Time is probably one of the most important aspects of motorcycling. If you just had more time to stop or react maybe the situation would of had a different outcome.
One of the most important lessons I learned in life was about time. You don't know how much you have, you can't buy it and you're usually out of it when you need it the most. You may be asking how does this relate to motorcycling? Everything you do on a motorcycling is linked to time. How quickly you react, how long it takes to brake and accelerate, how much time do you have to maneuver to avoid collision. You see time is the key element. Even if you have all the confidence and skills, if you don't have the time nothing you do will matter. One of the biggest offenses I notice is tailgating, not giving yourself the time you need to react, stop and or maneuver. You will hear the stories, some cager pulled out in front of me and there was nothing I could do. In most cases there was something they could of done but they didn't give themselves the time to do it.
Motorcycling is both offensive and defensive. Just because you're not doing anything wrong doesn't mean everyone else is doing everything right. Even though it wasn't your wrong doing, you have to be prepared to know how to handle the situation that is presented. Unfortunately this is where a lot of motorcyclist get it wrong. I've seen riders panic, scream, blow their horn and curse but nothing that would save them if they needed to react defensively.
Everyone is in a rush, a lot of time to do nothing, but it doesn't hurt to give yourself extra time. A few minutes saved can cost you a lifetime of pain. When you ride think about your traveling distances, side roads, hazards in the roadway and any other incident that could arise and give yourself the extra time to deal with it. Have fun, be safe.
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