Car? Motorbike? There’s enough road for everyone!

The COVID-19 lockdown has certainly taken a bite out of Quebecers’ motorcycling and Sunday driving opportunities as we head into summer. Construction and repair may be resuming on the province’s highways, but many of us have opted for summer holidays on home soil this year and will be swarming the roads in the coming weeks. In a potentially explosive situation like that, everyone needs to be extra careful.

The Highway Safety Code (HSC) applies to all drivers, whether they’ve got their hands on the wheel or on the handlebars. In the interest of across-the-board safety for everyone, here are some road-sharing tips that will keep motorists and motorcyclists on an even keel.

Some advice for motorists

1. Watch out! Drivers of cars have a duty to protect more vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians. That’s what it says now in the HSC. Remember that the risk of serious injury or death is much higher for a motorcyclist than for the driver of a car in accidents. That’s why SAAQ (Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec) recommends that motorists check not just once but twice before turning or changing lanes.

1. Leave enough room to be a safe. Always drive so that you’re at least three seconds behind the vehicle in front of you, and make it four seconds if the road is wet. Pick out a fixed point along the road (like a light post or tree) and count how many seconds it takes you to get there after the vehicle ahead of you does.

1. Study up on motorcycle behaviour. SAAQ had close to 200,000 motorcycles registered in Quebec in 2018. It would be smart for car drivers who don’t have a class 6 licence to learn more about motorcycling, such as the hand signals riders use to indicate their intentions or the how’s and why’s of staggered formation. Those kinds of things will help you anticipate what motorcyclists are going to do and cut down the accident rate.

1. Don’t pass unless you have to. And then only if the signs say it’s OK and it’s safe to do so. Wait till you’re sure you have enough room before passing a motorcyclist or group, and don’t pull back into your lane until you see its headlight in your rear view mirror.

Some advice for motorcyclists

1. Keep to the correct position in your lane. A staggered formation is clearly your best setup when you’re in a group, with about two seconds between motorbikes. It’s best to ride in groups of three to five with the most experienced rider in the lead position at the front left. A lone rider should stick to the left third of the lane to be highly visible for people in cars

1. Be predictable. Although there’s always the risk you might have to swerve suddenly to avoid an obstacle or animal carcass on the road, it’s important to be as predictable as you can and signal any move you make before you make it. In group formations, use your arms and legs to signal when you want to slow down or stop, if you need gas, or when you notice obstacles on the road, so that everyone knows what you’re up to.

1. Make sure they see you. Wear clothing that makes you easy for others to see on the road, especially when visibility is reduced. Make eye contact with other drivers before you make a move so you don’t end up in someone’s blind spot.

1. Adjust your driving to weather conditions. Be extra careful when Mother Nature decides to rain on your parade. Slippery pavement, gusty winds, or torrential downpours can really do a number on a summer ride. You can often get out of paying the price by finding a safe place to stop and wait it out (never stop on the highway!) or by slowing down.

Of course, we’ll never eliminate all the risk. But it’s everyone’s job to do what they can to make sharing the road as safe and peaceful as possible. The highways have claimed too many victims already—don’t let up.