20 Sharing the Road, Signs & Signals Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. You are riding on a multi-lane road. Vehicles are traveling in the lane to your left, and there are no hazards on your right. Where in your lane is it usually best to ride?

   • A.In the left third of the lane (path 1)
   • B.Straddling the lane line so drivers in both lanes can see you
   • C.As far right as possible, riding on the edge line
   • D.In the center or right third of the lane (path 2 or 3)✓ Answer

   Every lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel, and you pick the one that keeps the largest space cushion between you and the hazard. When traffic or hazards are only on your left, moving to the center or right third buys distance and preserves an escape path; the rule reverses when hazards are only on your right (then ride path 1 or 2). No portion of the lane, including the center, has to be avoided.

   Source: AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual (2015), p.19 'Lane Positions'; MSF MOM 18th ed., lane position selectionReport a problem with this question

2. 2. Another vehicle is about to pass you in the lane to your left. Where is the BEST place to be within your own lane?

   • A.The left portion, close to the passing vehicle, so the driver sees you
   • B.The portion of the lane farthest from the passing vehicle
   • C.On the shoulder until the vehicle has gone by
   • D.The center portion of the lane✓ Answer

   Staying centered keeps a cushion of space on both sides. Moving to the far side of the lane is the classic wrong answer: it invites the passing driver to cut back in too early, and it pushes you toward the edge hazards, extended mirrors, debris and the shoulder. Riding the shoulder gives up your traction and your lane rights.

   Source: AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual (2015), 'Being Passed'Report a problem with this question

3. 3. You are preparing to pass a car ahead of you. Just BEFORE you move into the passing lane, you should be riding:

   • A.On the centerline, to signal your intention to pass
   • B.In the left portion of your lane, at a safe following distance✓ Answer
   • C.Directly behind the car, as close as possible for a running start
   • D.In the right portion of your lane so the driver spots you in the right mirror

   The left portion of your lane widens your line of sight past the vehicle ahead and puts you where that driver and oncoming traffic are most likely to see you, while a safe following distance preserves braking room. You still must signal, check mirrors and do a head check before moving out, ride through the other driver's blind spot without lingering, and cancel the signal after returning.

   Source: MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual 18th ed., 'Passing' step 1Report a problem with this question

4. 4. In heavy, bumper-to-bumper traffic, drivers are tempted to squeeze into your lane beside you. A good way to discourage this is to:

   • A.Ride at the far right of the lane so they have room to fit
   • B.Weave back and forth within the lane
   • C.Ride on the lane line so drivers see your headlight
   • D.Ride in the center portion of the lane✓ Answer

   A car and a motorcycle each need a full lane to operate safely, and a center-portion position removes the visual gap that invites a driver to share the lane. Drivers are most tempted to squeeze past in stop-and-go traffic, when they want to pass, when you are setting up for a turn, and when you are moving into an exit lane.

   Source: AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual (2015), 'Lane Sharing'Report a problem with this question

5. 5. An oncoming car has its left-turn signal on and may turn across your path. The BEST action is to:

   • A.Speed up to clear the intersection before the car turns
   • B.Make eye contact with the driver and hold your speed
   • C.Move to the right edge of your lane and flash your high beam while maintaining speed
   • D.Slow down, pick a lane position where that driver can see you, and cover the clutch and both brakes✓ Answer

   A car turning left across a rider's path is the most common multi-vehicle motorcycle crash (the AAMVA manual attributes 40% of motorcycle/car crashes to drivers turning left in front of riders). Slowing shortens your stopping distance, a visible lane position gets you into the driver's field of view, and covering the clutch lever and both brakes cuts reaction time. Radical changes of speed or position are risky because the driver may misread them as a turn.

