Feedback on a short “Collision Avoidance” course
Always nice to get a good write-up of a training session. Here’s an overview of my two hour “Collision Avoidance” course from ‘Wasabi’ from the Visordown forum.
“First off a big thanks to Kevin for a great day on Saturday. Did an assessment ride along with fellow rider in the morning, [then moved onto] the Collision Avoidance short course.
“Started off with a discussion about where accidents are likely to happen and about reading the road AND the environment for clues about what is coming up. This is backed up by some videos from his PDA. Good stuff about not just taking the road at face value as it applies to you as a rider, but putting it in context of what other people are likely to be doing on the road too.
“Out for a short ride with a few stops to look at the environment round you at particular points. Again – thinking what it likely to happen in particular places, what kind of traffic based on what kind of area / time of day and so on.
“Next up, into a deserted carpark for some E-stop and swerving skills. Good info about getting the best out of the brakes. Even did some simultaneous brake/swerve exercises (always a no-go for me before now). All useful – but will hopefully bed in with some practice on my own. Also discussion about stuff you can only visualise rather than practice – like jumping
“Off again and we did a commentary ride round Oxford – me following Kevin. Eye-opener just how far ahead you can read if you have the skill (and can be bothered), which cuts down later in hurried reactions to things you could have spotted earlier.
“So for me the key points I got out of it (rather than necessarily the key points of the course):
Try to process more info than what is just an immediate danger
Read the road in context and think more about what everyone else is doing and likely to do. This can also help filter out stuff that isn’t a risk and help reduce info overload
Learning to process and use the info you can get well in advance saves rushed reaction later
Variety of possible reponses when the worst happens – you can swerve or even swerve and brake, and not just always hit the anchors
Quite a lot for a short afternoon course really.
Highly recommended and was a pleasant way to spend a day – great for me as first ‘advanced’ training post-DAS.”
Glad you enjoyed it!