New Zealand Motorbike Driving Test NZ Motorbike Driving Behaviour 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When riding at night, what should you do to maximise your safety?
- Ride faster to spend less time on the road
- Increase following distance and reduce speed to match your headlight range (Correct answer)
- Switch to high beam at all times regardless of other traffic
- Rely on streetlights instead of your own headlight
Correct answer: Increase following distance and reduce speed to match your headlight range
At night you should reduce speed and increase your following distance so you can stop within the distance lit by your headlight.
Question 2: A motorcyclist is approaching an intersection with no signs or signals. Which vehicle has right of way?
- The vehicle travelling fastest
- The vehicle on the right (Correct answer)
- The vehicle on the left
- The larger vehicle always has priority
Correct answer: The vehicle on the right
At an uncontrolled intersection, you must give way to any vehicle coming from your right.
Question 3: Why is it important for motorcyclists to avoid riding in another vehicle's blind spot?
- It wastes fuel due to wind turbulence
- The driver may not see you and could change lanes into you (Correct answer)
- It makes it harder to see the road ahead
- It is only a concern for large trucks, not cars
Correct answer: The driver may not see you and could change lanes into you
Drivers cannot see vehicles in their blind spots, so staying there puts you at serious risk of a side collision if they change lanes.
Question 4: What does counter-steering mean for a motorcyclist at speed?
- Steering in the opposite direction to where you want to go initially, which causes the bike to lean and turn (Correct answer)
- Braking while turning to slow the bike's cornering speed
- Using the rear brake to steer through corners
- Leaning your body while keeping the handlebars straight
Correct answer: Steering in the opposite direction to where you want to go initially, which causes the bike to lean and turn
Counter-steering means briefly pushing the handlebar on the side you want to turn, which initiates a lean and directs the bike into the corner.
Question 5: You are riding on a rural road and see gravel scattered across a corner. What should you do?
- Maintain speed and trust your tyres
- Increase speed to get through the corner quickly
- Reduce speed before the corner and ride through it smoothly (Correct answer)
- Brake hard while turning through the gravel
Correct answer: Reduce speed before the corner and ride through it smoothly
Loose gravel drastically reduces tyre grip, so you must slow down before the corner and ride through with smooth, gentle inputs.
Question 6: When should a motorcyclist use their hazard lights?
- Whenever they are riding below the speed limit
- Only when the motorbike has broken down or is a hazard to other road users (Correct answer)
- At all times in rain or fog
- When overtaking other vehicles
Correct answer: Only when the motorbike has broken down or is a hazard to other road users
Hazard lights are for use when your vehicle is stationary and poses a hazard, not as a general warning while riding.
Question 7: What is the legal blood alcohol limit for a fully licensed motorcyclist aged 20 or over in New Zealand?
- Zero — no alcohol is permitted
- 50mg per 100ml of blood (Correct answer)
- 80mg per 100ml of blood
- 30mg per 100ml of blood
Correct answer: 50mg per 100ml of blood
The legal limit for fully licensed riders aged 20 and over is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in New Zealand.
When riding at night, what should you do to maximise your safety?