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. When riding at night, the manual advises adjusting your speed to:

   Correct answer: Ride even slower than you would in daylight

   Ride even slower at night than you would in daylight, especially on unfamiliar roads.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Night Riding

2. 2. The manual says the main benefits of increasing your following distance are:

   Correct answer: Time to react and space to maneuver

   A larger following distance gives you time to react and space to maneuver.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Space Management

3. 3. When approaching a slippery surface, you should reduce speed:

   Correct answer: Before you reach it

   Slow down before you reach a slippery surface to lessen the chance of skidding.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Slippery Surfaces

4. 4. To check your following distance, you count the seconds between the vehicle ahead passing a fixed point and:

   Correct answer: Your front tire reaches that same point

   Count from when the vehicle ahead passes a marker until your front tire reaches that same point; less than four seconds is too close.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Following Another Vehicle

5. 5. Speeding up to escape a tailgater tends to:

   Correct answer: Leave them tailgating you at a higher speed

   Speeding up usually just ends with the same person tailgating you at a higher speed.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Being Followed

6. 6. A rider should open up a following gap of five seconds or more when:

   Correct answer: Riding 40 mph or faster or on slippery pavement

   Allow five seconds or more when riding 40 mph or faster, on slippery pavement, or when you cannot see past the vehicle ahead.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Following Another Vehicle

7. 7. On a crowned road that is higher in the middle, a rider should:

   Correct answer: Slow down, since lean angle and ground clearance are reduced

   Slow down on a crowned road, because ground clearance and available lean angle are both reduced.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Crowned Roads

8. 8. Cold weather affects a rider's reaction time by:

   Correct answer: Lengthening it, so slow down and allow more space

   Cold significantly lengthens reaction time, so slow down and increase your following distance and side space.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Cold Weather

9. 9. If hazards are present on your left, the manual suggests riding in lane path:

   Correct answer: Path 2 or path 3

   Ride in path 2 or 3 when vehicles or other hazards are on your left.

   Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Lane Positions

10. 10. A motorcycle generally needs how much distance to stop compared with a car?

    Correct answer: About as much distance as a car

    Motorcycles need about as much distance to stop as cars do.

    Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Following Another Vehicle

11. 11. If you reach the chosen marker before counting to four, it means you are:

    Correct answer: Following too closely

    Reaching the object before the count of four means you are following too closely and should drop back.

    Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Following Another Vehicle

12. 12. Each traffic lane gives a motorcycle how many usable paths of travel?

    Correct answer: Three

    The manual describes three paths of travel within each traffic lane.

    Source: SC Motorcycle and Moped Operator Manual - Lane Positions