Quote:
Originally Posted by zulutango
Based on my previous career as an investigator of thousands of crashes, a Motor Cop, a rider with some 53 years experience and my current career as a riding/driving instructor and BC Supreme Court expert witness on motorcycle safety and riding techniques....I disagree 100%!
Chosing to ride withing a couple of inches of a vehicle whose driver does not expect you to be there is an unacceptable risk. I used to train Police riders to filter thru during extreme emergency situations but that was dropped as an unacceptable risk. It's bad enough being in a car with sheet metal, crush zones and airbags to protect you, when drivers wander in lanes, change lanes without looking or signaling, put on makeup, text, eat food, talk on cell phones (both kinds), talk with pasasengers, try to find an address...yadda yadda yadda...BUT on a bike you have none of those protective devices...just your skin and bones.
As far as rear end crashes go...pay attention while you are stopped in traffic. Don't choose to sit 2 feet off the bumper ahead of you...wait about 4 car lengths back and then move slowly ahead as traffic arrives behind you. USE your mirrors..see someone coming up fast behind and you will have enough space to move put of their way. Less than 5% of crashes are rear enders...worry about the turning vehicle in front of you...about 2/3 of them cause the crashes. Car drivers will kill you...stay as far away as possible and do not volunteer to trust them with yoiur safety by getting up close and personal when you have another option .
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You may disagree but there are MANY studies that will confirm what I have said.
Legal lane filtering (moving forward through stationary or very slow moving traffic at a slow (safe) speed it results in far fewer motorcycle related incidence.
Give your profession, you see the people who are the accidents more than you would the ones who are not. Also, where we are, people are not accustom to this practice so they are not expecting vehicles to pass them like this. That is one of the reasons why it may not be the safest practice here, however the concept and practice in other places in this world work t improve rider safety when done properly.
In Vancouver, I have seen it done and many times at high rates of speed in places that its just plane stupid.