Speed Limits & Following Distance — Ontario
Ontario M1 practice test: 119 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Speed Limits & Following Distance: 10 questions.
Posted speed limits, school and construction zones, stopping and following distance.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | Speed Limits & Following Distance |
| License test | Ontario M1 motorcycle knowledge test |
| Topic questions | 10 (8% of 119 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
ontario.ca ✓ Verified from official source
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Questions (10)
1. For increased safety when riding at night, you should
- reduce your speed.
- increase your following distance.
- watch the taillights of the vehicle ahead.
- do all of the above. ✓
Answer: D. do all of the above.
The safest choice is to do all of the above: reduce your speed, increase your following distance and watch the taillights of the vehicle ahead. The motorcycle handbook's night-riding advice lists all three actions. It says to reduce your speed, particularly on roads you do not know well, because something on the road may not be visible in time. It also says to increase your distance from other vehicles, since you cannot judge distance as well at night. Finally, it tells you to use the lights of the vehicle ahead for a better view and to watch its tail lights for signs of bumps or rough pavement. Because each action is recommended, the combined choice fits the handbook.
2. Under ideal conditions, you should maintain a following distance of at least _______ behind the vehicle ahead of you.
- 2 seconds ✓
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
- 4 seconds
Answer: A. 2 seconds
Under ideal conditions, you should stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead. The motorcycle handbook says to keep at least a two-second gap behind the vehicle in front. It explains that this gap gives you time to react and a better view of hazards such as potholes, slippery spots or debris. It also describes a marker check: when the vehicle ahead passes a sign or pole, count to two; if you reach the marker before finishing the count, you are too close. Since the question asks about ideal conditions, the handbook's minimum two-second distance is the answer.
3. Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit in cities, towns and villages is
- 40 km/h.
- 30 km/h.
- 60 km/h.
- 50 km/h. ✓
Answer: D. 50 km/h.
4. On a highway, when may you drive at the maximum speed limit?
- At any time
- Only in the daytime
- Only if you can stop safely ✓
- On any highway designed for one-way traffic
Answer: C. Only if you can stop safely
5. When carrying cargo or a passenger,
- maintain a greater following distance between you and the vehicle ahead.
- start slowing down earlier than usual.
- drive at lower speeds.
- do all of the above. ✓
Answer: D. do all of the above.
When carrying cargo or a passenger, you should do all of the above: drive at lower speeds, start slowing down earlier, and keep a greater following distance. The handbook says extra weight makes the motorcycle respond more slowly, so it takes longer to speed up, slow down or turn. To adjust, it lists driving at a lower speed, especially on corners, curves and bumps, and beginning to slow down earlier when approaching a stop. It also says to allow a greater following distance and keep more space from vehicles on either side. The bank answer combines those adjustments, so all of the listed actions apply.
6. Why are gravel roads potentially dangerous to motorcyclists?
- Gravel provides less traction than pavement. ✓
- Other drivers are known to drive recklessly.
- They do not have posted speed limits.
- There are no lane markers.
Answer: A. Gravel provides less traction than pavement.
Gravel roads are potentially dangerous to motorcyclists because gravel provides less traction than pavement. The motorcycle handbook states directly that traction on gravel roads is not as good as on pavement. It also notes that some gravel areas are better than others and advises staying in the tire tracks, away from loose gravel at the road edge. With less grip than a paved surface, gravel can make the motorcycle harder to control, which is why it is treated as a dangerous surface.
7. Which of the following statements about carrying passengers are true?
- It will take you longer to speed up.
- It will take you longer to make a turn.
- Your stopping distance will increase.
- All of the above statements are true. ✓
Answer: D. All of the above statements are true.
All of the above statements are true: carrying a passenger makes the motorcycle take longer to speed up, longer to turn, and longer to slow down, so stopping distance increases. The handbook says that a passenger's extra weight makes the motorcycle respond more slowly. It specifically lists speeding up, slowing down and turning as taking more time, and notes that a heavier passenger makes the response slower. Since slowing down takes longer, stopping distance increases too. The first three statements are each part of that same effect, so the all-of-the-above choice is correct.
8. M1 licence holders may NOT drive
- on most roads whose speed limits are over 80 km/h. ✓
- on rural roads with speed limits below 80 km/h.
- in residential areas.
- on country roads unless accompanied by a driving instructor.
Answer: A. on most roads whose speed limits are over 80 km/h.
An M1 licence holder may not drive on most roads whose speed limits are over 80 km/h. The MTO motorcycle handbook lists the conditions for driving with an M1 licence. One condition says you must not drive on roads with speed limits above 80 km/h, except for a specific set of named highways. That means the general rule is to stay off roads posted over 80 km/h, and only the listed exceptions allow an M1 rider on such a road. The answer matches that general restriction.
9. Unless otherwise posted, the maximum speed limit on a highway outside of a city, town or village is
- 60 km/h.
- 100 km/h.
- 70 km/h.
- 80 km/h. ✓
Answer: D. 80 km/h.
10. Motorcycle riders must maintain the following distance from other vehicles
- 15-seconds' distance
- 10-seconds' distance
- 2-3-seconds' distance ✓
- 5-seconds' distance
Answer: C. 2-3-seconds' distance
Keep a following distance of about two to three seconds behind the vehicle in front. The motorcycle handbook's freeway driving section says to stay at least a two- to three-second distance behind the vehicle ahead. That directly matches the answer. The same section also advises giving yourself more room in front if another vehicle follows too closely, so this gap is treated as a minimum space cushion. Another passage mentions a two-second rule as a minimum following distance, but the clearest statement of the two- to three-second gap is the freeway passage.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook