Maryland Motorcycle Permit Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

Practice test 5 of 6 for the Maryland Motorcycle Permit Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Motorcycle
Maryland
128 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
Why can the center of a lane be slippery near intersections?
- It is cooler than the rest of the road
- It is always painted
- Oil and grease drip from cars that stop there
- Water collects only in the center
Show answer
Answer: C. Oil and grease drip from cars that stop there
Oil drips build up in the center of the lane where cars stop. The strip is usually narrow, so you can ride to one side of it.
Question 2 of 25
How should you ride when carrying a passenger?
- Brake later than usual
- A little slower, start slowing earlier, and leave more space
- Follow other vehicles more closely
- Faster, to keep your balance
Show answer
Answer: B. A little slower, start slowing earlier, and leave more space
With a passenger, the motorcycle takes longer to speed up and to stop.
Question 3 of 25
Your rear wheel locks during a quick stop on a good road surface. What can you do?
- Shift to neutral and coast
- Release the front brake
- Keep it locked until you have stopped
- Turn sharply off the road
Show answer
Answer: C. Keep it locked until you have stopped
On a good-traction surface you can keep the rear wheel locked until you stop.
Question 4 of 25
What is the most important piece of gear for surviving a motorcycle crash?
- A helmet that is securely fastened
- Leather gloves
- A heavy jacket
- Tall boots
Show answer
Answer: A. A helmet that is securely fastened
The manual calls a securely fastened helmet the most important factor in surviving a crash.
Question 5 of 25
How do you check your brake light before riding?
- Turn on the high beam
- Use the front lever and the rear pedal one at a time and see that each turns on the light
- Ride at night and look behind you
- Press the horn
Show answer
Answer: B. Use the front lever and the rear pedal one at a time and see that each turns on the light
Each brake control should turn on the brake light by itself.
Question 6 of 25
Why start a curve near the outside of your lane when no traffic is present?
- It hides you from other drivers
- It keeps you on the shoulder
- You can see farther around the curve and make the turn less sharp
- It lets you brake in the curve
Show answer
Answer: C. You can see farther around the curve and make the turn less sharp
Starting at the outside improves your line of sight and makes the curve's path wider and gentler.
Question 7 of 25
When you follow a car, where should you ride?
- Right beside the rear bumper
- Where the driver can see you in the rearview mirror
- In the driver's blind spot
- Close to the road edge
Show answer
Answer: B. Where the driver can see you in the rearview mirror
Riding in the center of the lane usually puts you in the middle of the driver's rearview mirror.
Question 8 of 25
In a normal turn like the one shown, how should your body lean?
- Farther than the motorcycle
- With the motorcycle, at the same angle
- Opposite the motorcycle
- Straight up while the motorcycle leans
Show answer
Answer: B. With the motorcycle, at the same angle
In normal turns, the rider and the motorcycle lean together at the same angle.
Question 9 of 25
Which brake gives most of your stopping power?
- Both give exactly the same
- The engine
- The rear brake
- The front brake
Show answer
Answer: D. The front brake
The front brake provides about 70 percent or more of your stopping power.
Question 10 of 25
How should you ride over an object in the road that you cannot avoid?
- Brake hard as you hit it
- Cross it as close to 90 degrees as you can, rising slightly off the seat
- Swerve over it at speed
- Cross it at a shallow angle, staying seated
Show answer
Answer: B. Cross it as close to 90 degrees as you can, rising slightly off the seat
Hit it straight on, keep a firm grip and rise slightly off the seat so your knees and elbows absorb the shock.
Question 11 of 25
How should you brake on a slippery surface?
- Use both brakes gently
- Use only the front brake, hard
- Use only the rear brake, hard
- Do not brake at all
Show answer
Answer: A. Use both brakes gently
On slippery roads, reduce speed, avoid sudden moves and use both brakes gently.
Question 12 of 25
In the diagram, which lane position is the center third of the lane?
- Position 3
- Position 2
- Position 1
Show answer
Answer: B. Position 2
Lane position 2 is the center of the lane. Position 1 is the left third and position 3 is the right third.
Question 13 of 25
Marker 1 in the diagram shows the rider's head. What should you do with your head in a turn?
