Reading cars

[Spidey]

I was lanesplitting on the way to work today on a 4 lane street (2 in each direction).  I was reminded about certain behaviors by cars that you can predict before they do it.

-- A car that is about to turn right will will often swing left a bit before signalling and making the turn, particularly if there are cars parked on his right side.  Be careful if you're splitting

--If there are two lanes going in the same direction, anytime a car crests a hill, it will move toward the center lines between the two lanes regardless of whether it is in the left or right lane.  Try to avoid splitting at the crest of a hill while traffic is moving.

--A slow traveling car will do absolutely anything--speed up, brake suddenly, swerve across lanes, pull a U-turn, you name it.  They're more focused on the fact that they're lost or looking for an address/parking than on any vehicles around them.

--When there are two lanes going the same direction and there's traffic, a car that is hugging the center line between the two lanes is more likely to make a sudden lane change without warning.  The same is true on a freeway.  If you see a car with its wheels close to the line, expect a sudden lane change, especially when traffic is moving slower than the speed limit.

[Danmack_98]

Thanks spidey!  It's good to share and remind each other to keep a look out!  good tips

[Capo]

A subconscious check I do is when approaching a tee junction if there a vehicles waiting to pull out, I look at their front wheels to determine rotation and the direction the wheels are pointing in. Looking for clues as to their intent.

[stopintime]

I always look for driver's and car's body language.

- talking on the phone = no turn signal, not looking
- hand on the turn signal lever = watch out
- slowing down/speeding up = lane change
- several cars in the right lane = one is soon changing to pass
- drivers head moving = preparing for something/anything
- different speed in either lane = cars will change lanes soon
- yellow light = someone will change lanes to get by/over

plus +1 on what Spidey said

[erkishhorde]

Couple more:

-Watch out for gaps in traffic anytime you're splitting between two lanes moving at drastically different speeds because a car from the slower lane might try to jump into the faster lane. This is particularly important if you're splitting between the HOV and #1 lane. This can also work the other way around when a lane is merging/exiting and someone wants to cut to the head of a slow lane and dives in at the last second and lays on the brakes.

-Merging traffic from an onramp tend to want to get out of the far right lane as soon as possible. Watch out for cars changing multiple lanes at once. Also, nobody likes to be in a lane w/ traffic merging in. Watch out for cars jumping out of the lane or being pushed out of the lane by merging traffic.

-If there's an opening you want to be in, someone else probably wants to be there too. Check the lane next to you and the next one over when changing lanes.

-If a car is pulling up to a driveway or sidestreet do NOT move toward the left side of the road. They may take this as a lane change and pull out in front of you. Just brace up and be prepared for them to cut you off.

-Make note of cars that make many lane changes. Odds are that even if they manage to get ahead of you they will get stuck in traffic and you'll catch up to them and have to watch out for them changing into your lane.

[VeryMetal]

This is a great topic to bring up. Some great points have already been made. Looking in the drivers side mirrors for eye contact or head movement has saved me a couple times at least. I've been hit riding next to an suv on an open road so I'm particularly careful when I'm directly beside other cars. Try not to be right beside someone, if it's unavoidable give them a wide birth and try to get noticed. That doesn't mean get up on one wheel though Rule No. 1, people don't look. You have to look for them and position yourself according to what you predict someone might do, motorcycling in traffic is like poker. I try to stay behind or get past erratic drivers smoothly and quickly. Lane splitting is always a shifty area, lots of different ways to attempt to do it safely, when beginner riders (lots of my friends are just getting bikes) ask for advice I usually just tell them to keep the speed down, if you're going to go down in traffic better to do it slower.

I live in southern CA but was born and grew up (and learned to ride) in London. The first thing ever said to me on my motorcycle safety (compulsory in the UK) course was "assume everybody on the road is trying to kill you". Kind of negative but illustrates an important point about taking control of the road and looking after yourself, not expecting others to do it for you.. but then everyone who's ridden more than a month as a learner rider already knows this... I hope.

[ghosthound]

I live in southern CA but was born and grew up (and learned to ride) in London. The first thing ever said to me on my motorcycle safety (compulsory in the UK) course was "assume everybody on the road is trying to kill you". Kind of negative but illustrates an important point about taking control of the road and looking after yourself, not expecting others to do it for you.. but then everyone who's ridden more than a month as a learner rider already knows this... I hope.

a little paranoia never hurts when trying to stay safe out on a ride.

[the_Journeyman]

A subconscious check I do is when approaching a tee junction if there a vehicles waiting to pull out, I look at their front wheels to determine rotation and the direction the wheels are pointing in. Looking for clues as to their intent.

I do this too, and it's saved my arse more than once because the car's posturing & hint of movement had me already on the brakes before it actually took out in front of me.  Good advice ~

JM