Lifesaver prevented an off today:

[release_the_bees]

Sorry to bore you with another stupid driver thread but I need to vent:

Was heading up Carlton Gore Road from Newmarket today, when the car in front of me indicated to turn right. Luckily I did a lifesaver before moving left to pass the car in front of me, as some idiot had decided that overtaking me on the left hand side was a good idea! I am pretty sure they would have attempted this overtaking move even if the car in front wasn't turning, based on where they were at the time I did the lifesaver and the speed they were going (at least 70 in a 50 I'd say).

How I didn't scream abuse at them when I pulled up beside them at the traffic lights I will never know.

[Hitcher]

What is a *lifesaver*?

[Usarka]

Looking over your shoulder before changing position on the road.

Taught to everyone who gets a licence in the uK.

[nodrog]

What is a *lifesaver*?

havnt you got one in your toolkit?

[Hitcher]

havnt you got one in your toolkit?

So that's what they look like when they're inflated. Huff, huff, huff, huff, huff...

[Ewan Oozarmy]

What is a *lifesaver*?

Would your question imply that it's not part of your basic bike training here?

[Badjelly]

Would your question imply that it's not part of your basic bike training here?

I wouldn't know, having never undergone basic bike training, but I should think the question implies that it isn't called a lifesaver here.

[Pwalo]

Would your question imply that it's not part of your basic bike training here?

No, it just means we think of lifesavers as well, lifesavers. The ones that work on the beach. But I do like to check behind me by turning my head rather than trusting the mirrors.

It's a damned good idea in a car as well. It's amazing what the various pillars can hide.

[Ragingrob]

Isn't that just the usual "check your blind spot" that you are taught to do in the road code and all lol? Checking over your shoulder to see where your mirrors can't.

[Usarka]

Has the basic skills test in NZ changed then? 15 years ago all it entailed was riding around a few cones in a carpark and a classroom session...... Do they actually teach and test you on this stuff now?

the UK basic skills involves/d the same, plus a group ride with instructor(s) providing practical road skills tuition and testing....


Isn't that just the usual "check your blind spot" that you are taught to do in the road code and all lol? Checking over your shoulder to see where your mirrors can't.
bahahahaaa how many car drivers do this then?

[Ragingrob]

Has the basic skills test in NZ changed then? 15 years ago all it entailed was riding around a few cones in a carpark and a classroom session...... Do they actually teach and test you on this stuff now?

the UK basic skills involves/d the same, plus a group ride with instructor(s) providing practical road skills tuition and testing....


bahahahaaa how many car drivers do this then?

Well, me for one, my girlfriend, my parents, all my mates, almost everyone I've been in a car with... We all check our blindspots as you're meant to. It's pretty strongly stated in the road code.

[Badjelly]

Has the basic skills test in NZ changed then? 15 years ago all it entailed was riding around a few cones in a carpark and a classroom session

Yes, it has changed, because 35 years ago it involved a traffic cop saying "Ride up to that corner and back" and then going inside to write out the licence.

[Usarka]

Yes, it has changed, because 35 years ago it involved a traffic cop saying "Ride up to that corner and back" and then going inside to write out the licence.

they didnt have learner licences 35 years ago....they did have 15 tho.

what is involved in the basic skills/ learners licence these days then?

[Ragingrob]

Basic skills is riding around cones and learning how to control a bike, 1st and 2nd gears. Learners test is the written theory test on the road code and motorcycle specialist questions, in which is stated clearly to check your blindspot when changing lanes or turning etc.

[Usarka]

Right, so no actual practical roadcraft is actually taught. thats the difference, many people need classroom learning backed up with practicle application.

[F5 Dave]

Ahh the 'Messerschmitt flick'

or did you really mean:

[Ragingrob]

Well your restricted test you will fail if you do not check your blindspots, in a car or on a bike. I don't really think you need to be practically taught to check your blindspot when it's common sense and nothing special or hard lol!

[MSTRS]

I don't really think you need to be practically taught to check your blindspot when it's common sense and nothing special or hard lol!

Ya wot? I suppose you reckon people can think for themselves?

[Usarka]

common sense
thats where your argument falls down! you may be one of the fortunate few who suffer from "rare sense"

[Ragingrob]

Haha yeah I guess there are many cagers and I'm sure a few bikers who are lazy and don't bother/think about blindspots huh? But would teaching them practically to do it, when they already know they should, make them do it? These drivers are just dumbasses and cause all the bloody crashes and don't think it's their fault that oh someone was beside me where I couldn't see them in my mirrors!

