Sharing the Road — Maryland
Maryland motorcycle permit practice test: 341 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Sharing the Road: 10 questions.
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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 | Sharing the Road |
| License test | Maryland Motorcycle permit test |
| Topic questions | 10 (3% of 341 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
Not yet verified
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Questions (10)
1. When riding with a passenger, you should:
- Assume the passenger has traveled by motorcycle before.
- Not assume the passenger has traveled by motorcycle before and explain the process. ✓
- Not let them ask questions.
- Not bother with explaining anything since they are only a passenger and not in control of the motorcycle.
Answer: B. Not assume the passenger has traveled by motorcycle before and explain the process.
You should not assume the passenger has ridden before; explain the basics with them before you start. The manual says not to assume a passenger knows motorcycle handling, control, or balance. It says to always instruct the passenger on the basics before starting the trip, even if the passenger is a motorcycle rider. That leads directly to the answer: treat the passenger as someone who may be new and walk them through what to do.
2. Passengers should:
- Lean as the operator leans. ✓
- Hold onto their seat.
- Sit as far back on the bike as possible.
- Never hold onto the operator.
Answer: A. Lean as the operator leans.
Passengers should lean as the operator leans through turns and curves. The manual tells passengers to stay directly behind the rider and lean with the rider through turns and curves. It also says looking over the rider's shoulder in the direction of the turn can help. The point is that the passenger moves with the motorcycle and does not fight the rider's lean. The bank answer matches this instruction.
3. When crossing railroad tracks that are parallel to the road, you should:
- Cross the tracks at a 90-degree angle.
- Avoid crossing the tracks for any reason.
- Try to cross the tracks at a 45-degree angle. ✓
- Slowly inch across the tracks.
Answer: C. Try to cross the tracks at a 45-degree angle.
Cross railroad tracks that run parallel to your path by moving away from them and crossing at an angle of at least 45 degrees. The manual addresses tracks, ruts, and pavement seams that run parallel to your path directly: get far enough away from them to cross at an angle of at least 45 degrees, then make a deliberate turn so you are not thrown off balance. The same section notes that when you cross, you should hold a steady speed and go straight across. The manual also warns that swinging out to hit tracks at a full 90 degrees can be more dangerous because that direction may carry you into another lane of traffic.
4. When riding near stopped or slow-moving cars, a motorcyclist should:
- Pull over and wait until traffic begins to move.
- Ride on the shoulder to get through the area as quickly as possible.
- Weave between the cars to get through the area as quickly as possible.
- Not weave between the cars. ✓
Answer: D. Not weave between the cars.
Do not weave between the cars; stay in your lane rather than riding through the gaps between stopped or slow-moving vehicles. The manual warns that riding between two rows of cars that are stopped or creeping in one lane exposes you to surprises you cannot predict: a hand coming out of a window, a door opening, or a car turning suddenly. It says riders should discourage lane sharing rather than do it themselves. Because those dangers come from the cars around you, the handbook points to avoiding weaving between them near stopped or slow traffic. It does not recommend pulling over to wait, using the shoulder, or squeezing through.
5. Which of the following is not required to obtain a motorcycle license?
- A written test
- A skills test
- A vision test
- An IQ test ✓
Answer: D. An IQ test
6. When carrying a passenger on a motorcycle, you must:
- Have a seat that is large enough for two riders. ✓
- Only have one set of footrests.
- Not encourage the passenger to wear protective clothing.
- Put a sticker on the brake light to warn other motorists that a passenger is on the motorcycle.
Answer: A. Have a seat that is large enough for two riders.
You must have a seat on the motorcycle that is large enough to hold both you and your passenger without crowding. The manual's passenger section lists what the bike needs before you ride two-up. It says the motorcycle should have a proper seat, one big enough for you and your passenger without crowding, and it adds that you should not sit more forward than you normally do. The same passage also calls for passenger footrests and a strap or solid handholds. The seat size matters because the passenger needs room to sit properly behind you rather than squeezed against you.
7. If you are riding in traffic when a small animal enters your lane, you should:
- Do whatever you can, including swerving into other lanes, to avoid hitting the animal.
- Switch lanes as quickly as possible.
- Stay in your lane. ✓
- Flash your lights to try to scare the animal.
Answer: C. Stay in your lane.
8. Which of the following is a reason for ending the motorcycle skills test?
- The applicant drops the motorcycle. ✓
- The applicant rides safely.
- The applicant obeys traffic laws.
- The applicant follows instructions.
Answer: A. The applicant drops the motorcycle.
9. A passenger on a motorcycle should:
- Mount the motorcycle before the engine starts.
- Mount the motorcycle after the engine starts. ✓
- Sit as close to the rear of the motorcycle as possible.
- Hold onto the seat.
Answer: B. Mount the motorcycle after the engine starts.
The passenger should mount the motorcycle after the engine starts, with the transmission in neutral. The manual tells the rider to have the passenger get on only after the engine is running and the transmission is in neutral. It also says the rider should keep both feet on the ground and hold the front brake while the passenger mounts. That procedure gives the passenger a stable motorcycle to climb onto and keeps the rider ready to control it during mounting.
10. On which of the following surfaces does a motorcycle have the best traction?
- Dry pavement ✓
- Gravel
- Snow
- Leaves
Answer: A. Dry pavement
Dry pavement gives you the best traction of the choices listed. The manual explains that a motorcycle handles better on surfaces that allow good traction, and it lists the surfaces that give poor traction. Wet pavement, gravel roads, and places where sand and gravel collect are named as poor-traction surfaces. Gravel is called out directly as a surface with bad grip, and dry pavement is the opposite of the wet pavement the manual warns about. So of the four choices, dry pavement is the one that lets the tires grip best.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook