Protective Gear & Helmets

Study questions with answers

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

1. 1. Can a windshield take the place of a face shield or goggles?

   Correct answer: No, it will not keep wind out of your eyes

   A windshield is not a replacement, since most will not stop the wind from reaching your eyes.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Eye and Face Protection

2. 2. Riding footwear should be tall and sturdy enough to:

   Correct answer: Cover and support your ankles

   Boots or shoes should rise high enough to cover the ankles and give them support.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Clothing

3. 3. Compared with unhelmeted riders, how much more likely are helmeted riders to survive head injuries?

   Correct answer: Three times as likely

   Regardless of speed, riders wearing helmets are three times more likely to live through a head injury than those without one.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Wear the Right Gear: Helmet Use

4. 4. Why does staying warm matter for control on a cold ride?

   Correct answer: You cannot control a motorcycle well when your body is numb

   A numb rider loses the fine control needed to operate the motorcycle safely, so warmth matters.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Clothing

5. 5. A jacket for cold-weather riding should:

   Correct answer: Keep wind out and close tightly around the neck, wrists, and waist

   A good winter jacket resists wind and closes snugly at the neck, wrists, and waist to keep the rider warm.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Clothing

6. 6. Where do most motorcycle crashes tend to occur?

   Correct answer: On short outings of under five miles, shortly after starting

   Most wrecks happen on brief trips of less than five miles, only minutes after the rider heads out.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Wear the Right Gear: Helmet Use

7. 7. According to crash research, roughly what share of motorcycle crashes produce an injury to the head or neck?

   Correct answer: About one in five

   Studies of motorcycle wrecks find that head or neck injuries turn up in about one of every five crashes, so head protection is a priority.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Wear the Right Gear: Helmet Use

8. 8. In a review of more than 900 crashes where many riders wore helmets, what did researchers conclude about helmets and side vision?

   Correct answer: Not one case showed a helmet keeping a rider from seeing a hazard

   The large crash study turned up no instance of a helmet preventing a rider from spotting danger to the side.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Wear the Right Gear: Helmet Use

9. 9. A passenger riding with you should wear:

   Correct answer: The same level of protective gear as the rider

   Passengers should be dressed in the same protective equipment the operator wears.

   Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Equipment for Carrying a Passenger

10. 10. The manual describes two main helmet styles that give different amounts of coverage. They are:

    Correct answer: Three-quarter and full face

    Riders can choose between three-quarter and full-face helmets, which offer two different levels of protection.

    Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Helmet Selection

11. 11. Riding gloves are best made of:

    Correct answer: Leather or a similarly tough material

    Gloves of leather or a comparably durable material improve grip and shield the hands in a fall.

    Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Clothing

12. 12. At the lower speeds where most crashes occur, an approved helmet can reduce the number and severity of head injuries by about:

    Correct answer: Half

    At typical low crash speeds a proper helmet cuts both how many head injuries occur and how serious they are by roughly one half.

    Source: Ohio Motorcycle Operator Manual, Wear the Right Gear: Helmet Use