Alaska Motorcycle Practice Test 5

A solid white line on the side of the road is used to indicate the right edge of a traffic lane.

There is no single lane position that is best at all times. Choose the lane position that allows the most visibility and space around you. Change your lane position as traffic situations change.

When riding a motorcycle, it is highly recommended that you wear protective apparel. Clothing that may help protect a motorcycle user in the case of a crash include long-sleeved jackets; long, heavy pants; over-the-ankle, closed-toe boots; and full-fingered leather gloves. It is a good idea to cover as much skin as possible when riding a motorcycle.

Long-term exposure to engine and wind noise while riding can lead to hearing damage, even if you wear a full-face helmet. Using hearing protection is advised to prevent damage.

To stop quickly, apply both brakes at the same time. Scan the road ahead to help you avoid the need for last-minute stops.

Traction may be poor on surfaces such as wet, snowy, icy, or muddy pavement; gravel roads; lane markings; and steel plates and utility hole covers.

Factors that play an important role in determining a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) include the amount of alcohol consumed, how fast it was consumed, and the person’s body weight.

Impairment of your ability to ride safely begins with the first drink you take. You can be convicted of riding impaired even if you are below the legal blood alcohol limit.

To reduce the risk of being involved in a collision, consistently scan your path of travel at least 10 to 15 seconds ahead of your motorcycle. Scanning the road ahead will give you time to react to a hazard before meeting the hazard.

A properly chosen lane position should provide a number of benefits, including an increased ability to see others and to be seen. It should help you avoid wind blasts, other drivers’ blind spots, and surface hazards. Your lane position should discourage other drivers from trying to share your lane and provide you with an escape route, should a hazard arise. Choose a lane position that maximizes your space cushion.

Most drivers do not look at their side mirrors as often as they look at their rearview mirror. Therefore, when following a car, it is generally most advantageous to ride in the center portion of the lane where you are most likely to be visible in the driver’s rearview mirror.

Wear brightly-colored clothing to maximize your visibility when riding, even during the daytime. Clothing made with reflective materials can also be helpful.

When entering a curve, adjust your lane position to optimize your ability to see and be seen. Riding in the right portion of your lane when traveling through a lefthand curve may help you spot oncoming traffic as soon as possible. When traveling through a righthand curve, riding in a left center position may allow you to see oncoming cars early without putting you so close to the centerline that you could be hit by oncoming vehicles that take the curve too widely.

When traveling at night, ride more slowly than you would if riding during the day, especially when traveling on an unfamiliar road. Riding more slowly allows you additional time to avoid hazards under conditions of decreased visibility.

Any time a motorcycle is leaning, such as in a turn or curve, there is less traction available for braking. Both brakes may still be used while a motorcycle is turning, but it must be done with great care.

To avoid running into dangerous situations while riding, you should consistently scan the road well ahead of your motorcycle. Watch the road ahead to identify and react to potential hazards before meeting them.

Proper face/eye protection is required by law in the state of California. A face shield can protect your whole face in the event of a collision. An effective eye or face shield must allow the rider a clear view to either side.

The main factors that determine a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) are the person’s body weight, how much alcohol is consumed, and how quickly the alcohol was consumed. It is always safest to not ride after consuming alcohol in any amount.

When being passed on your left, you should ride in the center portion of your lane. Riding in the right portion of the lane can be dangerous as it may tempt the passing driver to re-enter your lane too quickly.

Pavement is often especially slippery when it first begins to rain. The rainwater mixes with the oily deposits left by cars that have not yet washed off the road. When riding in rain, the best option is to ride in the tire tracks left by cars ahead of you.

Many drugs, including legal prescription and over-the-counter medications, have side effects that can impair your ability to safely operate a motorcycle. Always talk to your doctor about how a new medication may affect your driving or riding abilities.

The key to making an evasive maneuver is to get your motorcycle to quickly lean in the direction you wish to turn. The sharper the turn, the more it must lean.

A passenger places extra weight on a motorcycle. Because of the added weight, the motorcycle will respond to the operator’s movements more slowly than it would otherwise, taking more time to speed up, slow down, and turn. To accommodate the change in handling when carrying a passenger, you should reduce your speed, begin slowing down earlier when you stop, and look for larger gaps when crossing, entering, or merging into traffic.

A motorcycle fits you appropriately if your feet comfortably reach the ground while you are seated. Be sure a motorcycle fits you before riding.

On a slippery surface, you should reduce your speed, avoid making sudden moves, and brake by using both brakes.