Safety talk

IMPORTANT NOTICES: Ultimately, the safety of motorcycle riders and their passengers is their own responsibility.  Nothing presented in the column supersedes, negates or relieves a motorcyclist and/or passenger from assumption of personal responsibility for their actions and safety.   [Editor’s Note: This article is reprinted from the July 2017 edition of the FLMSTA Gator Tale.] 

Rule #1 is that the motorcycle ahead of you has the right-of-way, both legally and for safety. The safest course of action is just to relax and wait for a safe passing zone to appear. Sometimes the rider in front will see you and recognize that you want to pass them. If they are polite, then may even move over in their lane and wave you by. Now what? Should you pass them in the same lane? 

Here is where a couple of other considerations come into play. First off, is passing another vehicle (specifically one motorcycle past another) legal in the particular state? As a motorcyclist and licensed driver, it is your responsibility to know the law. As they say, ignorance is no excuse. Since we’re in Florida, here are the rules you have to know: 

FL Statute 316.083 says “…shall pass to the left at a safe distance…”. 316.209(2) says “The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.” However, 316.209(4) says “Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.” I interpret all this to mean that while you can ride two abreast (Sorry, there is no legitimate reason to do this either, and every safety reason not to), no, you cannot pass another motorcycle ahead of you, in the same lane, even if they pull over and wave you by. 

Even more important, is it safe to do so? Certainly, it is safer not to attempt this maneuver. Even if the rider ahead is aware of your intent, and may have waved you by, it is safer to wait until there is a safe, legal passing zone. On the other hand, in states where it is legal (If there are any) and the rider ahead has motioned you by, then executing a safe pass in an area conducive to the maneuver, by giving the overtaken bike a wide berth and carefully moving around the bike may be reasonable. 

I will offer one other thought here. Under NO circumstances do you want to try and pass another rider who may not know you are behind him or her, particularly passing close by and/or in the same lane. You don’t know how that rider is going to react if they see you in the last moments before the pass, and that unpredictability becomes a recipe for disaster. Just don’t do it. Make sure the rider ahead knows you are there, and you give them clear indication of your intention to pass.

It comes down to what is safe, legal and reasonable. Be considerate to other riders, and treat them as you want to be treated on the road.

Ride safe! - Doug Westly