6.1 Queensland Roadcraft: Look, Slow Down, Move Away and 12–6–3

Queensland Roadcraft: Look, Slow Down, Move Away and 12–6–3

Roadcraft is the active process of anticipating hazards before they become emergencies. The Queensland Motorcycle Riders’ Guide organises it around three principles—observation, speed management and road position—and gives a simple tactic: Look, Slow down, Move away.

Look: observe and anticipate

A hazard is anything in the crash-avoidance space, or capable of entering it, that could place someone in danger. Look for direct hazards and clues: a front wheel beginning to turn, a driver’s head movement, a gap in queued traffic, a pedestrian near the kerb, brake lights beyond the vehicle ahead, gravel colour at a bend, an animal beside the road or a truck that may swing wide.

Apply the official 12–6–3 principle:

• look about 12 seconds ahead to scan the environment and plan a path;
• retain at least 6 seconds of vision of the road ahead; and
• maintain at least 3 seconds of crash-avoidance space in good conditions.

Twelve seconds is a planning horizon, not a reason to stare at one distant point. Keep the eyes moving between the far scene, immediate path, surface, intersections, mirrors and instruments.

The guide says to check mirrors every few seconds so you know what is behind. Check before changing speed and when approaching a situation that may require braking. Mirrors leave blind spots, so perform a direct head check before moving from stationary or changing road position—within the lane, into another lane or into a turn. Avoid inventing one rigid “every 5–8 seconds” timing rule; the official phrase is continuous awareness and checks every few seconds.

Slow down: preserve time and stopping space

The faster the motorcycle travels, the farther it moves while the rider detects and responds and the longer braking takes. Slow early when view, grip or behaviour is uncertain. If less than 6 seconds of the road is visible around a blind curve, over a crest, through rain or past an obstruction, reduce speed until the available view again covers at least 6 seconds.

At an intersection, do not rely on eye contact or an assumption that the driver has seen the motorcycle. If a vehicle can cross or enter the path, assume it may. Cover the controls, reduce speed and prepare to stop while retaining awareness of traffic behind.

Slowing is most effective before the hazard. Abrupt braking while leaned, on paint or after entering gravel can create a second emergency.

Move away: create a buffer

Position the motorcycle to create the greatest useful space from the hazard while preserving surface quality and sight. Move away from an oncoming vehicle near the centre line, an opening car door, a vehicle waiting to enter, a cyclist, a pedestrian or a truck’s blind area. The safest location changes as hazards change.

Moving away does not mean crossing into a new hazard. Check mirrors and blind spots before changing position. If hazards exist on both sides, reduce speed and choose the position that gives the best total buffer, sight and escape options.

Put the tactic together

At a side-road vehicle:

1. Look for the driver, front wheels, gaps, pedestrians and following traffic.
2. Slow down enough to stop if the vehicle enters.
3. Move away within the lane to increase space and visibility, if surface and other traffic permit.

At parked cars, look for people, lights and wheel movement; slow; move toward the centre or right of the lane while buffering oncoming traffic. At a blind crest, use road furniture and power lines as clues, slow for limited vision and choose a position away from possible oncoming intrusion.

Gap selection

When entering or crossing traffic, choose a gap that does not force another road user to change speed or position. The rider guide illustrates selecting a gap that lets the motorcycle clear the intersection at least 3 seconds before another vehicle arrives. A legal priority does not make a small gap safe.

Exam distinction

Some advanced-driving systems use an Information–Position–Speed–Gear–Acceleration sequence. That may be useful elsewhere, but it is not the framework presented in the Queensland Motorcycle Riders’ Guide. For this test, use the official vocabulary: observation, speed management, position; 12–6–3; and Look–Slow down–Move away.