"12 Second Rule" and "Fisherman Vision" will make You 90% Safer!

[@em8194]

I work in a hospital ER. I see many horrible motorcycle injuries, but I ride my motorcycle everywhere with over 100,000 miles on my bikes. Two rules. One, always, always wear a full-face helmet. Second; I always ride thinking I am invisible. I have convinced myself that NO ONE can see me ever and that they will drive their car as if I was not there. That causes me to be on my breaks and drop my speed some at every intersection. If a driver does not make eye contact with me or their front tire begins to move, I go into full stop mode until I know I am safe. I have added extremely bright extra stop lights and I control my slowing and stopping knowing there might be someone behind me. I have never had an issue with someone behind me almost hitting me. Sure, this wears out my breaks faster and drops my fuel mileage some, but after 100,000 miles on motorcycles, I am perfectly healthy and can't wait to get on my bike again.

[@renegadepsyker]

I got a car driving license recently and in a car, driving terrifies me. I wonder how bike is gonna be like. I am training now, haven't been in the city yet. The psychological phenomena I have observed are very complicated. On top of that, people are completely mindless. If they have green light, they will simply drive over you without thinking. I observed a situation today where half of the road was closed and the cars were alternating on one lane, controlled by temporary stop light. Because the roadworks go for some distance, some cars coming from ahead did not entirely finished getting out of the shared area when the light turned green. The first from our end was just waiting for them to pass, but the car AFTER him stared to zig zag between the two. My brain glitched. This was either mindless beyond belief, or some sort of road rage. Psychological testing should be required for shared road access. There are freaks out there who should by in institutions, yet they drive around. Yet, I need a bike. Get the skills, stay safe, feel awesome. Riding is life!

[@marcobitran2244]

Great comment thank you

[@PaulEllisBIGDATA]

extremely bright extra stop lights - What's the name of the lights your purchased and where! I am an novice rider and would love to purchase.

[@apexxxx10]

Spasiba Bolshoy, Thanks, Kiitos, Danke, Tack “Kapp Khun Kapp” Thai language. I am Johnny The Septuagenerian KAWASAKI 650 rider. QUESTION? How many subscriber you do have here in sunny tropical THAILAND? Your rules & advise needed here in the Thai kingdom where we have lot of motorcycle accidents, many fatal.

[@DaFunkyFizz]

What bike do you ride?

[@dugandaniel165]

These are good points, but you cannot preach about safety while doing what you did at 4:48...the trafic is light, no need to pass like that between the cars

[@GenX-er]

Excellent advice, great video! I was raised on mini bikes, dirt bikes, etc., and when I began riding street bikes in 1990, I took a military Motorcycle Safety Course and the instructor taught us the S.I.P.D.E. or pronounced “Sip-dee” method meaning, Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute, and to this day I ride as you say, Scanning for any possible threat, Identifying potential threats, Predicting what they can possibly due, Decide my action, and Execute as necessary. Riding like this is absolutely lifesaving.

[@lassebrustad]

your message should be pinned as a summary of the video, because it's a short explanation of the whole video, but with a simple way to remember it

[@samsherwen6912]

Sounds similar to UK Police riding handbook - Information, Speed, Gears, Acceleration. Changed the way I ride and drive to maximise situational awareness and provide time to decide what to do and execute in a smooth controlled manner. Also saves brake pads!

[@MrB1967]

​@@samsherwen6912position!

[@roygoodwin1259]

As a rider for sixty years, all that is needed is common sense, anticipation, and respect for everyone else on the roads.

[@diaryofanolddad]

You assume that common sense is common. It's not

[@jmejias12]

All of those are great to have out on the road but definitely need to practice skills like emergency braking and slow speed maneuvering. Staying safe is 50% responsible riding 50% skills. Stay safe!

[@JhoelSLC]

oh man! 60 years! Im wanting to buy a motorcycle with all my heart, but everybody tell me that its almost a sure death. Did you had close encounters?

[@lassebrustad]

​@@JhoelSLCgo buy a motorcycle and practice. if it's too dangerous, then it's your fault, I bet. riding safe will be fun, close calls are most likely something you will experience multiple times, but following good tips and tricks, training in safe areas both alone and together with someone, and you will be way safer than people who think they're good riders, just because they survive being idiots. being an idiot on 2 wheels will most likely kill you

[@brianlarkin8208]

You have to drive defensively as well as offensively

[@tudm91]

I've been using this logic since I started driving cars and have applied it to riding a motorcycle. Being perceptive and aware of your surroundings is essential. If something goes doesn't feel right or "normal" when you're observing, be prepared for evasive maneuvers, let off the gas, and be ready to brake. TRUST YOUR GUT. At some point you can start predicting the behavior of other drivers/riders by the slight movements of their vehicles. Ride safe and have a good time everyone!

[@commonsense718]

I call it my spider sense

[@ronbatt756]

We who drive motorcycles cannot be reminded of these self defense methods too often..!

