They say motorcyclists should ride as if they are invisible. Other vehicles often have a hard time seeing motorcycles before turning and changing lanes, so this is certainly sound advice.

However, a better phrase to remember may be: Ride as if they are all out to get you! Whether other motorists are distracted or downright disgruntled, it’s always safer to keep a distance that would make it difficult for accidental as well as purposeful collisions. For example, it is common for people to swerve drastically out of their lanes when trying to text. Although this is a mistake caused by stupidity, in the moment it can feel as if they are actually trying to hit you. Another example that has proven fatal for motorcyclists is the brake-check, a very dangerous act intended to deter tailgaters. Last-minute turns and lane changes can catch motorcyclists off guard as well, and any collision can kill when you’re on a bike. In fact, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to die in a crash than people in a car.

So give yourself plenty of distance to dodge the distracted and the stupid drivers of the world. Stay safe and stay alive.