The signals on a motorcycle are similar to those on a car. They tell others what you plan to do.
Due to a rider’s added vulnerability, signals are very important. Use them anytime you plan to change lanes or turn. Use them even when you think no one else is around. It’s the car you don’t see that’s going to give you the most trouble. Your signal lights also make you easier to spot. That’s why it’s a good idea to use your turn signals even when what you plan to do is obvious.
When you enter onto a highway, drivers approaching from behind are more likely to see your signal blinking and make room for you. Turning your signal light on before each turn reduces confusion and frustration for the traffic around you. Once you turn, make sure your signal is off or a driver may pull directly into your path, thinking you plan to turn again. Use your signals at every turn so drivers can react accordingly. Don’t make them guess what you intend to do.
BRAKE LIGHT
Your motorcycle’s brake light is usually not as noticeable as the brake lights on a car — particularly when your taillight is on. (It goes on with the headlight.) If the situation will permit, help others notice you by flashing your brake light before you slow down. It is especially important to flash your brake light before:
You slow more quickly than others might expect
You slow where others may not expect it (in the middle of a block or at an alley).
If you are being followed closely, it’s a good idea to flash your brake light before you slow. The tailgater may be watching you and not see something ahead that will make you slow down. This will hopefully discourage them from tailgating and warn them of hazards ahead they may not see.
USING YOUR MIRRORS
While it’s most important to keep track of what’s happening ahead, you can’t afford to ignore situations behind. Traffic conditions change quickly. Knowing what’s going on behind is essential for you to make a safe decision about how to handle trouble ahead.
Frequent mirror checks should be part of your normal searching routine. Make a special point of using your mirrors:
When you are stopped at an intersection. Watch cars coming up from behind. If the drivers aren’t paying attention, they could be on top of you before they see you
Before you change lanes. Make sure no one is about to pass you.
Before you slow down. The driver behind may not expect you to slow, or may be unsure about where you will slow. For example, you signal a turn and the driver thinks you plan to turn at a distant intersection, rather than at a nearer driveway.
Some motorcycles have rounded (convex) mirrors. These provide a wider view of the road behind than do flat mirrors. They also make cars seem farther away than they really are. If you are not used to convex mirrors, get familiar with them. (While you are stopped, pick out a parked car in your mirror. Form a mental image of how far away it is. Then, turn around and look at it to see how close you came.) Practice with your mirrors until you become a good judge of distance. Even then, allow extra distance before you change lanes.
Removing or modifying your motorcycle mirrors is a very risky decision. Many motorcyclists believe that they can go faster without the mirrors that are standard equipment on their motorcycle. This is not true and the risk of reducing vision of everything behind your motorcycle is not worth it. Never modify mirrors on a motorcycle.
HEAD CHECKS
Checking your mirrors is not enough. Motorcycles have “blind spots” like cars. Before you change lanes, turn your head, and look to the side for other vehicles.
On a road with several lanes, check the far lane and the one next to you. A driver in the distant lane may head for the same space you plan to take.
Frequent head checks should be your normal scanning routine, also. Only by knowing what is happening all around you are you fully prepared to deal with it.
HORN
Be ready to use your horn to get someone’s attention quickly. It is a good idea to give a quick beep before passing anyone that may move into your lane.
Here are some situations:
A driver in the lane next to you is driving too closely to the vehicle ahead and may want to pass.
A parked car has someone in the driver’s seat.
Someone is in the street, riding a bicycle or walking.
In an emergency, press the horn button loud and long. Be ready to stop or swerve away from the danger.
Keep in mind that a motorcycle’s horn isn’t as loud as a car’s — therefore, use it, but don’t rely on it. Other strategies may be appropriate along with the horn.
QUICK STOPS -- CRASH AVOIDANCE -- NIGHT RIDING
At night it is harder for you to see and be seen. Picking your headlight or taillight out of the car lights around you is not easy for other drivers. To compensate, you should:
Reduce Your Speed -- Ride even slower than you would during the day — particularly on roads you don’t know well. This will increase your chances of avoiding a hazard.
