"Sorry I didn't see you!" Are we invisible to drivers?︱Cross Training Adventure

crosstrainingenduro.com Are car drivers actually trying to kill motorbike riders and cyclists? Are they selfish narcissists who believe 'might is right?' Are they just incompetent and shouldn't be in control of anything bigger than a remote control? No doubt all of these are true in some situations. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. But research is showing why competent drivers sometimes actually don't see motorbike riders. This video is part of our ongoing motorbike safety series. It's known as SMIDSY in the United Kingdom and Australia. Sorry mate I didn't see you! The next issue? Research at the Texas Tech University has shown we tend to view distant objects as being further away than they really are. So drivers may see a motorcyclist but think they have time to pull out. It's called saccadic masking. When our eyes move rapidly our brain is only taking snapshots of the scenery but our brain makes it appear as a smooth transition. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. Unfortunately a driver scanning their environment quickly can actually not see a cyclist or motorbike rider in some situations. And of course often they don't. They often have trouble guaging the distance and speed involved with motorbikes. What can riders do about all of this?Ride as though you are invisible to drivers. And now a case study! Three years ago I was riding along this street under the speed limit. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. If you can keep a safe grip on the handlebars, cover your horn button as well. If possible take a close look at every driver. Are they holding a phone in one hand? Constantly scan for your exit strategies if a car pulls out in front of you. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. Always have your front and rear brake covered, ready to hit the brakes. There's a good website called 'Science of being seen' that examines all the research to date and has some tentative conclusions about increasing our visibility. Check it out. Are they talking to a passenger? Are they trying to eat a burrito with one hand and drinking beer with the other hand? Ride in the wheel track closest to the centre line to increase your visibility. If you have never practiced emergency braking, find a quiet road and start practicing. Keep your speed down. This increases your chance of being seen despite saccadic masking. What about making yourself more visible? High visibility clothing? White helmets? Driving lights? Reflective tape on your motorbike? All of this might help, although it definitely won't solve the issues of saccadic masking and perceptual problems with distance and speed completely. A driver wanting to pull out seemed to be looking straight at me and then pulled out. I was immediately on the horn and brakes but he didn't seem to react and kept slowly pulling out. Near misses? Lets hear your stories. And more importantly, what are your tips for avoiding drivers behaving badly? I narrowly missed the back of his car and hit the gutter. You can still see the scratch marks in the concrete. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. I hit the log fence, somesaulted in mid-air then slid down to the bottom of this embankment. My thigh immediately swelled up like a balloon so I thought I had fractured my femur and was internally bleeding. A passing cyclist called an ambulance. The driver? Nowhere to be seen. Thankfully the x-rays at the local hospital showed it was just severe bruising and I was using crutches for one week. Was there any way to prevent this happening? Not really, unless I had slowed down to a jogging pace! But riding like that I would be holding up traffic. Sigh. What about you? Ever crashed into a car pulling out? What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. We like doing seriously critical reviews. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel.
CREATIVE COMMONS VIDEOS
Thanks to these KZbinrs for use of their videos.
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
• Classic SMIDSY
• Why was France so Usel...
• Classic SMIDSY
• HV62VVU - SMIDSY (SMID...
• smidsy
• 1DRL417 - SMIDSY - Cit...
• Motorbike SMIDSY
• MT04GDZ - SMIDSY
FURTHER READING
scienceofbeingseen.org/home/
“Current Directions in Psychological Science” Pat DeLucia, Texas Tech University journals.sagepub.com/stoken/r...
#crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding
#SMIDSY

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Three days after this video, I was driving a quiet street and watched a woman do a u-turn into an oncoming car. No one was hurt. But none of us could understand how she failed to see the oncoming car! Be safe guys. It's no wonder bikes can be invisible if some drivers can't see cars. 🤔 FURTHER NOTES: scienceofbeingseen.org/home/ “Current Directions in Psychological Science” Pat DeLucia, Texas Tech University journals.sagepub.com/stoken/rbtfl/.ctVkmpViDABo/full Our motorbike riding safety series: kzbin.info/aero/PLEQwA8Brt84qKC2eJOzEc-pyaAUe_TEsA Good safety tips here: www.youtube.com/@DanDanTheFireman Fortnine's suggestions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmqXgXqdjrB7h5Isi=Fa_whZWam9yygX5A

[@MattPerry]

I just bought the book, thank you

[@user-yj7sn2xs8w]

Being used to not being seen on a motorcycle, it was astounding to experience driving around in a white Mitsubishi Fuso and have people look directly at the truck then pull out in a manner which would mean I wouldld have to brake hard to avoid collision, there's F****wits everywhere..

[@lhurst9550]

Ride like you are invisible. Been doing it for decades and I'm still here.

[@rgthomson1]

My tactics too

[@cumminsnchevy]

Words to live by when riding literally!!!

[@Sharpey76.]

same i never trust them even if they are looking straight at me

[@user-yj7sn2xs8w]

Yep that is a tried and true method that works for perhaps 99.99% of the time, I've been unable to avoid 3 idiots but on the upside I've avoided many thousands too many to count.

[@lhurst9550]

@@user-yj7sn2xs8w You let three people hit you? Why?

[@James.._]

The licence testing bloke told me to: always treat others as though they're out to get you, never assume other vehicles have seen you and to own the lane / ride near the line and never near the gutter. 29yrs later those words have kept this dumbass alive and I thank him for the advice to a young guy. Stay safe everyone.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Amen

[@terrywest5735]

Sad to say, but I ride my moto with the mindset that every person on the highway is trying to catch me unaware so they can kill me! No guarantee that you won't get hit, but at least I'll see who killed me. Keep up the great vids sir!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

100% the same here! It's kept me a lot safer...

[@sorin.n]

+1👍

[@nunyabidness3075]

Yes, because motorcyclists ARE invisible to drivers.

