Iowa MOTORCYCLE DMV Practice Test 14

To reduce the risk of a crash, you should always ensure that you are visible to others. Communicate your intentions through proper use of your signals, brake light, and lane position. Maintain a space cushion around your motorcycle and consistently scan the road ahead of, behind, and next to your vehicle. Always be ready to avoid an unexpected hazard.

Gloves made of leather, or another durable material, should be worn when riding. They will provide you with an improved grip on the handgrips, as well as help protect your hands in the event of a crash.

Instead of or in addition to mechanical turn signals, operators may use hand signals to indicate turns or stops. If an operator's left arm is extended straight out to the left, it means the operator plans to turn left or change lanes to the left.

To maximize your chances of being seen by other road users, you should wear brightly-colored clothing with reflective materials, use your headlight at all times, and use your signals and brake light properly.

Avoid riding directly alongside another vehicle, since this may place you in the vehicle's blind spot. If the driver can't see you, they may enter your lane without warning. Riding alongside a vehicle is also dangerous because the vehicle will block your route of escape if a hazard arises.

To reduce the danger of fatigue when riding, dress to protect yourself against tiring weather conditions, such as wind and rain. Limit yourself to no more than about six hours of riding per day and stop for a break at least once every two hours. Avoid taking artificial stimulants since you may experience extreme fatigue when they start to wear off.

During normal turns, the motorcycle and the rider should be leaning together at the same angle. In slow, tight turns, only the motorcycle should lean while the rider keeps their body straight up.

Shifting your motorcycle into a lower gear causes an effect similar to applying the brakes. This is known as engine braking.

When you are stopped at an intersection, use your mirrors to check for cars approaching you from behind. The drivers may not notice you until they are too close and you may need to react.

Motorcycle riders will rarely actually hear a tire going flat. Tire failure is more often indicated by a change in how the motorcycle handles.

To maintain directional control through a turn, you should look through the turn by turning only your head. Slow down before turning and lean your motorcycle in the appropriate direction.

To prevent any dangerous situations caused by technical issues, you should perform a thorough inspection of your motorcycle before every ride. Compared to a car, small technical problems can have more serious consequences on a motorcycle.

The best way to deal with a tailgater is to get them ahead of you. If you can do so safely, change lanes and let them pass. Speeding up may only increase the danger by encouraging them to continue tailgating you at a higher speed.

While the basic techniques for safely passing and being passed are the same as when driving a car, visibility is more critical when riding a motorcycle. The smaller size of a motorcycle makes it easier for you to disappear into another vehicle's blind spot, or for the driver to fail to notice you even if they are able to see you.

All passing maneuvers must be completed within the posted speed limits and only in areas where passing is safe and legal.

Always use both brakes any time you slow or stop. It is safe to use the front brake, which is more powerful than the rear brake, as long as you use it properly.

More than half of all motorcycle crashes involve riders who have been using their motorcycle for less than six months. Most crashes take place in broad daylight when the riders are traveling at low speeds.

When riding, keep your knees against the gas tank to help maintain your balance in turns. Sit so that you can use your arms to steer rather than to prop yourself up. Sit far enough forward that your arms are slightly bent when you hold the handgrips, and keep your feet firmly on the footrests.

Riding in close ranks is recommended over riding in a group that is spread out because the group will take up less space on the road, be easier for others to see, and be less likely to get separated at traffic lights and during passes.

Stay well behind the vehicle in front of you, even if you are both stopped. The vehicle could back up unexpectedly, or you may need space to get out of the way of another vehicle bearing down on you from behind.

If you must swerve to avoid a hazard, apply a small amount of pressure to the appropriate handle grip. To swerve to the left, press the left handle grip, then press the right to recover. To swerve to the right, press the right handle grip, then the left.

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.

You should not carry a passenger unless your motorcycle has a seat that is large enough for two riders. The motorcycle should be equipped with footrests for the passenger. Your passenger should wear the same kind of protective gear that is recommended to operators.

To reduce the danger of fatigue when riding, dress to protect yourself against tiring weather conditions, such as wind and rain. Limit yourself to no more than about six hours of riding per day and stop for a break at least once every two hours. Avoid taking artificial stimulants since you may experience extreme fatigue when they start to wear off.

When turning, look through the turn to where you want to go. Turn just your head, not your shoulders, and keep your eyes level with the horizon.