Now more than ever, it’s critical to take the time to increase safety measures to help prevent an accident from happening on the road. With summer coming to an end and more motorists and distracted drivers than ever, there has never been a more important time to be safe.

While it is the responsibility of all drivers to pay attention and look out for everyone who is traveling, it is critical that motorcyclists themselves also learn what’s needed for safe driving while they are on the road.

Here are five ways you can be safer when riding your motorcycle:

Always Wear a Helmet

The number one way to protect yourself in an accident is by wearing a helmet. When choosing one it is critical to make sure that it fits properly. It should be snug around your head, but not tight enough to feel pressure points on your forehead or temples. It should also not move around too much if you shake or nod your head back and forth vigorously. Make sure there are no gaps between the chin bar on the front of the helmet and your face.

Leave Extra Space

Another way for all motorists to stay safe on the road is to leave extra space between each other. You want to give yourself enough space so that if that car suddenly stops or slows down in traffic (or even has an accident), there will be some room between it and your bike so that neither one of you gets hurt nor causes damage. As a rider, you must realize too that other drivers may not know just how close they are getting when passing you until it’s too late! So again: leave extra room between yourself and whatever vehicle may be beside/behind/in front of yours at any given time.

Wear Bright Clothing

In addition to wearing a helmet, gloves, and boots, you should also choose bright clothing when riding a motorcycle. This gear will make it easier for others to see you while you’re on the road. Consider a jacket with reflective material on it or a backpack or bag with reflective strips.

Obey All Traffic Laws While Riding

Obeying safety laws on the road protects you as a driver. If you’re riding your motorcycle and see a stop sign up ahead, make sure to come to a full stop before proceeding through the intersection. Following the speed limits and having patience with other drivers—they may make mistakes or be unaware of – so how motorcycles handle in certain situations is key. It is far too easy to get into potentially dangerous situations for bikers. This is why it’s important that you ride defensively, get insured and be attentive at all times while riding.

Use Hand Signals

To add an extra layer of awareness and safety, you should also use hand signals when making lane changes and turning. If you’re going to make a lane change, signal your intention with a left-hand turn signal light 10 seconds before you actually make a move. This will give drivers behind you plenty of time to react accordingly. Similarly, if you’re planning on turning right or left at an intersection, use your right-hand turn signal light 10 seconds before doing so—again this gives other drivers more than enough time to adjust their own driving habits in response to your actions.