[@gideonsikk8733]

It's called riding paranoid 👍

[@davidtomic5003]

+1

[@sled9263]

I’m a commercial truck driver and I also ride motorcycles. In both cases I operate under the assumption that the other drivers are going to do something inappropriate, irresponsible, selfish, dangerous and/or stupid. I am proven correct multiple times every single day.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Unfortunately true

[@MikeFromCanadaEh]

When I started riding a bike in 72 , I've always thought the best way to make streets/highways safer for bikes ( actually cars and pedestrians to) is to make it mandatory to get your first licence on a bike, and if still surviving after two years be allowed to get a car licence. I still think this today. Thanks for all your great video 's the past decade.

[@JagLite]

I expect every car to pull out because I am invisible. Then if they don't, I feel like thanking them. I don't though because I am invisible. Especially if there is no other vehicles traveling with me I have to be ready to stop because most drivers are looking for cars, trucks, and buses that will crash into them, if they don't see danger to themselves they pull right on out. Because I am invisible. So in your situation there was no other traffic behind you so you should have been expecting the car to pull out. You won't hold up traffic if there is no traffic. Also, if there is a vehicle ahead of you but none behind, expect the car to pull out as soon as the one you are following goes past them. Because you are invisible.

[@-TheRealChris]

100% this!!!!!!!!

[@bouncingyellowskull]

Yeah hear ya. Sometimes I just sit behind and to the side of a car on busy dual carriage road just so I can use the car in front of me as a shield

[@seanfrench1029]

Barry, I use the same philosophy on my bike in traffic as I do when responding as a paramedic in my medical response car - treat everyone as blind, drunk, drugged, absent-minded and busy texting until I've safely passed them. After 25 yrs as paramedic and biking for 13 yrs now, so far so good. (Safest place for bike is offroad. Then the only idiot to deal with is me. 😅)

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Great strategy!

[@rtificial8292]

Look at their front wheel. Always a good indicator if they're about to move or merge into ya

[@MasterAaron]

It irks me when people roll forwards at junctions, but you know they aren't going to go. Unnecessary movements that cause tension.

[@spaceflight1019]

Keeping two fingers on the front brake lever when you have competition is a good idea too.

[@rontheretiredone]

Good advice, works for me!

[@George_Zip]

1. Never cross an intersection until you set up on the gears & brakes AND have checked or reduced your speed to the point where your stopping distance is less than needed to allow for the available visibility in each direction on the crossroad. Look each way up the crossroad! Do it early enough that you are not creating a hazard from traffic behind. Odds are that if you feel you are surrounded by too much traffic to slow, you probably have them as cover to cross the intersection in their company - their bulk will be visible to drivers on the crossroad. A green light for you, (or red light on the crossroad) is nothing but a legal entity that won’t reflect what happens in that intersection reliably enough for your safety. 2. Never overtake a vehicle that has an option to turn right (left in some countries), no matter how small - even a small side road or a driveway represent a risk that a sudden braking event or a turn may occur close in front of you - just while you are actually accelerating hard! Strong acceleration takes away valuable milliseconds when you suddenly need to change to hard braking.. Just wait until there is absolutely no likely reason for the vehicle to suddenly slow or turn across the road in front. 3. Treat ANY vehicle parked on the side of the road ahead with the greatest of suspicion, PARTICULARLY if the brake lights are on... Slow as needed and set up on brakes and gears. It will either a) Pull out in front of you or; b) U-turn in front of you or; c) it’s a copper or speed camera… Move to the opposite side of your lane, and once you are close enough to see if there is someone in the drivers seat, act accordingly… I have done all of these as habit since being taught them during an advance motorcycling course in the early 1990’s.. They are now habitual and not at all onerous.. One of the great things about a motorcycle is that you can be riding fast, suddenly slow (use your mirrors!), then be fast again, all in a short space and time... Hope this helps!

[@tpv59]

Thank You. It Helps.

[@ivorscruton5121]

Always pay 100% attention, look ahead to infinity, never follow behind something you can't see ahead of, and anticipate what others are likely to do. Far too many riders attach distractions to their motorcycles, cell phones, music, and GPS navigation.

[@rsbharley4766]

Great video. Sorry mate I didn't see you" is the statement which absolves them of any responsibility they think. I ride like I am invisible, but sometimes that can;t save you. I had a car run a stop sign on me and I was in a 100km zone, hit the car in the drivers door and lots of time in hospital for me. Cheers

[@johnsparklingrocket2361]

I constantly ride like drivers are actively trying to hit me. Last Christmas Eve on my way home from work with my daughter pillion (UK winters suck) and of course a driver pulls out, no time to stop I swerved to the front of the car, another car was tailgating into the intersection. We passed so close that I could reach out and touch their bonnet but luckily missed. I was pretty shaken up, but daughter was cool as. I’ve now put some led spot lights on front, connected to a relay that flashes - totally illegal, but I’m guaranteed to be seen.

[@madmarty7103]

they see you and pull out anyways. Usually it's not a visibility problem but a responsibility problem

[@bouncingyellowskull]

I commute /ride everyday rain hail or shine in Melbourne. I love it the satisfaction that comes with getting home 1 hour early than every one else and feeling much more alive and focused in the moment, it’s a mental challenge to stay so alert moving thru the traffic but it gets easier and safer with time.

[@neilbutler-wasabirc8941]

A month and a half ago on my way home a car coming in the opposite direction turned in front of me into a drive way. I was going the speed limit. Witness driving behind him said he braked suddenly and just turned. Driver said he didn’t see me but witness did. Hit his back door, went over his boot and land on my back on the other side. Luckily nothing broken but still suffering from soft tissue damage in my back and shoulder. Lucky to be alive.

