Hazards, Impaired and Risky Riding, and Protective Gear
Hazard, impairment, and gear questions are about risk before the emergency. The exam asks you to spot surface and traffic hazards early, decide when not to ride, and choose gear that works in a crash.
Hazard scan
Read the road surface: gravel, wet leaves, painted lines, steel plates, grates, potholes, and railroad tracks. Cross tracks and gratings at a right angle when possible. In rain, the first 10 minutes are especially slick as oil lifts from the pavement. Slow before the hazard, keep the bike upright, and avoid sudden braking or leaning on metal and paint.
Impairment and risky riding
D.C. law sets the adult limit at .08 BAC, with zero tolerance for riders under 21. Impairment begins before the legal limit: one drink can slow scanning and balance. Prescription drugs, fatigue, and distraction count too. D.C. has implied consent; refusing a chemical test carries license consequences. Aggressive riding, stunting, and riding without a helmet are risk factors the exam treats as choices, not bad luck.
Protective gear
Wear a DOT-compliant helmet fastened under the chin; D.C. requires helmets for operators and passengers. Add eye protection, gloves, a riding jacket, long pants, and over-ankle boots. Bright or reflective material helps drivers see you. Replace a helmet after a crash, even if it looks undamaged.
Worked example
Rain starts as you cross a steel plate while turning right. The correct response is to slow before the plate, keep the bike upright, cross at a right angle, and avoid braking on the metal. Reasoning: steel and wet paint offer far less grip than asphalt, and a leaned bike has less reserve for a slip. The trap is to grab the brake on the plate, which can cause a low-side fall.
Traps that cost marks
Thinking a helmet is enough; riding after "just one" drink; ignoring prescription warnings; braking on painted lines; crossing railroad tracks at a shallow angle; wearing an unfastened helmet; assuming a bright jacket replaces lane positioning.