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Well, this has almost happened to me too. Just replace the Swift with a Minibus. The difference being, I heard the chi-chi-chi-chi tyre screeching braking sounds and immediately checked the Mirror for danger. The minibus eventually stopped where my foot was but in the meantime, I released the clutch and the bike moved a few *crucial* meters forward, in effect, avoiding contact.

The trick is to stay alert and keep the engine on till the time some vehicle doesn't actually stop behind you. You can relax only *after* this has happened and then you can turn off the engine.

In my 4 years of Biking life, this has occurred only once to me, and that too a Minibus just kissed the rear mud-guard, and stopped. I looked behind, to see that the driver gesturing me as he is Sorry, and to stay calm.

Now, My 2 cents of advice- even after you stop, keep a look at the RVM, and Keep your bike in the 1st gear with Clutch pressed, so that you can move whenever you hunch something weird. And be attentive all the way untill you reach your destination.

I never rear ended anyone or got rear ended by anyone... Still, I've got one very effective and practical braking policy:

1. I start pressing the brake lever early, but loosely only. Which means the red brake light will show early but the braking won't be hard at this stage,

2. Then, I stop harder but only when I'm quite near to the vehicle in front of me.

In simple words: I always stop within 50 cms distance from the vehicle in front of me, by increasing braking gradually. In more simpler words, I brake slowly initially and increase the brake force in the end.

Of course, this means that I have to be careful and in control, so as to avoid bumping into the vehicle in front of me.


The real-life benefits of this system are that the driver/ rider behind you:

a. sees your brake light very early, in time to react properly, (chance improves)
b. gets enough of time and roadspace to slow down without a mishap.


Always keep in mind that the other person usually does not have a disc braking/ soft tyre setup, as good as you have.

Very wise and true. This is what experienced riders do. I also leave my bike in 1st, clutch in and checking my RVM until there is someone stationary behind me then I can pop N and release the clutch, However I keep checking the RVM for riders who split and try to turn at the intersection.

Keep your head on a swivel and assume everyone is out to try and hit/kill you.

Some suggestion are good & I agree to all this suggestion & most of them started to follow after accident

But after specially noting the timing & placement of my rear vehicle I started to feel that there are times example when like no space in front OR 2-3 cars simultaneously trying to overtake other vehicle OR some vehicle suddenly change lane slows after coming in front of you & you must brake hard OR some unseen pot hole or person suddenly jump across in front of your front vehicle etc like many situation where you are really on mercy of rear driver skill. I think 99% suggestion here will not work(thats what happened to me) front car suddenly applied hard brake he stopped I stopped but rear car could not.

i also do the same, with an addition, i usually keep some distance between my bike and the vehicle ahead of me, so that, in case of emergency i can move forward a couple of feets.

Very nice topic. But the answer is not - You can never avoid getting rear ended if someone is not looking at you and is traveling at a much higher speed than it can stop behind you! Rear view mirrors are waste in these situations. You brake. Keep your finger crossed that the vehicle behind you will brake in time.
The only thing better you could do is brake fast initially(avoiding tyre lock) and gradually move forward squeezing the brake (emphasis is on squeezing the brake). This will give the rear vehicle ample time to judge whats happening in front of him. But if he is not looking!
I am also failing to understand how can anyone see the rear view and make a move in these emergency situations.. You Brake.. you hear a screeching sound.. by the time you make a move.. its nearly touching you.

1) Always ride keeping in mind whats happening in front of the vehicle which is in front of you. Its confusing - but simple. See farther than just the vehicle in front of you.. If the vehicle in front of you is traveling at high speed and approaching a red light - CAUTION. If its moving towards an intersection at high speed - CAUTION. If its having an 'L' sign and moving towards anything CAUTION. I nearly rear ended a 'L' guy who stopped suddenly at a red light when there was a space for another car in between him and the vehicle in front.
2) See through the windscreens of the car in front of you.. ride in the lane/position from where you can see the bigger picture and not just the vehicle in front of you.
3) Always remember, Cars/Trucks/other four wheelers can stop at a much lesser distance than the one required by you. If you are at a high speed.. maintain a longer distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. The more the speed.. the more the distance. If someone is racing with you on the highway.. Let him race past you. Dont let him maintain a close distance from you. Always keep distance from the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind you.. That's what the rear views are for - Changing lanes and maintaining distance!