Increase Distance -- Distances are harder to judge at night than during the day. Your eyes rely upon shadows and light contrasts to determine how far away an object is and how fast it is coming. These contrasts are missing or distorted under artificial lights at night. Open up a four-five second following distance or more. And allow more distance to pass and be passed.
Use the Car Ahead -- The headlights of the car ahead can give you a better view of the road than even your high beam can. Taillights bouncing up and down can alert you to bumps or rough pavement.
Use Your High Beam -- Get all the light you can. Use your high beam whenever you are not following or meeting a car.
Be visible: Wear reflective materials when riding at night.
Be Flexible About Lane Position -- Change to whatever portion of the lane is best able to help you see, be seen and keep an adequate space cushion.
CRASH AVOIDANCE
No matter how careful you are, there will be times when you find yourself in a tight spot. Your chances of getting out safely depend on your ability to react quickly and properly. Often, a crash occurs because a rider is not prepared or skilled in crash avoidance maneuvers.
Know when and how to stop or swerve, two skills critical in avoiding a crash. It is not always desirable or possible to stop quickly to avoid an obstacle. Riders must also be able to swerve around an obstacle. Determining which skill is necessary for the situation is important as well.
Studies show that most crash-involved riders:
Under brake the front tire and over brake the rear.
Did not separate braking from swerving or did not choose swerving when it was appropriate.
The following information offers some good advice.
QUICK STOPS
To stop quickly, apply both brakes at the same time. Don’t be shy about using the front brake, but don’t “grab” it, either. Squeeze the brake lever firmly and progressively. If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately then reapply it firmly. At the same time, press down on the rear brake. If you accidentally lock the rear brake on a good traction surface, you can keep it locked until you have completely stopped; but, even with a locked rear wheel, you can control the motorcycle on a straightaway if it is upright and going in a straight line.
CORNERING
Place your feet solidly on the footrests. Let the motorcycle move underneath you. Make your escape route the target of your vision. Press on the opposite handle grip once you clear the obstacle to return you to your original direction of travel. To swerve to the left, press the left handle grip, then press the right to recover. To swerve to the right, press right, then left.
IF BRAKING IS REQUIRED, SEPARATE IT FROM SWERVING.
Brake before or after — never while swerving.
HANDLING CURVES
A primary cause of single-vehicle crashes is motorcyclists running wide in a curve or turn and colliding with the roadway or a fixed object.
Every curve is different.
Be alert to whether a curve remains constant, gradually widens, gets tighter or involves multiple turns.
Ride within your skill level and posted speed limits.
Your best path may not always follow the curve of the road.
Change lane position depending on traffic, road conditions and curve of the road. If no traffic is present, start at the outside of a curve to increase your line of sight and the effective radius of the turn. As you turn, move toward the inside of the curve, and as you pass the center, move to the outside to exit.
Another alternative is to move to the center of your lane before entering a curve — and stay there until you exit. This permits you to spot approaching traffic as soon as possible. You can also adjust for traffic “crowding” the center line, or debris blocking part of your lane.
HANDLING DANGEROUS SURFACES
Your chance of falling or being involved in a crash increases whenever you ride across:
Un-even surfaces or obstacles.
Watch for uneven surfaces such as bumps, broken pavement, potholes or small pieces of highway trash.
Try to avoid obstacles by slowing or going around them. If you must go over the obstacle, first determine if it is possible. Approach it at as close to a 90˚ angle as possible. Look where you want to go to control your path of travel. If you have to ride over the obstacle, you should:
Slow down as much as possible before contact.
Make sure the motorcycle is straight.
Rise slightly off the seat with your weight on the footrests to absorb the shock with your knees and elbows, and avoid being thrown off the motorcycle.
Just before contact, roll on the throttle slightly to lighten the front end.
If you ride over an object on the street, pull off the road and check your tires and rims for damage before riding any farther.
