Safe and Defensive Riding
The defensive mindset
Defensive riding means assuming other road users may not see you and planning an escape route. For motorcyclists the key concepts are visibility, space cushion, and hazard anticipation. Ride in a lane position that keeps you visible in mirrors and away from blind spots; avoid riding directly beside a car's door pillar. Maintain a following distance of at least two seconds in good conditions, more in rain or at night.
Positioning and cornering
On bends, enter wide, apex late, exit wide - but stay within your lane and never cross the centre line. Look through the corner to where you want to go; the bike follows your gaze. Brake before the bend, not in it. On gravel or wet patches, reduce lean angle and keep inputs smooth.
Overtaking and filtering
Overtake only when you have clear sight and a legal gap; never overtake at a pedestrian crossing, on a continuous line, or where a sign prohibits it. Filtering between lanes is risky; keep speed low and watch for doors opening and cars changing lanes without indicating.
Traps in safety questions
The exam likes scenarios where the 'safe' answer is to slow down and increase distance rather than to swerve or brake hard. Questions may describe a car edging out of a side road; the correct response is to cover the brakes and prepare to stop, not to assume the driver has seen you. Another trap is night riding: reduce speed so your stopping distance stays within your illuminated sight distance.
Worked rule of thumb
Use the two-second rule: pick a fixed point, and if you reach it before counting 'one-thousand-two', you are too close. Double it in rain.