I do a lot of riding in small towns and rural areas. One practice I've adopted is putting a foot down when I come to a stop sign. This may sound like a no-brainer, but I have seen a lot of riders come to a stop sign, slow down, and just keep going if the coast is clear. I watched 2 HD riders in front of me do this today, and a van coming from the left (who had the right of way, actually..) pulled out in front of them....
Putting a foot down serves a few purposes. It lets other drivers (and the police!) know for sure that you have stopped. And it gives you a few seconds to make absolutely sure the intersection is clear.
Again, it may seem like a stupid thing to post about, but I have seen enough riders "drift" through stop signs that I thought I'd mention it on here.
BTW, the 2 HD riders almost hit the van, then almost hit each other as they swerved and dabbed.
