Denmark Motorcycle Theory A cheat sheet

Danish speed-limit signs are circular with a red border and black numerals on white; the limit applies from the sign until the next limit sign, a town-exit sign, or an intersection unless a new sign repeats it.

A round sign with a red border and no numeral (white centre) ends all local prohibitions previously shown, including speed limits and overtaking bans.

Town entry/exit signs (place-name signs) mark the built-up area boundary: the general urban limit of 50 km/h applies inside, and the general rural limit of 80 km/h applies outside.

Overtaking bans are shown by two car symbols, red and black, in a red-bordered circle; a single black car behind a red one permits overtaking of two-wheeled vehicles without sidecar where the manoeuvre is safe.

A solid white centre line must not be crossed or straddled; a broken line may be crossed. A line that is solid on your side and broken on the other side is treated as solid for you.

Direction signs: blue rectangles give local destinations, white rectangles with black text give routes and place names, and green rectangles mark motorvej (motorway) routes.

Red-bordered triangle signs are warnings; red-bordered circles are prohibitions; blue circles are mandatory instructions (e.g. keep right, mandatory cycle path, roundabout direction).

A motorcycle counts as a motor vehicle for sign purposes: it is barred from cycle paths, footpaths and motorvej restrictions unless a supplementary plate or symbol explicitly permits motorcycles.

Hand signals and indicators: indicators must be given in good time before turning or changing lane, and a signal does not by itself give right-of-way over other traffic.

Default rule at an unmarked Danish junction: yield to traffic approaching from the right (højre vigepligt).

A yellow triangle with a red border (give-way sign) or a red octagon (STOP) overrides the right-hand rule: you must yield to all traffic on the crossing road, and at STOP you must stop completely before the line.

Turning left across oncoming traffic: you yield to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning right; left-turning vehicles from opposite directions pass in front of or behind each other according to the road layout.

Entering a road from a private driveway, parking area, petrol station or field exit: you yield to all traffic already on the road, regardless of the right-hand rule.

In a roundabout you yield to traffic already circulating; you signal right before your exit and signal left only if the roundabout layout requires it (multi-lane, exiting more than half-way).

A vehicle already committed to an intersection has priority over vehicles entering it; do not block the junction box if your exit is not clear.

Trams, buses leaving a stop in a built-up area, and emergency vehicles with blue lights and sirens have special priority - yield where signs or the traffic code require it.

At a T-junction without signs, traffic on the continuing road has priority; traffic on the terminating road yields to all traffic on the through road.

General Danish limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside built-up areas, 110 km/h on dual-carriageway roads outside towns, and 130 km/h on motorvej where signed; local signs always override.

A motorcycle with a trailer or a sidecar is restricted to 80 km/h outside built-up areas; a heavy motorcycle carrying a passenger is not automatically reduced but must be ridden to conditions.

Stopping distance = reaction distance + braking distance. Reaction distance (metres) = speed (km/h) ÷ 3.6 × reaction time (s); at 1 s reaction time this is roughly speed ÷ 3.6.

Braking distance rises with the square of speed: doubling speed quadruples braking distance. At 50 km/h on dry asphalt a motorcycle needs roughly 12-14 m of braking, at 100 km/h roughly 50-55 m.

Two-second rule: stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front in dry conditions; in rain, gravel or darkness extend to four seconds, and on ice or snow to six seconds or more.

Wet asphalt roughly doubles braking distance, and the first rain after a dry spell is the most slippery because oil and rubber residue float on the surface.

Speed must always be adapted so you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear - on a road with limited sight distance this may be well below the posted limit.

Speed limits are maximums, not targets: a lower speed is required in fog, heavy rain, strong crosswind, or when carrying a passenger or load that changes handling.

Target fixation: the motorcycle follows where the rider looks; in a bend, look through the curve to the exit rather than at the kerb or oncoming traffic.

Loose surfaces: gravel, sand, wet leaves, mud and road markings all reduce grip. Cross them upright, avoid braking or accelerating hard, and keep the bike as vertical as possible.

Tram rails, cattle grids and painted lines are slippery when wet; cross tram rails as close to perpendicular as possible and never brake on them.

Diesel spill at bus stops and roundabouts, and oil in the centre of the lane, are common causes of low-speed loss of grip; the polished wheel tracks in each lane usually offer better grip than the centre.

Wind: strong crosswind and the turbulence from lorries and buses can push a motorcycle sideways. Reduce speed, grip the tank with the knees, and allow extra space when passing high-sided vehicles.

Rain: visor misting, reduced visibility for other drivers, and aquaplaning risk at speed. Use a pinlock or anti-fog treatment and increase following distance.

Cold tyres have less grip: the first few kilometres, especially in cold weather, require gentler braking and cornering until the tyres reach working temperature.