[@ridethroughlifertl]

Over the years I've definitely maintained the habit of looking at people's faces in their windows, and not just guessing their vehicle's intentions. If I don't meet their eyes, I stay far away from them.

[@madmarty7103]

Looking them in the eyes doesn't help at all. A nice lady looked straight in my eyes while pulling out in front of me.

[@Paul58069]

It can help, but not guaranteed

[@jjjjrrr678]

Just relaying an experience I had since it's relevant to this... I, like most motorbike riders also drive a car. One day when decelerating on a red light I remembered I was on the wrong lane. I was hearing a bike approaching so I checked both mirrors before changing lane and he was on my right and I wanted to change left so I did but by the time I did he was already on my left... almost took him out... this to say it's also important to try and stay predictable when riding motorbikes since motorbikes are much more agile.

[@wicko2363]

I commute daily, I apply a multi faceted approach, assume nothing, don’t sit amongst the traffic, stay ahead of the back, move around in your lane, run extra drl’s. It worked for 35 years. Got hit whilst on a roundabout from the side, I was in between 2 cars with right of way travelling at walking speed. Some people are just useless c**t’s that drive with there heads up their arse. No science there, she admitted to accelerating on to the roundabout to “pick the gap”. Couldn’t ride for 18 months, she lost 3 points and a $400 fine. Problem is, no consequences for actions. All we can hope for is karma, or legalisation of side arms so we can inflict equal harm.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Same here, I've had a few situations where I clearly saw the bike, changed lanes, but he's zipped over so quickly he's then on the horn blaming me for blocking him! If you ride fast and change lanes fast you can't expect freedom of the road to the same extent.

[@denismourenas4876]

I learnt to ride motorcycle in Vietnam... So I've learnt to always ride like I'm invisible. Always slow down when I have low visibility of the traffic (a house blocking the intersection etc...). I get to the far side of my line from the possible incoming traffic just in case something show up (might give you 1m extra for maneuvering!) and so on...

[@ryanbox30]

I was hit a couple of years ago by a car pulling out on to an 80km road. Luckily I saw her coming so slowed down and only got side swiped and landed in the grass next to road. Scary AF, but no serious injuries. My bike was at the shop for 3 weeks and good as new when I picked her up.

[@Pentode3000]

White 950, white helmet, three headlights on and the guy didn't see me anyways, was on his way to 'MOT' and had other problems in mind. I was able to avoid him by a few millimeters because i spotted it early and kept my calm. All the things you said will help but to me it really is being prepared in body and mind and keep your calm to perform braking like Jack Miller. Even if you can't avoid contact every single unit of velocity decides the level of pain afterwards. It's easier with ABS nowadays but if you never did it you don't know how the bike behaves and what really is possible and while your at it train evasive maneuvers. OR you go riding for one year in Colombia because there it is a national sport to ignore motorcyclists completely.

[@davidfindlay5432]

I recently had to go into Pickles Auction yard in Perth to get some personal belongings out of my daughters car after it had been written off in an accident. Next door to the car section was a high security perimeter fence where all the bashed up motorcycles were. Take a punt and say 80% of them looked like they had hit something head on, folded forks, smashed fairings. You can draw your own conclusions from that......☹ I ride less and less on the street these days.

[@Lifeisawheelie]

My tip number #1 Riding a motorbike can very very likely cause serious injury or death!! If you want to travel safely, get a car!! When riding a bike, your life is in your own hands, ALL the time. Never rage at cagers for being incompetent. Only ever use anger if they do it on purpose. Don't be a vandal, be a man!!! The brain is mightier than the brake. Never go on the throttle unless you know for certain you don't have to go off again. Apart from people ramming you on purpose, the responsibility for your safety is 100% on your shoulders!! Morons make up 15% of the population, so 1/6 drivers are a hazard to everyone including themselves. Expect them everywhere!! And be kind.... If you are tuly a great human being, despite the shortcomings we all have to some extent, show leniencypatience and love to your fellow brethen. We are all me. Love us. Let's make the world great again.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Good philosophy!

[@TheKoolsmoker]

Fortnine did a good review of this exact topic and is worth the watch.

[@qaayyy]

The very day I got my driving license, an oncoming car turned and crossed my lane. Distance: Not even 10m, so no chance for me doing like 50-60kph. What saved me? Well, my first bike was a XL250, so I went straight over the handlebars first, then over the car and found myself lying on the street with nothing but a few bruises. Even rode the XL back home with that bent fork.... First day, first crash but that taught me a lot. Since then I drive like most of the bikers who want to stay alive ;)

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Glad it wasn't worse! Three days after this making this video, I was driving a quiet street and watched a woman do a u-turn into an oncoming car (not speeding). No one was hurt. But none of us could understand how she failed to see the oncoming car! It's no wonder bikes can be invisible if some drivers can't see cars.

[@SWATT101]

Near miss on 4 lanes...you know following too close behind two cars in traffic...first car turning, following car makes a fast lane change and there it is...stopped car...thought about laying it down(60mph) on the brakes, but decided to "lane split" as the motorist beside me moved over...lane splitting is not legal in Ontario, unfortunately lol... longest 2 seconds of my life! And there was the time buddy just rolled through a rural stop sign. He turned right so I just went around him. Left, I would of been a hood ornament. He was surprised to see me.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Faaaaaark! Glad you survived that one.

[@epectitus4873]

As a truck driver im hyper vigilant for pretty much everything, but the number of times Ive not seen cars that have just been perfectly behind my mirrors at an intersection. I must look like a meth addict in the cab trying to see every angle before I pull out, but its insane. Bikes go missing all the time behind A pillars. We seem invisible because quite frankly we often are, and when you couple that with sheer driver incompetence and then add in Human Factors, if you're not riding with your own life in mind, someone will take it.

