Safe riding from a police officer's view

Safe riding advice from a police motorcycle instructor's view.
PC Roger Peskett rides a route, which we see from his unique perspective, whilst he provides live commentary through potential issues and dangers on the road.

[russellgoodban]

I think before doing your car test in the UK, you should be made to do the motorcycle CBT course, so everyone knows what it's like to be on a bike on the roads. Guaranteed that would cut car vs bike accidents.

[SpitFire]

How about an "Observations from a police motorcycle rider" series?
Not only would it re-enforce motorcyclists to ride safe, but potentially educate drivers/pedestrians on what bikers have to look out for.

[Lau-sp]

Police motorcyclist you are by far the best of the best you are the red arrows of the road.I always have great respect. Good luck

[wolfe]

The main killer for bikes is junctions, (T-Boning cars) always slow down for junctions even if you think its clear and be ready for an emergency stop, no journey is worth gaining 5 seconds.

[mikeycormack]

UK Police mororcyclist are the best ☺.

Agree that a series would be highly beneficial.

Also posting questions from us Normal bikers that you or your collegues could answer.

[Matttchew]

As a truck driver, before being cleared to drive, I was required to do exactly what you are doing. Several drivers were practicing the Smith System for defensive driving using a passenger van. While driving, we had to state what we were looking for and what we see, just like in this video. So, while we're operating on the road, what we are thinking about while driving is just like this video. It's not easy to say every hazard out loud, if not impossible. By saying the hazards out loud, that helps to stay focus on safe driving, and prevent distractions, such as what's for lunch.

[MegaBoilermaker]

Brilliant Officer. An awful lot more could do with your experience /tuition Sir. This is why most Police Motorcyclists are respected by even the most radical Bikers !

[johnfoster]

I don't get how calm and slow the commentary is whilst still spotting everything - brilliant.
I try to do a commentary and I end up babbling like a horse racing commentator after a double expresso and I still miss things.

[RevvedUpBiker]

Fresh mud on the road will be a good indication that there may be a slow moving farm vehicle ahead.

[adamvalentino]

This is particularly handy as that is my exact route to work in the morning!

[iDiGuy]

I'd confidently say that the motorcycle police definitely enjoy outings more than the car coppers! (In fine weather of course)

[mortenviking]

This is what all police in every country do! Brilliant! From a Norwegian, living in Poland.

[handsfree]

Not just riding safely but considerately, so many motorcyclists and young car drivers don't seem want to 'share' the road that we all use particularly when overtaking and filtering. Thanks for the great vid and the job you do

[Zed-kccr]

Nice vid ive been riding for 5 years seems like theres a lot to take in for newbies but this kind of alertness comes naturally afterwards you do it all the time without thinking of it

[thepianoman]

First-class A to B ride, couldn't criticise it really but a real shame that there were hardly any dynamic hazards ... no vehicles were waiting at any side roads to pull out in front of the bike ... the rider hopefully looking for the direction/angle of the front wheels and eye contact with the driver if possible .. slowing a little just in case and forming a plan to possibly go behind the car if, for example, it pulled out from the left to drive towards you ... I did this recently ... it definitely saved me, the driver was pissed! No particular situation arose where an "exit" plan as I call it, was necessary. Be especially cautious if the driver is looking in the opposite direction to the rider ... the driver could have momentarily seen the road in your direction to be clear particularly if there had been a bend involved or the rider was travelling quickly ... or perhaps they could be the kind of driver who says after the accident, "I didn't see you!" In this situation use your horn and if eye contact still not made, be prepared to come to a full stop!
The rider mentioned looking for approaching buses ... a major possible hazard here is vehicles overtaking that bus particularly if we are approaching even a "mild" right-hand bend.
Riding in the countryside, particularly with farm entrances can mean livestock in the road.
No mention of SLOW written in the road though he did mention the black & white chevrons on the bend ahead and then the vanishing point as the bend opened up. When a council spends money on road paint it normally means there is a good reason for it.
The rider says he's always looking for debris in the road ... that's good but no mention of looking for but better still, smelling for diesel oil when approaching bends ... trucks particularly can dump diesel on right AND left when taking a bend so a rider's road positioning needs to have this borne in mind. (Diesel fuel tanks can be on the right or left on trucks and diesel oil can often be smelt before being seen in the road ahead.)
The Smith System of Driving is an excellent piece of reading to improve everyone's driving, I recommend it to everyone.

[John-obdh]

Been riding since 1957. Its amazing to listen to what he is picking up on the road. Drove semis for 34 years and then at start and end of shift rode motorcycles 40 mile a day to and from the depot .driving big trucks all those years gives you a good grounding for reading the roads, especially for when I ride bikes.When ever I came across a bike I always got into the next lane to go past .Amazed at how many drivers try and go past a bike in the same lane .BUT too many bikers do not take up the whole of the lane they are in thereby inviting vehicles to try and get past them in the same lane .

[petethompson]

Doing my CBT and being out on the road all the awareness and preparing for everything, and seeing how car drivers dont, I thin we need to shape up our car license maybe every 5 years do a refresher course as the roads are only getting busier

[devfaulter]

Quality video. Would also like to see more of the same from TVP, covering different scenarios, e.g. dual carriageways, motorways, filtering etc.

[Lovelyloveeveryone]

Definitely an excellent rider. Thanks for upload.

[georgerichardson]

Perfect riding skills from this officer, pity more motorcyclists don't follow this.. however i have rode bikes for forty years and cant say i have always been riding within the limit. Just be safe everyone.