Motorcycle Hazards
Slippery surfaces, grooves and gratings, animals, wind and the drivers who fail to see a motorcycle. Questions cover how to spot and handle each one.
Motorcycle Hazards quiz
Answer at your own pace. After each question you see the correct answer and why, and at the end a review of what you missed.
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Motorcycle Hazards questions with answers
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When is a wet road usually most slippery?
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Answer C: Just after the rain starts, before the surface oil is washed away
Oil and dirt lying on the pavement mix with the first water and cut traction badly until continued rain washes the residue to the side of the road.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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Why should riders avoid the center strip of the lane, especially where traffic stops often?
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Answer A: Because it collects oil and grease dripped from other vehicles
Drippings from other vehicles build up in the center of the lane, and the buildup is heaviest at busy intersections and toll booths where traffic sits waiting.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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Which road feature is most likely to be slippery, particularly when wet?
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Answer D: Painted lane markings, manhole covers and steel plates
Paint and metal surfaces laid on top of the road offer far less grip than the pavement around them and become noticeably slick in the rain.
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Where is ice most likely to form first on a cold day?
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Answer B: In shaded areas and on bridges and overpasses
Shaded spots stay cold longer and bridges and overpasses lose heat from below as well as above, so ice appears there before it appears elsewhere.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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What is the correct way to ride across a stretch of slippery pavement?
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Answer C: Reduce speed before you reach it, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently if you must brake
The speed must come off before the slippery area, and once the tires are on it every input, braking included, has to be smooth and gentle.
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On a rainy road, where can a rider usually find the best traction?
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Answer A: In the tire tracks left by the vehicles ahead
Vehicles ahead push water aside and keep their tracks clearer of oil, so those tracks generally give better grip than the rest of the lane.
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Where does loose sand and gravel most often collect on a paved road?
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Answer D: Along the edges of the road and on curves and highway ramps
Traffic sweeps loose material toward the outside of the travel path, so it builds up at the road edges and on curves and on entrance and exit ramps.
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Railroad tracks cross the road at a slight angle. What is normally the safest way to cross them?
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Answer B: Ride straight across while staying inside your own lane
Riding straight ahead within your lane is usually safe on tracks that cross the road, because swerving to square them up can carry you into another lane or into oncoming traffic.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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You must cross tracks or pavement seams that run in nearly the same direction as your path of travel. What should you do?
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Answer C: Move far enough away to cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees, then turn sharply across
A shallow crossing lets the groove catch and steer the front wheel, so the rider sets up to cross at 45 degrees or more and makes one deliberate turn across it.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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Your motorcycle starts to wander while you ride over rain grooves or a bridge grating. What should you do?
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Answer A: Relax, hold a steady speed and ride straight across
The wandering feeling on grooved surfaces and gratings is unsettling but generally not hazardous, while zigzagging to fight it is far more dangerous.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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You cannot avoid an obstacle lying in the road. At what angle should you try to cross it?
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Answer D: As close to 90 degrees as possible
Meeting the obstacle squarely keeps the front wheel from being deflected sideways as it climbs over the edge.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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What is the correct body position for riding over a bump or an obstacle?
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Answer B: Rise slightly off the seat with your weight on the footrests, absorbing the shock with knees and elbows
Coming slightly off the seat lets your legs and arms work as extra suspension instead of transferring the impact through your body and the handlebars.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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Just before the front wheel reaches an obstacle, what should you do with the throttle?
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Answer C: Roll it on slightly to lighten the front end
A small amount of throttle shifts weight rearward and lightens the front wheel so it rides over the obstacle more easily.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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You need to leave the road and pull onto the shoulder. What should you check first?
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Answer A: Whether the shoulder surface is firm enough to support the motorcycle
Soft or loose shoulder material can grab the wheels or let the side stand sink, so confirm the surface is firm, signal, and then pull well clear of traffic.
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A dog runs out and chases your motorcycle. What is the recommended response?