[@umbrellacorporation3206]

Always a good Ride for you 👍

[@fs5866]

Riding defensively will actually make you a much faster rider than the average person because you're already reading everything that could potentially happen and adjust on the run to any possible obstacle or hazard removing any element of surprise. In turn that can make you quite fast and make you seem a lot more fearless to other riders but your fearlessness come from all the inputs you brain receive and taking the best route. Sounds complicated but it usually is effortlessly even though you're aware of all that happens.

[@jarikinnunen1718]

It been keep I alive.

[@jenniferferris44]

Maybe, I find I don't need to be reminded of one of my fav childhood games. Predict it, where I would scan the rink, predict the possible actions of every skater and determine which ones they will be taking and what actions I need to take to avoid them while practicing figure skating routines. Got good enough 1.5 seconds meant I had 5-15 seconds of predicted data. I used to think it was the funnest game ever. Now it feels like a calming form of meditation. I'm not skating backwards or across the rink while doing difficult jumps on a bike so it's much much easier. Teach your kids how to play 'predict it' while also doing something else and they'll have no issues with mental effort from it when they're older and switch from skating to riding. Maybe that's just an autistic ADHD thing what with the hyper focus and inability to stay focused on any single thing when unmedicated

[@samshoffner]

I like this, I pretend every car is trying to kill me.

[@mhoeij]

2:15 Countless lives would be saved if riders learn this lesson. One thing I'd like to add here is that there is a "point of no return" where it's too late to brake and the strategy changes from "braking" to "swerving and/or speeding up". But any action that we'll take, we should decide it *before* the car starts to move. Your video, showing with the difference in reaction time, explains it perfectly. As always, excellent work!

[@mscottsimon]

Amen. Riding is a constant assault of potential threats & potential reactions for the rider.

[@dxrevelations5111]

car is on your right thus he has the right of way. slow tf down

[@atranimecs]

Very true. started riding again after a 10 year break and i had to get back in this mode. whenever i see a car even possibly turn out on me from a distance i reduce my speed to the point where braking before impact is possible.

[@atranimecs]

@@dxrevelations5111 Thats assuming its a 4-way stop which is not the case in the video. A yield or stop sign right of a THROUGH TRAFFIC intersection does not mean you have the right of way. And in the video he was not overtly speeding and even slowed down in anticipation of a driver FAILING TO YIELD to through traffic which is the citation an officer of the law would've give had a collision occurred in this scenario, ask me how I know.

[@medler2110]

@@dxrevelations5111 What country do you ride in, where a vehicle coming out of a side turning has right of way over those on the main carriageway?

[@miloskuzmanovic]

Keeping the distance in traffic maybe the moust important thing. Not that you are giving yourself time to react but giving everybody around you especially people behind you time to react.

[@GeekOfAllness]

You're also giving yourself much better line of sight. If you're following 1 second behind a guy, then he suddenly swerves to avoid a head-on collision, you're distracted by his swerve then have like half a second to recognize and react yourself. If you're following 3 seconds back, the other guy is blocking much less of your vision, so you'll see the head-on car much earlier (perhaps before the other guy does), and, additionally, have more time to react to things you don't see earlier. Now, if you're doing 20 mph, 3 seconds is a bit overkill, especially if there's a car immediately behind you (at a safe distance, so they're blocking you from getting rear-ended by someone flying up behind you). 20 mph is about 30 ft/s (it's 29.33... but 1½:1 is a good rule of thumb to convert mph to ft/s). It takes about 1 second to stop on a good surface (typically a bit under 1 gee, or 32 ft/s², which will call 30 ft/s²), during which time you travel about 15 feet (while decelerating, your average speed is half your max speed, assuming fairly constant braking, which isn't a bad assumption). 15 feet is how far you'd travel in 0.5 seconds at your full speed, so 3 seconds back (90 feet) gives you 2.5 seconds of reaction time, when 1.5 seconds (2 seconds total) is probably enough. At 10-15 mph, you could get away with 1 second of following distance. Conversely, 4-5 seconds is better on the highway. 60 mph is about 90 ft/s, which takes about 3 seconds to stop from on a good surface, during which time you travel about 135 feet, which corresponds to 1.5 seconds of your following distance. If you're only 3 seconds behind, that gives you 1.5 seconds to react. That's usually enough, but at those speeds, it starts to become harder to determine what people are doing at the relevant distances, so your reaction time tends to be a bit worse. At 85 mph (the highest speed limit I know of in the U.S.), you're doing about 125 ft/s. It takes a bit over 4 seconds to stop, during which time you're traveling 260 feet. That's about 2.1 seconds of following distance. At 3 seconds, you're only getting 0.9 seconds to react, and things are much further away when you need to be reacting. So 5-7 seconds of following distance is better. Note also that motorcycles don't stop quite as well as cars under perfect conditions, and it's harder to stop (near) perfectly on a bike than a car. So you really want an extra half-second or so of following distance on a motorcycle. On the other hand, bikes can squeeze into smaller spaces, so sometimes you can get away with less following distance if you're good at swerving. And if you're not on a good surface (rain, snow, gravel), you want even more distance. If you're using metric, the kph to m/s conversions don't work quite the same, but both systems use seconds for time (other than a couple years in the 1790s where they had proper metric time), so the following distances and reaction times in seconds are the same.

