You should use a turn signal every time you plan to turn or change lanes, even if you think no one else is around to see it.

Always use both brakes any time you slow or stop. It is safe to use the front brake, which is more powerful than the rear brake, as long as you use it properly.

To protect yourself against injury, you should wear a DOT-compliant helmet; face or eye protection; a jacket and long pants made of sturdy material; boots or shoes that are high and sturdy enough to cover and support your ankles; and gloves made of durable material.

Do not try to accelerate out of a wobble because doing so will only make the motorcycle more unstable. Instead, grip the handlebars firmly, slow down by gradually closing the throttle, move your weight as far forward and downward as possible, and pull off the road as soon as you can. Avoid applying the brakes, as this may also worsen the wobble.

Most motorcycle crashes involve riders with little experience on their motorcycle.

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. Choose a lane position that maximizes your space cushion.

Wearing a helmet is the single most effective thing you can do to reduce the risk of head or neck injuries in the event of a crash.

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.

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.

A plastic, shatter-resistant face shield protects your entire face in a crash. Goggles protect your eyes, but not the rest of your face. A windshield is not an adequate substitute for a face shield or goggles.

If possible, change lanes and let a tailgater pass your vehicle. Speeding up may result in the driver continuing to tailgate you at a higher speed, thereby increasing the danger.

A motorcycle must lean to make a turn. To make it lean in the appropriate direction, press the handgrip in the direction you want to turn.

If a hazard requires you to brake and swerve to avoid a collision, you should take the actions separately. Do not brake while swerving because doing so may cause your motorcycle to fall over.

Avoid riding down the center of a lane under wet conditions. Instead, ride in the tire tracks left by the cars ahead of you. The left tire track will often be best, but this can vary depending on traffic and other conditions.

Never let someone ride if they have had too much to drink. Do whatever you can to prevent them from riding. It can be helpful to recruit a group of friends to intervene and apply peer pressure to the person.

You will get the greatest amount of protection from a helmet if it meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and state standards, fits snugly all the way around, and has no obvious defects. A helmet worn at the time of a crash should be replaced.

When being passed, it is generally a good idea to ride in the center portion of your lane. Being on the side nearest the passing vehicle increases your risk of a collision. Being on the side farthest from the passing vehicle may prompt the other driver to merge back into your lane before it is safe.

Like any other vehicle, a motorcycle has blind spots that cannot be seen by a rider using their mirrors. A motorcyclist should always turn their head to check for vehicles or other hazards in their blind spot before changing lanes.

Because it does not have to be digested, alcohol enters a person's bloodstream quickly and reaches the brain within minutes. It gets eliminated from the body at a relatively slow rate: about one drink per hour.

While a staggered formation is generally recommended, riders in a group should move into a single-file formation when taking curves, taking turns, entering a highway, or leaving a highway.

On average, a person's body can eliminate the alcohol content of about one drink per hour. The amount of time required to lower a person's blood alcohol content (BAC) can vary, so it is safest not to operate a motor vehicle after consuming any amount of alcohol.

As little as one alcoholic drink can significantly affect the skills that are needed for safe riding. The only way to remove the alcohol content of a drink from your body is to allow your body time to eliminate it.

The rear brake of a motorcycle is usually controlled by a pedal near the right footrest.

When turning, look through the turn to where you want to go by turning only your head. Keep your knees against the gas tank to help maintain your balance while turning. Your arms should be slightly bent any time you are holding the handgrips.

For riding, choose boots or heavy shoes that are tall and sturdy enough to cover and support your ankles. Heels should be low so that they won't catch on rough surfaces. Tuck in long laces so that they don't catch on the motorcycle's moving parts.

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.

Crossing rain grooves or bridge gratings may cause your motorcycle to move in a weaving motion. This is usually not dangerous, so simply relax and proceed across the surface at a steady speed. Trying to ride at an angle to compensate for the weave is dangerous because it forces you to zigzag to stay in your lane.

If one of your tires goes flat, hold both handle grips firmly, ease off of the throttle, and maintain a straight course. If you must brake, gradually apply the brake of the tire that is not flat (if you are certain of which tire that is). As you slow down, edge to the side of the road, squeeze the clutch, and stop.

In Oregon, it is illegal for motorcycles and mopeds to pass between two moving vehicles on a multilane highway or one-way street.

When riding at night, use your high beam (unless you are following or meeting another car), take advantage of the headlights of other vehicles, and wear reflective materials to increase your visibility. You should always be flexible about your lane position, selecting whichever position will help you to see, be seen, and have an adequate space cushion.