Do you know how to manage your riding risks? Or what it means to have a margin of safety when on the road? Are you familiar with any pre-ride inspection checklists? All of these are important questions to consider when evaluating your knowledge of motorcycle safety. If you think you may be a little rusty on motorcycle safety specifics, you may want to consider taking a safety course before your riding season begins.

Motorcyclists wear helmets for a variety of reasons, and not just because it’s the law in many states. Helmets offer motorcyclists protection for their face, ears, and head from flying bugs, tossed-up debris, or accident-related trauma.

In 2009 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,462 people were killed in motorcycle accidents. Only 57 percent of riders and 43 percent of motorcycle passengers killed were wearing helmets.

Six people died in motorcycle accidents at Daytona Beach Bike Week in 2011. Bike Week can be a blast, so it is important to not let an injury (or worse) from a motorcycle accident ruin your fun. Keep these safety tips in mind at this year’s Daytona Bike Week and every time you’re on a bike.

One of the most dangerous situations bikers experience on the road is attempting to merge into a lane with a car, SUV, or truck in its blind spot. Whether you’re traveling on the highway or riding around on back roads, blind spots can lead to painful injuries and devastating accidents.

Upgrading your bike with mirrors that offer larger fields of view will help make you more aware of your surroundings so you can avoid potential riding disasters.

While upgrading your headlights might seem like a costly expense, the benefits of switching from halogen bulbs to LED or HID headlights significantly outweigh the associated costs. There are many reasons to make the switch, and we’ve compiled a list of some of the advantages of upgrading your halogen headlights.