my previous golden rule is:
only overtake if there is no road on the right for cars to turn into

additional golden rule:
only consider overtaking if a car is *already* going slowly. If a car suddenly slows down, they're probably going to turn without indicating. If you're coming up fast behind them, just slow down to their speed. They may suddenly stop or turn in a random direction.

its kind of obvious if you think about it.
its good to make these kinds of things automatic.

today I was going along a main road, a car infront of me slowed down. there was no road on the right for them to turn into. so i kept my speed, I was considering an overtake then he suddenly stopped. then I considered going past him for a moment but he started turning right. I had to do an emergency stop.
hectic.

there was a little driveway he was wanting to turn into. he obviously only saw it at the last moment.


I think it goes back to the basic procedure of observing that a car is stable for a few seconds. so if they do something new, like slow down, the observing process must restart until they've been stable for a while.

You were lucky that you were ready for the car driver to do something stupid, which seems to be fairly common unfortunately

RoninZX-10R wrote:You were lucky that you were ready for the car driver to do something stupid, which seems to be fairly common unfortunately

+1

Best to just let them do their thing in town or they will do something profound....

my cousin and i were out riding one day some years ago and he "did" the overtake and the car done the same thing and turned right into a hidden driveway, unfortunatly he hit the car, destroying the car (opel manta) and his bike (rgv) and landed himself in hospital, it was the most scariest day in my life , as i was only yards behind him how i missed the collision ill never know , we were travelling very quick well over the 60 limit , a lesson learnt for sure , i always hold back and check 2-3 times before making any manouver , its etched into my brain , could of been a fatal day for us both , on the bright side , we both have a nc30 and we both love them, its never put him off , just wiser for the experience , ride safe stay safe and above all THINK

Few years back,

Coming along the road near my house, 50 limit and i was doing 50, it was raining and the road had only been resurfaced a few days, Good 50m between me and the car in front and then suddenly he just slammed his brakes on. I hit the brakes and well wet + new tarmac made the bike fish tail.

I took the option of going down the side of his car instead of into the back of him (luckily only hit his wing mirror) I ended up head and most of the body over the handle bars.

He got out of his new Focus ST and held his hands up saying it was his fault, he forgot where the turning was.

That was the most scariest day of my riding life

I have had a few instances like this back home in the UK while riding my 2005 zx6r (636 c1h)
I had even scraped my kneeslider over the bonnet of a car waiting in a lay-by, the reason for this was because the old woman's foot slipped off her clutch while waiting for me to pass her and or she forgot it was in gear. Needless to say i had brown pants as her car jerk it's way out into my path, fortunately i wasn't carrying too much speed as i was aware this car had been waiting for me to pass for a good 100m or so.

Something you might not believe, here over in Thailand where motorbikes (big or small) are more common place, people seem to be far more vigilante of bikers, many people pull out of the way when they see me and give ample room for slow speed maneuvers, many times i have said to myself "that wouldn't have happened back in the UK" :D
But then again many things wouldn't happen back in the UK compared to what happens out here......... Oppen for comments :D