[@miloskuzmanovic]

@@GeekOfAllness Sometimes collision is inevitable and distance allows you to slow down enough not to hit full speed on, avoiding major injury or worst. Security is the game of precents it can never be 100% safe but the more things you use and learn you are closer to that bar.

[@mozzfather]

I absolutely agree on the defensive driving approach but it's somehow funny to see how you slip through the cars on the white line, which is something in Germany nobody would ever do.

[@KF1]

Same in Canada. I can't recall ever seeing a motorcyclist thread between lanes. I thought that was just something they do in the movies to amplify a sense of danger and urgency.

[@mozzfather]

@KF1 Let's be honest - it's super stupid to do and even more to teach others this riding style, sorry...

[@KF1]

Don't be sorry if you're not. I completely agree that it's dangerous and, to add to the danger, could be rage-inducing in certain cases. That said, people gonna do what people gonna do. Not my call. @@mozzfather

[@mozzfather]

@KF1 oh yes, this would definitely make everybody feel insulted and lead to some road rage scenes. As everybody knows, the Germans like their autobahn clean and tidy ;)

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

Defensive riding explained well! Also - do not travel faster than you can stop in about half the visible distance ahead and don’t exceed your abilities.

[@simongiavaras7787]

This is a big one, coming from operating trains of all things, our SOPs say the same, we call it operating on sight distance

[@amp2amp800]

Thankyou. This is such an important video for every rider to understand. At 4:30 is exactly the scenario where I lost my leg. I identified the threat way ahead, focussed, prepared, kept watching him like a hawk, dropped down a gear kept covering the brake.... and all this time the driver stayed put, as if he was waiting for me to enter the death zone before he pounced. I was already in a lower gear at reduced speed and instantly on the gas to get out of his way... but found myself moving sidewards, and then in the air instead. This strategy has saved me many many times before that, but never forget that you are vulnerable on a bike (whatever you do). Still alive, still riding, and still using it. Keep safe everybody!

[@stestar09]

Sorry to hear about your leg , glad your still riding. I ride expecting every side road driver to pull out on me & its served me well for the last 20 years . Also run bright led headlights on all the time , that also helps 👍

[@amp2amp800]

@@stestar09 That was and still is my riding practice too. The driver that hit me was stationary in the middle of the road waiting to turn off, over the path of oncoming traffic (so on the other side from the nearside road joiners - but its a similar story). He didn't move as I approached him warily, watching his every move. He only started to turn his steering wheel when I was already too close to change to a braking strategy, I gave it gas instead to try to get our of his way but he accellerated hard into the side of the bike. I had full headlights on. His behaviour was consistent with being a psychopath - both at the time (when he left me lying on the road bleeding out, while he tried to move his car to a less incriminating spot) and during the court case where he didn't show up and sent a lawyer to lie for him. So no-one will ever know for sure what he was thinking or doing. But he was a married man turning into a brothel car park and had driven 100km over the border to keep his guilty secret. I guess that had a lot to do with it.

[@CyberChrist]

@@amp2amp800 If you slow too much, they often take it as an invitation to pass.

[@BelialSpade]

the 12 second rule is taught here in australia, it is drummed into our brains in our learners course. i also when i see a car breaking, is to look over the top of the car(if i can) to see why they are breaking, while also applying the break myself slowly, because if they are breaking, they are breaking for a reason which will likely be a concern to me aswell

[@GeekOfAllness]

I've seen 6 seconds, 8 seconds, 10 seconds, and 15 seconds. This is the first time I've ever heard someone say 12 seconds. It's not really important, since you really can't adjudicate where 6 seconds away is with terrible accuracy, let alone anything further. And the "rule" is really just suggesting you look out as far as you can see, whether that's 2 seconds away or 20. 12 seconds is an eternity in a car or on a bike, and nothing that's safe 12 seconds away is remotely guaranteed to be safe 10 seconds later when you actually need to start reacting. About the only thing I look for that far down the road is obviously-parked traffic at highway speeds. For everything else, you can look 4 or 5 seconds away and be fine. Of course, it's pretty trivial to occasionally look to the horizon, but I have seen people who spend too much time looking way out yonder when the real threats are 2-3 seconds away. The worst of the threats tend to be a couple seconds away and off to the left or right since those tend to be the hardest to avoid. Almost anything straight in front of you can be avoided by simply slowing down, as long as you maintain a decent following distance. Of course, if you start running 100 mph through 60 mph traffic, you start having to look several seconds ahead and right in front of you all at the same time, since it's all a threat. But that shouldn't be most people's typically drive to work.

[@Mo0shii]

@@KurtFrederiksen European are better driversd out of the books, due to lessons only.

[@lokeshkumarpandey3943]

I am a beginner. So it's hard for me to understand this rule. Can anyone kindly explain it in simple words?

