Got an A licence, do you drive like your taught?

[Neorion]

Ello Ello folks.

Just thinking about something. When your taught to do your DAS/A2/CBT your taught lifesaver's mirrors and everything is very clinical, same as the car method of teaching.

I am just wondering, considering how much more at risk we are from cars/road markings/spills/mistakes, how many of you still drive like you were taught, I mean constant checks reading ahead all the "book ways" of driving?

I know since I passed my (car) driving test a good while ago now that I have picked up some habits but I try and drive as I was taught albeit a more relaxed manner.

Just some idle thinking from me so I thought I would ask
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VFR FI 2000- Shiney Red Thing
"some things man was never meant to know, for everything else there's Google"

[NexusDragon]

Once you've passed you can do whatever you like. Dont fancy lifesavers? You dont have to bother with them, but just keep in mind that you are taught on the basis of your own personal safety.

With enough riding you as an individual will feel whether certain decisions are needed. If your giving the road enough attention, you wont have to do lifesavers, but thats the whole point of them - they may save your life one day, just by taking a second to look over shoulder before making that turn.

It all comes down to your general attitude to your own safety.
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DAS Passed 19th April 08. 07' YBR125 > Yamaha FZ6 S2 '08 > 1998 YZF600R ThunderCat

[Towton 1461]

Do Lifesavers - Every Time.

In 1978 I nearly took out a Jota that was overtaking me. I'd got
lazy and complacent, after passing my test a year earlier, and
just swung out.

My mates saw what I did and mentioned it in passing when we
arrived. I have never lost the thought of what could have been
a disaster, in all this time.

Last August I was overtaking two bikes on a fast single carriageway
A-road that I know very well. The lead biker(VFR750) suddenly,
without looking, swung out to pass a 65mph train of cars. I was
doing about 90 and had to swerve almost into the opposite kerb to
avoid T-boneing him.

I'm sure he won't forget to do his lifesaver in a long time. The guy
was no doubt feeling as shocked and guilty when he got home, as I
was all those years ago.

Do a lifesaver every time until it becomes second nature to you.
On a your bike and, in your car.
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This post is sponsored by QUILLIES LOZENGES. Suck QUILLIES for fast throat relief!

[moog]

With regard to Driving :-

I'm lucky enough to be an advanced driver and have done many hours driving in cradle cars, on skid pans, round tracks and with a class A police driver (not what you know but who you know ). My Father, when he was alive, was a driving instructor and he taught me to drive the way that he drove. He never had an accident and, up until now (15 years of driving) neither have I.

With regard to Riding :-

I try and ride like I was taught but I always, always read situations for myself and use what I feel to be the correct procedure at the time. I consider the way I was taught to ride to be more of a guidline than gospel. I do, however, always ride within the speed limits and always use lifesaver looks. Hopefully, given enough funds and a bigger bike, I shall be taking some advanced riding lessons next summer
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"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress...though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[yandy_yay]

+1 what towton 61 says.

It may seem like a waste of time but in just 3 months i have 'been saved' by doing the lifesaver

Andy
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past bikes: (20 years ago) cg-125 (wriiten off), C-50 (thrashed n' finnaly scrapped), CZ-125 (nicked - never recovered, insurance payout was more than i paid for it !!!)
Current bikes: GN 125(now sold), Divvy 600s.

[adama]

They arnt called lifesavers because it sounds cool, it does exactly what it says on the tin.
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Vlogging - www.youtube.com/caprio85

CBT Passed - 24/04/08 - Theory Passed 18/07/08 - Practical Passed 2/04/09

[cicatrez]

Not all the time. If I am on an empty road, I might not bother with a lifesaver. It's dependant on the conditions. If I know I was the last person crossing a traffic light before it turned red I'll know that, and know behind me there's nothing. The more busy it gets the more I'm looking all over the place.
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'02 Honda City Fly

[Towton 1461]

[adama]

^^ I fully agree, you might feel a bit daft looking around and seeing ur the only person in the world on that road but at least u wont be knocked off =]
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Vlogging - www.youtube.com/caprio85

CBT Passed - 24/04/08 - Theory Passed 18/07/08 - Practical Passed 2/04/09

[The Disapproving Brit]

Here's what Roadcraft has to say about the lifesaver:

[Rowey]

Timbstoke said it for me
____________________
ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[cicatrez]

and for me
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'02 Honda City Fly

[deanoet]

It feels wrong not doing a life saver...

I was doing them before turning into corners on a track day FFS...
Took real concentration to not do it, and even then every-so-often i would have a glance before turning in...

Only time I dont is on quiet motorways at night when moving back in, just wait till you see the cars lights you took over in your mirror and in you go...
Other than that all the time.

For how long it takes it IMO isnt worth the risk not doing one...


Once i miss out
When setting off going straight on...
If turning left from traffic lights i`ll check left, or if turning right i`ll check right, but not both sides
Coming off roundabouts I only check the way I am going before I turn off...
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[Towton 1461]

[b-f-c]

Apart from checking where you're about to go, they also show other road users that you might be about to do something.

I still do them, not everytime but more often than not.

[Pickle]

Yeah, like another poster said, sometimes you need to weigh up what's more important - looking ahead or doing a lifesaver. If you have time to do both, brilliant, but I know there's been times when I've had to rely on mirrors... mostly when you suspect a pedestrian is about to cross the road against the lights as you're turning into it.

Half the time when I do a lifesaver I do indeed see a cyclist or biker that didn't show up clearly in my mirrors. Have to say though, there are so many cyclists and other bikers I see who never do them. They don't seem to give a shit - it's like they feel they're invincible. And then it's up to me to get out of their way. Seriously, the amount of cyclists that get in the way when they can plainly see I'm going to turn left - they have a death wish. I might give in and give way to them, but a lot of others won't...

[steppen22]

The whole point of lifeaavers is that 999/1000 they're pointless: you're just looking at an empty road, etc.

But you should always do them because that 1/1000 time when it's needed ain't going to come with bells and whistles to warn you its on its way.

The first you'll know of it, if you haven't kept on top of your life savers, is when your teeth are embedded in your tongue and your toes are between your legs..i.e. when youve royally fucked up your year.
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no regrets, no retreat, no apology.
I've made mistakes in the past, and I apologise for FUCK ALL.

[Danny77]

One of the guys i did lessons with has a big scar on the side of his head to remind him of the one time he didnt do a lifesaver, the more you do it the more it comes second nature.

[bikedemon99]

I would strongly recomend getting the motorcycle roadcraft book police riders handbook to better motorcycling, in you test and lessons they suggest you sit a third from the left road position but when your out there on your own there is everything else to consider, one thing I will suggest is if your riding and a stream of traffic is oncoming, sit to the left of your lane as oncoming cars may move out to overtake the car in front and if your over to the centre line they aint going to see you ( head on ) I could go on and on but we never stop learning and we never know it all, when you think you do your heading for disaster, good luck and ride safe
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Ride safe

[Wise1]

Just as important as anything else is that fact that when your training, the purpose is to pass the test. Your not being taught how to ride the bike.

As anyone will tell you, the learning starts after you pass. There is so much more to riding than observations (but these are of course very important).

[Newbiker0507]

I always do them.

I have had idiots overtake me in the daftest of situations, and NEVER SAW THEM in the mirrors. I always think what would have happened had a moved out without looking.

They are vital, and not all that difficult, so there should be no excuse imo.