- Keep it level, with your eyes in line with the horizon
- Keep it turned to the side
- Tilt it with the motorcycle
- Look down at the road just ahead
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep it level, with your eyes in line with the horizon
Turn just your head to look through the turn, and keep your eyes level with the horizon.
Question 14 of 25
What is a good sign that a motorcycle fits you?
- Your knees are above the handlebars
- You cannot reach the controls without leaning
- You must stand on tiptoe on one foot
- You can reach the ground with both feet while seated
Show answer
Answer: D. You can reach the ground with both feet while seated
You should be able to put both feet on the ground while seated, and reach all the controls easily.
Question 15 of 25
How does alcohol affect a rider?
- It slows reactions and weakens judgment, even in small amounts
- It has no effect if you eat first
- It only matters after five drinks
- It improves focus
Show answer
Answer: A. It slows reactions and weakens judgment, even in small amounts
Riding takes balance and quick decisions. Alcohol harms both, so the safest choice is not to drink and ride.
Question 16 of 25
When is a road most slippery in the rain?
- After hours of steady rain
- As soon as the rain stops
- Just after the rain starts, before oil washes away
- It is the same the whole time
Show answer
Answer: C. Just after the rain starts, before oil washes away
Oil on the road mixes with the first rain and makes the surface very slippery.
Question 17 of 25
In the diagram, marker 4 shows the passenger's feet. When should they stay on the passenger footpegs?
- Never; feet go on the ground
- At all times, even when the motorcycle is stopped
- Only at high speed
- Only in turns
Show answer
Answer: B. At all times, even when the motorcycle is stopped
Tell your passenger to keep both feet on the footrests, even when stopped, and away from the muffler and chain.
Question 18 of 25
In heavy traffic, drivers sometimes try to squeeze into your lane. How can you discourage this?
- Ride on the shoulder
- Ride in the center portion of the lane
- Ride very close to the car ahead
- Ride on the lane line
Show answer
Answer: B. Ride in the center portion of the lane
Keeping a center position makes it harder for drivers to share your lane.
Question 19 of 25
In T-CLOCS, what does the S stand for?
- Signals
- Speed
- Stands
- Seat
Show answer
Answer: C. Stands
S is Stands: the side stand and center stand should hold the motorcycle and spring back up.
Question 20 of 25
How can you tell a helmet meets the US federal safety standard?
- It weighs more than 5 pounds
- It has a visor
- It has a DOT label showing it meets FMVSS 218
- It is painted a bright color
Show answer
Answer: C. It has a DOT label showing it meets FMVSS 218
Helmets that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 carry the DOT symbol from the maker.
Question 21 of 25
Why should you avoid stimulants to stay awake on a ride?
- They can cause extreme tiredness when they wear off
- They make you sleepy right away
- They are only legal at night
- They improve your balance
Show answer
Answer: A. They can cause extreme tiredness when they wear off
Artificial stimulants often lead to extreme fatigue or depression when they wear off.
Question 22 of 25
What path through a curve does the diagram show?
- Inside, then outside, then inside
- Close to the road edge the whole way
- Outside, then inside, then outside
- The center of the lane the whole way
Show answer
Answer: C. Outside, then inside, then outside
With no traffic, enter at the outside, move toward the inside at the middle of the curve, and exit at the outside.
Question 23 of 25
How should you ride across a metal bridge grating?
- Zigzag to keep traction
- Brake hard on the grating
- Stop and walk the motorcycle across
- Relax, keep a steady speed and ride straight across
Show answer
Answer: D. Relax, keep a steady speed and ride straight across
The grating may make the motorcycle feel unsteady, but riding straight at a steady speed is safe.
Question 24 of 25
Where is the greatest risk of conflict between motorcycles and other vehicles?
- On bridges
- At intersections
- In parking garages
- On straight rural roads
Show answer
Answer: B. At intersections
Intersections are where other vehicles are most likely to cross your path.
Question 25 of 25
When should you use the front brake?
- Only above 30 mph
- Every time you slow down or stop, together with the rear brake
- Never on wet roads
- Only in an emergency
Show answer
Answer: B. Every time you slow down or stop, together with the rear brake
Use both brakes every time you slow or stop, so using the front brake becomes a habit.

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