[@Jacopski]

​@lokeshkumarpandey3943 if your talking about the car braking rule, basically, you want to be looking through the windows of the car ahead of you to look for other cars randomly stopping, this is why I don't like to be behind trucks or big cars because I can't see what's happening ahead of them. But with all these "rules" it's important to not focus on just one rule, IMO this is the flaw of these "rules", someone could merge into your lane right onto you and someone could cut you off 12 seconds ahead of you. What has stuck for me is to try to understand the flow of traffic (which comes with time driving or riding) and pretend you're invisible. Don't fixate on one rule, just be aware of your surroundings and buffer yourself from hazards. Happy riding!

[@Al_Zidni]

@@lokeshkumarpandey3943 Look far ahead. Look wide. Always scan your path. Don’t over focus on one thing, like the car in front of you for example, don’t focus on just that. Your eyes should be continually scanning up and down, and left and right of your path.

[@BurkhartBerthold]

Looking ahead and scanning for challenges far ahead is sound; but advancing on the motorway, constantly changing the lanes as in 04:50 pp seems pretty hazardous. You shouldn´t try this, at least, not on a German autobahn, were the cars are driven much faster and more mobile.

[@theutgardianchannel1952]

Man, I just wanted to say that I started to watch your videos before I got a license, that was 8 months ago and so far I haven't gotten in an accident yet. Thank you so much!

[@HJC1950]

Look for situations where a motorist's vision is blocked. Keep in mind that there are motorists who will make decisions even when their vision is blocked, which may result in their violating your right of way and injure you. In other words, don't just scan for immediate hazards, go a step further by scanning for dangerous situations where another motorist's vision is blocked. Many serious accidents happen in this way and you must do your best to avoid these types of accidents.

[@SethJayson]

This is crucial for driving a car safely as well, and also should be second-nature to bicyclists. Years of commuting on the smallest, most vulnerable 2-wheelers puts your eyes and head on a swivel for sure. Keeping your mirrors as part of your sweep pattern is also important. I'm amazed at how many people only use them once in a while (or never). I install blind-spot mirrors on everything so that I can keep my head pointed forward and have full view all the way around.

[@j3tztbassman123]

That's why I'm not a fan of under bar mirrors, too hard to use them.

[@GTAmaniac1]

Yup, riding 50cc Tomos bikes on the Twisties is terrifying if said bike isn't outfitted with them, had a few occasions on a 80 km ride where a car was overtaking me in a corner and cutting off my line. P.S. the bike wasn't mine, it was my uncle's, otherwise I would've installed mirrors. Still whenever I'm riding every 30 seconds or so I turn my head around to see the situation behind me and if there are any impatient drivers who won't be able to wait until the next straightaway to overtake me.

[@waynerobertson511]

Yeah absolutely on the vision thing. You really do have to drop things from your nearby vision - already gone. Ignore them and look ahead. Great video!

[@johnschlesinger2009]

I would add: always look for an escape route, even if it means going off road, and practice hard braking often, in safe places obviously.

[@yveslegrand9826]

I made a quick computation and 12 second is a lot. On twisty road, 55 mph, it's about 330 yards. On easy road it's very easily a quarter mile...on the drag track it's...more than the whole track length 😂. Besides the joke, constant vigilance is the key. The slower you go...the more likely you are to let your brain wandering about something no related to riding and it's getting very dangerous. Keep focused on your riding at all times!

[@__Razer]

It applies even on a 1/4 mile drag straight. If there is an obstacle at the end of the 1/4 mile track, don't launch.

[@alexugur]

Excellent. I learned this kind of defencive driving in Germany when I started out in the 1970's. Thing is, it's so easy to get complacent. It's therfore necessary to always remind oneself on a regular basis!

[@unusualpond]

Yes. What was your plan for 3:34?

[@adrianalexandrov7730]

Nice explanation of a simple rules. There's a book by Tom Vanderbilt "Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)" worth reading, but why I'm mentioning it is that there was an experimental program in rural US where you can drive at 16, so they'd put some equipment in the car to record abrupt maneuvers, braking, the equipment would record video of what happened before and after such event and would send it to a person for evaluation. The idea, AFAIR, was to better understand how to teach young drivers, what mistakes they make etc. So the kids started to anticipate what might happen and maneuver or slow down in advance in order to "fool the system" )))) P.S. I liked that moment around 5:05 when you've merged into white sedan's blind spot and I'm like "car on the left might not see you, 18-wheeler on the right, oh man..." and you roll of the throttle just a bit to let it pass. Nice.

[@bjorndunderbeck]

I failed a driving test hazard awareness computer program for car drivers, because I hit the button too many times. they said that I was mashing the button randomly. I said that as a motorcycle rider of 20 years a potential hazard i treat as a hazard until im past it. When violence and pain are your teachers you pay attention. but since driving a car now for about the same amount of time you can get away with being more relaxed, I still observe what is going on more than other car drivers it seems but I would probably get a headache from the processing required to ride as I used to. If you are new to riding bikes, pay attention, no one sees you, few care about you and you pay more than anyone for mistakes on the road. If someone pulls out on you legally its their fault but if you didn't see it, thats your fault and you get injured. so don't put your safety in the hands of a stranger. Also these days I see lots of riders shaking their heads at drivers who do half asleep lane changes at the speed limit and don't check for lane splitting motorcycles. Its like yeah they should've seen you but ffs you were speeding and put yourself in that position! your fault! don't do it!

