ACT rider knowledge test protective gear and helmets practice questions

Question 1

What does the law require of the helmet you wear when riding a motorcycle in the ACT?

• It must be an approved motorcycle helmet, properly fitted and securely fastenedCorrect answer
• It must be any helmet with a chin strap
• It must be new within the last year
• It must be white or a light colour

Approved means a helmet built to a standard accepted in the ACT, such as AS/NZS 1698. Some jurisdictions also accept helmets built to United Nations ECE 22.05 or later, so check the current rule before you buy.

Rule cited: Australian Road Rules, rule 270 (wearing motorcycle helmets)

Question 2

How should a motorcycle helmet fit?

• Loose enough to turn easily on your head
• Firm all round with no pressure points, so it does not move when you shake your headCorrect answer
• Tight enough to be painful after ten minutes
• Any fit is acceptable if the strap is done up

A helmet that shifts on your head will move in a crash and may come off entirely. Check the fit with the strap done up before you buy, and replace the helmet if the lining packs down over time.

Rule cited: ACT motorcycle rider handbook, topic: helmets and protective clothing

Question 3

Your helmet has been in a crash but shows no visible damage. What should you do?

• Keep using it, the shell is intact
• Replace it, because the impact absorbing liner only works onceCorrect answer
• Keep it for short rides only
• Have the strap replaced and keep using it

The liner crushes to soak up energy and does not recover. A helmet that has taken a hard impact, whether in a crash or off the seat onto concrete, should be retired.

Rule cited: ACT motorcycle rider handbook, topic: helmets and protective clothing

Question 4

Why should a rider wear eye protection?

• Only to look the part
• Wind, insects, dust and stones can blind you long enough to run off the roadCorrect answer
• It stops the visor from fogging
• It is only needed at night

A clean visor or goggles keep your vision steady. A scratched or dirty visor also scatters light badly when you ride towards a low winter sun.

Rule cited: ACT motorcycle rider handbook, topic: helmets and protective clothing

Question 5

Canberra winters are cold. Why do proper winter riding gloves matter for control as well as comfort?

• They make the levers softer
• Cold hands go numb and stiff, and you lose the fine control of clutch, throttle and brakeCorrect answer
• They only keep the wind off
• They are required by law in winter

Numb hands cannot feel how hard you are braking or how much throttle you are giving. Windproof gloves that still let you feel the controls are the goal.

Rule cited: ACT motorcycle rider handbook, topic: helmets and protective clothing

Question 6

What makes a riding jacket useful in a crash?

• Its colour alone
• Material that resists abrasion during a slide, plus armour at the shoulders, elbows and backCorrect answer
• A hood and drawstring
• Its weight

Ordinary clothing wears through in metres. Purpose made riding gear handles the slide and spreads the impact, and a light or bright colour also helps drivers see you.

Rule cited: ACT motorcycle rider handbook, topic: helmets and protective clothing

Question 7

Why should riding boots cover the ankle?

• So they match the jacket
• The ankle is easily broken or twisted in a fall, and a firm sole stops your foot slipping off the footrestCorrect answer
• To keep the trousers clean
• Only riders on large motorcycles need them

Ankle and foot injuries are common and slow to heal. Boots also give grip when you put a foot down on wet or frosty ground.

Rule cited: ACT motorcycle rider handbook, topic: helmets and protective clothing

Question 8

You are riding to work in traffic and it is only fifteen minutes. What gear should you wear?

• Full protective gear, because short urban trips are where many crashes happenCorrect answer
• Just a helmet, since the speeds are low
• Whatever you are wearing to the office
• A helmet and gloves only

A fall at 50 km/h in traffic still removes skin and breaks bones. Low speed does not mean low consequence for a rider.

Rule cited: ACT motorcycle rider handbook, topic: helmets and protective clothing