   Source: AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual (2015), 'Intersections'; MSF MOM 18th ed., covering the clutch and brakes in high-risk areasReport a problem with this question

6. 6. A driver stopped at a side street is looking straight at you as you approach. You should:

   • A.Accelerate so the driver has less time to pull out in front of you
   • B.Assume the driver may pull out anyway, and be ready to slow or change direction✓ Answer
   • C.Wave at the driver to confirm you were seen, then proceed
   • D.Assume the driver has seen you and continue at the same speed

   Eye contact is not proof that you were seen. A motorcycle's outline is small, small objects look farther away and slower than they are, and most drivers are scanning for cars, so a driver can look right at a rider and never register the bike. The manual's rule is that if a vehicle can enter your path, assume it will, and set up your speed and position accordingly.

   Source: MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual 18th ed., 'Being Seen'; AAMVA MOM sample knowledge test item on eye contactReport a problem with this question

7. 7. A parked truck blocks your view of the cross street at an intersection controlled by a stop sign. After stopping at the stop line, the best next move is to:

   • A.Pull far enough into the cross lane that other drivers can see you before you look
   • B.Edge forward and stop again just short of the cross lane, leaning forward to look around the truck while keeping your front wheel out of the cross lane✓ Answer
   • C.Sound your horn and ride through without stopping again
   • D.Move to the right portion of your lane and accelerate quickly across

   At a blind intersection the two-stage stop lets you see around the obstruction while your machine stays out of the path of cross traffic. Choosing the lane portion that brings you into the cross driver's field of vision earliest, and looking before your front wheel enters the cross lane, protects you from a vehicle you cannot yet see.

   Source: AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual (2015), 'Blind Intersections'Report a problem with this question

8. 8. As you approach a modern roundabout on your motorcycle, you must:

   • A.Yield to traffic already circulating in the roundabout✓ Answer
   • B.Ride in the right portion of the lane so cars can enter beside you
   • C.Come to a full stop before entering, even when no traffic is coming
   • D.Yield only to vehicles waiting to enter on your right

   Roundabout approaches are yield-controlled, so entering traffic gives way to vehicles already in the circulating roadway; you enter without stopping when there is an adequate gap. You are entitled to the full width of the lane inside the circle, so ride a lane position that keeps drivers from trying to enter or exit beside you.

   Source: MUTCD 11th ed. Sec. 2B.10/2B.11, YIELD (R1-2) control at roundabout approachesReport a problem with this question

9. 9. A car is following you too closely. The BEST way to handle the tailgater is to:

   • A.Speed up to open distance between you and the car
   • B.Tap your brakes repeatedly to warn the driver off
   • C.Change lanes and let the driver pass, or slow gradually to open extra space ahead of you✓ Answer
   • D.Move to the right portion of your lane and hold your speed

   The goal is to get the tailgater in front of you. Changing lanes or slowing to open extra space ahead gives room for both you and the tailgater to stop, and the slower pace encourages the driver to pass; pulling off the road or into a parking area works too. Speeding up only leaves you with a tailgater at a higher speed, where the consequences are worse.

   Source: AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual (2015), 'Being Followed'Report a problem with this question

10. 10. You notice you are riding right beside a car in the next lane. The best response is to:

    • A.Sound your horn and continue riding alongside
    • B.Move to the far side of your lane and stay there
    • C.Adjust your speed — move ahead or drop back — until you have space clear on both sides✓ Answer
    • D.Hold that position so the driver can keep an eye on you

    Riding alongside puts you in or near the driver's blind spot, where a routine lane change becomes a sideswipe, and the vehicle beside you also blocks the escape route you would need if a hazard appeared in your own lane. Opening space fore or aft restores both visibility and an exit.

    Source: MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual 18th ed., 'Vehicles Alongside' / blind spotsReport a problem with this question

11. 11. You are about to pass a tractor-trailer on the highway. What should you expect and do?