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Answer D: Downshift and approach slowly, then accelerate away as you reach the animal
Approaching slowly keeps the dog aiming at where you are now, and accelerating as you reach it leaves the animal behind without a sudden swerve.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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How should a rider react to a deer or another large animal in the road?
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Answer B: Brake and prepare to stop, because large animals move unpredictably
A large animal can bolt in any direction at any moment, so the only reliable response is to slow down and be ready to stop.
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An object thrown up by another vehicle strikes your face shield. What should you do?
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Answer C: Keep both hands on the handlebars and your eyes on the road, then stop when it is safe to check
Letting go of the handlebars or looking away is far more dangerous than the impact itself, so keep control first and inspect the damage after you have stopped safely.
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A large truck passes and hits you with a blast of wind. Which lane position leaves you the most room for error?
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Answer A: The center portion of the lane
A rider in the center portion of the lane has space on both sides to absorb the push of a wind blast without being shoved out of the lane.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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How should following distance change when you ride at night?
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Answer D: Open it up to three seconds or more
Less light means hazards appear later, so a rider should slow down and stretch the following distance to three seconds or more.
Source: dmv.ny.gov
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The front tire suddenly loses air while you are riding. What should you do?
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Answer D: Hold the bars firmly, ease off the throttle and slow using the rear brake
A deflating front tire makes the steering feel heavy, so the rider keeps a straight line, avoids the affected wheel when braking and eases off the road.
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The throttle sticks open and will not close when you roll it back. What should you do?
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Answer B: Squeeze in the clutch and shut the engine down with the cut-off switch
Pulling in the clutch cuts power to the rear wheel immediately, and the cut-off switch stops the engine without the rider letting go of the handlebars.
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The handlebars begin to shake violently in a wobble at speed. What is the correct response?
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Answer C: Grip the bars firmly and close the throttle gradually, without braking
Braking or accelerating during a wobble usually makes it worse, so the rider holds on, rolls off gradually, and pulls off the road to find the cause.
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The drive chain breaks or comes off while you are riding. What should you do first?
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Answer A: Close the throttle and brake to a stop clear of the roadway
A broken chain or belt takes the drive away at once, so the rider closes the throttle, slows under control with both brakes and stops well off the roadway.
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The engine begins to lose power, makes a loud noise and starts to seize. What should the rider do?
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Answer C: Pull in the clutch at once and coast off the road to a safe place
A seizing engine can lock the rear wheel, and pulling in the clutch separates it from the wheel so the motorcycle keeps rolling under control.
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Your front wheel drops off the edge of the pavement onto a lower shoulder. What is the safest way back?
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Answer D: Ride straight, slow down, then turn back sharply enough to cross the edge
Trying to climb a raised pavement edge at a shallow angle lets the tire slide along it, so the rider settles first and then crosses the edge at a sharp angle.
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A strong wind is blowing steadily across the road from your left. How should you ride?
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Answer A: Move toward the left of the lane and lean into the wind
Riding on the windward side of the lane leaves room to be pushed without leaving the lane, and a slight lean into the wind holds the line.
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You have just ridden through a stretch of deep standing water. What should you do next?
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Answer B: Ride slowly and apply the brakes lightly to dry them out
Wet brakes can grab or barely work at all, and gentle pressure while moving slowly heats and clears them before they are really needed.
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You are riding along a street lined with parked cars. What is the safest approach?
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Answer D: Move away from the parked cars, slow down, and watch for doors and people
Doors open, drivers pull out and pedestrians step between vehicles, so extra space and a lower speed give the rider time to see and react.
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What is the best way to handle fatigue on a long ride?
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Answer C: Take rest breaks regularly and dress to keep wind and cold out
Wind, vibration and cold tire a rider faster than a driver, and the safe answer is planned breaks and protective clothing rather than pressing on.
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You are riding directly into a low sun that is glaring off your face shield. What should you do?
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Answer A: Slow down and assume that drivers ahead of you cannot see you either
Glare cuts what everyone can see, so lower speed buys reaction time, and a driver blinded by the same sun is even less likely to notice a motorcycle.
