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Following Distance on a Bike
What you need to know
Extra space is life — motorcycles stop differently than cars. In the official Ontario tests, questions on this topic come from the Ministry of Transportation's Driver's Handbook (for cars) and Motorcycle Handbook (for riders).
Sample practice questions
How does a motorcycle's stopping behaviour compare with that of a car under hard braking?
- A They always stop in the same distance
- B A motorcycle needs well-judged braking and correct technique; skilled braking usually gives shorter stops
- C Cars always stop shorter
- D Motorcycles cannot stop in any distance
💡 A motorcycle has less traction than a car and needs proper technique, so maintain a larger following gap and brake smoothly for short, stable stops.
What is a sensible following distance for a motorcycle behind another vehicle in good weather?
- A One car length
- B Two to three seconds of gap
- C Ten seconds of gap
- D No gap, to deter cut-offs
💡 Keeping a two-to-three-second following gap gives a motorcycle room to brake and avoid hazards that cars might trigger.
In addition to reaction distance, why must a motorcycle leave more space when following a large truck?
- Trucks block your view ahead and can hide hazards until you are close
- Trucks always stop faster than motorcycles
- It lets the truck draft you to save its fuel
- It is required by law on all highways
💡 Following too closely behind a large truck hides the road ahead from your view, so leave extra space to see hazards in time.
Frequently asked questions
- How does a motorcycle's stopping behaviour compare with that of a car under hard braking?
- B A motorcycle needs well-judged braking and correct technique; skilled braking usually gives shorter stops A motorcycle has less traction than a car and needs proper technique, so maintain a larger following gap and brake smoothly for short, stable stops.
- What is a sensible following distance for a motorcycle behind another vehicle in good weather?
- B Two to three seconds of gap Keeping a two-to-three-second following gap gives a motorcycle room to brake and avoid hazards that cars might trigger.
- In addition to reaction distance, why must a motorcycle leave more space when following a large truck?
- Trucks block your view ahead and can hide hazards until you are close Following too closely behind a large truck hides the road ahead from your view, so leave extra space to see hazards in time.
More questions on Following Distance on a Bike and every other topic live in the G1 practice test and M1 practice test.