Avoid a SMIDSY crash by riding a Z-line

[Gryphon Rider]

As a former motorcycle instructor and current every-day rider, I try to keep on top of the latest information pertaining to motorcyclist safety.  Something I found out about and have been practising recently is the "Z-line" manoeuvre to avoid a "SMIDSY" crash.

What does SMIDSY mean, you ask?  It's am abbreviation for the British excuse, "Sorry, mate, I didn't see you!"  This excuse, or our equivalent, "You came out of nowhere!", is given after a driver pulls out or turns in front of your motorcycle, which you had been riding in a straight line fully within their view.

Of course, there are many things you can do to improve your conspicuity, such as keeping  your headlight on bright in the daytime, using an headlight modulator, adding auxiliary lights, wearing brightly-coloured gear, and positioning yourself in traffic so you are easily seen by other drivers.  But the fact remains that you are smaller than other vehicles, and because more and more vehicles have daytime running lights, it's easy for our single or narrowly-spaced headlights to get lost against a background of other lights.  If an observer, such as the driver wanting to turn in front of you, is almost directly in front of you, your motion relative to the background can be difficult to detect, and it can be difficult to judge your speed.

The Z-line manoeuvre can make you stand out against the background by making your bike move sideways in their line-of-sight.  Here's what you do.  Start in the tire track within your lane that is farthest from the driver whose attention you want to get.  About four seconds before the intersection, take about one second or a little less to move into the other tire track of your lane.  Immediately move back to your original position within your lane, farthest from the other driver.  This leaves you about two seconds to be riding in a straight line before the intersection, and you can be ready to take whatever action you need to if something untoward happens.

This does a few of different things from the viewpoint of the other driver:
1. When you move towards the tire track nearest him, your headlight gets brighter, putting him in the centre of its light pattern.
2. He thinks, "Aaa, that bike is coming straight towards me!"  He has a reason to pay attention to you.
3. When you move back, there is a sideways shift in your position relative to the background, making you break camouflage.
4. Also, when you move back, your position changes dramatically relative to him, and you appear to be moving faster than you actually are.

Think about this as you ride, and decide if it's something you wish to begin practising.  If you do, it might prevent someone from pulling a SMIDSY on you as you lie on the pavement.

For further reading:
Z-line introduction
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

For those who prefer video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqQBubilSXU

[Rams]

Been doing this for years, most folks think I can't maintain a line.   

They could be correct.        Thanks for the heads up.

[hubcapsc]

I have moto-lights and a cobra lightbar.

I run normally on low-beam.

My light bar goes hot when I hit high beam.

I have taken to hitting high beam when I see some
potential SMIDSY looming.

I have seen its effect on some people who started to
pull out, but then slammed on the brakes.

-Mike

[solo1]

I've been also doing that for years!  I also wear yellow, two low beam headlights plus two PIAA 35 w smaller lights.  I also weave when stopping if there is someone behind me in heavy traffic. That does help to make MY brake light stand out.

I DO NOT flash my headlights for left turners. That might make them think that i said go ahead.

At four way stops I signal everyone to go ahead and then make my move when the intersection is clear.

Above all, I trust no one!

[..]

I have moto-lights and a cobra lightbar.

I run normally on low-beam.

My light bar goes hot when I hit high beam.

I have taken to hitting high beam when I see some
potential SMIDSY looming.

I have seen its effect on some people who started to
pull out, but then slammed on the brakes.

-Mike

Caution Mike. Some will think you are signalling them to perform a dominant manouver.

[..]

Me too and like Wayne I become submisive at a 4 way stop by taking a dominant role and waving others to move before me.

No man points to be won by trying to be the first to move when the other vehicle is 3,000+ pounds of metal.

Don't care if I stopped a half second before any other vehicle. They go first.

Long straight ahead of me and a long line of vehicles approaching I will move over to the right side of the lane letting furthest vehicles see me past the vehicles ahed of them. Not for long, I don't want anyone to think I'm giving permission for them to overtake.

[hubcapsc]

I have moto-lights and a cobra lightbar.

I run normally on low-beam.

My light bar goes hot when I hit high beam.

I have taken to hitting high beam when I see some
potential SMIDSY looming.

I have seen its effect on some people who started to
pull out, but then slammed on the brakes.

-Mike

Caution Mike. Some will think you are signalling them to perform a dominant manouver.

I kind of worry about that, but I don't flash them, I just hit high beam... I hope it makes people
focus on me, I've seen it get some people's attention, and I approved of what they did
when they saw me...