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Heavy rain has left water standing on the highway. What is the main risk to a rider?
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Answer D: The tires can ride up on the water and lose contact with the road surface
At higher speeds a tire can no longer push standing water aside and starts to hydroplane, so the rider slows and eases off rather than braking or turning hard.
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Rain has been falling steadily for half an hour. How does traction compare with the first minutes of the shower?
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Answer C: It usually improves somewhat, because the early oil film has washed away
Rain floats oil and dust to the top at first, so the road is most slippery in the early minutes, and a longer downpour rinses much of that film away. The pavement is still wet and grips less than when it is dry.
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A downpour has just started on a street with a visible dark strip down the middle of the lane. Where should you ride?
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Answer A: In the left or right portion of the lane, away from the greasy center strip
Dripped oil and grease build up in the center of the lane, and water floats that film to the top, so the tire tracks on either side offer better grip.
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Where is the oil and grease strip in a lane usually widest and most slippery?
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Answer D: At toll plazas, bus stops and intersections where vehicles sit and idle
Oil and coolant drip most where vehicles stop, idle and pull away, so the center strip is widest and slickest at toll booths, bus stops and busy intersections.
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You are already leaned over in a curve when you see loose gravel spread across the road ahead. What is the best response?
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Answer B: Slow gently, bring the bike more upright, and cross the gravel with steady throttle
A leaned tire has little grip left for braking or for loose stones. Reduce speed smoothly, get the motorcycle as upright as the curve allows, and hold a steady throttle across the gravel.
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Windblown sand has collected across the pavement at a rural intersection where you must stop. How should you handle the stop?
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Answer A: Do your braking on clean pavement before the sand, then roll across upright
Sand acts like ball bearings under the tires, so finish your braking on the clean surface ahead of it and cross the loose patch upright with no sudden inputs.
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You are riding a shaded back road in autumn and reach a mat of wet leaves covering the pavement. What should you expect?
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Answer D: Traction can be nearly as poor as ice, so slow down before you reach them
Wet leaves are slick and they hide whatever is underneath, so reduce speed before the patch and cross it upright without braking or turning.
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Your route crosses a long steel grid bridge deck. What should you do about braking and speed while you are on the grating?
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Answer B: Keep a steady speed and do any braking before the grating, not on it
A steel deck makes the motorcycle weave and offers less grip, so set your speed before you reach it, ride straight across, and brake on solid pavement.
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What causes the side to side motion a rider feels when crossing a steel grid deck or rain grooves?
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Answer C: The tires following the ridges and grooves, which is normal and harmless
The tread follows the pattern in the surface, which produces a wandering feel. The motorcycle is not out of control, so relax on the bars and hold your speed.
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You are riding a city street with embedded streetcar rails and it has just started to rain. What is the added risk?
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Answer D: Wet steel rails offer very little grip, and so does the pavement beside them
Steel rails give almost no traction when wet, so cross them upright at as close to a right angle as the lane allows, without braking or turning on the metal.
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Why do streetcar or light rail rails set into a street deserve extra care from a rider?
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Answer B: The groove alongside the rail can catch a front tire crossed at a shallow angle
The groove beside an embedded rail is just wide enough to trap a motorcycle tire, so cross rails at as steep an angle as your lane allows.
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You are stopping for a red light in the rain and your stopping point is on a wide painted stop line and crosswalk. What should you do?
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Answer C: Slow earlier and gently, since wet paint offers much less grip than pavement
Painted stop lines and crosswalks turn slick when wet, so start braking early and squeeze gently rather than braking hard on the markings.
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On a hot summer day you notice long black strips of crack sealant snaking across the pavement. What should a rider know about them?
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Answer A: They soften in heat and can be slippery, especially under a leaned tire
Crack sealant gets soft and greasy in the heat, so treat those strips as a low traction surface and avoid braking or hard cornering on them.
