Washington Motorcycle practice
Washington Motorcycle: Handling Emergencies practice test
What to do when things go wrong — brake failure, tire blowouts, skids, and stalling on railroad tracks.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
11 questions · pass with 9 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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Study questions with answers
11 sample Handling Emergencies questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.
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1. Why should you never brake and swerve at the same time?
Correct answer: Swerving requires a lot of traction, so doing both can overload the tires
Swerving needs a lot of traction, so braking at the same time can overload the tires; instead, separate the two actions.
Source: Washington Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Riding a Two-Wheeled Motorcycle: Swerves
2. Why can swerving be riskier on a three-wheeler than on a two-wheeler?
Correct answer: Side loads can upset the suspension and cause a tip or rollover
On a three-wheeler the sudden side loads of a swerve can upset the suspension and cause a tip or rollover, and there is less room to swerve due to its size.
Source: Washington Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Riding a Three-Wheeled Motorcycle: Swerves
3. What are the two general categories of evasive maneuvers when you meet a hazard?
Correct answer: Changing speed or changing position
Evasive action falls into two groups: adjusting your speed (accelerating, easing off, or halting) or altering your position (swerving or turning).
Source: Washington Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Riding a Two-Wheeled Motorcycle: Evasive Maneuvers
4. On a sidecar rig, how do you compensate for the yaw (leftward pull) you feel while braking?
Correct answer: Steer slightly to the right
When braking a sidecar rig you may feel thrust to the left, so steer slightly to the right to hold your path and stay in your lane.
Source: Washington Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Riding a Three-Wheeled Motorcycle: Yaw
5. According to the driver guide, which three factors usually lie behind a collision?
Correct answer: Excess speed, too little space and poor situational awareness
Crashes generally trace back to carrying too much speed, leaving too little space, and not being aware enough of what is going on around you.
Source: Washington Driver Guide — Collisions (5.9)
6. At a crash scene, when should you move somebody who has been hurt?
Correct answer: Only when leaving them in place would put them in immediate danger
Leave injured people where they are unless staying put would put them in immediate danger, such as a vehicle that has caught fire. Call 911, check breathing, then check for bleeding.
Source: Washington Driver Guide — Reporting an injury (5.9)
7. If you must both swerve and brake to avoid a hazard, how should you combine them?
Correct answer: Swerve first and brake afterward, or brake first and then swerve
Perform them separately: swerve first and brake afterward, or brake first and swerve next, but never together.
Source: Washington Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Riding a Two-Wheeled Motorcycle: Swerves
8. You strike a parked vehicle and cannot track down its owner. What are you required to do?
Correct answer: Leave a note where it will be seen, with the date, time and your contact details
Leave a note somewhere the owner will easily spot it, giving the date and time of the collision along with your contact details.
Source: Washington Driver Guide — Crashing a vehicle (5.9)
9. What is target fixation, and how do you avoid its danger?
Correct answer: Staring at a hazard tends to steer you into it, so look where you want to go instead
Target fixation happens when staring intently at something pulls you toward it; the fix is to focus on your intended path rather than on the hazard itself.
Source: Washington Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Strategies for the Street: Target Fixation
10. If no law enforcement officer files a report after your crash, how soon must you submit a collision report form?
Correct answer: Within four days
State law requires the form within four days of the crash whenever an officer has not already filed one for you.
Source: Washington Driver Guide — Reporting a crash (5.9)
11. While 'flying' a sidecar with one wheel lifted, what can you do to bring the raised wheel back down?
Correct answer: Lean into the lift, lightly apply the front brake, or ease off the throttle
To bring a flying wheel down you can lean into the lift, lightly apply the front brake, or roll off the throttle slightly.
Source: Washington Motorcycle Operator's Manual — Riding a Three-Wheeled Motorcycle: Flying and Steering Reversion
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