Motorcycling and An Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

In addressing my OCPD, I think my whole approach to preparing for my Full Licence, is not only covered in part by doing the courses below, but also the extent to which I interacted with members of the Kiwibiker community.

Advanced Refresher Course And Defensive Driving Course

Advance Refresher
Having clocked up 11,000km and taken the approach to my new found riding pleasure, I will undertake the Advanced Refresher course on 3 February 2007 with Andrew Templeton at
www.roadsafe.co.nz

The Defensive Driving Course
Though it does give me a time reduction towards sitting my Full licence, this is not the primary reason for doing the course. I have been driving a car for 37 years and since taking up motorcycle riding I openly admit and confess how much I was not aware of - or just too lackadaisical about in my own cage driving mentality. So I am happy to go back into the classroom and be prepared to listen and learn.

The course I will attend is on 20 February [Tuesday and Thursday nights for two weeks. The course is conducted by:
Triple 'A' Driving School
www.drivertrainer.co.nz/

Advance Refresher Course

Personally I found the Advance Refresher course as a Restricted licence holder to be very good and encouraging leading up to my Full licence test. There was a good cross section of riders and it was pleasing to see the ‘older’ riders returning to riding after a long time away from bikes and that they wanted to do this course.

For me, I learnt two important things:
(1) I thought covering the brake was mandatory, however with the over all riding strategy of ‘Observe – Anticipate – Respond / See – Think – Do’ as well as ‘Information – Position – Speed – Gear’, I now understand that to have a full grip on the throttle [ie not covering brake] is a perhaps a better riding technique. It gives you the split decision moment, swerve/accelerate or emergency brake.

(2) the braking sequence is now ingrained: Set up - Off Throttle - Brake – Clutch – Rear – Gear [gear down to first by time come to stop and left foot down, right foot covering rear brake.]

Full Licence Test Preparation
As a followup to the Advanced course on Saturday, I arranged to spend some additional time with Andrew on Monday afternoon. The key focus was ‘hazard detection’ I got a very good insight to the overall Testing Officer’s marking procedure.

Here is the relevant fact sheet: http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/59.html

While it may appear daunting to try and remember the hazards and actions taken, one good tip I got was: ‘don’t just say the vehicle indicating to turn right at the intersection was moving forward’ better to say ‘the green commodore male or female driver indicating to turn right at the intersection was moving forward.’
So through the next 4 weeks I will be exercising my observation skills and taking 10 minute intervals practising hazard detection, and this will be useful to report this to an accompanying rider who may or may not see the same hazards.

February 2007
Defensive Driving Course

Qualities of A Safe Rider
Do You Think You Are A Safe Rider

I am attending the Defensive Driving course this week and next and as a part of the course I had to gather information by interviews from Experienced and Inexperienced riders covering the first two items listed above.

Thank you to the Kiwibikers that responded to my Personal Messages and were happy for their replies to be promulgated here. I have kept the identities anonymous. [Comments below have been directly copied from their PM’s and hence any type errors etc I have not corrected.]

What are the qualities of a safe rider?
Experienced Rider:

A safe rider has an awareness of the limitations of both himself and his motorcycle.
A safe rider keeps his motorcycle maintained to an appropriate standard.
A safe rider always looks to improve his riding skills.
A safe rider is always prepared to listen to another's advice on riding techniques; that doesn't mean he has to follow it though.
A safe rider rides at the appropriate speed for the conditions (not necessarily the speed limit)

A safe rider is constantly aware of changing road conditions and always looks for escape routes in moving traffic should the worst happen.
A safe rider is constantly aware of himself, the environment around him and other road users.
Concentration is king.
A safe rider knows the limits of their own ability, and that of his machine.
A safe rider has an 'escape route' planned before an incident happens.
Safe riding is an attitude. You choose to either take risks or avoid them.

Inexperienced Rider:
A safe rider is always aware of hazards around him and should be thinking ahead, searching out possible dangers along the road, Obeying the Law
To the best of his abilities and knowing his limits.

