Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Cagers turning left...

So what about those oncoming drivers poised to turn left just as you enter the intersection? Is there anything we can to to minimize risk in the event that a driver turns right across your lane?

When I approach an intersection with an oncoming car about to turn left I slow down... move to the right as much as possible to increase reaction time... then, just before I'm lined up with the car's bumper I roll 'er on to get the he!! outta there as fast as possible. What else can you do? This has got to be, if not THE number one cause of m/c accidents, then a close runner up.

I hope this turns into an informative thread. I'm still rather inexperienced but I tend to approach with extra caution, half expecting the driver to turn. I try to watch their eyes and front wheel from my peripheral and although it's probably wishful thinking, I always look for an escape route as I approach.

I am ready on the brakes at every intersection even when I don't see a car. I also stay to the outside of the passing lane when passing big trucks to help avoid anything that may be hanging off the trailer and to give me time to get out of the way if the truck starts coming over.

Keith, Left turning cagers are just like deers. Just when you think it is okay to roll on the throttle again, the cager will jump out in front of you. Not much one can do cept have a keen sense of awareness.

Always look for alternative/improvised routes. Say the cager will pull out, then is there room on the right? Anyone behind you? Can you break without being rear-ended? Every time is unique, yet every time is the same. Lot's of mind games.

Speed is most often the culprit in these types of collisions. Reaction time suffers. Thus, slowing down is the number one action. With the caveat of the cages behind you.

The only thing going for us is our narrow profile. That combined with (here we go) an aggressive riding style, is a risky yet workable alternative. Judgment of time and space are paramount. Knowing that you see the left pending turn, that the left cager is looking at the cage in front of you turning right, well then, you HAVE to assume the left cager will turn as the cage in front of you turns. Notice, there is no alt rt. The right escape rt is gone, the left soon will be. Hole shots and speed give us an advantage, and also get us in situations of no resort. Left turning cagers? Not much choice except adjusting our speed to take advantage of an escape rt or a full brake.

Riding is a game a chess. If you can't see several moves and their related consequences, well, never mind. The cage will find you.

On a more realist note:

As you approach the left turning cager:
Flash your lights
blow the horn
rock your bars (this strobes the headlight)

Rocking the bars is used in a lot situations. Sort of more subtle than flashing the lights, but just as effective (effective, ha, dream on)

You need to be a position where they can see you. Don't follow vans and trucks through intersections when traffic is sparse. The left turner may not see you behind the other object and think its clear to turn.

Its not the worst thing about biking but it is the scariest thing.

45% of the MC deaths are single vehicle accidents. 60% of all bike accidents happen at night. 30% are speeding and 30% are drinking.

Its all a crap shoot. Just be alert and hope its not your turn to take a hit. There is nothing you do to stop a left turner once they turn in front of you.

Moes suggestion to rock the bars to get attention is a good one.I do this with a twist,I aim at there door and blip the throttle or blow the [tiny little]horn.Its simple but it works.

All the above are great suggestions.

In many of these accidents the driver in the car just didn't see the motorcycle coming, or they just didn't take a very good look. Most people when driving are looking for other cars or trucks, and they get complacent with anything small than that. So, I have always had the theory that I have to position myself on the road to make me and the bike more observable to other vehicles on the road. The way I do this some riders might find uncomfortable at first, but once you start you will find that cars do tend to see you more easily.

When riding down a two lane road I will ride as close to the center of the road as possible (image where the cars and trucks left wheel would be riding down the road or where the driver of said car or truck would be positioned on the road). Riding down the middle of the road, or even worse down the right hand side of the road can cause several problems.

The first problem with riding down the middle of the road (especially at intersections) is all the crap in the road, and at intersections oil and coolant deposits, which can be slippery when dry and really slippery when wet. When riding down the right side of the road there is even more crap that you have to contend with (generally not as much on the right side as the middle through the intersections).

