Bad Weather & Night Driving — California
California motorcycle permit practice test: 329 free practice questions (19 official sample questions · Official driver handbook). Official test format: Multiple choice, pass mark 80% (DMV does not publish the question count). Bad Weather & Night Driving: 18 questions.
Rain, snow, ice, fog and night driving: visibility, traction and headlight use.
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 | Bad Weather & Night Driving |
| License test | California Motorcycle permit test |
| Topic questions | 18 (5% of 329 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
California Motorcycle Handbook (DL 665) ✓ Verified from official source
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Questions (18)
1. When riding at night you should:
- Move closer to the vehicle in front of you to use its lights to see farther down the road.
- Keep driving at your normal speed because slowing down would increase the chance of being struck from behind.
- Reduce your speed because it is harder to see something lying in the road. ✓
Answer: C. Reduce your speed because it is harder to see something lying in the road.
At night you should reduce your speed, because it is harder to see hazards like something lying in the road. The manual's night-riding section starts from the fact that seeing and being seen are both harder after dark. Its first recommendation is to ride slower than you would in daytime, especially on roads you don't know well, which gives you a better chance of avoiding a hazard. That matches slowing down for the reason that spotting objects on the road is harder at night. The same section also tells riders to open up a three-second following distance or more, so the answer is about speed, not about tucking in behind another vehicle.
2. Noise created by wind:
- Is easy to get used to.
- May cause irreversible hearing damage. ✓
- Is never a danger.
Answer: B. May cause irreversible hearing damage.
Wind noise may cause irreversible hearing damage. The manual warns that long-term exposure to engine and wind noise can cause permanent hearing damage, and it notes this can happen even with a full-face helmet. That supports the choice saying wind noise may cause irreversible hearing damage. The same passage recommends hearing protection that still lets you hear horns and sirens, which shows the manual treats noise as a real hazard.
3. If you are riding behind another vehicle at night, you can determine if there are bumps on the road ahead by:
- Listening for the other vehicle scraping against the pavement.
- Noticing the other vehicle’s taillights bouncing up and down. ✓
- Looking at the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead and trying to determine if it is bouncing.
Answer: B. Noticing the other vehicle’s taillights bouncing up and down.
You can spot bumps ahead at night by watching the taillights of the vehicle in front of you bounce up and down. The manual's night riding section tells you to use the car ahead, because its headlights show you the road better than your own high beam. It adds that taillights bouncing up and down can alert you to bumps or rough pavement. So the movement of the vehicle ahead is your early warning: if its lights bob, the surface under it is uneven and you should expect the same thing when you reach that spot.
4. What should you do if you must ride on a slippery surface?
- Slow down ✓
- Accelerate
- Make sudden moves
Answer: A. Slow down
When you have to ride on a slippery surface, slow down — reduce your speed before you reach it. The manual's slippery-surface advice starts with reducing speed: slow down before you get to the slick spot to lessen your chances of skidding, because the motorcycle needs more distance to stop. It adds that cutting speed before entering wet curves matters a lot. The other guidance on that page (smooth inputs, gradual brake pressure) works only if you have already slowed down, so speed reduction comes first.
5. A plastic, shatter-resistant face shield can protect you from:
- Noise.
- Dust. ✓
- Glare.
Answer: B. Dust.
A plastic, shatter-resistant face shield protects you from dust, along with wind, dirt, rain, insects and pebbles thrown up by cars ahead. The manual lists what a face shield shields you from, and dust is on that list, along with wind, dirt, rain, insects and pebbles thrown up from cars ahead. It adds that these things are distracting and can be painful, so dealing with them takes your attention away from the road. That is why the shield is worth wearing. It also protects your whole face in a crash, while goggles only cover your eyes and a windshield is not a substitute.
6. Long-term exposure to wind noise:
- Is not a danger.
- Can cause irreversible hearing damage. ✓
- Is just part of riding a motorcycle.
Answer: B. Can cause irreversible hearing damage.
Long-term exposure to wind noise can cause irreversible hearing damage. The manual warns that engine and wind noise, over a long period, may permanently damage hearing even with a full face helmet. That makes wind noise a real hearing hazard rather than something harmless. It also says hearing protection can cut noise while still letting you hear horns or sirens, so you can guard your hearing without shutting out traffic sounds. Because the manual links steady wind noise to lasting damage, the answer about irreversible hearing damage fits best.
7. It can be difficult to ride right after it starts raining because:
- Some other drivers may not react quickly enough to the rain.
- Pavement will be especially slippery. ✓
- Other drivers do not drive fast enough in wet weather.
Answer: B. Pavement will be especially slippery.
Riding right after it starts raining is difficult because the pavement will be especially slippery. The manual lists wet pavement as a poor-traction surface and singles out the period just after rain begins, before surface oil has washed to the side of the road. That oily film makes the pavement especially slippery. On a motorcycle, poor traction raises the chance of a skid, so the manual tells riders to slow down before slippery surfaces and to avoid sudden changes in speed or direction. Because the question asks why riding is hard right after rain starts, the slippery pavement is the direct reason.
8. When it starts raining, it is best to:
- Get off the road.
- Ride in the tire tracks left by other vehicles. ✓
- Ride in the center portion of the lane.
Answer: B. Ride in the tire tracks left by other vehicles.
When it starts raining, you should ride in the tire tracks left by other vehicles. The manual warns that the center of a lane can be hazardous when wet, and it gives a specific instruction for the start of rain: use the tracks vehicles have made. It adds that the left track often works best, depending on traffic and road conditions. The aim is to choose the least slippery part of your lane and stay smooth, since wet pavement gives your tires less grip. Getting off the road or aiming for the lane center does not follow that wet-weather guidance.
9. When traveling at night, you should:
- Ride as fast as you would if riding during the day.
- Ride more slowly than you would if riding during the day. ✓
- Ride faster than you would if riding during the day.
Answer: B. Ride more slowly than you would if riding during the day.
At night you should ride more slowly than you would during the day. The manual explains that at night it is harder for you to see and to be seen, so you ride slower than you would in daylight. It points out that this matters most on roads you don't know well, and says the slower pace raises your chances of avoiding a hazard. The same night section also asks for more following distance because distances are harder to judge in the dark. Slowing down is the manual's own listed way to make up for reduced nighttime visibility.
10. When it starts to rain, it is usually best to:
- Ride on the right side of the lane.
- Ride on the edge of the road.
- Ride in the tire tracks left by cars. ✓
Answer: C. Ride in the tire tracks left by cars.
When it starts to rain, the best choice is to ride in the tire tracks left by cars. The manual says the center of a lane can be hazardous when wet, and that once rain begins you should ride in the tire tracks left by vehicles. It notes the left tire track is often the best spot, depending on traffic and road conditions. Those tracks are where other vehicles have already pushed water aside, so you are riding on a less slippery part of the lane. Keep your speed down and stay smooth, since wet pavement lengthens your stopping distance.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Not yet verified
Updated: · 19 official sample questions · Official driver handbook