While searching the road for potential hazards, focus on looking for escape routes in or around intersections, shopping areas, schools, and construction zones.

The skills a person needs to ride safely decrease as the amount of alcohol consumed increases. If you have consumed alcohol in any amount, it is safest not to ride your motorcycle.

Frequent mirror checks should be part of your normal scanning routine. Additionally, make a special point of using your mirrors before changing lanes, when stopping at an intersection, and before slowing down.

Jackets and pants should fit snugly enough that they do not flap in the wind, but also loosely enough that you are able to move freely.

It is illegal to operate a motor-driven cycle or moped on a freeway or expressway if signs are posted prohibiting their operation.

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.

If you are being passed either from behind or by an oncoming vehicle, stay in the center portion of your lane. Riding any closer to the passing driver could place you both in a hazardous situation.

Roads become slippery when it first starts raining, especially in the center strip of a lane. When rain starts, it is generally safest to ride in the tire tracks left by other vehicles. The left tire track is often best.

A properly chosen lane position should provide a number of benefits, including an increased ability to see others and to be seen. It should help you avoid wind blasts, other drivers' blind spots, and surface hazards. Your lane position should discourage other drivers from trying to share your lane and provide you with an escape route, should a hazard arise.

While riding in a staggered formation is generally advisable, a group of motorcyclists should switch to a single-file formation when riding in curves, turning, and entering or leaving a highway.

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.

If the front wheel locks up while you are braking, release the pressure from the front brake. Immediately re-apply pressure to the brake with controlled gradual pressure.

If you accidentally lock your rear wheel while stopping on a straightaway, you can keep it locked until you have completely stopped. Even with a locked rear wheel, you can usually control your motorcycle if it is upright and traveling in a straight line.

You should signal a left or right turn 100 feet before beginning the turn. This should give surrounding operators time to safely react to your intentions.

Use both brakes every time you slow down or stop. If you use only the rear brake when stopping normally, you may not develop the habit or the skill to use the front brake properly when you really need to stop quickly.

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. To accommodate the change in handling when carrying a passenger, you should reduce your speed, begin slowing down earlier when you stop, and look for larger gaps when crossing, entering, or merging into traffic.

When it starts to rain, the oily strip down the center of a lane is especially hazardous. Avoid this danger by riding in the tire tracks left by cars. The left tire track is often safest, but this can vary.

When approaching a railroad crossing that is controlled by a sign with flashing lights, you must come to a complete stop and wait until the train has passed and the lights have stopped flashing before proceeding. Never try to outdrive a train.

Footwear for riding should be high and sturdy enough to cover and support your ankles. Heels should be low enough that they won't catch on rough surfaces. Shoelaces should be tucked in to keep them from catching on the motorcycle.

The mirrors of motorcycles have blind spots, just like those of cars. Always turn your head to check your blind spot before changing lanes.

In a normal turn, the rider and the motorcycle should lean together at the same angle. In a slow, tight turn, the motorcycle should lean while the rider counterbalances by keeping their body upright.

Pavement is often especially slippery when it first begins to rain. The rainwater mixes with the oily deposits left by cars that have not yet washed off the road. When riding in rain, the best option is to ride in the tire tracks left by cars ahead of you.

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.

In California, the legal drinking age is 21. For persons below this age, it is illegal to operate any motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.01 percent or higher. It may be unsafe to ride a motorcycle after consuming any amount of alcohol, even if the rider is under the legal limit.

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.

Long-term exposure to wind noise can cause permanent damage to your hearing. Using ear protection when you ride should protect you from the dangers of wind noise while still allowing you to hear important sounds, like sirens or car horns.

Just like any other vehicle, motorcycles have blind spots. A rider should always turn their head to check for traffic in their blind spot before changing lanes. It is a good idea for a rider to make head checks a part of their normal routine.

A properly chosen lane position should provide a number of benefits, including an increased ability to see others and to be seen. It should help you avoid wind blasts, other drivers' blind spots, and surface hazards. Your lane position should discourage other drivers from trying to share your lane and provide you with an escape route, should a hazard arise.

Wearing a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)-compliant helmet can help protect you against head and neck injuries in the event of a crash. A jacket made of leather or sturdy synthetic material can also protect you against injuries.

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