SLIPPERY SURFACES
Motorcycles handle better when ridden on surfaces that permit good traction. Surfaces that provide poor traction include: 
Wet pavement, particularly just after it starts to rain and before surface oil washes to the side of the road.
Gravel roads, or where sand and gravel collect.
Lane markings (painted lines),
Steel plates and manhole covers, especially when wet.
To ride safely on slippery surfaces:
Reduce Speed — slow down before you get to a slippery surface to lessen your chances of skidding. Your motorcycle needs more distance to stop. And it is particularly important to reduce speed before entering wet curves.
Avoid Sudden Moves — Any sudden change in speed or direction can cause a skid. Be as smooth as possible when you speed up, shift gears, turn or brake.
Use Both Brakes — the front brake is still effective, even on a slippery surface. Squeeze the brake lever gradually to avoid locking the front wheel. Remember, gentle pressure on the rear brake.
The center of a lane can be hazardous when wet. When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by cars. Often, the left tire track will be the best position, depending on traffic and other road conditions as well.
Watch for oil spots when you put your foot down to stop or park. You may slip and fall.
Dirt and gravel collect along the sides of the road — especially on curves and ramps leading to and from highways. Be aware of what’s on the edge of the road, particularly when making sharp turns.
Rain dries on some sections of a road faster than on others. Ride on the least slippery portion of the lane and reduce speed.
If you can’t avoid a slippery surface, keep your motorcycle straight up and proceed as slowly as possible. If you encounter a large surface so slippery that you must coast, or travel at a walking pace, consider letting your feet skim along the surface. If the motorcycle starts to fall, you can catch yourself. Be sure to keep off the brakes. If possible, squeeze the clutch and coast. Attempting this maneuver at anything other than the slowest of speeds could prove hazardous.
RAILROADTRACKS AND PAVEMENT SEAMS
Usually it is safer to ride straight within your lane to cross tracks. Turning to take tracks head-on (at a 90˚ angle) can be more dangerous — your path may carry you into another lane of traffic.
For track and road seams that run parallel to your course, move far enough away from tracks, ruts, or pavement seams to cross at an angle of at least 45˚. Then, make a quick, sharp turn. Edging across could catch your tires and throw you off balance.
GROOVES AND GRATINGS
Riding over rain grooves or bridge gratings may cause a motorcycle to weave. The uneasy, wandering feeling is generally not hazardous. Relax, maintain a steady speed and ride straight across. Crossing at an angle forces riders to zigzag to stay in the lane. The zigzag is far more hazardous than the wandering feeling.
MECHANICAL PROBLEMS
You can find yourself in an emergency the moment something goes wrong with your motorcycle. In dealing with any mechanical problem, take into account the road and traffic conditions you face. Here are some guidelines that can help you handle mechanical problems safely.
TIRE FAILURE
You will seldom hear a tire go flat. If the motorcycle starts handling differently, it may be a tire failure. This can be dangerous. You must be able to tell from the way the motorcycle reacts. If one of your tires suddenly loses air, react quickly to keep your balance. Pull off the road and check the tires.
If the front tire goes flat, the steering will feel “heavy.” A front-wheel flat is particularly hazardous because it affects your steering. You have to steer well to keep your balance.
If the rear tire goes flat, the back of the motorcycle may jerk or sway from side to side.
If either tire goes flat while riding:
Hold handle grips firmly, ease off the throttle, and keep a straight course.
If braking is required, however, gradually apply the brake of the tire that isn’t flat, if you are sure which one it is.
When the motorcycle slows, edge to the side of the road, squeeze the clutch and stop.
STUCK THROTTLE
Twist the throttle back and forth several times. If the throttle cable is stuck, this may free it. If the throttle stays stuck, immediately operate the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch at the same time. This will remove power from the rear wheel, though engine sound may not immediately decline. Once the motorcycle is “under control,” pull off the road and stop.
After you have stopped, check the throttle cable carefully to find the source of the trouble. Make certain the throttle works freely before you start to ride again.
