South Carolina Motorcycle Permit Test

Most motorcycle crashes take place in broad daylight. You should always wear brightly colored clothing to increase your visibility when riding, even during the day.

To reduce the risk of a collision, you should make yourself visible (through clothing, headlight use, and lane position); communicate your intentions to others; maintain an adequate space cushion; search your path of travel 12 seconds ahead; identify and separate hazards; and be prepared to act in response to anything that arises.

Surfaces where traction may be poor include wet, snowy, icy, or muddy pavement; gravel roads, places where sand and gravel collect; and lane markings, steel plates, and utility hole covers, especially when they're wet.

You should increase your following distance any time that it will take you longer than normal to stop. This includes when the pavement is slippery, if you can't see through the vehicle ahead of you, or if traffic is heavy (since other vehicles are more likely to try squeezing in front of you).

Despite the oily accumulation in the center strip of a lane, it generally provides enough traction to ride safely on, unless it is raining. Because the strip is usually no more than two feet wide, it is usually possible to ride to one or the other side of it and still be in the center portion of the lane.

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

You should ask your passenger to get on the motorcycle only after you have started the engine; sit as far forward as possible without crowding you; and hold on firmly to your waist, hips, or belt.