[@timsalabimbombassa]

I drove a mobilhome with wide A pillars that would hide complete vans sometimes. It was scary how often I just couldn’t see things.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I can only imagine what driving a big rig is like. I'm now in a van and try to triple check all my mirrors, change lanes slowly, just wait to hear a horn blast... just waiting for that bike I didn't see.

[@jaimemetcher388]

Good on you for looking. If you watch car drivers, the majority of them never turn their heads. Car design has made side and rear vision extremely limited so turning to look usually just rewards you with a faceful of B pillar. Meanwhile, proximity alarms go off every time a car passes in the adjacent lane, so of course they are routinely ignored, and don't get me started on what people think they can see in their mirrors vs what they can actually see. The idea that you should actually be able to see the space you're driving into seems to be a thing of the past.

[@steveakam]

I assume every car driver is a ninja assassin with me on their hit list. This has kept me safe on bikes and in cars, vans and wagons. Paranoia is a life saver.

[@HartyBiker]

I've also got a hypothesis that people who don't ride motorbikes just don't have brains that see motorbikes. Like when you get a new car and suddenly it's as if every other car on the road is that model. I think to some extent people who don't ride just don't see bikes

[@TheKoolsmoker]

@HartyBiker Sorta, the reason people don't see bikes is due in part how we check before pulling out. If you check with just one eye you lack the depth perception to read the distance and speed of a motorbike. The other reason is the snapshot your brain takes and then fills in the blanks and thus omits smaller objects that don't stand out. If people took the time to look both ways 2x and do it with both eyes these accidents would mostly disappear. I think Fortnine labeled the phenomenon as the pigeon effect.

[@HartyBiker]

@TheKoolsmoker yeah I'm well aware of that, and I don't dispute that. My theory is not meant to be the single definitive explanation as to why people don't see motorbikes, but just another thing to add to what you mentioned. I remember seeing a sign in a shop once that read "teach your children to count motorcycles, maybe they'll see us when they're older." My theory was more about the brain noticing things which are familiar and filtering out that which it deems less relevant. For people who ride, we are interested in motorcycles, so we tend to see motorcycles more often. People who aren't just see traffic, and unfortunately that means bikes often get missed. Combine that with Ryan's "pigeon effect" and 90% of car users are blind to motorcycles through effectively no fault of their own, aside maybe for not looking for long enough both ways.

[@Adv207]

45 years of driving and riding experience taught me that riders are mostly to blame for not riding defensively... it's your own life on two wheels! Secondly motorcycles don't get a driver's visual attention due to its shape and size, especially here is USA where motorcycles are not something our eyes are scanning for. So be seen and ride defensively.

[@MalHanson]

Sometimes it's bad luck (or stupidity). In 1991 I got hit by a car in South London. I saw two cars pulling out from street parking on the other side of the road, heading in the opposite direction to me. The second car seemed to pull out quite sharply, attracting my attention. I got a good look at the driver, and could clearly see that their hands were turning the wheel to the left, so, threat over (or so I thought), I looked to my front. Next thing, that car centre punches me, breaking my lower leg, snapping my ACL, and pushing my femur straight through the back of my hip socket - the second car was being towed by the first, and they had forgotten to turn the ignition on so the steering was locked on full right lock - I saw the hands moving and assumed that the wheel was also! 3 months of traction 12,000 miles from home, and 5 operations later, including a hip replacement, I'm back on the bike(s) now and a LOT more aware of what's going on around me.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Ouch. Glad you survived that one.

[@hvalour1]

A quick wheel rut change can increase your vis if you think your not being noticed.

[@nickg2431]

After 22 years as a motorcycle courier in London I've seen it all and got away with a lot more.These days i enjoy the scenery/experience on the road more than going fast. Off road time to wheel out the old 525KATO like an excited child and hopefully avoid dear old farmer George in his pickup on the trails😀 Keep em coming skipper!Always enjoy the vids.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I can imagine some of the crazy moves from drivers you would have seen as a courier!

[@nickg2431]

Sadly Barry I was responsible for some of them but as you asked- Saw courier remove helmet after being knocked off and then threw it at the windshield cracking it.Mirrors regularly punched off- other courier follows 2 feet behind you to obscure number plate and best of all total silence at a traffic junction then a clapped out Kawasaki GT550 raced through a red light ….with an enormous stuffed toy bear in the normal pillion position 😀😀😀ahhh those were the days

[@Robert-xs2mv]

Those that use the “ smidsy” Excuse deserve to have their license revoked immediately. In fact prior to trying to obtain a drivers licence one must pass a spatial awareness test! Or make a motorbike license the primary requirement.

[@mrpantur7280]

i love your channel and have been wacthing for years so heres my take on the subject. i average 30 - 35 thousand miles per year and this is mainly city riding. ok so "are we invisible to drivers?" the straight answer is NO. drivers and funny enough some bikers simply dont look properly or long enough to actually see a car or bike coming down the road. whats the solution to this problem? well there is no solution theres no way we can teach people to look better or to care more the best thing we can do is teach other bikers to learn to ride defensive and be ready to slow down or swerve, basically better hazard perception. from my experience revving your bike or honking the horn does F all except piss off the driver/biker who just pulled out or nearly hit you. all you will get is them waving there hand around and shouting threats or abuse out the window or they might even brake check you. riding defensive and having top tier hazard perception is the best solution in my own personal opinion.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Driver education is a huge part. I remember cycling in Amsterdam for weeks. All the Dutchies grow up riding bicycles so they know to keep an eye out when driving. Never had an issue zipping through heavy traffic regularly. Incredible experience at good things CAN be if drivers are aware.

[@RedZeshinX]

They actually are selling motorcycle airbag vests now, worn under the jacket and inflate during a crash. They're being used in MotoGP and I've heard good things about them, though they're still in early adoption and pricey.

