Search aggressively for potential hazards. Scanning provides you with the information you need to make your decisions and take action. Use the techniques for scanning that were discussed earlier in this chapter.

Locate hazards and potential conflicts. The hazards you encounter can be divided into three groups based on how critical their effect on you may be.

• Cars, trucks, and other vehicles - They share the road with you, they move quickly, and your reactions to them are critical.
• Pedestrians and animals - They are characterized by unpredictability and short, quick moves.
• Stationary objects - Chuckholes, guard rails, bridges, roadway signs, hedges, or rows of trees won't move into your path, but may create or complicate situations.

The greatest potential for a conflict between you and other traffic is at intersections. An intersection can be in the middle of an urban area or at a driveway on a residential street - anywhere other traffic may cross your path of travel. Most motorcycle/automobile collisions occur at intersections. And most of these collisions are caused by an oncoming vehicle turning left into the path of the motorcycle. Your use of SIPDE at intersections is critical.

Before you enter an intersection, scan for:

• Oncoming traffic that may turn left in front of you.
• Traffic from the left.
• Traffic from the right.
• Traffic approaching from behind.

Be especially alert at intersections with limited visibility. Be aware of visually "busy" Surroundings that could camouflage you and your motorcycle.

Anticipate what the hazard might do. The direction of a potential hazard is important. Clearly, a vehicle moving away from you is not as critical as a vehicle moving in your path.

Determine what the hazard might do... where a collision might occur. How critical is the hazard? How probable is a collision? Is there a need to downshift to be able to respond more quickly? This is the "What if. . ." phase of SIPDE that depends on your knowledge and experience. Now estimate the consequences of the hazard. How might the hazard - or your effort to avoid it - affect you and others?

Determine what you need to do based on your prediction.

The mental process of determining your course of action depends on how aggresively you searched. The result is your action and knowing which stratEgy is best for the situation. You want to eliminate or reduce the potential hazard. You must decide when, where and how to take action. Your constant decision making tasks must stay sharp to cope with constantly changing traffic situations.

Carry out your decision. This is when your riding skills come into play. And this is where they must be second nature. The best decision will be meaningless without the skills to carry it out.

Communication is the most passive action you can take since it depends on the response of someone else. Use your lights and horn, but don't rely on the actions of others.

Adjustments of speed can be acceleration, slowing or stopping.

Adjustments of position can be changing lane position or completely changing direction.

The degree of adjustment depends on how critical the hazard is and how much time and space you have. The more time and space, the least degree of adjustment, the least the amount of risk.

In areas of high potential risk, such as intersections, give yourself more time and space by reducing the time you need to react. Cover both brakes and the clutch and be ready with possible escape routes.

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