Alabama Motorcycle Permit Test flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Countersteering
- At speeds above about 12 mph, pressing the handlebar grip on the side you want to go causes the motorcycle to lean and turn in that direction.
- Front brake share
- On dry pavement the front brake provides roughly 70 percent of a motorcycle's stopping power, so both brakes should be applied together.
- Two-second rule
- A minimum two-second gap behind the vehicle ahead in good conditions; add a second for each adverse factor such as rain, gravel, or darkness.
- Lane position choices
- Left third aids visibility to oncoming traffic, center third blocks lane sharing, and right third suits passing parked cars or preparing a left turn.
- Oily lane center
- Engine oil and coolant drip collect in the middle of a lane, especially at intersections and toll booths, making that strip slippery.
- Staggered group formation
- Riders alternate left and right within the lane, keeping a two-second gap to the rider directly ahead and one second to the rider beside them.
- Mid-curve braking risk
- Braking hard while leaned over uses traction the tires need for cornering; set speed before the curve and look through to the exit.
- Manual signal cancel
- Most motorcycle turn signals do not cancel themselves, so the rider must switch them off after every turn and lane change.
- Class M endorsement
- Alabama requires a Class M endorsement on a valid driver license to ride a motorcycle on public roads; a permit limits riding to daylight and bars passengers.
- Alabama helmet requirement
- Alabama law requires every motorcycle rider and passenger to wear a helmet that meets federal Department of Transportation safety standards.
- Sharing a lane
- Two motorcycles may ride side by side in one lane only when both operators agree; no more than two abreast are permitted.
- Lane splitting status
- Riding between moving traffic lanes is not authorized in Alabama; each motorcycle is entitled to the full use of a lane.
- School bus red lights
- On an undivided road, traffic in both directions must stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights, until the lights stop.
- Right turn on red
- After a complete stop at a steady red signal, a right turn is permitted unless a sign prohibits it, yielding to traffic and pedestrians.
- Emergency vehicle approach
- When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, move to the right and stop; following one closer than 500 feet is prohibited.
- Implied consent
- By operating on Alabama roads a rider consents to chemical testing after a lawful DUI arrest; refusal brings automatic license suspension.
- Octagon sign
- An eight-sided red sign always means stop; the rider must come to a complete halt and yield before proceeding.
- Inverted triangle sign
- A downward-pointing triangle with a red border means yield: slow down and give the right of way to crossing and approaching traffic.
- Diamond sign meaning
- Yellow diamond-shaped signs warn of upcoming hazards or changes in road conditions, such as curves, intersections, or slippery pavement.
- Pennant sign
- A yellow pennant-shaped sign marks the start of a no-passing zone and is placed on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
- Orange sign color
- Orange signs mark construction and maintenance zones; riders should slow down and watch for workers, equipment, and altered lane patterns.
- Round yellow sign
- A round yellow sign with an X and RR gives advance warning of a railroad crossing ahead; slow down and be ready to stop.
- Double solid yellow line
- Two solid yellow center lines mean passing is prohibited for traffic in both directions; crossing them is allowed only for a left turn into a driveway or entrance.
- Flashing signal rules
- A flashing red signal is treated as a stop sign; a flashing yellow signal means slow down and proceed with caution when clear.
- Pentagon sign
- A five-sided yellow sign indicates a school zone or school crossing ahead, warning riders to reduce speed and watch for children.
- Adult DUI threshold
- In Alabama a rider 21 or older is legally impaired at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher.
- Under-21 BAC limit
- Alabama applies a 0.02 percent blood alcohol concentration limit to riders under 21, effectively prohibiting any drinking before riding.
- Commercial BAC limit
- A commercial driver license holder operating a commercial vehicle is impaired at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent.
- Prescription drug DUI
- A valid prescription is not a defense: a rider can be charged with DUI when medication renders them incapable of safe driving.
- Alcohol elimination rate
- The body clears alcohol at roughly one standard drink per hour; coffee, food, and cold showers do not speed up that process.
- Fatigue versus alcohol
- Staying awake about 18 hours produces driving impairment comparable to a blood alcohol concentration near the legal limit.
- Motorcycle impairment risk
- Alcohol degrades balance and throttle control before the rider feels drunk, and a motorcycle demands more coordination than a car.