Maine BMV Motorcycle Practice Test 10

  • Questions25
  • Correct to pass20
  • Passing score80%
  • Minimum age16 years

Minimum age: 16 years, with an 8 hour motorcycle education program required of every applicant

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

  1. 1. How does being tired change your total stopping distance?

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    Answer A: It lengthens it, because you take longer to notice and react

    Fatigue stretches perception and reaction time, and every extra fraction of a second is added distance before the brakes even begin to work.

  2. 2. Where should the weight of a load sit in relation to the rear axle?

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    Answer A: Over the rear axle or in front of it

    Weight placed behind the rear axle acts as a lever against the steering and can make the motorcycle wobble and handle and brake poorly.

  3. 3. You come up behind a group of cyclists riding two abreast on a narrow rural road. What should you do?

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    Answer A: Wait for a clear stretch and pass them as one group

    Passing a group as a single unit when the way ahead is clear is safer than several rushed passes, and cutting through the group leaves nobody any escape room.

  4. 4. If the rear wheel locks during a straight line stop on a good surface, the rider should:

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    Answer B: Keep it locked until the motorcycle has come to a complete stop

    Releasing a locked rear wheel while the motorcycle is out of line can snap it upright violently, so on a straight path the rear brake is held until the motorcycle stops.

  5. 5. The divided highway ends warning sign means that

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    Answer D: the median separating the directions ends and the road returns to two-way operation

    Beyond this sign opposing traffic is no longer separated by a median, so the driver must keep right and expect vehicles approaching in the adjacent lane.

  6. 6. When does Maine's 15 mile per hour school zone limit apply?

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    Answer A: During recess and for half an hour before and after school opens and closes

    Maine applies the 15 mph school limit during recess, within half an hour of the school opening and closing, and whenever the zone signs are flashing.

  7. 7. You realize you have just gone past your exit on a freeway. What should you do?

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    Answer C: Carry on to the next exit and turn around there

    A missed exit costs a few minutes, while backing up or cutting across the striped gore area puts you in the path of traffic that is not expecting it.

  8. 8. A pedestrian is crossing a wide four-lane street and has reached the lanes on the far side. When may you go on?

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    Answer C: Only after the person has finished crossing the roadway

    Waiting until the pedestrian has finished crossing is correct in every state and removes any doubt about how much clearance your state demands.

  9. 9. Does using a hands free device remove the risk of distraction?

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    Answer A: No, the conversation still takes attention away from driving

    Hands free equipment removes the manual part of the distraction but not the mental part, and a driver deep in conversation can look straight at a hazard without registering it.

  10. 10. A yellow sign reads SOFT SHOULDER. What is it telling you?

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    Answer C: The shoulder may not carry the weight of a vehicle

    A soft shoulder is unpaved and can let a wheel sink, so a driver who leaves the pavement there may lose control or become stuck.

  11. 11. An ambulance with lights and siren is coming toward you on an undivided two-lane road. What must you do?

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    Answer A: Pull to the right edge and stop until it passes

    On an undivided road, drivers in both directions clear the way, pulling to the right edge and stopping.

  12. 12. Two roads come together at a shallow angle under a MERGE sign, with no yield line on either one. What is expected of you?

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    Answer D: Adjust your speed and position so you blend smoothly into the other traffic

    A merge means neither road ends at a stop; drivers adjust speed and position so that the two streams fit together without stopping.

  13. 13. Which clue suggests that a car waiting at a side street is about to pull out in front of you?

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    Answer B: The front wheels are turned and the car is creeping forward

    Turned wheels and a slow creep forward are the strongest signs that a driver is about to move, so cover the brakes and be ready to change your lane position.

  14. 14. A driver reaching a stop sign is required to do what?

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    Answer D: Come to a complete stop and then proceed only when it is safe

    A stop sign requires a full stop before the stop line, crosswalk or intersection, after which the driver may go on once the way is clear.

  15. 15. After the leader of a staggered group completes a pass, what should the leader do?

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    Answer A: Move to the left position and hold passing speed to open room for the next rider

    Returning to the left position and keeping speed opens the gap the next rider needs to finish the pass and settle back into formation.

  16. 16. This sign comes into view ahead of a driver who has already started along a ramp. What should the driver do?

    A red rectangle with white lettering
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    Answer B: Pull clear where it is safe, then turn around and leave the ramp traveling properly

    The driver is traveling against the legal flow, so the safest response is to stop clear of the lanes, turn the vehicle around and get off the ramp before meeting traffic head on.

  17. 17. What does this sign require of the driver?

    A yellow diamond showing a traffic signal with three stacked lights
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    Answer D: Reducing speed and being ready to stop at the intersection ahead

    The advance notice asks the driver to slow and be ready to stop, while whether a stop is actually needed depends on the indication displayed on arrival.

  18. 18. A driver's blood alcohol concentration is below the legal limit, but the driver is visibly impaired. Can the driver be arrested?

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    Answer C: Yes, driving while impaired by alcohol is an offense at any concentration

    The per se figure, 0.08 percent in most states and 0.05 percent in Utah, is the level at which impairment is presumed. Impairment shown by driving behavior and field tests is enough on its own, because alcohol affects skills well before that number.

  19. 19. Where does loose sand and gravel most often collect on a paved road?

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    Answer D: Along the edges of the road and on curves and highway ramps

    Traffic sweeps loose material toward the outside of the travel path, so it builds up at the road edges and on curves and on entrance and exit ramps.

  20. 20. What is the correct body position for riding over a bump or an obstacle?

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    Answer B: Rise slightly off the seat with your weight on the footrests, absorbing the shock with knees and elbows

    Coming slightly off the seat lets your legs and arms work as extra suspension instead of transferring the impact through your body and the handlebars.

  21. 21. Traffic is heavy and a truck is stopped in the lane on your right. How do you keep an out?

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    Answer B: Keep space open ahead of you and avoid being boxed in on both sides at once

    Being hemmed in on both sides with no gap ahead removes every option, so keep at least one direction open.

  22. 22. Which of these is announced with the same family of signs as the facility shown here?

    A blue square with a white letter H
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    Answer A: A rest area for travelers

    A rest area belongs to the same motorist service series, which points travelers toward facilities such as fuel, food, lodging and medical care.

  23. 23. How does a wet road change the distance you need to stop?

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    Answer C: It lengthens it, so you need a much bigger gap ahead

    Water between the tire and the road cuts grip, so braking distance grows and the gap that works on dry pavement is no longer enough.

  24. 24. When should a rider use both brakes together?

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    Answer D: Every time the motorcycle slows or stops

    Using both brakes for every stop shortens stopping distance and builds the habit the rider will fall back on when a sudden stop is needed.

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

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    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.