Sharing the Road: Trucks, Motorcycles, Bicycles, and Pedestrians
Large trucks and buses
Trucks have large blind spots - the "No-Zone" - on both sides, directly behind, and in front of the cab. If you cannot see the truck driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you. Trucks also need far more room to stop and to turn; a right-turning truck may swing left first and may need both lanes, so never squeeze into the space on its right. When passing a truck, do it promptly and do not linger alongside.
Motorcycles and bicycles
Motorcycles are full vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities as cars, and they are harder to see and judge the speed of. Give them a full lane. Bicycles are treated as vehicles on the road; give at least three feet of clearance when passing, and more at higher speeds. Check for cyclists before opening a car door - "dooring" is a common crash.
Pedestrians and school zones
Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. In school zones, obey the reduced speed and watch for children who may dart out. When a school bus has flashing red lights and its stop arm out, stop in both directions on an undivided road; on a divided highway, traffic on the opposite side need not stop.
Traps to watch for
- "Trucks can stop as fast as cars" is false - stopping distance grows with weight.
- Right-side passing of a turning truck is a deadly trap and always the wrong answer.
- Bus stop-arm rules differ on divided highways; read the scenario carefully.
Rule of thumb
If you cannot see the driver's face in the mirror, assume the driver cannot see you - and never share a lane with a motorcycle or bicycle.