A 3-minute lesson from the Wyoming course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Motorcycles are small, easy to miss and hard to judge. When a car and a motorcycle collide, the rider usually loses, whoever is at fault. Most of these crashes can be prevented by looking twice.
Motorcycle
A motor vehicle with a seat or saddle for the rider, designed to travel on no more than three wheels on the ground; may have a sidecar for one passenger.
Drivers turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle cause a large share of car-cycle crashes. They don't see the cyclist or misjudge its speed. Look, and look again.
Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane width. Never move into the same lane alongside a motorcycle, even if the lane is wide. It's illegal and leaves neither of you a way out.
You're waiting to turn left and a motorcycle is coming with its left signal blinking. Its signal may not have shut off. Wait until you're sure the rider is turning, and judge its speed, before you go.
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.
Turn signals automatically turn off on most motorcycles, just like on cars.
True
False
Answer: False
Turn signals do not turn off automatically on most motorcycles, so be sure the rider is actually turning before pulling out.
Why are drivers turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle a major cause of car-cycle crashes?
Motorcycles can't stop as quickly as cars
Drivers fail to see the cyclist or misjudge its speed
Motorcycles always travel faster than posted limits
Motorcyclists rarely use headlights
Answer: Drivers fail to see the cyclist or misjudge its speed
Drivers turning left in front of an oncoming cyclist cause a large percentage of car-cycle crashes because they fail to see the cyclist or judge its speed.