Idaho ITD Motorcycle Practice Test 32

  • Questions25
  • Correct to pass20
  • Passing score80%
  • Minimum ageSee note

Minimum age: Valid Idaho driver's license required; applicants under 21 must also complete an approved rider training course

25 questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why; you need 20 correct answers to pass.

  1. 1. You are parking on a one-way street where parking is allowed on both sides. What must still be true?

    Show answer

    Answer D: The vehicle must face the direction the traffic flows

    Either curb may be used on a one-way street where signs allow it, but the vehicle must always be headed in the direction traffic moves.

  2. 2. What causes the side to side motion a rider feels when crossing a steel grid deck or rain grooves?

    Show answer

    Answer C: The tires following the ridges and grooves, which is normal and harmless

    The tread follows the pattern in the surface, which produces a wandering feel. The motorcycle is not out of control, so relax on the bars and hold your speed.

  3. 3. The road is icy and visibility is poor, but you are driving at the posted speed limit. Is this acceptable?

    Show answer

    Answer A: No, because you may never drive faster than is safe for the conditions

    Under the basic speed rule a driver must travel at a speed that is reasonable for the actual conditions, so a legal posted speed can still be an unlawful and unsafe speed.

  4. 4. The throttle sticks open and will not close when you roll it back. What should you do?

    Show answer

    Answer B: Squeeze in the clutch and shut the engine down with the cut-off switch

    Pulling in the clutch cuts power to the rear wheel immediately, and the cut-off switch stops the engine without the rider letting go of the handlebars.

  5. 5. Why are pedestrians and cyclists a special risk on unlit streets at night?

    Show answer

    Answer A: Dark clothing can make them invisible until they are very close

    A person in dark clothing reflects almost no light and may not appear until they are inside your stopping distance, so cut your speed where people may be about.

  6. 6. What is true about the oily strip down the center of a traffic lane?

    Show answer

    Answer D: It usually gives enough traction, but heavy buildups where vehicles idle should be avoided

    Passing tires keep the central strip largely clear, but the thick deposits that collect at busy intersections and toll booths really are slick.

  7. 7. Many signs use a symbol instead of words. The main advantage is that a symbol

    Show answer

    Answer C: can be read from farther away and by more people

    A symbol is recognized at greater distance than a line of text and does not depend on the reader knowing English.

  8. 8. Without a depth gauge, how can a rider tell that a tire has worn out?

    Show answer

    Answer A: The tread has worn down level with the wear bars set into the grooves

    Wear bars are molded across the bottom of the tread grooves, and once the tread surface reaches them the tire has no usable depth left.

  9. 9. You are approaching the entry of a roundabout and a pedestrian is crossing the marked crosswalk on your approach lane. What must you do?

    Show answer

    Answer D: Stop before the crosswalk and let the pedestrian cross

    Roundabout crosswalks sit a short distance back from the yield line, and drivers must yield there before they ever reach the circulating lanes.

  10. 10. You stop at a rest area because you are sleepy. How long a nap is usually recommended?

    Show answer

    Answer D: About fifteen to twenty minutes

    A short nap of fifteen to twenty minutes restores useful alertness without leaving the grogginess a longer sleep can bring, and you should wait a few minutes before driving on.

  11. 11. Why should a rider avoid painting a helmet or cleaning it with strong solvents?

    Show answer

    Answer D: Chemicals can weaken the shell and the liner without showing it

    Solvents and some paints attack the shell and the foam, so use mild soap and water and follow the maker's instructions to keep the helmet's protection intact.

  12. 12. A pedestrian using a white cane or walking with a guide dog starts to cross the street ahead of you. What must you do?

    Show answer

    Answer A: Yield and stay stopped until the person has finished crossing

    A white cane or guide dog identifies a pedestrian who may not be able to see your vehicle, so you must yield and wait rather than maneuver around the person. The horn can confuse the pedestrian or the dog.

  13. 13. You are driving through a residential area where parked cars hide the side streets. What is the safest approach?

    Show answer

    Answer C: Slow down and cover the brake as you pass each opening

    Where parked vehicles hide side streets and driveways, lower speed and a covered brake buy the time you lose in sight distance.

  14. 14. How far ahead should you normally be looking while driving?

    Show answer

    Answer D: About 12 to 15 seconds of travel ahead

    Looking that far ahead, roughly a block in town and much farther on a highway, gives you time to see a problem developing and adjust before it becomes an emergency.

  15. 15. Why are sign shapes and colors standardized across the whole country?

    Show answer

    Answer D: So a driver knows the kind of message before reading it

    Uniform shapes and colors let a driver classify a sign as regulatory, warning or guide from a distance, before the legend can be read.

  16. 16. Where must the engine cut-off switch be set before the starter button will crank the engine?

    Show answer

    Answer A: In the run position

    The cut-off switch sits in the ignition circuit, so the engine will not start or run while it is set to off.

  17. 17. For an alert driver, about how long is the reaction time once a hazard has been recognized?

    Show answer

    Answer A: About three quarters of a second

    Reaction alone takes roughly three quarters of a second for an alert driver, and perception takes about as long again, so a second and a half of travel is added before the brakes bite.

  18. 18. A large X with the letters R and R beside it is painted across your lane. What does it mean?

    Show answer

    Answer A: A railroad crossing lies a short distance ahead

    The pavement marking repeats the advance warning for a grade crossing, and it is used on paved approaches where speeds are high or where gates are installed.

  19. 19. Someone has stepped into a marked crosswalk in the middle of a block ahead of you. What should you do?

    Show answer

    Answer A: Slow down, stop before the markings and let the person cross the street

    A marked mid-block crosswalk carries the same duty as one at a corner: give way to the person crossing, stopping if that is what letting them cross safely takes.

  20. 20. You reach an intersection with no signs, signals or markings clearly before a vehicle that is approaching on your right. What is the rule?

    Show answer

    Answer B: You may go first because you got there first

    At an uncontrolled intersection the first driver to arrive goes first; the yield to the right rule only settles a tie.

  21. 21. How should a helmet sit on the head once it is fastened?

    Show answer

    Answer C: Level on the head, with the eye port giving a clear view of the road

    A helmet worn level protects the forehead and gives full vision, while one pushed back leaves the forehead exposed in a crash.

  22. 22. You have tied a load down with cords that are longer than you need. What should you do with the loose ends?

    Show answer

    Answer D: Secure the loose ends so nothing can reach the chain, the wheel or the road

    A dangling cord can be caught by the rear wheel or the chain and jam it, which can lock the wheel without any warning to the rider.

  23. 23. What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean?

    Show answer

    Answer B: Slow down and proceed with caution

    A flashing yellow lets you enter the intersection cautiously after yielding to pedestrians and to conflicting traffic that is already there.

  24. 24. In heavy stop-and-go traffic, why does using both lanes right up to a merge point help?

    Show answer

    Answer D: It stores the queue in two lanes, so the backup is shorter

    Filling both lanes halves the length of the queue and keeps it away from the traffic upstream, which is why alternating at the merge point works better when traffic is slow.

  25. 25. Is it a good idea to shift into neutral and coast down a long hill to save fuel?

    Show answer

    Answer B: No, you lose engine braking and some control of the vehicle

    In neutral the engine cannot help slow the vehicle, so the brakes do all the work and can overheat. Stay in gear so the drivetrain helps hold your speed.