Roadwise States Colorado Driving lessons Large trucks & buses Colorado driving lesson · Sharing the Road
Large trucks & buses A 3-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 22, 23 Everyone has a right to use the road and a duty to look out for each other. Trucks and buses are big and heavy: they need more room to turn, change lanes and stop, and their drivers can't see large areas around them.
Know the rule
Stay behind white-painted stop bars at stop signs and lights; many are measured to give trucks the room they need to turn.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ No Zones Blind spots around trucks and buses where cars disappear from the driver's view or are too close for the driver to stop or maneuver safely.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Don't pass or stop close to a truck or bus that is backing up or preparing to; the trailer hides objects in its No Zone.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Pass trucks quickly and on the left when possible. Don't pull in front until you can see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Trucks and buses have large blind spots behind them. Don't tailgate: the driver can't see you, and your view of traffic is cut off.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Their side blind spots are much larger than a car's. In an emergency maneuver or lane change, the driver won't see you.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Trucks and buses often move into the left lane to make right turns. Don't cut in between them and the curb or shoulder.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Runaway truck ramps are for trucks and buses that lose their brakes. Never chain up, change a tire or park on the ramp or its entrance; it's illegal and unsafe.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Smoke from a truck's or bus's brakes is a sign it may be a runaway. Get out of the way and don't get in front of it.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Around buses: Buses stop often; stay alert behind them A stopped bus you're passing may pull into your lane Buses have the right-of-way when leaving a drop-off and merging into traffic Watch for people getting on, off or waiting to board Watch for people walking or loading bikes in front of the bus Handbook p. 23 ↗ Put it into practice
A semi ahead signals right but swings left first at an intersection. Don't slip into the gap on its right; it needs that space to complete the turn. Stay back until the turn is done.
A useful reminder After passing a truck, wait until you see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror before moving back in front.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What are the blind spots around large trucks and buses called? Dead Zones Dark Zones No Zones Safety Zones Answer: No Zones
No Zones are the blind spots around trucks and buses where cars disappear from the driver's view.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Before pulling in front of a truck after passing it, what should you be able to see? Only the truck's grill The driver waving you in Nothing; any gap is sufficient Both headlights of the truck in your rearview mirror Answer: Both headlights of the truck in your rearview mirror
Since trucks require a longer distance to slow down, wait until you can see both headlights in your mirror before pulling in front.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ What should you never do near a runaway truck ramp? Watch for smoke from a runaway vehicle's brakes Slow down while passing it Stop, park, or chain up on the ramp Change lanes away from it Answer: Stop, park, or chain up on the ramp
It is illegal and unsafe to chain up, change a tire, or park on a runaway truck ramp or its entrance.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ When a transit bus is leaving a drop-off location and merging into traffic, who has the right-of-way? Whichever vehicle signals first It depends on posted speed limit The bus The merging traffic behind it Answer: The bus
Buses have the right-of-way when leaving a drop-off location and merging into traffic.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ What should you avoid doing near a truck or bus that is preparing to back up? Passing or stopping close to it Watching for its reverse lights Signaling before you pass it Slowing down near it Answer: Passing or stopping close to it
Do not pass or stop close to a truck or bus that is preparing to back up, since the trailer will obstruct the No Zone.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Why do trucks and buses often move into the left lane before making a right turn? They need extra room to turn To signal that they are about to stop To allow faster traffic to pass on the right It is only a habit, not a necessity Answer: They need extra room to turn
Due to their size, trucks and buses often need to move left before a right turn, so never cut in between them and the curb.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Previous lesson When you're pulled over Next lesson School buses About the source Roadwise’s Colorado course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 22, 23. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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