What situations require you to look to the side and look behind while driving?

The best way to avoid trouble is to see it coming. Skilled drivers have very few surprises on the road because they see and understand possible problems before getting to them. Learn to look far ahead of where you are driving. In the city, look one-half to one full block ahead. On the freeway, look as far ahead as you can see. Looking well ahead gives you time to adjust to problems. It also helps you to avoid panic stops or sudden swerves that can cause even more trouble.

Follow these steps to develop driver awareness:

• Keep your eyes constantly moving and scanning the road ahead, beside and behind. Do not look at one place for more than two seconds; trouble could be developing while you are not looking.
• Look ahead as far as you can see. Look beyond the vehicle in front of you for others that are stopping or turning ahead.
• Check the roadside. Watch for vehicles that may leave the curb or enter from side streets or driveways.

Sometimes you cannot see an area because a bridge or truck blocks your view. Good drivers have good imaginations. Ask yourself what might be there that you cannot see yet. Remember, what you cannot see can hurt you.

When looking ahead and scanning the road, check the surface of the road for slippery spots, bumps, broken pavement, loose gravel, wet leaves or objects lying in the road. When driving in winter, be alert for ice and snow patches. Learn to see these spots well ahead so you do not have to look down at the road surface.

In some situations, you can put your motorcycle in a position to see things that other drivers cannot. For example, in a blind curve, where you cannot see all the way around, move to the side of the lane where you can see as much as possible of the road ahead.

At blind intersections, after stopping, ease forward past obstructions to see if anything is coming.

When you are parked or stopped at the side of the road and want to join traffic, angle your motorcycle across the road so that you can see in both directions.

Check your mirrors

Check your mirrors every five to seven seconds to keep track of traffic coming up behind you. You should have a good picture in your mind of what is behind so someone passing you will not surprise you. You also need to know in order to stop quickly or swerve if necessary.

It is especially important to check your mirrors in the following situations:

• Before you have to slow down or stop suddenly or when you are stopped at an intersection. If the driver behind you is not paying attention, she or he may be dangerously close before noticing you are there. Be prepared to get out of the way.
• Before you make a turn. Check vehicles behind you when you plan to slow down and turn. Remember to use your brake lights to signal that you are slowing down. (Gearing down does not activate your brake lights.) If drivers behind you do not appear to be aware that you are turning, it may be safer to continue going straight.
• Before you change lanes. Make sure no one is trying to pass you.

Remember that mirrors do not give the whole traffic picture. There is an area on each side of your motorcycle or moped that you cannot see in your mirror. You may not see people or vehicles when they are in these blind spots. Always turn your head and check over your shoulder before you turn or change lanes.

Being seen

You cannot assume that other drivers see you. Drivers who have collided with motorcycles often say they did not see the motorcycle until it was too late.

A motorcycle or moped is more difficult to see than other vehicles. Your profile is smaller from most angles. Even if you are seen, your speed or distance from other vehicles may be misjudged. If a driver does not see you, she or he may pull out or turn in front of you or cut you off. Always ask yourself if the other driver sees you.

Even when other drivers see you, you may be hit if they misjudge your speed, are aggressive or impaired, or just careless. Be alert and try to anticipate what other drivers are likely to do.

While your motorcycle or moped’s headlight(s) and tail light(s) help to make you visible, there are a number of other things you can do to increase your visibility:

• Wear brightly coloured clothing and helmet. This will help make you more visible during the day, especially from angles where your headlight cannot be seen. Yellow, orange, red and other bright colours are highly visible. Black and dark colours are not. Think about wearing a reflective vest, especially at night. Consider adding reflective tape to your helmet, clothing and vehicle. In the rain, wear reflective rainwear.
• Slow down when driving at night in front of a group of vehicles. When you are driving in traffic with other headlights behind you, a driver ahead may not be able to pick out your single light from all the lights behind you. This problem is especially bad when the roads are wet because of lights reflecting off the road surface.
• Think about your lane position. Sometimes you can make yourself more visible by moving from one side of the lane to the other or by changing lanes when appropriate.

Do not drive in another driver’s blind spot, and do not let another vehicle drive in your blind spot. Drop back or pass the other driver. When you pass another vehicle, get through the blind spot as soon as you can. Approach cautiously but, once you are alongside, get by quickly. As a general rule, if you can see a driver in his or her mirror, the driver can see you.

Being seen at intersections

Most collisions between motorcycles or mopeds and other vehicles happen at intersections. The two leading causes of these collisions are: 1) drivers often have a hard time seeing a motorcycle or moped coming toward them; and 2) a vehicle may make a left turn across your path or pull out from a side street. To cut down your chances of being hit, follow these steps:

Where should you look when you're backing and turning?

Where should you look while you are backing?

Which area should you look at most while driving?

Should you always look ahead when you drive?