Florida Motorcycle Handbook 2008

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2. Ride within your Abilities

• 2.1. Basic Vehicle Control
• 2.2. Keeping your Distance
• 2.3. SEE
• 2.4. Intersections
• 2.5. Increasing Conspicuity
• 2.6. Crash Avoidance
• 2.7. Handling Dangerous Surfaces
• 2.8. Mechanical Problems
• 2.9. Animals
• 2.10. Flying Objects
• 2.11. Getting Off the Road
• 2.12. Carrying Passengers and Cargo
• 2.13. Group Riding

Listen to this chapter: Listen

SEE

Good experienced riders remain aware of what is going on around them. They improve their riding strategy by using SEE, a three-step process used to make appropriate judgments, and apply them correctly in different traffic situations:

• Search
• Evaluate
• Execute

Let's examine each of these steps.

SEARCH

Search aggressively ahead, to the sides and behind to avoid potential hazards even before they arise. How assertively you search, and how much time and space you have, can eliminate or reduce harm. Focus even more on finding potential escape routes in or around intersections, shopping areas and school and construction zones.

Search for factors such as:

• Oncoming traffic that may turn left in front of you.
• Traffic coming from the left and right.
• Traffic approaching from behind.
• Hazardous road conditions.

Be especially alert in areas with limited visibility. Visually "busy" surroundings could hide you and your motorcycle from others.

EVALUATE

Think about how hazards can interact to create risk for you. Anticipate potential problems and have a plan to reduce risk.

• Road and surface characteristics - Potholes, guardrails, bridges, telephone poles and trees won't move into your path but may influence your riding strategy.
• Traffic control devices - Look for traffic signals, including regulatory signs, warning signs, and pavement markings, to help you evaluate circumstances ahead.
• Vehicles and other traffic - May move into your path and increase the likelihood of a crash.

Think about your time and space requirements in order to maintain a margin of safety. You must leave yourself time to react if an emergency arises.

EXECUTE

Carry out your decision.

To create more space and minimize harm from any hazard:

• Communicate your presence with lights and/or horn.
• Adjust your speed by accelerating, stopping or slowing.
• Adjust your position and/or direction.

Apply the old adage "one step at a time" to handle two or more hazards. Adjust speed to permit two hazards to separate. Then deal with them one at a time as single hazards. Decision making becomes more complex with three or more hazards. Weigh the consequences of each and give equal distance to the hazards.

In potential high-risk areas, such as intersections, shopping areas and school and construction zones, cover the clutch and both brakes to reduce the time you need to react.

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