When riding, you should choose pants and a jacket made of leather or another sturdy material. They should fit you snugly enough that they do not flap in the wind, but also loosely enough that they let you move freely.

Protection should be your first consideration when buying a motorcycle helmet.

Alcohol does not need to be digested to enter the bloodstream. It is able to reach the brain and begin to affect the drinker's body within minutes of being consumed.

Exposure to engine and wind noise can damage your hearing, even if you are wearing a helmet. Wearing hearing protection while riding is always a good idea.

In Alabama, it is illegal to operate a motorcycle while carrying anything that prevents you from keeping both hands on the handlebars.

Motorcycles have blind spots just like other vehicles. A rider should always turn their head to check for traffic in their blind spot before changing lanes.

Choose a lane position that helps you avoid road hazards. Make sure you maintain a safe cushion of space around your motorcycle at all times.

Before mounting, you should ask your passenger to look over your shoulder in the direction of any turn or curve that you may take. Doing so will help you and your bike to lean in the appropriate direction.

While some people believe that a helmet will limit their vision, this is not the case. Any U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet will allow the wearer to see as far as is needed for safe riding.

Riding in the center portion of your lane can discourage other drivers from trying to squeeze into your lane to drive next to you. Additionally, riding in the center portion of your lane when traveling behind a car generally ensures that you will appear in the middle of the vehicle's rearview mirror, where the driver is most likely to notice you.

To lessen the chances of a crash occurring, you should make yourself visible, communicate your intentions to others, maintain adequate space cushions, search your path of travel at least 12 seconds ahead, identify and separate hazards, and be prepared to react to changing conditions.

When approaching a blind intersection, move into the portion of the lane that will bring you into any other driver's field of vision at the earliest possible moment.

While it is most important to be aware of what is ahead of you on the road, you cannot ignore what is behind you. You can keep track of the situation behind you by checking your mirrors consistently.

The key to making an evasive maneuver is to get your motorcycle to quickly lean in the direction you wish to turn. The sharper the turn, the more it must lean.

The three major factors that can affect a person's blood alcohol content (BAC) are the amount of alcohol they have consumed, how quickly they consumed it, and the drinker's body weight.

Properly chosen clothing can help protect you in a collision as well as offer routine protection against heat, cold, debris, and the moving parts of your motorcycle. It can also help keep you comfortable and make you more visible to others on the road.

Use both brakes every time you slow or stop.

Most motorcycle crashes happen in broad daylight. To maximize your chances of being seen, you should wear clothing with reflective material when riding, even during the day. Always wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.

If you are passing a row of parked vehicles to your right and there is no oncoming traffic to your left, you should ride in the left portion of your lane. This will help you avoid hazards, such as car doors that are opening and pedestrians who are stepping out from between vehicles. If there is oncoming traffic, it is best to remain in the center portion of your lane to maximize the amount of space around you.

Your arms should be slightly bent when you are holding the handle grips of a motorcycle. Bending your arms reduces arm fatigue and permits you to press on the handlebars without having to stretch.

It is best to change gears before starting a turn. Shifting gears while in the turn can cause a sudden change in power to the rear wheel, causing a skid. If you must change gears while in a turn, change gears smoothly to best prevent skidding.

A passenger places extra weight on a motorcycle. Because of the added weight, the motorcycle will respond to the operator's movements more slowly than it would otherwise, taking more time to speed up, slow down, and turn.

An appropriate lane position can increase your ability to see and be seen. Being properly positioned in a lane can also help you avoid blasts of wind coming off of surrounding vehicles.

When riding at night, you should increase your following distance. Slow down and be flexible about your lane position.

You should never rely on eye contact as an assurance that a driver has seen you. It is not uncommon for a driver to look directly at a motorcyclist and still fail to actually notice them.

Most motorcycle crashes occur in broad daylight. To make yourself more visible to other drivers, you should always wear brightly-colored clothing when riding, even during the day.

When preparing to pass a vehicle on the left, you should ride in the left portion of your lane. Doing this will increase your line of vision and help drivers in the next lane anticipate your move.

The front brake of a motorcycle is more powerful than the rear brake. It can provide at least 70 percent of a motorcycle's total stopping power.

In a group, less experienced riders should be positioned toward the front, just behind the leader. This will allow more experienced riders to watch them from behind.

Riding with your headlight activated is the best way to help other road users see your motorcycle. Always be sure your headlight works before starting your trip.