WOBBLE
A “wobble” occurs when the front wheel and handlebars suddenly start to shake from side to side at any speed. Most wobbles can be traced to improper loading, unsuitable accessories or incorrect tire pressure. If you are carrying a heavy load, lighten it. If you can’t, shift it. Center the weight lower and farther forward on the motorcycle. Make sure tire pressure, spring preload, air shocks and dampers are at the settings recommended for that much weight.
Check for poorly adjusted steering; worn steering parts; a front wheel that is bent, misaligned, or out of balance; loose wheel bearings or spokes; and worn swing arm bearings. If none of these is determined to be the cause, have the motorcycle checked out thoroughly by a qualified professional.
Trying to “accelerate out of a wobble” will only make the motorcycle more unstable. Instead:
Grip the handlebars firmly, but don’t fight the wobble.
Close the throttle gradually to slow down. Do not apply the brakes; braking could make the wobble worse.
Move your weight as far forward and down as possible.
Pull off the road as soon as you can to fix the problem.
CHAIN PROBLEMS
A chain that slips or breaks while you’re riding could lock the rear wheel and cause your cycle to skid. Chain slippage or breakage can be avoided by proper maintenance.
Slippage — if the chain slips when you try to speed up quickly or ride uphill, pull off the road. Check the chain and sprockets. Tightening the chain may help. If the problem is a worn or stretched chain or worn or bent sprockets, replace the chain, the sprockets or both before riding again.
Breakage —you’ll notice an instant loss of power to the rear wheel. Close the throttle and brake to a stop.
ENGINE SEIZURE
When the engine “locks” or “freezes” it is usually low on oil. The engine’s moving parts can’t move smoothly against each other, and the engine overheats. The first sign may be a loss of engine power or a change in the engine’s sound. Squeeze the clutch lever to disengage the engine from the rear wheel. Pull off the road and stop. Check the oil. If needed, oil should be added as soon as possible or the engine will seize. When this happens, the effect is the same as a locked rear wheel. Let the engine cool before restarting.
ANIMALS
Naturally, you should do everything you safely can to avoid hitting an animal. If you are in traffic, however, remain in your lane. Hitting something small is less dangerous to you than hitting something big — like a car.
Motorcycles seem to attract dogs. If you are chased, downshift and approach the animal slowly. As you approach it, accelerate away and leave the animal behind. Don’t kick at an animal. Keep control of your motorcycle and look to where you want to go.
For larger animals (cattle and elephants), brake and prepare to stop — they are unpredictable.
CARRYING LOADS -- GETTING OFF THE ROAD -- FLYING OBJECTS
FLYING OBJECTS
From time to time riders are struck by insects, cigarettes thrown from cars or pebbles kicked up by the tires of the vehicle ahead. If you are wearing face protection, it might get smeared or cracked, making it difficult to see. Without face protection, an object could hit you in the eye, face or mouth. Whatever happens, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the handlebars. When safe, pull off the road and repair the damage.
GETTING OFF THE ROAD
If you need to leave the road to check the motorcycle (or just to rest for a while), be sure you:
Check the roadside — Make sure the surface of the roadside is firm enough to ride on. If it is soft grass, loose sand or if you’re just not sure about it, slow way down before you turn onto it.
Signal — Drivers behind might not expect you to slow down. Give a clear signal that you will be slowing down and changing direction. Check your mirror and make a head check before you take any action.
Pull off the road — Get as far off the road as you can. It can be very hard to spot a motorcycle by the side of the road. You don’t want someone else pulling off at the same place you are.
Park carefully — Loose and sloped shoulders can make setting the side or center stand difficult.
CARRYING PASSENGERS AND CARGO
Only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads. The extra weight changes the way the motorcycle handles, balances, speeds up and slows down. Before taking a passenger or a heavy load on the street, practice away from traffic.
To carry passengers safely:
Equip and adjust your motorcycle to carry passengers.
Instruct the passenger before you start.
Adjust your riding technique for the added weight.
Equipment should include:
A proper seat — large enough to hold both of you without crowding. You should not sit any farther forward than you usually do.
