How do they know you're slowing down?

[SilvrT]

Came across an article on facebook that I felt worth sharing.

 

I, like many others, slow down using engine braking and gearing when approaching a stop or other situations requiring slowing down. I'll generally not apply my brakes unless/until necessary.

 

In doing so, there is no indication or warning to whoever is behind me that I am slowing down. If they're not paying attention and notice my speed change, which can be fairly rapid, I'm putting myself in danger of being rear ended.

 

As a precaution I am now going to start activating my brake lights while I'm gearing down and engine braking. I think this is a good "preventative" practice, one that I've not heard anyone mention before nor have I thought about it before.

 

Something I do do is when stopped and there's traffic approaching from behind, I'll flash my brakes a few times just to ensure I'm getting their attention that I'm stopped or for that matter, that I'm actually there.

[Carbon_One]

That's a great suggestion and one that I use no matter what I'm driving. Especially on a bike. So while not a new idea it surely is one well worth reminding folks cause it just may save their life or an accident.

 

Larry

[Flyinfool]

I have always done this on the bike for those exact reasons.

I have mentioned this to other local riders and was called an idiot, The guy behind should be paying attention and if he hits you for any reason it is his fault. :scared:But then these same people also call me an idiot for wearing a helmet.

That is not how I wish to make sure that my family is financially set for life without me.

 

My truck does not have enough engine braking to mater.

[The Tooch]

I have always done this on the bike for those exact reasons.

I have mentioned this to other local riders and was called an idiot, The guy behind should be paying attention and if he hits you for any reason it is his fault. :scared:But then these same people also call me an idiot for wearing a helmet.

That is not how I wish to make sure that my family is financially set for life without me.

 

Have to agree with you.....your no Fool there Fool.

 

I've always said, it won't matter to YOU!...Who's at fault?....If YOUR dead!? It's called defense driving for a reason..............

 

Live to Ride and Ride to Live takes on a different meaning if you think about it with a defense mind-set and not just the carefree life style that most bikers associate to that saying.

[Sailor]

I always flash the brake lights while slowing. I also watch my rear view and when someone is approaching while I am stopped I flash the brake lights again. As usual I stop so that I have an escape rout if anything does go wrong.

[Wrench]

As a precaution I am now going to start activating my brake lights while I'm gearing down and engine braking. I think this is a good "preventative" practice, one that I've not heard anyone mention before nor have I thought about it before.

 

Something I do do is when stopped and there's traffic approaching from behind, I'll flash my brakes a few times just to ensure I'm getting their attention that I'm stopped or for that matter, that I'm actually there.

 

That is good advice, especially if you're riding with folks that you haven't ridden with before. We used to have group rides several times a year where I worked. Somehow I usually wound up in the lead or second and got in the habit of flashing my brake lights whenever we approached a stop. I also flash mine a couple of times when stopping for a redlight, that's my biggest fear, getting tagged from behind. While I was changing tires and getting ready for riding season I added a couple of 18" LED strips to the fender struts an wired them to the brake lights. I don't think you can get too much light on the backend. Here's a couple of pics so Puc won't be chastising me.

 

[cowpuc]

What a GREAT reminder Silv - THANK YOU for bringing this up!! The way I see it, we biker types gotta not only think for us but we also really really gotta think for the other people we are sharing the roads with - IMHO, double doing the thinking can double the chances of our survival in that jungle out there that we love so much!!

I personally tend to use my rear brake fpr stopping very little actually (use to using it for steering a dirt bike).. Being an old dirt track rider I learned to use my front brake in most actual stopping maneuvers and used the one finger (trigger finger) on the front brake lever routine and, by habit, ride with my finger resting on the lever (near the master so I am not "riding" the brake. Anytime I am slowing down - even in just using engine braking, that brake light is on..

I also still use a LOT of the old school hand signals for both turning and stopping and not in an unaggressive way.. I have had people comment to me, making statements like "you know, you dont have to flag with so much movement - we knew you were turning" to which I always reply "THAT is exactly why I still use those handle signals, I want you to KNOW I am turning/stopping".. As a matter of fact, many times when I am riding in traffic I will actually head check while I am hand signaling to take a quick picture (with my eyes) to see if those around me are noticing my signal..

Bottom line my friend, I TOTALLY agree with your post and TOTALLY believe we, as riders, need to take an aggressive approach to thinking for those drivers around us who might not be totally thinking about us unprotected riders..

Good on you for being proactive in your defense Silvr!!!

[Stealthblade]

I have been following this company for a long time, and I really like idea behind their product, as I too am an engine braker.

 

http://vololights.com/

 

Bob

[djh3]

I added a brake light modulator shortly after I got the RSV. Still I use the engine and gearing a lot. I also use that alot on my Cummins pick up, and the PU also has an exhaust brake on it I use. SO really no brake lights until almost stopped if you work it right. But I do like you have mentioned, sort of tap the brake lightly when approaching stopping areas. Last thing I need is to be "dead right".

[Venturous Randy]

If I am coming up to a stop or coming up to an intersection where I have the right of way, I try to make a point of doing a slight sway back and forth. That movement tends to take away the loss of visual that can happen when someone is focusing on someone in the lane beside you.

Randy

[cowpuc]

If I am coming up to a stop or coming up to an intersection where I have the right of way, I try to make a point of doing a slight sway back and forth. That movement tends to take away the loss of visual that can happen when someone is focusing on someone in the lane beside you.

