Close call Freeway exit thoughts...

[HighwayHum72]

Hey guys, just wanted to get on here and post about exiting freeways after a close call on my last ride down a busy Socal highway. I find that writing about these things helps me process the experience and keep myself mindful of safe street riding. Always give yourself enough time to exit the carpool lane and merge because you never know what speed drivers behind you are approaching. In my particular case a wanna be race car driver was traveling in excess of 100mph weaving around thru the slow lane as I was in lane 2. I saw something for a split second move abnormally fast when I head checked right and decided to stay put instead of exit. Sure enough the black car zoomed past me and everyone else in the right lane probably doing 110mph about 2 ft away from my right side. If I was determined to exit at that particular time I might have been creamed! There are so many variables that occupy attention when exiting busy freeways including, proximity distances, speed and even windblast control. Best to make smooth, controlled changes if possible and never rush to exit. Thanks for listening and ride safe moto friends.

 

[rchuff]

After 33 years of riding motorcycles nothing surprises me.I look in my mirrors but still turn my head to check. You never know.

 

[BuellyBagger]

I generally crane my entire body around to get a good look when exiting or entering interstate or freeway traffic, but it only takes one missed look... that situation is sketchy in many vehicles, like towing for example. All you can do is try and be safer/smarter than everyone else.

 

[user_deleted]

as a board elder statesman i've been riding for 52 years now. i've posted this a few times but thinking this topic merits a re-post. it has saved my life many times while doing battle with the cagers all these years and if it saves just one board member life was well worth my efforts to post....and it goes like this:
1-DO NOT EVER ASSUME that inbound traffic has come to stop when you receive a green light to proceed thru an intersection. look both left and right then proceed.
2- when approaching a vehicle that is slowed or stopped on the incoming lane and about to make a left turn into your potential path of travel....focus in on the driver and the steering wheel. obviously applicable for daytime riding only. practice it and you'll be surprised how much info you can quickly gleen from watching the driver. you'll get a sense if they see you coming, if they're texting, if they are about to snap the steering wheel left. try it and you'll be surprised what you see.
3-lastly my fav: when you approach a vehicle on your right that is preparing to enter or cross your lane of travel lightly decelerate, cover your brake pedal and lever, and hone in on the left front wheel. just stare at the wheel. if it starts to move they're potentially coming out and you need to take evasive maneuvers. that wheel tells you everything they are about to do and provides a reaction time buffer if needed.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

43 years road service here and i agree with everything John says another tip as you get close enough is head position and movement, are they focusing on one position at whats coming towards them or do they keep taking quick glances left or right in between looking forwards because i find its the side twitchers that usually do a last minute impulse dash without thinking towards where they were glancing a few seconds earlier!

 

[HighwayHum72]

this is good stuff guys. I appreciate the valuable advice. I'm going to start paying more closely to wheel positions and steering wheel movement.

 

[Lusiphur]

good stuff

And if you are Lorenzo, and you are entering into a sweeping left, make sure you do not have any Ducati's coming in hot.

 

[Lusiphur]

We call NJ New Germany. LOL

 

[Gloomshadow]

when I am stacking at a red light I always try to get on a "line" in between lanes or on the side of the road so the car ahead of you gets rear-ended instead of you. The car can take the impact, you and your bike CANT.