District of Columbia DC DMV Motorcycle Practice Test 20
- Questions25
- Correct to pass20
- Passing score80%
- Minimum age16 years
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1. Why should a rider pull in the clutch at the first sign that the engine is seizing?
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Answer B: So a locking engine cannot lock the rear wheel through the drive train
A seizing engine can lock up, and with the clutch engaged that would lock the rear wheel, so disconnecting the drive keeps the wheel rolling while you coast off the road.
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2. A NO LEFT TURN sign carries a plaque reading 7 AM TO 9 AM MON TO FRI. What does the assembly mean?
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Answer A: The turn is banned only during those hours on those days
A time plaque limits the restriction to the periods shown, so outside those hours and days the left turn may be made normally.
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3. A small plaque mounted under this sign shows a numeral such as 2 or 3. What does that numeral report?
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Answer A: How many sets of tracks the crossing carries
The plaque states the number of tracks at that location, which is a warning that a second train may be running on another track behind the first.
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4. How should a group merge onto a busy highway from an entrance ramp?
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Answer D: One rider at a time into gaps in traffic, re-forming once all are on
Each rider needs a gap and enough speed of their own, so the group merges individually and only takes up the staggered formation again afterward.
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5. You are riding through a curve behind another rider in your group. Which line should you take?
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Answer A: The line your own machine and your own speed require
Riders enter a curve at different speeds and on different machines, and copying somebody else's line can put you wide or into the wrong part of the lane.
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6. How can a first-time DC handheld phone offender have the fine suspended?
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Answer B: By showing proof that a hands-free accessory has been bought before the fine is imposed
DC suspends the fine for a first-time violator who provides proof of acquiring a hands-free accessory after the violation but before the fine is imposed; the relief does not extend to texting.
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7. Why is this restriction used so often on a divided road just before a crest or a bend?
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Answer A: Because a vehicle turning across the median there stays hidden from approaching drivers until it is too late
The maneuver needs a long gap and good visibility, and where sight distance is short an approaching driver has no time to react to a vehicle turning across the road.
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8. A driver's blood alcohol concentration is below the legal limit, but the driver is visibly impaired. Can the driver be arrested?
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Answer C: Yes, driving while impaired by alcohol is an offense at any concentration
The per se figure, 0.08 percent in most states and 0.05 percent in Utah, is the level at which impairment is presumed. Impairment shown by driving behavior and field tests is enough on its own, because alcohol affects skills well before that number.
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9. How does riding in a formation change your responsibility for your own space cushion?
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Answer C: It does not change it, because each rider still manages their own space and decisions
A formation organizes the group, but every rider remains responsible for their own following distance, escape paths and riding decisions.
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10. A preferential lane sign reads HOV 2+ and lists the hours it applies. During those hours, which vehicles may use the lane?
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Answer A: Vehicles carrying at least two people, counting the driver
The number on an HOV sign is the minimum number of occupants, driver included, that a vehicle must carry to use the lane while the restriction is in effect.
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11. What is the driver expected to do after passing this sign?
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Answer A: Begin slowing so that a complete stop can be made at the intersection ahead
It is used where the control at the intersection stays hidden until late, so braking should begin here rather than at the stop line.
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12. What is the danger of releasing the brake too early when moving off uphill?
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Answer C: The motorcycle rolls backward before the clutch has taken hold
On a grade the brake has to stay on until the engine is actually pulling, otherwise the machine runs back into whatever is behind it.
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13. In which situation should you increase your usual following distance?
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Answer B: On wet roads, at night, in fog, when towing a trailer, or when following a motorcycle
Reduced traction, reduced visibility, a heavier load and a vehicle that can stop faster than yours all require extra space to keep the same margin of safety.
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14. A sign showing a figure with an outstretched thumb inside a red circle with a slash means that
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Answer B: soliciting a ride is prohibited there
The no hitchhiking sign bars standing beside the road to solicit a ride, and it is common along freeway ramps and shoulders.
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15. Are ordinary eyeglasses or sunglasses adequate eye protection for riding?
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Answer B: No, since they can shatter and let wind reach the eyes from the side
Everyday lenses are not made to resist impact and leave the eyes open to wind and debris, so a face shield or goggles are needed instead.
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16. You park at the roadside on a hill, facing downhill. What keeps the motorcycle from rolling away?
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Answer D: Leaving it in first gear with the front wheel turned toward the curb
A motorcycle has no parking brake, so the transmission left in gear stops the wheel turning and the front wheel turned into the curb blocks any roll.
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17. A yellow pennant-shaped sign is posted on the left side of a two-lane road facing you. What is it telling you?
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Answer B: You are entering a no-passing zone and may not start a pass
The pennant is placed on the left so that it faces the driver who might pull out, and it marks the beginning of a no-passing zone.
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18. What does a pre-ride check of a hydraulic brake system cover?
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Answer C: The fluid level and any sign of a leak at the hoses and fittings
A falling fluid level means either worn pads or a leak, and a leaking hose or fitting can empty the system without warning.
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19. Where is a U-turn most clearly unsafe and generally prohibited?
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Answer D: On a curve or near a hill crest, where other drivers cannot see you
U-turns are barred where approaching drivers cannot see you in time, such as on a curve or near the top of a hill.
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20. Why is being predictable an important part of driving safely?
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Answer A: Because other road users are able to plan around what you are doing
Other drivers make their decisions from what they expect you to do, so surprises are what produce collisions.
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21. What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean?
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Answer B: Slow down and proceed with caution
A flashing yellow lets you enter the intersection cautiously after yielding to pedestrians and to conflicting traffic that is already there.
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22. When should a staggered group change to single file?
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Answer C: In curves, in turns, and when entering or leaving a highway
Curves, turns and highway entrances and exits require the full width of the lane, so the group rides single file at those points.
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23. You are about to drive a rental car that you have never driven before. What should you do?
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Answer A: Adjust the seat and the mirrors and find the controls before moving off
Hunting for the wipers or the lights in traffic is a distraction, so learn the layout while the vehicle is stopped.
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24. Which of these does NOT affect how fast alcohol reaches the bloodstream?
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Answer A: How confident the drinker feels
Food, the strength of the drinks and the speed of drinking all change how fast alcohol is absorbed, but a drinker's confidence changes nothing at all.
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25. What should the operator do while a passenger climbs on board?
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Answer D: Sit on the machine with both feet planted and the front brake held on
The added weight arrives suddenly and off center, so the operator braces the motorcycle with both feet down and the front brake applied to keep it still.