What is SMIDSY? - What It Means And Why You Should Know About It.

[@QuiescentCookie]

Fortnine did a fantastic video called invisibility training for motorcyclists on why this sort of thing happens. I highly reccomend it.

[@_______-]

Agreed. Drivers scan, rather than look. I've taken to riding with two fingers covering the brake while in traffic. Don't want to be panicking and grabbing too hard in the event of having to take evasive action, especially in the wet.

[@MotoEcosse]

Yeah I occasionally find myself doing that riding through the town as well.🤜🤛

[@digger8180]

Excellent post, it's an equivalent technique to boxing or similar where you don't look at your opponents hands or face, the giveaway is the movement of the shoulder which always moves before the arm. Like you say after a while it becomes intuitive, but never let your guard down or become complacent. Visibility in the dark months, no brainer and always remember you have a horn, make sure it works and don't be afraid to give it a long blast to make sure they know you are there.

[@deanroberts187]

Another great video. Even in an 18 wheeler - people still say I didn’t see you. You just have to mitigate as best as you can. Stay safe.

[@Knobblytyressoggysocks]

I look at the wheels , I shave off abit of speed and also slightly weave to draw attention to myself by moving around if necessary and be aware of signs, other vehicles etc that might be blocking their view of me so position myself as best as possible.

[@Squishxgui]

Heyo, passed my Mod 1 today thanks for the help! Got my mod 2 next Tuesday super nervous but got your vids to calm me down ;) thanks mate

[@deanroberts187]

Congrats on Pass today. Good Luck for Mod2. I’m at similar stage. Took CBT a couple of weeks back. Passed Theory last week. Saving my pennies to take DAS in the Spring / Summer

[@Squishxgui]

@@deanroberts187 Good luck! My instructor said today he doesn’t think i took a single breath during my mod 1 bc i was that nervous 😂😂😂 bahahaha

[@MotoEcosse]

That's awesome, Charlotte. Congrats on the pass. All the best for your mod 2. 🤜🤛

[@Scratch83]

Good job Charlotte. I hope you're on the discord and can keep us up to date. If so then we'll see you next Tuesday 😏

[@Squishxgui]

@@Scratch83 i’ve literally just joined! updates coming

[@Subject__017]

Great video mate. It’s definitely something us bikers need to be aware of. Always looking and thinking ahead, it just becomes natural once you’ve gained some experience, but that’s the key, it comes with experience. New bikers, learner riders or DAS, this is an extremely useful and life saving mindset, that you can easily incorporate into your riding. SMIDSY is something I’m always using. A lot of my mates have asked advice on passing their tests etc, I send them straight to your channel. Ride safe mate and I look forwards to the next video! Cheers, Jon.

[@MotoEcosse]

I really appreciate that, Jon. Cheers mate. 🤜🤛

[@Danny-et4wj]

Brand new rider picking up the new ride in about 5 weeks. I’ve been watching biking videos like this for about a year. This video is absolutely helpful. Keeping the basics & the obvious fresh in the front of the mind. I will remember this. Thank you.

[@MotoEcosse]

No problem, Danny. What sort of bike are you getting?

[@Danny-et4wj]

@@MotoEcosse I’ve gone for a little Yamaha naked. MT03. 1st bike. I think that will do me for a little while. It’ll be a good bike to learn a lot more on I feel.

[@wallaceshackleton1889]

Fine video. The best thing that I ever done was undergo the IAM training. The tip about watching wheels is so valuable to know. You should try and illustrate your videos with practical examples.

[@SsgtHolland]

The tip about looking at the wheel to judge movement is stellar, thanks mate!

[@MotoEcosse]

Glad you found it helpful. 🤜🤛

[@Nooziterp1]

Ah yes the SMIDSY. The classic bike/car crash. Apart from things like watching for eye contact (is the driver looking at me?) and road positioning (moving to the right to bring you more into the driver's line of sight) there is a lot more you can do. 1 - wear high visibility clothing like a hi-vis vest and a white or brightly coloured helmet and make sure your headlight is on. 2 - don't ride too fast. If the driver sees you approaching on a 30 limit road they will do a quick mental calculation to work out how long it will be before you get to where they are. If you are doing 50 this calculation will be way off resulting in you getting to them sooner than they are expecting. Result: they will pull out.

[@stephanguitar9778]

As someone who ended up driving a bus after my real job was offshored, I can tell you that people sometimes don't register that a large vehicle is about to whack them. Car and van drivers have pulled out of side steets into busy 3 lane roads so they can see past the big orange fronted bus with lights on in Broad daylight. They were usually looking for a gap in the next lane out. This is an inbuilt flaw in the human brain. This happened to me half a dozen times in 3 years and twice I thew the entire passenger load out of their seats while breaking so hard. Another thing I learned is not to trust what a vehicle in front of you is going to do, eg, indicating left, brake light come on but they don't turn the corner or stop half way round. ie, don't plan to be in that space until they have gone for sure.

