Vermont Motorcycle practice
Vermont Motorcycle: Hazards & Road Surfaces practice test
Gravel, wet pavement, grooved roads, and railroad tracks — reading and handling surfaces that matter far more on two wheels.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
15 questions · pass with 12 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
Choose your level
Up to 20 questions on this topic, with feedback after every answer.
Study questions with answers
12 sample Hazards & Road Surfaces questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
Show all 12 questions with answers
1. To give yourself more time to react to deer or moose on Vermont secondary roads, what speed does the manual suggest?
Correct answer: Below 35 mph
Keeping below 35 mph on secondary roads, and not overdriving your headlights on interstates, allows more time to react and stop if an animal appears.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Deer and Moose on Vermont Highways
2. A pavement seam runs parallel to your path and you need to cross it. How should you do it?
Correct answer: Move away from it, then cross it at 45 degrees or more
Move far enough away from the seam to cross it at an angle of at least 45 degrees, then make a deliberate turn. Edging across can catch your tires.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Handling Dangerous Surfaces, Railroad Tracks, Trolley Tracks and Pavement Seams
3. A pebble cracks your faceshield while you are riding. What should you do?
Correct answer: Keep eyes on the road and hands on the bars, then pull off when safe
Stay focused on the road ahead with both hands on the handlebars; when it is safe, pull off and fix the damage.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Flying Objects
4. You need to pull off onto a shoulder of soft grass or loose sand. What does the manual advise?
Correct answer: Reduce your speed a lot before turning onto it
Make sure the roadside can support the motorcycle. If the shoulder is soft grass or loose sand, or you can't tell, slow down a great deal before leaving the pavement.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Getting Off the Road
5. How might a motorcycle behave if its rear tire suddenly goes flat?
Correct answer: The back end may jerk or sway side to side
A flat rear tire can make the back end jerk or sway side to side, while a flat front tire makes steering feel heavy.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Mechanical Problems, Tire Failure
6. You had to ride over an object in the street. What should you do afterward?
Correct answer: Pull off and check your tires and rims before going on
Afterward, get off the road and inspect your tires and rims for damage before continuing.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Handling Dangerous Surfaces, Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles
7. According to the Vermont section on deer and moose, when are these animals most likely to be on the road?
Correct answer: Late evening, at night, and early in the morning
Deer and moose are most often on Vermont roads from late evening through the night and into the early morning.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Deer and Moose on Vermont Highways
8. Railroad tracks cross your lane at a slight angle. What does the manual say is usually safer?
Correct answer: Ride straight across within your lane
It is usually safer to ride straight within your lane. Turning to take the tracks head-on can carry you into another lane of traffic.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Handling Dangerous Surfaces, Railroad Tracks, Trolley Tracks and Pavement Seams
9. Twisting a stuck throttle back and forth has not freed it. What should you do next?
Correct answer: Hit the engine kill switch while pulling in the clutch
Right away, flip the engine cut-off switch while squeezing the clutch lever. That cuts power to the rear wheel, even if the engine noise doesn't drop at once.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Mechanical Problems, Stuck Throttle
10. Why is a moose harder to spot at night than a deer?
Correct answer: Its dark fur and eyes above headlight height don't reflect your light
Moose have dark fur, and their eyes usually sit above headlight level, so they don't reflect the light the way a deer's eyes and fur do.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Deer and Moose on Vermont Highways
11. What is usually behind an engine that locks or freezes?
Correct answer: Low engine oil
An engine that seizes is usually low on oil, so its moving parts can't move smoothly and it overheats.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Mechanical Problems, Engine Seizure
12. Which of these surfaces does the manual list as offering poor traction, especially when wet?
Correct answer: Painted lane markings, steel plates, and manhole covers
Painted lane markings, steel plates, and manhole covers give poor traction, particularly when wet.
Source: Vermont Motorcycle Manual — Handling Dangerous Surfaces, Slippery Surfaces
More Motorcycle topics
Practice Hazards & Road Surfaces in another state
Every Vermont question is written from the official Vermont driver handbook and checked against its current edition. DMV Test Free is a free, independent study resource — not affiliated with any DMV or government agency. About DMV Test Free