District of Columbia DC DMV Motorcycle Practice Test 39

1. You have had to leave the pavement onto a loose gravel shoulder and now need to stop. How should you brake?

• A Use the front brake alone, since it still supplies most of your stopping power
• B Use the rear brake alone and lock it, so the sliding tire plows into the gravel
• C Do not brake at all, but shut the engine off and coast until the motorcycle stops
• D Use both brakes gently and evenly, expecting a much longer stopping distance

2. Where do the greatest number of collisions involving motorcycles occur?

• A On the shoulder of divided highways, where riders pull off to rest
• B In parking areas and driveways, where speeds are lowest of all
• C On long open curves outside built-up areas, where speeds are highest
• D At intersections

3. The engine begins to lose power, makes a loud noise and starts to seize. What should the rider do?

• A Open the throttle wide to push more fuel and oil through the engine
• B Stamp on the rear brake to bring the motorcycle to the fastest possible stop
• C Pull in the clutch at once and coast off the road to a safe place
• D Shift into neutral, restart the engine and continue slowly to a repair shop

4. A rider adjusts the mirrors and finds each one mostly filled with a view of an elbow. What should be done?

• A Nothing, because a view of the rider gives a fixed reference for judging distance
• B Lower both mirrors so they show the pavement immediately behind the rear wheel
• C Remove the mirrors, since a shoulder check covers everything a mirror could show
• D Readjust them outward so that more of the lane behind becomes visible

5. You arrive at a four-way stop after two other vehicles have already stopped there. When is it your turn?

• A After both of the earlier vehicles have gone
• B As soon as the first vehicle moves, since only one car may wait at a time
• C Whenever another driver waves you on
• D Immediately, if your road is wider than the road the others came from

6. Where is ice most likely to form first on a cold day?

• A On long straight stretches in direct sunlight
• B In shaded areas and on bridges and overpasses
• C In the middle of large open parking lots
• D On freshly paved surfaces

7. Why is an inexperienced rider a poor choice to lead a group?

• A A new rider is not permitted by law to ride at the head of a group
• B The leader has to carry the maps and the tools for the whole group
• C The leader picks the pace, the gaps and the hazards for everyone behind
• D Riders at the front are always the first to run out of fuel on a route

8. A driver hunting for an on-ramp meets this sign at the mouth of the pavement ahead. What is the correct action?

• A Go in slowly with the hazard lights switched on to warn any oncoming driver
• B Go in after giving way to any traffic already on that pavement
• C Keep out of that roadway and look for the proper approach elsewhere
• D Go in as long as no vehicle is currently visible anywhere on it

9. A bicyclist stops at a four-way stop just before you do. Who goes first?

• A You do, because motor vehicles clear the intersection more quickly
• B The bicyclist, who reached the intersection and stopped there before you did
• C You do, because a bicycle must always yield to larger road users
• D Whichever of you is turning rather than continuing straight ahead

10. What is the function of a regulatory sign?

• A To inform road users of traffic laws or regulations that apply at that location
• B To warn of an unexpected condition on or beside the road ahead
• C To point out nearby fuel, food, lodging and rest areas available to travelers
• D To give the distance remaining to the next town and to the main destination on that route

11. The red lights on a stopped school bus go out and the bus begins to move away. What should you do?

• A Pass at once on either side, because the stopping rule no longer applies
• B Move off slowly and keep watching for children near the road
• C Sound your horn to warn any children who might still be crossing the road
• D Wait where you are until the bus has gone completely out of your sight

12. Which is an early warning that fatigue is affecting your riding?

• A The engine sounds louder than usual through the helmet at cruising speed
• B Your gloves start to feel tighter than at the beginning of the ride
• C You find that you are riding faster than you meant to on a straight road
• D You miss turns and signs and have to think about routine actions

