Screeching rubber on tarmac and locking brakes shatters the May air as you wrestle desperately to avoid hitting the young child who suddenly appeared from nowhere right in front of you. A near miss that could have been so much worse had you not been obeying the speed limit. But shouldn’t you have been expecting something like this to happen? After all it’s 3.30 in the afternoon and children just out of school always hang around sweet shops like the one you just passed. You just weren’t being observant enough!

As a motorcyclist, “observation” is a word you hear time and again. As a learner you are told to regularly take “rear observation” so that you are aware of what is behind you. At advanced level you are advised to develop your level of observation further up the road to give yourself more time to plan.

However, an area of observation that is often overlooked is the ability to link what you are seeing to circumstances that may develop as the ride progresses.

1. Anticipation. It sounds simple, and it is. It’s easy to switch off while you’re riding, especially when the roads are a little quieter. Always keep an eye out for the unexpected.