[@poerava]

Another important tool is to always accelerate out of possible areas/blind spots, thus reducing your likelihood of a collision.

[@Zero_dice]

It is one of the best advices for everyone. I am doing this since i started riding a bike. The DO IT thing have already saved me hundreds of times. Congratulations

[@Ram.Saketh]

Hello there Andrey, thanks for the amazing analysis, and for putting figures to safety - it's what I arrived at after years of riding but I had no way of putting figures to it. This is the perfect way to analyse this. Thank you my friend. I'm sure this will certainly save some lives. Here's my humble contribution to show how much I love this "invaluable" video of yours in particular.

[@MotoControlEn]

Thank you my man! ☺️

[@volkerdorr8537]

A good explanation of how to survive on your bike. Even as a cyclist. And that's one of the reasons, why motorcycling is mentally challenging - and exhausting. In the other hand this method of scanning the surrounding will reduce peak stress because you are much more prepared to a dangerous situation. But this in fact can be appied to mosty anything in life. Observation, awareness and anticipation are the keys for success in many fields.

[@mrc4910]

I love it. Teaching motorcycle safety skills while simultaneously weaving dangerously through traffic.

[@goodkebo]

yeah. I was a little nervous watching him in traffic.

[@mikeybooks54]

YEAH, HE IS RIDING DANGEROUSLY

[@mikeybooks54]

GOOD ADVICE ON 12 SECOND AND FISHING CASTING OF THE RIDER'S EYES.

[@paulhope3401]

For the average rider perhaps... but this guy has max awareness of what is going on around him and more skill and bike control than >90% of us.

[@davids11131113]

Possibly but all it takes is 1 of those hiway drivers throwing out their coffee or something

[@aaronschneider1581]

How are you executing 4:50 while also talking about a safe ride man. That seems very contradictory. Good tips, but some of your maneuvers just seem unreasonable from a car driver's perspective.

[@motorbikeLV]

2:57 "to react to the possibility of a hazard, not just the hazard itself!" Very good explanation of what hazard perception skills are, as taught in British advanced motoring certifications and asked in the British driving licence test.

[@scottmckenna9164]

The lane splitting is freaking me out! No room for error, you are at the mercy of the car driver.

[@hgm8337]

Its legal in Europe and car drivers are less freaked out by it as a consequence

[@MisuracaAntonio]

It might break your mind, but in Europe, car drivers actually look to the sides before changing lane

[@philcarr7015]

We can't get people to stop texting and driving here in the U.S.A. While doing that, they don't use turn signals while changing lanes.

[@okhan78]

In Southern California drivers don't use turn signals at all! Drives me nuts 😊 In general US drivers are terrible compared to what I've seen in Europe.

[@BruceWayne-qc5sz]

Filtering / lane splitting is illegal in Greece. Most people riding motorcycles do it anyway. Most car drivers change lanes without checking their mirrors or using their turn signals. That's why I only lane split / filter when I'm absolutely sure it's safe and I ride like everyone is trying to actively kill me.

[@jeanpequignot80]

My father taught me this back in 1986, although you do it much better. I just got to your channel and it's quite amazing. Thank you very much from México city.

Solid advice, which would deliver much better if not accompanied by footage of putting yourself and others in danger all the time (overtaking on the right, driving on the lane markings, ignoring speed limit, driving in between two vehicles overtaking each other). Now, my point is not "you must not do it" - if you believe driving recklessly is how you live your life, who am I to stop you, but consider not showing that on video when you talk about safety and defensive driving ;)

[@davidtruong9367]

I have learned so much from all of your videos and become a much better rider and more importantly a safer rider. “Ask me how I know?” as you say 😃 I had my first group ride EVER when I participated with my motorcycle organization this morning and the “Tail Gunner” rider who protects everyone from the rear said I was a very skilled rider and did great. Thank you, Moto Control! You’re number 1 as a motorcycle instructor 🏆🏆🏆

[@Kenicavus]

This goes the same for other vehicles too. My legs is ready on the brakes when i drive when I'm around intersections and i pay attention to brake lights

[@tdmxross]

I've been using this sort of logic while riding since i had been in 3 major accidents. These accidents almost cost me my right leg, my elbow and my life. So I started to pay attention to everything that could be a reason of an accident. Never had any panic moments or sudden breaking since then. Thank you for sharing such information. Very helpful. (Especially here in india, it's very useful)

[@ozgurkus]

Thank you, I like the fisherman analogy to the looking method. I watched all of your videos, they are all wonderful, thank you for all. It would be so nice seeing videos about off road technics Spasibo 🙏🏼

[@jsollowsphotography]

I was taught this technique when I started riding 40 years ago and I still do it today. Its very good advice!

