How far back should you look when doing a shoulder check?

At least 45 degrees behind your shoulder

All the way behind you for several seconds

After stopping, your view of the cross street is blocked. What should you do?

Edge forward until you can see clearly

Wait for the car behind to move

Approaching an intersection, in what order should you scan the road you are crossing?

Left, centre, right, then left again

Left only, since traffic comes from there

BC Class 6 / 8 Motorcycle overview

BC Class 6 / 8 Motorcycle: Observation and hazard perception

The see-think-do strategy, scanning 12 seconds ahead, mirrors, blind spots and shoulder checks, observing at intersections, the four kinds of hazards, and assessing risk.

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Observation and hazard perception · Question 1Score 0/0

When should you do a mirror and shoulder check?

Tip: press 1–4 to answer and Enter for the next question.

Study reference: Learn to Ride Smart (ICBC, March 2026 edition), Ch. 6 See-think-do — See: observation and hazard perception; Think: assess the risk and choose a solution, pp. 67–75

All 15 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

When should you do a mirror and shoulder check?
1. Only when a car is close behind you in traffic
2. Only at night, when mirrors are harder to use
3. Before pulling out, changing lanes or position, or turning
4. Only before changing lanes on a freeway or highway
How far back should you look when doing a shoulder check?
1. Just at your mirror
2. All the way behind you for several seconds
3. At least 45 degrees behind your shoulder
4. Straight to the side
After stopping, your view of the cross street is blocked. What should you do?
1. Honk and go
2. Go if you hear no engines
3. Edge forward until you can see clearly
4. Wait for the car behind to move
Which road surface is a hazard for motorcycles but barely matters to cars?
1. A wide, dry shoulder
2. A freshly swept dry road
3. A storm drain or metal surface
4. A smooth concrete lane
Approaching an intersection, in what order should you scan the road you are crossing?
1. Right, then left only
2. Left, centre, right, then left again
3. Left only, since traffic comes from there
4. Centre only, then mirrors
A large truck in the next lane hides the road ahead. What kind of hazard is this?
1. A vision block
2. A road-design hazard
3. A space conflict
4. A surprise
You face several hazards at once. What should you deal with first?
1. The closest one to the curb
2. The one you saw first
3. The most dangerous one
4. The one on your left
How often should you complete the full observation cycle of ahead, sides and mirrors?
1. Only at intersections
2. Every 20 seconds
3. Once per city block
4. Every five to eight seconds
An oncoming driver turns left across your path. What type of hazard is this?
1. A space conflict
2. A vision block
3. A poor road surface
4. A mechanical problem
In city riding, how far ahead does 12 seconds of scanning usually mean?
1. About 50 metres
2. About half a block
3. About five blocks
4. About one to two blocks
Which is an example of a 'surprise' hazard?
1. A driver weaving back and forth
2. A sign warning of a curve
3. A wide paved shoulder
4. A painted crosswalk
On the highway, how far ahead is 12 seconds of scanning?
1. About 100 metres
2. About 2 kilometres
3. About half a kilometre
4. About one city block ahead of you
Why should you never assume other road users see you?
1. Headlights only help others at night
2. Motorcycles never show up in car mirrors at all
3. Drivers are told to ignore motorcycles
4. They may misjudge your speed and distance
When should you never pass?
1. When the vehicle ahead is slow
2. On a straight road with a broken line
3. In daylight on a dry road
4. When approaching the top of a hill
A car in your mirror moves up and disappears from view. Where is it probably?
1. In one of your blind spots
2. Turned off onto a side road
3. Directly in front of you
4. Far behind you

Observation and hazard perception: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Observing ahead, behind and at intersections, pp. 68–71

Scan at least 12 seconds ahead: about one to two blocks in the city and about half a kilometre on the highway.
Watch the sides of the road too; around parked cars, expect a child to step out or a door to open.
Observation cycle: look 12 seconds ahead, scan side to side, glance in the mirrors, then repeat; one full cycle every five to eight seconds.
Peripheral vision lets you notice things outside your central view.
Adjust mirrors so your elbows or shoulders don't block the view.
Check mirrors every few seconds, before slowing or stopping, and before any change of position or direction.
Blind spots exist beside and behind the motorcycle; on some bikes the one directly behind can hide a whole car.
A vehicle that disappears from your mirror is probably in a blind spot.
Shoulder check by looking at least 45 degrees behind your shoulder toward where you will move; repeat if needed.
Mirror plus shoulder check before pulling out, pulling over, changing lanes, changing lane position or turning.
Approaching an intersection: look left, centre and right, then left again; take extra care with oncoming left-turners, who may not see you; check crosswalks.
If your view is blocked after stopping, edge forward until you can see.
When turning, shoulder check for cyclists and look where you want to go.
ICBC crash data in the guide: 60% of B.C. crashes happen at intersections; 65% of motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle, and in 80% of those the other driver is at fault.

Hazard perception and see-think-do, pp. 71–75

A hazard is anything in the riding environment that could harm you or other road users; hazard perception is the skill of spotting them.
Four kinds of hazards: space conflicts, surprises, vision blocks and poor road surfaces.
Space conflict: two road users trying to use the same space at once, e.g. an oncoming left-turner, a crossing pedestrian, a cyclist beside you as you plan a right turn.
Surprises: anything unpredictable, e.g. a driver slowing and speeding up while looking for an address, a weaving driver, a badly loaded pickup, a sudden gust on open road.
Vision blocks: parked vans, hill crests, sharp curves, trees or fences, a large truck in the next lane, fog, rain or darkness.
Never pass near the top of a hill.
Poor surfaces for two wheels: loose gravel, wet leaves, railway tracks, wet or icy roads, slippery markings, oil and tar, storm drains, metal surfaces.
Think step: assess the risk, then choose the best solution; with several hazards, deal first with the most dangerous one.
Never assume others see you; even when they do, they may misjudge your speed and distance.
Before a blind hill crest in the rain, slow down and move toward the centre of the lane.
Do step uses four skills: speed control, steering, space margins and communication; the best solution usually depends on where you have space.

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