French Motorcycle ETM key terms

Gap a rider keeps behind the vehicle ahead, measured as at least two seconds in dry conditions so there is time to react and stop if that vehicle brakes suddenly.

Area beside or behind a vehicle that the driver cannot see in the mirrors. Riders should avoid lingering there and should check their own blind spots by turning their head before changing position.

Default rule at an unmarked French intersection: the vehicle coming from the right has right of way. Riders must slow down and be ready to stop when approaching such junctions.

Road sign and marking requiring a driver to give way to traffic on the intersecting road without necessarily stopping. A full stop is only compulsory if traffic is coming.

Delay between perceiving a hazard and beginning to act, roughly one second for an alert rider. It adds distance travelled before braking even starts, especially when tired or distracted.

Maximum braking applied to stop in the shortest distance. On a motorcycle both brakes are used progressively, with more force on the front, while the bike is kept upright and the bars straight.

Anti-lock braking system that prevents the wheels from locking during hard braking, allowing the rider to keep steering control. Its presence does not remove the need to brake progressively on a motorcycle.

Rider gear that reduces injury in a fall: approved helmet, gloves, jacket and trousers with abrasion resistance, and boots. Protective clothing is strongly recommended and compulsory for the helmet.

Certification showing a helmet meets the safety standard required for road use, marked by an approved label. A helmet must be correctly fastened and replaced after a serious impact.

Fluorescent vest with reflective strips that a rider must carry and wear when stopped on the roadside in poor light or an emergency, so other traffic can see them from a distance.

Reflective warning triangle placed on the road behind a broken-down vehicle to warn approaching traffic. On a motorcycle it is used only when it can be placed safely, never on a motorway.

First action at a crash: warn and shield traffic, switch on hazard lights, put on a high-visibility vest, and keep bystanders safe before attempting any assistance to casualties.

Calling emergency services with clear information: exact location, number of casualties, apparent injuries and hazards. The call should be made by a designated person while others secure the scene.

Recovery position used for an unconscious casualty who is breathing, turning them onto their side to keep the airway clear. It must not be used for a rider with a suspected spinal injury unless breathing is obstructed.

Rule that an injured rider's helmet should not be removed by a rescuer unless the airway is blocked or the casualty must be resuscitated, because removal may worsen neck or spine injuries.

Compulsory cover that pays for damage or injury a rider causes to others. Riding without it is an offence and leaves the rider personally liable for all consequences.

International motor insurance certificate proving a vehicle is insured, useful when riding abroad. In France the insurance sticker on the bike is the everyday evidence of valid cover.

Vehicle registration document naming the owner and the machine's technical details. A rider must be able to show it and keep it updated after a change of owner or address.

Periodic safety inspection required for motorcycles from a set age, checking brakes, lights, tyres, steering and emissions. A valid certificate is needed to keep the machine legally on the road.

Air pressure inside the tyres, checked cold and adjusted to the manufacturer's figures, including a higher value when carrying a passenger or luggage. Wrong pressure harms grip, stability and braking.

Wear of tyre tread and shape over time. Riders should check tread depth, sidewall cracks and uneven wear, since worn or squared-off tyres reduce grip and make the bike harder to steer.

Grip between tyres and road surface. It drops sharply on wet paint, metal covers, gravel and diesel spills, so a rider must reduce speed and smooth out braking and steering inputs in such places.

Loss of contact between tyre and road when a layer of water builds up under the tread. Steering and braking stop responding, so the rider should ease off the throttle and avoid sudden inputs.

Wet-weather conditions that reduce grip and sight distance. The rider should slow down, increase the following gap, use a clear visor and switch on lights to be seen by others.

Secondary French road linking towns and villages, often single carriageway with bends, junctions and farm traffic. Speed limits and hazards vary, so riders should read signs and markings carefully.

Curve in the road where the rider must adjust speed before entering, look through the bend and keep a steady line. Braking hard mid-corner unsettles the bike and reduces grip.

The path a rider chooses through a bend or around an obstacle. A good line widens the view, keeps the bike stable and leaves room to react to unexpected hazards.

Overtaking another road user. The rider must check mirrors and blind spots, signal, ensure the road ahead is clear and return to the lane without cutting in too soon.

Place where two or more roads meet, a common site of collisions with motorcycles. Riders should reduce speed, watch for vehicles emerging and make eye contact with other drivers.

Riding between lanes of slow or stopped traffic. It is tolerated only under conditions set by the highway code, at low speed and with a small speed difference, and needs constant vigilance.

Riding faster than the road, weather or traffic conditions allow, even within the posted limit. It shortens reaction time, lengthens stopping distance and is a leading factor in rider crashes.

The habit of anticipating what could go wrong: a car door opening, a vehicle pulling out, gravel in a bend. Riders scan ahead, plan an escape route and never assume they have been seen.

Riding style that assumes other users may make mistakes. It means keeping margins, choosing visible positions, controlling speed and being ready to react instead of relying on others' compliance.

Riding after drinking alcohol, which slows reactions, blurs vision and harms balance, all critical on a motorcycle. Legal limits are lower for probationary riders and penalties are severe.

Tiredness that reduces concentration, slows reactions and can cause micro-sleeps. Riders should plan breaks, avoid long rides without rest and stop as soon as signs of fatigue appear.

Regular glance at the mirrors to know what is behind before braking, changing position or overtaking. Mirrors do not cover everything, so a head check complements them.

Road users with little protection in a collision: pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists. Riders must give them extra space and expect unpredictable movements near them.

Standard form completed by both drivers after a collision to record circumstances and damage. It speeds up insurance handling and should be filled in calmly, accurately and signed by both parties.