[@RookieROX]

I still like to use the SMIDSY Manoeuvre, swerving left and right in the lane, to try and grab some extra attention, when approaching intersections where i feel there's a higher chance of being missed. Undoubtedly not foolproof like my high vis jacket, helmet or LED lights, but another small change in roadcraft can't hurt if it's about avoiding being hurt

[@John-Dukemaster]

People have to go from "I didn't see anyone" to "I could see there was noone" A good advice from my instructor, back in the days.

[@yveslegrand9826]

I had a motorcycle accident and, indeed, the driver told those words exactly...

[@jackheinemann1994]

That Brisbane Corso is one wild piece of road, you don't need to be on a motorbike to find yourself in sketchy situations. Take Care

[@petersmart2894]

Can’t prove it but I think that being on a constant bearing is part of the issue. Approaching a situation I try to vary my road position to cause a change of bearing.

[@NZ2STROKE]

I just figure everyone is going to pull out on me so i start braking,seems to have worked so far

[@peterdouglas4073]

Yes I have. 9 months off work 6 months in hospital. Facial cranial reconstruction, 13 plates 26 screws, broken femur and arm. P plate driver said he saw the 4wd but not me. It is so true drivers do not always see us. I really hate dark tinted windows and not to mention people that turn their visor sideways or cover their side window. You can't see where they're looking. I now watch for wheel movement and look for drivers eyes. And always ride as if no one can see me. If! possible ride in a clear zone, no one either side or 3sec back or front. Not always possible but if I can I do. I have had some pull across on me.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Ouch. Glad you survived that one, Peter.

[@tpv59]

ALL the VERY BEST.

[@phillipwilliams4674]

Survival skills 101. Always, and I mean always be situationally aware of your surroundings, and watch every vehicle like a hawk. Just as people display body language, they can also display intentions through their vehicle, so in effect, vehicles display body language also. Finally, always be able to stop in the road that you can see to be clear ahead of you. In built up areas, consider the junction where that car is waiting to pull out to be your safe stopping distance, and keep an eye out for escape routes should they pull out. Survival is 100% down to you. It's cold comfort knowing the idiot driver was to blame from a hospital bed.

[@markdrummond7]

People see what they are looking for and not what they aren't. Look for cars, don't see bikes. That is why so many riders report the driver looking straight at them. 25 years investigating road deaths taught me this.

[@take5th]

Though I have ridden for over 50 years I must admit that at times I have carelessly not seen riders from time to time. No incident, but sudden awareness of a possibility. I have also passed, while riding at a young age, on the side opposite a turned-on blinker only to have car turn in the opposite direction and cut me off. I’ve never hit a car while riding, but have come very close. I ride on the street, on the way to dirt these days only, defensively. On the dual sport, it is helpful for me to try to stay focused and in dirt form, some weight on the pegs at all time, a finger on the controls, scanning the road and side streets for movement and sudden obstacles while keeping a brisk pace.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I must admit I've cut a rider off once about 30 years ago. I was looking into the sun, carefully pulled out and next thing a rider has slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop just short of my car's panel work. I was very apologetic of course, and it made me look out for riders even more. I drive a van now so have accessory mirrors to cover blind spots and try to triple check before changing lanes etc. Then move across slowly waiting for the horn blast! None as yet, touch wood.

[@take5th]

@@crosstrainingadventure yeah man, can be hard to see, especially when coming towards you, little depth of field or accurate rate of approach, little single light. Touch wood all around. Cheers.

[@BrutalHonduras]

Solution seems to be to look longer to eliminate snapshotting. In the last example with the road even curved in a favorable way to see oncoming traffic there really is no excuse.

[@frankatlarge]

Been riding approaching 50 years now, got hit a few times when i was younger (nothing surgery couldn't fix) as I've got older always anticipate the car driver going to do the wrong thing which has mostly kept me safe. Interested in your thoughts on the air bag jackets? I think they will get lighter and cheaper and become pretty common in the near future.

[@gijsgijs2365]

Look at the bright side: be happy for every car that DOES see you, before crossing the intersection, gives way while you are on the roundabout or waits for you when pulling out of a fuel station....

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Great point! It's human nature to focus on the bad drivers and forget about all the courteous ones keeping an eye out for riders.

[@rayobrien4274]

ever since I started riding a motorcycle at 17 I was told by my older brother be aware of car van trucks because they want to kill me. that way of riding on English roads has always stayed with me and also drive my car with the same mindset because the drivers in this country there all morons once there in there little boxes they think there untouchable. so when I’m out on our roads I go into defensive mode its kept me alive for 40 years ride safe.

[@arnohag1]

This year I've had no one cut me off.😊 I always eye off car drivers and ride in the centre of the lane to give wiggle room.

[@lylemacdonald6672]

I've had a few close calls. One was a lone car which at the last possible moment turned left in front of me to enter a parking lot. What makes this incident bizarre is that it took place at 2:00 a.m. on a long straight country highway with the only light being the headlights of the car and my bike. I watched this car for over a minute before the incident and in the pitch blackness my European BMW headlight is very bright and lights up the road. There is no way he could have not seen me. We were the only vehicles on the road. Due to instinctual manuvers and a dual hi/lo super loud horn and hi-beam dip I missed him by about 2 feet and came out unscathed.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Those are the really scary situations where it just seems there's nothing else you could reasonably do to avoid it.

[@2Gales]

They DO see us, but their brain ignores us. Like "it's just a bike...go". Then they realize what they did and say "I didn't see you". I always assume that all drivers are trying to kill me.

[@borderlands6606]

Their brain runs a background program that says in the event of conflict, the rider will come off worst. For any doubters, see how often cars back off to speeding delivery drivers, swaying skip lorries, and buses. The abort mission software overrides the keep-going program, and the driver stays put.