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What is the main reason a rider should keep a generous following distance on a rough, broken road?
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Answer B: So the rider can see and plan for holes and broken pavement in time to react
The vehicle ahead hides the pavement, so extra space gives you time to spot a hole or a broken edge and to choose a path around it.
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Why is a pothole a bigger problem for a motorcycle than for a car?
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Answer C: A motorcycle has only two wheels, so an impact can deflect it off line
A car crosses a hole on four wheels and stays balanced, while a hole can knock a motorcycle off its line or damage a wheel, so scan the pavement well ahead and plan a path around holes.
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You are riding where fresh pavement meets an older lane that sits an inch or two lower. How should you move across that edge?
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Answer A: Slow down and cross the edge at as sharp an angle as the lane allows
A pavement edge break can steer the front wheel along it if you meet it at a shallow angle, so slow, hold the bars firmly and cross it steeply.
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You have had to leave the pavement onto a loose gravel shoulder and now need to stop. How should you brake?
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Answer D: Use both brakes gently and evenly, expecting a much longer stopping distance
Loose gravel cuts available traction sharply, so apply both brakes lightly and smoothly and allow far more room than you would need on pavement.
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A squirrel darts into your path a short distance ahead. What is normally the safest response?
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Answer C: Hold your line, brake as much as is safe, and accept hitting a small animal
Swerving without space, or crashing while braking, hurts the rider far more than a small animal does, so stay in your lane and slow as much as traction allows.
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A dog is running toward the road from a yard ahead of you. Why is it a mistake to simply accelerate past it?
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Answer A: A dog aims at where you will be, so more speed can bring you together
A dog runs at an intercept point rather than at where you are now, which is why the recommended technique is to slow as you approach and then accelerate away once you are beside it.
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A large insect splatters on your face shield and blocks part of your view. What should you do?
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Answer D: Keep control, look through a clear part, and clean it at the next stop
Taking a hand off the bars or riding with your eyes closed is far more dangerous than a partly obscured view, so keep riding and clean the shield when you are stopped.
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A bee gets inside your jacket while you are riding. What is the recommended action?
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Answer B: Pull off the road and stop before you try to deal with the insect
Being stung hurts, but losing control while swatting hurts much more, so ride to a safe place, stop and then deal with the insect.
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You are crossing a long, high bridge in a strong crosswind. Where should you expect the wind to change most suddenly?
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Answer A: At the ends of the bridge and where towers or trucks briefly block the wind
Wind is gustiest where something shelters you and then stops, such as bridge abutments, towers and large vehicles, so be ready for a push as you move in and out of the shelter.
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You are overtaking a large tractor trailer on the highway. What should you expect as you ride alongside and then past it?
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Answer D: Changing pushes and pulls as you pass the front, the side and the rear
The air around a large truck moves in different directions along its length, so expect the buffeting to change as you go by. Keep a firm but relaxed grip and a steady throttle.
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Traffic is heavy and you find yourself riding level with a car in the next lane. What is the problem with staying there?
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Answer B: You sit in the driver's blind spot, so a lane change could hit you
Motorcycles disappear easily in a blind spot, so adjust your speed to ride ahead of or behind the other vehicle instead of beside it.
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You are riding in the middle of a tight cluster of cars on a multilane road. What is the best way to improve your safety?
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Answer C: Ride slightly faster or slower to open space and get clear of the cluster
A rider hemmed in on all sides has nowhere to go, so change your speed a little to open an escape path and leave the crowd.
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You are approaching a driveway where a car waits to pull out and the driver is looking your way. What should you assume?
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Answer D: The driver may not have seen you, so cover the brakes and be ready to slow
Looking in your direction is not proof that a driver has registered a motorcycle, so cover the brakes and be ready to slow until the car is clearly staying put.
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Which single event causes the largest share of crashes between a motorcycle and another vehicle at intersections?
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Answer B: A vehicle turning left across the path of an oncoming motorcycle
The classic motorcycle intersection crash is an oncoming driver who turns left across the rider's path, usually after failing to see the motorcycle or misjudging its speed.
