Illinois SOS Motorcycle Practice Test 17
- Questions25
- Correct to pass20
- Passing score80%
- Minimum age16 years
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1. You reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same moment as a vehicle approaching from your left. What should you do?
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Answer A: Proceed, but only once you see that driver slowing
You have the right of way over the vehicle on your left, but a right of way is something the other driver has to give, so confirm it before you commit.
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2. You feel dizzy, weak and clammy after an hour of riding in high heat. What should you do?
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Answer B: Stop in the shade, drink water and cool down before riding further
Those are early signs of heat illness and they get worse with continued exertion, so get out of the sun, rehydrate and cool off before you ride on.
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3. A speed limit sign carries a second panel reading TRUCKS 55. What does that panel do?
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Answer B: It sets a lower legal limit for trucks
A truck speed limit panel is regulatory, so trucks are bound by the lower figure while other traffic keeps to the main limit.
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4. You have just driven through a deep puddle and your brakes feel weak. What should you do?
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Answer D: Drive slowly while lightly applying the brakes until they dry and work normally
Wet brakes grip poorly and may pull to one side. Gentle braking at low speed generates heat that dries the pads and discs quickly.
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5. You are approaching a refuse collection truck working along your street. What should you expect?
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Answer D: Workers stepping into the road around the truck
Collection crews move constantly between the truck and the curb, often from where you cannot see them, so slow right down and pass only when the whole area is clear.
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6. How should you position your vehicle for a right turn from a two-way street?
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Answer B: As close as practical to the right curb or edge, then turn into the nearest right lane
Right turns are made from the lane nearest the right edge into the nearest available lane, which keeps the turn tight and prevents a wide sweep into other traffic.
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7. Two vehicles meet on a steep, narrow mountain road with no room to pass. Which driver should back up?
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Answer C: The driver heading downhill, who has more control while reversing
On a narrow mountain road the vehicle facing downhill yields, because backing uphill gives better control than reversing down a grade.
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8. As you approach an intersection, what is a sound search pattern?
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Answer A: Look left, then ahead, then right, then left again before you enter
Traffic from the left reaches the rider first, so it is checked first and then rechecked, with the road ahead and the traffic from the right covered in between.
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9. The lane control signal above your lane changes to a steady yellow X. What should you do?
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Answer A: Prepare to leave the lane, because it is about to be closed
A steady yellow X is the warning that the lane below it is about to close, giving drivers time to move over before the red X appears.
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10. There is a driveway and a side street between you and the corner where you will turn right. When should you signal?
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Answer C: After passing the openings, so nobody pulls out in front of you
A signal switched on before an opening tells drivers waiting there that you are turning in, and they may pull out into your path.
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11. A yellow diamond shows a horse with a rider. Besides slowing down, what else should a driver do?
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Answer C: Avoid using the horn or revving the engine
The equestrian crossing sign warns of horses on or across the road, and a sudden noise can startle an animal into the traffic lane.
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12. For an alert driver, about how long is the reaction time once a hazard has been recognized?
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Answer A: About three quarters of a second
Reaction alone takes roughly three quarters of a second for an alert driver, and perception takes about as long again, so a second and a half of travel is added before the brakes bite.
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13. What is the correct way to secure a load on a motorcycle?
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Answer C: Fasten it with elastic cords using several attachment points and check it at every stop
Several attachment points hold the load tight so it cannot shift or fall into the wheel or the chain, and checking at stops catches a load that has worked loose.
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14. What is the purpose of the padding built into the shoulders, elbows and knees of riding gear?
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Answer C: It absorbs impact energy at the joints most likely to strike first
Armor at the joints spreads and absorbs the force of an impact in the places that usually hit the ground first in a fall.
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15. You are riding a shaded back road in autumn and reach a mat of wet leaves covering the pavement. What should you expect?
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Answer D: Traction can be nearly as poor as ice, so slow down before you reach them
Wet leaves are slick and they hide whatever is underneath, so reduce speed before the patch and cross it upright without braking or turning.
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16. What does a NARROW BRIDGE warning sign tell a driver?
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Answer A: The bridge is tighter than the road leading up to it
A narrow bridge still carries both directions, but with much less clearance than the approaches, so drivers should slow and hold their lane position carefully.
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17. A white regulatory sign shows the silhouette of a truck inside a red circle with a diagonal slash. What does it mean?
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Answer A: Trucks are not allowed to use that road
The circle and slash over a symbol always means the movement or vehicle shown is prohibited, so trucks must keep off that roadway.
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18. A sign showing a walking figure inside a red circle with a diagonal slash stands at the start of a bridge. What does it mean?
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Answer C: People on foot may not use that roadway
The no pedestrians sign excludes people on foot from that roadway altogether, which is common on high-speed bridges and freeways.
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19. On a wet road, how should a driver adjust after passing this sign?
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Answer B: Start braking earlier, because a slippery surface lengthens the stopping distance
A wet surface lengthens stopping distance, so the extra warning distance should be spent braking gently and early instead of late and hard.
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20. Where does loose sand and gravel most often collect on a paved road?
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Answer D: Along the edges of the road and on curves and highway ramps
Traffic sweeps loose material toward the outside of the travel path, so it builds up at the road edges and on curves and on entrance and exit ramps.
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21. What counts as a complete stop at a stop sign?
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Answer C: The wheels stop turning before the stop line
A legal stop means the vehicle is no longer moving, made at the stop line or before entering the crosswalk or intersection.
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22. What is the difference between an Illinois Class L and a Class M license classification?
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Answer B: Class L covers motor-driven cycles under 150cc, while Class M covers any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle
Illinois issues Class L for a motor-driven cycle with less than 150cc displacement and Class M for any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.
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23. A helmet falls from the seat onto a hard floor but shows no cracks. What should the owner do?
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Answer C: Replace it or have it checked, because the liner can be crushed inside
The foam liner can be compressed with no outside sign, and crushed foam will not absorb a second impact, so a helmet that has taken a hard knock should be replaced.
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24. A pedestrian starts to cross against a Do Not Walk signal, right in front of you. What should you do?
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Answer D: Slow or stop and let the person reach safety
Even when a pedestrian is crossing unlawfully, a driver must take reasonable care to avoid hitting that person.
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25. When is it safe to return to your own lane after passing a vehicle?
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Answer C: Once you can see the whole front of that vehicle in your mirror
Seeing the entire front of the vehicle in the mirror proves there is a full vehicle length of clear road, which the rider cannot judge by feel alone.