Tips for not getting killed by a left turner

isaac · 06-01-2007, 12:36 PM

Since left turn accidents claim the lives of more motorcyclists than any other kind, I think this warrants its own thread so that it's more likely to be read:

I've always been paranoid of left turn accidents, where a car crosses your path without seeing you.

They happen because the driver "didn't see you." The reasons for that generally stem from carelessness, but it's also because a motorcycle traveling in a straight line toward you is harder to see than a car, and when only given a sideways glance looks like a car that's very far away, rather than a motorcycle that's close.

It's something that can happen very quickly. You're riding along and suddenly the guy in the left turn lane coming the other way pulls out right in front of you. Bam, you're dead. Or a car on a side street pulls across your path and the same thing happens. Either way, not good.

My friend was the victim of a bad left turn accident in January. He was riding the speed limit on his GSX-R750 in the left southbound lane of a 6 lane road, when an SUV coming northbound turned left across his path and his body hit it broadside. He was in the ICU for nearly a week, and broke dozens of bones and suffered severe nerve damage.

Not wanting to go through that myself, I've been especially vigilant against left turners, and wanted to offer some tips on what I do.

1) Always scan the road ahead, and zero in on any car that has the remotest chance of crossing your path.

2) Immediately treat that car like it will try to hit you.

3) If possible, use other cars to protect you. If you're riding near or next to a car traveling the same way you are, it significantly decreases the chances of somebody turning left in front of you. Don't stay there unless necessary though, because you don't want the protector car to change lanes into you becuase you're near their blind spot.

4) When in doubt at all that a potential left turner will see you, flick your high beams and low beams back and forth to catch their attention. I will do this a handful of times on my 5 mile ride to work.

5) If still in doubt, I swerve my bike back and forth a little in the lane. That makes you much more obvious to them. A bike going in a straight line is just a dot on the horizon. One that's moving side to side is recognizable as being closer to the car.

So far I've done well to avoid left turners, but constant vigilance is mandatory. It'll save your
hide someday.

phail · 06-01-2007, 03:22 PM

Almost met the front fender of a car yesterday because of this scenario. It looked like the older lady (45-50s probably) had a heart attack when she realized what she was doing. Eyes like baseballs.

ithaca · 06-01-2007, 03:29 PM

those are most of the things you can do... Changing lane position to suit your needs is great and i do that all the time.

DonRR · 06-01-2007, 03:42 PM

Be careful flashing your lights at cages, they may take that as a signal to go ahead with what they are intending to do! I just run mine on high beam all the time.

MINI NSX · 06-01-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonRR

Be careful flashing your lights at cages, they may take that as a signal to go ahead with what they are intending to do! I just run mine on high beam all the time.

That (above) has happened to me before, too. If I think the car doesn't see me I hit the high beams and leave them on 'til I'm passed. Another thing:cover your front brake.

GoIllini · 06-01-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaac

Since left turn accidents claim the lives of more motorcyclists than any other kind, I think this warrants its own thread so that it's more likely to be read:

I've always been paranoid of left turn accidents, where a car crosses your path without seeing you.

They happen because the driver "didn't see you." The reasons for that generally stem from carelessness, but it's also because a motorcycle traveling in a straight line toward you is harder to see than a car, and when only given a sideways glance looks like a car that's very far away, rather than a motorcycle that's close.

It's something that can happen very quickly. You're riding along and suddenly the guy in the left turn lane coming the other way pulls out right in front of you. Bam, you're dead. Or a car on a side street pulls across your path and the same thing happens. Either way, not good.

My friend was the victim of a bad left turn accident in January. He was riding the speed limit on his GSX-R750 in the left southbound lane of a 6 lane road, when an SUV coming northbound turned left across his path and his body hit it broadside. He was in the ICU for nearly a week, and broke dozens of bones and suffered severe nerve damage.

Not wanting to go through that myself, I've been especially vigilant against left turners, and wanted to offer some tips on what I do.

1) Always scan the road ahead, and zero in on any car that has the remotest chance of crossing your path.

2) Immediately treat that car like it will try to hit you.

3) If possible, use other cars to protect you. If you're riding near or next to a car traveling the same way you are, it significantly decreases the chances of somebody turning left in front of you. Don't stay there unless necessary though, because you don't want the protector car to change lanes into you becuase you're near their blind spot.

4) When in doubt at all that a potential left turner will see you, flick your high beams and low beams back and forth to catch their attention. I will do this a handful of times on my 5 mile ride to work.

