Even when you feel like a motorcycle pro, there are always areas to improve on for safety awareness and riding proficiency. We can’t control others on the road, but we can take steps to add safety and precaution for ourselves.

Here are 15 tips for increasing motorcycle rider safety:

1. Practice makes perfect. Make sure to get out and practice your skills as the season begins, or before a big ride.
2. Ride smoothly. If you cut in and out of traffic, you won’t have as much reaction time around other cars
3. Scan your environment every five to seven seconds to keep track of your surroundings. 
4. Slow down in inclement weather. You may have the skills to ride safely but consider that you’re sharing the road with others who may not have the same degree of proficiency, or attentiveness. You’re also less visible in rain or fog. 
5. Know and follow the rules of the road. They apply to everyone. Other drivers anticipate that you’re going to follow them and make their decisions accordingly. 
6. Make yourself visible with high-visibility reflective gear, especially on your upper body, where it’s more likely to catch the attention of drivers. 
7. Apply reflective strips to your bike. 

   

8. Use hand signals in addition to turn signals. That movement may be what gets noticed. 
9. Add accessories to your motorcycle that make you more noticeable, like a high-decibel horn and accessory lights. Just don’t blind oncoming traffic. 

   

10. Make sure you can see others as best as possible too. Install new glassless mirrors or add a rider safety scan mirror to decrease your own blind spots. 

    

11. Wear appropriate gear. Fatigue, heat, and cold impair judgment and your ability to react. Dress for the ride and the weather, and be prepared to adapt to changing situations. 
12. Wear proper fitting gear, done up properly. It’s better for gear to be snug rather than flapping in the breeze. In the case of a mishap, snug-fitting gear better protects you from abrasion and holds armor in place. 
13. Keep your motorcycle well-maintained. A breakdown while riding can lead to a crash. Carry a maintenance kit on you in case you need to fix something small while out riding. 
14. Check brake lights, turn signals, and headlights regularly to make sure they’re all working. 

    

15. Check your tires before your ride for sufficient pressure (refer to your owner’s manual, not the markings on the sidewall), adequate tread, and any irregularities or embedded objects.