Why do some motorbikers feel that they can rob the "safe" space you leave between you and the car in front?

[dombanks]

bikes i have learned to give the space to. if i see them coming up behind i will position myself a little further out if i feel that its not that safe for them to go around. but as soon as its ok ill noticeably pull over (helped) the fact i was a bit in the middle. its seems to work well for me as most riders give a little wave.

 

i agree with Stuart, its a lost art and frowned upon. people just seem to rock up to the back of a slow vehicle and stic 2m of its bumper then you just end up having to take several cars at once. i also pretty much anticipate that all drivers are nunneys and will close any gap also.

[FILFAN]

Just to flip the argument from personal experience as a biker.

Why when car drivers see a bike coming do they put their foot down and try to make their car 3 foot wider and swerve allover the road. The majority of bike accidents that I knew about were caused by poor diving standard of car drivers. Yes there are the idiots on bikes who give everyone a bad name but they really are a minority. You will probably find that most riders pay allot more attention to their surroundings.

Unless you have ridden a high powered bike you really can't comprehend the capabilities of the machine and what you may think is silly or risky is a planned and executed manoeuvre. Even a cheap bike will out perform most super cars to some degree. It just startles car drivers because their away with the fairies wrapped in a steel bubble oblivious to everything.

[Onliest Smeg David]

I think it's safe to conclude that there are some drivers, bikers & cyclists that shouldn't be allowed on public highways.

They may be a minority, but they're always remembered.

All we can do to make a difference is by setting a good example!

[stephenh]

It isn't just bikes which can and do overtake in situations which a "normal" car would be unable to do safely. I frequently did it in my Westfield when I used it on the road more than I do now!

[dhutch]

THEY SHOULD BAN MOPEDS IN LONDON

THEY DRAG THEIR MIRRORS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VAN

THEY KNOCK MY MIRRORS AND THEN HAVE THE bl**dy CHEEK TO SHAKE THEIR HEADS

THEY CARVE ME UP ALL THE TIME

AND THEN SIT IN FRONT OF ME FILLING THE VAN UP WITH POXY 2 STROKE FUMES

 

THATS BETTER

Try driving in Delhi!

[stu999]

It isn't just bikes which can and do overtake in situations which a "normal" car would be unable to do safely. I frequently did it in my Westfield when I used it on the road more than I do now!

Absolutely Stephen, a powerful Se7en is akin to a four wheel motorbike. Safe progress can be made where other cars would never risk overtaking...if only other folk used their mirrors and left more space! And/or maybe a hint of jealousy at that point in time maybe? "If I can't overtake, then you on your bike/Sportscar isn't going to either..."?

[peterg]

Just to flip the argument from personal experience as a biker.

Why when car drivers see a bike coming do they put their foot down and try to make their car 3 foot wider and swerve allover the road. The majority of bike accidents that I knew about were caused by poor diving standard of car drivers. Yes there are the idiots on bikes who give everyone a bad name but they really are a minority. You will probably find that most riders pay allot more attention to their surroundings.

Unless you have ridden a high powered bike you really can't comprehend the capabilities of the machine and what you may think is silly or risky is a planned and executed manoeuvre. Even a cheap bike will out perform most super cars to some degree. It just startles car drivers because their away with the fairies wrapped in a steel bubble oblivious to everything.

 

absolutely agree Filfan, a lot of fast cars may be able to take a corner quicker than a litre plus bike due to the extra rubber on the road but accelerating out of it the bike will still leave most cars behind 

[Lyonspride]

Space in front of your car, is not your space.

 

This queuing mentality we have in the UK, is what causes the vast majority of road rage, collisions and injuries.

It's also why overtaking generally is seen as aggressive and irresponsible.....

 

When I overtake someone I must be driving badly, thus they have the right to ram me off the road, which is of course the safe and responsible thing to do.

 

We have it totally a**e backwards in this country, we really do.

[Justin767]

Indeed, it's rather depressing being behind a line of cars tailgating each other and not spotting opportunity after opportunity to nip by..

If you have no intension of executing an overtake or the vehicle your driving isn't up to it then leaving a couple of seconds of gap will enable the bikes and sportscars to nip through with no drama to anyone..  That's what I do when I'm driving my tow car..

