I thought, one of the few times I have ever been tooted at....and it felt goOOOD! -Im usually the "tooter"...not the Tootee...??.....Felt good that my evasion and Gap forcing put one of the offenders out.:devil2:

Point to the story.....the two bikes witnessed the front incident, and the possible rear incident, while the Tin cans didnt see a thing and caused the whole bloody mess.
Bikes are more aware for a reason!.....most of us don't like bonnet rides!...free or not.

PS: If one of your work mates is bitching about a guzzi that deafened & cut him off....tell him sorry...sorry his lack of awareness left him in confused and pissed off.

[schrodingers cat]

In a situation like that I try to avoid stopping right in the middle of the lane. By stopping to one side or the other of the lane you're allowing a larger escape route for anyone behind you that's not paying attention.

Correct. I hate being the first in the lane, waiting at any intersection. I like to be comfortably beside or in between a couple of nice shiny big safe cars