Intersections, blind spots and parked vehicles are but a few examples of the risks that must be dealt with when riding a moped or scooter. Here is how you can control and avoid them.
As you approach an intersection, be extra careful. What you must do:
If you need to drive near a heavy vehicle, make sure the driver notices you and avoid being in the vehicle's blind spots.
Heavy vehicles create turbulence when cruising at a high speed. Airflow around these vehicles creates large vortices that can destabilize nearby vehicles.
When riding a moped or scooter, stay away from heavy vehicles.
When riding a scooter, it is important to keep a safe distance between you and other vehicles. Doing so:
The safe way to ride along vehicles parked on the side of the road is to drive in the left third of the lane. That way, it will be easier for you to avoid:
On country roads, be mindful of wildlife warning signs. If you see one of these signs, it is because animals have been detected in the area.
In cities, watch out for pets, especially at intersections. Extendable leashes sometimes allow them to wander into the street. Do not attempt to kick away a dog that follows your moped or scooter as you risk losing your balance.
Moped and scooter operators need to be extra careful when crossing railways in particular when it is or has been raining.
Depending on the layout of the railway tracks, you may have to alter your course to avoid sliding on the rails because of the angle at which they cross the road.
In most cases, where the tracks are more or less perpendicular to the road, you can cross the rails by travelling in a straight line without altering your course.
If the tracks cross the road at an angle, you will have to alter your course to cross the rails at a right angle (as much as possible) to reduce the risk of skidding.
When 4 or more individuals ride together on mopeds or scooters, they expose themselves to risky situations. To ride safely, as soon as 2 scooters are travelling together, riders must:
The zigzag formation allows each rider to see properly around his or her scooter. The side-by-side formation does not offer this advantage since each rider prevents the other from seeing one side of the road.
The zigzag formation also provides a safety margin on the side of the scooter in case the rider needs to swerve to avoid a pothole or an object. The rider can therefore veer to one side without risking colliding with a scooter travelling alongside, or with an obstacle lying on the roadway.
Last update: May 30, 2022