Rider Education
			Safety Tip
	Components of Riding Strategy A riding strategy can be broken down into three parts: gathering the information, interpreting the information, and using the information.  Riders search their surroundings and identify hazards.  When they identify a hazard, they try to predict what might happen next.  This involves quite a bit of imagination and creativity on the rider's part; they need to always expect the worst, but hope for the best.  When they've decided what the worst-case scenario would be, they act quickly to avoid putting themselves into that situation. A. Search This involves actively and aggressively collecting information.  You have got to "keep your head in the game" anytime you are operating a motorcycle.  You are not only looking around, but really "seeing" and comprehending what's going on with road conditions and other traffic.  It's very easy to let your mind wander when you've been in the saddle for awhile, especially if you are relatively alone on the road.  Rider fatigue is a factor in many single-vehicle crashes. B. Predict Predict the worst, and hope for the best.      *   What could happen?      *   What are the possible scenarios?      *   Keep the options open.  Always try to give yourself an escape route.      *   Anticipate the worst that could happen and take immediate steps to avoid it. C. Act Decide what action is best for the situation and how to do it. Factors that influence your decision:      *   Previous experience          *   Motivation      *   Previous training               *   Levels of awareness      *   Attitude                            *   Emotions      *   Fatigue                             *   Accuracy of prediction      *   Chemical impairment Action Choices There are only three actions you can take in the act stage:      *   Communicate           Communicating your presence with your attire, signals, and position are the first           line of defense against hazards.      *   Adjust your position (or direction)           Adjusting your position and space cushioning are effective, but swerving to avoid a           hazard is more reactive than proactive.      *   Adjusting your speed           Adjusting your speed to find a better position is also effective, but emergency           braking or accelerating are also more reactive than proactive. What action you take will depend on your comfort level, your skill level, the limitations of your bike, and the situation itself.  Your goal, remember, is to deal with hazards before they even become hazards.  But it is good to know you have multiple lines of defense. Courtesy of - Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center                                                                                      Rod Elder                                                                                    Chapter Educator