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Driving safety from motorcyclist's perspective

As a motorcyclist I ride my motorcycle and drive my car as though I am invisible especially on a motorcycle. Other drivers just don't pay attention. Eating, drinking and talking on the cell phone should not be done while driving a car. You will never see a motorcycle rider drinking a soda or talking on a cell phone while driving. My one and only motorcycle accident occurred in the parking lot of a shopping center. The other driver was looking right at me and continued to pull out in front of me. After I picked myself up off the ground the driver exclaimed, "I didn't see you." If you apply the concepts I have listed below to driving your car or motorcycle you can greatly reduce accidents.

I always ride with my headlights on, not the daytime driving lights, but full headlights and taillights. Headlights bring the other drivers attention to you and your bike. If you need to get the other driver's attention flash your high beam at the inattentive driver. Use your horn that is why you have one. Try not to be obnoxious about it. Following someone two feet from their bumper and flashing your lights or blowing your horn repeatedly is considered to be aggressive driving and could get you a ticket. When I see someone sitting at an intersection that can pull out in front of me, I flash my lights once. I usually get a head nod or acknowledgement that they see me.

As you ride keep your eyes moving. Check your mirrors and observe the cars and traffic situation ahead. Don't let yourself get focused on car in immediately in front of you. Instead constantly scan around and don't spend more than two or three seconds on each subject. As you ride look for cars approaching from the rear. Watch for taillights and brake lights. Scan ahead for dangers such as intersections and shopping centers. Where cars are parked on the street look for drivers or passengers getting in or exiting cars. If someone is sitting in a parked car anything could happen. The person my pull out or exit the car right in front of you. When approaching other cars try to make eye contact with the other driver. At four way stops or congested areas with slow traffic open your visor to let the other drivers see your eyes and face.

Always be aware of a way out. As you ride think about where can you go to avoid an accident. Is there room between you and the vehicle in front? What does the shoulder look like? Is it clean and smooth? Gravel? Is there a ditch on the side of

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