California Motorcycle: Right-of-Way Practice Test

Question 1

You are riding past parked cars when a driver in one of them starts to pull away from the curb. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Slow down or change lanes so the driver has room to join traffic — A driver leaving a curb may pull out without ever seeing you, so give way by slowing or moving over rather than gambling that they checked for traffic behind them.

Answer

Hold your position and lean on the horn continuously

Answer

Speed up to get past before the car can move

Answer

Ride nearer the parked cars so the driver notices you

Question 2

You have stopped at a stop line where buildings hide the cross traffic. What should you do next?

Accepted Answer

Creep ahead and stop again just short of the crossing lane, front wheel still clear of it — At a blind intersection you stop at the line, then creep ahead for a second stop just short of the crossing lane and lean forward to look past whatever blocks your view, keeping your front tire out of the path of cross traffic.

Answer

Roll into the cross lane far enough to see both directions

Answer

Wait for a driver on the cross street to wave you through

Answer

Rev the engine so cross traffic can hear you coming

Question 3

A car is coming down an entrance ramp beside you and no other lane is open. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Adjust your speed to open a gap and stay near the middle of your lane — Drivers joining from a ramp often never see a motorcycle. When you cannot move over, open a gap by easing off or speeding up, and hold a position near the middle of your lane.

Answer

Hold your speed and expect the driver to yield to you

Answer

Move to the edge of your lane nearest the ramp

Answer

Stop on the roadway until the car has merged

Question 4

You have entered an intersection where a car is waiting to turn. What is the safest thing to do?

Accepted Answer

Ease away from the turning vehicle without any abrupt change of speed or position — Move clear of vehicles set up to turn, but do it smoothly. A sharp change of pace or lane position can read to the other driver as a sign that you intend to turn.

Answer

Accelerate sharply to clear the intersection

Answer

Swing toward the turning car so you look larger

Answer

Slow abruptly and wave the other driver through

Question 5

You see a car waiting to pull out from a side street ahead. What is the safest response?

Accepted Answer

Slow down, cover the brakes, and be ready to stop or change position — Slow down, cover the brakes, and be ready to stop or change position. Never assume the driver sees you; prepare in case the car pulls out.

Answer

Speed up to pass before it moves

Answer

Assume the driver sees you and hold your speed

Answer

Flash your high beam and keep full speed

Question 6

As you near a blind intersection, which lane position should you pick?

Accepted Answer

The one that brings you into the cross-street driver's view at the earliest moment — Choose the part of the lane that lets a driver on the cross street spot you soonest. Often that means moving away from the parked cars or other objects that are hiding you.

Answer

The portion closest to the parked cars on the corner

Answer

Whichever portion keeps you farthest from the crossing driver

Answer

The right portion of the lane, in every case

Question 7

Where do most collisions between cars and motorcycles happen?

Accepted Answer

At intersections, often when a car turns left across the rider's path — Most car-motorcycle crashes happen at intersections, often when a car turns left across the rider's path. Slow down and be ready to react as you approach one.

Answer

On long, empty stretches of freeway

Answer

In parking lots at low speed

Answer

On mountain roads with no traffic

Question 8

According to the handbook, which of these counts as an intersection for a rider?

Accepted Answer

Any spot where traffic can cross your path, a residential driveway included — An intersection is any place another vehicle may cross in front of you. A downtown crossroad and a driveway on a quiet street both qualify, and both deserve the same searching.

Answer

Only a crossing controlled by a signal or a stop sign

Answer

Only a place where two numbered highways meet

Answer

Only crossings that lie inside city limits

Question 9

Which move by a driver ahead of you is the most dangerous for a rider?

Accepted Answer

An abrupt U-turn that blocks the entire road — An unexpected U-turn can close off the whole roadway and leave you nowhere to escape. Because you cannot predict it, slow down, use the horn to get the driver's attention, and go by with care.

Answer

Signaling a right turn well in advance

Answer

Braking gently for a red light

Answer

Drifting a few inches inside their own lane

Question 10

A driver waiting to pull out appears to look straight at you. How much should you rely on that eye contact?

Accepted Answer

Not at all, because a driver can look your way and still not notice the motorcycle — Never treat eye contact as a promise that a driver will yield. A motorist can look directly toward a motorcycle and still fail to register it, so ride as though the vehicle is about to enter your path.

Answer

You may safely assume the driver will wait for you

Answer

Eye contact hands the right-of-way to you

Answer

It proves the driver has judged your speed correctly

California Motorcycle: Right-of-Way practice test

Study questions with answers

1. You are riding past parked cars when a driver in one of them starts to pull away from the curb. What should you do?

2. You have stopped at a stop line where buildings hide the cross traffic. What should you do next?

3. A car is coming down an entrance ramp beside you and no other lane is open. What should you do?

4. You have entered an intersection where a car is waiting to turn. What is the safest thing to do?

5. You see a car waiting to pull out from a side street ahead. What is the safest response?

6. As you near a blind intersection, which lane position should you pick?

7. Where do most collisions between cars and motorcycles happen?

8. According to the handbook, which of these counts as an intersection for a rider?

9. Which move by a driver ahead of you is the most dangerous for a rider?

10. A driver waiting to pull out appears to look straight at you. How much should you rely on that eye contact?

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