SEE Strategy & Lane Position
Riding is a thinking activity. The SEE strategy gives you a system for spotting and handling hazards, while smart lane positioning and a space cushion give you the room to act.
Search, Evaluate, Execute
SEE stands for Search, Evaluate, and Execute, a continuous mental process for managing risk. First Search aggressively ahead, to the sides, and behind for hazards such as cars, road conditions, and intersections. Then Evaluate how those hazards might affect you and what could go wrong. Finally Execute the best action, such as adjusting speed, changing lane position, or communicating with other drivers, ideally handling one hazard at a time.
Following Distance
Keep at least a two-second following distance behind the vehicle ahead so you have time to see, think, and stop. To measure it, watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point, then count 'one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two'; if you reach that point before you finish, you are too close. Increase the gap to three or four seconds or more in rain, poor visibility, heavy traffic, or when a vehicle follows you too closely. A larger cushion in front gives you room to brake or swerve.
The Three Lane Positions
A single traffic lane is wide enough for a motorcycle to ride in the left third, center third, or right third, called positions 1, 2, and 3. No single position is best for every situation; you choose the one that lets you be seen, avoid hazards, and keep space around you. For example, you might move away from a car in an adjacent lane, or shift to avoid an oil strip or debris. Adjust your position as traffic and road conditions change.
Maintaining a Space Cushion
Try to keep a cushion of space on all sides so you have room to react to the unexpected. Avoid riding in other drivers' blind spots and do not let vehicles cluster around you. When traffic crowds you, adjust your speed or position to open the space back up. This buffer is your margin for error when a driver makes a sudden move.