There is an old saying in motorbike communities, that’s linked to keeping safe when riding on two wheels: ride like everyone else on the road is an idiot.

Sounds a bit harsh, doesn’t it, but the fact is, there are a fair few motorists on the road whose traffic sense, observation, skills and manners leave a lot to be desired.

The problem for motorbike, scooter or moped riders is that if those road users with bad habits come into our lane, it’s always us that comes off worse if there’s a collision.

So without labelling everyone else as an idiot… are there some steps we can take to keep us safe from the cars and vans who don’t see us, don’t appreciate us, or just don’t care about us?

One great piece of advice we saw recently was ‘ride like you are invisible’.

What the author meant was always assume the car or van near you hasn’t spotted you. You may be in their blind spot, they may be suffering from inattentional blindness or they may just have not appreciated that you are entering their space, but if you assume they haven’t spotted you, you can start to have some control over what happens next. Anticipate risks, especially at junctions, roundabouts and other intersections.

One great tip is always avoid riding in a vehicle’s blind spot – either on the inside or outside. It’s easy to say but if you are cruising behind a car or van and can’t see the driver, can they see you? Could they suddenly stamp on the brakes and turn left or right across you, or swerve into your path oblivious to your presence?

In that regard, never be tempted to overtake  - or undertake - on the nearside (inside). You really are risking the driver not spotting you before they make a turn.

Watch front wheels for directional clues that they may be about to take a turn across your path. This is really helpful at junctions or looking at vehicles pulling out of parking spaces.

Anticipate lane changes, especially in slow-moving traffic. If there’s a   gap in a lane you can guarantee someone will be aiming to fill it.

Finally, choose lane positions that maximise our visibility. Stick to the centre of the lane, never crawl along by the kerb where a biker’s slim silhouette is more likely to get lost behind the street furniture.

Finally, in busy traffic always keep your speed down to a level where you know you can respond if someone does something daft. Cover your brakes – and remember your horn. If you are starting to get the feeling another road user hasn’t spotted you, a polite beep can alert a distracted driver of your presence.
 

But what happens if they’re not looking…?

According to Road Safety GB, nearly 50,000 drivers were prosecuted last year for using their mobile phones while driving. Not only were they not watching the road while they were on the phone, but their reaction times post-call will be up to 30–50% slower, posing a serious risk to motorcyclists. Just keep that in mind the next time you see a van or car and think, ‘I wonder if that motorist really has seen me…’