Hazards & Road Surfaces

Study questions with answers

8 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.

1. 1. When is pavement often most slippery, and where can a rider find better traction in the rain?

   Correct answer: Most slippery when rain first starts; ride in the tire tracks left by other vehicles

   Roads are usually most slippery right after rain begins, when water lifts built-up oil. Riding in the drier tracks left by the vehicles ahead can give you a little more grip.

   Source: Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Riding in the Rain

2. 2. When a large truck passes you, or you pass one, you should be ready for:

   Correct answer: A gust of wind or turbulence that can push your motorcycle

   Large vehicles create wind blasts and turbulence. Keep a firm grip and be ready to adjust your lane position to stay steady as you pass or are passed.

   Source: Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Wind and Turbulence

3. 3. If a tire suddenly goes flat while you are riding, you should:

   Correct answer: Hold the handlebars firmly, ease off the throttle, and brake gently on the wheel that is not flat while steering to the side of the road

   A blowout makes the motorcycle hard to control. Keep a firm grip, ease off the throttle, and if you must brake, use the wheel that is still good while steering to a safe stop off the road.

   Source: Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Flat Tires

4. 4. The 'SEE' strategy taught to motorcyclists stands for:

   Correct answer: Search, Evaluate, Execute

   SEE — Search for hazards, Evaluate how they could affect you, and Execute the right action — is a step-by-step way to spot and manage risks early.

   Source: Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual — SEE Strategy

5. 5. How should you cross a slippery surface such as metal bridge grating, painted markings, or wet leaves?

   Correct answer: Slow first, then cross straight and upright without sudden inputs

   Slow down before you reach it, keep the motorcycle as straight and upright as you can, and avoid sudden braking, turning, or acceleration while you are on it.

   Source: Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Slippery Surfaces

6. 6. If you cannot avoid riding over an object in the road, what is the safest way to cross it?

   Correct answer: Approach near a right angle, keep straight, and rise slightly off the seat

   Approach the object as close to a right angle as you can, slow down, keep the motorcycle straight, and rise slightly off the seat with your weight on the footpegs to absorb the shock.

   Source: Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Crossing Obstacles

7. 7. In the SEE strategy, what does the 'Evaluate' step involve?

   Correct answer: Thinking about how the hazards you spotted could affect you and how to respond

   After you Search for hazards, you Evaluate them by thinking about how they could interact and affect you, so you can plan a safe response before you Execute it.

   Source: Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual — SEE Strategy

8. 8. Why do riders often avoid the center strip of a traffic lane, especially when it starts to rain?

   Correct answer: Oil and grease collect there and can be slippery when wet

   Oil and grease dripped by cars build up in the center of the lane. That strip can be slippery, particularly during the first minutes of rain before it washes away.

   Source: Texas Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Surface Hazards