5) If still in doubt, I swerve my bike back and forth a little in the lane. That makes you much more obvious to them. A bike going in a straight line is just a dot on the horizon. One that's moving side to side is recognizable as being closer to the car.

So far I've done well to avoid left turners, but constant vigilance is mandatory. It'll save your
hide someday.

Thanks a lot for that advice. I don't remember them teaching that in the MSF course, but I was actually kinda wondering how to avoid the left turners. I've tried slowing down and staying to the right to give myself a little extra time to respond, but the flipping the high beams trick is something I'll have to remember.

WhoUtink · 06-01-2007, 06:55 PM

Good post.

g34343greg · 06-01-2007, 09:50 PM

i wouldn't do the light flashing thing. thats usually a sign to let them know its okay to go. instead just leave your high beams on (in the day).

here's another one:
watch the tires and watch for them to start to turn or roll. DON'T WATCH THE DRIVER! just because you think you're making eye contact doesn't mean they see you. chances are they are looking right past you

Ivan_markII · 06-01-2007, 09:59 PM

I cover my front brake. Once that car goes forward I'm not shy about doing near-max braking.

A month ago this happened to me, and I just missed the left-turning pick-up truck. I wasn't worried because I figured he'd turn in front of me, and I also figured the speed was slow enough if I did collide it wouldn't be too bad. The riders behind me were surprised I did not crash.

Expect it to happen eventually to you, cover the front brake, wear your equipment, and make sure you have health insurance.

isaac · 06-01-2007, 10:41 PM

Flashing your lights at a four way stop in a parking lot might mean it's safe to go, but I've been driving for 12 years and maybe 250,000 miles and have never seen that signal misinterpreted on a 50mph road.

Generally it's assumed that the now extremely visible (from flashing lights) vehicle going 50mph has the right of way over the one going 0mph, but that's just me. I'm not saying a wreck is impossible, but that'd be pretty fucking ironic if a car that didn't see you before, but now does see you because you flashed your lights, would think you were giving it the ok to cut you off within impact distance.

That and I could have sworn that's why automatic headlight flashers were invented as a safety device.

I've never heard anybody teach to run anything but high beams in the daytime, so that's what I do. I intended flashing the light to be a supplement to that.

donkeyman · 06-02-2007, 01:18 AM

When I approach an intersection, I do the following checks:
- Check behind to make sure nobody is tailing (in case I need to stop).
- Look for cars in the intersection.
- Ground viewing (watch the wheels for movement).
- Use a car as a shelter to pass through the intersection, but move out of the way as soon as I'm clear.
- If there are no cars to shelter, slow down and watch the driver.
- Always cover the brakes and get ready to stop.

UberGoober · 06-02-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaac

Generally it's assumed that the now extremely visible (from flashing lights) vehicle going 50mph has the right of way over the one going 0mph, but that's just me. I'm not saying a wreck is impossible, but that'd be pretty fucking ironic if a car that didn't see you before, but now does see you because you flashed your lights, would think you were giving it the ok to cut you off within impact distance.

The first rule of defensive driving is "Never assume that the other driver can figure out what you are doing."

There is no set standard of signals for car to car communication via the headlights so flashing lights can be construed to mean a lot of things. The person turning has about a second to make the decision whether or not they are going to go for it, in the fraction of that second that they devote to you and your headlights, can you be sure your message has been taken the right way?

I think you are better off just getting ready to stop.

acalliste · 06-02-2007, 08:38 AM

If I don't already have my highbeams on (which is usually only at night, or in the rain), I'll hold the highbeams on steady to try to draw attention to myself. Since I run highbeams in the (non-rainy) daytime, I'd have to turn them off to flicker them anyway, so I don't usually do it. I just put myself in a better position to be seen, identify my escape route/action and get ready to use it.

Russell · 06-02-2007, 08:41 AM

I always try to use #3. I like to cross intersections with a car next to or just in front of me. Also use this when ever possible with a left turner. When i see cars coming from the side i ilike to focus on thier wheels first to see them turning

2wheeln00bie · 06-02-2007, 01:43 PM

good tips.. although we're smaller i never thought about the perspective that we're just a dot when looked at straight on. i try to use #3 often but i always pay real close attention to the car beside me.

i had a car change lanes into mine, whether he saw me or not previous to changing lanes, he came inches from my rear tire AS i swerved away from him within my lane (i had anticipated his lane change before hand since he was inching towards the lane divider). i turned around and flipped that cager off.