I'm glad that everyone I know does check their blindspots, EVERYTIME too. I must admit that when driving once or twice I've become slightly lazy and indicated and started slightly turning before checking my blindspot but then since I do I just correct myself and wait for the gap.

A main cause of crashes do to this is on the motorway when both the inside and outside lane want to get into the middle since you don't notice someone moving there unless you check your blindspot. When I'm driving and in particular riding, I never pull into middle lane beside a car on the inside or outside, I like both lanes to be clear or at least clearly not looking to change lanes.

Pretend that you're invisible huh!

[buellbabe]

Well done release_the_bees! Phew! Bet yr bloody glad you took the time to check eh?

Too many people rely on their mirrors. And I've seen plenty of bikes with only a mirror on the right!!!!! Do these people not travel on motorways at ALL?

I nearly got taken out by some clown speeding in his V8. I was in the left lane on the expressway before Huntly and was gonna overtake a car. There had been nothing in my mirrors last time I'd checked and I was sure there was still nothing but just before I actually crossed the white line I looked over my shoulder as a Holden flew past me at light speed.
FARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He had appeared out of nowhere. Scared the shit outta me. Always always always check yr blind spots!

[Oakie]

Sorry to bore you with another stupid driver thread but I need to vent:

It's a manoeuvre not limited to car drivers unfortunately. I was travelling home on Sunday along QEII Drive at about the 70kph speed limit and had noticed a bike coming up behind me filtering through the twin lanes of eastbound traffic at a reasonable rate. I slowed to give way to a car at a roundabout then proceded to continue to turn left when this guy who had been behind me suddenly appeared on my left shoulder (ie, overtook me on the left) and roared off up the road. I was a bit gobsmacked and rather thankful that I was in no hurry and therefore not worrying about riding the apexes (aka 'apices') or it may have been a bit nasty.
1980s Yamaha XS something-or-other.

[EnzoYug]

check yourself, before you wreck yourself

I took my friend to get his learners. The test for 'basic handling skills' is all the practical you need to legally hit the road.

The 'basic handling skills' is essentially a test to show you know how the controls work. Ie. throttle, shifter, clutch, lights, indicator etc... No road craft is tested at all - and lessons are only encouraged, not required.


I was taught that a 'headcheck' was required when ever leaving a lane, entering a lane, turning a corner, or moving in any direction other than straigh ahead. My father advised me that there would be a penalty for ever failing to do a head-check. That penalty being injury / death.

[buellbabe]

Yep! It ain't rocket science.

[Hitcher]

Would your question imply that it's not part of your basic bike training here?

It's probably called a *head check*, which is what Andrew Templeton refers to it as.

[gijoe1313]

Lifesaving headcheck is what I keep referring to ... Proficient Motorcycling calls them lifesavers ... headchecks what I got on my Basic Handling ...

And they do keep those pucker moments down to a minimum when you keep doing them! :sweatdrop

[Usarka]

And they do keep those pucker moments down to a minimum when you keep doing them! :sweatdrop
unless you are following too close to the car/truck in front, and look back up to be greeted with the brake lights of doom............
:buggerd:

[gijoe1313]

unless you are following too close to the car/truck in front, and look back up to be greeted with the brake lights of doom............
:buggerd:

or the nice looking swedish tourists walking by the side of the road and you end up getting the whiplash version from the doubletake ...

[Usarka]

or the nice looking swedish tourists walking by the side of the road and you end up getting the whiplash version from the doubletake ...

That's the head check...... :yes:

[Grub]

Sounds to me as if you weren't looking and pulled into the path of the car!

If someone is turning right then it is normal for traffic to go to the left to get past them - that's what the car behind you did. You left your move too late and instead of stopping, checking and then moving, you just pulled left.

Had there been a coming together, you would have been charged - and hurt as well!

[Badjelly]

Sounds to me as if you weren't looking and pulled into the path of the car!

If someone is turning right then it is normal for traffic to go to the left to get past them - that's what the car behind you did. You left your move too late and instead of stopping, checking and then moving, you just pulled left.

Had there been a coming together, you would have been charged - and hurt as well!

