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.

It is never safe to operate a motorcycle after consuming any amount of alcohol. Impairment of the skills needed to safely ride begins well below the legal limit.

Strategies for safe riding on slippery surfaces include reducing your speed, avoiding sudden moves, staying away from the edge of the road, and riding in the tire tracks left by other cars.

You should use a tire gauge to check the tire pressure before every ride. An under-inflated tire may still look okay, so a visual check is not enough.

Placing a load too high on a motorcycle will raise the motorcycle's center of gravity and risk upsetting its balance.

When being passed, the center portion of the lane is generally the safest lane position for a motorcyclist. Riding on the side nearest the passing vehicle increases the risk of colliding with it. Riding on the side farthest from the passing vehicle can also be dangerous because it may prompt the driver to return to your lane before it is safe to do so.

Never assume that other drivers see you, even if they make eye contact with you. It is not uncommon for drivers to look directly at a motorcyclist and still fail to notice them. Always reduce your speed when approaching an intersection.

Because tires have less traction when a motorcycle is leaning than when it is upright, always try to position your motorcycle in an upright position before braking. If you must brake while in a curve, apply the brakes more smoothly and gradually than if your motorcycle was traveling on a straightaway.

When approaching a potentially dangerous area, such as an intersection, you should cover the clutch lever and both brakes in order to reduce the amount of time you will need to react to any hazards.

Choose a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and state standards. It should fit you snugly all the way around and be free of obvious defects.

Gloves can provide you with an improved grip on your motorcycle's handlebars. They can also protect your hands in the event of a crash.

A plastic, shatter-resistant face shield can provide protection for your entire face in the event of a crash. Goggles can protect your eyes, but not the rest of your face. A face shield also provides routine protection from dirt, dust, insects, rain, and pebbles.

Avoid riding directly alongside another vehicle, since this may place you in the vehicle's blind spot. If the driver can't see you, they may enter your lane without warning. Riding alongside a vehicle is also dangerous because the vehicle will block your route of escape if a hazard arises.

Because of the additional weight added by cargo or a passenger, motorcycles may take longer to accelerate and stop than they would if only transporting the operator.

Small vehicles, like motorcycles, can visually seem to be farther away and moving more slowly than they actually are. This phenomenon can make it difficult for others on the road to accurately judge the location and speed of a smaller vehicle.

To be effective, an eye or face shield must be free of scratches; be resistant to penetration; allow clear views to both sides; fasten securely; permit air to pass through to prevent fogging; and allow room for eyeglasses or sunglasses, if needed.

If a tailgater is following you too closely, it is advisable to flash your brake light before you begin to decelerate. The tailgater may be concentrating on you and may not be aware of hazards farther down the road that you are slowing to avoid.

A sidecar is essentially an unpowered mass attached to the side of your motorcycle. Due to its inertia, it will feel like it is lagging behind when you accelerate.

Always be very careful when riding a motorcycle that is new to you. In most motorcycle crashes, the operator had less than six months of experience on the bike that they were riding.

A plastic, shatter-resistant face shield provides protection for the wearer's entire face in the event of a crash. Goggles may protect someone's eyes, but not the rest of their face. A windshield is not an adequate substitute for either.

To provide adequate protection when riding, jackets and pants should cover your arms and legs completely. Your clothing should fit snugly but be loose enough to let you move freely. Leather or newer kinds of synthetic materials provide the best protection in the case of an accident.

When being passed from behind, it is generally safest to ride in the center portion of your lane. Riding on the side of the lane nearest the passing driver increases the danger of colliding with them, and riding on the side farthest from the driver may tempt them to return to your lane too soon.

Motorcycle riders will rarely actually hear a tire going flat. Tire failure is more often indicated by a change in how the motorcycle handles.

In comparison to flat mirrors, convex mirrors provide a wider view of the road behind you. They also make objects seem farther away than they actually are. You should practice judging distances in convex mirrors if you are not used to them.

The risk of head and neck injuries is greatly reduced by wearing a high-quality helmet. A helmet is a rider's best defense against injury in the case of an accident.