Randy

 

Right on the money Rand!! And that movement thought is exactly my thought on using habitual hand signals with lots of movement (an up and down, pointing with an open hand) to catch the attention of unconcious motorist around me..

Here is another point that some folks may find interesting (I am sure that most folks reading this already knew it but, being me and my love for campfire chit chat I will say it anyway).. For many year people who did a lot of biking knew of what we speak. They did things like put leather fringe work on their saddlebags and those girly (not that I think they are girly but a lot of todays "real" bikers will tell you they are) fringes hanging from the jackets and chaps.. The beginning of all that "bling" had its beginning frame work completely founded and grounded in the idea that movement attracts attention of the motorist around you and THAT can (and I believe does) save lives..

I know, I KNOW,, Puc,, your crazy BUT - we all know thats true so I can get away with making statements like all this..

 

Oh, yea,, hey @VentureFar,, if you happen to read this,, that GORGEOUS "Back off whip" that you made for Tweeks serves a MIGHTY function in doing exactly this stuff!! It aint just waving bye bye to all those 2nd Gens it passes:missingtooth:

 

Sorry Silv for hijacking yet another one of your great threads!!

 

this is really good stuff,, pass me another marshmellow will you guys, pretty please...

[VentureFar]

VentureFar is in the house.

I agree that anything we can do to keep from being "unseen is important to do.

I use the kisan modulating headlight and high mounted bright led flashing brake lights.

And of course double back off whips.

Good topic

VentureFar...

[GFRicky]

Just to add my 2 cents worth....when I'm come to a stop at a light I will continue to hold my brake (front or rear) enough to keep the brake light on. I do this until I am comfortable the car behind me is stopped an KNOWS I am stopped. How many cars have you seen rear ended at lights? I don't trust anybody out there and expect anybody will do the worst around me. Kind of keeps a step ahead when an incident does happen.

[stickhandle2]

When ever I am coming to a stop I flash my brakes a couple times, for one if the driver or rider behind me is not paying attention the flashing lights generally will get their attention, even if I am going through an area where the speed limit drops a considerable amount I will flash the brakes as I slow down to the speed limit (in this situation I am not applying the brakes full on it is just a couple of touches to activate the lights and remind the driver behind me to pay attention the bike in front of you is doing something.

 

At a stop, right foot on the back brake at all times and balance the bike with my left foot, so my brake lights are on. Also while coming to a stop also looking for a possible escape route in case the rider/driver behind me is coming a wee bit fast and can't stop in time. Even as I am sitting at the lights waiting for the green, I am looking constantly to see what is going on. Ok it may seem a bit anal, and I know we all do the biker pose at a stop every once in a while, you know hands draped on the bars both feet on the ground, rider leaning back a bit, for me on a bike something can happen in a split second at a light or stop, people checking their phone, making that quick text, or just not paying attention and without warning their car moves and taps you in the back. If we are paying attention hopefully we have a better chance of coming out of it in better shape then if we were just siting there looking as cool as we all know we are.

 

Defensive riding first and foremost.

 

My rant is done.

 

Mike

[Venturous Randy]

Motion Induced Blindness.

This is an excellent example of not seeing what is there. This is why I try to do a slight sway as when you focus on this, if you move your head or eyes even slightly, the blindness goes away. Think of the center dot as being a car beside you that another driver is focusing intently on and you are one of the yellow dots.

Another neat thing to is increase the dot size and it is absolutely amazing how large you can make the yellow dots and they disappear if you really focus on the center very small dot.

Randy

 

http://michaelbach.de/ot/mot-mib/index.html

[Marcarl]

MHO:

Yes, we are small and it depends on where the drivers is exactly focused will depend on exactly where they stop. If they are focused on the bike,, better chances, but if they are focused on something else,,, oopps!

In the case that they might have mis-judged just a little, by and inch or so, my scoot, with me on it, will receive an impromptu tap from the rear which could have drastic results in the injury dept, not going to mention the time that will taken from riding in case it all turns out all right.

So now, although it might not have been my fault, I'm still the poor sucker stuck with the aftermath, maybe just a wee little dent that can't be seen, but still,, who's on the hook for fixing it? Just the time involved isn't worth the non-effort. Preferably I'd like to come to a stop and pull away again on my own steam and not be shoved around by someone who thought that giving me a push would be a helping thing.

When I was being taught how to drive truck, one of the big things was to have your right foot on the brake as you geared down. Two reasons, one the brake would come on and two, I wouldn't be pushing the gas when in gear and so screw up the slowing process. I still think those are good points.

On the other hand, it might be a bit more difficult to blip the throttle as you slow down if you practise this technique, and I know just how very important that procedure is to the proper operation of a motorcycle, especially if your lucky enough to be stuck with loud pipes, after all, you don't want them to get plugged up now eh??

[Eck]

If no one is behind me I do not apply the brakes. I will just coast and down shift slowing down until (or if) I need to apply the brakes.

If someone IS behind me, I put out my left hand (stopping signal) AND I tap the rear brake for my lights to flash. I slow down WAY before the intersection or vehicle in front of me and watch in mirror to ensure the vehicle behind me is slowing down. Once I am at a crawl, I will ease my way up to the vehicle in front of me staying to the left side of my lane for a way out in case the vehicle behind me decides it doesn't want to come to a complete stop, but at least it will be at a crawling pace, which gives me time to make my safe exit pulling along side the vehicle in front of me..