    • A.Expect the driver to see you in the right-side mirror the whole time you are beside the trailer
    • B.Expect wind blast and spray that can push you sideways; pass on the left, get through promptly, and do not linger alongside✓ Answer
    • C.Expect a smoother ride directly behind the trailer, where it blocks the wind for you
    • D.Expect the truck to stop more quickly than you can, so you can follow it closer than you would a car

    Large vehicles throw turbulence and spray that can shove a motorcycle sideways, they take much longer to pass, and their blind spots are enormous — the right-side blind spot is far larger than the left, so a driver may never see you there. Pass on the left, move through promptly, choose the lane portion farthest from the truck to absorb the wind blast, and never follow closely, because you cannot see through or around the trailer.

    Source: MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual 18th ed., riding near large vehicles / wind blast and blind spotsReport a problem with this question

12. 12. Keeping your headlight on during daylight hours is recommended mainly because:

    • A.Headlights only help at dawn and dusk, so daytime use is a legal formality
    • B.A motorcycle with its headlight on is about twice as likely to be noticed by other drivers✓ Answer
    • C.It tells drivers ahead that you intend to pass them
    • D.It can be used in place of turn signals in heavy traffic

    Most motorcycle crashes happen in daylight, and the core problem is conspicuity: a motorcycle's outline is far smaller than a car's, and smaller vehicles look farther away and slower than they really are. A lit headlight roughly doubles the chance of being noticed, which is why it is paired with bright or reflective outer clothing and reflective material on the sides of the helmet.

    Source: MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual 18th ed., 'Be Seen' — headlight use and conspicuityReport a problem with this question

13. 13. It is MOST important to flash your brake light before slowing when you:

    • A.Are being passed by another vehicle
    • B.Downshift at any time
    • C.Ride at night only
    • D.Slow where a following driver would not expect it, such as before an alley or a mid-block driveway✓ Answer

    A motorcycle's brake light is smaller and less noticeable than a car's, and it is even harder to pick out when the taillight is already lit. Flashing it gives the driver behind extra warning exactly when the slowdown is unexpected — turning mid-block, entering an alley, or slowing faster than others anticipate, such as leaving a high-speed highway.

    Source: MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual 18th ed., 'Communicating Your Presence' — flashing the brake lightReport a problem with this question

14. 14. Using standard hand and arm signals, which signal indicates a LEFT turn?

    • A.Left arm extended straight out to the side✓ Answer
    • B.Right arm extended straight out to the side
    • C.Left arm extended downward, palm facing to the rear
    • D.Left arm bent upward at the elbow, hand pointing up

    The uniform hand signals are: left arm straight out = left turn; left arm bent up at the elbow = right turn; left arm extended down with the palm back = stopping or slowing. The right hand stays on the throttle, so all signals are given with the left arm. Hand signals are the backup when a turn-signal bulb fails, in bright sun, or when riding in a group.

    Source: Uniform Vehicle Code §11-606 hand-and-arm signals, as reproduced in state driver manuals; MSF MOM hand signals for group ridingReport a problem with this question

15. 15. A pennant-shaped sign (a triangle with its long axis horizontal, pointing to the right) posted on the LEFT side of the road means:

    • A.No passing zone✓ Answer
    • B.Divided highway ends
    • C.Yield ahead
    • D.Narrow bridge ahead

    The pennant shape is reserved exclusively for the No Passing Zone sign (W14-3), and it is the one warning sign mounted on the left side of the roadway so it faces the driver who might pass, marking the beginning of the zone. Shape alone identifies it: octagon is reserved for STOP and the downward-pointing equilateral triangle for YIELD.

    Source: MUTCD 11th ed. Table 2A-1 (exclusive sign shapes) and the W14-3 No Passing Zone sign, left-side placementReport a problem with this question

16. 16. Under the MUTCD, a ROUND (circular) sign is used exclusively for:

    • A.Advance warning of a highway-rail grade crossing ahead✓ Answer
    • B.Marking the grade crossing itself, at the tracks
    • C.A change in the posted speed limit
    • D.Warning of a roundabout ahead

    The circle is one of the shapes reserved for a single use: the round yellow grade-crossing advance warning sign (W10-1, the RXR sign) placed ahead of the tracks. The crossing itself is marked by the crossbuck (R15-1), whose X shape is likewise reserved. Shape recognition matters because you can identify these signs before you can read them.

