Alabama MOTORCYCLE DMV Practice Test 5

If steering suddenly feels heavy, it is possible that your front tire has gone flat. Stop riding and check your tires as soon as possible.

When following a car, you should ride in a position that allows the driver to see you in their rearview mirror. Usually, that means riding in the center portion of the lane. Because most drivers check their rearview mirrors much more often than they check their side mirrors, being in this lane position increases the chance that they will see you.

If you are being followed by a tailgater, you should ride in a way that encourages them to pass you. Riding at a higher speed may only result in them tailgating you at a higher speed, increasing the danger.

Choose a lane position that helps you avoid road hazards. Make sure you maintain a safe cushion of space around your motorcycle at all times.

When approaching a blind intersection that is controlled by a stop line or stop sign, you must first stop where indicated. You may then edge forward and stop again just short of where the cross traffic lane meets your lane. From that position, lean your body forward and look around buildings, parked cars, or bushes to see if anything is approaching. Make sure your front wheel stays out of the crossroad while you are looking.

In general, the best way for a group of motorcyclists to maintain close ranks while still allowing each rider an adequate space cushion is to ride in a staggered formation.

Ride with extreme caution when approaching an intersection. Cover the clutch and both brakes to reduce your reaction time, if needed.

To ensure control when making a turn, you should reduce your speed before entering the turn. Look through the turn in the direction you want to move, press on the handle grip to lean in the appropriate direction, and roll on the throttle through the turn to stabilize suspension.

When riding at night, reduce your speed and increase your following distance. Visibility is lowered at night and you will need the additional time and space to react to upcoming hazards.

You should never rely on eye contact as an assurance that a driver has seen you. It is not uncommon for a driver to look directly at a motorcyclist and still fail to actually notice them.

If your motorcycle begins to weave when riding over grooves or gratings, simply maintain a steady speed and proceed straight across the surface. Trying to compensate for the weave by riding at an angle forces you to zigzag to stay in your lane, which is more dangerous.

There is no single lane position that is always best and no single lane position that should always be avoided. Adjust your lane position as circumstances warrant.

The three major factors that can affect a person's blood alcohol content (BAC) are the amount of alcohol they have consumed, how quickly they consumed it, and the drinker's body weight.

As with any other vehicle, the mirrors of a motorcycle have blind spots. Always turn your head to check for traffic in your blind spot before changing lanes.

Motorcycle passengers should always sit behind the operator and hold firmly and securely onto the operator's waist, hips, or midsection. They may instead choose to hold onto handgrips, provided that the motorcycle is equipped with them. Passengers should never ride sidesaddle.

To lessen the chances of a crash occurring, you should make yourself visible, communicate your intentions to others, maintain adequate space cushions, search your path of travel at least 12 seconds ahead, identify and separate hazards, and be prepared to react to changing conditions.

A motorcycle's horn is not as loud as the horns of other vehicles. Motorcyclists should use their horns where appropriate but should not rely on their horns to keep them safe.

Loads should be secured low in order to avoid upsetting the motorcycle's balance.

A plastic, shatter-resistant face shield can protect your face in the event of a crash. It also provides protection against more routine hazards, such as pebbles thrown up from other vehicles, wind, dust, dirt, rain, and insects.

Perform safety checks before every motorcycle ride. Test your brake controls individually to make sure each one activates the brake lights.

Compared to a car, a motorcycle requires more frequent attention. If something is wrong with a motorcycle, it is essential that the operator identify the problem before getting into traffic or operating the bike at freeway speeds.

It is important for motorcyclists to avoid lingering in the blind spots of any vehicle, especially in those of large trucks. Remember that if you can't see the truck's mirrors, the driver can't see you.

If you are passing a row of parked vehicles to your right and there is no oncoming traffic to your left, you should ride in the left portion of your lane. This will help you avoid hazards, such as car doors that are opening and pedestrians who are stepping out from between vehicles. If there is oncoming traffic, it is best to remain in the center portion of your lane to maximize the amount of space around you.

Intersections present the greatest potential for conflict between motorcycles and other vehicles. When approaching an intersection, be sure you are riding in a lane position that makes you most visible to other road users.

Riding directly alongside another vehicle is dangerous because you may be in the vehicle's blind spot and the driver will not know you are there. Additionally, the vehicle may block your route of escape if any hazards should arise.

While some people believe that a helmet will limit their vision, this is not the case. Any U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet will allow the wearer to see as far as is needed for safe riding.

Riding alongside another vehicle is dangerous because the vehicle could veer into your lane and sideswipe you. Additionally, the vehicle could block your escape route if a hazard arises.

When being passed, the center portion of the lane is generally the safest lane position for a motorcyclist. Riding on the side nearest the passing vehicle increases the risk of colliding with it. Riding on the side farthest from the passing vehicle can also be dangerous because it may prompt the driver to return to your lane before it is safe to do so.

Most motorcycle crashes take place in broad daylight. You should always wear brightly-colored clothing to increase your visibility while riding, even during the day.

If the front wheel locks up while you are braking, release the pressure from the front brake. Immediately re-apply pressure to the brake with controlled gradual pressure.