Footrests — for the passenger. Firm footing prevents your passenger from falling off and pulling you off, too.
Protective equipment — the same protective gear recommended for operators.
Adjust the suspension to handle the additional weight. You will probably need to add a few pounds of pressure to the tires if you carry a passenger. (Check your owner’s manual for appropriate settings.) While your passenger sits on the seat with you, adjust the mirror and headlight according to the change in the motorcycle’s angle.
While it may seem appropriate and possible to carry more than one passenger even on small motorcycles in Thailand, you must avoid this very risky procedure. You can kill both your self and your passengers. Multiple persons on a motorcycle will disturb the dynamics and make control difficult. In some areas of Thailand one will see the extremely dangerous procedure of placing a small child in front of the driver risking not only the child’s life but the life of the rider and any other passenger. 
INSTRUCTING PASSENGERS
Even if your passenger is a motorcycle rider, provide complete instructions before you start. Tell your passenger to:
Get on the motorcycle only after you have started the engine.
Sit as far forward as possible without crowding you.
Hold firmly to your waist, hips, belt, or to the bike’s passenger handholds.
Keep both feet on the footrests, even when stopped.
Keep legs away from the muffler(s), chains or moving parts.
Stay directly behind you, leaning as you lean.
Avoid unnecessary talk or motion.
Also, tell your passenger to tighten his or her hold when you:
Approach surface problems.
Are about to start from a stop.
Warn that you will make a sudden move.
RIDING WITH PASSENGERS
Your motorcycle will respond more slowly with a passenger on board. The heavier your passenger, the longer it will take to slow down and speed up — especially on a light motorcycle.
Ride a little slower, especially when taking curves, corners or bumps.
Start slowing earlier as you approach a stop.
Open up a larger cushion of space ahead and to the sides.
Wait for larger gaps to cross, enter or merge in traffic.
Warn your passenger of special conditions — when you will pull out, stop quickly, turn sharply or ride over a bump. Turn your head slightly to make yourself understood, but keep your eyes on the road ahead.
CARRYING LOADS
Most motorcycles are not designed to carry much cargo. Small loads can be carried safely if positioned and fastened properly.
Keep the Load Low — Fasten loads securely, or put them in saddlebags. Piling loads against a sissy bar or frame on the back of the seat raises the motorcycle’s center of gravity and disturbs its balance.
Keep the Load Forward — Place the load over, or in front of, the rear axle. Tank bags keep loads forward, but use caution when loading hard or sharp objects. Make sure the tank bag does not interfere with handlebars or controls. Mounting loads behind the rear axle can affect how the motorcycle turns and brakes. It can also cause a wobble.
Distribute the Load Evenly — Load saddlebags with about the same weight. An uneven load can cause the motorcycle to drift to one side.
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS -- BEING IN SHAPE TO RIDE
BEING IN SHAPE TO RIDE
Riding a motorcycle is a demanding and complex task. Skilled riders pay attention to the riding environment and to operating the motorcycle, identifying potential hazards, making good judgments and executing decisions quickly and skillfully. Your ability to perform and respond to changing road and traffic conditions is influenced by how fit and alert you are. Alcohol and other drugs, more than any other factor, degrade your ability to think clearly and to ride safely. As little as one drink can have a significant effect on your performance.
Let’s look at the risks involved in riding after drinking or using drugs. What to do to protect yourself and your fellow riders is also examined.
WHY THIS INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT
Alcohol is a major contributor to motorcycle crashes, particularly fatal crashes. Studies show that 30 - 40% of all riders killed in motorcycle crashes in Thailand had been drinking. Seven out of eight alcohol impaired riders had a blood alcohol concentration above legal limits (50 mg/100 cc of blood). The rest had only a few drinks in their systems — enough to impair riding skills. In the past, drug levels have been harder to distinguish or have not been separated from drinking violations for the traffic records. But riding “under the influence” of either alcohol or drugs poses p
hysical and legal hazards for every rider.