[@KorysRides]

Get a dash cam or an action cam that does loop recording. Mine has gotten me out of two red light tickets (right turn on red after stopping, camera sent ticket). And if theres an accident, you have evidence. Or your family does if you dont make it.

[@Jtw0912]

Don't even bother with the horn on the DR, at least on mine I'm pretty sure I could shout louder. I have considered getting one of those cheapo "train" horns from Amazon, maybe that would do the trick

[@borderlands6606]

Road cams suggest that when faced with a sketchy situation unravelling ahead, many drivers and riders accelerate into it. Not only ahead, drivers will also reverse without consulting mirrors, in spite of use of the horn and shouted warnings. Think of it as Mission Completion mode, or "I've started so I'll finish" and hang the consequences.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

It's bizarre! Happened to me last week in my van. A lady starts to change lanes into me, I'm immediately on the horn in a long blast but she's most of the way into my lane (forcing me to brake hard) before it suddenly registers and she swerves back. And this is a big white van with LED driving lights always on. 🤔

[@I_Mark_Mills]

I've had 2 crashes myself over 18-20 months of riding. First bike was written off while I was filtering through traffic, and a lady up front didn't check her mirror before turning into my path. I've had my new bike for a couple weeks, and had a minor incident on the second day. I hit some grass on a corner, going about 20mph, and the bike got launched into some nice, wet (and thankfully soft) mud lol. 1. Be vigilant with your observations; Anticipate, predict. 2. Know your own limits and abilities. Chances are the limit of the bike is a lot higher than yours! 3. ATGATT. All the gear, all the time. Because of my gear, damage to my body has been minimal.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

And know the difference between road lines and race lines.

[@I_Mark_Mills]

@@davidbrayshaw3529 Definitely.

[@PhilMcCracken01]

I have been on the road for over 40 years and most of that time I ride everyday to work and also for leisure in every weather condition, when I was 18 I had a car pull out in front of me and almost made it around him but my right leg collected his tow bar, wasn't good... over the years riding every day I think you gain like a second sense, you can see what a car driver is going to do before they do it, but, the not seeing bikes and bicycles is true, I was on my bike at night at a cross road, i looked right, left, right again and as I was moving into the intersection there was a bicycle, and yes he had lights, I didn't hit him but somehow I did not see him till he was right in front of me

[@leeroykelly781]

Not a pull out crash situation but more so stupidity on my part. I was following this tractor on a country road and I didn’t peak my mirrors nor looked behind me. And I was going to pass and suddenly this black car was passing right beside me. Lucky I didn’t run into it and quickly got back behind the tractor. After that car passed, I passed the tractor. Never hurts to check if you’re being followed while following a slower vehicle, even on a lonely country road.

[@itsnotachip1209]

Yeah, I reckon we're invisible to car drivers. I have a white bike, headlight on, with a yellow hi-vis vest over my jacket., and still people don't see me. In almost a year, I have had several near misses. Recently, there was a car waiting on the left side of the road (New Zealand), I saw them, and I'm pretty sure they looked in my direction, so I carry on, and then (like you say also) they pulled up anyway. Fortunately they did see me shortly after, and braked. On the motorway also. I'm in a lane, and the car next to me (can't always avoid it) decides to change lanes, exactly where I am. Somewhere in the midst of that, they saw me, and went back. But this doesn't always happen like this, because another time I was simply forced to go into the cycle lane, because of that. I'm thinking of buying a new hi-vis jacket from the UK, but it's a gamble as I can't try it on. What do you think?

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Lots of debate about hi viz gear and how effective it is. I figure it can't hurt! Staying safe involves so many things and every bit helps...

[@Zippytie]

I remember reading that its good policy to move the bike across various posistions in your lane to increase the chance of being seen , still had idiots pull out even when they have looked at me , its although its a case of , ITS ONLY A MOTORCYCLE ,

[@alistairbarclay3116]

Unless I have car or other vehicle behind to be seen by the exiting driver I tend to weave right, left , right, working on the theory that weaving might make the driver more likely to see me, and by ending up being in the centre of the road gives me more of a chance (if it pull out and stops ) to go round the front or to lean hard left and either go round the back or even into the road the vehicle has exited from. I have twice saved my self by hard .ducking off to the left with a pulling out car that stopped . Worth practicing in a empty car park, start off slow and build up the speed over practice sessions.

[@BlackRat-vw9jv]

I used to ride in London with a kill or be killed mentality, it apoears you need that attitude everywhere.

[@zxcvbnmnz]

Worse 2 I have had was a Lady on the motorway in Auckland merging and coming all the way across to the inside lane where I was and trying to mash me into the barrier. Was at night with no other traffic. Truck and trailer coming down a side road and he looked but I could tell he hadn't seen me, gets to the intersection see's me and sides out across the road in a panic and it was a stop sign intersection. I just avoid most and they don't know anything has happened.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Scary shit. Just an alignment of chance events that can be a killer.

[@atlas_au]

Have been daily riding for over a year now. I have been training myself not to look at the car but the driver themselves. 90 percent of the time they are just not looking. No head checks..nothing. most are on their phones. If I see the side of a drivers face and I see the car edging forward or suspension not compacted by braking I am already on the brakes well before they pull out. Dan Dan the fireman has great instructional videos on rider awareness and lane position. Otherwise. I run a bright headlight multiple indicators and reflective tape on the wheels.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Great tips

[@chrisdickinson7949]

The description of your accident is almost exactly what happened to me, except I did break my femur & neck of femur when I bounced off a Holden HQ at 60Kph Three blood transfusions, Pins & plates, & a Lung embolism, then Ten years on a Hip replacement & another Ten years on & I'm on the waiting list for another Hip replacement I still ride ( DL650 )& still have the RG500 I was on, it's not fixed since the accident but at least I get to live in hope of riding it again :)

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Those femur fractures can be seriously nasty, or deadly if you nick the femoral vein, hey? Glad you are still with us.

