Inexperienced, vulnerable and large road users

As a motorcyclist, you will regularly encounter inexperienced drivers and vulnerable road users in traffic. In many of these cases, you have a responsibility to keep it safe. Even if these inexperienced or vulnerable road user does not keep to the rules, you should solve this as best as possible to prevent accidents. In addition to that, you must also account for large vehicles and their limitations.

Children

Participating in traffic is much more unsafe for children than it is for adults. Especially when they are still small, they have a much less overview than adults. In addition, they also do not yet have the experience, and the brain is not yet sufficiently developed to be able to understand all the risks. They sometimes play on the pavement or on the carriageway, hide between parked cars and cross the road without looking, chasing their soccer ball.

So always be careful when riding through residential neighbourhoods. Take unexpected situations into account and look carefully between and under parked cars to see (the feet of) children playing. If there are children on the pavement, always keep in mind that they can cross the street and reduce your speed.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians are very difficult to see in the dark. Keep this in mind when you are riding on roads where there is no footpath or pavement and, if possible, do not ride completely to the right. In addition to that, pedestrians are not always consciously involved in traffic. Therefore, always keep an eye on pedestrians, even if they are walking on the footpath or pavement. Recognise pedestrian crossings in time.

Cyclists, moped riders and snorfietsers

When turning right, mind cyclists and snorfietsers. They are allowed to pass you on the right and can be in your blind spot. In addition, they are balance vehicles which can sway unconsciously. Keep enough lateral distance (about 1 to 1.5 metres) between your motorcycle and the bicycle or snorfiets. Also pay attention to crossings of cycle paths and cycle/moped paths. In the dark, always consider cyclists that are difficult to see.

Moped riders often ride on the carriageway in built-up areas. Maintain enough distance and only overtake them if you have enough space to do so. Also keep an eye out for the signs that indicate that moped riders should use the carriageway.

Horse riders and horse transport

Because horses are flight animals, they naturally startle. This can be very dangerous for the rider or handler of the horse, or with a horse trailer combination. If you approach a horse rider or a handler of a horse, reduce your speed and keep your distance. Only pass if you can do this quietly and spaciously. Never use the horn when riding near a horse and never unnecessarily accelerate.

Crossing wildlife

Also consider crossing wildlife during twilight or in the dark. In places where this occurs frequently, sign J-27 is often placed. The risk of crossing wildlife is greatest at night.

Mitigate the risk of a collision by reducing your speed.

If you come across big game, do not try to avoid it. Prefer braking and always dim your full-beam headlight if you have this turned on. A lot of accidents due to game happen because people try to swerve. The driver loses control, falls or collides head-on with an oncoming vehicle.

For small game such as rabbits or hares, it is safer not to make an emergency stop. Suddenly braking increases the chance of rear-end collisions, and in addition to that you can fall while braking. Traffic behind you has often not even seen the animal and therefore cannot anticipate for this. Release the throttle and ride straight as much as possible.

If you have had a collision with an animal, then you are required to call the (animal) police. There is a special emergency number for this: 144. The police can then take measures to help the animal if necessary, or to put it out of his misery. This is also mandatory for a pet when the owner is not present.

Drivers of brommobielen

Brommobielen look like small cars and the drivers must also follow the rules of motor vehicles. Because you can drive a brommobiel from the age of 16, many brommobiel drivers are often not yet experienced drivers. You could also be misled by the speed. Brommobielen may only go 45 km/h, even on roads where other drivers my go 70 km/h for example. This difference in speed can lead to danger if you do not account for this. You can recognise brommobielen by the round sticker or a round little sign on the rear of the vehicle, with a red border and the black number 45.

Drivers of vehicles with a limited speed

The most well-known vehicles with a limited speed are the agricultural vehicles. But road sweepers and lawn mowers from the municipality can also be vehicles with a limited speed. Vehicles with a limited speed up to 25 km/h can be recognised by a truncated triangle on the rear of the vehicle. For faster vehicles, up to 40 km/h, this is no longer mandatory. These vehicles can be recognised through the number plate with a vehicle registration number starting with a T (or an L if you are dealing with an agricultural trailer).

As the name says, these vehicles are not allowed to drive fast. The speed difference between these vehicles and other motor vehicles can therefore be quite big.

Agricultural vehicles are often very large. This makes overtaking these vehicles more difficult. Consider the sometimes limited view of the driver. This could be obstructed by coupled machines or large trailers. Especially agricultural vehicles that are turning left or right could cause significant danger if they are just overtaken on that side.

Drivers of lorries

Due to their size, these vehicles have more and bigger blind spots. Depending on the vehicle, these are right in front, beside and at the rear of the vehicle. A good rule of thumb is: if you do not see the driver (immediately or via a mirror) then the driver does not see you too. You are then standing or riding in a blind spot, and this increases the chance of a collision.

Thus, stay out of the blind spots as much as possible. In addition to that, bigger and longer vehicles also need more space when negotiating bends. Give them this space by maintaining sufficient distance.

LZV-vehicles, or Long Heavy Vehicles, are extra long. These lorries may be 25.25 metres long instead of the normal 18 metres. They are therefore not allowed everywhere and are mainly intended for longer trips on flow roads.

The elderly and the disabled

Elderly persons are often more affected by certain conditions such as poor eyesight, a poorer mobility and a slower response. Hearing may also become impaired. This makes participating in traffic more dangerous. Therefore, do account for the elderly in traffic and give them more time to cross. Older drivers could also drive hesitantly. Do not react frustrated but give them space.

Persons with a disability may be less mobile, visually impaired or blind, or hard of hearing or deaf. All these factors make traffic participation more difficult. You can recognise blind people by a white cane with red rings and/or a guide dog for the blind. These persons, but also persons on crutches or with a walker or walking frame, are always allowed first if they indicate they want to cross. Blind or visually impaired persons indicate that they want to cross by sticking the cane forward.

Deaf and hard of hearing people can sometimes be recognised when they ride on a vehicle with a little plate with the letters SH on the rear. This stands for ‘SlechtHorend’, which is Dutch for hearing impaired. Hearing impaired or deaf people do not hear you coming and can therefore be startled, or they have not noticed you at all.