Motorcycle knowledge test (Class M) · California DMV
Being seen and riding at night
Questions and answers
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Why do drivers so often say they never saw the motorcycle?
A motorcycle’s outline is small and most drivers are not looking for motorcycles
It is hard to see something you are not looking for, and a motorcycle is much narrower than a car.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Increasing Visibility ↗ -
How do smaller vehicles such as motorcycles appear to other drivers?
Farther away and slower than they really are
Because of this, drivers often pull out in front of motorcyclists thinking they have plenty of time.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Increasing Visibility ↗ -
When do most collisions occur?
In broad daylight
Most collisions happen in daylight, so bright clothing matters during the day too.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Clothing ↗ -
Which jacket or vest colors are best for being seen?
Bright orange, red, yellow, or green
Brightly colored or reflective clothing raises your chances of being seen.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Clothing ↗ -
Where does reflective material help drivers see you from the side?
On a vest and on the sides of the helmet
Reflective material on a vest and helmet sides shows up from the side, and it also helps drivers ahead and behind.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Clothing ↗ -
How much of the visible surface area of the rider and motorcycle unit is your body?
Half
Your body makes up half of what others can see, which is why clothing color counts.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Clothing ↗ -
What is the best way to help others see your motorcycle?
Always keep the headlight on, and the running lights if equipped
A lit headlight is the single best aid to being seen.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Headlight ↗ -
How much more likely is a motorcycle to be noticed with its light on?
Twice as likely
A motorcycle with its light on is twice as likely to be noticed.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Headlight ↗ -
What does using your high beam during the day do?
It increases the chances that oncoming drivers will see you
The high beam helps you be seen by day and by night. Use it when it is legal and safe.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Headlight ↗ -
Which beam should you use in fog?
The low beam
When it is foggy, switch to the low beam.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Headlight ↗ -
Over what distance before the turning point should you signal a left or right turn?
During the last 100 feet
Signal throughout the last 100 feet before the place where you turn.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Turn Signals ↗ -
You switch on your turn signal about 30 feet before the corner. Is that what the handbook asks for?
No, the signal should be on during the last 100 feet before the turning point
A signal given only 30 feet before the turn is too late.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Turn Signals ↗ -
At highway speeds, how long before changing lanes is it best to signal?
At least five seconds
On the highway, give at least five seconds of signal before a lane change.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Turn Signals ↗ -
On the freeway you signal and move over about two seconds later. What does the handbook recommend instead?
Signaling at least five seconds before the lane change
At highway speeds a five-second signal gives others time to react.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Turn Signals ↗ -
No other traffic seems to be around. Should you still use your turn signals?
Yes, use them even when you think no one else is around
Signals also make you easier to see, and there may be someone you have not noticed.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Turn Signals ↗ -
Bright sunlight makes your turn signal lights hard to see. What should you do?
Use hand signals
When the sun washes out your signal lights, signal by hand.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Turn Signals ↗ -
Why must you turn your signals off once the turn is complete?
A driver may pull into your path, thinking you plan to turn again
A signal left on tells others something that is no longer true.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Turn Signals ↗ -
How does a blinking turn signal help when you enter a freeway?
Drivers coming from behind are more likely to see it and make room
A flashing signal draws the attention of drivers approaching from behind.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Turn Signals ↗ -
How noticeable is a motorcycle’s brake light compared with a car’s?
Usually less noticeable, especially when the taillight is on
Because the brake light is easy to miss, flash it before you slow when the situation permits.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Brake Light ↗ -
Before which of these is it especially important to flash your brake light?
Slowing where others may not expect it, such as in the middle of a block or at an alley
Flash the brake light before a tight, fast turn off a high-speed highway and before slowing where it is not expected.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Brake Light ↗ -
A driver is tailgating you and you need to slow down. What is a good idea first?
Flash your brake light before you slow
A flash of the brake light warns the tailgater.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Brake Light ↗ -
At which of these moments should you make a special point of using your mirrors?
When you are stopped at an intersection
Check mirrors when stopped at an intersection, before changing lanes, and before slowing down.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Using Your Mirrors ↗ -
Why do you watch your mirrors while stopped at an intersection?
A driver behind who is not paying attention could be on top of you before seeing you
Watch vehicles coming up from behind so you are not caught by surprise.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Using Your Mirrors ↗ -
Why should you check your mirrors before slowing down?
The driver behind may not expect you to slow or may be unsure where you will slow
A driver may think your signal is for a distant intersection when you mean a nearer driveway.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Using Your Mirrors ↗ -
How do vehicles look in rounded (convex) mirrors?
Farther away than they really are
Convex mirrors make vehicles seem more distant.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Using Your Mirrors ↗ -
What advantage do convex mirrors have over flat mirrors?
A wider view of the road behind
Convex mirrors show more of the road behind you.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Using Your Mirrors ↗ -
Your motorcycle has convex mirrors that you are not yet used to. What should you allow before changing lanes?
Extra distance
Since vehicles look farther away than they are, leave extra distance.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Using Your Mirrors ↗ -
How can you learn to judge distance in a convex mirror?
While stopped, pick out a parked vehicle in the mirror, picture how far it is, then turn and look
Practice with the mirrors until you become a good judge of distance.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Using Your Mirrors ↗ -
Is checking your mirrors enough before a lane change?
No, turn your head and check that lane as well
Motorcycles have blind spots just like other vehicles.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Head Checks ↗ -
On a road with several lanes, which lanes do you check before moving over?
The far lane and the one next to you
A driver in the distant lane may head for the same space you plan to take.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Head Checks ↗ -
How do you use the horn in an emergency?
Press the button loud and long
Sound the horn loud and long and be ready to stop or swerve.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Horn ↗ -
How much should you rely on your motorcycle’s horn?
Use it but do not rely on it, since it is not as loud as other vehicles’ horns
A motorcycle horn is quieter than those of other vehicles.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Horn ↗ -
How should your speed at night compare with daytime?
Slower, particularly on roads you do not know well
Riding slower at night improves your chances of avoiding a hazard.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Riding at Night ↗ -
What following distance should you open up at night?
Three seconds or more
Distances are harder to judge at night, so follow at three seconds or more.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Riding at Night ↗ -
Why are distances harder to judge at night?
The shadows and light contrasts your eyes rely on are missing or distorted
Your eyes use shadows and contrasts to judge distance and speed, and night takes them away.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Riding at Night ↗ -
How can the vehicle ahead help you see the road at night?
Its headlights can give a better view of the road than your high beam
Use the light from the vehicle ahead as well as your own.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Riding at Night ↗ -
At night the taillights of the vehicle ahead bounce up and down. What does that tell you?
There are bumps or rough pavement ahead
Bouncing taillights are a warning of bumps or rough pavement.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Riding at Night ↗ -
When should you use your high beam at night?
Whenever you are not following or approaching another vehicle
Get all the light you can, but not when following or meeting another vehicle.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Riding at Night ↗ -
What should you wear when riding at night?
Reflective clothing
At night it is harder to be seen, so wear reflective materials.
Ride Within Your Abilities · Riding at Night ↗
Questions and answers by topic
- Vehicle types, license and tests76
- Riding gear and your motorcycle78
- Basic vehicle control43
- Lane position, distance and passing48
- SEE, intersections and parking35
- Quick stops, swerving and cornering29
- Dangerous surfaces and mechanical problems61
- Passengers, cargo and group riding62
- Alcohol, fatigue and the law43