Safe Riding Practices and Defensive Riding
Ride as if you are invisible
Defensive riding starts with the assumption that other road users have not seen you. Position yourself where you can be seen and where you can see: avoid sitting in blind spots, avoid riding alongside large vehicles, and stay out of the door zone of parked cars. On Bermuda's narrow, winding roads, hold a position that gives you a escape route rather than hugging the kerb where debris and drain covers collect.
The system of motorcycle control
Use a repeatable routine at every hazard: take information (mirrors, signs, road surface), decide, then act - adjust speed before position, and signal before you manoeuvre. Brake progressively, using both brakes, and avoid braking hard mid-corner; scrub speed before you lean.
Observation and space
Maintain at least a two-second gap in dry conditions and double it in rain. Look through corners to where you want to go; the bike follows your vision. Check mirrors before slowing, because a following vehicle may be closer than you think. Cover the brakes when approaching junctions, crests, and bends with limited sight lines.
Traps to watch
- Assuming a driver who has made eye contact has actually registered you.
- Overtaking on bends or crests where you cannot see oncoming traffic.
- Riding too close to the kerb, reducing your visibility and escape space.
- Filtering past queuing traffic at speed without checking for turning vehicles and pedestrians.
Rule of thumb
Before every manoeuvre ask: Can I be seen? Do I have an escape route? Have I created enough space and time to react if the worst happens?