Junctions in Town

The riskiest part of any ride is probably at junctions, unfortunately towns are full of them.

Q? What do I need to look out for.

A: Being seen and seeing really.

Q? That’s it.

A: Basically. Many crashes happen because the rider wasn’t seen. The fact that he may have had Hi-Viz on and all his lights still wasn’t enough. Not being see hurts. It could be that a different times of the day your lights and Hi-Viz gets lost in the background of other traffic. It may be that you were seen but your approach speed was badly judged by the driver. Or it could simply be that you were seen. Modern car legislation demand increasingly thick A pillars and a bike can simply get lost.

Q? So what’s the remedy

A: What important skill or technique to use is lateral movement. That is side to side across the carriageway. I don’t recommend you go down the road weaving from side to side but enough that you move across their line of vision. Even if the bus behind you is disguising your presence this movement will likely alert the driver to your presence.

Q? You mentioned seeing. What about that.

A: Yes position to see. Often it feel like a good idea to position away from the junction. Maybe to wards to centre of the road when approaching a nearside junction. But what if you were following a white van? To that car stuck in the junction you are invisible and from you position you cant see him. Holding back and taking a look down the indie means you can see them and they can hopefully become aware of you.

Q? What else should I consider

A: Time of day is a good one. At rush hour cans can get held up entering from a side rod for a long time and patience gets tried. So a car could jump at the first half chance to get out. You need to make sure that isn’t where you are hidden behind that SUV. Late afternoon with the sun behind you. If there sun is there your are like a fighter bomber coming out of the sun. The car driver may really never know you are there. Never underestimate the importance of eye contact. See them, see where they are looking. Try to make eye contact and read their intentions.

Rural Junctions

Fewer than in town but the speeds have gone up so these can be tricky, often because we’re enjoying ourselves and not thinking about what drivers are thinking

Q? Are Junctions really that dangerous

A: Most emergency service attending accidents end up doing it at a junction. Riders usually overestimate their conspicuity, drivers under estimate our speed, and then the average rider overestimates their ability to take action if it all goes wrong. It’s a triple storm.

Q? Is speed really that crucial

A: Often, yes. Most of the time we approach a hazard with too much speed. The more time we give the rider to work out what’s going on and make the right choice the better. Often we are just inside our own heads too much. The suns out, the roads smooth and clean and the bends are flowing and we are in a rhythm. We are relaxed and in a groove we just don’t realise how fast that rhythm is. Until its too late.

Q? So

A: Make the assumption that the vehicle at the junction will make the wrong choice, the bad choice. Help him by checking that you are not approaching faster than he would expect. If necessary slow down to the speed he would expect and is attuned to react to. Advanced riders refer to all sorts of things on the road as ‘hazards’. Junctions are hazards with a capital H.

Q? Is that all?

A: Take of a bit more speed that you think necessary, its easy to put it back on, and don’t forget that lateral movement to catch their eye. Think about what’s behind you and consider how you would look to them. Its especially dangerous if it’s just you the. With other traffic about the driver sitting at the junction is more aware. If the driver does see you I think it’s often good to acknowledge it with a nod or a friendly wave. That way they may just look out for the next polite biker too.