[@lindsaymac01]

I always work on the 3-second rule: Never let a motorcycle take you where your brain wasn't 3 seconds earlier.

[@peterwilson8039]

I think of it as watching patterns in the traffic. Be aware of situations where a driver might turn left in front of you, merge into your lane, or hit the brakes unexpectedly. You watch situations like that because they might impact you. When it happens it doesn't catch you by surprise because you're already expecting it.

[@wehrwolfe69]

Great wideo! You and motojitsu are the KZbin greats of motorcycle teachers! Thx for your expertise!

[@doctor9228]

I intuitively developed such techniques while riding a bicycle. Now im learning to ride a motorcycle and it helps me.

[@Kraken9911]

Been riding 22 yearsand i never formally learned aboutthe twelve second rule but I've been naturally doing it. I always just called it a "threat assessment loop". Constantly identifying what is the most immediate dangerous potential and then assigning everything else downwards in priority. As priority one gets eliminated, #2 moves up and I dedicate focus to that. On and on. You dont think actively play this out in your head as an active thought it's just natural instinct built on years of experience. On a side note I spent my first 13 years riding in america and the remaining 9 years in the Philippines. My threat assessment loop is on constant overload due to 3rd world riding conditions. Im exhausted after 2-3 hours of riding while in America I could do two hours riding los angeles and barely feel a thing.

[@kenmcdougall6106]

Thank you for this, excellent video and I will remember the fisherman rule! I've been riding for about 35 years, I'm a naturally cautious rider, but you're never too old to learn. Also love the way you say 'peripheral vision' and if that helps me remember it, that's a good thing too!

[@puneetbshah]

I have been doing this subconsciously, since a long time. I scan possibilities almost 20 seconds ahead. I am the slowest rider in my group, but also the only rider with zero accidents!!!!

[@bathroom_joke]

Thanks for these kinds of videos! I'm just starting to learn to ride and they've been a huge help so far

[@taterbapple9847]

I never thought I'd get motorbike safety advice from a Meerkat? Great video though.

[@JonHanzen]

Thanks!

[@royfearn4345]

Although not a motor-cyclist, I learnt defensive driving many years ago and it has always served my well. Total awareness is another way of thinking about it.

[@renes9966]

I have my module 2 test (final practical test before getting full license) here in the UK next week. This was a great refresher with some useful practical tips. Thank you!

[@stestar09]

How did that go 11 days on , did you pass ?

[@renes9966]

@@stestar09 yes indeed woohooooooooooooooooo!!! A few minor faults for going under speed limit and “undue hesitation” at roundabouts but it was my first time on a big bike in the rain - I was being very cautious. Now to go bike shopping!!

[@10secondsrule]

I've never had a faster reaction when during the fasting. It was Incredible.

[@scubarubanzaii]

Perfect. I more recently started driving semi trucks and I can say that you should ride with as much planning as a semi trucker needs to drive with when fully loaded.

[@nickpalko9334]

Love your videos man! They’ve helped me pass my tests and make me feel so much more comfortable on the road. Cheers! 🍺

[@PRH123]

Very wise advice. When looking up the road you should also be thinking of "where is my escape - alternate path" in case needed... never assume or leave anything to chance... one accumulates wisdom with time, and you should know where problems are likely to occur, and hang back and prepare... you can insulate yourself from 99.9% of danger situations if you back off -25% from max and stay wise...

[@anonymous-rj6ok]

Great advice. Make sure you apply this even when you're on roads familiar to you. The risk is you neglect defensive riding because your brain tells you nothing can happen because you know these roads. Don't fall into that trap.

[@abdotaher17]

Great advice, can’t get reminded too often!

[@brikfiend]

When I'm riding , EVERYONE and EVERYTHING is my enemy . Simples .

[@stevefowler2112]

I grew up on two wheelers and earned an AMA Expert/Pro License in both motocross (125cc Motocross) and Road Race (250cc/350cc Road Race) and raced in the '75 Daytona 200. I have had a long list of top of the line Superbike street bikes (i.e. Liter class sport bikes with my current scooter being a Ducati Panigale V4 R). I have gotten off a couple different street bikes at speed but have never been involved in a crash with another car/bike. I believe it is due to my skills but also primarily because of my rule when riding on the street. It's a simple rule: Assume every vehicle you see, the operator is going to try his best to hit you. It is your job to not let that happen.

[@Cowdog1]

As you weave in and out of traffic ...

[@DopravniPoradce]

I do it since I don't know when while driving car, even before I had a licence for a bike. I call it "10 seconds rule" and the principle is roughly "actively anticipate what will happen in next 5 - 10 seconds and solve only what differs from your assumption". With experience you realise nothing or very little does so, and you will have very relaxed way of driving / riding, cause your brain will idle most of the time while being absolutely conscious about your whereabouts. This extrapolates to secondary rule - "if you are unable to anticipate correctly everything that will happen in next 5 - 10 seconds, slow down". You realise after some practice, that you know that someone will make a mistake few moments prior the very person decide to make it. When somebody doesn't believe it's possible, I describe what will happen and when it happens the non-believer is stunned how can I predict future. I can't I just know what leads to what and how the people will react.

