Motorcycle Road Positioning: Seeing and Being Seen

Where you position a motorcycle on the road can have a significant effect on what you can see, how clearly other road users can see you and the options available to you.

Advanced riding is not about automatically riding in one particular part of the lane. Instead, position should be selected according to the circumstances.

A good road position can improve your view around bends, help you identify hazards earlier and create greater separation from potential dangers. It can also help you communicate your intentions to other road users.

For example, when approaching a parked vehicle, positioning can provide additional clearance and reduce the likelihood of encountering a suddenly opened door or a pedestrian stepping into the road.

On bends, position should help you maximise your view while maintaining a safe margin from the centre line, kerb and other hazards. The correct position may change throughout a corner as new information becomes available.

Positioning is also about being visible. A motorcycle can easily disappear into the background of busy traffic, particularly when surrounded by larger vehicles. Think about whether other road users are likely to have seen you.

However, visibility should never be confused with priority. Being visible does not guarantee that another driver has seen you or will react correctly.

Advanced riders continually assess road position rather than treating it as a fixed routine.

The best position is the one that provides an appropriate combination of visibility, safety, stability and planning options for the circumstances.