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Motorcycle · Avoiding Hazards

When approaching an intersection, why are motorcyclists at particular risk, and what should the rider do?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Many crashes happen at intersections when drivers turn left in front of or fail to see a motorcycle, so the rider should slow, cover the brakes, be visible, and have an escape plan

  1. A Riders should speed up through intersections
  2. B Many crashes happen at intersections when drivers turn left in front of or fail to see a motorcycle, so the rider should slow, cover the brakes, be visible, and have an escape plan
  3. C Intersections are safe for motorcycles
  4. D Riders should never use the horn

Why this is the answer

Intersections are where many motorcycle crashes occur, often because a driver turns left across the rider's path or simply doesn't see the smaller motorcycle. To manage this risk, the rider should slow on approach, cover the brakes to react quickly, choose a lane position that maximizes visibility, watch oncoming vehicles (especially those that might turn left), and keep an escape path in mind. Making eye contact with drivers, when possible, and being prepared to brake or swerve are key defensive habits. Treat every intersection as a potential hazard and never assume another driver has seen you.
Source: MSF Basic RiderCourse, Intersection Hazards

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About this topic: Avoiding Hazards

Avoiding hazards questions cover scanning (SEE: search, evaluate, execute), lane positioning, following distance, road-surface hazards, intersections and the blind spots of other vehicles. This is one of 13 Motorcycle questions on avoiding hazards, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our Motorcycle exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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