Washington Motorcycle Impairment and Riding Attitude Practice Test

What the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual says about impairment and riding attitude

• Alcohol and the Law

  In Washington an adult with a BAC of 0.08% or more is considered intoxicated, and riders under 21 face a lower limit of 0.02%; a breath or blood test usually decides, but because alcohol affects people differently, officers may judge you intoxicated at their discretion. p. 6-3

• Marijuana

  Marijuana slows reactions, hurts concentration and distorts your sense of time and distance, most noticeably when reacting to the unexpected. p. 6-3

• Technology

  GPS, phones and headsets with music or intercoms are useful but distracting, and so are electronic features you can adjust while riding, such as suspension settings, riding modes and traction control; be aware of how technology can keep you from spotting traffic and hazards. p. 6-4

• Body and Emotions

  Like athletes, riders must be physically and mentally fit: intense emotions, fatigue, overconfidence or fear distract, as can decreasing vision or slower reactions with health or age. p. 6-4

• Never Stop Training

  Motorcycling needs continuous training: muscle memory fades quickly without practice and basic rider training is only one small block of what you need, so take as many courses as you can. Practice emergency skills until your response is instinctive, the way fire drills become easier with practice. p. 6-6

• Riding in Groups

  Peer pressure is one of the most common distractions in a group. p. 6-6

Where it is in the Washington Motorcycle Operator Manual

• p. 6-1–6-3Chapter 6 · Alcohol, drugs and Washington's DUI law
• p. 6-4–6-8Chapter 6 · Distraction, fatigue, emotions and peer pressure

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