I know its known to many.. just typing it down so that those who are unaware may get aware. And if someone reading this is supposed to rear-end anyone in the near future, may be he will try to see farther than just the vehicle in front and avoid it!

I remember one more thing.. If you are travelling at high speeds and slowing down for whatever reason - cows on the road, dog crossing the road or anything for that matter.. always give a sign to the rear vehicles by raising your right hand to tell you are stopping for some reason and not throttling. This technique has helped me many times. Learnt from seeing some experienced bikers on Delhi roads where its quite common. Not so common here in Hyderabad, but very useful tool to inform unsuspecting traffic behind you! The first time I saw an uncle do it I thought what awkward thing is this.. But believe me its worth every iota of energy you spent in the muscle movement.

See this video here: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=afa_1346744974
How can the motorcycle avoid being rear ended?? No way! But the driver of the vehicle should have slowed down on seeing the truck in front changing lanes! The best way to overtake a vehicle on the highway is to be spotted clearly in his rear view and then overtake. Our friend here decided to overtake the truck from just behind it.
You are changing lanes fast.. the driver in front doesnt spot you while changing lanes. You doesnt slow down! BANG. But thanks to the wise decision of the driver in the end. The poor guys survive!

Well, Sorry to hear that and its a pain to stay off work, it takes you down both physically and emotionally. You got to be more careful while applying brakes. Effective braking is not only on what distance you stop ahead to avoid a collision but the distance from behind that you maintain also matters equally .

These morons are like stray dogs, nothing could be done to avoid them, the only safety measure you can take is just make sure you take a glance at the RVM every time you brake or change tracks. Make it a Habit, but I see over 75% of bikes don't have an RVM.

Agree to the whole post, but for the part in bold.
Heavy trucks/buses do not stop at lesser distances w.r.t mo-bikes. I mean, look at the weight ratio.
I have seen buses screech and stop in emergency situations, but that is the max the bus (or the driver) could have done.
I'm sure a bike would also have stopped within the same distance or less.

But, +1 to the rest of the post. Very valuable points indeed!

That's just my experience! I find it hard to stop behind Cars and Heavy vehicles when they stop suddenly. Also, I can drive faster keeping the same distance from the vehicle in front than I can ride!

Friend, Trucks and Buses have AIR brakes, which are very effective than the Drum brakes (in 80% of the bikes). So one have to be carefull.
I was once Tailing a VOLVO bus with my Maruti 800 (all drum brake) on a narrow road. Both the bus and my car was at high speed, and i was maintaining quite an amount of distance from the Bus. But somewhere the bus stopped suddenly, and I had hard time stopping my car without rear ending the BUS.

So u see, brake matters.

Adding to the superb suggestions from fellow members; One can also try to stop parallel to the vehicle in front most probably on to the left (in India) of the vehicle (don't know if this is illegal) but this way you won't be staying behind the Que open for tail-gaters.Under emergency situations one can also come parallel to the vehicle in front with little practice of 'counter steering'and coming parallel to other vehicle can also provide longer distance to travel/ longer distance to brake.Note: with my statement 'coming parallel to' doesn't mean ''literally'' coming parallel to anyone, just keep center of your vehicle or front wheel(s) near around rear wheel(s) of the vehicle you are following. This way, you won't be in his/her line if lane is changed abruptly.Btw, me too never rear ended or has hit anyone luckily (talking about humans only ) but have been rear ended several times

Agree to both the member's points.
But, I was talking in general terms. Since we assume that 80% bikes have drum brakes, likewise we can assume that 80% of the heavy vehicles (buses/trucks) are used for transportation and they aren't volvos.
Truckers don't even pay much heed to the condition of their tires.

But, yep; cars have awesome brakes. But, I won't deny the volvo and M800 incident. True for air brakes!

Exactly!! We have lot of these airport buses (volvo) in Bangalore on the airport road specially. And for my college 95% is just pure highway which apparently is also the airport road. And so i've had a lot of experience and many times, by following a bus, i was about to be crushed into it's ass!! The buggers lack common sense big time!! Only way is to avoid following them!!