A very simple idea that can save your life when on a
motorcycle. Because rear-view
mirrors provide a limited
field of view, if you
depend on them to tell you when it's safe to change lanes, you run the
risk of
colliding with a
vehicle that simply wasn't
visible in the mirrors. So don't
assume your way is
clear. Actually take the trouble to turn your head and use the much wider field of view of your own eyes.
I rode bikes for fifteen years before I bought my first car, so the habit is so ingrained in me that I do it now even when I'm driving a car. Hell, I do it even if I'm just a passenger; I can't help it. That's the power of habit, and it's saved me from at least a couple of horrendous crashes.