But when I'm on my bike or in the Westy/Mcoupe I stay alert, look for the gaps and nip through when it's safe to do so..

Seems to work for me - I've not crashed in half a million miles ;-)

[s2rrr]

Lyonspride,

 

Whilst the space in front of you may not be yours it is your insurance against rammimg the car in front (braking space) should an emergency occur. Taking up that space in an inconsiderate manner is not only bad manners it forces the rest of the line ( if it is a line) backwards) as several have said, real estate is a big deal on the roads and like most motorways is getting worse every year. You cannot leave a safe gap of more than say 3 cars lengths on the M56 without some d*ck head claiming it as his because he hasn't indicated or anything else just barged in. If folk were to drive with there eyes open some more and judge their own and others speeds and distances the issue wouldn't be as bad. But we are all busy on the phone thinking about work running late etc etc and don't drive with any sense. I have daily issues and don't hang around but the slower people who may think that the motorway is only the right hand lane wouldn't dream of moving over. Old chestnut but that's the way it is. Defensive driving is a must today.

 

I do have to say that yesterday I passed a junction on the motorway and suddenly a biker was passing me, where he came from god only knows, his closing speed was phenomenal and I must say I never saw him. I can only assume he was well aware of me.

 

I don't advocate excessive speeding nor driving too slowly but I do think that a bit of common sense and courtesy wouldn't go amiss, older generation and a none white van driver. This one will drag on for ages but there we go, we are all great drivers.

 

Bob

[jeff oakley]

As a driver who covers over 40k per year I see many acts of stupidity every day, from pedestrians, cyclists , horse riders, bikers , truckers you get the picture. The standard of personal responsibility and common sense has gone so far down that the authorities keep lowering speed limits and have made anyone who wants to overtake a criminal in many peoples eyes. In the Westfield I often overtake multiple vehicles as they bunch together and do often close up to protect their space when they see others who are willing to overtake.

 

With bikes I use my mirrors and if I am in a que of traffic moving slower than the bike wants to go, I indicate to the right and move over so they can undertake, better to have them in front of me than sat on my bumper and I almost always get a foot wave in return.

 

Too many think that you have offended their person if you overtake, it never bothers me getting stressed is a quick way to ill health and arguments, life is too short

[Lyonspride]

 

With bikes I use my mirrors and if I am in a que of traffic moving slower than the bike wants to go, I indicate to the right and move over so they can undertake, better to have them in front of me than sat on my bumper and I almost always get a foot wave in return.

 

Aye, I'd rather a bike in front of me than a bike behind me, because i'm always looking to make progress and I don't want something like this to happen:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCM5jzV75uw

 

Problem is, most drivers will try to stop people overtaking them and get offended when they do, which really is the most dangerous thing they could do.

There's this "queuing mentality" on the roads, where anyone who overtakes or makes good progress should be rammed into the nearest ditch.

[Justin767]

It seems the reason some people get stressed about their 'safe gap' being temporarily used by a passing bike etc is that a more accurate description of the space in front of them is 'minimum gap I can maintain without having to keep tapping the brake'..

'Only a fool brakes the 2 second rule' - as they used to say!

Though I think that's out of date on modern busy roads - I apply a 4 second rule to the car in front of the one I'm following! - That way you're not just fixated on your own little bubble to the back bumper ahead..

 

I often go up in planes over Britain and frequently see bunches of cars on a countryside road all seemingly right on top of each other then I look ahead of them and behind them and see miles of empty road.!. 

Obviously, from the air, roads look much straighter but it still looks rather comical  :-)

[stu999]

'Only a fool brakes the 2 second rule' - as they used to say!

Though I think that's out of date on modern busy roads - I apply a 4 second rule to the car in front of the one I'm following! - That way you're not just fixated on your own little bubble to the back bumper ahead..

Spot on sir. And if the two second rule needs readjustment because a car or bike has popped into the space, so what? In my younger days, I was one of those 'space protectors' myself. But you eventually realise you just wind yourself up, and you don't get there any quicker. In fact, more space can actually be used to your advantage to make more pace, giving you more visability ahead, and allowing you the opportunity to accelerate before even beginning the overtake manoeuvre!

Another 'rule' I try and practise is to not be a slave to the brake lights in front, and assume they don't work. It's amazing how much more you notice ahead driving like this