Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider’s Handbook

Copyright Page......Page 3
Acknowledgements......Page 4
Foreword......Page 7
Contents......Page 8
Preface to the new edition......Page 17
About Motorcycle Roadcraft......Page 19
 Becoming a better rider......Page 23
 What makes a good rider?......Page 24
  Competences for police riders......Page 25
 Your vulnerability as a rider......Page 27
  What are the commonest causes of motorcycle crashes?......Page 28
  Critical learning from experience......Page 29
  Develop awareness of your personal vulnerability......Page 30
  Defensive riding......Page 33
  Conspicuity – ride to be seen......Page 34
  The right clothing and protective equipment......Page 35
  Riding stress......Page 37
  Operational stressors......Page 38
  ‘Noble cause’ risk-taking......Page 40
 How we learn......Page 41
  Overconfidence after training......Page 42
  Self-assessment will help you continually improve......Page 43
  Be honest......Page 44
 Check your understanding......Page 45
 The need for a system of motorcycle control......Page 46
 What is the system of motorcycle control?......Page 47
  How the system works......Page 48
  The importance of information......Page 49
  Mirrors, rear observation and signals......Page 50
  Information......Page 51
  Speed......Page 52
 Use the system flexibly......Page 53
  Applying the system to a left-hand turn......Page 54
  Applying the system to a right-hand turn......Page 55
  Applying the system to a roundabout......Page 56
  Re-applying the system to leave the roundabout......Page 57
  Applying the system to a potential hazard......Page 58
 Check your understanding......Page 59
 Processing complex information......Page 60
  Improving your information processing......Page 62
 Why observation and anticipation are essential for better riding......Page 64
  What is a hazard?......Page 65
 Planning......Page 66
  Anticipate hazards......Page 67
  Prioritise hazards......Page 69
 Improving your observation......Page 70
  Scanning the environment......Page 71
  Drivers who look but fail to see you......Page 72
  Rear observation......Page 73
  Peripheral vision......Page 74
  Zones of visibility......Page 76
  Your choice of speed......Page 77
  Keep your distance......Page 81
  Alertness......Page 82
  Tiredness......Page 83
 Check your understanding......Page 85
  You......Page 87
  Your lights......Page 88
  Information from other vehicles’ lights......Page 89
  Cat’s eyes......Page 90
 Weather conditions......Page 91
  Riding in bad weather......Page 92
  Observing when visibility is low......Page 93
  Micro climates......Page 94
 Road surface......Page 95
  Road surface irregularities......Page 96
 Road signs and markings......Page 99
 Making observation links......Page 101
 Local road knowledge......Page 103
 Check your understanding......Page 104
 Developing competence at controlling your bike......Page 105
  Balance and tyre grip......Page 107
  Technology to help keep control of the machine......Page 108
  Acceleration and machine balance......Page 109
  Acceleration sense......Page 110
  Using the throttle on bends......Page 111
  Key points......Page 113
  Accurate use of the gears......Page 114
  Braking and changing gear......Page 116
  Key points......Page 117
  Releasing the throttle – engine braking......Page 118
  Using the brakes......Page 119
  Getting the best out of your brakes......Page 120
  The safe stopping distance rule......Page 123
  Overall safe stopping distance......Page 124
  The two-second rule......Page 125
 Check your understanding......Page 126
 Manual handling......Page 128
  Placing a bike onto the centre stand......Page 129
  Removing a bike from the side stand to get on it......Page 130
  The risks of paddling......Page 131
 Developing your competence at slow-speed riding......Page 132
  Look where you want to go......Page 133
  Manoeuvres to practise......Page 134
 Check your understanding......Page 135
 Developing your competence at cornering and balance......Page 136
  Five key principles for safe cornering......Page 137
  You – your riding position and balance for cornering......Page 138
 Cornering forces......Page 139
  Counter-steering......Page 140
  Tyre grip......Page 141
  The rider’s actions......Page 142
  Camber and superelevation......Page 143
  Summary of factors affecting cornering......Page 144
 The system of motorcycle control and the limit point......Page 145
  How to use the limit point to help you corner......Page 146
  The double apex bend......Page 150
  Information......Page 151
  Position......Page 152
  Gear......Page 155
 Avoiding skids......Page 156
  How does a skid happen?......Page 157
 Minimising the risks of skidding......Page 158
  Observation, anticipation and planning......Page 159
  Rear wheel skid......Page 161
  Anti-lock braking systems......Page 162
  Traction control systems......Page 163
 Aquaplaning......Page 164
 Check your understanding......Page 165
  The purpose of signals......Page 166
  Interpreting signals given by others......Page 167
 The range of signals......Page 168
  Using the indicators......Page 169
  Cancelling indicator signals......Page 170
  Flashing your headlight......Page 171
  Using the horn......Page 172
  Using courtesy signals......Page 173
  Responding to other people’s signals......Page 174
 Check your understanding......Page 175
 Developing competence at positioning your bike......Page 176
 Positioning for advantage......Page 177
 Safe positioning on the approach to hazards......Page 178
  Roadside hazards......Page 179
  Improving the view into nearside road junctions......Page 180
  Following position......Page 181
  Position for turning......Page 183
  Position at crossroads......Page 185
  Position for stopping behind other vehicles......Page 186
 Check your understanding......Page 188
 Developing your competence at overtaking safely......Page 189
  Key safety points......Page 190
  Stationary vehicles......Page 191
  Moving vehicles......Page 192
 Where you are able to overtake immediately......Page 193
  Information......Page 194
  Following position......Page 195
  Overtaking position......Page 198
  Overtaking vehicles in a line of traffic......Page 200
  Summary......Page 203
 Special hazards you must consider before overtaking......Page 204
  The range of hazards......Page 205
  The vehicle in front......Page 206
  The vehicles behind......Page 207
  Road layout and conditions......Page 208
  Overtaking on a single carriageway......Page 209
  Overtaking on bends......Page 210
  Single carriageway roads marked with three lanes......Page 211
  Overtaking on multi-lane carriageways......Page 212
  Filtering......Page 213
 Helping other road users to overtake......Page 215
 Check your understanding......Page 216
 Riding on multi-lane carriageways......Page 217
  Human factors in motorway riding......Page 218
  Layout of the carriageway......Page 219
  Use the system......Page 221
  Overtaking......Page 223
  Using the hard shoulder......Page 227
 Leaving the motorway......Page 228
 Bad weather conditions on fast-moving roads......Page 229
  Fog......Page 230
  Rain......Page 231
  High winds......Page 232
  Bright sun......Page 233
 Additional hazards on fast-moving multi-lane carriageways......Page 234
 Check your understanding......Page 235
 What is an emergency response?......Page 236
 Risk assessment......Page 237
  Use of emergency warning equipment......Page 238
  Approaching traffic light-controlled junctions......Page 240
  Approaching traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossings......Page 243
  Positioning to see and be seen......Page 244
  Approaching and passing vehicles......Page 245
  Interpreting other road users’ signals......Page 247
  Responding on multi-lane roads......Page 248
  Approaching roundabouts......Page 249
  Passing on the nearside of other vehicles......Page 250
  Vehicles responding in convoy......Page 251
  Vulnerable road users......Page 252
 Check your understanding......Page 253
 Is your machine fit to ride?......Page 254
  POWDDERSS checklist......Page 255
  Testing the brakes......Page 257
 Goals for Driver Education......Page 258
Bibliography......Page 260
Index......Page 266