Traffic laws and safe driving practices
This section covers Pennsylvania traffic laws and safe driving practices that apply specifically to motorcycles: lane use, passing, headlights, signals, alcohol limits, railroad crossings, and sharing the road. The exam tests whether you apply general traffic law to a vehicle that is small, exposed, and sometimes hard for drivers to see.
Lane use and passing
A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane. Do not ride between lanes of traffic or between rows of vehicles; lane splitting and filtering are not authorized. A rider may not pass a vehicle in the same lane it occupies. Pennsylvania allows motorcycles to ride two abreast in a single lane, but not more; in curves, turns, or narrow areas, single file is safer. When a car passes a motorcycle, the car must leave a safe distance and must not crowd the rider back into the lane edge.
Lights and signals
Motorcycles must display a lighted headlamp while operating. Use turn signals before every lane change and cancel them afterward; a signal is a request, not permission. Use the horn only to warn, not to express anger. Keep both hands on the handlebars and both feet on the footrests while moving.
Alcohol, crossings, and school buses
Pennsylvania's adult DUI limit is 0.08 BAC; riders under 21 face a 0.02 limit. A motorcycle operator can be arrested for DUI on a bike, and implied-consent testing applies. Cross railroad tracks at as close to a right angle as practical; do not stop on the tracks. Stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing, just as a car must.
Worked example
Two riders reach a red light in one lane. The lane is wide, and the first rider wants to move between stopped cars to reach the front. That is lane filtering between lanes, which Pennsylvania does not authorize. The lawful choice is to stop in the lane, one behind the other or two abreast where safe, and wait.
Traps
Assuming a small bike may share a lane with a car, treating a turn signal as right-of-way, passing on the shoulder, and following too closely are frequent errors.