[@chrisdickinson7949]

@@crosstrainingadventure Thanks, I think you can still bleed out & die even without nicking the femoral artery because the bone is so big Cheers

[@tpv59]

BUMMER Chris.

[@shauntoomey3299]

Teach your children the count the Motorcycles game when they are in the car with you. you can chuck in incentives for how many seen, most seen, first seen etc etc It will tune their minds to seeing them. that just may save a incident in the future.

[@davefish8107]

Started riding in 1972 my dad told me to treat everyone else on the road as an idiot, stopped two years ago , nothing had changed

[@perro0076]

Consider EVERY situation as dangerous. A car slowing down??? What's it slowing down for? Ride to arrive. Also patience. Loooots of it.

[@Balsalmo]

2:30 Personally I look at what the car’s wheels are doing. Looking at the driver tells me nothing since even if he’s looking directly at me does not mean he actually sees me.

[@Francis-xl2gu]

Most look but don't really see, hi viz helps make yourself instantly visible

[@madmarty7103]

It's just psychology. Car drivers aren't scared of being harmed in an accident and think the biker loves his live and will do everything to avoid a crash. Ever asked yourself why bikers driving a car never overlook another biker? Because they don't want to be overlooked themselves when they are riding their motorcycle.

[@ginnybourne6374]

I do nothing to make myself visible because if they cannot see a motorbike and rider adding colour or lights won't help. Instead I treat every vehicle as a potential attacker. I watch driver eyes, body language, are the wheels moving if they are at a junction? Are they texting? (looking at phones goes for the slow obstacles or pedestrians too). I position myself on the road where I can react to random driver actions. I make sure I know what is behind me as well as to the front and sides. Been riding since 1975 and have been fortunate not to have collided with anything despite continuing attempts by the tin cans. As mentioned in other comments here drivers are so much worse now. On any journey I see a large percentage of drivers looking at their phones for scarily long intervals before looking up again for scarily short intervals.

[@nobodyshero200]

You are missing a trick. For your accident situation. As you approach the junction it should be on the right then swerve safely left and then out again. It helps drivers see you. Lots of us do it subconsciously. Now they have seen you and they are now thinking of danger to themselves

[@MrJanaRobi]

I was behind a box truck in a line of traffic and a guy in a small car made a left turn right over my bmw ,he had no insurance of coarse .

[@holden3083]

Glad you’re still doing ok after your accident. Drivers of anything from the foot falcon to a road train. Just need to actually pay attention to the road and driving the vehicle…. If people actually did that there wouldn’t be a problem! Drivers don’t need more excuses. Why they can’t see motorcycles on the road!

[@andrewdavis8137]

I never understood the attraction to black bikes, black clothing and black helmets. Look cool. But also look invisible. High vis is compulsory on work sites. But not compulsory on the road network. Go figure.

[@tpv59]

So VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY TRUE.

[@jaimemetcher388]

I have people pull out or merge into me on a daily basis, but I usually anticipate it. The only one that took me by surprise was someone who pulled out (as I was expecting), crossed over three lanes into the far right, and then immediately back across three lanes to the far left and came to a stop against the kerb. I reacted to them pulling out, reacted again to them crossing to the right, but then almost got sandwiched when they dived for the kerb. My only theory is they saw my lights in their rear view after they pulled out and then panicked. In hindsight, I should have just kept clear behind them.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Yeah you can't really expect that. Man that's crazy!

[@user-uo5me4qv8q]

I am a bike rider..and I see too much that motor riders behave like they are being seen...that is a stupid and dangerous mistake

[@fixento]

You put your motorcycle key in the same key tray day after day. Your come home in a rush and throw the key on the countertop. Yor ready to ride, you can't find the keys although you passed by the countertop five times. This is the same for majority of driver's fault motorcycle accidents are caused when drivers, unless they are paying close attention, experience a psychological phenomenon called inattentional blindness. which occurs when one fails to notice a readily visible yet unexpected [motorcycle] visual stimulus in one's sight. Driver is not looking for a motorcycle, the driver's brain fills in the frames and although the motorcycle is in plain sight, consciously never sees it.

[@hamishclayton347]

"Sorry mate I didn't see you" is simply the statement which absolves themselves of any responsibility... What they mean to say is - "sorry mate I wasn't looking"

[@davidnobular9220]

Or "I'm a self righteous cockwomble and I can't admit I f*ked up"

[@naturalbornleniwiec]

I believe the main point of this video is the they DO look and still sometimes do not see us. Because this is how human brain works.

[@tonymcflattie2450]

I was looking, but I looked quickly, so I didn’t see his dumb ass. That will learn him

[@hamishclayton347]

@@naturalbornleniwiec yeah mate I watched the video too - I’m making my own point, because I also have a human brain 👍

[@Adv207]

Just in the news yesterday a message from NYPD that 55 bikers died within last year only in NYC. A matter of fact I literally parked my bike for good a few years ago after seeing bike accidents every few days on local highway.

[@speedfinder1]

I've just returned from a week's motorcycle riding holiday in France. Irrespective of what any "Anecdotes on poor driving will say," France is a country where the driving test regulations are very much more severe and it shows. British automobile motorists are very much more like "Loose Cattle" by comparison.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Holland was a real eye opener for me, everyone grows up cycling so their awareness of cyclists and motorbike riders is incredible.

