What is a head check in motorcycling?

The correct answer highlights the critical safety practice of looking over your shoulder before changing lanes or turning. This action, commonly known as a head check, ensures that you are aware of any vehicles or obstacles in your blind spot that might not be visible in your mirrors. By performing a head check, a rider can help prevent collisions by confirming that it is safe to make a maneuver.

This technique underscores the importance of comprehensive situational awareness while riding. While checking mirrors and visualizing the road ahead are valuable practices for monitoring surroundings, they do not adequately cover the areas that a head check addresses—specifically, the blind spots that can't be seen through mirrors alone. Checking tire pressure is crucial for overall safety and performance, but it is not related to maneuvering on the road.