A 3-minute lesson from the Tennessee course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Motorcycles are the most vulnerable motor vehicles on the road. Their narrow, short profile makes them hard to see and makes it hard to judge their distance and speed — and drivers tend to look for cars and trucks, not bikes.
Two-thirds
Share of car-motorcycle crashes caused by the car driver turning in front of the motorcycle
Motorcycles have the right to the full lane. Riders need its full width to handle potholes, wind blasts and traffic. Never try to share a lane with a motorcycle.
Motorcyclists should wear a helmet with a U.S. DOT label, stay out of trucks' No-Zones, never ride between lanes or share a lane, inspect the bike before each ride and wear gloves, boots and a jacket.
You're waiting to turn left and see a single headlight far off. Is it a motorcycle close by or a car far away? You can't tell, so treat it as close — wait for it to pass before turning.
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.
Motorcycles are entitled to:
Only half of a traffic lane
The right half of the lane only
The full use of a traffic lane
No lane rights beyond those of bicycles
Answer: The full use of a traffic lane
Motorcycles have the right to the full use of the lane; drivers should never try to share a lane with a motorcycle.
The handbook's motorcycle section says to allow at least what following distance behind a motorcycle?
One second
Two seconds
One car length
Half a car length
Answer: Two seconds
Page 121 says to allow at least a two-second following distance so the rider has time to maneuver or stop (page 63 asks for four seconds at night, in bad weather or at high speeds).