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Saskatchewan Class 6 overview

Saskatchewan Class 6: Dangerous road surfaces

Slippery pavement, oil in the lane centre, gravel roads, ice and wet wood, bumps and potholes, and crossing railway tracks and parallel seams safely.

  • 12 questions
  • Topic drill
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Dangerous road surfaces · Question 1Score 0/0

Which brake should you use on a slippery surface?

Study reference: SGI Motorcycle Handbook (online edition, Rev. 2026), Ch. 9 Handling dangerous surfaces

All 12 questions in this test

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

  1. Which brake should you use on a slippery surface?

    1. Both, since the front still stops better
    2. Only the rear, to avoid a slide
    3. Only the front, to keep the rear free
    4. Neither; use engine braking alone

  2. At what angle should you cross railway tracks?

    1. Between 45 and 90 degrees
    2. Any angle, as long as you are fast
    3. Exactly parallel to the rails
    4. Between 0 and 20 degrees

  3. Why should you avoid wet wooden surfaces such as some bridge decks?

    1. They make the engine overheat
    2. They are closed to motorcycles by law in Saskatchewan
    3. They damage motorcycle tires
    4. Keeping your balance on them is very hard

  4. The posted speed on a curve is 60 km/h and the road is wet. What should you do?

    1. Ride at exactly 60 km/h
    2. Ride slower than 60 km/h
    3. Ride a little above 60 km/h for stability
    4. Use only the rear brake in the curve

  5. What do shiny patches on old pavement tell you?

    1. A sign is coming up ahead
    2. The surface is polished and very slippery when wet
    3. The road was recently repaved and has extra grip there
    4. The road was salted earlier that day

  6. Why take extra care on city streets in early spring?

    1. Winter sand may not be swept up yet
    2. Speed limits are lower in spring
    3. Potholes are always filled by then
    4. Road paint is fresher and grippier

  7. On wet pavement, where in the lane is traction usually best?

    1. Through standing water
    2. In the oily centre strip
    3. In the tire tracks of other vehicles
    4. Along the edge with the gravel

  8. How should you ride on a gravel road?

    1. In the tire tracks, away from loose edge gravel
    2. Weaving to find firm spots
    3. Along the edge where gravel is thickest
    4. At highway speed for stability

  9. Where do dirt and gravel tend to collect on a paved road?

    1. In the tire tracks of cars
    2. Only on painted crosswalks
    3. Along the edges of the pavement
    4. In the centre of the lane

  10. You need to cross a pavement seam that runs parallel to your path. How?

    1. Cross it while braking hard
    2. Ride along it until it ends
    3. Move away, then cross it at an angle with a quick turn
    4. Edge across it slowly, keeping a very shallow angle to it

  11. When is wet pavement most slippery?

    1. Just after it starts to rain
    2. After an hour of steady rain
    3. Once the rain has stopped
    4. At night, even if dry

  12. How should you ride over broken pavement or a bump?

    1. Speed up and lean to one side to ride around it
    2. Brake hard while you are on top of the bump
    3. Slow down, stay upright, rise slightly on the footrests
    4. Sit down firmly in the seat and lock your arms straight

Dangerous road surfaces: 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 ↗

Slippery surfaces

  • Most slippery: wet pavement just after rain starts, before oil washes off; also leaves, sand, gravel, mud, snow, ice and worn polished pavement.
  • Posted curve speeds are for ideal surfaces; slow down more on slippery ones.
  • Turn, brake, accelerate and shift as little and as smoothly as possible.
  • Use both brakes; the front brake is still more effective than the rear on slippery surfaces.
  • Oil builds up in the centre of the lane, especially near intersections; on wet roads ride in the tire tracks of other vehicles but avoid standing water.
  • Shiny areas mark polished, very slippery pavement.
  • Dirt and gravel collect at the edges: keep away from the edge on sharp turns and freeway ramps.
  • Take extra care in early spring before winter sand is swept up.

Gravel, ice and wet wood

  • On gravel roads, stay in the tire tracks, away from the loose gravel at the edge, and avoid sudden moves.
  • Balance is almost impossible on ice or wet wooden surfaces; avoid them, or slow as much as possible before reaching them.

Uneven surfaces and railway tracks

  • For bumps, broken pavement, potholes and tracks: slow down, keep the bike upright and avoid turning, rise slightly on the footrests to absorb the shock.
  • Check for trains, slow down, and cross tracks at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees.
  • To cross tracks, ruts or seams running parallel to your path, move away far enough to cross at an angle with a quick, sharp turn; do not edge across.

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