Do Australian motorcyclists use life savers?

[Natman]

Having been trained in the UK and being a recent migrant to Oz I find it unbelievable that many riders fail to look behind them when going for the overtake.

Can anyone comment on whether a 'life saver' or looking over your shoulder is taught at all?

[Brock]

And most drivers.  I look, cos you nevver know when some clown in a under powered tin box is going to try overtake the pack of bikes and the road train in one go...

 

[BigTed]

yes, it is taught..... a year ago I got my "big bike" licence here in Perth. They teach "MILO" - mirror, indicate, look-over [shoulder]" - on any form of direction change: intersection, lane, or overtake.

This doesn't mean a rider keeps doing it, but they do if they want to keep riding for longer.

[alans1100]

Not sure if it's taught or not, but I all ways look before committing to overtake. I also have wide angle mirrors as well so I can see anything either side of me.......but they're more for my rare city rides these days and if I'm not sure a head check is the go.

[TheMechwarrior]

I did my training more than 20 years ago (Tasmania) and it was comulsory back then to perform the "head check" if you hoped to pass the course.

[bluehonda]

In NSW if you fail to do a "head check" a total of 3 times during your L's or P's test you will fail the test, even if the rest of your bike control is flawless.
It's usually forgotten by students when moving away from rest.
The current licencing system has only been around for about 20 years so anybody who got their licence before it started might not realise the benefits or even know the techniques.

Brad 

[PaulH]

I've done it ever since I started riding, mirrors are OK for a quick glance but nothing beats direct eyeballs!

What amazes me is the number of tin-can drivers who get the order of events wrong. They move, then brake, then indicate...by which time the car or bike behind them is embedded in their boot!

[alans1100]

Not sure if it's taught or not, but I all ways look before committing to overtake. I also have wide angle mirrors as well so I can see anything either side of me.......but they're more for my rare city rides these days and if I'm not sure a head check is the go.

Head check wasn't a requirement for my ride around the block test in SA but that was about 35 years ago.

[Malcolm6112]

With two teenages on "L"'s, the head check is compulsory. If not done on the assessment you fail.

 

[Bikebear]

Apparently car drivers won't need to it in the future.. they'll all have little warning things in their mirrors that'll show them someone is there... 

[ST2UP]

With two teenages on "L"'s, the head check is compulsory. If not done on the assessment you fail.

 

Yeah I here you......daughter just got her P's.....head check, head check, head check.....a mate is a RTA assessor and tells me this is the number one reason for failure. Head check before you move from your lane or in any direction, the one that catches many is the multiple head checks during a 3 point turn going from forward to reverse.

Cheers

Chris