Speed & Space Management

Study questions with answers

12 sample Speed & Space Management questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. If traffic is heavy and someone may squeeze in front of you, you should:

   Correct answer: open up a three-second or larger following gap

   A larger cushion in heavy traffic protects you if a driver squeezes into the gap ahead.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Following Another Vehicle

2. 2. The rule 'do not override your headlight' means you should:

   Correct answer: slow down so you can stop within the distance you can see

   Your total stopping distance should never exceed the distance your headlight actually illuminates.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Riding at Night

3. 3. Even when stopped behind a vehicle, you should:

   Correct answer: keep well back so you can move aside if hit from behind

   Keeping space when stopped lets you move aside if someone bears down from behind or the vehicle rolls backward.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Following Another Vehicle

4. 4. At night, one way to gain a better view of the road is to:

   Correct answer: use the headlights of the car ahead

   The headlights of the car ahead, and its bouncing taillights, can reveal the road and bumps beyond your own beam.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Riding at Night

5. 5. A good lane choice just before entering a curve is to:

   Correct answer: move to the center of your lane and hold it through the curve

   Moving to the center of your lane before a curve lets you spot oncoming traffic and adjust for hazards.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Crash Avoidance

6. 6. The higher your speed or the sharper the turn, the:

   Correct answer: greater the lean angle needed

   Faster or tighter turns require a greater lean angle.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Turning

7. 7. In the turning sequence, 'PRESS' refers to:

   Correct answer: pressing the handgrip in the direction of the turn to make the bike lean

   Pressing the handgrip on the side you want to go leans the motorcycle into the turn.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Turning

8. 8. At night you should open up a following distance of at least:

   Correct answer: three seconds

   Distances are harder to judge at night, so allow three seconds or more of following space.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Riding at Night

9. 9. The four steps for taking a turn are:

   Correct answer: Slow, Look, Press, Roll

   SLOW to reduce speed, LOOK through the turn, PRESS the handgrip to lean, then ROLL on the throttle.

   Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Turning

10. 10. To gauge a two-second following distance, you:

    Correct answer: pick a marker and count 'one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two' as the vehicle ahead passes it

    Pick a fixed marker and count as the vehicle ahead passes it; if you reach it before the count ends, you are too close.

    Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Following Another Vehicle

11. 11. Keeping a space cushion around your motorcycle gives you:

    Correct answer: more time and room to react if someone makes a mistake

    Space on all sides provides time to respond and room to maneuver, including an escape path if needed.

    Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — Keeping Your Distance

12. 12. Anything within about four seconds of your path is considered:

    Correct answer: immediate, possibly needing a quick response

    A four-second urgent path is close enough that you may need to brake or swerve to avoid a problem.

    Source: Minnesota Motorcycle and Motorized Bicycle Manual — SEE