Vermont MOTORCYCLE DMV Practice Test 5

Adjust your mirrors so you can see the lane behind you and as much as possible of the lane next to you. When properly adjusted, a mirror may show the edge of your arm or shoulder, but it’s the road behind you and to the side of you that is most important.

No matter the speed, riders who are not wearing helmets are three times more likely to die from head injuries than riders who are wearing helmets at the time of a crash.

A windshield is not an adequate substitute for either a face shield or goggles. Most windshields will not protect your eyes from the wind.

Because a small technical fault can have more serious consequences on a motorcycle than on a car, motorcycles need to be checked more frequently. Complete a thorough check before every ride.

Never let someone ride if they have had too much to drink. Do whatever you can to prevent them from riding. It can be helpful to recruit a group of friends to intervene and apply peer pressure to the person.

In the state of Kentucky, a person with a minimum blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent is considered legally intoxicated. It is both illegal and dangerous to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Be sure to wear gear that can help you and your motorcycle to be spotted by other road users. Bright, reflective clothing can make it easier for others to see you.

A number of surfaces can provide poor traction for tires. Wet pavement; roads covered in loose gravel or sand; muddy, snowy, or icy areas; painted lane markings; and metal covers and plates in the road can be more hazardous for a motorcyclist than dry pavement.

When riding over an uneven surface, rising off of your seat will allow your joints to absorb some of the force of impact. This will make it less likely that the impact of the surface will throw you off of the motorcycle.

When riding behind a passenger vehicle, it is usually best to ride in the center of the lane so you will be visible in the driver's rearview mirror. Most drivers check their rearview mirrors much more often than their side mirrors, so this lane position will increase your chances of being seen.

For your protection while riding, it is best to wear a jacket and pants that cover your arms and legs completely. Boots or shoes should be tall and sturdy enough to cover and support your ankles. Footwear should have low heels that will not catch on the foot pegs or rough road surfaces. Gloves made of leather or another durable material will help protect your hands in the event of a crash while providing you with an improved grip on the controls.

A properly chosen lane position can optimize a number of safety factors. Your lane position should keep you out of other vehicles’ blind spots, increase your ability to see and be seen, help you avoid surface hazards, help you avoid wind blasts from other vehicles, and provide you with an escape route from any hazards that might arise. You should be positioned in a way that discourages other drivers from trying to share your lane.

Successful motorcyclists know that they are safest when they are clearly seen by other road users. Use your headlight, brake light, signals, and lane position to maximize your visibility.

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.

Maximum straight-line braking is accomplished by simultaneously applying both the front and rear brakes without locking either wheel.

You should stay well behind the vehicle in front of you, even when you are both stopped. This will give you room to escape if the vehicle backs up unexpectedly or if another vehicle approaches too quickly from behind.

The weaving motion that occurs when a motorcycle rides over rain grooves or bridge gratings is generally not dangerous. If you experience weaving when riding over one of these surfaces, simply relax and proceed straight across the grooves or gratings at a steady speed. Trying to compensate for the weaving motion by zigzagging is more dangerous than riding straight.

The front brake of a motorcycle is more powerful than the rear brake and can provide at least 70 percent of the motorcycle's total stopping power.

When riding, wear boots or shoes that are high and sturdy enough to cover and support your ankles. Heels should be short so they don't catch on rough surfaces. Laces should be tucked in so they can't catch onto the moving parts of the motorcycle.

Under Vermont law, if your motorcycle does not have a windshield, you must wear either eye glasses, goggles, or a protective face shield while riding.

To help keep the operator focused on riding, passengers should avoid unnecessary conversation or movement. Passengers should get on a motorcycle only after the engine has been started. They should sit as far forward as they can without crowding the operator and hold firmly onto the operator's waist, hips, or belt.

Because it does not have to be digested, alcohol enters a person's bloodstream quickly and reaches the brain within minutes. It gets eliminated from the body at a relatively slow rate: about one drink per hour.

To reduce the risk of injury, riders should wear a helmet, eye protection, heavy shoes or boots, full-length pants, a jacket, and full-fingered gloves. Clothing should be made of durable materials to best protect the wearer.

When passing parked vehicles, use caution. You may encounter vehicles pulling away from the curb or leaving parking spaces.

Under normal conditions, you should allow at least two seconds of distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Increase your following distance any time conditions are less than ideal.