roadwise.Open study app

Michigan driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Trucks, buses and their no-zones

A 3-minute lesson from the Michigan course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
67, 68

Commercial vehicles are big and heavy. They can't stop or steer as quickly as your car, their drivers can't see large areas around them, and in a crash the car's occupants are far more likely to be hurt or killed.

Stopping from 55 mph

Stopping from 55 mph
VehicleStopping distance
Passenger vehicleAbout 130 feet
Commercial vehicleAbout 400 feet
Handbook p. 67 ↗

No-zones

A large truck's blind spots — areas in front, alongside and close behind where the driver can't readily see you. Don't linger there.

Handbook p. 67 ↗

Know the rule

For visibility and safety at night, use your low beams when following a truck or bus.

Handbook p. 67 ↗

Know the rule

Keep a safe distance behind a commercial vehicle and don't draft off it. Right behind a truck, the driver can't see you and you can't see the road ahead. Increase the gap as weather or road conditions worsen.

Handbook p. 67 ↗

Know the rule

Trucks may swing wide to the left to make a right turn. If a truck is signaling right, expect a wide turn — and stop behind the white stop line so it can complete the turn without hitting you.

Handbook p. 67 ↗

Know the rule

Never cross behind a commercial vehicle that is backing up or preparing to. Most trailers are eight and a half feet wide and can hide a car from the driver.

Handbook p. 67 ↗

Know the rule

When merging onto a freeway, trucks may not be able to move over: match the traffic flow, pick your spot and go. When exiting, leave space ahead, plan early and signal as soon as possible.

Handbook p. 68 ↗

Passing a commercial vehicle:

  • Signal well in advance; never cut it off or force it to slow or stop suddenly
  • Pass on the left and keep a consistent speed
  • See the entire cab in your rearview mirror before signaling and pulling back in
  • Stay visible to the driver and allow enough time and distance
  • Keep both hands on the wheel — trucks create strong air flow and draft at speed
  • Watch its turn signals; trucks with trailers may swing out before turning
  • Avoid passing or driving next to trucks in roundabouts
  • Slow down when a truck or bus passes you in bad weather; start wipers beforehand
Handbook p. 68 ↗

Put it into practice

You're stopped at a light and a semi on the cross street is signaling a right turn onto your road. Stay behind the white stop line — the truck may need to swing wide into that space to finish its 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.

About how far does a passenger vehicle need to stop from 55 mph?
  1. About 130 feet
  2. About 400 feet
  3. About 250 feet
  4. About 60 feet

Answer: About 130 feet

A passenger vehicle traveling at 55 mph can stop in about 130 feet.

Handbook p. 67 ↗
A loaded semi-truck and a sedan are both traveling 55 mph and both brake hard. About how far does the truck need to stop, compared to the car's roughly 130 feet?
  1. About 250 feet
  2. About 130 feet, same as a car
  3. About 600 feet
  4. About 400 feet

Answer: About 400 feet

A commercial vehicle traveling at 55 mph takes about 400 feet to stop, far more than a passenger car.

Handbook p. 67 ↗
What are a commercial vehicle's blind spots commonly called?
  1. Gap zones
  2. Dead zones
  3. Ghost spots
  4. No zones

Answer: No zones

Large trucks have blind spots known as "no zones" where motorists shouldn't linger.

Handbook p. 67 ↗
Why do trucks often swing wide to the left before making a right turn?
  1. To let cars pass on the right
  2. They need extra room to complete the turn
  3. To signal a lane change instead
  4. To check their blind spot before turning

Answer: They need extra room to complete the turn

Commercial vehicles may swing wide to the left to safely complete a right turn due to their length.

Handbook p. 67 ↗
Where should you pass a commercial vehicle?
  1. On the right only
  2. On the left, maintaining a consistent speed
  3. On the right, if there are two lanes your direction
  4. On either side, whichever is faster

Answer: On the left, maintaining a consistent speed

Pass commercial vehicles on the left side and maintain a consistent speed while doing so.

Handbook p. 68 ↗
Before pulling back in front of a truck you just passed, what should you confirm?
  1. You're two car lengths ahead
  2. Your turn signal is on
  3. The whole cab is in your rearview mirror
  4. The truck driver waved you in

Answer: The whole cab is in your rearview mirror

Be sure you can see the entire cab of the truck in your rearview mirror before pulling back into the lane.

Handbook p. 68 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Sharing the Road

All Michigan lessons