Stale Green and a Left-Turning SUV
A rider approaches a signalized intersection at 40 mph in the right lane of a four-lane road. The light has been green since the rider was about 500 feet back. An oncoming SUV is stopped in the left-turn lane with its left turn signal on and its front wheels beginning to creep left. The rider's lane is clear ahead, but a bus is stopped in the right curb lane just beyond the intersection. The pavement is wet, and the rider's front tire has 4/32 inch tread. The rider has the green light and the legal right-of-way. The SUV driver is looking toward the rider but may be judging speed. The rider asks whether to hold speed, brake, or swerve, and where to place the motorcycle in the lane.
1. What cues suggest the SUV may turn across the rider's path?
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The SUV's left turn signal is on, and its front wheels are creeping left, which often happens before the driver commits. The driver is looking toward the rider but may misjudge speed, especially with a narrow motorcycle. The light has been green for a long time, so it may be stale and about to change; that can make the SUV driver hurry. The wet pavement and 4/32-inch front tire reduce braking and swerving grip. These cues mean the rider should not rely on the legal right-of-way.
2. What should the rider do as they approach?
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Approach with the throttle rolled off and fingers covering the brake lever. Reduce speed enough to stop if the SUV turns. Position to the right side of the lane to increase separation from the oncoming left-turner and make the motorcycle more visible, but watch the stopped bus beyond the intersection; do not let it trap the escape path. Keep scanning the SUV's wheels and the signal. A flash of the headlight or brake light may help, but the rider should be ready to act, not assume the driver sees them.
3. If the SUV turns, what is the best response?
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If the SUV turns across the path, brake first with both brakes, keeping the bike upright and avoiding a locked front wheel on wet pavement. Swerving on wet chip-seal or with a worn front tire risks a slide. If there is enough room and the stop will not prevent impact, swerve to the right, away from the SUV's path, but do not swerve into the bus or off the road. The priority is to shed speed before impact and keep the bike under control.