Hazards, Surface Conditions, and Emergency Maneuvers
What the exam tests
Reading the road and responding without panicking. Hazards include gravel, sand, rain, painted lines, metal plates, tar snakes, potholes, and railroad tracks. The exam asks for the safest response, not the fastest.
Surface conditions
On loose or wet surfaces, reduce speed and avoid sudden front-brake use. Keep the bike upright, use gentle inputs, and increase following distance. Cross painted lines, metal, and tar snakes as upright as possible. Railroad tracks should be crossed at a right angle; if you must angle, slow first.
Emergency maneuvers
For a quick stop, straighten the bike, squeeze the front brake progressively, and use the rear brake. For a swerve, push the grips to move the bike, keep your body centered, and avoid braking while swerving unless necessary. Look for the escape path, not the obstacle.
Worked example
A rider sees a gravel patch mid-curve. Braking hard in the curve can cause a slide. The better response: slow before the curve if possible, keep a steady throttle, stay upright, and cross the gravel with minimal lean and no sudden front brake.
Traps
- Target fixation: staring at the pothole you want to avoid.
- Braking hard while leaned over.
- Crossing railroad tracks at a shallow angle.
- Accelerating over a wet painted line.