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• A parked car has someone in the driver’s seat.
• Someone is in the street, riding a bicycle or walking.
In an emergency, press and hold the horn button. 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, like having time
and space to maneuver, may be appropriate along with the horn.
Riding at Night
At night it is harder for you to see and be seen. Noticing your headlight or
taillight amid 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 because a headlight does not allow you to
see as far ahead as in daylight.
• 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-
second following distance or more, and allow more distance to pass and
be passed.
• Use the Car Ahead
— The headlights of the car you are following can
give you a better view of the road than even your high beam can.
Headlights and/or 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.
7. You should always perform a head check before you:
A. Change lanes.
B. Merge onto a freeway.
C. Pass another vehicle.
D. All of the above.
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