-Mike "they stopped  "

[Gryphon Rider]

At four way stops I signal everyone to go ahead and then make my move when the intersection is clear.

I am never crazy about it when people are "polite" and give up their turn at a four-way stop, waving others to go before them.  All it does is add to the time it takes for everyone to get through the intersection.  If everyone just follows the "first in first out" rule, yielding to the driver on the right when it's not obvious who arrived first, everything flows smoothly.

[..]

At four way stops I signal everyone to go ahead and then make my move when the intersection is clear.

I am never crazy about it when people are "polite" and give up their turn at a four-way stop, waving others to go before them.  All it does is add to the time it takes for everyone to get through the intersection.  If everyone just follows the "first in first out" rule, yielding to the driver on the right when it's not obvious who arrived first, everything flows smoothly.

How much time?

And everyone obeys the 4 way rules???

[Gryphon Rider]

At four way stops I signal everyone to go ahead and then make my move when the intersection is clear.

I am never crazy about it when people are "polite" and give up their turn at a four-way stop, waving others to go before them.  All it does is add to the time it takes for everyone to get through the intersection.  If everyone just follows the "first in first out" rule, yielding to the driver on the right when it's not obvious who arrived first, everything flows smoothly.

How much time?

And everyone obeys the 4 way rules???

Maybe someone can apply for a government grant to study this issue?

Competent drivers should be obeying four-way rules.

[Willow]

At four way stops I signal everyone to go ahead and then make my move when the intersection is clear.

I am never crazy about it when people are "polite" and give up their turn at a four-way stop, waving others to go before them.  All it does is add to the time it takes for everyone to get through the intersection.  If everyone just follows the "first in first out" rule, yielding to the driver on the right when it's not obvious who arrived first, everything flows smoothly.

How much time?

And everyone obeys the 4 way rules???

Maybe someone can apply for a government grant to study this issue?

Competent drivers should be obeying four-way rules. 

I agree with the assessment.  If there are multiple vehicles at the stop it also adds to the confusion as to who has the next turn.  When some jerk motions me to go when it's his turn I refuse.  I certainly don't trust him any more than he trusts me.

I think the best practice at stop signs is for drivers to actually know and practice the legal right of way patterns.

[solo1]

I only do this when I'm riding.  I can easily imagine when some idiot, on my left,  creeps the stop when I'm turning left and my knee gets smashed by his bumper.  At slow speed, left turners I can foresee but not creepers.

Driving, the car on the right or who gets there first.  Smashed in doors and bumpers don't hurt.

Besides, around here, Murphy stops are the order of things, especially at four ways.

[john]

  people that " wave " you thru are unsure of  the four way stop rule ...   
 Four-way stops   

"There is, believe it or not, no specific law regarding who goes first at a four-way or all-way stop.  The only applicable law states that drivers must stop and may enter the intersection only when it is safe to do so (§545.151).  So that leaves the right-of-way assignment up to the drivers.  To that end, there is a widely accepted convention that most drivers use to remove the guesswork.  Basically, it's first-come, first-served.  Implementing it is easy: when you stop at an all-way stop, look around and see who's already stopped.  When they've all gone, it's your turn!  If two or more people get there at the same time, then the protocol is that the person on the right should go first, and it should follow clockwise from there."

I stop , completely  ... but I ain't wait'in for the coin flip ...  ???
             

[rocketray]

interesting manuever but I would like to add you can stop in 1/2 the time going 30 vs 40 so I like to go 30 thru intersections and cover that front brake with a couple of fingers while watching the "6"  --- 25% of all motorcycle fatalities are being rearended

[Gryphon Rider]

25% of all motorcycle fatalities are being rearended

Where did that statistic come from?

[biguglyman]

Above all, I trust no one!

ALWAYS expect the worst. Has kept me out of trouble. Plan on the idiot pulling out in front of you or changing lanes into yours. Then be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't happen. 

[Jess from VA]

I have been weaving my bike in my lane, aiming all my lights right at the guy acting as if he is going to roll out in front of me (or going to brights, or both) for years.

Sometimes, it actually causes them to come to a full stop before a right turn on red, as the law requires.

If they pull out anyway, I pass them with 6" clearance.  (no lecture please)

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I haul heavy equipment for a living and 90 % of the time I'm grossing 100,000 lbs plus... In my world a flash of the headlights means " Go For It " .... No way would I ever " flash " my lights while on my bike.

