Brightly-colored and/or reflective clothing will increase your chances of being seen under any conditions. Remember that most motorcycle crashes happen in broad daylight so it is still best to wear bright clothing during the day.

The right clothing can provide vital protection if you are involved in a collision. Always wear a jacket and pants that fully cover your arms and legs, even in warm weather. Clothing should fit snugly enough that it does not flap in the wind but should also be loose enough that your movement is not restricted.

Of the crashes involving both a motorcycle and a car, more than half are caused by the driver failing to properly yield right-of-way to the rider.

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.

Because a sidecar sits on the right side of a motorcycle, riding too far to the right side of your lane risks the sidecar running off the road. Similarly, on a three-wheeled motorcycle, the rear right wheel may leave the road if you get too close to the right edge.

The owner's manual should be your primary source of information about your specific type of motorcycle. Be sure to read the manual before operating your motorcycle for the first time.

Do everything you safely can to avoid hitting an animal in the road. If you are in traffic, however, you should remain in your lane. Swerving into another lane of traffic to avoid hitting an animal can cause you to collide with another driver. Hitting something small is less dangerous than hitting something big.

When shifting into a lower gear, shift down one gear at a time and ease out the clutch through the friction zone between each downshift.

Riding directly next to another vehicle is dangerous because you could be riding in the vehicle's blind spot. Additionally, the vehicle may block your route of escape if another hazard arises. If you find yourself riding directly alongside another vehicle, either speed up or drop back.

A plastic, impact-resistant face shield provides the greatest degree of protection for a wearer's eyes and face. Eyeglasses or sunglasses are not an adequate substitute. In Vermont, you are not legally required to wear eye or face protection if your motorcycle has a windshield, though it is recommended.

To be adequately protected while riding, you should wear a jacket and pants that completely cover your arms and legs.

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.

Riding in the center portion of your lane when traveling in heavy traffic can discourage other drivers from trying to squeeze into your lane next to you. Lane sharing is unsafe and is prohibited by law in Maryland.

Motorcycles require the width of a full lane to operate safely. Lane sharing is prohibited by law in Maryland.

While riding in a staggered formation is usually best, a group should switch into a single-file formation when turning, taking curves, or entering or exiting a highway.

You can achieve maximum stopping power by using both the front and rear brakes. You should use both brakes every time you slow or stop.

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.

To reduce your risk of being involved in a crash, you should remain alert and ready to react to any hazard. Identify hazards and decide the order in which you need to address the hazards. Always use your headlight to make yourself more visible and maintain an adequate space cushion around your motorcycle at all times.

Maintaining a cushion of space on all sides of your motorcycle helps to ensure that you have time and space to react if another road user makes a mistake.

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 any motor vehicle after consuming any amount of alcohol.

To discourage automobile drivers from trying to share your lane, ride in the center portion of the lane.

The last rider in a group of motorcyclists should set the pace of travel. Having the last rider set the pace will ensure that no riders are left behind.

A plastic, shatter-resistant face shield can help protect your whole face in a crash. While goggles can protect your eyes, they won't protect the rest of your face. A windshield is not a substitute for a face shield or goggles.

To reduce the danger of fatigue when riding, dress to protect yourself against tiring weather conditions, such as wind and rain. Limit yourself to no more than about six hours of riding per day and stop for a break at least once every two hours. Avoid taking artificial stimulants since you may experience extreme fatigue when they start to wear off.

If you must brake and swerve to avoid a hazard, you should perform both actions separately. Brake then swerve, or swerve then brake. Do not do both at the same time.