Читать книгу Street Rider's Guide - David L. Hough - Страница 16

Delusive Drivers

A driver can’t signal his intentions if he hasn’t decided what to do.

You’re out for a ride in the country, following a secondary highway that wanders past farms and the occasional family store. There are lots of twists and even right-angle turns, and a few railroad-grade crossings, but everything is well marked. You’ve ridden this road before and have a pretty good idea of the layout. The weather is warm and dry today, the surface is clean and predictable, and the bike begs to be ridden aggressively. You can’t resist. Most of the road is posted 55 mph, but it feels better at 70. You feel comfortable taking the 25-mph corners at 40.

Approaching a left-hander near a country store, you decelerate, ease over to the right edge of the pavement, and prepare to accelerate just as soon as you are over the railroad tracks. The driver ahead appears to be slowing to turn off at the store, and you plan to pass him on the left.

But, rather than continue his turn, the driver suddenly brakes to a stop right over the railroad track. You can’t pass on his left because now there’s an oncoming SUV. You apply both brakes just short of skidding, but at the speed you’re traveling, you’re running out of room. You ease over toward the right to avoid a collision with the car, but your front wheel slams into the exposed rail, putting a huge dent in the rim.

It may be fun to ride the backroads at spirited speeds, but you need to slow immediately for situations that are out of your control, such as wild animals, sightseeing trains, or tourists who are lost or unsure. There are at least three vehicles here that could suddenly get in your way.

In this situation you should have reduced speed much sooner and waited for the other drivers to get out of the way before deciding your move. It’s important to be in full control of the bike, but it’s just as important to be in control of the situation.