Virginia Motorcycle: Hazards & Road Surfaces Practice Test

Question 1

At what point should a rider shed speed for a slippery stretch of road?

Accepted Answer

Before you reach it, and above all before a curve that is wet — Stopping and turning both take more room once traction is poor, so the speed has to come off while you still have grip. Wet bends deserve the most caution of all.

Answer

Once the tires are already on it, using the rear brake by itself

Answer

About halfway across, so the machine has settled first

Answer

Only after you feel the bike begin to slide

Question 2

You cannot avoid crossing a patch of ice or snow. What does the manual suggest doing with your feet?

Accepted Answer

Let them trail along the surface so you can catch the bike if it starts to go down — Held just above the road, your feet act as outriggers. With the machine upright and crawling along, a foot on the ground can stop a slow topple before it turns into a fall.

Answer

Press them hard onto the pegs and clamp your knees to the tank

Answer

Shift them back onto the passenger pegs for extra balance

Answer

Tuck them well back and away from the road

Question 3

When you ride over metal bridge gratings or rain grooves and the bike wanders, you should:

Accepted Answer

Relax, keep a steady speed, and ride straight across — The wandering feeling is usually harmless, so stay on course, hold your speed, and ride straight across.

Answer

Zigzag to follow the grooves

Answer

Brake hard until it stops

Answer

Cross at a sharp angle

Question 4

Loose dirt and gravel gather in one predictable place on a paved road. Where is it?

Accepted Answer

Along the outer edges, and worst of all on curves and highway ramps — Passing traffic sweeps loose material outward, so it piles up at the road's outer edge, and it collects most heavily on bends and on the ramps at either end of a highway, which is exactly where a sharp turn or a fast entry leaves you least able to cope with it.

Answer

In the wheel tracks worn by car tires

Answer

Right along the painted center line

Answer

In the middle of the lane, where the grease strip forms

Question 5

When riding at night, your speed should be:

Accepted Answer

Slower than you would ride in daylight — Because you see hazards later after dark, ride slower than you would during the day.

Answer

The same as in daylight

Answer

Faster to clear dark areas

Answer

At the posted limit regardless of conditions

Question 6

How can the vehicle ahead help you when riding at night?

Accepted Answer

Its lights reveal the road and bumps ahead — The car ahead lights the road better than your high beam, and its bouncing taillights warn of rough pavement.

Answer

It blocks wind so you can speed up

Answer

It lets you turn your own lights off

Answer

It guarantees a safe lane change

Question 7

Which road-surface features can become slippery, especially when wet?

Accepted Answer

Road paint, metal plates, and manhole covers — Painted markings, steel plates, and metal covers offer poor grip, particularly in the rain.

Answer

Fresh dry asphalt

Answer

Concrete road medians

Answer

Rubberized crosswalk paint only

Question 8

When rain first begins to fall, where is often the best place to ride?

Accepted Answer

In the tire tracks left by other cars, usually the left one — As rain starts, move out of the center grease area and ride in car tire tracks, where the left track is often best.

Answer

Directly on the painted center line

Answer

In the very center grease strip

Answer

As close to the road edge as possible

Question 9

At night, you should use your high beam whenever you are:

Accepted Answer

Not following or meeting another vehicle — Use the high beam to gather all the light you can, except when following or meeting another vehicle.

Answer

Within a car length of the vehicle ahead

Answer

Directly facing oncoming traffic

Answer

Passing through a lit intersection

Question 10

To ride over a bump, pothole, or other uneven surface, you should:

Accepted Answer

Rise slightly off the seat with weight on the footpegs — Slow if you can, keep the bike upright, and rise off the seat so your knees and elbows absorb the shock.

Answer

Sit down hard and grip the tank

Answer

Lean the bike over sharply

Answer

Brake through the bump

Question 11

On an otherwise clear winter road, where are stray patches of ice most likely to be waiting for you?

Accepted Answer

In dips and shaded spots, and on bridges and overpasses — Ground that lies low or sits out of direct sun stays cold longest, and the manual singles out bridge and overpass decks as the same kind of trap, so look for glazed patches there even when the rest of the road appears dry.

Answer

On long, sunlit straightaways

Answer

In the middle of busy city intersections

Answer

On stretches of freshly laid asphalt

Question 12

You have just ridden over a chunk of tire tread lying in the road. What should you do next?

Accepted Answer

Pull over and inspect your tires and rims before riding on — Damage from something you have struck may not show up in the way the bike feels straight away, so the manual wants you stopped at the roadside looking at the tires and wheel rims before you cover any more distance.

Answer

Carry on and simply listen for any unusual noise

Answer

Brake hard once to test whether the tires still grip

Answer

Nothing at all, as long as the bike still steers straight

Virginia Motorcycle: Hazards & Road Surfaces practice test

Study questions with answers

1. At what point should a rider shed speed for a slippery stretch of road?

2. You cannot avoid crossing a patch of ice or snow. What does the manual suggest doing with your feet?

3. When you ride over metal bridge gratings or rain grooves and the bike wanders, you should:

4. Loose dirt and gravel gather in one predictable place on a paved road. Where is it?

5. When riding at night, your speed should be:

6. How can the vehicle ahead help you when riding at night?

7. Which road-surface features can become slippery, especially when wet?

8. When rain first begins to fall, where is often the best place to ride?

9. At night, you should use your high beam whenever you are:

10. To ride over a bump, pothole, or other uneven surface, you should:

11. On an otherwise clear winter road, where are stray patches of ice most likely to be waiting for you?

12. You have just ridden over a chunk of tire tread lying in the road. What should you do next?

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