When buildings, hedges, or parked vehicles hide the cross street, choose the part of your lane from which cross traffic can spot you soonest. Being noticed early gives drivers more time to respond.
Covering the controls means keeping your fingers on the clutch and front brake levers and your foot over the rear brake pedal, so no time is lost reaching for them. Where trouble could develop quickly, this shortens the delay between seeing a danger and reacting to it.
A driver can look right at you and still not realize a motorcycle is there. Eye contact is no promise that you will be given the right-of-way, so keep your speed and position ready for an evasive move.
When buildings, hedges or parked vehicles block your view, first come to a complete stop at the stop line. Then ease ahead a little at a time while looking both ways, and enter only once you can clearly see approaching traffic.
Keeping to the left portion puts distance between you and car doors that may swing open, pedestrians emerging from between parked vehicles, and cars pulling away from the curb. Those hazards appear with little warning, so the extra space gives you time and room to respond.
In every state, the law requires drivers to approach a right turn and complete it staying as near to the road's right edge or curb as practical. Turning from the left lane or the middle of the road would cut across traffic that is going straight.
A motorcycle's narrow width gives the rider room to choose a position within the lane. Moving toward the left side keeps the bike clear of doors that swing open, drivers climbing out, and pedestrians who emerge from between parked cars.
Drivers and passengers leaving parked vehicles often open their doors without looking for traffic, which can leave you almost no time to react. Keep extra space, for example by using the left part of the lane when cars are parked on your right.
Intersections carry the greatest risk because other drivers turn left across a rider's path or pull out from side streets and driveways, often without seeing the motorcycle. Reduce speed, be ready to brake, and search carefully whenever you approach one.
Set the motorcycle at a right angle to the curb with its rear wheel resting against it. This takes up little curb space and makes it easier to see approaching traffic as you pull out.
Many intersection crashes happen because a driver simply fails to notice the motorcycle, so your best protection is to ride in the part of the lane that puts you in clear view of approaching and turning drivers and keeps you out of their blind spots. Hand signals only show what you plan to do, and following close behind a larger vehicle hides you from view.
Intersections differ, so the best spot is whichever one puts you in the clearest view of drivers who could cross your path while still leaving you room to escape. Be ready to adjust your position as the situation changes rather than relying on one fixed place.
Slowing as you approach gives you extra time to react if the driver pulls out or turns across your path. After you enter the intersection, putting distance between yourself and the car widens your space cushion, while speeding up or edging closer leaves no margin if the driver fails to see you.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
