idiot car drivers and their tell tell signs...??

[ikkledivel]

Heya

This probably should go in the newbie area but wanted the opinions of the longer term riders as well....

what tell-tell signs have people seen that have helped them avoid collisions?? Ive only been riding for a month but so far ive had cars pull out on me, change lanes without indicating and even a guy who emergency stopped on a dual carriageway wanting to turn right, even though there was an island in the middle of the road to stop you doing that sort of thing (polite language used at him of course.......... )

so, apart from defensive riding is there anything else that can help stop me learning to fly like my fella did yday?? (albeit he couldnt have avoided that one, idiot u-turning drivers fault!!!)

Thanks for any input!!
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Current bike - Triumph Daytona SE 09 (white & blue). Previous bikes. Suzuki GSXR 600 SRAD, Aprilia RS125 02 (sold) "Reality is a nice place to visit, but I wouldnt want to live there!!"
Many many months of 2 stroke mastery before Direct Access Pass: 04/03/09

[pa_broon74]

I find watching the driver more than watching the vehicle helps. You can tell if they're not paying attention or if they're lost by the way they move in their seat.

In terms of cars pulling out, not much you can do. You can slow down a bit but thatat'll just them thinking you're letting them out. Cover both brakes just in case.

However, somethings are just not avoidable and can only be chalked up to experience I suppose.


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Didn't catch anything.

[knocker]

In the short time i've been riding i've had a few near misses on roundabouts the most recent being 2 days ago. I was on the roundabout and had just indicated left to turn off when dickhead in his toyota yaris decided he couldn't be arsed to stop and drove straight across the front of me at speed. I managed to stop the bike but with the roads being wet I very very nearly lost it and ended up on my backside.

I was only on a little GS125 but if i'd been on my 600 I would have gone after him and had a polite word.

I'm very very cautious of roundabouts now, You can usually tell when car drivers aren't going to stop as they don't turn their heads to have a look whats coming from their right.

If ever I do crash i'm certain it'll be on a roundabout.

[stinkwheel]

Eye contact. Make sure they have a) Looked in your direction and b) Seen you.

I sometimes move the bike sideways across the lane approaching a junction. The movement is out of the ordinary, cars don't do that. Seems to press a button in the drivers head marked "pay attention, something different is happening.". This is of course no use if they don't look in your direction.

Same when you are coming up behind a car, eye contact in the rearview mirror. You can tell if you have been seen.

Watch the wheels to see if they have actually stopped at a junction or if they are a "creeper". I hate creepers, you never know what they are going to do.

If they are indicating to turn into a junction, don't believe them until you see the wheels start to turn.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[chris-red]

Anyone...
In a clapped out old Merc/BMW,
with foreign plates/foreign/ethnic looking drivers. (Don't care if it's racist but I've been riding in London long enough to realise the larger proportion of shite drivers aren't anglo saxon)
In an expensive 4x4s,
Women in a performance cars.
With a national trust sticker in the back window or the Christian fish.
With damaged mirrors.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[D O G]

> If they're stationary, assume they will move;
> If they're moving assume they may either:
- Stop without warning; or
- Keep moving into your path.
> If you have to go anywhere near them, assume they may move to hit you.

That may help.

Oh, and the eye contact thing as Stinky says.

[Smooth]

Drivers on mobile phones, lighting a fag, applying make up or fixing their hair are to be given a wide berth.

If you're not sure if someone has seen you then err on the side of caution -I was actually criticised on a DAS lesson for slowing down a bit when a Focus poked out of a side street ahead of me and looked as if it may pull out on me. My argument was that I'd prefer to sacrifice progress and assertiveness in favour of avoiding a hospital visit.

On the motorway, tailgating, excessive braking and weaving around are good indication of a poor (and probably aggressive) driver. Watch out for a lack of indicators & take care if filtering.

The following are definite warning signs:
Cushions/rugs on the parcel shelf
Nissan Sunnys
Christian Fish symbols
"Babe on Board" stickers
Pink accessories
Teddy bears
McDonalds cartons and The Sun on the dashboard
"318i"/"320d" badges
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TDM850

[Bofh5]

my tips

always try and look at the drivers eyes and learn to read them.
when approaching a junction or roundabout etc if an alert driver their eyes will make contact so to speak where the dippy ones just stare ahead with that all so familiar glazed expression.

dual carriageways: if you are catching up any more than 1 car be bl00dy careful as for some reason they always time it so they pull out to overtake usually without looking indicating just as you reach them !

slip roads: especially during busy times when all the sheep are sitting in 1 lane waiting. you cruise happily down the clear lane when one of the sheep realises that you can actually use both lanes and pulls out without looking.

the ditherer: this breed of moron can be the most dangerous as you just have no idea what they will / won't do.
normally found sitting at junctions and roundabouts for months on end waiting for that gap (titanic size) large enough to squeeze into.
many times stuck behind one of these they start to go then jam the brakes on jerk forward brake again and in some cases of complete brain failure actually reverse.

unfortunately however careful you are there is a chance you will get taken out by a nutter without warning as i recently experienced.
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(L)users...Disk space is to good for them.

