Ride slightly to the right or left of the lane, to avoid oil or debris gathered in the centre.
HANDLING HAZARDS
When you’re riding a scooter, pretty much anything can be a danger to you staying upright. Good riders stay fully focussed, alert and ready to respond to hazards.
POSITION YOURSELF TO AVOID HAZARDS
Riding slightly to the right or left of centre helps you avoid oil and other debris that gathers
in the middle of the lane.
Good riders also move within their lane to pick the best
road surface.
WATCH FOR CAR DOORS
By riding slightly right of the centre in your lane, you’ll avoid car doors that are suddenly opened in front of you. However, if you do need to take evasive action, take care not to swerve into oncoming traffic.
READ THE ROAD SURFACE
No two bits of road surface are the same, and even the same road can be more dangerous one day to the next. Always look ahead for hazards such as white lines, stones and shiny bits and move to avoid them or ride slowly over them.
BE ALERT WHEN IT RAINS
Rain makes road markings, smooth seal, oil patches and even inspection covers extra slippery. Avoid them if you can, or slow down and ride smoothly and steadily over them.
AVOID EXTRA BAD WEATHER
When it’s pouring with rain or blowing a gale, it might be smart to leave your scooter at home. Plus when your scooter’s parked, a big gust could blow it over and cause expensive damage.
BE SEEN AT INTERSECTIONS
Car drivers quite often don’t see scooters at intersections or mis-judge your speed.
A visibility vest or a bright coloured scooter makes
a big difference.
BEWARE OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS
A runaway ball can be all it takes to send a small child into your path, and cats and dogs often have no road sense at all. Scan the sides of the road for human hazards and furry friends. Be ready to stop or swerve in case they bolt.
LOOK AT YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE
When the unexpected happens, focus on your escape route not the danger. Ideally this will take you away from other traffic.
