Learn to read traffic patterns and predict chain reactions
If we pay enough attention on how everyone moves around us then we begin to see patterns. There are different patterns of individual and collective driving behaviour. These patterns may vary from city-to-city, town-to-town and from streets to highways.
After having ridden across the length and breadth of India, I can safely claim that each part of India not only has a different culture but driving style too. For example, if you are in the Leh city or in a far-east Indian city, you'll notice that the local people drive non-aggressively, and will slow down for you around roundabouts.
But, if you are in Uttar Pradesh, your senses will be overloaded with information from motorists and people coming your way from every possible angle—left, right, back, front and centre (and from top). Anything can appear suddenly from anywhere. You ride less and save yourself more.
Now this State-wise driving style comparison is just an example at a macro level. At a micro level, your everyday routes could have very specific traffic patterns. The sooner you observe these patterns and register them in your head, the better your brain will work in keeping you safe from predictable situations that can lead to accidents.
Predicting chain reactions
One of the key components of predicting traffic patterns is the ability to see and predict a chain reaction on the road. A chain reaction is a situation where one action or incident has a cascading effect on other vehicles that are in the back.
For example, Let's assume a vehicle 'A' on the extreme right lane suddenly slows down and decides to take an exit on the extreme left lane without looking back, but there is a vehicle 'B' right behind it. In this situation, the vehicle 'B' in the back will have to brake hard or swerve to avoid hitting the vehicle 'A' in front.
Let's also assume that there are other vehicles⏤'C', 'D' and 'E'⏤behind vehicle 'B'. In that case, they all will be affected by vehicle A's action too. So, they will also have to either brake hard or change lanes quickly and dangerously to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of them. If you happen to be behind any of these vehicles then you also get affected by vehicle A's action as a result of the chain reaction.
In most cases, your subconscious mind automatically reacts to other people's mistakes, abrupt actions and takes corrective measures automatically. Without you realising, your mind is always performing predictive analysis of traffic situations ahead of you. But, some minds perform this task at a very dumb level, too slow to react, while some do it effectively and instantly.
If you live and ride in a chaotic country like India, your mind should be as sharp as a razor and as active as a hopping rabbit. As much as your focus is on the vehicle in front of you, your eyes should be able to see as far ahead as possible to be able to spot risky traffic movements and predict intending chain reaction.
This is why I feel most comfortable riding a tall motorcycle as my eyes can see further ahead, looking for any sudden change in traffic movement, analyse them, allowing me to go faster and filter through traffic effortlessly and safely without surprises.
Like a fighter jet pilot locks multiple targets at once in a dogfight, my eyes not only focus on the vehicle immediately in front of me but also on other vehicles around me and in my periphery vision. My eyes continuously scan and switch between these targets. My brain is constantly analysing all the things moving that could cause a chain reaction and pose a danger to me.
This is a very complex subject but a very important one. I will dedicate an entire article on this topic. Check back here soon for the article.
The lesson to learn here: Watch and observe everything that moves on the road and how they interact with each other and impact the traffic flow. Your situational awareness should be high at all times and your eyes should track and analyse every vehicle around. It requires a great deal of active thinking and practice to read traffic patterns and anticipate predictable chain reactions.
Caution: Once you gain the power of predictability, don't think that you have become invincible, the moment pride creeps in, nature checks on your arrogance.
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