Not a bad tip for left turns at all.

M

Mongrel

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I clicked on this link thinking the video would be some nanny nonsense about "Don't pull out too far!", but it's actually pretty smart and probably can be applied for bikes too.

http://www.wheels.ca/feature/how-to-safely-turn-left-its-trickier-than-you-think/

Left turns are of course trouble for bikes, whether we're the ones going straight or going left, so every little bit helps. The biggest thing I like about this technique is the increased visibility, considering the crappy sight lines on some TO intersections.
 
I agree it's a good tip, thanks for posting. However, they teach this in driving school when you first start driving at 16. At least they did when I was a kid. Not sure if it's in the handbook. I really wish more people would take this approach. It would also help with their line through the intersection which people usually apex far too early resulting in a wide exit and entering the street in the far lane (another safety issue and pet peeve).
 
They teach it in a GOOD driving school, you mean. I'm not so sure about some of the outfits that call themselves "Driving schools" in this town.

(Me I never had driving school at 16, so that's my excuse!)
 
AF4iK said:
I agree it's a good tip, thanks for posting. However, they teach this in driving school when you first start driving at 16. At least they did when I was a kid. Not sure if it's in the handbook. I really wish more people would take this approach. It would also help with their line through the intersection which people usually apex far too early resulting in a wide exit and entering the street in the far lane (another safety issue and pet peeve).
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yup, i learned this back in highschool drivers ed. also, it gives you more visibility than than with your car on a angle.
 
I also learned this in drivers ed. Another thing I learned was to line up your front bumper with the center of the lane facing your right.
 
Best tip I find is to profile your opponent's car, because studies have proven that certain types of drivers driver certain vehicles. On left turns, the game is whether that guy is going to stop at the yellow, or gun it through a red light. Pickup drivers and SUVs will gun it, because they do not fear a collision, and the worst is a truck with a >50 year old angry man who thinks motorcycles and bicycles should not be on roads because he pays taxes.
 
I read once, and now believe, that as a car approaches you, you subconciously use the distance between the headlights as an indication of the distance and velocity, i.e. you see the increasing distance between the oncoming headlights of the car... With motorcycles having only one headlight, this can fool left-turning drivers that you are further away than they realize.

Profiling? Yes. Most dangerous is the beige Toyota Corolla IMHO.
 
FLSTC said:
I read once, and now believe, that as a car approaches you, you subconciously use the distance between the headlights as an indication of the distance and velocity, i.e. you see the increasing distance between the oncoming headlights of the car... With motorcycles having only one headlight, this can fool left-turning drivers that you are further away than they realize.

Profiling? Yes. Most dangerous is the beige Toyota Corolla IMHO.
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White vans in city, any BMW highway. I once had one bumper me while I was in the rightmost lane and flash his lights for me to move over, like der autobahn. I hate them because I cannot predict what they will do, but its usually something stupid.
Used to be Volvo wagons were a scourge, but they are all gone now.
 
Useful if the intersection has dedicated LFT lanes, I guess. Not much help in older parts of Toronto--no dedicated lane and the intersections themselves are cramped.
 
I saw the article yesterday and tested it out at an intersection today; you can definitely see a safe distance ahead, even with large trucks in the opposing left-turn lane.

I was never taught this with my driving instructor, most of the driving schools today just show you how to pass the drive-test exam.
 
Was taught this in driving school a few years back. Commonly referred to as the "S-Turn" when making left turns.
 
This shouldn't be news to anyone with a license.
iFly55 said:
I saw the article yesterday and tested it out at an intersection today; you can definitely see a safe distance ahead, even with large trucks in the opposing left-turn lane.

I was never taught this with my driving instructor, most of the driving schools today just show you how to pass the drive-test exam.
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No. The crappy driving schools just teach you how to pass the exam. I'm surprised they can even manage that since some of the worst driving I've seen is done by cars with driving school signs on top and only a single occupant (instructor). My sister was hit by a driving instructor in a parking lot, too (who laughed in her face when she asked for a few bucks to replace/repair her destroyed skirt).

Young Drivers teaches two different things. How to drive properly and how to pass the test. There are things they teach you that they say you should never do on the test or you'll fail. They're over priced, though.
 
Thanks for the post, and here I thought I have mastered driving/riding on the road.
 
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