[@josephgeorgeejr7039]

This is intuitive for me, i do this naturally, i can't see riding or driving without it

[@tomwinner5350]

I ride like this. Just different names. Like in play. If it’s a possible threat it’s in play. Cover your brakes and have a plan. And the Rally Car technique. Always scan far to route your course and spot obstacles then return to what’s in front of you, in and out. I relax both techniques as the risk becomes less but in traffic I stay on point. I call it running my program. 30+ years successfully executed.

[@pdxbk]

Well put.

[@simonebanana]

Watching your videos I'm learning lot of things but i also discovering myself to be a pretty safe driver already. I'm happy of that. Great videos.

[@KF1]

One thing that helps me is to remain aware of the side mirrors so I know in advance if I can swerve lanes if necessary. I find myself doing this especially when rounding curves that approach intersections of limited sight lines etc.

[@rcraven1013]

In the UK we presume that the thinking time is only 2/3rds of a second for the giving of safe stopping distances. However further more recent studies have shown that if the danger ahead is a difficult one to understand and if there are a number of options other than just to brake hard it may take 3 second or more to work out mentally what action to take before one actually makes the physical decision to brake or swerve , alter course etc. A lot depends on how alert we are and how knowledgeable to a variety of different and difficult circumstances or situations. . This is where both training, years of experience and motoring knowledge and skill does pay dividens.

[@TessaTickle]

What I do is to maintain an inventory of the cars (hazards, whatever) that enter into my sensory field. When they enter, I assess what they seem to be doing. You can determine a few things within one second: is the hazard on a steady course (speed direction) or not. If it's on a steady course that doesn't intersect with you, you can push it to the bottom of your attention stack. If it's not on a steady course (either it's changing speed or its changing direction away or towards you, regardless), i.e. it's in flux, keep it at the top of your attention stack. Maintain at least peripheral attention on the hazards that are in flux until they stabilize into a harmless state (you've passed them, they've passed you, whatever). On the other end of the spectrum, you have items that are stopped (people at an intersection) which could become a problem if they decided to suddenly drive in front of you. Look for their face, try to see if they're looking your way or if they're distracted. If you're not confident that they're safe, start planning for a swerve.

[@mikegish5759]

It's called "Situational Awareness", and I started practicing it as a youth. On a bike, I was very aware of physical exposure and lack of protection; in a car, not so much. I drove/rode primarily to prevent injury. So in a car, I'd push the limits more; on a bike, I rode like everyone else would do the stupidest thing possible and was prepared for that. My old lady said she felt safer on a motorcycle with me than in a car.

[@bramweinreder2346]

Not hust covering, but also preloading the brakes. This will make braking less jerky and saves time. Remember that we are less visible and not everyone wants to kill us. Don't be afraid to use a dominant and visible lane position. More importantly: one where we can look ahead as much as possible. Also use the horn if you have to. Watch your six. Don't surprise the tire, but also don't surprise the driver begind you, if traffic from behind is anticipated then the foot break will increase survivability when you're rear ended.

[@coastalhillbilly3419]

Always looking for sides of vehicle, cover the brakes, also speed up or slow down to be alongside of an “escort vehicle” going through intersections with potential left (or right) turners

[@vijayam1]

The fisherman technique is well worth it.. Thank you.

[@HRAZZI]

I absolutely agree, being observant and scanning continuesly is not too difficult as people think. As a matter of fact I honestly belive it is essential.

[@protomon]

3:33 just amazes me. You're in a video about safety and you see him ride the line at highway speeds filtering between 2 cars. Just boggles the mind.

[@rollysj384]

Tips and videos like these should be included in driving school courses.

[@BitFrosty]

If you see a car like 4:00 on his right, gently steer away from it while in your lane or at least match its speed and do no pass until its safe to change lane, there is a reason that car is in such shape (meaning person behind the wheel does not care about anyone or anything).

[@invadervim9037]

I drove a 1960 pickup with 4 manual drum brakes for a good while, I picked up this habit real quick.

[@danielpoulis9855]

In QLD Australia they teach us to keep 6 seconds of visible distance at all times (light visibility, corners) and 3 seconds following distance. They have this program that is a requirement to get your learner license that teaches you how to ride but also roadcraft such as this. So road positioning, how long it takes to stop. It's a good mindset to have.

[@fotoamgamgfoto3695]

you did not use your direction indicator when changing lines around 4:56 ?

[@FethiWebist]

Include checking situation back via mirrors every 8 seconds and more frequent when approaching intersections.

[@michaelw6277]

The longer you ride safely and practice these safe riding methods the better developed your “sixth sense” becomes, which means that you’re doing all of these things by default. That doesn’t mean you can get lazy, it means that safe riding ends up taking a lot less effort than it does when you’re getting started. The tip about trusting your peripheral vision is pretty important. I’ll often ride with relaxed and unfocused vision because you don’t need to be staring right at something to identify it as a threat. If anything hyper-focused vision can reduce your situational awareness and make you vulnerable.

