Motorcycle drivers everywhere have experienced some variation of sharing the road with an inconsiderate driver. They tailgate, cut you off, cause merging difficulties, don’t bother controlling their emotions and cause damage – all seemingly without a care in the world. You know better, but you may not know the best way to handle it. We’re here to help!
Drive Defensively
The most important point we can make is that driving a motorcycle defensively saves more lives than driving offensively. Defensive driving is about taking responsibility for your own safety no matter what anybody else is doing behind their wheel. It’s about being proactive to avoid dangers and staying acutely aware of driving conditions as far before you reach them as possible.
Here are three of the most useful defensive motorcycle driving tactics out there:
- Regulate your speed by considering what multiple cars ahead of you are doing – not just the first set of tail-lights you see.
- Recognize and create space for people who are driving erratically. You can’t safely assume they’ll do anything sane, so give them space to be crazy - and for you to be safe.
- Increasing your own following distance to the car in front of you when you’re being tailgated. By doubling your available amount of space for reaction, you give them more time to not hit you.
Keep a Cool Head
“What do you mean, give my tailgater time to not hit me?! I’m not giving them jack!” Keep your cool, friend. We understand about wanting what feels like justice. But your safety is more valuable than your ego. People’s unregulated emotional responses to careless or overly aggressive drivers cause even more disregard for safety instead of dealing constructively with the original offense. Blow it off. Other people’s idiocy does not have to be reflected in your actions – continue to drive safely.
Adjust Your Perspective
Every parent thinks their kid is the greatest, right? Much better than other kids – we’ve all seen the bumper stickers! It’s subjective, though. You love your child the best because it’s yours, even if your neighbor’s child is better at sports or math than yours is.
Do you feel the same way about your driving? Who knows, you might, in fact, be the best driver on the planet. Someone’s got to be, right? But chances are, adjusting your perspective could help make some terrible driving “disappear” and help you travel with less stress.
For example, many drivers with new cars feel like everyone is out to destroy them, no matter how minor the offense. This is usually due to a “mental boundary” around your vehicle that, out of caution, is larger than the actual vehicle. People seem to be tailgating you because you think they’re too close for safety, but in fact it could be fine and you’re just being overly sensitive. Try to keep a broad perspective!
Reciprocating aggression in the name of punishment is always a dangerous plan of action and should be avoided, no matter how keen your sense of justice. Keep a cool head, a realistic perspective, and drive your motorcycle defensively to keep your safety squarely in your own hands!
For more tips and ideas about how to have a safe and successful road trip, explore our blog!