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Why do drivers so often misjudge how fast an approaching motorcycle is traveling?
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Answer C: A narrow vehicle seems to grow slowly, so it appears further away
A small frontal area changes size slowly as it approaches, so drivers read a motorcycle as further away and slower than it really is. Never assume a waiting driver has judged your speed correctly.
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How much room should a rider try to leave when passing a line of parked cars?
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Answer A: Enough to clear an opening door, roughly the width of a car door
A door swings out about the width of a door, so ride at least that far from parked vehicles and slow down wherever you cannot leave that much space.
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Which clue best warns a rider that the door of a parked car is about to open?
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Answer B: Someone visible in the seat, or exhaust showing at the tailpipe
Occupied cars are the ones that open doors, so scan through rear windows and mirrors and look for exhaust or wheels turning as you approach.
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Why should a rider reduce speed at night even on a familiar road?
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Answer C: So the stopping distance stays inside the distance the headlight lights up
At night you can only react to what the headlight shows, so keep your speed low enough that you can stop within the lit distance ahead.
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How can the vehicle ahead of you help you read the road at night?
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Answer A: Its headlights light the road further ahead than yours can reach
The lights of the vehicle ahead reach beyond your own beam, so its brake lights and the way it moves warn you about holes, turns and hazards you cannot yet see.
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Why is it harder for a rider to judge distance and closing speed after dark?
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Answer D: Only lights are visible, so closing speeds are hard to read
At night you see lights rather than whole vehicles and the scene around them, which strips away the cues that tell you how far away something is and how fast it is closing.
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An oncoming vehicle keeps its high beam on and dazzles you. What should you do?
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Answer C: Look toward the right edge of your lane and slow until it has passed
Shifting your gaze to the right edge of the lane keeps you on line without staring into the glare, and slowing gives you time if something is hidden in it.
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Why is a motorcycle particularly hard for other drivers to judge at night?
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Answer A: Its single headlight gives no width cues for distance and speed
Drivers judge distance from the spacing between a pair of headlights, and a single lamp gives them nothing to measure, so they routinely misjudge how close and how fast a motorcycle is.
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Which is an early warning that fatigue is affecting your riding?
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Answer D: You miss turns and signs and have to think about routine actions
Fatigue shows up first as slower thinking and missed information, so treat lapses in attention as a signal to stop and rest.
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Why is it harder to read the road surface at night once it has rained?
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Answer B: The wet surface throws light away and hides holes and markings
Light from your headlight bounces off wet pavement instead of coming back to you, and reflections of other lights mask the surface, so slow down and open up your following distance.
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Why does a rider on an unfaired motorcycle tire faster on a long highway ride than a driver would?
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Answer A: Constant wind pressure and noise drain energy hour after hour
Fighting wind pressure and enduring wind noise for hours is physically tiring, which is why wind protection and regular breaks matter on long rides.
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How does becoming chilled affect a rider before any shivering is obvious?
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Answer D: It slows reactions and clouds judgment while the rider still feels fine
Cooling degrades reaction time and decision making before the rider notices it, so dress for the coldest part of the ride and stop to warm up rather than pressing on.
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Why can a mild afternoon still chill a rider dangerously on the highway?
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Answer B: Riding speed creates a wind chill well below the air temperature
Air moving over the body at highway speed strips heat far faster than still air, so a comfortable temperature at a standstill can cause serious chilling in an hour of riding.
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It is very hot and a rider is tempted to take off the riding jacket. Why can that make the heat worse?
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Answer C: A bare arm in hot moving air loses fluid fast and burns in the sun
In hot, dry air a covering layer slows the evaporation of sweat and blocks the sun, so ventilated gear can keep a rider cooler and better hydrated than bare skin.
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What is the first riding effect of becoming dehydrated on a hot day?
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Answer D: Concentration and judgment fade before the rider feels very thirsty
Thirst lags behind fluid loss, so a rider can lose concentration and coordination before feeling thirsty. Drink regularly on hot rides rather than waiting.
