Intersections & Conspicuity
Most motorcycle crashes happen at intersections, usually when a driver fails to see the rider. Being conspicuous and keeping an escape route are your best defenses.
Why Intersections Are So Dangerous
The greatest chance of a collision is at intersections, where another vehicle may turn left across your path or pull out from a side street. Often the driver simply does not see the motorcycle or misjudges how fast it is approaching. As you approach any intersection, reduce speed, cover both brakes, and scan for vehicles that might enter your path. Being ready to slow or stop can prevent the most common motorcycle crash.
Being Seen
Because a motorcycle is small and easy to overlook, you must actively make yourself visible. Keep your headlight on at all times, wear bright or reflective clothing, and choose a lane position where drivers are most likely to notice you. When approaching a situation where you may not be seen, be ready to use your horn and adjust your position. Never assume that being visible to yourself means others have seen you.
The Eye Contact Myth
Do not count on eye contact as a guarantee that a driver will yield. A driver can look directly at a motorcycle and still fail to register it or accurately judge its speed. Treat every approaching or waiting vehicle as a potential hazard until you are sure of what it will do. Keeping this mindset prevents you from being caught off guard by a driver who 'looked right at you' and still pulled out.
Escape Routes
Always give yourself a way out by identifying an escape route as you approach hazards. Manage your speed and lane position so that if a car turns in front of you, you have space and time to brake or swerve. Keep a following distance and a space cushion that preserve your options. Planning your escape before you need it turns a potential crash into a near miss.