Checks his/her bike before every ride.
Wears all the gear, all the time.
Is aware of his/her surroundings on the road.
Can predict possible hazards as they approach and has the ability to lessen risk to ones self by slowing or moving to safer road position.
Allows room for error from other road users.
Has total respect for safety of him/herself and other road users.

A rider who checks their motorcycle before each ride.
A motorcycle that is safe for the road, ie current WoF etc.
A rider who follows the road rules.
A rider who wears protective clothing, ie approved Helmet, jacket, pants,boots, gloves.
The bonus point would go to the rider who dresses to be seen / is Visible ie bright colour clothing.
Need to be visible when Riding, ie ride so you are not in some cars blind spot.
Like to close and to far left when approaching a intersection etc.
A debatable point. Loud pipes save lives , Heard from afar…
A confident rider in all conditions

I feel that simply it's someone who is confident in their riding ability (also knows their limits) and is aware of their surroundings at all times.



Do you think that you are a safe rider, Why or Why not?

Experienced Rider:
For the most part yes.
Sometimes, however, I choose to take risks. I can't help it! It is part of my personality!

Sometime I am, sometimes I am not. I am aware of my limitations and sometimes I choose not to listen to them. I am but human. I do try to be though.

Inexperienced Rider

As i have little expierence and training i am probably not a very safe rider however i try to best of my ability at my current stage in riding to be as safe as possible e.g waiting extra time at intersections to make sure that i do not have to make a risky maneuver.

i would consider myself to be learning to be a safe rider still. I am still learning how to predict and respond to certain hazards that are facing me on the road. I do wear all the gear all the time, and am very conscious of traffic etc when riding to ensure my own safety and the risk to others. I think with more experience i will develop the skills required to assist me to be a safer and better rider over the years to come. Am i a safe rider? getting there... am i a dangerous rider? not at all and do not ever intend on being so.

I think I could be safer, but over all I think I’m a safe rider.
I think I’m a safe rider because I try to follow my above rules [within previous heading], however I could wear brighter clothing. I feel I’m confident riding around the suburbs and well known areas to me.
A little less confident with unknown riding areas and in wet weather conditions.

Sometimes... I'm a much safer rider than when I first set out. In the beginning I had to remember how the clutch/gears/breaks etc worked on the bike as well as keep an eye out on the other nuts on the road. Now the actual physical riding of the bike has become second nature, thus allowing me to devote a greater amount of time on hazard awareness.

I feel my biggest issue is the daily commute in and out of Wellington, lane splitting is probably not the safest means of getting into town, but at the same time it does get me to where I'm going faster and I've had more people try and kill me when sitting in my own lane and not splitting.

My Observations
Qualities of a Safe Rider

Whereas there is a common emphasis on the external physical aspects of safety and also the internal aspects in knowing their own limitations, the Experienced Rider recognises that there is an inherent need to keep an open mind. The Experienced Rider remains constantly aware not only of hazards etc but also the need to maintain a constant need for learning and improvement in riding skill. There is no end point to learning when riding, it is constant.

Do You Think You Are A Safe Rider
I found this interesting: whereas the Inexperienced Rider has the perception that they are safe riders within the limits of their experience, the Experienced Rider however, goes beyond mere perception. The Experienced Rider is more prepared to ‘push the envelope’.The Experienced Rider will take risks at times knowingly that it is outside his/her limits.

Conclusion

“Do as I say, not as I do” comes to mind, and this most certainly can be the line taken when we see an experienced rider finding him/herself in a potentially dangerous situation created by him/her.

Whereas we may ride within our own limits, the element of risk and risk taking will be the benchmark of all safe riding. This is very much an internal factor for every individual.

I often ask myself Where/How/Why
“BuckBuck:
Where Are You Riding?
How Are You Riding?
Why Are You Riding The Way You Are - Right Now!”

Closing Remarks
I hope you found this week’s update interesting.

Postscript:
Done 65,000km. Completed another Advanced Rider Refresher in September 2009.