Bikes: Honda 50 / CB125-TDC / 93 CBR600 F2 (Stolen & Trashed) / 2001 SP-1 (Sold) / 95 CBR600 F3

[Finglonga]

Experience is everything.

Treat everyone as an idiot!

As already said eye contact, make sure they have seen you if not get ready to stop.

Brakes are better to get out of trouble that accelerating out of it as you are in control!

You can always tell if a car is going to overtake by their road positioning, hang back they are bigger than you.

Observation Observation Observation , look ahead . . Way ahead, also when following another vehicle look ahead of them not just at the back of them.

Be aware of everything everywhere at all times. When I am in the car I know what is around me.

Avoid the red mist!!!
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Tonka]

All of the above

TBH after driving for years it's almost a 6th sense - somehow you just know that they're gonna do something stupid!

I think the thing that I've realised with a bike tho' is if you can't overtake and get well ahead, it's sometimes better to stay a good distance behind and out of danger's way. At least you can keep an eye on them and always, always be aware of what's around you in case you need to take evasive action.

All you can ever do though is your best - concentrate and assume everyone is a numpty!!
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[SoulRider]

I all ways found that its just experience that has me picking up on what drivers will do.

The best bit of advise you will ever get and you will realize it soon enough as well is that you treat every driver as an idiot and one that will try and knock you of your bike.

This will give you so much more time to react if they do something stupid.
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My Bike Pics

[Smooth]

At roundabouts and big junctions I expect every driver to pull out on me and regard it as a bonus when they don't.
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TDM850

[doggone]

Above all trust your intuition.
Time and again I think they *might* do something and it happens.

[map]

[krebsy]

Vauxhall Vectras pointing/driving the wrong way up the dual carriageway in the right hand lane as you are overtaking and the van in the left lane stopping to "have a word", all without hazard lights on and the whole road getting blocked, leading you to lay down some big strips of rubber as you slam on the anchors.... (so glad I was in the car today).

That's the stuff...

K.
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What's my New Year's resolution?

1280 x 1024.

[pa_broon74]

I love these threads... For example, cushions on the back shelf. A huge sweeping generalisation but so true. The fish sticker, true again, I'll add 'baby on board' dangly things. Driver who display one of these (and I find seldom have babies aboard) think its a license to carry on regardless.

As said, roundabouts are the worst, I've been on roundabouts and cars have sailed across my path (usually in the morning.) The driver seems to be looking straight at you, but is actually looking through you. They're half asleep and looking for cars, not bikes.

Another one to look out for (possibly contentious but there you go) are fat people. They are incapable of doing shoulder checks so don't bother. They can usually be seen driving those fiat minicab things or really old 'executive' Hyundais...


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Didn't catch anything.

[bazza]

[Bofh5]

second the fat person thing.
not having a go at them but was making my way out of tescos last night.
Noticed this beast of a woman similar to the pig noise woman was squeezing herself into a micra (which i also hate with a passion) and although the suspension didn't collaspse completely there didn't look like much travel left in it.
First up it took her 1/2 a dozen attempts to reach round to pull the seat belt over her.
Secondly her head could not turn more than a few degrees so she reversed out of the space pretty much blind.
Due to the size of her bulk she was having trouble turning the wheel and took forever just to clear the parking space.

Not a pretty sight....
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(L)users...Disk space is to good for them.

Bikes: Honda 50 / CB125-TDC / 93 CBR600 F2 (Stolen & Trashed) / 2001 SP-1 (Sold) / 95 CBR600 F3

[Bendy]

[jonboy22]

My two pence worth:

As many others have said, intuition and anticipation. If you ride prepared for the worst eventuality in every case, you'll maximise your chances of not getting taken out or knocked off, the downside to this is that you'll be quite a bit slower than someone who doesn't give a toss about themselves and others....

So suppose it's finding a balance and level of risk that you're willing to take......

ps. my tip for filtering through slow moving motorway traffic, keep an peripheral eye out for twitching front tyres. More often than not it will give you half a second to ease off the throttle and prep your brakes should the cager decide to suddenly change lanes without indication.
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current bike: GSX-R 750 K6 stolen, found the next day in a van in Durham, returned to me 3 months later costing me my NCB and my excess...
last bike: GSXx-R 600 K4 - written off, now converting to track bike

[pa_broon74]

[bazza]

[pyx_e]

Those are not fish they are "victroy" stickers. One for every victory. Like on Spitfires, ya know.
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Shiney!
Kawasaki: ER5, Versys, VN900.

[Poseidon]

funnily enough, the whole eye-contact thing is taught as part of the "smith system" advanced safe driving course... It's some yankee thing that First are teaching to all their bus drivers cos they apparently have too many accidents.

[Bendy]