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Article (8) SIPDE-Still Around And
Still Works
by Rod Jones
Ahhh…..’tis the season once
again. Autumn—cooler, less humid weather, football, the approaching
holidays, with their promises of good times with family and friends,
and the return of our chapter buddies who reside up north during the
summer. For many of us, it’s the best time of the year, and,
arguably, the best time to be out riding on two wheels. But like
most things in life, it’s not all good news. There is a downside
to autumn in Florida, one that adds to the hazards we face on
road—more drivers. Yes, autumn also harkens the return of the
snowbirds, Florida’s seasonal residents.
Starting in November, Florida’s
population begins to swell with the influx of snowbirds from northern
locals, all fleeing the approaching winter. The number of
seasonal residents hits between a half to three quarters of a million
people in November and then swells to a million or more by January.
And with numerous retirement communities, golf courses and proximity
to the beach, Central Florida gets its fair share of this additional
population. Aside from their increased traffic, these folks can
present other potential hazards for motorcyclists.
Many snowbirds are senior
citizens (as am I and many of us in this chapter). Without
getting wrapped around the axle over the contentious issues of elderly
driving habits, capabilities and licensing, suffice it say that
research has clearly shown that vision, reflexes, and even cognitive
abilities can deteriorate with age. Add to that the myriad of
driving practices and experiences our returning residents bring with
them from their various home states, and it’s clear that being extra
cautious whenever we take to the streets and roads just make good
sense, especially when we’re on our bikes. To that end, maybe
it’s a good time to dust off an old tool from our MSF class—SIPDE.
Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide
and Execute. I know, we all routinely use SIPDE every time we
ride. But what we’re talking about here is using it consciously
and deliberately, aggressively employing the tool rather than letting
it run on autopilot. We know automobile drivers in general seem
to have a knack for overlooking us; well some snowbirders, because of
Father Time and despite often being extra cautious, may have even more
difficulty seeing us. Moreover, their actions may be even more
unpredictable.
So, as we ride, we need to
aggressively scan ahead and around us,
identifying not
just the potential hazards, but the size of our space cushion, the
availability of shoulders on the roadway, the presence of other
traffic, as well as trees or other obstacles in or along side the
roadway. We should check for potential escape routes in the
event we suddenly need one. This process is also known as
"situational awareness," knowing what is going on around us. Predicting
should involve considering not only the various "what ifs" but also
how we would react to each one (e.g., What if the dog decides to run
into my path? What if the car up ahead suddenly turns in front
of me?). Doing that gets us mentally prepared to take either
proactive or reactive measures in response to a hazard or potential
hazard. We need to continue monitoring the situation as it
develops, and once we determine what’s happening or most likely to
happen, decide what we need to do to avoid or minimize the
hazard and then do it (execute).
SIPDE isn’t fancy or
complicated, but it can be invaluable in helping us look out for
ourselves if we use it aggressively. I don’t know about you, but
I need all the help I can get. Enjoy the fall weather safely.
See you on the road.
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