Lesson 3: Are their brake lights out?

Have you ever noticed that most motorcycles slow down with no visual warning (brake light)? You might have been in traffic, or pulled up to a stoplight, and wondered “Why didn’t that biker’s brake lights turn on? Are they busted?”.

More than likely, their brake lights work just fine, they just aren’t using their brakes. Most bikers avoid using their brakes when slowing down or approaching an intersection. Instead, they utilize a downshifting strategy to reduce speed, and therefore have no need for brakes or brake lights.

So, the next time you find yourself driving behind a motorcycle make sure you give them plenty of space. Since most drivers have been conditioned to respond to brake lights, it can more difficult to notice a biker’s deceleration without the bright red lights there as a warning.

Lesson 1: Why is that scary biker honking at me?

One day, you were driving down the road, minding your own business, when suddenly you heard a motorcycle engine roar, a horn honk, and looked over to see a leather-clad biker passing you with startling speed. At the time, you might have wondered, “Why is that scary biker honking at me?”

Well, first of all, the biker isn’t scary just because he/she is wearing leather. Tough leather jackets help protect motorcyclists from road rash in the event of a crash. But, to answer the initial question: most bikers honk at cars to let them know they are there. The motorcyclist may be trying to escape your blind spot, hence the honking and quick acceleration. Simple as that.

So, the next time you hear a honk and notice it is a motorcycle passing you by, politely share the road and give that conscientious biker a friendly wave.