You could be watching MCrider videos ad-free. Find out how.
If you are an ad-free member make sure to log in to see your ad-free video.
Many riders feel as though the streets are full of drivers actively working against them. The reality? If you frequently find yourself swerving, emergency braking, or feeling like riding is too dangerous, the issue might not be other drivers—it could be your road strategy. At MCrider, we believe that a skilled rider is not just someone who can maneuver through a cone course or excel on a track day, but someone who rarely needs to rely on those skills in life-saving situations.
Here are five critical mistakes riders make and how to fix them to improve your safety and road experience.
Ride Like You Are Invisible
While there are many ways to make yourself more visible—bright clothing, additional lights, and smart lane positioning—visibility is not a guarantee of safety. Motorcycles often fall victim to inattentional blindness, a phenomenon where drivers fail to see what they aren’t expecting, like a motorcycle.
This happens due to:
- Size and Visibility: Motorcycles are smaller and harder to detect in peripheral vision.
- Expectation: Drivers are conditioned to notice cars, buses, and trucks, but often overlook motorcycles.
- Motion Camouflage: A motorcycle moving toward a driver can blend into the background, appearing to “disappear.”
- Peripheral Vision Limitations: Even when seen, motorcycles may not register as a threat due to their smaller size.
Accept that many drivers won’t see you and ride proactively. Assume you are invisible, and position yourself in ways that maximize your visibility without relying on it for safety.
Keep a Good Following Distance
A proper following distance is one of the simplest yet most effective strategies for staying safe. Maintaining a 3-5 second gap from the vehicle in front allows you more time to react to hazards, improves visibility, and prevents you from inheriting the mistakes of others.
If a vehicle cuts into your gap, simply roll off the throttle and create space again. Gaps in traffic are your safest zone—find them, maintain them, and don’t hesitate to pass slower vehicles if needed to stay in a safe position.
Use Lane Position to Your Advantage
Lane positioning is one of the most underutilized tools in a rider’s safety arsenal. Many riders stick to one lane position out of habit, whether for better visibility or to stay farther from other vehicles. However, no single lane position is ideal for every situation.
The key is flexibility. Adjust your position to:
- Maximize your visibility of the road ahead.
- Increase your chances of being seen by other drivers.
- React to changing road conditions or traffic patterns.
By actively moving within your lane, you take advantage of the motorcycle’s agility and improve your ability to respond to potential hazards.
Maintain Speed Relative to Traffic
Riding too fast is an obvious danger, but riding too slow can also put you at risk. When you’re moving significantly slower than the flow of traffic, you increase the chances of drivers tailgating, stacking up behind you, or making risky passes out of frustration.
The “sweet spot” for speed is to ride with the general flow of traffic or slightly faster. This positioning keeps you in control of the interactions between vehicles while reducing the likelihood of impatient drivers creating hazards around you.
Never Allow the Mistakes of Others to Become Your Problem
The most skilled riders are those who can anticipate and avoid the mistakes of others on the road. This requires constant awareness and an active approach to road strategy:
- Searching: Continuously scan for potential traps such as cars turning, blind spots, or inattentive drivers. Look for anything that might pose a threat.
- Evaluating: Assess the level of danger each situation presents. Is the driver looking your way? Are their actions predictable? Prioritize the most immediate threats and plan your response.
- Executing: Put your plan into action. This might involve covering the brakes, slowing down, changing lane positions, or even swerving slightly to increase visibility.
By staying engaged in this cycle of searching, evaluating, and executing, you stay one step ahead of potential hazards and minimize the impact of other drivers’ mistakes.
Final Thoughts
Riding is inherently risky, but much of that risk can be managed with proper road strategy. By assuming you’re invisible, maintaining a safe following distance, optimizing your lane position, matching your speed to traffic, and actively mitigating others’ mistakes, you transform from a good rider into a great one.
If you feel like the roads are too dangerous or that drivers are always out to get you, take a moment to evaluate your own habits. Often, a few simple changes can make a world of difference in your safety and peace of mind.
For more in-depth tips and strategies, visit MCrider.com/strategy, where you’ll find detailed videos and resources to enhance your skills and road awareness.
Ride safe, stay sharp, and keep learning. The roads aren’t as hostile as they seem when you ride with a plan.
Links you may be interested in:
Become a Member of MCrider
Get the Field Guide Print Edition
Order ANYTHING on Amazon and Support MCrider
Braking Tips
Entry Speed
Head & Eyes
Slow – Look – Press – Roll
Trail Braking
Following Distance
Police Skills
Riding Under the Influence
Become a Member for immediate access to the MCrider Field Guide.
Below is some gear that I ride with on a daily basis…if you are in the need of good riding gear, the products below have worked well for me.
KLIM Jacket – https://www.MCrider.com/KLIM
Shoei Motorcycle Helmets – https://www.MCrider.com/Shoei
Windshirt/Jacket Liner – https://www.MCrider.com/Liner
Lee Park Sumo Gloves – https://www.MCrider.com/LeeParks
The best source for guiding your practice session is the MCrider Field Guide.
If you are not a Member join for immediate access to the forums and Field Guide
