Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Freeway Riding, motorcycle safety course, motorcycle crashes


Question
Hi, I started riding my motorcycle about one year ago.  I took the motorcycle safety course, and purchased a 2002 Buell Blast in June 2002.  I have 600 miles on it, but just started riding on the freeway in June of this year.  I like to ride on the freeway, but am worried about things flying in my path.  You know, ladders, stuff that falls off of trucks, debris, trash, etc.  I am concerned that I won't make the right move if something does come flying at me or in my lane. I don't want to crash or get hurt.  Could you give me some advice on what to do if something like this does occur.  I am really comfortable with my motorcycle, and enjoy riding very much, but just have a concern with freeway riding.  Thanks for your time.

Answer
Deborah, you pose a good question. The answers are fairly complicated.

Easy answer: you have to have a good imagination. Junk flies off vehicles all the time: lumber, sheetrock, cardboard, tire tread, etc. and you rarely have sufficient time to deal with it. You need to be in a constant mode of expectation that any second, a big hunk of something is going to be coming right at you. Visualize it happening and prepare your escape route ahead of time. Position yourself carefully so you can see 4-12 seconds ahead, and when you see an open back of a pickup or an overloaded vehicle hauling stuff or something you can't identify lying on the road, assume it's going to be coming for your head and don't be there when it happens.

That's the easy answer.

The hard answer is to analyze how risk changes as you move from urban 30-45 mph roads and hit the highway. High speeds are associated with higher rates of injury and death in motorcycle crashes. Riders injured or killed by flying debris are rare, but these types of crashes happen every year and they seem to be nearly unavoidable. Lower-speed roads see more crashes, but lesser injuries and fatalities.

You can prepare yourself and probably be in a better position to avoid/survive an incident like this with proper positioning and good protective gear, but you can never totally eradicate the risk. The freeway also holds other risks like sleepy drivers, aggressive drivers, deer, last-minute dashes for the exit, etc.

I strongly suggest that what you change is your ROUTE. Avoid the risky roads. Stick to the slower side roads. Not only are they safer, but they're also a heck of a lot more fun. When I travel across the country, I rarely ever use a road wider than two lanes. It takes me twice as long, but heck, I'm riding. It's not the destination, it's the ride. Isn't that what it's all about? If I wanted to get somewhere fast, I'd take a car. Your choice should be consistent with the reasons that you ride. If you ride for fun, stay off the freeway. If you ride for transportation alone, find ways to reduce the risks on the freeway. There are ways to do both.

Good luck, and keep thinking smart. There are tips for freeway riding on my web site at www.motorcyclesafety.state.mn.us under "Safety Tips" > "Advanced Rider Strategies."

Pat