Safe Vespa Riding with The Smith System

Safety! Not the sexiest topic but a very important one. Learn how to ride your Vespa safer by utilizing The Smith System, a driving program created for commercial drivers.

[@ThePackMaster718]

This video is something I found and something I do and any driver can always better themselves at. Being a trash truck driver, it's inevitable to be alert during rush hour traffic in and out of businesses.

[@VespaPortland]

Definitely applies to everyone on the road! Thanks for watching, thanks for disposing of garbage for your customers, and maybe see you on a Vespa someday!

[@ScooterNewbie]

Alive is certainly sexier than the alternative! Great advice!

[@VespaPortland]

That’s true! Thanks for watching.

[@FacundoLandoni]

Great advice! Greetings from Argentina 🇦🇷

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching.

[@awashi]

Great video. Team Oregon teaches many of these techniques but don’t call it the Smith System. Good job on the commentary.

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching! Harold Smith is who came up with this particular system in 1952.

[@lanceferraro3781]

Thanks, Andrew for the tour of my old riding grounds. It was great seeing all those downtown places. I've been doing all this Smith System, and a bit more, for years not knowing it had a name, I just developed my own. Lance.

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks Lance! Hope you’re having a good time out there in Michigan!

[@goldilocks913]

Safety is far sexier than losing a limb or a loved one- keeps the good times rolling longer . I learned this in my HGV training at work , and when you do it right you’re so much calmer and less stressed after a days riding. You also get to see how much anger and irritation is created by thinking of just yourself and that speed is everything. Keep up the good work 👍🇬🇧

[@VespaPortland]

Couldn’t agree more. Thanks for watching.

[@andrewmillar8153]

Informative video. Enjoyed it should be taught to all drivers 👍🛵

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching!

[@pugflyer]

I use this method all the time. I didn't know it had a name. It is also taught in racing schools too. looking further ahead gives you more reaction time and you are able to anticipate events.

[@VespaPortland]

Glad you’re out there being safe on the road! Thanks for watching!

[@ricknorth77]

Thanks for the reply, Vespa Portland. Great video. I drive semi-tractor trailer, and have to observe everything you covered. Writing this for rural scooter drivers. In Minnesota there are roads that suddenly curve to go around lakes. The road is close to the lake, and deer are in those reeds drinking from the lake. They feel cornered and jump out. Around lakes, I slow to about 40 mph or slower. Always consider where there is a thicket of trees, brush, cornfields the deer will come out quite suddenly. Slow down, for safety.

[@VespaPortland]

Those are great tips! We’ve had a few people encounter deer on the road up here and sometimes it doesn’t end very well! Stay safe out there.

[@DFENSFL]

Well done. I needed to be reminded of some of it. Thanks!

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching!

[@ezstarhops]

You rocked it so well. Thanks for this, Andrew

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks Evie!

[@chinchorrero]

Great advice!

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertcoulter7592]

This is super helpful! Thanks so so much! Saved this for reference!

[@VespaPortland]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@stevenmiller184]

I learned this in the Team Oregon class to get my endorsement. I use it all the time, on my scoot and in my car. So far, so good!

[@VespaPortland]

Keep those eyes moving!

[@jeffreyweldon6903]

Excellent video Andrew, lots of good info there....! Thank you!

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks Jeff! Hope you’re doing well.

[@jeffreyweldon6903]

@@VespaPortland Doing well my friend! Just getting back to riding around up here as the weather improves! Take care and hi to all! :)

[@sspradley11]

Good use of integrating the five seeing habits with the ten point commentary. You seem to be UPS trained.

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching!

[@miratronproduction974]

Perfect place to ride for this video . 82nd is one the most dangerous roads in Portland . Great tips we must never let our gard down when riding , not looking far enough ahead has almost caused some problems for me .

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching!

[@artscrimo5396]

Really great video...thanks for taking the time to create it.

[@VespaPortland]

You’re welcome. Hope it keeps some folks safe.

[@notbenh]

Rad gloves, great tips. When teaching out at the track the way we would explain #1 is that looking down the road gives you a further look in to your future and allows you more time to react.

[@VespaPortland]

A further look into the future is a lot more concise!

[@gorongo4202]

I’ve been riding for 40 years and just learned this System. Been using all the tactics all along though.One that I keep in mind in addition is Do Not place myself between a vehicle and a potential exit. It falls under the bigger picture, but a more focal tactic imho. Cheers.

[@VespaPortland]

Glad you’ve made it this far! Thanks for watching.

[@USMCCGAGNG]

Thank You! I hadn’t heard about this before.

[@VespaPortland]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@TheCerealHobbyist]

Great video, Andrew! My cop and driving instructor dad was all about the "always have an out" idea when teaching me to drive/ride. The other big one he pushed was to ride like you are invisible to cars, since most drivers don't look for bikes.

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks, Rocky! Hope it helps keeps someone alive out there. Thanks for watching.

