Safe Driving Practices

Study questions with answers

12 sample Safe Driving Practices questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. In city traffic, how far ahead does the manual suggest a rider look?

   Correct answer: From about half a block to a full block ahead

   Around town, aim your eyes from about half a block up to a full block ahead; on the highway, look as far ahead as you can while still controlling the bike.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Looking for Trouble: The Road Ahead

2. 2. Which colors of jacket or vest does the manual suggest to boost daytime visibility?

   Correct answer: Bright orange, red, yellow, or green

   Bright orange, red, yellow, or green outerwear helps other drivers pick you out; a reflective vest is another option.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Avoiding Collisions: Clothing

3. 3. How should you handle turn signals as part of good riding practice?

   Correct answer: Signal your intentions and remember to cancel afterward

   Signal your intentions even when a move seems obvious, and always cancel the signal afterward, since a forgotten blinker can mislead other drivers.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Avoiding Collisions: Turn Signals

4. 4. To make a motorcycle lean into a turn, how should you use the handgrips?

   Correct answer: Press on the grip in the direction you want to turn

   Countersteering is used: pressing on the grip toward the turn makes the bike lean that way. Press left to lean and go left, press right to lean and go right.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Riding Within Your Abilities: Turning

5. 5. Where should your feet be while riding a motorcycle?

   Correct answer: Planted firmly on the footpegs near the controls

   Keep your feet resting firmly on the footpegs so you stay balanced and can reach the controls quickly. Dragging your feet risks injury and lost control.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Riding Within Your Abilities: Feet

6. 6. Before riding an unfamiliar or borrowed motorcycle, what should you do?

   Correct answer: Learn the controls and ride cautiously until it feels familiar

   Make your usual safety checks and get to know the controls, gear pattern, throttle, clutch, and brakes, then ride cautiously until the bike feels familiar.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Your Motorcycle: Familiarity

7. 7. The letters in the SPIDER riding strategy stand for which of the following?

   Correct answer: Scan, Predict, Identify, Decide, Execute, Rely

   SPIDER is a memory aid for Scan, Predict, Identify, Decide, Execute, and Rely, a defensive process for handling hazards.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Looking for Trouble

8. 8. A convex (rounded) mirror on a motorcycle affects your view how?

   Correct answer: It makes objects appear farther away than they are

   Convex mirrors show more of the road behind you but make vehicles look farther away than they really are, so practice judging distance with them.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Looking for Trouble: Using Your Mirrors

9. 9. When taking a curve on a motorcycle, which four-step sequence does the Massachusetts manual recommend?

   Correct answer: Slow, look, lean, and roll on the throttle

   The manual teaches riders to slow before the curve, look through it to where they want to go, lean the bike, and then roll on the throttle to hold a steady line.

   Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Riding Within Your Abilities: Turning

10. 10. Why should a rider start with flat wrists when gripping the handlebars?

    Correct answer: It keeps you from accidentally applying too much throttle

    Flat wrists help keep you from rolling on too much throttle by accident, especially if you suddenly need to reach for the brake.

    Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Riding Within Your Abilities: Hands

11. 11. What does the manual say about starting a motorcycle on an uphill grade?

    Correct answer: Hold the bike with the front brake, then use the foot brake as you apply throttle

    On a hill there is a real risk of rolling backward, so hold the bike with the front brake to start and shift, then switch to the foot brake as you feed in throttle and ease out the clutch.

    Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Riding Within Your Abilities: Starting on a Hill

12. 12. In a slow, tight turn, how should the rider's body relate to the motorcycle's lean?

    Correct answer: Keep your body upright and lean only the motorcycle

    For slow, tight turns you lean only the machine while keeping your torso upright; in normal turns the rider and bike lean together at the same angle.

    Source: MA Motorcycle Manual — Riding Within Your Abilities: Turning