{"id":9783,"date":"2024-05-24T21:12:06","date_gmt":"2024-05-25T04:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2passdd.com\/Arizona-Defensive-Driving-School\/?p=9783"},"modified":"2024-05-24T21:14:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-25T04:14:23","slug":"defensive-driving-rule-58-move-right-when-approaching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2passdd.com\/Arizona-Defensive-Driving-School\/2024\/05\/24\/defensive-driving-rule-58-move-right-when-approaching\/","title":{"rendered":"Defensive Driving Rule #58: Move Right When Approaching"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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This rule is about visibility in heavier traffic situations and collision prevention. You cannot assume the other guy is paying attention — sometimes he’s not — and you cannot assume you will be readily visible. Many factors can prevent the other driver from having a clear view and keep him from recognizing your presence. Take responsibility to make sure he sees you.<\/p>

As you approach an intersection where there is congestion, it is often difficult for oncoming traffic (especially left-turners) to see you. Especially in darkness, many drivers have problems with depth perception, making it difficult to distinguish individual vehicles from the background of lights, shadows, and colors. Additionally, backed-up traffic in a left turn lane may prevent oncoming traffic from having a clear view of your approach. Finally, if it is near twilight, or if the sun is behind you, the poor light may contribute to a dangerous situation for you.<\/p>

One solution to this is to move right so that you become more distinctly visible to the oncoming vehicles. This is particularly important for a motorcyclist, but I do it just the same way in my pickup. Just the movement to the right can be enough for that oncoming driver to recognize your presence — the relative movement involved helps his eyes to pick you out. I also move to the right side of my lane so the on-comers’ view of my vehicle is not blocked by those vehicles lined up to my left to make left turns.<\/p>

In addition, while riding my motorcycle, whenever I think I still may not be seen, I flash my headlight(s) momentarily (in the daytime) or flash my brights quickly (at night) to ensure the oncoming vehicle does see me against the backdrop of cityscape and headlights. Then, I keep an eye on his front wheels. If he doesn’t see me and starts to make a turn in front of me, I’ll most quickly catch the start of that move by seeing his tires start the turn, and I will be able to brake and swerve around him as necessary to avoid a collision. If I’ve been thinking ahead, I will have already slowed prior to getting close to the intersection. Slowing gives you more time to recognize and avoid a conflict.<\/p>

All of these things, done together, help to ensure the other guy sees me so that I don’t end up meeting him by “accident.”<\/p>

Key Points for Enhancing Visibility and Avoiding Collisions<\/h3>
  1. Move Right:<\/li><\/ol>