[@EpicAdamMotovlogs]

A young driver pulled out in front of me the other day. He was very apologetic & I said it happens. There's no point getting stressed about it. The things that bother me are tailgating and dangerous overtakes. As for touching my buns, people do that for luck

[@crosstrainingadventure]

😂👍

[@allenhuling598]

I would think that anyone who has been a rider for more than a year or two is going to have had the odd person pull out in front or otherwise demonstrate that they did not see you!! Fortunately I live in a small community with no major intersections so it is not so prevalent unless I am traveling! My T7 is the Red/White version, intentionally for visibility, and I added white hand guards. Then add the fact that those LED headlights on 'high' are bright, and still people don't see you!! Just gotta ride with your mind and eyes on the lookout at all times!! Cheers Barry!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Enjoying the T7, Allen? Such a good looking bike, I'm tempted...

[@allenhuling598]

@@crosstrainingadventure Very much.....10,000 miles+ now and I wouldn't trade it for what I do!! Might be a bit heavy for your antics, but the way your throw around the 'bush pig'....... Cheers Barry!

[@boxy4738]

When I ride in traffic I watch 6 cars. The two in front of me, the two either side, the one behind and any in a side street on the left and right. I try to anticipate how they are all going to kill me. 40 years of riding, only accidents I have had on a bike are single vehicle user error and speed related.

[@slothFPV]

its all about reading intention in potentially hazardous other road users, aswell as making your intentions clear and predictable. normally i can tell a car will pull out before they do, you can see the driver looking in your direction and not registering you. people crawling up to junctions are much more likely to pull out, its a dead giveaway

[@64faffi]

Had several close calls in 44 years of riding, but still years between them. Like many have stated here, I expect nobody to see me, especially in the city. I know riders who complain about near-misses on a daily basis. This is down to them being aggressive or insisting on their right of way. Or both. Since we are the ones taking the ambulance ride, being right is of little help. Surprisingly, as I have lately taken up walking to work and having to cross a public road without a marked pedestrian crosswalk, I have found myself so busy looking for the cars I need to avoid, that I several times have missed the bicyclist on the sidewalk as I come spurting over to the other side. So far, I have managed to stop in time. Just. But to me it is evidence that we humans are programmed to look out for the bigger danger, which can make us blind for the lesser "predators".

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Very good point

[@timothym2241]

Car pulling out, that’s been my closest calls.

[@Kevimoto]

Probably the most common motorcycle accident.

[@mattman3495]

I have more people pull out in front of me at night. I think it's because of my twin round headlights makes me look like I'm a car far away.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I've read about guys saying it could help to have an unusual set up. I don't know if it really helps, but I've got two driving lights on the bars which forms a kind of triangle with my headlight.

[@Adv207]

Learn to control your temper and attitude is equally important, drivers really don't see you. (Or you failed to come into their field of view) so you can't blame them for not seeing you if they didn't see you.

[@mosca3289]

Talking to a tram driver the other day. A car drove into the side of the tram and the car driver said “I knew you were there. I saw you. I don’t know why I turned “. It’s scary out there.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Crazy for sure

[@JeanRoi]

Always wear gear. Be alert at stop signs, intersections, gaps etc. Don’t assume, learn how to brake quickly and watch your speed.

[@nickabrahall1412]

The biggest improvement I’ve been able to make to visibility is a LED headlight There is a noticeable difference in how drivers judge pulling out onto the road especially when the light is a fucking big one 😂

[@jamesdenton3692]

Several years ago there were two high profile "accidents" were cars made turns in front of bikes WITH passengers . One incident all three died ,the other just the rider and passenger died .car driver messed up good .The follow up investigation proved the bikes speed at over three times the posted limit estimated at 240 kph. As a bike rider and car driver I KNOW it takes more than a quick glance to estimate a oncoming car or bikes speed.

[@kevinarmstrong478]

We will assume the next vehicle will pass at the same rate as the last one. F9 did a good video on this. Blasting your horn doesn’t make any difference it does feel good though. I’ve also made eye contact with drivers as they pull out in front of me. My grandad a life long commuter summed it all up in one word. Anticipation. I try to assume everyone is about to pull out in front of me. 30 years and I’m still here

[@goon_eg1089]

Got yeeted 4ish years ago. "Driver" looked through me, everything was slo mo(brake lever was 10 miles away) i'v predicted almost every would be close call since that day. Airborne off a civic into the side of a yaris.

[@johnclowes3502]

Wow.. this is one of those subjects that has no real good answer I think dirt bike riders are one of those species that is so used to crashing it is in our DNA to evade collisions better than most road riders. I have watched road riders and most of them think that they are impervious to crashing. This ideology of riding thru traffic and just being in front scares the crap of me. I ride my RS500 SWM just like i drive my car.. with the traffic, I am in no hurry, I scan everything just like on the dirt. i ware my MX gear because i know it looks different, my bike is colourful and noticeable. And like you said I have 1 finger on the brake and the foot cover the rear.. There is no such thing as safe on a bike....ever I just don't understand why i ride considering the risks!!!!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I think learning to ride on a dirt bike first is a massive advantage for road riding later on...

[@Mike40M]

60 years ago, somebody told me that motorists wants to kill you. Don't expect them to use turn signals. Only once hit a car in a roundabout. Funny, even when driving a car distrusts other road users.

[@grayl5514]

You won't believe this. I was out on my usual bicycle ride in Sydneys Inner West and a young lady biker was stopped with the seat up so I asked if she was OK. No problems but to cut a long story short, I tried to give her a few tips based on over 50 years riding including your logical point re covering the front brake lever with a finger or two. I asked her about the current rider training system and she said that the trainers don't recommend that because...are you waiting for it...if you apply full brakes you might squash some fingers under the brake lever. I'm not making this up.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

FFS! Seriously? I wonder where they source that? Did some public servant just dream it up? 😂

[@tpv59]

(I don't believe you!!!)

[@yorkchris10]

Yes, so there's distracted drivers, there's built-in psychological factors and there's vehicle failure. One should also look at the wheel position. Someone with their wheels pointed towards you is a potential obstacle. There's a reason why some manouvers are not allowed in some places too.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

100%