Usually, the best way to handle a tailgater is to get them in front of you. If you can do so safely, change lanes and let them pass. Speeding up may only increase the danger by encouraging them to follow you at a faster speed.

If your front wheel locks while braking, you should release the brake lever until the tire regains traction and re-apply the brake.

A riding jacket and long pants should still be worn when riding in hot weather. In addition to their other safety benefits, they can protect a rider from heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Longterm exposure to wind and engine noise can cause permanent hearing damage, even if the rider is wearing a full-face helmet. Wearing ear plugs or other hearing protection can guard against damage while still allowing the wearer to hear important sounds like horns and sirens.

Even if your passenger is also a motorcyclist, you should give them complete safety instructions before leaving on a trip. Ask them to get on the motorcycle only after you have started the engine. They should sit as far forward as possible without crowding you and firmly hold onto your waist, hips, or belt. They should keep both feet on the footrests at all times, even when the bike is stopped.

Most crashes happen on trips that are shorter than five miles, just a few minutes after the rider starts out.

Wet pavement is especially slippery when it first begins to rain. Deposits of oil left by cars will not yet have washed off the roadway. If it is raining, it is safest to ride in the tire tracks left by cars. The left tire track will often be your best choice, although this may vary.

You should stay well behind the vehicle in front of you, even when you are both stopped. This will give you room to escape if the vehicle backs up unexpectedly or if another vehicle approaches too quickly from behind.

Some motorcycles are equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS). ABS is designed to prevent skidding and wheel lock-up when motorcyclists are stopping in straight-line, panic situations. ABS operates when maximum pressure is applied to both the front and rear brake controls. If electronic sensors detect the possibility of a wheel lock, brake hydraulic pressure is released then re-applied to maintain maximum braking effectiveness.

The minimum number of drinks left in a person's system can be estimated by subtracting the number of hours since the last drink from the total number of drinks consumed. In this case, the alcohol content of about four drinks would remain.

While a staggered group formation is usually best, it is better to switch to a single-file formation when turning, taking curves, or entering or exiting a highway.

No matter the speed, riders who are not wearing helmets are three times more likely to die from head injuries than riders who are wearing helmets at the time of a crash.

While riding in a staggered formation is usually best for a group of two-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled motorcycles are too wide to allow this formation. A group of riders on three-wheeled motorcycles should travel in a single-file line.

When being passed, it is best to ride in the center portion of your lane. Riding on the side nearest to the passing vehicle increases the risk of a collision. Riding on the side farthest from the passing vehicle is also dangerous because it may tempt them to merge back into your lane too soon. Stay in the center portion of the lane when being passed.

It is a good idea to sound your horn before riding past a vehicle or pedestrian that may move into your lane. If you see a driver in an adjacent lane driving too closely to the vehicle ahead of them, you may assume that they want to pass and may cut in front of you to do so. If you see a person in the driver's seat of a parked car, or if you see a pedestrian or bicyclist in the street, it is a good idea to sound your horn as you pass.

When approaching railroad tracks that cross your lane at an angle, it is best to simply cross the tracks while riding straight within your lane. Turning to cross the tracks at a 90-degree angle could be dangerous because you could end up crossing into another lane of traffic.

If you are following a car, the driver is most likely to notice you if you position yourself behind them in the center of your lane. This lane position places you in the driver's rearview mirror. Most drivers check their rearview mirrors much more frequently than they check their side mirrors.

Riding in close ranks is recommended over riding in a group that is spread out because the group will take up less space on the road, be easier for others to see, and be less likely to get separated at traffic lights and during passes.

Reflective material on a vest or on the sides of your helmet can make you more visible to other drivers and should be used both day and night.

To safely cross railroad tracks, trolley tracks, or pavement seams running parallel to your lane, move to a lane position that will allow you to cross them at an angle of at least 45 degrees. Then, make a quick, sharp turn. If you try to edge across, the tracks or seam could catch your tires and throw you off balance.

Lengthen your following distance when traveling on a slippery surface. If it will take longer than usual for your motorcycle to stop, open up to a longer following distance.

Any U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant helmet is required to have an impact-resistant outer shell, an impact-absorbing inner liner, a comfort liner, and a chinstrap retention system.

Like any other vehicle, motorcycles have blind spots. Always turn your head to check for traffic in your blind spot before changing lanes.

Motorcycles often seem to attract dogs. If you are being chased by a dog, downshift and approach it slowly. Then, as you approach the dog, accelerate and leave it behind.

Wearing goggles provides protection for your eyes, but not for the rest of your face. A face shield provides protection for your whole face and is recommended above goggles. A windshield is not an adequate substitute for a face shield or goggles.