Terrified by side roads!

[multijoy]

Last year, I got hit by a van as I passed a junction. All fairly low speed, just some bruising involved.

Since then, I've been a bit twitchy passing side roads - the missus has noted that she can tell I'm coming up to one as I tend to position myself wide, and if I spot a vehicle approaching the junction at any speed, my stomach pretty much turns over!

I suspect the long term answer is going to be IAM/other training, but interested in suggestions!
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[RichieZX6R]

to be fair there are ALOT of idiots on the road that either dont see others or dont care so your right to be cautious! I had the same sort of accident a while back and that was the end of my NSR

I would say to just make yourself as visible as possible either with bright clothing/lighting/bright coloured bike/yellow safety jacket etc etc and try not to worry about it so much.

Also "loud pipes save lives"
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Current: Kawazaki ZX6R 51
Past: Kawazaki ZX6R 96 - Honda CBR 600F4 05 - Dragstar 125 02 - Honda CB 400 SF 94 - Honda NSR 125 51 - Gilera Runner XV125 04

[GhostRider]

I generally ride with the assumption that people are in fact intently trying to murder me in their cars, so when I get to a side ride I'm scoping it out hundreds of yards before I get to it anyway, and generally go wide regardless as most pricks like to approach them at 40mph slamming their brakes on at the last second, so no way am I going to place my faith in their observation/reaction skills.

Best thing you can do is be alert and aware of whats going on all the time, which you should be doing anyway really.

[JP7]

Nobody would blame you for that sort of reaction to people appearing at junctions. Once bitten, twice shy, and all that. A similar thing once happened to my mum, so for years afterwards every time a vehicle approached from a side road, she would actually swerve.

You mention the IAM. I'm an IAM observer, albeit for cars. Good anticipation will tell you to expect a vehicle to appear at the junction as you're approaching. And if it does, you can plan for what it's likely to do. Taking a wide line is good as long as you don't find yourself on the wrong side of the road. You get a better view into the junction, the car in the side road gets a better and earlier view of you, and you have more options if it does in fact pull out.

If you expect a car to be there, you'll be less shocked when one actually is there. If you think about it in this manner then hopefully you will get over your worries more quickly. Believe me, they will subside.

[The Artist]

Part of biking is assuming everyone else cannot see you.

Do you wear high vis? Are you as visible as possible to someone pulling out from a side road?

I have said it before but I will say it again. When I rode round in a normal bike jacket (black and blue coloured) I will get cars pulling out on me and my horn would be used on a regular basis. I wear a high vis jacket all the time now. Much more visible. I look like a bit of a n00b but people see me.

There are things you can buy for your bike which make yourself extra visible. G has some LED strips which are attached to his hand guards which are an excellent idea.

[multijoy]

I think it's worth pointing out that nobody is actually pulling out on me, but rather that I'm overreacting to the possibility that someone might.

Whilst the lane positioning is (more or less) a conscious decision (I'm less happy because I'm moving on the basis that there's a junction, rather than assessing the actual hazard), I get the fear when I see a vehicle approaching with any particular speed.

Specifically, it's the physical reaction (churning stomach, cold sweat) that's an issue (I commute into London, so I'm no stranger to riding like I'm about to die!), and a nagging concern that I'm fixating on a non-hazard to my side that's drawing attention away from a hazard that could be developing in front.
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[iooi]

[colin1]

[TheDonUK]

Its not paranoia if they are out to get you
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[neil.]

It's not paranoia.








































































Is it?

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
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The Harry Turner Project

[ajbsmirnoff]

Over on the 'motorist' forum, they're plotting your demise.


Oh yeah., they're out to get all of us.

[Rogerborg]

75% of bike KSIs are multiple vehicle incidents, and most of those are at junctions. You're right to be concerned, and it sounds like you're reacting correctly.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[G]

[Dischord]

You'll get over it, I crashed and broke a femur at a junction down the road from my house. For a while I would get the shakes and feel quite upset going passed there (it was a 5 day hospital trip and 2 bouts of surgery) now it doesn't even phase me.
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2012 KTM EXC 250

Check out my vids - https://www.youtube.com/user/KTMSparky/videos

[Clanger]

Nothing wrong with being overly cautious. Changing your road position and preparing for the worst just makes you a better rider/driver in my opinion. (I am exactly the same on roundabouts, I glare at drivers who so much as twitch or rev or look like they aren't slowing down enough for my liking).
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[defblade]

Sounds like you're doing the right thing anyway.

I sometimes do a small wobble/weave to catch their eye; cover the horn button too and give a toot if you think they might not have looked (although be aware that some drivers are, literally, deaf).
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Nick__C]

I'd just say to make sure you're observant.. when I pass side roads I hold the mindset that the bastard will at any point try and pull out.. So I position myself wide etc..

It kind of happened to me yesterday.. coming home from work at 10pm.. car turns left out of the side road, sees me coming so indicates left and pulls in towards the side of the road.. I was far enough away for it not to be an issue for just easing off the throttle to be sufficient but if they hadn't pulled in and me overtaken I'd have had to brake for the idiot.. and if they'd turned right from the road towards me then -.-
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'02 GS 500.

[Glenben92]

I had an accident earlier this year, sliding on oil on a roundabout. The ground was wet, the roundabout was COVERED in a thick layer of oil from curb to curb.

As a result of this, I fanny about round every wet corner, oil or no oil. I stare at the road assessing the surface whenever I have to turn and I don't give two shits about holding up the car behind me in a corner.

Similar situation to you, I'm over-reacting to a very small accident BUT... I'd MUCH rather be this cautious than be in another slide. If I was more cautious before I wouldn't have had the accident.
Quite possibly, if you had your current mindset before your crash, you'd have quite possibly avoided the accident.

Sometimes over-caution is a very good thing. Motorcycling is one of those instances!
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
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