Being seen: ride with dipped headlight on, position in the lane where you are visible in mirrors, avoid blind spots, and wear high-visibility or contrasting clothing.

Filtering and lane splitting increase exposure to opening doors and turning vehicles; Danish law requires you to ride within a lane and to signal lane changes.

Helmet: a properly fastened helmet conforming to ECE 22.05 or 22.06 is mandatory for rider and passenger in Denmark; an unfastened helmet offers no legal or practical protection.

Eye protection: a visor or goggles are required unless the helmet has an integral visor; sunglasses alone do not meet the requirement at speed.

Clothing: abrasion-resistant jacket and trousers (textile with armour or leather), gloves, and boots covering the ankle are the baseline; bare skin and trainers offer essentially no protection in a slide.

A passenger must be carried on a proper pillion seat with footrests, must sit facing forward and hold on, and must have their own helmet; the rider remains responsible for the machine being legal to carry a passenger.

A learner or rider on a restricted licence may not carry a passenger unless the licence category and the machine's registration permit it; check the registration certificate for permitted seating.

A child passenger must be able to reach the footrests and hold on safely; a child seat or belt is required where the child cannot do so.

Luggage must be secured and evenly loaded, kept within the manufacturer's weight limits, and must not obstruct lights, indicators, the number plate or the rider's view.

Protective clothing should be brightly coloured or have retro-reflective panels; being visible is a primary safety measure for riders.

Tyre pressure: check cold, at least weekly and before long rides. Under-inflation causes overheating, poor handling and increased wear; over-inflation reduces the contact patch.

Tread depth: Danish law requires at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread for motorcycles; replace tyres before reaching the limit, especially for wet riding.

Tyre condition: check for cuts, bulges, embedded objects and sidewall cracking. A tyre with a bulge or cord visible must be replaced, not repaired.

Brakes: check fluid level in the reservoir, lever and pedal feel, and pad thickness. A spongy lever suggests air or moisture in the system - bleed or have it serviced.

Chain: correct slack is typically 20-30 mm depending on the model; lubricate regularly, check for tight spots, and replace chain and sprockets together when worn.

Lights and horn: check headlight, brake light (both front and rear brake switches), indicators, number-plate light and horn before every ride.

Fluids and controls: engine oil level, coolant, clutch and throttle cable free play, and steering-head bearing play are part of a pre-ride check.

Pre-ride check (POWDER or similar): Petrol, Oil, Water, Damage, Electrics, Rubber - a short systematic walk-around catches most defects before they become failures.

Denmark's general alcohol limit is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood (0.5 ‰), equivalent to a breath alcohol concentration of 0.25 mg/l; for riders in their first three years after passing the test the limit is 0.2 ‰.

A motorcycle rider is subject to the same drink-driving rules as a car driver; refusal to provide a breath or blood sample carries the same penalties as driving over the limit.

Alcohol impairs balance, reaction time and risk perception at levels well below the legal limit - the only safe amount before riding is none.

Drugs and impairing medication: driving under the influence of narcotics is prohibited regardless of amount; many prescription medicines (benzodiazepines, strong analgesics, some antihistamines) carry a warning triangle and must not be combined with riding.

Read the package leaflet and ask the pharmacist; if a medicine warns of drowsiness or reduced reaction time, do not ride until you know its effect on you.

Fatigue: symptoms include yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting within the lane and missing signs. The only remedy is to stop and rest; coffee and fresh air only mask the problem briefly.

Ride within your own limits: illness, fever, severe pain or emotional stress reduce concentration as much as alcohol does, and the traffic code requires you to be fit to ride.

Minimum age and licence: category A licences require a passed theory and practical test; the licence conditions (power, years held) affect what you may ride and carry.

At the scene: stop, switch off engines where possible, warn other traffic with a warning triangle (at least 50 m behind on rural roads, further on motorvej), and call 112 for ambulance, police or fire.

Give your name, address and registration details to the other parties; do not leave the scene of an accident involving injury or significant damage before details have been exchanged.

Do not remove a motorcyclist's helmet unless the airway is obstructed or resuscitation is required; removing it can worsen a neck or spinal injury.

First aid priorities: check responsiveness and breathing, call 112, control severe bleeding with direct pressure, and keep the casualty warm and still until help arrives.

If the casualty is not breathing, start CPR (30 compressions to 2 breaths) and use an AED as soon as one is available; continue until the ambulance arrives.

Motorcycle leathers and helmets can hide bleeding and fractures; cut clothing away only if necessary and check for injury under the gear.

Report the accident to your insurer promptly and record the other party's details, witnesses, and the position of vehicles before they are moved, if it is safe to do so.

On a motorvej, get yourself and any uninjured parties behind the crash barrier and away from the carriageway while waiting for help.