Ride Within Your Abilities: Crash Avoidance
No matter how careful you are, there will be times when you find yourself in tight spot.
Your chances of getting out safely depend on your ability to react quickly and properly.
Often, a crash occurs because a rider is not prepared or skilled in crash-avoidance maneuvers.
Know when and how to stop or swerve, two skills critical to avoiding a crash. It is not
always desirable or possible to stop quickly to avoid an obstacle. Riders must also be
able to swerve around an obstacle. Determining the skill necessary for the situation is
important as well.
Studies show that most crash-involved riders:
- Underbrake the front tire and overbrake the rear.
- Do not separate braking from swerving or did not choose swerving when it was appropriate.
The following sections offer some good advice:
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To stop quickly, apply both brakes at the same time. Don't be shy about using the front
brake, but don't "grab" it, either. Squeeze the brake lever firmly and progressively. If
the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately then reapply it firmly. At the
same time, press down on the rear brake. If you accidently lock the rear brake on a good
traction surface, keep it locked until you have completely stopped. Even with a locked
rear wheel, you can control the motorcycle on a straightaway if it is upright and going
in a straight line.
Always use both brakes at the same time to stop. The front brake can provide 70% or more
of the potential stopping power.
If you must stop quickly while turning or riding a curve, the best technique is to
straighten the bike upright first and then brake. However, it may not always be possible
to straighten the motorcycle and then stop. If you must brake while leaning, apply light
brakes and reduce the throttle. As you slow, you can reduce your lean angle and apply more
brake pressure until the motorcycle is straight and maximum brake pressure is possible.
You should "straighten" the handlebars in the last few feet of stopping. The motorcycle
should be straight up and in balance.
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Sometimes you may not have enough room to stop, even if you use both brakes properly. An
object might appear suddenly in your path. Or the car ahead might squeal to a stop. The
only way to avoid a crash may be to turn quickly or swerve around it.
A swerve is any sudden change in direction. It can be two quick turns, or a rapid shift
to the side. Apply a small amount of hand pressure to the handlegrip located on the side
of your intended direction of escape. This will cause the motorcycle to lean quickly.
The sharper the turn(s), the more the motorcycle must lean.
Keep your body upright and allow the motorcycle to lean in the direction of the turn
while keeping your knees against the tank and your feet solidly on the pegs. Let the
motorcycle move underneath you. Make your escape route the target of your vision. Press
on the opposite handlegrip once you clear the obstacle to return you to your original
direction of travel. to swerve to the left, push the left handlegrip, then press the
right to recover. To swerve to the right, press right, then left.
IF BRAKING IS REQUIRED, SEPARATE IT FROM SWERVING. Brake before or after - never
while swerving.
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A primary cause of single-vehicle crashes is motorcyclists running wide in a curve or
turn and colliding with the roadway or a fixed object.
Every curve is different. Be alert to whether a curve remains constant, gradually
widens, gets tighter, or involves multiple turns.
Ride within your skill level and posted speed limits.
Your best path may not always follow the curve of the road.
Change lane position depending on traffic, road conditions and curve of the road. If no
traffic is present, start at the outside of a curve to increase your line of sight and
the effective radius of the turn. As you turn, move toward the inside of the curve, and
as you pass the center, move to the outside to exit.
Another alternative is to move to the center of your lane before entering a curve - and
stay there until you exit. This permits you to spot approaching traffic as soon as
possible. You can also adjust for traffic "crowding" the center line, or debris blocking
part of your lane.
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