Motorcycle knowledge test (Class M) · California DMV
SEE, intersections and parking
Questions and answers
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What does SEE stand for?
Search, Evaluate, and Execute
SEE is a three-step process for making good judgments and applying them in traffic.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Search, Evaluate, and Execute (SEE) ↗ -
In the Search step, where do you actively search?
Ahead, to the sides, and behind you
Search all around you to find potential hazards early.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Search ↗ -
In which places should you focus even more on finding potential escape routes?
In or around intersections, shopping areas, schools, and construction zones
These busy areas hold the most surprises, so look harder for a way out.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Search ↗ -
Which of these is a factor the Search step tells you to look for?
Oncoming traffic that may turn left in front of you
Also search for traffic from the left, right, and behind, pedestrians between parked vehicles, and hazardous road conditions.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Search ↗ -
To predict how a hazard may affect you, what do you need to know about it?
Its speed, distance, and direction of movement
Speed, distance, and direction tell you whether and when a hazard will reach you.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Evaluate ↗ -
How do potholes, guardrails, bridges, and trees figure in the Evaluate step?
They will not move into your path, but may influence your riding strategy and escape routes
Fixed features do not come at you, yet they shape where you can go.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Evaluate ↗ -
In the Execute step, how do you communicate your presence?
With lights and/or your horn
Lights and the horn tell others you are there.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Execute ↗ -
Which of these is NOT one of the three ways the Execute step lists to create more space?
Making eye contact with other drivers
Execute means communicating your presence, adjusting speed, and adjusting position or direction.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Execute ↗ -
You face two hazards at once. How should you handle them?
Adjust your speed so you can deal with each one separately, one at a time
Take hazards one step at a time by separating them with your speed.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Execute ↗ -
You face three or more hazards. What does the handbook advise?
Weigh the consequences of each and give equal distance to the hazards
With several hazards, weigh each one and keep equal distance from them.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Execute ↗ -
In high-risk areas such as intersections and school zones, what should you do besides reducing speed?
Cover the clutch and both brake levers
Covering the controls shortens your reaction time.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Execute ↗ -
What is the purpose of covering the clutch and both brakes as you approach an intersection?
To reduce your reaction time
With your fingers and foot already over the controls you can act sooner.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
How does the handbook define an intersection?
Anywhere traffic may cross your path
An intersection can be in the middle of a city or at a driveway.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
You ride past a driveway on a residential street. Does the handbook treat that as an intersection?
Yes, traffic may cross your path there
A driveway is a place where traffic may cross your path, so it counts.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
Where is the greatest potential for conflict between you and other traffic?
At intersections
The chance of a collision with other traffic is highest at intersections.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
What causes over one-half of collisions between motorcycles and passenger vehicles?
Drivers entering a rider’s right-of-way
More than half are caused by a driver entering the rider’s right-of-way.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
What share of motorcycle and passenger vehicle collisions is caused by drivers entering a rider’s right-of-way?
Over one-half
Over one-half of these collisions happen that way.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
Which vehicles are the biggest dangers at intersections?
Vehicles turning left in front of you and vehicles pulling into your lane from side streets
Left-turning vehicles, including those turning illegally from the wrong lane, and vehicles from side streets are the main threats.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
A driver waiting to pull out looks straight at you. Can you count on that driver to yield?
No, never count on eye contact as a sign that a driver will yield
A driver can look right at a motorcyclist and still fail to see them.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
A vehicle is in a position where it can enter your path. What should you assume?
That it will
If a vehicle can enter your path, assume it will and be ready.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
Which lane position should you choose as you ride toward an intersection?
One that gives the best view of oncoming traffic and makes you most visible
Ride with your headlight on in the position where you see and are seen best.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
After entering an intersection, where should you move?
Away from vehicles preparing to turn
Put distance between yourself and vehicles that are about to turn.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
Why should you not change speed or position radically in an intersection?
A driver might think you are preparing to turn
Sudden changes can be misread as the start of a turn.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Intersections ↗ -
You approach a blind intersection. Which lane position do you take?
The one that brings you into another driver’s field of vision at the earliest possible moment
Position yourself so drivers on the cross street can see you as soon as possible.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Blind Intersections ↗ -
At a blind intersection with a stop sign, what do you do after stopping at the sign?
Edge forward and stop again
Stop at the sign or line first, then creep forward and stop a second time.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Blind Intersections ↗ -
After edging forward at a blind intersection, where do you make the second stop?
Just short of where the cross-traffic lane meets your lane
Stop just before the cross-traffic lane and look from there.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Blind Intersections ↗ -
From the second stop at a blind intersection, how do you look for cross traffic?
Lean your body forward and look around buildings, parked vehicles, or bushes
Lean forward to see, and keep your front wheel out of the cross lane while you look.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Blind Intersections ↗ -
Where in your lane should you ride when passing parked vehicles?
Toward the left portion of the lane
The left portion keeps you clear of opening doors and people stepping out between vehicles.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Passing Parked Vehicles ↗ -
You are passing parked vehicles and there is oncoming traffic. Where is it usually best to ride?
In the center portion of the lane
With oncoming traffic, the center gives the most space on both sides.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Passing Parked Vehicles ↗ -
A driver may pull away from the curb without seeing you. What do you do?
Slow down or change lanes to make room for the vehicle to enter
Even a driver who looks may fail to see you, so make room.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Passing Parked Vehicles ↗ -
Which movement by a vehicle at the roadside does the handbook call the most dangerous?
A sudden U-turn
A vehicle making a sudden U-turn may block the whole roadway and leave you nowhere to go.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Passing Parked Vehicles ↗ -
You cannot tell what a driver at the roadside is about to do. What should you do?
Slow down, sound your horn to get the driver’s attention, and continue with caution
Slow down and make sure the driver knows you are there.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Passing Parked Vehicles ↗ -
At what angle to the curb should you park a motorcycle at the roadside?
45 to 90 degrees
Park at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees to the curb.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Parking at the Roadside ↗ -
When a motorcycle is parked at the roadside, what should touch the curb?
A wheel or fender
A wheel or fender should be touching the curb.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Parking at the Roadside ↗ -
You park your motorcycle parallel to the curb with both wheels along it. Does that match the handbook?
No, park at 45 to 90 degrees with a wheel or fender touching the curb
A motorcycle is parked at an angle to the curb, not alongside it.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Parking at the Roadside ↗
Questions and answers by topic
- Vehicle types, license and tests76
- Riding gear and your motorcycle78
- Basic vehicle control43
- Lane position, distance and passing48
- Being seen and riding at night39
- Quick stops, swerving and cornering29
- Dangerous surfaces and mechanical problems61
- Passengers, cargo and group riding62
- Alcohol, fatigue and the law43