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Vanishing point

A vanishing point is where the road or its edges seem to converge or an obstruction blocks your line of sight.

The vanishing point directly affects your choice of speed and your available braking distance.

  • A closer vanishing point represents tightening corners or objects potentially obscuring other road users or road features;
  • A more distant vanishing point may indicate that more of the road ahead is visible, but it does not guarantee that the road is clear.

!! Learners - Do not ride beyond your braking ability based on your vanishing point distance observed !!

Never ridden on a specific road before?
Observe the yellow advisory speed signs, these show the advised speeds for the road feature ahead.

Once you have read this article, Moto Basics recommends the positional focus map for riders and how the vanishing point works with your focus and decisions as a motorcycle rider. 

Read more: https://motobasics.nz/knowledgebase-articles/guides/guide-positional-focus-map

Vanishing points change constantly!

Corners with objects obscuring the path of travel is a classic example of a vanishing point. Fences, hedges, trees, hillsides or other vehicles bring the vanishing point closer to you.

The vanishing point constantly moves further around the corner as you get closer so can see the path further ahead, but it is your speed that decides how you progress and how much braking distance you have available. 

  • A closer vanishing point represents a tighter corner, adjust your speed;
  • A distant vanishing point suggests a clear path of travel, the corner potentially has widened or straightened up.

Other vehicles create new vanishing points for you, remember these changes affect your available braking distance.

  • Adjust your speed to create your own following buffer and increase your following distance so you have more time and space to respond;
  • Observe the 2 second following rule in dry conditions, and 4 seconds for poor weather conditions.

Posted speed zones serve all road users including vehicles needing to enter and exit the lane you are traveling in.

  • You may not be able to travel at the posted speed limit, it is not a minimum speed target;
  • Anything can change beyond your vision during the time taken when observing objects blocking your line of sight;
  • Assuming all clear and overtaking without clear vision ahead will add unnecessary risk or be involved in an accident.

Vanishing observations from a video clip

Below are examples of what a vanishing point looks like.

  • Remember, the vanishing point is always moving to the next road feature ahead as you ride forward;
  • Ride to the conditions between your motorcycle and the vanishing point;
  • Do not out ride your vanishing point, this is when you lose the ability to stop safely within the visible clear distance observed.

The red dot is the vanishing point observed, the dashed red line is the path of travel, the blue line is the riders direct line of sight to the vanishing point ahead.

Image 1, straight section before a corner.
Image 1, when the vanishing point gets closer, adjust your speed.
Image 2, approaching a right hand corner.
Image 2, vanishing point is very close, vision is blocked by roadside features.
Image 3, approaching a left hand corner.
Image 3, vanishing point is very close, vision is blocked by roadside features.
Image 4, hair-pin with clear visibility.
Image 4, vanishing point shows a clear path around the corner, adjust speed for the turn.
Image 5, slight S bends in the lane ahead.
Image 5, vanishing point shows a path to the tree line, adjust speed for road features ahead.
Image 6, straight section of lane before a corner.
Image 6, the hillside ahead prevents you seeing further ahead.

 

The complete index for guides can be found here:

https://motobasics.nz/knowledgebase-articles