The Blind Spot

[LittleBear]

I was on my way home from work in the cage when this nice young lady on a Dyna wide glide came up behind me on her bike. She had plenty of lights on the front of this thing since she had added the rectangular spot lights to the top of the crash bars. They provided no help in me seeing her where she was riding relative to my cage.
Now the problem was, she changed lanes and moved up beside me, that is how I knew it was a Wide Glide. Then she drops back or I speed up, not sure which, but she disappeared into my blind spot. Not just for a little while for a whole block. I mean I could not see her with any of my mirrors or by looking over my shoulder out the back of the car. Well, when I looked, I could see her handlebars, but I knew she was there. Most people would have never seen her.

Point is, pay attention out there. If you can not see them in their mirrors, or you can not see the driver through a window, you can bet you a$$ he can not and will not see you.

This is a hard thing for new riders to grasp and very critical to prevent the lane change into your space. I do not know if she was a new rider, but she damn sure was acting like one.

Stay aware of your position relative to the cars. Get up beside them so they can hear your pipes and see you out the front side windows or the windshield. Don't ride by the rear quarter panel unless you want them to turn into you and say, I never saw the biker. It may very well be the case.

Ride safe out there.

[stoney]

Good thing to know. Thanks for the reminder.

[Scabbydoo]

Good reminder Paul. I try my darndest to be in their blind spot for as short a time as possible as well as do what I can to make sure they know I'm around before I try to move up.

[ms_tapestry]

Thank you Bear for the reminder. . . I won't ride in their blind spot and by the same token, I won't let them drive in mine.

Thanks, Paul. There's a lot of riders out there that don't know this.

[FinalBags]

KiddRockr likes to ride up in my blind spot about once a day, just to watch me freak out looking for him. Head on a swivel and all that.
Good post Paul, thanks.

[SafetyMan]

Excellent points!!

One more thing to think about, from a CDL Class A Driver Trainer...

A Semi-truck's blind spot is MUCH larger than that of your average cage, and once again, if you can't see the driver's eyes in his mirror, he can't see you.

[squish]

good points paul.....i just try to stay in front of traffic.....makes things easy. my throttle is my friend...

[Sidecar Doug]

Originally Posted by SafetyMan

Excellent points!!

One more thing to think about, from a CDL Class A Driver Trainer...

A Semi-truck's blind spot is MUCH larger than that of your average cage, and once again, if you can't see the driver's eyes in his mirror, he can't see you.

Good point Chip. I too drive a big truck at work, at experience this everyday. I can't tell you how many times I've "lost" another vehicle in my blind spots. I can see alot sitting up high, but there's no way to see a small car or motorcycle that might behind me. I have to assume they are there untill I can see them.

[Dirty Dan]

This is a great reminder. I either lag behind or accelerate through the blind spot.