The second is you are not as easily seen. The car directly behind you and the car directly in front can see you, but that is about it. Cars at intersections are looking for oncoming traffic, but again they are looking for other cars and trucks. They are more accustomed to headlights coming at them spaced apart like a car or truck. Also people tend to look at oncoming traffic at the middle of the road. They don’t scan the sides of the road. If you are riding down the left side of your lane at night cars will see you more easily and they might actually think you are a car with the right side headlight being out. Riding down the right hand side of a road is just asking not to be seen.

A third problem is that you are not defending your space very well. The vehicle behind you can see you, but the vehicle behind him might not. If that second vehicle decides to past the vehicle in front, thinking there is an open space. Guess what you will have a unwelcomed visitor in your space. If you are riding on the left side of the road it you easier to be seen, but more importantly you will be able to see what is happening behind you, which is also true of what is happening in front of you. I also find that cars give me a wider berth when I ride in the left of my lane.

Fourth if something does happen that requires you to take evasive steps, if you are in the middle or right side of the lane your options are limited. You can slow down and move to the right more, but that could cause you to go off the road. If you are in the left side of the lane it might only mean having to move to the right side of the lane. Basically you have more of your lane available to use without having to think about going off the road or into oncoming traffic.

Now do you always ride in the left side of the lane, no the conditions might require you to move over for other reasons like setting up for a turn, but in general I try to stay in the left side of my lane so I can be seen by others better, and so I can see in front and behind me better.

Tom

Have to agree with you Tom on occupying the left portion of the lane as much as possible. One thing I've really started to pay attention to is having extra lights on the front. I run 5 lights (headlight, 2 driving lights and 2 LEDs in my mirrors). I know it helps to be seen with extra lights because for example, I personally can see a m/c coming much easier if it's running driving lights along with the headlight.

Also, my new textile jacket, although black in colour, has strands of reflective material woven in which reflect light very well under a direct beam.

It doesn't help at night, but during the day (which is 95% of my riding) I have the Kisan Pathblazer headlight modulator which I generally leave off until I enter "high threat" areas or see one developing. It modulates only when the high beam is on and I figure cagers will see my headlight go to bright then modulate and it gets their attention more than if it was modulating all along. That and all of the other things that have been mentioned is what I try and do.

Everything mentioned here plus... Keep one eye on the car in front, too easy to get focused on a single hazard. Then assuming you get past the car waitng to turn left, DO NOT RELAX... So many times, especially for those of us in congested areas, more than one left turn comes out of the queue. As a commuter in high traffic areas, serial dangers are as common as concurrent ones.

Yep Thom, I was just about to mention that it's often "the second bullet" that gets ya!

In other words, it's often that SECOND cager(behind the first one who's just made that left turn with adequate distance ahead of your approach) who you especially should prepare for(lay off the gas and maybe slightly tap that front brake lever with those two fingers o' yours and SLOW DOWN a bit) until you're absolutely sure that the second cager doesn't just assume that because the guy in front of him thought it was okay to proceed across your path that it was clear for him to do the same.

And, this is ESPECIALLY true if that first cager is drivin' a high-profile vehicle such as a SUV or truck, which often presents an additional factor that BOTH the second cager can not see through that high-profile vehicle to make sure his coast is ALSO clear before he too proceeds across your path, but ALSO YOU the rider, because YOUR sight is ALSO often blocked by that high-profile vehicle to see IF that next guy is lurking there and about to make you and your motorcycle his new "hood ornament" and/or "right-side door handle".

Another technique when approaching left turners (or right turners here in Oz) is to ride in the lee of another vehicle across the intersection - but in the next lane to the vehicle you are shadowing. Obviously you want to be sure the vehicle you ride beside isn't in a turning lane themselves.

If I'm approaching an intersection I will often accellerate to close the distance between me and a vehicle ahead (who is in a parallel lane) so I don't get those buggers who are just waiting for the guy ahead of me to pass before turning across my front.

Good strategy there Richard, one that I use as well.
One point is to be sure not to hang in the "shield" vehicles blind spot.

