When turning, you should always lean in the direction of the turn. Slow down before entering the turn.

Keep your head and eyes up when riding through a work zone. Ride slowly over the grooved pavement.

It is best to change gears before starting a turn. Shifting gears while in the turn can cause a sudden change in power to the rear wheel, causing a skid. If you must change gears while in a turn, change gears smoothly to best prevent skidding.

Exposure to engine and wind noise can damage your hearing, even if you are wearing a helmet. Wearing hearing protection while riding is always a good idea.

Impairment of your ability to ride safely begins with the first drink you take. You can be convicted of riding impaired even if you are below the legal blood alcohol limit.

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.

Octagonal signs that are colored red are always stop signs. When approaching one of these signs, you must come to a complete stop, yield to any other traffic or pedestrians, and proceed once it is safe to do so.

It is important to maintain a cushion of space around your motorcycle at all times. This way, if a hazard arises, you will have more time to respond to the hazard and more space to safely maneuver.

An expanded cushion of space is needed if your motorcycle will take longer than normal to stop. If the pavement is slippery, if you cannot see through the vehicle ahead of you, or if traffic is heavy and another driver may try to squeeze in front of you, open up to a minimum four-second following distance.

Check your clutch and throttle before riding your motorcycle. The throttle should snap back when you let go and the clutch should feel tight and smooth.

Most drivers do not look at their side mirrors as often as they look at their rearview mirror. Therefore, when following a car, it is generally most advantageous to ride in the center portion of the lane where you are most likely to be visible in the driver's rearview mirror.

Factors that can influence how quickly your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises include the number of drinks you consume, how fast you consume them, your biological sex, your weight, and whether or not you have recently eaten.

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.

There is no single lane position that is always best and no single lane position that should always be avoided. A responsible rider adjusts their position as conditions change.

Make sure your motorcycle's transmission is in neutral before you start the engine. Most motorcycles have a neutral indicator on the speedometer that lights up when the ignition switch is on and the cycle is in neutral.

When approaching a blind intersection, move into the lane position that makes you the most visible to surrounding drivers.

As defined by South Dakota law, a moped may have an engine displacement of no more than 50 cubic centimeters.

You should never take eye contact with another driver as a guarantee that they will properly yield to you. It is not uncommon for a driver to look directly at a motorcyclist and still fail to notice them.

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

As your motorcycle accelerates, you will need to shift into a higher gear.

Under South Dakota's "Zero Tolerance" law, people below the legal drinking age of 21 can be arrested for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.02 percent or higher. It is never safe to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Ask your passenger to wait to mount the motorcycle until 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.

A head or neck injury is always a risk when riding a motorcycle, regardless of your speed of travel. With few exceptions, the risk of head and neck injuries is greatly reduced by properly wearing a quality helmet.

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.

If you are passing a row of parked vehicles to your right and there is no oncoming traffic to your left, you should ride in the left portion of your lane. This will help you avoid hazards, such as car doors that are opening and pedestrians who are stepping out from between vehicles. If there is oncoming traffic, it is best to remain in the center portion of your lane to maximize the amount of space around you.