When must you add extra space in front while following a motorcyclist?
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A.
Only when the motorcycle is carrying a passenger
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B.
Only on freeway on-ramps and merge zones
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C.
On metal surfaces such as bridge gratings and railroad tracks Correct
The answer is "On metal surfaces such as bridge gratings and railroad tracks"
The manual lists metal surfaces such as bridge gratings and railroad tracks (along with gravel) as conditions where you must add space in front of a motorcyclist. Choice B tempts drivers who guess at freeway merges from a general lane-change habit, when the manual's cue here is traction under the motorcycle's tires, not merging conditions on the road.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Only when the motorcycle is carrying a passenger
The manual does not mention passengers as a reason to add space behind a motorcycle. This answer invents a passenger trigger the manual does not print, guessing at load as the reason for a longer gap.
B. Only on freeway on-ramps and merge zones
The manual's list is about traction surfaces beneath the tires, not freeway merges. This answer guesses at freeway merges from a general lane-change habit, missing that the manual's cue is traction, not merging.
This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in California. Source: California Driver Manual, "Tailgating (Following Too Closely)," p.57..
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