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Positioning is about placing the motorcycle in the correct place, safely and appropriately on the road. It is one of the most important parts of advanced riding because it affects safety, stability, view, space, communication and progress.
Motorcyclists are vulnerable in a collision, but they are also highly manoeuvrable. This gives riders options that many other road users do not have. A small change in road position can improve view, create space, increase visibility and give the rider more time to react.
The key assessment standard is simple – Does the rider position the motorcycle safely and appropriately? That means the rider’s position should always be based on what is happening, not on habit. The correct position is not always the safest and obvious one, but the safest position is always correct.
Positioning is the second phase of IPSGA. This matters because the rider should choose a position based on what they have seen and understood. Position should not be chosen automatically. It should be shaped by road layout, traffic, surface, visibility, hazards and the rider’s plan.
A good position helps the rest of the system work properly. It may give a better view, create more space from a hazard, improve stability or make the rider easier to see. Once the position is chosen, the rider can then set the correct speed, select the right gear and apply acceleration when safe.
If the rider chooses position poorly, every later phase may become more difficult to manage.
The priorities for positioning should be safety, stability and then view. A better view is valuable, but not if the rider has to compromise safety to get it. A rider should not move towards oncoming traffic, poor surface, the edge of the road or another hazard simply to see further.
Stability of the motorcycle also matters. The chosen position should allow the bike to remain settled and stable. Moving late, sharply or across poor surfaces can unsettle the machine and reduce available road grip.
View is still important, but it must be earned safely. A rider who positions well can often see earlier, plan earlier and ride more smoothly. The aim is to gain information without creating unnecessary risk.
The correct position changes constantly. It may be different for a bend, junction, roundabout, overtake, parked vehicle or traffic queue. Advanced riders should be flexible and responsive.
Good positioning creates more space, it gives the rider time to think, room to move and options if something changes. A rider who is too close to traffic, too near the kerb, too close to parked vehicles or too exposed to oncoming vehicles has fewer options available.
Position should help separate the motorcycle from hazards. Around parked vehicles, this may mean creating room for doors, pedestrians or vehicles moving out. Around junctions, it may mean positioning where the rider can see and be seen. Around large vehicles, it may mean avoiding blind spots and leaving enough room for the vehicle’s movement.
Space should be protected, not wasted. The rider should constantly ask whether their position gives them room to respond if the situation changes.
A useful way to think about positioning is to consider whether space is opening or closing.
Opening space gives the rider more options. The road may be widening, the view may be improving, traffic may be moving away, or hazards may be reducing. In opening space, the rider may have more flexibility with position and progress.
Closing space is much more different and is noticeable. The road may be narrowing, oncoming traffic may be approaching, parked vehicles may reduce room, or a junction may create conflict. A closing space is a hazard in itself.
The key principle is: Never carry speed into a closing space.
When space closes, the rider should reassess position, reduce speed where needed, select an appropriate gear and be ready to change the plan. Trying to force progress into a reducing gap is poor advanced riding.
Position can communicate intention, but it must be used carefully. A rider’s position may suggest whether they intend to continue, turn, overtake, hold back or prepare for a hazard. This can help other road users understand what the rider is doing.
However, position can also confuse. Riding too far to the right of a lane may suggest a right turn or encourage following traffic to pass on the nearside. Riding too close to the left may invite others to squeeze past when there is not enough room.
Good communication uses position with timing, signals, brake lights and speed. The rider should not rely on position alone. The aim is to be predictable, not misleading.
Positioning should be shaped by the hazards around the motorcycle. For bends, the rider should position to improve safety, stability and view while staying well within their own side of the road. Moving for view must never place the rider too close to oncoming traffic or poor surface.
Around junctions, the rider should consider whether they can be seen and whether another road user may emerge. A small change in position can sometimes improve visibility and create more space.
In traffic, the rider should avoid sitting in blind spots or placing the motorcycle where others may not expect it. Around large vehicles, extra care is needed because their size, swing, blind spots and restricted manoeuvrability can quickly reduce the rider’s options.
Positioning is not about claiming road space aggressively, it’s about using road space intelligently.
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Many riders do not think enough about road position, and their riding can become a little ad hoc, meaning their positioning is sometimes poor because they are riding by rote rather than by information.
Some riders move for a better view but create unnecessary danger from oncoming traffic, poor surface or reduced space. View is important, but safety comes first.
Some riders use the same lane position regardless of road layout, hazards, surface or traffic. Advanced positioning should be based on information, not routine.
Poor position can mislead other road users. The rider may appear to be turning, overtaking or inviting a pass when that is not the intention.
Developing better positioning starts with observation. The rider must first gather information, then choose the safest and most useful place to be.
A good practice habit is to ask why a position has been chosen. If the answer is unclear, the position may be based on habit rather than planning. Good positioning should make the ride feel calmer. The rider has more time, more space and more options. That is the purpose of positioning within advanced riding.
On your next ride, reflect on your road positioning and ask yourself:
Improving positioning will make your riding safer, smoother and more planned. It will also help the rest of IPSGA work properly because the motorcycle will be placed where it gives the rider the best chance to manage each hazard.
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