[Jess from VA]

I don't flash, I just go full brights on (stay on).  Do it when I'm aiming right at them at speed, and they know it's not an invitation to pull out.

On the other hand, I have flashed people to tell them to go ahead. (slow speed)

[Gryphon Rider]

I only flash my wife. 

[MP]

I haul heavy equipment for a living and 90 % of the time I'm grossing 100,000 lbs plus... In my world a flash of the headlights means " Go For It " .... No way would I ever " flash " my lights while on my bike.

 

Yep.  In the trucking world, a flash of the headlights, generally means "go ahead".  Exactly the opposite of what you want on a bike.

MP

[Rams]

I only flash my wife. 

I can appreciate that, she has a great smile.   

We are talking smiles aren't we?   

[Paxton]

"I only flash my wife." 
 =============
I do too but she gets pissed. Especially when I flash the new neighbor...ish lady!

[cookiedough]

I'm guilty at stops to look both ways of course but roll thru the intersection (stop sign) in 2nd gear going like 1/2 mph not putting my feet down ONLY if no cars on either side at intersection.  Just last week I almost caused an accident because of this thru my fault.  I stopped (well almost), looked both ways very quickly, but NEVER saw the small blue car coming my way VERY slowly from the left. He must have pulled out of our small town dealership parking lot into the road since blended in with the other used cars behind it in the parking lot but was creeping towards me very slowly on the road guessing 5 mph tops.  He beeped the horn at me like a-hole didn't you see me, but really didn't until he beeped the horn at same time.  Luckily he stopped. 

Yah, bad habit I know my kids rag at me all the time for NOT coming to a complete stop at an intersection even our local young cop who stops ALL in town (being sort of harrassing and not welcome) pulled me over 3-4 months ago 1 mile from my house in our small town for rolling thru the main downtown stop sign at 9 p.m. at night being a very clear intersection with a 4-way stop obviously no one around. 

Now, if others at intersection, I have no problems coming to a complete stop. 

[rocketray]

yes   2/3 of all motorcycle fatalities are by someone turning left in front of them   25% are being rearended

[Rams]

Hmm, can't tell you how many laws I've broken in my many years of operating a motor vehicle.   Can say this, only got one ticket in my life I didn't think I deserved.    That one  got thrown out of court by the judge.    Rolling through stop signs is some thing many folks do, I'm betting 99% of the driving public speeds at some point on a daily basis.    I know this, I'm the safest/most compliant driver when I'm transporting with my truck/trailer and when I'm on two wheels.    In the truck/trailer, the greatest danger is to those in front of me.    On two wheels, I'm the one at greatest risk.

[MarkT]

On waking left-turners - I run a pair of 50w small spots all the time, on the crash bars.  Have another pair of spots, aircraft landing lights, with selectable trigger, selected to come on with high beam.  Headlight is 130/90 with modulator.  I see anyone planning to cross my path - hit the high beam and leave it on until I'm passed.  130w high beam modulating, aircraft landing lights to melt their retinas, and two more lower spots, 5 in all in a triangle pattern with the 130w high beam modulating.  NO WAY they can't see me, or I "came out of nowhere".

[Spirited-6]

I haul heavy equipment for a living and 90 % of the time I'm grossing 100,000 lbs plus... In my world a flash of the headlights means " Go For It " .... No way would I ever " flash " my lights while on my bike.

Joe I learnd  that years ago ! I 'flashed " a simi and he almost ranover me!

[Hooter]

At four way stops I signal everyone to go ahead and then make my move when the intersection is clear.

I am never crazy about it when people are "polite" and give up their turn at a four-way stop, waving others to go before them.  All it does is add to the time it takes for everyone to get through the intersection.  If everyone just follows the "first in first out" rule, yielding to the driver on the right when it's not obvious who arrived first, everything flows smoothly.

And everyone obeys the 4 way rules???

   People around here don't have a clue what the "4-way rule is", especially young drivers. Makes me wonder if it's taught anymore because 4 ways are usually a surprise and you better pay attention. . Depends on who is on the phone looking straight ahead or just not paying attention to the intersection at all. Stop and full speed ahead, rules, what rules?

[Pappy!]

Been doing that maneuver for about a year now. Wasn't aware of the 4 second start point but it makes sense. Also hit the brights.
I run my headlight on low but have Hellishly bright LEDs on the highway bars that are hooked into my bright circuit. I run the LEDs constant at a low setting until I flash the bright then they go full on as well. They will wake the dead on full !