    Source: MUTCD 11th ed. Sec. 2A.05 and Table 2A-1 — circle reserved for the W10-1 grade crossing advance warning signReport a problem with this question

17. 17. An ORANGE sign or orange background tells you that:

    • A.There is a general warning of a permanent hazard ahead
    • B.Motorist services such as fuel, food or lodging are available
    • C.A recreational or cultural point of interest is ahead
    • D.You are approaching or inside a temporary traffic control (work) zone✓ Answer

    MUTCD color coding assigns orange exclusively to temporary traffic control, so an orange diamond means workers, equipment, uneven pavement or changed lane patterns ahead — conditions that matter more to a motorcycle than to a car. Yellow is the general warning color, blue marks road-user services, brown marks recreational and cultural areas, and green is used for guide signs and permitted movements.

    Source: MUTCD 11th ed. Sec. 2A.06 and Table 2A-2 — sign color assignmentsReport a problem with this question

18. 18. On a two-lane road the centerline is a SOLID yellow line on your side and a BROKEN yellow line on the other side. This means:

    • A.Passing is permitted in both directions if done with care
    • B.Passing is prohibited in both directions
    • C.Passing is permitted only for traffic on the side next to the broken line✓ Answer
    • D.The roadway ahead becomes one-way

    Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; a solid line discourages or prohibits crossing while a broken line indicates a permissive condition. So a solid-plus-broken centerline is a one-direction no-passing zone: only the side facing the broken line may cross to pass, and a rider on the solid-line side must stay put. A double solid yellow bars passing both ways.

    Source: MUTCD 11th ed. Sec. 3A.04 (line functions) and Sec. 3B.01 (centerline markings)Report a problem with this question

19. 19. Two lanes carrying traffic in the SAME direction are separated by a DOUBLE SOLID WHITE line. This means:

    • A.Lane changes are permitted if made with care
    • B.The line marks the right-hand edge of the roadway
    • C.Traffic on the far side of the line moves in the opposite direction
    • D.Changing lanes across the line is prohibited✓ Answer

    White longitudinal lines separate traffic flows going the same direction (yellow is reserved for opposing flows). Within that family, a broken white lane line permits lane changing with care, a single solid white discourages it, and a double solid white prohibits crossing altogether — useful to know because a rider who drifts across one at an exit or a ramp gore area is both illegal and in the wrong place.

    Source: MUTCD 11th ed. Sec. 3A.03 (marking colors) and Sec. 3B.06 (white lane line markings)Report a problem with this question

20. 20. You approach an intersection where the traffic signal is showing a FLASHING RED indication. You must:

    • A.Slow down and proceed with caution without stopping
    • B.Stop and remain stopped until a steady green appears
    • C.Stop, then proceed when it is safe, following stop-sign rules✓ Answer
    • D.Treat the intersection as uncontrolled because the signal has failed

    A flashing red circular indication carries stop-sign meaning: stop at the stop line, crosswalk or intersection edge, then yield and go when the way is clear. A flashing yellow, by contrast, means proceed with caution without stopping, and a steady yellow only warns that the movement is ending and red is next. Riders should also remember that at an actuated signal a motorcycle may not trip the sensor, so stop over the induction-loop cuts visible in the pavement.

    Source: MUTCD 11th ed. Sec. 4A.04 (flashing signal indications); AAMVA MOM p.19 (traffic-actuated sensor lights)Report a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the MSF Basic RiderCourse and state motorcycle operator manuals. Requirements vary by state — study your state's official motorcycle manual before your test. About the MSF course →