[@DoomNedwob]

Sound advice mate, cheers 👍 "Everyone's and idiot", as my Nan always used to say before we set off home after a visit. The one that's happened to me several times, not sure if it's a SMIDSY, when I've stopped at a junction to turn left and had a car, also turning left, pull up alongside me on the right. One of them even pulled out around me as I hadn't moved off fast enough! 😳 Hey ho, observations are so important as you say. Watching all your videos again as I'm finally starting big bike lessons on Friday, woohoo 😁

[@outcastmoto8374]

Growing up whilst on trips with family we'd play a game called spot the bike where we would call out every time we saw a bike it was just something to entertain us since we didn't have iPad and stuff then, now that I'm grown up and driving myself I believe it's because of that game we played I subconsciously see bikes straightaway. It's sorta just natural instinct now and will be doing the same with my little boy when we are out and about particularly with me in the process of getting my A licence.

[@blackdotkiller1]

Great video mate 🏍👍 nice to see that orange thing in the sky for a change 😎

[@MotoEcosse]

Cheers bud. Only lasted a day 😩😂.

[@bertigod9329]

Best advice I've ever had.........Ride like your invisible👍Great vid btw👍

[@MotoEcosse]

Cheers mate. 🤜🤛

[@cutthroatlock4814]

Great video dude, good info and also a bonus loving the face view certainly puts more of a personal touch to the vids

[@MotoEcosse]

Cheers bud. Yeah thought it was about time I added a second camera. 🤜🤛

[@johnlittle8669]

Hello, I found your videos very helpful in passing my mod 2. Keep up the good work. 👍.

[@MotoEcosse]

That's great to hear, John. Congratulations mate. 🤜🤛

[@phughes8742]

PaulH. Yet again a great informative video, thank you!

[@MotoEcosse]

🤜🤛

[@chaswarrior7507]

Like you videos, just like a bleather with a biker about biker things, awesome.

[@michellemackie5433]

Brilliant as always keep it up

[@MotoEcosse]

Thanks, Michelle. 🤜🤛

[@mototripperuk]

Just came across your channel, great content, talking about the subject matter I have just survived a SMIDSY in my own little town, Kelso, in fact 2 in one week on the same stretch of road, 1st one was on Monday the 14th March (near miss) the second one on Friday the 18th March I wasn't so lucky, strange thing was it was black cars involved on both occasions doing the same thing, coming out of a junction onto the main road that I was traveling, anyway Friday was a sore one, broken finger, busted knee in stitches and severely bruised & swollen, as for the bike..... well I think that's a write off, seen it yesterday and not looking good at all, I seen you done a review on the new GSX-S 1000GT, my bike that is getting written of is a 2019 GSX-S 1000FZ Phantom & love it so I'm sticking with it and going for the GT but in blue, I've had too many black bikes lol, although black bikes still matter, just a waiting game now for everything to be settled, thanks for the content buddy, maybe see you around 👍.....ps been riding on & off since I was old enough to, I'm 53 but still young at heart lol.

[@MotoEcosse]

Sorry to hear that mate. That sucks. Glad your injuries aren't too serious and hopefully you'll be back on the road in no time. The GT was a great bike to ride. 🤜🤛

[@davidhughes3051]

great advice, thanks pal.

[@MotoEcosse]

🤜🤛

[@pinkyrecords]

Great video, thank you mate 👍🏻

[@MotoEcosse]

🤜🤛

[@MadOldBiker]

Excellent video and yes, they live among us..so far touch wood..not happened to me yet.although I have a much bigger bike now

[@MotoEcosse]

How are you enjoying your new bike?

[@MadOldBiker]

@@MotoEcosse its off the road for repair lol

[@alexeynezhdanov2362]

Auto driver here. It's not like we don't see you. We do. But you are just small enough and you don't automatically register as a threat. Which means that I have to make conscious effort that "ah, that pal is actually also a participant of the traffic, I have to consider him" - and that takes time.

[@dengue509]

i stopped going on my bike for a month because some guy almost took me out and said i did not see you i am now back on my bike but i have lost all confidence and i try and go out when i know traffic is not bad great video keep them coming OH can you do i video on hill starts ?

[@MotoEcosse]

Hey bud. There's a video in the mod playlist on hill starts. Hope it helps. 🤜🤛

[@dengue509]

@@MotoEcosse thank you

[@Knobblytyressoggysocks]

@dengue - are you able to have a ride out with someone trustworthy (instructor or fellow biker) that you can follow and give you a bit of a confidence boost? I had similar happen and road out with a steady calm friend and it really helped.

[@eleanortamburrini8336]

Hi judging by your location you are out and about in Stirling .I have just passed my theory test and looking to go on to Mod1 and 2 can you recommend anywhere in Stirling to do this test. regards Ron T

[@MotoEcosse]

Hi mate. I trained with Cameron Bike Training who are based over in Alva. Your mod 1 test will either be in Glasgow or I think Kirkcaldy also has a test area. Mod 2 is all off road so it doesn't really matter where you sit it as you will be in a closed off test area. Your mod 2 can be booked in Stirling if you wish. That's where I sat my mod 2. 🤜🤛

[@7parky]

You should be an instructor, good calming knowledgable voice, keep up the good work….

[@MotoEcosse]

Cheers, Dean. 🤜🤛

[@briand342]

Innit it spelled aye dinnae see ya?

[@michaelskelhorn4392]

I like the cut of you're jist. Too the point.

[@Vid-FX]

SMIDSY, 5 penalty points and £5k fine for the driver, and a half day out with the undertaker for you. Deadly for you and for cyclists, but you have one more tool than the push bikers. A horn, use it.