The Tractor, the Solid Line, and the Crest
Marcus is riding east on a two-lane Nebraska highway at 55 mph. A tractor pulling a grain cart is ahead, traveling 15 mph. The center line on Marcus's side is solid yellow for the next half mile. The road rises to a crest about 300 feet ahead, and Marcus can see an oncoming car intermittently as the car crosses the crest. The tractor's left turn signal begins flashing, and a driveway is visible on the left just before the crest. A Nebraska state trooper is parked in a driveway on the right, facing west. The shoulder is narrow and soft from recent rain. Marcus has a passenger, and the bike is a 900 cc touring model with working lights and a loud exhaust.
1. May Marcus legally pass the tractor at this point? Explain the controlling factors.
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No. The solid yellow center line on Marcus's side means passing is prohibited in this zone. Even if the line were not there, the crest about 300 feet ahead limits how much oncoming road Marcus can see, and the oncoming car appears only intermittently. A 55 mph closing speed against a 15 mph tractor means Marcus would need a long clear gap, not a guess. The narrow, soft shoulder removes a safe fallback if the pass goes wrong, and the trooper's presence is a reminder that the no-passing zone is enforceable. The correct choice is to slow, hold a safe following distance behind the tractor, and wait for a legal passing zone with clear sight distance. A loud exhaust does not make the motorcycle more visible enough to justify an illegal pass.
2. How does the tractor's flashing left turn signal change the risk picture?
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It sharply increases the risk. A left-turning tractor may slow further, swing wide to the right before turning, or cross Marcus's lane toward the driveway. If Marcus tries to pass on the left at that moment, the tractor could turn directly into the motorcycle. Marcus should assume the signal is genuine, hang back, and watch the tractor's wheels and the driveway. Do not crowd the tractor or try to squeeze past on the right, especially with a soft shoulder. If the tractor does turn, Marcus should be prepared to stop rather than swerve onto the shoulder. After the tractor clears the driveway, Marcus can reassess, but the solid yellow line and the crest still control whether a pass is legal.
3. If the solid line ends after the crest, what checks should Marcus complete before passing?
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Marcus should first confirm that the solid line has actually ended and that a legal passing zone exists. Then check for clear sight distance over the crest and beyond, including any oncoming vehicle that may be hidden by the rise. Check the driveway on the left, the trooper's position, and any vehicle that might pull out. With a passenger aboard, the bike accelerates more slowly and needs a longer gap, so downshift before the pass and use the full lane rather than a half-hearted pass. Signal, check mirrors and the blind spot, and commit only when the pass can be completed well before the next hazard. If there is any doubt about the oncoming car or the driveway, wait behind the tractor.