Motorcycle Story
Communication Driving

By Thomas Rossetti

Hopefully everyone survived April's festivities. I decided to leave town and stay off the roads entirely. From a riding standpoint especially, who needs the madness?

As you may have noticed, there is a lot of road work being done now, which is for the most part a good thing. Better that it is being done now than during the busier times of the year. In terms of safety it is imperative that we are careful especially around these road construction and building areas to identify sand and other debris on the road. I found myself in one of these patches recently and needed to stop quickly to avoid a dog crossing the road. I used my front brake which was a good move as if I would have been heavy on the back brake, I would have certainly gone down hard. Using the front I managed to stop but still laid her down albeit almost in slow motion. No major damage except to one of my mirrors and shifter.

On that same subject, that of dogs on the road, having a bike with good pipes is a great advantage to making your presence known. Usually, I have found that dogs in Pattaya are sometimes smarter than people and know the dangers of crossing a road in traffic. I have even seen dogs looking both ways before crossing a road ? If you don't have loud pipes, a good horn is always a great option. In places like Indonesia, the horn is used continuously to allow everyone to know where you are at any given time. Don't be afraid to do the same here.

Unlike Western countries where the horn sometimes is conceived as a kind of an offensive weapon rather than a communication device, here is respected as just that. Other communication devices that can be used are hand signals some of which I have included in this column. One aspect of communication I see the local people especially violate is acknowledgement that they see you approaching. I have seen people getting ready to merge into traffic without seemingly knowing I was approaching. Even when you know someone may be approaching it is always a good idea to let the approaching vehicle know with good eye contact and even when appropriate, a nod. Polite and courteous riding and driving dictates that you politely acknowledge with a wave of thanks someone exercising the same. All of these communication devices lend itself to safer riding in what is considered by many a very dangerous environment.

Search, predict, act. Ride safe and enjoy.

Motorcycle StoryCommunication Driving

Motorcycle Story
Communication Driving