[@deckyputra1281]

Good point, believe it or not, i learn to scan traffic and surrounding better after rode a fixed gear (with front brakes attached for emergency brake 😅) for years on the street. I had almost the same mental technique in this video even though this is the first time i know the term "12 second rule" It transform my motorcycle riding style from aggressive to enjoyable and safer riding. Even my wife felt and say that. She doesn't suffer a cramp and scary thought anymore when riding with me even though im still rode a bit fast 😂 Not to mention, the technique in the video will make a parts on motorcycle last longer, especially in the drivetrain, tires and brake pads 😊 (from my personal experience riding and caring motorcycle for years)

[@MichaelWhite-cx4ho]

Good advice, yet there you are going faster than most anyone else and weaving in and out of lanes and traffic.

[@MotoControlEn]

Not really🙂 It's Buenos Aires, motorcycles are not expected to drive like cars here. It's also something we have to consider when riding, we can't ride the same way in London and Mumbai.

[@lucascarracedo7421]

@@MotoControlEn I second this. I am from Buenos Aires, and while I started riding relatively recently I had driven cars here for a couple decades. At first I tried to ride the way I drove, which sort of worked for a bit, but then I felt ready to go out and practice during peak hours and in more intense parts of the city, and the problem is that cars don't know how to deal with bikes that behave like cars, especially when drivers are really stressed because of work and also delivery motorcycles which are a nightmare. I still try to keep my place in the lane, and not filter because it's technically "not allowed" (whatever that means in Argentina, sadly), but sometimes they basically push you into doing so or staying where you were becomes very unsafe.

[@MichaelWhite-cx4ho]

@@MotoControlEn Sounds like fun and explains why you're passing everyone. Looks dangerous. Bet the rate of motorcycle accidents in high relative to the U.S. if that type of driving is the norm.

[@lucascarracedo7421]

@@MichaelWhite-cx4ho are you sure? The US isn't a good example of anything related to safe driving / riding. I live in the same place where he's riding in the video, and while I don't ride like that (also aren't anywhere as experienced so I would feel completely out of my depth) I have rarely seen accidents in those situations. And I've been along that same road on and off for over 20 years now.

[@dgphi]

It's safer to keep progressing through traffic otherwise you become invisible. Also it's good to get away from the cars wherever possible.

[@RobWhittlestone]

Good video. Motorcycling since 1977 and still alive.

[@orlandominichiello]

Good advice , also practice emergency braking every season at a safe spot and ride within our ability.

[@benjysshed1883]

Great video 👍 Everyone on the road should be driving like this all the time, for those of us on 2 wheels it's critical.

[@bigvito4630]

I see how you favor the blind spot of a lane, I ride middle when theres oncoming traffic, though always left side of lane on one way road, avoiding putting myself in car ahead blindspot

[@MrDertien]

Ghost Rider sees 120 seconds in advance...and Chuck Norris around 500 seconds.

[@brianlarkin8208]

Chuck is a god

[@jupiter22177]

one of my favorite channels. great videos all the time.

[@motoringwithmouseball1219]

Watching motocontrol saves lives

[@5thgearouttahere]

Great advice & very well presented 👍

[@honestlion17]

Thank you for this sound advice. Hopefully people will heed.

[@cesar0610]

Thanks so much for your dedication in making these videos. And if you can survive riding in Buenos Aires, you can ride anywhere else in the world

[@oliveroliver7330]

I don’t understand what the 12 Seconds have to do with your tutorial ? The concept is clear. Thank you for explaining

[@atomicdmt8763]

key: SIPE : scan, identify, predict, execute. And: 'you are invisible and everyone is out to kill you'. And: dont forget to put a foot down when coming to a stop..especially when very tired. (happened to me once- on a long haul!)

[@mikecrane2782]

Brilliant explanation, been using this scanning technique for years, and I often explain to others scanning keeps your brain alert, which is especially useful on motorways where they are very little changes in scenery. Monotony tends to make the brain switch off biologically speaking.

[@kq9l115]

Excellent advice, love your videos!

[@timtaylor8557]

Not driving in between cars on the road can reduce your chances of being in an accident by 100x.

[@davids11131113]

I’d never lane split myself.

[@faizalahmed46]

I remember a quote from days gone game. "Trust no one, always expect the worst" This quote is enough to keep you alive on road.

[@marcfalardeau6058]

When I ride I see everything but look at nothing! I also practice 10-15 minutes on a parking lot before every ride…or almost. Marc, Quebec, Canada 🇨🇦 Ride safe! 🏍😉

[@laynetravis]

Your channel really help me... defense riding become a habit really fast.. thanks 😊

[@JózsefDeszpod]

The many similar comments show that I am not the only one who thinks so! There is no reaction or explanation from the author in this regard... "Good advice but your the way you weave through traffic scares me! Talk about insufficient reaction time, maybe you should watch this video." "Weaving in and out of lanes like that is not smart either." "These are good points, but you cannot preach about safety while doing what you did at 4:48...the trafic is light, no need to pass like that between the cars"