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You feel dizzy, weak and clammy after an hour of riding in high heat. What should you do?
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Answer B: Stop in the shade, drink water and cool down before riding further
Those are early signs of heat illness and they get worse with continued exertion, so get out of the sun, rehydrate and cool off before you ride on.
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What should a rider check about the size of a motorcycle before riding it?
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Answer C: That both feet reach the ground and the controls are within reach
A motorcycle that fits lets the rider put both feet down at a stop and work every control without stretching, and a machine that is too tall or too heavy is hard to hold up in slow traffic.
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What changes most when a rider moves from a light motorcycle to a much heavier one?
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Answer A: It takes longer to stop and is harder to hold up at low speed
Extra mass means longer stopping distances and more effort in slow maneuvers and when holding the machine up, so build up gradually on an unfamiliar heavy motorcycle.
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Which clue suggests that a car waiting at a side street is about to pull out in front of you?
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Answer B: The front wheels are turned and the car is creeping forward
Turned wheels and a slow creep forward are the strongest signs that a driver is about to move, so cover the brakes and be ready to change your lane position.
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A bag strapped to the back of your motorcycle works loose and starts to shift as you ride. What should you do?
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Answer C: Slow smoothly, pull off the road, and secure the load before riding on
A load that moves changes the balance of the motorcycle and can foul a wheel or the chain, so stop as soon as you safely can and fasten it properly.
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A deer crosses the road ahead of you and disappears into the trees. What should you expect?
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Answer A: More animals may follow, since deer usually move in groups
Deer commonly travel in groups, so one animal crossing is a warning that others are close by. Slow down and stay ready to stop well past the point where it crossed.
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The rear tire loses air suddenly while you are riding. Which symptom should you expect and how should you respond?
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Answer D: The rear sways or feels heavy, so ease off and slow with the front brake
A rear flat makes the back of the motorcycle wallow or sway, so hold your line, close the throttle gently and slow mainly with the brake on the wheel that still has air.
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Which of these is a known cause of a high speed wobble?
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Answer C: Incorrect tire pressure or a load carried too far back and too high
Wobble is usually traced to tires, wheels, loading or poorly mounted accessories such as a windshield or fairing, so check pressures and how the machine is loaded.
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Which action makes a wobble worse instead of better?
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Answer A: Braking or accelerating to try to ride out of it
Braking or adding power during a wobble can amplify it. Close the throttle gradually, hold the bars firmly and let the speed fall until the machine settles.
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You have shut the engine off with the kill switch because the throttle stuck open. What comes next?
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Answer D: Keep the clutch in, brake to a stop off the road, and find the cause
With the engine off and the clutch pulled in the motorcycle is only coasting, so brake to a stop clear of traffic and inspect the throttle cable and grip before restarting.
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Why should a rider pull in the clutch at the first sign that the engine is seizing?
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Answer B: So a locking engine cannot lock the rear wheel through the drive train
A seizing engine can lock up, and with the clutch engaged that would lock the rear wheel, so disconnecting the drive keeps the wheel rolling while you coast off the road.
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What most often leads to an engine seizure on a motorcycle?
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Answer A: Loss of engine oil or coolant, so the moving parts overheat and grip
Seizure is normally a lubrication or cooling failure, which is why oil level and coolant are part of every pre-ride check and why a rising temperature reading deserves attention.
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Why should a rider avoid riding through a puddle that spans the lane?
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Answer D: It can hide a deep hole or broken pavement under the surface
Standing water conceals what is underneath it, so treat a puddle as an unknown surface and go around it whenever you safely can.
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You enter a work zone where the top layer of pavement has been milled off, leaving a grooved surface. How should you ride?
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Answer B: Hold a relaxed grip and steady speed, and expect the tires to wander
Milled or grooved pavement makes the tires follow the ridges and the motorcycle feel unsettled, so relax on the bars, keep a constant speed and ride straight through.