Lifesaver prevented an off today:

[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:Me]

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!

[Usarka]

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

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............

[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............

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......

[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!