Commentary - I'm glad the driver 'SAW' me Published Dec. 7, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. John T. Hale 820th RED HORSE Squadron NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- "What a knucklehead! You are going to get yourself killed!" I shouted as the motorcycle flew past me, weaving in and out of traffic. Another sports bike raced in pursuit, nearly smashing into the concrete wall and barely slipping down the off ramp. Minutes later I was out of the congested traffic and sighed with relief, noticing in my mirrors I was the only one on this stretch of highway. Half a minute later, without taking a second look, I changed lanes. Suddenly, a motorcycle dodged to the left out of my path; I was within inches of striking the bike. I failed to see the motorcycle that entered the highway and was passing me in the left lane. Now it was the motorcycle rider shouting at me, "What a knucklehead! You are going to get someone killed!" Some motorcycle riders ignore traffic laws and put themselves in grave danger. Some drivers of cars and trucks fail to notice motorcycles in traffic and put riders in grave danger. Drivers can do three things to share the road with fellow Airmen and neighbors riding motorcycles. Those three important safety tips can be found in the acronym 'SAW'. The 'S' in 'SAW' stands for space. Give motorcycles space; they need extra room in traffic for evasive actions around cars, debris and potholes. The pieces of broken tire tread or the rut in the road might be just a bump to a driver but it can cause a rider to lose control of the motorcycle; the rider needs space for quick maneuvers around the hazard. Consider how nerve wracking it must be for a motorcycle rider stopped at a red light with a car approaching from behind. The rider is thinking, "Does the driver see me stopped at the light? Will the driver give me space or am I going to get run over?" When a motorcycle is stopped at a red light, drivers need to make a slow approach and leave a car length of space. The 'A' in 'SAW' is for ascertain the speed and distance. As drivers, we are accustomed to judging cars and trucks moving in traffic and how far away they are. Motorcycles have a narrow silhouette and accelerate quicker than cars, so it can be challenging to determine their speed and distance. Advance your skills as a driver and practice observing motorcycles in traffic to determine their speed and distance. You will be surprised as you realize how, with just a glance, you misjudged the location of motorcycles on the roadway. With this simple activity, you will become conscious of how quickly a motorcycle can accelerate and move through traffic compared to a car or truck. Finally, the 'W' in 'SAW' stands for watch for bikes. Scan the road using side and rearview mirrors. Before changing lanes, use your turn signal for several seconds, and just before you move, look over your shoulder. Take a second look before turning left across lanes of traffic. When pulling onto to the road from a parking lot or side street, make sure to look carefully for your fellow Airmen and neighbors on their motorcycles. By sharing the road and following these simple tips, you will begin to be more aware of motorcycles, leaving riders saying, "I'm glad he SAW me."
