Ride Smart!
 
Thanks to several readers last month, I stand corrected on my article “The Red Light Bill”.  It is the size of the motorcycle, not the weight, that will not trigger traffic light detection devices.
 
As motorcycle instructors/educators, we often hear our customers express the desire to learn to ride “safely”. As experienced motorcyclists, we all know it is impossible to remove all the risk from our sport. However, managing the risk can often be a large part of the fun and challenge of riding a motorcycle. But how do we effectively manage the risk?

First, you must develop the necessary physical skills to control your motorcycle in all kinds of situations. How? We strongly recommend training and practice – one without the other is simply not enough. And “once is not enough” – recurrent training is as important to a motorcyclist as it is to a pilot. Training is offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (www.msf-usa.org), as well as private instruction such as our Atlanta Motorcycle Schools (www.AtlantaMotorcycleSchools.com) or Stayin’ Safe (www.StayinSafe.com ).
Next, “riding safe” is all about having a mental strategy and constantly applying this strategy. Some use the Smith System, some use SIPDE, some use SEE, etc.  As instructors, we seek professional education ourselves and we’re very pleased with a slightly different focus when we attended a Stayin’ Safe Training Tour. The Stayin' Safe mantra assures that you are continually evaluating all conditions and consistently placing your motorcycle in the path of least potential risk. Sometimes the greatest threat to your safety is the approaching turn, sometimes it is the blind hill/turn, sometimes it is the hidden—or not so hidden—driveway, or often it is the traffic approaching the intersection. All strategies revolve around recognizing and prioritizing hazards. Stayin' Safe goes a step further by focusing on reading the “verge” (where the road and sides converge and diverge). By doing so, you can better predict the lay of the road ahead, making riding unfamiliar roads much safer!

If you have an opportunity, participate in a “Stayin’ Safe” Training Tour, an MSF Experienced Rider Course, or an Atlanta Motorcycle Schools private course. The goal for each ride should be: “Don’t hit anything and don’t let anything hit you.” The more education you receive, the greater the chance you have of attaining this goal. The education and experience provided by certified instructors can save countless hours and agony of “trial and error” gained solely through personal experience! Often inexperienced or untrained motorcyclists are simply unaware of a potential hazard. As the expression goes “You don’t know what you don’t know.” However, the knowledge is out there – you can attain it and make your rides “safer” (although never completely safe!).
Thanks to JoAnna and Ken Murray www.AtlantaMotorcycleSchools.com  for the article this month.
Chuck Watwood Lawbike.com (770) 650-0016

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