Motorcycle Safety Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scan

You should always scan ahead, on all sides, and behind you for potential hazards.

Answer: Identify

The next step is to identify the potential hazards. Most of what you've scanned in the first step will just be information that requires no action. The key is to pick out what can hurt you.

Answer: Predict

Once you have identified a potential hazard, you have to predict what you think it will do. For example, you see some kids playing with a ball on the side of the road. You could predict that either a child or a ball will suddenly be in your path.

Answer: Decide

After you predict what the potential hazard will do, you now need to decide what you will do if your prediction is correct. If the child in the previous example runs out in front of you, what will you do?

Answer: Execute

Now that you have identified the hazard, predicted what it would do, and decided how you would react, you are prepared to execute your reactive maneuver. In the previous example, you would be prepared to slow down and stop to avoid hitting the child.

Answer: Condition of the motorcycle and rider

While we can't control the weather, traffic, or the amount of light (visibility), we can make sure that we are prepared for whatever comes our way.

Answer: False

You should do a pre-ride check every time you go out. It's important to be very familiar with your machine and to be able to recognize when something is loose or worn out or out of adjustment.

Answer: False

Helmet laws vary from state to state. I live in Illinois, where we are only required to wear eye protection.

Answer: True

Make sure you are either completely behind a car's rear bumper or that your body is at least even with the driver. The best position is to not have any cars directly next to you in the next lane. You never know when someone will swerve into your lane.

Answer: False

According to the Department of Transportation, normal peripheral vision is between 200° and 220°. Federal safety standards require that helmets provide at least 210° of peripheral vision. Over 90 percent of motorcycle crashes happen within a range of 160° of peripheral vision, and most of the remaining crashes are rear-end collisions.