Street Riding: Lane Position, Following Distance, and Sharing the Road
Street riding: lane position, following distance, and sharing the road
This domain tests how you place the motorcycle in traffic and how you manage space around it. The exam looks for defensive positioning, not just legal obedience.
Lane position
A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane. Ride in the left third when you want to be seen by oncoming traffic and to avoid the oily center strip at intersections. The center can be useful for a straight line, but it collects drips from cars. The right third can keep you out of a blind spot but may put you near parked cars and debris.
Following distance
Use at least a two-second gap in good conditions. Increase to three or four seconds in rain, at night, or behind a large truck that blocks your view. At stops, leave enough room to pull around the vehicle ahead.
Sharing the road
- Do not share a lane with another vehicle. Lane splitting is not authorized in Maryland.
- Stay out of blind spots; if you cannot see a driver's mirror, the driver probably cannot see you.
- Be especially visible at intersections, where left-turning drivers misjudge approach speed.
Worked example
A rider follows a box truck on a wet two-lane road. The truck blocks the view ahead and throws spray. The rider should drop back to at least four seconds and move to the left part of the lane where the truck's mirror can show him and where he can see around the truck. Two seconds is not enough in rain.
Traps
- Riding the center line at a stop where oil collects.
- Tailgating to stay visible.
- Assuming a turn signal means the driver sees you.
- Splitting lanes in stopped traffic.
Key facts
Own your lane, but leave escape space. Two seconds is a minimum, not a target. Visibility is a position choice.