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Maryland driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Motorcycles

A 3-minute lesson from the Maryland 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
39, 46

Motorcyclists have the same rights as other drivers, but they're small, easy to miss, and unprotected. A rider is six times more likely than a car driver to be hurt in a crash. Look twice.

Six times

How much more likely a motorcyclist is than a car driver to be hurt in a crash

Handbook p. 39 ↗

Know the rule

Yield to an oncoming motorcycle when turning left. Failing to yield can bring a citation with significant penalties.

Handbook p. 39 ↗

Know the rule

Drivers are at fault in over half of car crashes with motorcycles.

Handbook p. 39 ↗

Know the rule

Look twice before changing lanes or merging: use mirrors and look over your shoulder. Motorcycles can hide in blind spots.

Handbook p. 39 ↗

Know the rule

Do not share a lane with a motorcycle. Riders may move within the lane to avoid hazards, because of wind, and to be seen. Motorcyclists may use the whole lane.

Handbook p. 39 ↗
3 to 4 seconds

Minimum following distance behind a motorcycle

Handbook p. 39 ↗

Know the rule

Riders often slow down without their brake lights coming on, and may slow for gravel, wet roads or railroad crossings.

Handbook p. 39 ↗

Know the rule

Leave plenty of space when passing a motorcycle, and see its headlight in your rear-view mirror before moving back. If a motorcycle passes you, keep your speed.

Handbook p. 39 ↗

Know the rule

Near a group of riders, signal early and wait for them to make room. Merge between groups only with enough space; with a small group, it may be easier to let them pass.

Handbook p. 39 ↗
Nearly 75 percent

Share of crashes in which motorcyclists are injured

Handbook p. 46 ↗

Put it into practice

You're waiting to turn left and an oncoming motorcycle looks far away. Judging a motorcycle's speed and distance is hard. Yield and let it pass before you turn.

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 more likely is a motorcyclist to be hurt in a crash compared to a car driver?
  1. Six times more likely
  2. Twice as likely
  3. Ten times more likely
  4. Three times more likely

Answer: Six times more likely

A motorcyclist is six times more likely than a car driver to be hurt in a crash.

Handbook p. 39 ↗
When turning left and facing an oncoming motorcycle, what must you do?
  1. Proceed if you signaled first
  2. Yield the right-of-way to the motorcycle
  3. Proceed if the motorcycle is far away
  4. Proceed if you reached the intersection first

Answer: Yield the right-of-way to the motorcycle

You must yield the right-of-way to an oncoming motorcycle when turning left.

Handbook p. 39 ↗
Why might motorcyclists move around within a traffic lane?
  1. They are required to weave for visibility
  2. They are looking for a place to pass
  3. To avoid hazards, or because of wind
  4. It signals an upcoming turn

Answer: To avoid hazards, or because of wind

Motorcyclists may move within a lane to avoid road hazards, adjust for wind, or be more visible to others.

Handbook p. 39 ↗
What is the recommended following distance behind a motorcycle?
  1. At least 1 second
  2. At least 8 seconds
  3. Exactly 1 car length
  4. At least 3 to 4 seconds

Answer: At least 3 to 4 seconds

Leave at least a 3 to 4 second following distance between your vehicle and a motorcycle ahead of you.

Handbook p. 39 ↗
A motorcyclist ahead of you slows for gravel on the road. Why might you not get a warning from the motorcycle?
  1. Its brake lights may not come on
  2. Motorcycles must stop at every railroad crossing
  3. Motorcyclists signal slowing with the horn
  4. It must move onto the shoulder first

Answer: Its brake lights may not come on

Motorcyclists often reduce speed for hazards like gravel in ways that do not cause their brake lights to come on, so leave plenty of space.

Handbook p. 39 ↗
In more than half of car-motorcycle crashes, who is at fault according to the handbook?
  1. Motorcyclists, not the car drivers
  2. Neither party is ever found at fault
  3. Drivers of cars, not the motorcyclists
  4. Weather conditions, not either driver

Answer: Drivers of cars, not the motorcyclists

The handbook states drivers are at fault in over half of car crashes involving motorcycles.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
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