Pennsylvania Motorcycle practice
Pennsylvania Motorcycle: Hazards & Road Surfaces practice test
Gravel, wet pavement, grooved roads, and railroad tracks — reading and handling surfaces that matter far more on two wheels.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
14 questions · pass with 11 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
Study questions with answers
12 sample Hazards & Road Surfaces questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
Show all 12 questions with answers
1. If an animal is in your path while you are riding in traffic, the safest general rule is to:
Correct answer: Stay in your lane while trying to avoid it
Do all you safely can to avoid the animal, but stay in your lane; striking a small animal is far less dangerous than swerving into a car.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Animals
2. When it starts to rain, where is often the best place to ride?
Correct answer: In the tire tracks left by cars
The center of the lane can be slick when wet, so ride in the tire tracks left by cars; the left track is frequently the best choice.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Slippery Surfaces
3. If a dog chases your motorcycle, the recommended response is to:
Correct answer: Downshift, approach slowly, then accelerate away
Downshift and approach the dog slowly, then accelerate away once you reach it; do not kick at it, and keep looking where you want to go.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Animals
4. To cross railroad tracks or a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path, you should:
Correct answer: Move away and cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees
Move far enough away from the tracks or seam to cross them at an angle of at least 45 degrees, then make a deliberate turn so your tires do not get caught.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Tracks and Pavement Seams
5. The usual way to cross railroad or trolley tracks that run across your lane is to:
Correct answer: Ride straight across within your lane
It is normally safer to ride straight within your lane to cross tracks; turning to take them at a sharp 90-degree angle can carry you into another lane.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Tracks and Pavement Seams
6. The oily strip that collects in the center of a lane is usually:
Correct answer: No more than about two feet wide
The grease strip is normally no more than about two feet wide, and unless the road is wet the surrounding center portion still offers adequate traction.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Keeping Your Distance: Lane Positions
7. At night, one of the most important adjustments a rider should make is to:
Correct answer: Reduce your speed compared with daytime
Ride even slower than you would in daylight, especially on unfamiliar roads, to improve your chances of avoiding a hazard you see late.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Increasing Conspicuity: Riding at Night
8. Pavement is usually most slippery:
Correct answer: Right after it starts to rain, before oil washes away
Wet pavement is especially slick just after rain begins, before the surface oil has had time to wash off to the sides of the road.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Slippery Surfaces
9. If you cannot avoid riding over an obstacle, how should you approach it?
Correct answer: As near to a right angle as possible, rising off the seat
Approach as close to a 90-degree angle as you can, slow down, keep the bike straight, and rise slightly off the seat with your weight on the pegs to absorb the shock.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles
10. If you must cross a surface so slippery you have to coast, it is best to:
Correct answer: Squeeze the clutch and coast while staying off the brakes
Keep the motorcycle upright and go as slowly as possible; if you must coast, squeeze the clutch, stay off the brakes, and you may skim your feet to catch a fall.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Slippery Surfaces
11. When you ride over metal bridge gratings or rain grooves and the bike begins to weave, you should:
Correct answer: Relax and ride straight across at a steady speed
The wandering feeling is generally not dangerous; relax, hold a steady speed, and ride straight across rather than fighting it or zigzagging.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Handling Dangerous Surfaces: Grooves and Gratings
12. When you come upon a large animal such as a deer in the road, you should:
Correct answer: Brake and be prepared to stop
Large animals like deer, elk, and cattle are unpredictable, so brake and be ready to stop rather than trying to ride around them.
Source: PA Motorcycle Operator Manual (PUB 147) — Animals
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Every Pennsylvania question is written from the official Pennsylvania driver handbook and checked against its current edition. DMV Test Free is a free, independent study resource — not affiliated with any DMV or government agency. About DMV Test Free