Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Are you a better driver?

Are you a better driver because you also ride a motorcycle? I tend to think that my skills of observation and an almost sixth sense of when someone is about to do something stupid pays off in my cage driving as well.

Perhaps there should be a law where everyone must start out on either a motorcycle, scooter or moped (whatever they can handle) for a year before they can apply for an automobile license!

yes and yes

Definitely NOW - but I think age/maturity is also a major factor. I rode motorcycles as a teen/young man and that did NOT make me a better cage driver then - I still thought I was invincible - I was still very arrogant. But now in my 50s riding has definitely made me a more aware, defensive and predictive cage driver.

Yes. I also feel that having been a licensed pilot helps. Able bodied people would drive better if they were not allowed to have cages with all this automated and power assisted junk. It automatically makes one a better driver when they are in a vehicle that must be driven.
If someone really needs an ABS system, give them a vehicle with the old style mechanical drum brakes.

It has been six months + since I have driven my blazer it just sits in the garage . I ride my America EVERY day . I stay more alert and see everything on my bike . and even what other cagers do to other bikers

I would say that I am a much better driver now because of riding defensively.
Is the argument good for blanket observations? I don’t think so. If I'd started
riding at 21 with my attitude and driving habits I don’t think it would have
ended well.

Absolutely a better driver because I ride. I remember that when I was a kid too. Because I rode, I learned to watch and anticipate everything and anything.

Much so,do you ever ask yerself if you drive like an old person,only safer?

Well Cynthia, you pose a good question. You see, I always kinda had this thing that I would (in my lifetime don't ya know) drive, ride, pilot or otherwise operate every machine devised to transport man or beast. So far I got a bunch of them machines under my belt, from riding to driving to controlling to piloting.

However, to stay OT I'd have to answer 'YES' to your question. Why? Because I can appreciate the circumstances of the 'other' guy because I've been there, done that. Let me 'splain by example. Have I ever cut off a M/C while driving my 4-wheeler? YES! Was it an error of judgment? Didn't see them? Was I lulled into a trance-like state by all the insulation around me while seated in my cage? Radio took over my attention? Was going over (in my head) a spat with a significant other? Too busy fiddling with a frigging knob, dial or control? Answer... yes, yes... yes, yes and yes!

Do I have a better appreciation for what riders endure, as a direct result of being a rider myself? Yes! But I tell you... there is not better substitute for presence of mind in ANY situation. In-other-words... abstain from anything and all things that can otherwise distract you (me) (them) (us) from the moment. Dial 'er down and stay with the task at hand. Then... go home and say to yourself or anyone else who may or may not be there who asks "how was your trip?" "Uneventful... just the way I like it."

When I was in training for the ambulance service and doing my 2 week advanced driver training that allows us to run on blue lights, the instructor did comment to me that I was a lot more observant than some of the other students and that was down to the fact that I was the only person there who held a motorcycle licence.

The only drawback is that my parking is awful because I use my bike so much and lets face it parking a bike is so easy and i'm very lazy.

Driving a car normally I am like driving miss daisy, probably because of work where I end up having to drive an ambulance at higher speeds and thats more than enough calculated risk taking than I really need to be going on with. Plus the fact that I really don't need points on my licence.

The answer is yes, definitely.
Many times while my wife is driving, I'll say,
"Watch out for that car, he wants to cut you off."
Sure enough, he does. She says,"How can you tell that?"
Because I'm a Biker. My life depends on it.
Happy Birthday Cindy, BTW.

When driving a car, I do think more like I'm on the bike as I've gotten older. I still drive like they can't see me.

Happy birthday and Yes I'm also quite convinced that my bike experiance gives me a slight edge in the traffic environment. Then it is up to each driver with this type of edge to use it in a sensible way. As for myself I hope I'm using it to increase the safety factor, regardless if I drive the bike or my car.
Hasse

I have to agree with this but our state Gov just introduced a law that says you must hold a car licence for 1 year before getting a bike licence , it should be the other way around
STUPID,STUPID,STUPID

Yes and yes to the proposal too, but I imagine the list of exceptions/exemptions/etc would end up being thicker than the tax code.

Like this YouTube

Two decades ago my insurance company published an article that basically said that motorcyclist are better automobile drivers than non-motorcyclist. Basically we are more attentive and extremely defensive drivers, according to their research at the time.

I am more attentive, but I have to work at it.

Everyone should drive a truck . 'Speshly grossing over 60,000 lbs .

I agree with everyone.
Being a rider makes me more aware of everthing
Passing my car test made me a better rider, more aware of their limited vision
Daily use of a van makes me aware of how bad the blind spots are and I prefer to let bikes pass me so I know where they are
Ergo better rider
Being older and sober helps too