Did you ever experience that superpower – invisibility!?
You would think this would be a cool superpower. Imagine the shenanigans one could get into!
Today I had the opportunity to don my invisibility cloak and was thankful for the motorcycle safety training I received at TEAM Arizona. Driving in the center lane on my way to a work meeting I was maintaining my situational awareness and staying 2-seconds’ distance behind the car in front of me. To my right (I could see his eyes in his side view mirror) was a car traveling slightly slower than the flow of traffic – a tell-tale sign that something just might be up with this driver. Then it happened – he glanced at me — or through me seeing that I was wearing my invisibility cloak — signaled for his left turn and proceeded into my lane — he must not have seen me pointing at him to not do what he was contemplating (no it was not my middle finger). Fortunately I had anticipated his decision and had already slowed to allow myself a buffer zone.
As he pulled into my lane in front of me I raised both hands while questioning him in his rear view mirror – he just glanced and sped off. My invisibility cloak was working perfectly — or was it that this guy just didn’t care that I was there – after all I was on my little ol’ motorcycle?
I was able to maintain my cool – I’ve found that losing my cool while traveling at 70MPH is not a good choice. And road rage is just never a good option. So as I sit writing this blog article I reflect on what I learned from this encounter.
- Maintain a safe distance from the vehicles in front (and in back) of you.
- Look for clues of ensuing problems.
- Maintain your situational awareness.
- Maintain your composure.
What’s your best story of effective situational awareness?
