Most motorcycle collisions involve riders who do which of the following?

• A. Overbrake the rear tire.
• B. Oversteer the front tire.
• C. Fail to signal before turning.
• D. Ride well within the speed limit.

Answer: (A)

Braking control and traction maintenance are what this question is getting at. On a motorcycle, the rear wheel is more prone to skidding if you brake too hard or abruptly. When the rear tire locks, you lose the ability to steer and your path can go straight into a hazard, making a collision more likely. That’s why overbraking the rear tire is the most dangerous and common driving error in crashes: it disrupts stability and control just when you need to avoid something in the road.

The safer approach is to brake smoothly with both brakes, giving the front brake most of the stopping power while using the rear brake to help balance and control. If the rear starts to skid, ease off and reapply gradually. Signaling, speed management, and staying under unsafe limits are important for safety, but the scenario described—rear-wheel lockup from excessive rear braking—best explains the typical collision pattern.