Drinking and drug use is as big a problem among motorcyclists as it is among automobile drivers. Motorcyclists, however, are more likely to be killed or severely injured in a crash. Injuries occur in 90% of motorcycle crashes and 33% of automobile crashes that involve abuse of substances. On a yearly basis, 8,000 motorcyclists are killed and about 120,000 seriously injured in this same type of crash. These statistics are too overwhelming to ignore.
By becoming knowledgeable about the effects of alcohol and other drugs you will see that riding and substance abuse don’t mix. Take positive steps to protect your self and prevent others from injuring themselves.
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS IN MOTORCYCLE OPERATION
No one is immune to the effects of alcohol or drugs. Friends may brag about their ability to hold their liquor or perform better on drugs, but alcohol or drugs make them less able to think clearly and perform physical tasks skillfully. Judgment and the decision-making processes needed for vehicle operation are affected long before legal limitations are reached.
Many over-the-counter, prescription and illegal drugs have side effects that increase the risk of riding. It is difficult to accurately measure the involvement of particular drugs in motorcycle crashes. But we do know what effects various drugs have on the process involved in riding a motorcycle. We also know that the combined effects of alcohol and other drugs are more dangerous than either is alone.
ALCOHOL AND THE LAW
In Thailand, a person with a BAC of .05% or above is considered intoxicated. It doesn’t matter how sober you may look or act. The breath or urine test is what usually determines whether you are riding legally or illegally.
Your chances of being stopped for riding under the influence of alcohol are relatively low – but your chances of dying are extremely high. Law enforcement is stepped up around certain holidays across the country in response to the senseless deaths and injuries caused by drinking drivers and riders.
MINIMIZE THE RISKS
Your ability to judge how well you are riding is affected first. Although you may be performing more and more poorly, you think you are doing better and better. The result is that you ride confidently, taking greater and greater risks. Minimize the risks of drinking and riding by taking steps before you drink. Control your drinking or control your riding.
DON’T DRINK
• Don’t Drink — Once you start, your resistance becomes weaker.
• Setting a limit or pacing yourself are poor alternatives at best. Your ability to exercise good judgment is one of the first things affected by alcohol. Even if you have tried to drink in moderation, you may not realize to what extent your skills have suffered from alcohol’s fatiguing effects.
• Or Don’t Ride — If you haven’t controlled your drinking, you must control your riding.
• Leave the motorcycle — so you won’t be tempted to ride. Arrange another way to get home.
• Wait — If you exceed your limit, wait until your system eliminates the alcohol and its fatiguing effects.
STEP IN TO PROTECT FRIENDS
People who have had too much to drink are unable to make a responsible decision. It is up to others to step in and keep them from taking too great a risk. No one wants to do this — it’s uncomfortable, embarrassing and thankless. You are rarely thanked for your efforts at the time. But the alternatives are often worse.
There are several ways to keep friends from hurting themselves:
Arrange a safe ride — Provide alternative ways for them to get home.
Slow the pace of drinking — involve them in other activities.
Keep them there — Use any excuse to keep them from getting on their motorcycle. Serve them food and coffee to pass the time. Explain your concerns for their risks of getting arrested or hurt or hurting someone else. Take their key, if you can.
Get friends involved — Use peer pressure from a group of friends to intervene.
It helps to enlist support from others when you decide to step in. The more people on your side, the easier it is to be firm and the harder it is for the rider to resist. While you may not be thanked at the time, you will never have to say, “If only I had ...”
FATIGUE
Riding a motorcycle is more tiring than driving a car. On a long trip, you’ll tire sooner than you would in a car. Avoid riding when tired. Fatigue can affect your control of the motorcycle.
Protect yourself from the elements — Wind, cold, and rain make you tire quickly. Dress warmly. A windshield is worth its cost if you plan to ride long distances.
Limit your distance — experi¬enced riders seldom try to ride more than about six hours a day.
Take frequent rest breaks — Stop and get off the motorcycle at least every two hours.
Don’t drink or use drugs — artificial stimulants often result in extreme fatigue or depression when they start to wear off. Riders are unable to concentrate on the task at hand.
