Equipment

Wear good-quality, well-fitting skates that provide adequate ankle support.

Check your skates regularly to make sure they're in good condition.

Rotate your wheels when they wear unevenly.

Replace worn out wheels and bearings.

Replace your brake BEFORE it wears out.

Make sure your wheels are securely tightened

Make sure your wheels are never blocked by debris or grass.

Always have an all-purpose skate tool with you when you skate.

Around Pedestrians
Always yield to pedestrians. Be prepared for them to run in front of you or cross your path.

Around Young Children
Be prepared for ANYTHING. They will frequently run across your path when you least expect it.

Around Dogs
Be cautious when you approach a dog on a leash.
If the dog suddenly runs run across your path, you can find yourself skating toward a leash stretched out across the
path in front of you.

Around Bicycles
Be very predictable. Don't make any unexpected movements. Don't swing your arms and legs wildly back and forth as you skate -- many cyclists have been knocked off their bikes by careless skaters.
  

Road Surfaces
Try to skate only on smooth pavement with no surface debris.

Be very alert for changes in the condition of the road in front of you. Don't let potholes, storm debris, rough pavement, curbs or patches of grass catch you by surprise.

Don't skate through water, oil, mud or sand. Your wheels will have very little traction, and your feet can slide right out from under you.

Tiny pebbles look harmless, but they can get stuck in your skate wheels and cause them to stop rolling.

Cracks in the footpath can be a serious danger
It's not the cracks CROSSING your path that you need to worry about. Inline skates handle those cracks very well -- much better than traditional quad skates. The dangerous cracks are the ones that run parallel to your skating path. If the wheels of one of your inline skates get lodged into one of those cracks, you can be thrown off balance without any warning. This typically happens when you're skating on a sidewalk with a crack down the center.

Public Areas
Always use caution when skating in public areas with bicycles, cars, pedestrians, and other skaters.

Learn basic skating skills
Before you attempt to skate in a public place. Learn how to turn, control your speed, fall safely, and most important, to stop. One of the most dangerous things on a crowded bike path is a skater who never learned how to stop!

Always be conscious of others around you
Avoid sudden stops and last minute turns. You don't want to surprise anyone.
When you're skating in an area with a lot of bicycle, skate or car traffic, glance back over your shoulder every 10 or 20 seconds (remember - always be aware of your surroundings).

Street Skating

Always be acutely aware that it is DANGEROUS to skate in the street.

If you must skate in the street, clip two flashing bicycle lights to your helmet or your waist, one in front and one in back.

Obey all traffic regulations.

Whenever you approach a driveway, imagine a car speeding out, just as you're skating by.

Whenever you approach a car parked on the side of the road, imagine someone flinging the door open just as you're skating by.

Before you cross an intersection, look all around you for any car that could POSSIBLY turn in front of you accidents can result because it's difficult for drivers to see you in time to stop.

Safety Tips
Never skate at night. When it's dark, you can't see hazards in the road and you can't be seen by others. If you ever DO have to skate in the dark, clip two flashing bicycle lights to your helmet or your waist (one in front and one in back).

Wear protective gear every time you skate. Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers will give you additional protection from scrapes and cuts.

Always skate under control and within your abilities. Avoid hills until you are ready for them. Remember that you will gain speed quickly on even a very small hill.

Many people recommend against skating with headphones, because they block out sounds that can alert you to approaching danger. If you must skate with headphones, keep the volume low, and use headphones that don't block out surrounding noise.

When you can't avoid falling, try to fall in sand or grass, and fall forward onto your wrist guards and knee pads.

Skating Etiquette and Courtesy
The best thing you can do to prevent skating bans in your area, is to demonstrate that skaters are an asset to your community rather than a nuisance and a hazard. Give skating a good name be courteous, friendly, and helpful to those around you.

Be tolerant of the shortcomings of others.
Don't swing legs and arms wildly to the left and right.
Always skate single file, even when you skate with friends.
Don't pass without warning and pass only when it's safe, and you know there's enough room.