When tracks cross your path at an angle, it is usually safer to hold a straight line inside your lane. Turning to meet the rails at a right angle could carry you into another lane of traffic.
Once the passing vehicle draws alongside and moves ahead, your high beams would shine into its mirrors and could dazzle the driver. Switch to low beams as it goes by instead of waiting for the pass to be completed.
Meeting an obstacle squarely lets the front wheel roll over it instead of being knocked sideways, which could throw the motorcycle off balance. Slow down beforehand, keep the motorcycle upright, and rise slightly off the seat so your knees and elbows can take the shock.
Darkness shortens how far ahead you can see and makes it harder for others to notice you, so slow down after dark. Ride at a speed that lets you stop within the stretch of road your headlight lights up.
The wandering feeling over grooves or gratings is unsettling but usually not dangerous. Relaxing, holding your speed, and crossing straight is safest; zigzagging or crossing at an angle is far riskier than the weave itself.
Grates and grooved pavement make the tires shift around a little, which feels unsettling but is not dangerous by itself. Sudden steering corrections are what can lead to trouble, so ease your grip, keep a steady speed, and continue straight over it.
The car with wavy skid marks warns that the road can become slick when wet. Reduce speed, leave extra following distance and avoid hard braking or sharp steering.
A slippery surface lengthens the distance you need to stop, so open the gap to three seconds or more. Heavy traffic and a vehicle ahead that blocks your view are other good reasons to allow extra room.
Oil dripped by cars builds up along the middle of each lane, and when rain first wets it, that strip becomes one of the slickest parts of the road. The strips where car tires run usually carry less oil and water, so they offer better grip.
When a shower begins, water lifts oil and grime off the pavement, and the center of the lane, where cars drip oil, gets especially slippery. Riding in the tracks cleared by other vehicles' tires usually gives the best traction, which is why it is preferred over moving to the center or stopping on the shoulder.
Leave the jacket on even when it is hot. Sun and drying wind on bare skin can dehydrate you and bring on heat exhaustion, and many riding jackets have vents to let air through.
Easing off and letting the dog come near, then speeding up, lets you leave the animal behind while the motorcycle stays stable. Sharp swerves can cost you control, and stopping only gives the dog a chance to reach you.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
