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Indiana driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Motorcycles & motor driven cycles

A 2-minute lesson from the Indiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
57, 19

Motorcyclists and MDC riders deserve the same consideration as any driver. Their small size makes them easy to miss and their speed and distance hard to judge.

Know the rule

Always give motorcycle and MDC operators the full width of a lane. They may need all of it to maneuver safely around hazards you can't see.

Handbook p. 57 ↗

Know the rule

Their smaller profile makes their speed and distance harder to judge, and they can stop much more quickly than other vehicles.

Handbook p. 57 ↗

Know the rule

They can hide in your blind spot or be missed in a quick shoulder check. Check mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane and at intersections.

Handbook p. 57 ↗

Know the rule

Always signal before changing lanes or merging, so riders can anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position.

Handbook p. 57 ↗

Know the rule

Don't assume a flashing turn signal means a turn is coming. Motorcycle and MDC signals usually aren't self-canceling, and riders forget to turn them off. Wait until the rider acts.

Handbook p. 57 ↗

Road conditions that can make riders suddenly change speed or lane position:

  • Potholes
  • Gravel
  • Wet or slippery surfaces
  • Pavement seams
  • Railroad crossings
  • Grooved pavement
Handbook p. 57 ↗
3–4 seconds

Minimum following distance behind a motorcycle

Handbook p. 57 ↗
35 mph

Top speed allowed for a motor driven cycle, which rides near the right-hand edge

Handbook p. 19 ↗

Put it into practice

A motorcycle at the light has its right signal blinking, but it goes straight when the light turns green. Its signal probably wasn't self-canceling. That's why you wait for the rider to actually turn before you pull out.

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.

How much lane width should you allow a motorcyclist or MDC operator?
  1. Half of the lane, if there is enough room
  2. The full width of the lane
  3. Only enough room to squeeze past
  4. None — they must share with other vehicles

Answer: The full width of the lane

Always allow motorcyclists and MDC operators the full width of a lane.

Handbook p. 57 ↗
Why shouldn't you assume a motorcyclist's flashing turn signal means a turn is coming?
  1. Riders often signal only after turning
  2. Motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling
  3. Motorcycle signals also flash when braking
  4. Riders use signals only in heavy traffic

Answer: Motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling

Motorcycle signals are usually not self-canceling, and riders sometimes forget to turn them off.

Handbook p. 57 ↗
How many seconds should you allow when following a motorcycle?
  1. At least one second
  2. At least ten seconds
  3. No specific distance is needed
  4. At least three or four seconds

Answer: At least three or four seconds

Allow at least three or four seconds when following a motorcycle so the rider has time to maneuver or stop.

Handbook p. 57 ↗
Why can road hazards be more dangerous to motorcyclists than to car drivers?
  1. They may suddenly change speed or lane position
  2. Their headlights are dimmer than a car's
  3. They are required to ride on the shoulder
  4. Their tires work only on dry pavement

Answer: They may suddenly change speed or lane position

Motorcyclists may change speed or adjust their lane position suddenly in reaction to hazards like potholes or gravel.

Handbook p. 57 ↗
Motorcyclists and MDC operators should be given the full width of a traffic lane.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Always allow motorcyclists and MDC operators the full use of a lane to maneuver safely.

Handbook p. 57 ↗
It is safe to assume a motorcycle's turn signal always indicates an imminent turn.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Motorcycle signals are usually not self-canceling, so a flashing signal doesn't always mean a turn is coming.

Handbook p. 57 ↗
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