Those are all great ideas and fun games to play. I just try to ride and enjoy life. On a long enough time line the life expectancy of every one becomes 0. Please try not to sap all the fun out of riding, while being careful or soon youll find you dont ride much anymore. You do know that dieing is not the worst thing that can happen. If that was the case life just becomes a tragic prelude to disaster.

Hmmmmm...so Loco, I take it you must've been elsewhere the day your Scout Master was teachin' your troop the Scout motto of "Be Prepared", huh?!

Come on, you can tell us where y'all were at! My guess is that you were behind the barn smokin' that there first cigarette o' yours, right?!

(oh and btw, to put your mind to rest here, you "Devil-May-Care Fun-Lover" you...the ideas of "bein' prepared" and "enjoyin' a nice ride", are not, AND don't have to be, mutually exclusive ideas, ya know!)

Well Chad, I get a lot of enjoyment from this here thing called life. I've been known to say, "if ya ain't having fun ya must be doing something wrong." But I likes being smart too so I make that part of my daily means and ways. And I gotta tell you, being caution about cagers turning left, or any other 'heads-up' has never caused me to ride less.

Huh... I guess I WAS there for the day the Scout Master talked about "being prepared." I must have been however, out behind the outhouse the day he discussed substance abuse!!

I agree you gotta keep the joy in riding - but I see this stuff as added skills which I enjoy mastering and I still ride quite agressively which sorta contradicts these defensive skills but the way I see it I need these skills cos I am gonna keep riding aggressively - and enjoying the stimulous.

I gotta tell you I learned that lesson the hard way very early in my riding career. Remember in Australia its right turn cagers cause we ride on the correct side of the road.
It was back around 1980 and I was riding one of those Kwaka z900s downhill. At the base of the hill there was a street off to the right. The cager in front of me was pulling over to the left hand side of the road with no indication of course but slowing to a stop. As I came down behind him I began to pass him when he decides to swing hard right for a U-turn. Needless to say those kwakas dont pull up very well so I tried to gun it and swerve around him unsuccessfully and got taken out and slid down the road into the opposite street gutter. I must have been knocked senseless for a bit cause the next thing I knew the older gentleman that was apparently the driver of that cage was standing over me yelling obsceneties at me. The bike was a total right off and I was very lucky to escape with gravel rash and bruising and oh yeh I copped a neglegent driving ticket from the police as well because I overtook him at an intersection. It did not help that I was a young thug on a motorcycle and the older gentleman was well respected in the community.

Yep Steve, I think eventually most of us who ride long enough will either gain that "sixth sense" through the "School of Hard Knocks", or if we're lucky, through watching and hearing about the mistakes made by other riders, that slowin' down a bit and anticipating that that cager who's doin' ANYTHING AT ALL just a bit "unusual" up ahead of us is sometimes very likely to make an EVEN MORE unlikely maneuver which could spell a whole lot of heartache for us riders if we ignore what that "sixth sense" is tryin' to tell us.

Well the thing is Chad... this IS a forum for discussing riding technique so ya kinda have to expect a fair bit of discussion on the topic! Now when we get off our bikes and sit with friends over a bottle of Glen (or my preference being Aberlour or Balvenie), it's common to discuss the ins and outs of riding as it pertains to each person's experience and expertise. That's what we're doing here! And if you call that being obsessed then count me in 'cause I most certainly am obsessed with riding!!!!!

Well Kieth... What I am talking about is a riding technique, its call intuitive riding. (never had Balvenie but do like Aberlour) I usually go for Glen Fiddich, its not top shelf but tasts great. This is a forum open to all correct? Just because you dont like my opinion don't make it invalid. I don't much discuss technique with my friends, but I am injoying this little con-fab.

Now Chad... did I say I didn't like you opinion? Oh, you mean about my preference in Scotch!!! Sorry dude... just an opinion!!

165% of all mc deaths are caused very directly by the 100% fatality rate of humans.

Well, you know when you come to a fork in the road take it.

If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.

So, it never hurts to be a little prepared.

Tom