Lane Position & Sharing the Road

Study questions with answers

12 sample Lane Position & Sharing the Road questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. With traffic on your left and right at the same time, which lane spot is usually best?

   Correct answer: The center of the lane, path 2

   When boxed in by traffic on either side, the middle line, path two, tends to be your safest pick.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Lane Positions

2. 2. When a vehicle is merging onto the highway from an on-ramp, you should:

   Correct answer: Give room by changing lanes or adjusting your speed

   Do not assume merging drivers see you; change lanes if one is open, or adjust speed to open space for the merging driver.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Merging Vehicles

3. 3. The best way to deal with a tailgater is to:

   Correct answer: Let them get in front by changing lanes or slowing down

   A good way to handle a tailgater is to get them ahead of you by changing lanes to let them pass, or slowing to open space so they pass.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Being Followed

4. 4. You should open your following distance to five seconds or more when:

   Correct answer: You ride 40 mph or more, or the pavement is slippery

   Extend to five seconds or more at 40 mph or above, on slippery pavement, when your view is blocked, or in heavy traffic.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Following Another Vehicle

5. 5. Sharing a lane with a car in order to pass it, known as lane splitting, is:

   Correct answer: Not legal in Oregon

   Lane splitting, passing a car while sharing its lane, is not legal in Oregon and reduces your space cushion.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Lane Sharing

6. 6. If potential hazards are on your left, which lane path should you generally ride in?

   Correct answer: Path 2 or 3

   Ride in path 2 or 3 when vehicles or hazards are on your left, and stay in path 1 or 2 when hazards are on your right.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Lane Positions

7. 7. Riding two motorcycles abreast in a single lane is:

   Correct answer: Allowed by law but not a recommended safety practice

   Oregon law allows two motorcycles to ride abreast in one lane, but it is not a recommended safety practice.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Lane Sharing

8. 8. What minimum following distance does the manual recommend behind the vehicle ahead?

   Correct answer: Four seconds

   Aim to leave a gap of at least four seconds to whatever is traveling ahead of you.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Following Another Vehicle

9. 9. The oily strip down the center of a lane is usually:

   Correct answer: About two feet wide, with adequate traction unless wet

   The center oily strip is usually no more than about two feet wide and gives adequate traction unless the road is wet.

   Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Lane Positions

10. 10. Before changing lanes, in addition to checking your mirrors you must:

    Correct answer: Do a head check of your blind spot

    Check your mirrors and then make a complete head check, turning your head to see the blind spot before changing lanes.

    Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Changing Lanes

11. 11. On a multi-lane highway, passing between moving vehicles in an occupied lane is:

    Correct answer: Against the law

    Squeezing past traffic that is moving within an already-used lane, whether on a multilane road or a one-way street, is not permitted for riders.

    Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Passing and Being Passed

12. 12. Oregon law specifically allows:

    Correct answer: One motorcycle to pass another within the same lane

    Oregon law permits one motorcycle or moped to pass another using the same lane.

    Source: Oregon Motorcycle & Moped Manual, Section Five - Passing and Being Passed