RTT Speed, Stopping Distances & Following Distance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When riding downhill, how does the slope affect stopping distance?
- Stopping distance decreases because gravity helps braking
- Stopping distance is unchanged
- Stopping distance increases because gravity adds to your momentum (Correct answer)
- Only front brake stopping distance is affected
Correct answer: Stopping distance increases because gravity adds to your momentum
Gravity adds to the motorcycle's momentum when going downhill, requiring more braking force and a longer distance to stop.
Question 2: At 45 mph, approximately what total stopping distance should you expect in dry conditions?
- About 75 feet
- About 100 feet
- About 150 feet (Correct answer)
- About 220 feet
Correct answer: About 150 feet
At 45 mph, reaction distance is roughly 45 feet and braking distance is about 100 feet, for a total of approximately 150 feet.
Question 3: How does carrying a passenger affect your motorcycle's stopping distance?
- It has no effect because the brakes remain the same
- It decreases stopping distance due to added traction
- It increases stopping distance due to the extra weight and momentum (Correct answer)
- It only affects stopping on curves, not straight roads
Correct answer: It increases stopping distance due to the extra weight and momentum
Additional weight increases momentum, which means the brakes must work harder and longer to bring the bike to a complete stop.
Question 4: What is the typical speed limit in a residential neighborhood in most U.S. states unless otherwise posted?
- 15 mph
- 20 mph
- 25 mph (Correct answer)
- 35 mph
Correct answer: 25 mph
Most U.S. states set a default speed limit of 25 mph in residential areas when no other limit is posted.
Question 5: Which technique helps a motorcyclist maintain the safest speed through a curve?
- Accelerate through the curve to stabilize the bike
- Enter the curve slower than needed, then gently accelerate through the exit (Correct answer)
- Brake hard at the mid-point of the curve to control lean angle
- Maintain the same speed from entry to exit of every curve
Correct answer: Enter the curve slower than needed, then gently accelerate through the exit
Entering a curve slower than required lets you accelerate out, which stabilizes the motorcycle and keeps you in control if the curve tightens.
Question 6: How does speed influence the severity of a crash if one occurs?
- Speed has a minimal effect on crash severity
- Higher speed doubles injury risk linearly
- Crash forces increase exponentially with speed, making higher-speed crashes far more deadly (Correct answer)
- Only speed above 60 mph significantly affects crash outcomes
Correct answer: Crash forces increase exponentially with speed, making higher-speed crashes far more deadly
Because kinetic energy increases with the square of speed, even moderate speed increases result in dramatically greater crash forces and injury severity.
Question 7: When following a large truck or SUV, why should motorcyclists increase their following distance beyond the standard two seconds?
- Large vehicles have faster brakes so you must stay farther back
- Large vehicles block your view of hazards ahead, requiring extra time to react (Correct answer)
- State law mandates longer distances behind commercial vehicles only
- Large vehicles create a slipstream that pulls motorcycles forward
Correct answer: Large vehicles block your view of hazards ahead, requiring extra time to react
Large vehicles block your line of sight, meaning you have less warning of hazards, so extra following distance compensates for the reduced visibility.
RTT Speed, Stopping Distances & Following Distance 2
When riding downhill, how does the slope affect stopping distance?