Eye contact - best defence there is?

[Bob]

One of the things I always like to suggest to people, especially when they see a car waiting to come onto the main road from a side turning, or a roundabout etc, is 'make eye contact', idea being if you get and hold their gaze, then there is a pretty good chance they've seen you.

I find it works - if you don't get their gaze, then you can bet they're in a world of their own and will probably pull out... something a blast on the horn normally fixes.

Anyway... I've extended this to idiots who tailgate. Make sure you've got decent space in front, then flick head back and give them a long, hard stare. I find you know if they've seen this, as they back off.

Once you've got them - and they're clearly feeling guilty - you've got them in the palm of your hand. All it needs is a stare back (sometimes just making a real show of looking in the mirror will do) and they back off again!

If they don't back off in the first place, then you know you've got an arsehole on your tail, so either crack on and get away, or think about moving over and letting them carry on so when they have their inevitable accident, you won't be anywhere near them!

Anyone else try any "prat-preventing" tactics like this?

[Jackrat]

Yeah I do both these things as well Bob.
I do belive wearing an open face makes it easyer for them to actualy see your face.All these types of things are just extra arrows on your bow kind of thing.At one time I used to travel with a twelve inch cresent wrench in my back pocket an pull it out an show it to tail gaters.It worked very well but was a bit anti social so I stopped doing it before some body got pissed an ran me down.Now days I just leave them behind or pull over.
It's a flamin' battle ground out there at times,you just have to be prepared for what comes aye!!

[Stevo]

If only the B#*^tards were so easy to rid of! Last night I was in my cage and drove from Picton - Blenheim behind not one but TWO HP cars and this F^*king loser in a prelude came up and sat hard on my bumper. I would have passed these cars if I had the demerits to play with (But i don't so no option) as they were travelling betweeen 80 and 110 and everywhere in between. Did this other fella pass? Nooooooo!!! Sit right on my ass

If on my bike I reckon I woulda done a U turn or two and come back and kicked his effing mirror in (or something, or not)

[MacD]

One of the things I always like to suggest to people, especially when they see a car waiting to come onto the main road from a side turning, or a roundabout etc, is 'make eye contact', idea being if you get and hold their gaze, then there is a pretty good chance they've seen you.


Yes, this is something I've used for a long time as well and is one reason I stick with a clear visor. The other more defensive action I find useful is to watch the front tyres of a car stopped on a side road. You can easily pick up if the driver is edging forward or fully stopped. If they're edging forward then expect them to pull out in front of you!

[The One]

If only the B#*^tards were so easy to rid of! Last night I was in my cage and drove from Picton - Blenheim behind not one but TWO HP cars and this F^*king loser in a prelude came up and sat hard on my bumper. I would have passed these cars if I had the demerits to play with (But i don't so no option) as they were travelling betweeen 80 and 110 and everywhere in between. Did this other fella pass? Nooooooo!!! Sit right on my ass

If on my bike I reckon I woulda done a U turn or two and come back and kicked his effing mirror in (or something, or not)

I suggest you carry some old spark plugs next time, so when it happens again you can throw them at the clown, It usually works. They think your machine is falling apart and back off. Either that of just pull off to the side and let the wank knob pass.

I never trust drivers anyway, even if I do make eye contact. I mean if people can't see a car, then there's not too much hope in them seeing bikes.

[Wenier]

If only the B#*^tards were so easy to rid of! Last night I was in my cage and drove from Picton - Blenheim behind not one but TWO HP cars and this F^*king loser in a prelude came up and sat hard on my bumper. I would have passed these cars if I had the demerits to play with (But i don't so no option) as they were travelling betweeen 80 and 110 and everywhere in between. Did this other fella pass? Nooooooo!!! Sit right on my ass

If on my bike I reckon I woulda done a U turn or two and come back and kicked his effing mirror in (or something, or not)

hey someone else from marlborough well have to go for a ride sometime, and im sure u will have encountered some of the worst drivers cause theres heaps round here.

[Ms Piggy]

I never trust drivers anyway, even if I do make eye contact. I mean if people can't see a car, then there's not too much hope in them seeing bikes.
Yeah this is my theory too. I've had drivers who I have "thought" I made eye contact with pull right out in front of me still! :mad:

As far as tail gating goes...not that I'm a speed demon but I usually find that b/c I can take corners faster than a car they usually get the picture after I've left them behind and back off - of course there are not always corners when you need them.

Looking back at them through my mirror like I'm checking their number plate sometimes works too, I'm not quite confident riding to turn my head around to glare.

[TwoSeven]

I wear a half face lid when I'm messin about town. Bout the most serious it gets for me is the cager forgets to wave.

Its not unknown for the odd car driver in the multi-lane bits to start chattin to you while driving along.

It seems that they really only become discurtious when I where the old full face lid.

[Drunken Monkey]

It's all well and good if you _really_ do have eye contact - but, I've said it before, and I'll say it again - it never ceases to amaze me how many riders out there got knocked off their bikes by a cage after swearing black and blue they had eye contact with the driver and therefore assumed they were seen - you may feel you have established eye contact, but sometimes the cage driver is merely seeing 'through' you, not looking at you.