13. Why is a shoulder check especially important on a road with motorcycles and bicycles?

• A Riders are legally required to travel in the blind spot of the vehicle ahead of them
• B Motorcycles are not permitted to travel beside a passenger car in the same lane
• C The mirrors fitted to a car are aimed too high to show any narrow vehicle at all
• D A narrow vehicle can disappear completely in the blind spot

14. What is the first riding effect of becoming dehydrated on a hot day?

• A The rider's grip strength doubles as the muscles tighten in the heat
• B The rider's vision improves as the eyes dry and focus more sharply
• C The rider's balance is unaffected until fluid loss becomes extreme
• D Concentration and judgment fade before the rider feels very thirsty

15. How does the crown of a road affect a turn made on it?

• A It makes both directions of turn equally easy because the slopes cancel out
• B It has no effect at all on a motorcycle, since the wheels are in a single line
• C Turning toward the low side leaves less ground clearance for leaning
• D Turning toward the high side requires far more speed than turning the other way

16. A person in a wheelchair is traveling in the roadway because the sidewalk is blocked by construction. What should you do?

• A Sound your horn so the person returns to the sidewalk
• B Pass slowly with plenty of room, or wait
• C Follow closely until the sidewalk becomes usable again
• D Pass at your normal speed, since the person is off to the side

17. As a center two-way left-turn lane reaches an intersection, the markings change into a single left-turn lane. What does that mean for you?

• A You may still use it in either direction right up to the intersection
• B You may use it to go straight through, because it is a center lane
• C You must stop before entering it and wait for a gap in the cross traffic
• D From that point it serves one direction only, so use it just to turn left

18. Your loaded vehicle weighs more than the figure shown on a posted weight limit sign. What must you do?

• A Cross slowly and alone, keeping well away from other vehicles
• B Cross only if the bridge deck is dry and the weather is clear
• C Cross after sounding the horn to warn any oncoming driver
• D Find another route, because crossing is not permitted

19. You are about to pass a long tractor-trailer on a two-lane road. What should you expect?

• A The pass will be quicker than passing a car, because the truck is slower
• B You will need more clear road, since the vehicle is much longer
• C The truck driver will slow down and wave you past as soon as you signal
• D You may cut back in sooner, because a truck can brake harder than a car

20. The front tire suddenly loses air while you are riding. What should you do?

• A Squeeze the front brake hard so the machine stops before the tire comes off
• B Shift down through the gears quickly and release the clutch to slow the wheel
• C Steer toward the shoulder at once and put a foot down to steady the machine
• D Hold the bars firmly, ease off the throttle and slow using the rear brake

21. You feel fine twenty minutes after your last drink. Why is that a poor guide to driving?

• A Your level always peaks the moment you stop drinking
• B Your blood alcohol level can still be rising
• C Your level begins falling within five minutes of the drink
• D Your level stays exactly where it is until the next morning

22. You are approaching the entry of a modern roundabout. Who must you yield to?

• A Nobody, because a roundabout has no right-of-way rules and drivers simply take turns
• B Only vehicles that are signaling to exit, since the rest will keep circulating past you
• C Traffic already circulating in the roundabout, which approaches from your left
• D Traffic waiting at the entry to your right, which is entitled to enter before you do

23. What is the right speed for a normal right turn at a city corner?

• A The posted speed limit, because corners are designed for that speed
• B Fast enough that traffic behind you does not have to slow down at all
• C Slow enough to hold your lane and stop for a pedestrian
• D Whatever speed gets you through before the light changes to yellow

24. A strong wind is blowing across an open stretch of road. Besides the gusts, what else should you watch for?

• A Branches, dust and loose objects blown into your path
• B Pavement that expands in the wind and forms ridges across the lanes
• C Traffic signals that switch to flashing yellow whenever it is windy
• D Headlights that dim because the wind cools the engine and the alternator

25. Why is texting considered one of the most dangerous distractions?

• A It drains the vehicle battery and the phone battery at the same time
• B It combines visual, manual and cognitive distraction at the same time
• C It affects only inexperienced drivers who have not yet learned to multitask
• D It interferes with the antilock braking system and other electronic aids