Which of the following decreases your traction?
- Loose helmet
- Exhaust from other vehicles
- Storm drains, wet leaves, tar patches ✓
- All of the above
Answer: C. Storm drains, wet leaves, tar patches
Storm drains, wet leaves and tar patches decrease traction.
Why this is the answer
The motorcycle handbook tells riders that two-wheel vehicles can easily lose traction on rough or slippery surfaces and fall, so riders should scan the road ahead for hazards. Its list of poor road surfaces includes wet leaves and other debris, oil and tar patches, and storm drains. Loose helmets and exhaust from other vehicles do not appear on that list of surface conditions that reduce grip.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Loose helmet — A loose helmet is not described in the passages as a road surface condition that decreases traction.
- B. Exhaust from other vehicles — Exhaust from other vehicles is not described in the passages as a surface hazard that decreases traction.
- D. All of the above — The all-encompassing choice is wrong because the helmet and exhaust items are not part of the handbook's list of poor road surfaces.
Remember it
Your tires grip the surface, so watch the surface itself for drains, leaves and tar patches.
Official handbook: ICBC Learn to Ride Smart, Chapter 6: see-think-do – think, p. 73