If you need to slow down suddenly, what is best practice?

When you need to slow down suddenly on a motorcycle, flashing your brake light is the best practice because it serves as an immediate visual signal to surrounding drivers that you are braking. This action draws attention to your motorcycle, making it clear that you are reducing speed, which can help prevent rear-end collisions. Flashing the brake light also increases visibility, especially in conditions where visibility may be reduced or when vehicles are following closely.

Using hazard lights, sounding the horn, or using the turn signal does not effectively communicate the immediate action of slowing down. Hazard lights are typically used to indicate a stationary vehicle or an emergency situation, while the horn may alert others but does not provide a clear indication of your intention to stop. Turn signals are meant to indicate direction changes and may confuse drivers about your intention to slow down. Therefore, the best practice is to flash your brake light, ensuring that others are aware of your sudden decrease in speed.