Junctions are one of the places where riders need to be at their most alert.
New figures highlighted by road safety charity GEM Motoring Assist show that motorcyclist deaths have risen by 13% to 384 in a year – a sobering reminder of just how vulnerable riders can be, particularly around junctions.
GEM is warning drivers about the all-too-familiar phenomenon known as SMIDSY – “Sorry mate, I didn’t see you.”
But there’s an important point behind that phrase. In many cases, the driver did look. The problem is that they didn’t actually register the motorcycle.
Drivers can subconsciously scan for the larger vehicles they expect to see – cars, vans and lorries – and a motorcycle’s much smaller profile can simply fail to register.
For riders, understanding that gives us something useful to work with.
Don’t just be visible – make yourself noticeable
As you approach a junction, never assume that a waiting driver has seen you, even if they appear to be looking straight towards you.
Think about what you can do to increase the chances of being noticed.
Where it is safe and appropriate, consider your road position and sight lines. A subtle change of position as you approach can sometimes make you more conspicuous against the background and help a driver detect that you are moving towards them.
Keep your lights clean and working properly, and consider bright or reflective riding gear that helps you stand out.
Most importantly, expect the unexpected.
Watch the waiting vehicle closely. Is it beginning to creep forward? Are the wheels starting to turn? Is the driver distracted or looking beyond you rather than at you?
Give yourself time and space to react if they pull out.
GEM’s Head of Road Safety, James Luckhurst, makes the point clearly: drivers should make a specific check for motorcycles before pulling out of a junction. If they actively expect a rider to be there, they are much more likely to see them.
That’s an important message for drivers – but as riders, we can’t depend on everyone remembering it every time.
So when approaching a junction, ride on the assumption:
They may have looked.
They may be looking straight at you.
But they still may not have seen you.
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A few seconds of extra observation could save a rider’s life:
- Expect motorcycles – and remember there may be more than one.
- Look properly in every direction before pulling out, rather than simply glancing.
- Make a specific second check for riders, particularly at busy junctions.
- Only move when you are certain the road is clear.
For riders and drivers alike, the message is simple: expect to see each other.
That small change in mindset could prevent a SMIDSY becoming something far more serious.
For further tips, view our Angry Al videos