Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation — New Hampshire
New Hampshire motorcycle permit practice test: 338 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation: 119 questions.
Brakes, tires, lights, mirrors, seat belts, child seats and basic vehicle control.
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 | Vehicle Equipment & Safe Operation |
| License test | New Hampshire Motorcycle permit test |
| Topic questions | 119 (35% of 338 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
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Questions (119)
1. A helmet will not provide the best possible protection:
- If it is certified by the DOT.
- If it fits snugly.
- If it is free of defects.
- If it has cracks. ✓
Answer: D. If it has cracks.
A helmet will not provide the best possible protection if it has cracks. The manual says you get the most protection by making sure your helmet is designed to meet DOT and state standards, fits snugly all the way around, and has no obvious defects such as cracks, loose padding, or frayed straps. A cracked helmet fails that defects check, so it is not in the condition that gives the best possible protection.
2. If your rear wheel locks while braking, you should:
- Release the brake until the rear tire regains traction, then re-apply the brake.
- Release the brake and only engage the front brake.
- Keep it locked until the motorcycle comes to a stop. ✓
- Release the brake and coast to a stop.
Answer: C. Keep it locked until the motorcycle comes to a stop.
If your rear wheel locks while braking, keep it locked until the motorcycle has completely stopped. The manual's quick-stop section says that if you accidentally lock the rear brake on a good traction surface, you can hold it locked until you are fully stopped. It adds that a locked rear wheel still leaves you able to control the motorcycle as long as it stays upright and travels in a straight line. That is why the manual does not ask you to release and re-apply the rear brake the way it does for a locked front wheel.
3. The best way to stop quickly is to:
- Use the front brake only.
- Use the front brake first.
- Throttle down and use the front brake.
- Use both brakes at the same time. ✓
Answer: D. Use both brakes at the same time.
Use both brakes at the same time to stop quickly. The manual's quick-stop section says to apply both brakes together: squeeze the front lever firmly and progressively while pressing the rear brake. It also says to use both brakes whenever you slow or stop, and that maximum straight-line braking means fully applying both without locking either wheel. The front brake gives most of the stopping power, but the rear brake still adds control. That is why the correct choice is to use both brakes at the same time.
4. After entering a turn, you should roll on the throttle and:
- Always slow down.
- Maintain a steady speed or accelerate gradually. ✓
- Accelerate drastically.
- Not worry about your speed.
Answer: B. Maintain a steady speed or accelerate gradually.
After entering a turn, hold a steady speed or accelerate gradually. The manual's turn sequence tells you to slow down before the turn, then roll on the throttle after you are in it. That throttle roll is meant to hold your speed or raise it only a little, which helps stabilize the motorcycle. The three-wheel supplement gives the same idea: roll on the throttle slightly for stability, and accelerate gradually as you come out of a curve. So the choice that matches the handbook is to keep a steady speed or speed up gently, not to make a big speed change.
5. A leather jacket:
- Can make a rider look cool.
- Is usually too warm to wear when riding.
- Provides protection in a crash. ✓
- Should not be worn when riding.
Answer: C. Provides protection in a crash.
A leather jacket provides protection in a crash. The manual says clothing is there to protect you, and that among jacket materials leather offers the most protection. It also tells riders to wear a jacket even in warm weather, and notes that many jackets are built to protect without overheating you. So leather is chosen for the protection it gives, not for looks or warmth alone.
6. To get the best possible protection, wear a helmet that:
- Fits snugly. ✓
- Is well-worn and broken in.
- Is pretty loose.
- Does not have a chinstrap.
Answer: A. Fits snugly.
To get the most protection, wear a helmet that fits snugly all the way around. The manual's helmet selection section says the most protection comes from a helmet built to DOT and state standards, that fits snugly all the way around, and that has no obvious defects like cracks, loose padding or frayed straps. A snug fit around the whole head is one of the listed requirements, so it is the choice that matches the manual. The same page adds that you should keep the helmet securely fastened on your head when you ride, because in a crash it might otherwise fly off.
7. Riders who do not wear helmets while riding are ________ to die in a crash than riders who do wear helmets.
- Half as likely
- Twice as likely
- Three times as likely ✓
- Just as likely
Answer: C. Three times as likely
Riders who do not wear helmets are three times as likely to die in a crash as riders who do wear one. The manual's helmet section compares helmeted and unhelmeted riders directly: riders wearing a helmet are three times more likely to survive a head injury than riders who were not wearing one at the time of the crash. Read the other way, that same comparison means the rider without a helmet faces roughly three times the chance of dying from head injuries. The manual also notes that head and neck injuries make up most serious and fatal injuries to motorcyclists, which is why the helmet comparison is about survival, not just comfort.
8. If a tire goes flat while you are riding and you must stop, it is usually best to:
- Relax on the handle grips.
- Shift your weight toward the good tire.
- Brake on the good tire and steer to the side of the road. ✓
- Use both brakes and stop quickly.
Answer: C. Brake on the good tire and steer to the side of the road.
Brake on the good tire and steer to the side of the road. The manual's flat-tire steps say to grip the handgrips firmly, ease off the throttle, and keep a straight line. If you need to brake, apply the brake for the tire that is still inflated only if you are sure which tire is flat. Once speed drops, move to the side of the road and stop. Braking on the good tire and steering to the shoulder fits those steps; using both brakes or relaxing your grip does not.
9. When adjusting your mirrors, you should focus on:
- The road behind and to the side of your motorcycle. ✓
- Your arms.
- The road in front of your motorcycle.
- The side of the motorcycle.
Answer: A. The road behind and to the side of your motorcycle.
Focus each mirror on the road behind and to the side of your motorcycle. The manual tells you to clean and adjust your mirrors before you start riding, since it is hard to ride with one hand while you fiddle with a mirror. It then says to set each mirror so the lane behind you and the lane next to you are visible. Your arm or shoulder may show up in the glass once the mirror is set right, but the manual makes clear that the road behind and beside you is the part that matters.
10. The single most effective thing you can do to improve your chances of surviving an accident is:
- Wear a helmet. ✓
- Read books on motorcycle safety.
- Ask others about how to ride more safely.
- Watch training videos.
Answer: A. Wear a helmet.
Wear a helmet — the manual calls it the single most important thing you can do to improve your chances if you crash. The manual states plainly that wearing a securely fastened, quality helmet is the single most important step toward surviving a crash. It backs this up by noting that helmets can reduce the number and severity of head and neck injuries by half, and that helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than riders without helmets. Since head and neck injuries cause most serious and fatal motorcycle injuries, the helmet is the one action that matters most.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook