Check your 6 O'clock

[goldstar225]

Since I got back into riding three years ago I've done my best to be safe and as skilled as I can.

One of my habits is to keep my bike in 1st gear when stopped in traffic or at a stop light/sign, position for an escape route and watch the vehicle approaching from behind until it comes to a complete stop.

Yesterday I was in stop & go traffic and all was good. The Explorer behind me had stopped. About 10 seconds later I heard the sound of squalling tires behind me. I shot a look into the mirror and briskly pulled away just as I saw the car behind the Explorer impact it, driving it forward. Once I was completely in the clear I pulled to the side, checked for injuries and had all three vehicles pull to the side road (I was in uniform, had just got off work).

There were three vehicles involved, the Explorer behind me, the Toyota Avalon behind the Explorer and the Ford Focus behind the Avalon. The driver of the Focus had looked down to find her cup of tea (while doing 35) and wasn't watching traffic. By the time she looked up it was too late and she shoved both vehicles ahead of her forward on impact.

Had I been sitting there in neutral there is no way that I could have shifted into first and pulled away in time. The whole thing was over in 1 -1 1/2 seconds.

[dabull]

had a dude from church get pressed between two-cars at a light...luckily he wound up up on the hood of the car behind him...SO....you're right -

1. Stay in gear at a light...or at least put it in gear when you see a vehicle coming up from the rear...
2. Postion yourself with an escape route...think about where you are, can you go left, or do you have to go right?
3. ALWAYS watch your rearview mirror and LISTEN too
4. Don't forget about your surroundings

[markusmaximus]

Originally Posted by DaBull

had a dude from church get pressed between two-cars at a light...luckily he wound up up on the hood of the car behind him...SO....you're right -

1. Stay in gear at a light...or at least put it in gear when you see a vehicle coming up from the rear...
2. Postion yourself with an escape route...think about where you are, can you go left, or do you have to go right?
3. ALWAYS watch your rearview mirror and LISTEN too
4. Don't forget about your surroundings

Sound advice DaBull. I'll add to your list to assume the cagers do not see you. Glad to Goldstar was not injured.

[dogdoc]

good advice but earlier on the forum(much earlier) all the guys said keep your bike in neutral to save the clutch. i guess its save the clutch spoil the face or something like that.

[Cajunrider]

Save the clutch or maybe save you butt