Which of the following actions should be taken when riding at night?

Increasing your following distance when riding at night is essential for safety. At nighttime, visibility is reduced, meaning you have less time to react to obstacles or sudden stops from vehicles in front of you. By increasing your following distance, you create more space between your motorcycle and the vehicle ahead, allowing for greater reaction time should an emergency arise. This additional distance helps compensate for the limited visibility and can make a significant difference in preventing accidents.

In contrast, decreasing speed cautiously is generally a good practice, but it is not as directly related to managing the specific risks of nighttime riding. Turning off headlights is dangerous because visibility is crucial when riding at night; headlights help you see the road and be seen by others. Riding without protective gear significantly increases the risk of injury in the event of an accident, regardless of the time of day. Thus, the best action to take to enhance safety when riding at night is to increase following distance.