Hazard awareness questions Motorcycle theory test
This topic has 51 practice questions. Here are 10 of them with the right answer and why.
What’s likely to happen if you get cold and wet when you're riding a motorcycle?
- Your concentration will be impairedRight answer
- Your riding will improve
- Your visor will freeze up
- Your reactions will be quicker
When riding, make sure you wear suitable clothing for the conditions. Getting cold and wet will make you uncomfortable. This can cause you to lose concentration and considerably slow down your reaction time. Stop in a safe place to have a hot drink and warm up before this happens.
Which arm signal means 'I intend to slow down or stop'?
Right answer
Give your signal in good time and return your hand to the handlebars before changing speed or direction. While you're giving an arm signal you have reduced steering control and you're unable to operate some controls. If you're travelling at speed, it's generally safer to rely on your direction indicators and brake lights.
What should you do if you're about to ride home, but you cannot find the glasses you need to wear?
- Ride home slowly, keeping to quiet roads
- Borrow a friend’s glasses and use those
- Ride home at night, so that the lights will help you
- Find a way of getting home without ridingRight answer
If you need glasses to bring your eyesight up to the legal standard for driving or riding, you must wear them whenever you ride. Do not be tempted to ride if you’ve lost or forgotten your glasses; you'll endanger yourself and other road users, and you’ll be breaking the law.
What is a known effect of drinking alcohol?
- Faster reactions
- Colour blindness
- Poor judgementRight answer
- Increased concentration
Even a small amount of alcohol will impair a person’s judgement. It can increase confidence to a point where a person’s behaviour may become ‘out of character’. Someone who normally behaves sensibly may take risks and could endanger themselves and others. Do not drink and ride, or accept a lift from anyone who’s been drinking.
When must you wear your glasses if you need them to read vehicle number plates at the required distance?
- Only in bad weather conditions
- At all times when ridingRight answer
- Only when you think it's necessary
- Only in bad light or at night time
Have your eyesight tested before you start your practical training. Then have checks periodically throughout your riding life, as your vision may change.
How are you likely to be affected by drinking alcohol?
- You'll be more cautious and perceptive
- The speed of your reactions will increase
- Your judgement of speed will be worseRight answer
- Your awareness of danger will improve
Never drink if you're going to drive or ride. Your judgement can be seriously affected, even if you’re not over the drink-drive limit. Do not take risks; it’s not worth it.
Which type of glasses should not be worn when riding at night?
- Half-moon
- Round
- Bifocal
- TintedRight answer
If you're riding at night or in poor visibility, tinted lenses or a tinted visor will reduce the amount of available light reaching your eyes, making you less able to see clearly.
When may you use your motorcycle's hazard warning lights?
- When you're riding on a motorway, to warn traffic behind of a hazard aheadRight answer
- When you’re double parked on a two-way road
- When your direction indicators are not working
- When you're riding in town, to warn oncoming traffic that you intend to stop
Hazard warning lights are an important safety feature. Use them when you're riding on a motorway to warn following traffic of danger ahead. You should also use them if your motorcycle has broken down and is causing an obstruction.
Why should you wear ear plugs when you're riding a motorcycle?
- To help prevent hearing damageRight answer
- To make you less aware of traffic
- To help keep you warm
- To make your helmet fit better
The use of ear plugs is recommended to protect your hearing from being damaged by the noise of air turbulence around your helmet. Staying within the national speed limit, a rider may experience noise levels in excess of 100 decibels.
You're going to a social event and alcohol will be available. What's the safest thing to do if you'll be riding your motorcycle shortly afterwards?
- Stay just below the legal limit
- Have soft drinks and alcohol in turn
- Do not go beyond the legal limit
- Stick to non-alcoholic drinksRight answer
Drinking even the smallest amount of alcohol can affect your judgement and reactions. The safest and best option is to avoid any alcohol at all when you know you'll be riding or driving afterwards.