Assume the worst, and hopefully you'll never have to pick up your bike from the side of the road scratching your head wondering why the foolish driver *saw* (when in fact they didn't) you then proceeded to run you over anyway (or worse).

I've sometimes had the impression a driver from a side road has 'established eye contact with me' - this is in fact an impossible feat, as I wear a mirrored visor...

[Motu]

It's just part of the kit,to be used in conjunction with other clues - ''oh good,he's seen me'' - is not part of my kit.

[Zapf]

It's all well and good if you _really_ do have eye contact - but, I've said it before, and I'll say it again - it never ceases to amaze me how many riders out there got knocked off their bikes by a cage after swearing black and blue they had eye contact with the driver and therefore assumed they were seen - you may feel you have established eye contact, but sometimes the cage driver is merely seeing 'through' you, not looking at you.

Assume the worst, and hopefully you'll never have to pick up your bike from the side of the road scratching your head wondering why the foolish driver *saw* (when in fact they didn't) you then proceeded to run you over anyway (or worse).

I've sometimes had the impression a driver from a side road has 'established eye contact with me' - this is in fact an impossible feat, as I wear a mirrored visor...

Time to draw 1 BIG eye on the visor :P

[Coyote]

Being a cyclist is worrying, as it seems like all drivers on the road don’t give a shit about you. You constantly get shoved into the gutter by passing cars getting too close to you, you have to give way to cars backing out of driveways, etc. Girl racers seem to be particularly bad for this. And they aren’t afraid at shouting at you, cause obviously, being on a bicycle makes you inferior to them so you’re in the wrong. Perfect example of this was I was going through a T-intersection, and a Girl racer was at the stop sign, and I was almost in front of her when she speed in front of me and shouted something at me.

I can’t bloody wait till I get my riders licence

[Ghost Lemur]

Being a cyclist is worrying, as it seems like all drivers on the road don’t give a shit about you. You constantly get shoved into the gutter by passing cars getting too close to you, you have to give way to cars backing out of driveways, etc. Girl racers seem to be particularly bad for this. And they aren’t afraid at shouting at you, cause obviously, being on a bicycle makes you inferior to them so you’re in the wrong. Perfect example of this was I was going through a T-intersection, and a Girl racer was at the stop sign, and I was almost in front of her when she speed in front of me and shouted something at me.

I can’t bloody wait till I get my riders licence

Unfortunately that wont change, going from a bike to a motorcycle. Just learn to let it breeze off, no point in letting them ruin your ride with their ignorance.

[El Dopa]

Being a cyclist is worrying, as it seems like all drivers on the road don’t give a shit about you. You constantly get shoved into the gutter by passing cars getting too close to you, you have to give way to cars backing out of driveways, etc. Girl racers seem to be particularly bad for this. And they aren’t afraid at shouting at you, cause obviously, being on a bicycle makes you inferior to them so you’re in the wrong. Perfect example of this was I was going through a T-intersection, and a Girl racer was at the stop sign, and I was almost in front of her when she speed in front of me and shouted something at me.



I feel your pain.

One useful indication of if they have seen you when they make eye contact is if the expression changes, usually going from 'vacant', to 'slightly less vacant'.

[Coyote]

I feel your pain.

One useful indication of if they have seen you when they make eye contact is if the expression changes, usually going from 'vacant', to 'slightly less vacant'.

I don't know about that. Whenever I have made eye contact, they always seem to scowl and mouth a swear word. Normally when they have passengers, they scowl at you aswell.

I know what to get, so they really fear me! A monster truck! Don't know why I havent thought of that earlier. Maybe then they'll learn not to scowl at me:devil2:
http://www.statenews.com/editions/022800/trucks.JPG

[Lou Girardin]

I've had too many people make eye contact and then pull out to trust this theory.
The only sure way to make sure they give way is to ride a patrol bike. (Perceived threat theory).

[MacD]

I doubt very much whether making eye contact helps drivers see you that much, but every little bit helps. I do think it helps you work out what their next move might be. Does the driver appear to be looking for hazards or have the kids in the back/cell phone/etc distracted them?

[James Deuce]

Eye contact means squat. It's a 50/50 proposition at best. Most car drivers are one-eyed when it comes to motorcyclists, and turn the (other) blind eye to the consequences of spreading amotorcyclist across a couple of lanes. Never rely on anyone in a vehicle with 3 or more wheels to see you.

I would be rich if I had a dollar for every person who looked me in the eye and then pulled out anyway.

[TwoSeven]

Taking the tin box perspective.

I cant see how drivers can see your eyes thru a full face lid. I've tried and best I can do is see part of their face. Even when the visor is pointing straight at me I'm not sure. They have to be real close for me to be able to see eyes.

At the end of the day you just gotta make the move and hope the biker really was looking at you.

[Ghost Lemur]

Taking the tin box perspective.

I cant see how drivers can see your eyes thru a full face lid. I've tried and best I can do is see part of their face. Even when the visor is pointing straight at me I'm not sure. They have to be real close for me to be able to see eyes.

At the end of the day you just gotta make the move and hope the biker really was looking at you.

NO YOU DON"T. You (being traffic coming out of a side street) bloody well wait till said bike has gone past. If it makes it easier imagine said bike is a 18 wheeler or train and then decide if it's worth pulling out in front of to save the extra two seconds.