Sharing the Road with Cars, Trucks, and Other Vehicles
This domain tests how you coexist with vehicles that are bigger, quieter inside, and far less maneuverable than you. The exam concentrates on the two crashes that dominate motorcycle statistics: the car turning left across your path, and the rider who disappears into a truck's blind spot.
The left-turner
A car waiting to turn left across your lane either has not seen you or has misjudged your speed and distance. Watch the front wheels, not the driver's face. Cover both brakes and shift toward the right portion of your lane to widen the gap between you and the turning car's arc. If the wheels begin to roll, you should already have a plan.
Trucks and buses
- No-Zone: directly behind the trailer, alongside the cab or trailer, and about 20 feet ahead of the bumper. If you cannot see the driver's face in the mirror, the driver cannot see you.
- Right turns: a long truck must swing left before turning right. Never pass a truck on the right when its right signal is on - the trailer will sweep through that space.
- Passing: complete the pass promptly and get clear. Sitting beside a trailer puts you in turbulence and in the blind spot.
- Buffeting: expect a push-pull of air. Grip the tank with your knees and let the bike move under you rather than wrestling the bars.
Lane sharing
Nevada entitles a motorcycle to the full width of a lane. Never share a lane with a car. Two motorcyclists may ride abreast in one lane, but traveling single file - staggered - gives each rider an escape path.
Worked example. A tractor-trailer ahead signals right at an intersection. The intuitive move is to slip past on the right while it waits. The correct move is to hang back and let it complete the turn, because the trailer's rear wheels track several feet inside the turn and will cross the space you were about to occupy.
Traps. Trusting eye contact; passing a signaling truck on the right; hovering in the No-Zone to "stay out of the way."