When making a normal, non-emergency stop, use the front and rear brakes simultaneously and downshift.

The faster you drink, the faster the alcohol will accumulate in your body. Alcohol leaves a person's system at an average of one drink per hour. If you consume more than one drink in an hour, you will still have alcohol in your body after one hour has passed.

If a hazard requires you to brake and swerve, you should take these actions separately. Never brake while swerving because doing so can cause your motorcycle to fall over.

When riding over scored pavement in a work zone, keep your head and eyes up. Ride slowly, keep a steady throttle, and don't try to fight the handlebars.

It can be difficult to judge the speed and distance of a small vehicle, such as a motorcycle. Do not assume that drivers of larger vehicles will be able to accurately understand your speed and location.

While it is most important to be aware of what is ahead of you on the road, you cannot ignore what is behind you. You can keep track of the situation behind you by checking your mirrors consistently.

Before setting out on a ride, you should make sure that your motorcycle's fuel supply valve is open. If the fuel valve is closed, the engine may still start with the fuel that is remaining in the lines from a previous ride, but it will stall once the lines are empty.

Motorcyclists should maintain a minimum two-second following distance under normal conditions. Any time conditions are less than perfect, a larger following distance is recommended.

Traction may be poor on surfaces such as wet, snowy, icy, or muddy pavement; gravel roads; lane markings; and steel plates and utility hole covers.

Many drugs, including legal prescription and over-the-counter medications, have side effects that can impair your ability to safely operate a motorcycle. Always talk to your doctor about how a new medication may affect your driving or riding abilities.

The only way to sober up after drinking is to give your body the time it needs to remove the alcohol. There are no techniques that will speed up this process.

A road is often very slippery when rain first begins to fall. When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by cars to get the best traction.

A solid white line on the side of the road is used to indicate the right edge of a traffic lane.

The best way to deal with a tailgater is to allow them to pass you. Speeding up may only result in them continuing to tailgate you at the higher speed, which is even more dangerous.

When riding at night, reduce your speed and increase your following distance. Visibility is lowered at night and you will need the additional time and space to react to upcoming hazards.

Googles will protect your eyes from the wind, but most windshields will not. A windshield is not an adequate substitute for goggles or a face shield.

Before mounting, you should ask your passenger to look over your shoulder in the direction of any turn or curve that you may take. Doing so will help you and your bike to lean in the appropriate direction.

The best thing to do to help others see your motorcycle is to keep your headlight on at all times. Motorcycles sold in the United States after 1978 automatically have the headlight activated while running, but be sure that the headlight works properly before every ride.

On average, a person's body can remove the alcohol content of about one drink per hour. This rate can vary based on the individual. The safest option is to not ride after consuming any amount of alcohol.

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

To determine upcoming road conditions when riding at night, use the vehicle ahead of you. For example, the headlights of the vehicle may provide a better view of the road than your own high beam. If the vehicle's taillights bounce up and down, this indicates the presence of bumps on the road.

If you see a dog approaching your motorcycle, slow down and downshift until you are close to the dog. Quickly accelerate away from the animal as it approaches.

Your arms should be slightly bent when you are holding the handle grips of a motorcycle. Bending your arms reduces arm fatigue and permits you to press on the handlebars without having to stretch.

Use both brakes every time you slow or stop.

As with any other vehicle, the mirrors of a motorcycle have blind spots. Always turn your head to check for traffic in your blind spot before changing lanes.

If your motorcycle begins to weave while you are traveling over bridge gratings, you should simply maintain a steady speed and proceed straight across the surface. Trying to stay in your lane while riding in a zigzagging motion is dangerous.

When following a car, you should ride in a position that allows the driver to see you in their rearview mirror. Usually, that means riding in the center portion of the lane. Because most drivers check their rearview mirrors much more often than they check their side mirrors, being in this lane position increases the chance that they will see you.

While searching the road for potential hazards, focus on looking for escape routes in or around intersections, shopping areas, schools, and construction zones.

Bright oranges, reds, yellows, and greens are the best colors for motorcyclists to wear. These colors can help other road users see motorcyclists.

When passing a truck, you should only return to your original lane when you can see the entire front of the truck in your rearview mirror.