Motorcycle Safety

SIPDE

Motorcycle Class

I learned how to ride a motorcycle when I was 30. It’s difficult learning physical things as an adult. Things aren’t as intuitive as they used to be, and my intuitions were often wrong.

There is a menemonic they taught us that helps with defensive driving. It is also a good model for moving forward in life when faced with a crossroads. It’s called…

SIPDE

SIPDE. Scan. Identify. Predict. Decide. Execute.

I’ll write this as a motorcycle safety lesson and let you, the reader, interpret it as a lesson for life.

Scan

Scan the road ahead. Look for what’s not quite right.

Identify

Identify the anomalies. Is there a kid playing soccer on the side of the road? Is that driver up ahead texting?

Predict

That ball might go into the road followed by the kid. That driver is gonna swerve.

Decide

If a dangerous situation arises, decide what you’ll do. It’ll involve one or more of the following: change speed (gas or brakes), change direction.

Execute

When the thing happens, execute your plan.

Practical Usage

Try this model when looking at any situation of uncertainty.