General observations.
- vehicle direction change indicators are rarely used.
- if a motorbike behaves like a car it is treated with more respect / attention and stays safer; this is in opposition to some local riding habits that puts the riders in more inferior/dangerous position, namely: allowing to be pushed out of way by the cars (use horn immediately), unsafely changing the lane in front of another vehicle, joining other motorcycles "swarm" without keeping proper distance, traveling high speed between the lanes.
- even in bad weather / visibility many cars don't use headlights
- riding motorcycle between the lanes is common and under heavy traffic condition it may be even a safer option (i.e. in case of a car pile up accident); if traffic condition is good (fast, not so many cars) behaving like a car is recommended
- bigger (size) and more visible motorbike, more safe is the ride
- cabs, expat driven SUVs and other big private vehicles may require extra attention while managing the biker's safety
- the same applies to the fellow riders
- many drivers seem to think that everything is possible if it's done slowly
Frequency scale (for everyday commuting):
1. Seldom but happens
2. Occasionally (few times a year)
3. Moderate (once a month)
4. Frequent (once a week)
5. Very frequent (few times a week)
1) Motorbike traveling at the fastest lane directly behind a car column. A car traveling on the left, adjacent lane will try to join the fastest lane directly in front of the motorcycle rather than behind it.
Frequency: 5
Motorcycle specific: yes
2) Queue at the exit (i.e. from a highway). While traveling on the lane adjacent to the exit lane a car from the exit lane joins back the highway trafic (usualy to jump the queue).
Frequency: 3-4
Motorcycle specific: no
3) The road diverges into two separate roads. A driver decides at the last moment to go the other road crossing the chevron marked area.
Frequency: 3-4
Motorcycle specific: no
4) A car on the merging lane joins the main traffic without respecting right of way.
Frequency: 5
Motorcycle specific: no
5) A car turning left goes first right before turning left (to make it more easy for the driver to turn).
Frequency: 5
Motorcycle specific: yes
6) A car does not stay within line marks.
Frequency: 5
Motorcycle specific: no
7) A car intending to join the traffic waits until its desired lane is available.
Frequency: 5
Motorcycle specific: no
8) A car goes straight forward from the left turn only lane.
Frequency: 1-3 depending on the junction
Motorcycle specific: no
9) Queue jumping at the exit lane.
Frequency: 5
Motorcycle specific: no
10) Queue jumping at the junction.
Frequency: 4
Motorcycle specific: no
11) A car for whatever reason changes the lane. It slowly pushes the motorcycle out of the lane.
Frequency: 3-5 depending on the size and visibility of the motorbike.
Motorcycle specific: yes
12) Vehicles joining the traffic often go half-way to the traffic and only then stop (or not). Special cases:
- from any car park lot (malls, condos, hdbs) a car leaves first the lot half way without paying too much attention or not paying it at all
- any vehicle parked or stopped on the street or sidewalk may at any moment join the traffic. Even with a single vehicle moving on the road, the parked vehicle may just move in front of it.
- any vehicle coming from a side road or a property
Motorcycle specific: no
13) Vehicles joining the traffic in front of other vehicles never accelerate - it should be expected to brake even if the distance between the joining vehicle and the vehicles already within the lane is sufficient for a smooth riding/driving.
Frequency: 5
Motorcycle specific: no
14) If there are two or more one direction lines leading to a junction expect vehicles to change the lane at the last possible moment just in front of the junction or traffic lights.
Frequency: 5
Motorcycle specific: no