Why was it OK for the car behind to pass r_t_b on the left when he had not indicated a right turn?

[Grub]

Why was it OK for the car behind to pass r_t_b on the left when he had not indicated a right turn?

Well I guess I was relying on the original poster's message ....


Was heading up Carlton Gore Road from Newmarket today, when the car in front of me indicated to turn right.

[Badjelly]

Well I guess I was relying on the original poster's message ....
... which didn't say r_t_b was indicating a right turn, so the car behind shouldn't have passed him, at least not without ascertaining that it was safe to do so. The onus, as usual, is on the overtaking vehicle to ensure the manoeuvre is safe. Of course if he did have good evidence that r_t_b was turning right--eg he had been sitting behind a right-indicating car for some time and making no effort to move left--then it would be different.

Not that I'm arguing against your point that the behaviour of the car behind was somewhat predictable. It just sounds to me that the driver was a little impatient.

[Okey Dokey]

Sometimes the position of the bike within the lane has something to do with it. I know this has been discussed in other threads. Some cars will push into your space unless you "own" your lane; mopeds and learners seem to experience this a lot.

Good to be reminded of the head check/lifesaver.

[vifferman]

they didnt have learner licences 35 years ago..
Not true.
What you did was sit the written and oral part of the test (or, if you already had another vehicle licence, just the oral part), paid your 50 cents, which gave you a temporary licence (I think it was called a 'provisional') which allowed you to ride a bike on the road (for 6 weeks or months or summat). So you could learn.
Then, at any stage, you could sit your licence test. Otherwise, just keep paying 50c to extend your learners.
There were no big 'L' plates: you were supposed to have a special registration sticker that had an "L" printed on it, but it wasn't a big deal if you didn't have that (like if you were riding you sister's boyfriend's CB350).
You were also supposed to stick to a bike less than 250cc, but it wasn't a big deal if you didn't do that (like if you were riding you sister's boyfriend's CB350).

[scumdog]

Looking over your shoulder before changing position on the road.

Taught to everyone who gets a licence in the uK.

Called a 'head-sweep' over here - by those who have been taught it.

Trust not your mirrors 100%.

[Macktheknife]

Lifesaver, also known as a 'headcheck', but I am sure everybody knew that already.

Glad you got the basics working and can now appreciate the value of looking where you want to go. Stay safe.

[Ragingrob]

Yeah overall I'm pretty sure it would've been your fault it you'd hit him for um, pulling into a car! Although maybe it'd be a bit sketchy as he was passing on the left, which is only fine if you're turning right. You've gotta be quick or leave it ay, like as soon as they indicate you should move towards the left otherwise people will push on through.

[release_the_bees]

Just to expand on my original point, the moment the car in front indicated right, I did a headcheck to the left to ascertain that it was clear to pass the car in front of me. The car behind me was already beside me, meaning they had started their overtaking before the car in front had indicated at all. IE they were gonna pass me on the left regardless of what the car in front was doing.

[gijoe1313]

So .. its now a lifesaving headcheck sweep now? Gottit! :msn-wink:

[Ragingrob]

Just to expand on my original point, the moment the car in front indicated right, I did a headcheck to the left to ascertain that it was clear to pass the car in front of me. The car behind me was already beside me, meaning they had started their overtaking before the car in front had indicated at all. IE they were gonna pass me on the left regardless of what the car in front was doing.

Alright that's all good then, and they definitely weren't turning left into a gas station or road or anything? And there definitely wasn't two lanes, especially a right hand turning lane you were in?

[Hitcher]

So .. its now a lifesaving headcheck sweep now? Gottit!
To be sure to be sure.

[Insanity_rules]

or the nice looking swedish tourists walking by the side of the road and you end up getting the whiplash version from the doubletake ...

Mmmmm Swedish! Or those cute little German hotpants wearing fit girlies!!!!

[release_the_bees]

Alright that's all good then, and they definitely weren't turning left into a gas station or road or anything? And there definitely wasn't two lanes, especially a right hand turning lane you were in?


It was a single lane road, but pretty wide, so I have adjusted my riding position a bit now to try to minimize the chance of history repeating itself
A couple of hundred metres from where the incident took place the road splits into two lanes. They turned left at that lane and I went straight through.


Most importantly though bike and rider lived to fight another day. In my 10 years of riding (almost everyday), this is the first time I have experienced this. Must be just lucky I guess :-S