[@vesparama]

Excellent safety education! Thank you.

[@VespaPortland]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@sophiem7791]

Thanks I feel a lot better about getting a Vespa

[@VespaPortland]

Glad to have helped. Enjoy it when you get one!

[@djcammack]

Excellent video. I was trained in this system too. A couple of extra things: Watch your following distance - which you ere doing a good job of. And avoid “billboards” - give yourself more space when following trucks or a large SUV. Most accidents happen in intersections so it’s always important to “clear the intersection” - making sure it’s safe to enter and exit. Great vid, thanks.

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks, David! Those are good tips.

[@richardsimpson3943]

Great video, thanks Rick UK

[@VespaPortland]

Very welcome. Thank you for watching!

[@albertoa8794]

Great advices !!

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching!

[@fingerhorn4]

Excellent channel and video. A rare and intelligent assessment of safety. But we have a mountain to climb because the biking media, manufacturers and most biking YT channels are the pole opposite of this, and rider training and tests are absolutely inadequate. But most of all, we have to get rid of the ludicrous notion that just because you are on motorised two wheels that entitles you to special privileges, or that everyone has to get out of your way just because you can accelerate faster than cars or trucks or other road users.

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching!

[@demon39063]

Really great advice, thank you for making this! Going to share this with my wife as she gets her feet wet

[@VespaPortland]

Hope it helps. Be careful out there. Thanks for watching.

[@U.s-epa]

Good video!

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for watching, dude.

[@laurajulia9656]

And good armored Moto gear. Full face/ modular helmet Leather armor gauntlet gloves ( if you love your wrists) Armored touring Moto jacket( only if you love the space below your hips and sternum) Moto armored pants Moto boots just below the knee All the time . In 20 years of city riding and being hit. Y 2 distracted drivers while wearing all black… I switched to White helmets While gloves ( Alpinestars) Reflective piping on everything . Never hit again .

[@VespaPortland]

Thanks for those additions!

[@michaelreed7790]

As a scooter/motorcycle rider of 45 years I know not to ride in the center of the lane as that is were most of the road debris is kicked to from car/truck tires as well as plenty of oil dripping off engines. You should ride in the part of the lane where the car tires ride. Nobody likes a flat. 6. Lane placement Dont ride beside another vehicle and especially not to the rear/side of a vehicle where they may not see you. If they encounter an obstacle or if something just scares them they WILL veer abruptly into your lane and therefore into you and you will have no time to react.

[@VespaPortland]

Good tips. Thanks for watching.

[@dogys_]

this is a weird thing to bring up but i play a video game at a decently high level and one of the first things i have to drill into people’s heads whom i coach is that they need to keep their crosshair up higher by default, even in video games people love staring at basically the ground lol

[@VespaPortland]

Human nature is wild. Thanks for watching!

[@dogys_]

@@VespaPortland yeah lmao thanks for the videos, i’ve been binging and these are all so good. you’re right up there with the old dudes with wise cowboy voice ride-along videos. if american infrastructure was safer i would totally get my first scooter from yall and roadtrip back to tacoma. have a good night !

[@VespaPortland]

We’ll get back to making more soonish. It’s hard to keep up in the height of summer busy season.

[@ricknorth77]

4:50, good point, but the truck is at fault...it blends in with the road. Needs to have out something reflective so it isn't so camoflauged

[@VespaPortland]

I agree that the truck should have had a cone in the street at least but I spotted the truck over a block away with no problem. The car driver could easily have seen it before the last seconds as well.

[@USMCCGAGNG]

Let impatient people in front of you. It’s better than having them behind you.

[@VespaPortland]

Definitely!

[@nopropanganda]

Can I ask what kind of mirrors you on the vespa?

[@VespaPortland]

Aprilia Tuono. You'll need an adapter for the.... left side if I remember correctly. Reversed threads.

[@johnd5594]

Regarding your 5th point. If you are in that position in your lane, are you visible in the side mirror of the car next to you?

[@VespaPortland]

Hi John! I’d have to re-watch to know but chances are you’re right. There’s always some variable to weigh against another. Just hope we pick the right one in the circumstances! Thanks for watching.

[@USMCCGAGNG]

Left side of the lane when you want to be sure the driver in front of you sees you in his mirror, like at stop lights.

[@VespaPortland]

Definitely. I’ve been meaning to do a video on lane positioning. Maybe someday.

[@samishami2425]

Ok

[@VespaPortland]

Yes

[@USMCCGAGNG]

Integral advantage for scooters is being able to ride in diminished spaces. Car drivers are jealous of this and will get very angry if you use this advantage. People suck.

[@VespaPortland]

We definitely need to get rid of the “he’s cutting me in line!” mentality. Thanks for watching!

[@rustyholt6619]

was tought smith at discount cab in tuscon,,, tailgating is the biggest cause of accidents and its completely avoidable ,,,, and stupid

[@VespaPortland]

That’s right! Thanks for watching.