Section 7 of Driver's Manual: Sharing the Road

Pedestrian Right of Way

• Pedestrians have the right-of-way at street crossings but must obey traffic control signals.

  • When there is no traffic signal, you must stop for pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. 

• Drivers should be especially alert for pedestrians who are deaf, blind or mobility impaired. They may have difficulty seeing or hearing traffic and may need extra time to cross the road. 

• You may not pass any vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk. 

• You must yield to pedestrians when turning on a green signal. 

• You must yield to pedestrians when turning on a red signal is permitted after stopping. 

Emergency vehicles, like police cars, ambulances, and fire engines, have the right-of-way when using their sirens and flashing lights 

after you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching that is using its signals, you must: 

• Move as close as possible to the edge of the road. 

• Stay out of intersections, and 

• Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed. 

you may not pass an emergency vehicle unless it stops or a police officer tells you to pass it. 

If you approaching an emergency vehicle, tow truck, or other service vehicle that is stopped on the road, you must move to a lane that is not immediately adjacent to (right next to) the stopped vehicle.

• If it is not possible to move over, you must slow down to a safe speed and prepare to stop if necessary 

Trucks and School Buses

Trucks make wide turns at intersections and need more space than cars 

• When making a right turn, large trucks will often move left before making the turn. You may think they are changing lanes and try to pass on their right, but this is risky. Wait to see whether the truck is planning to turn before passing 

• If a truck is stopped at or approaching an intersection, never try to cut in along their right side as the truck driver begins their turn. You could find yourself caught between the turning truck and the curb. 

When passing a truck going in the same direction, pass quickly so you can continue to see what is happening around you. Then, move back into the lane with the truck only when you can see both of its headlights in your rear-view mirror 

No Zones

There are four large “blind spots” around trucks where other vehicles “disappear” from view. That means the truck driver cannot see you. These blind spots are called “no zones.” 

Side No-Zones: Trucks and buses have blind spots on both sides. If you cannot see the driver’s face in their side-view mirror, they cannot see you.

• If the truck changes lanes, you could be in trouble if you are in its blind spot.

• The right-side blind spot runs the length of the truck’s trailer and extends out three lanes. 

Rear No-Zones: Avoid tailgating (driving too close behind the vehicle in front of you). 

• Backing Up No- Zones (Related): Never cross behind a truck that is backing up. 

  Truck drivers do not have a rear-view mirror and may not see you cutting in behind them. 

Front No-Zones: Do not move in front of a truck or bus too soon after passing it. Look for both of the bus or truck’s headlights in your rear-view mirror before you pull in front, and then do not slow down. 

• Truck and bus drivers need almost twice as much time and room to stop as cars

School Buses

If a school bus has stopped on the road with its flashing red lights on, as you approach it you must: 

• stop at least 20 feet from the back of the school bus, if you are behind it OR stop at least 20 feet from the front of the school bus, if you are in front of it. 

• You may not start moving again until the school bus starts moving or turns off its flashing red lights. 

• ***If you are on a multiple lane road divided by a physical barrier, do not stop if the bus is on the other side of the barrier. 

Motorcycles

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

• drivers are at fault in over half of car crashes with motorcycles

• Yield right-of-way to an oncoming motorcycle when turning left

• Motorcycles can be hidden in your blind spot or missed in a quick look because they are smaller. Therefore, look twice (use your mirrors and look over your shoulder) before changing lanes or merging into traffic.

• Do NOT share a lane with a motorcycle

• do NOT tailgate to a motorcycle (3-4 second following distance)

• motorcyclists often reduce speed in ways that do not cause their brake lights to come on.

  • So be alert and leave plenty of space around motorcycles

• Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the motorcycle when passing

  • make sure you can see the motorcycle’s headlight in your rear-view mirror before moving back into the lane

• If a motorcycle is passing you, simply maintain your speed and allow them to complete their passing

• Be careful when driving near a group of motorcyclists

  • if you need to change lanes or reach an exit, use your turn signal early and wait for the riders in the group to make room for you. Only merge in between groups or riders when there is enough space to do so safely.

Bicycles

Expect to find bicyclists: 

• On all types of roads (except interstate highways, and bridges and tunnels with tolls). 

• At intersections and traffic circles. 

• In all kinds of weather. 

• At all times of the day and night. 

Bicyclists may ride out in the travel lane (where motor vehicles are) for their own safety. 

On roads without shoulders, or when cars are parked along the right side, a bicyclist is often safest riding in the center of the travel lane. 

In Maryland, a bicyclist may use the full lane even while traveling significantly below the speed of traffic (if the lane is too narrow for a motor vehicle to safely pass the bicycle while it is in the lane). 

Bicyclists have the right-of-way when a motor vehicle is making a turn, so you must yield to bicyclists 

When you enter or cross a bike lane or shoulder, you must yield the right-of-way to bicyclists riding in them 

Bicycles have the same right of way as pedestrians in a crosswalk 

As you approach a bicyclist, slow down. Do not honk your horn. Bicyclists can usually hear an approaching vehicle and loud noises can startle them, causing a crash 

Bicycles do not have turn signals so bicyclists use hand and arm signals to tell you what they plan to do. 

Do not follow a bicycle too closely

leave at least 3 feet between your vehicle and the bicycle when passing. Make sure you see the bicycle in your rear-view mirror before returning to your lane. 
Always assume that bicyclists are going straight through an intersection unless they signal that they are turning 

Never make a right turn from a through lane immediately after passing a bike on a shoulder or bike lane. A through lane is a lane that continues straight. 

Try to make sure there are no bicycles on your right or in your right blind spot when you turn right 

• Before starting a right turn, move as far to the right as possible within the bike lane, shoulder, or right turn lane.  

When turning, yield to bicycles like you do with any other vehicle going straight.

Do not turn left immediately in front of a bicycle 

Look closely for bicycles before you move right to pass a vehicle that is turning left 

When a road narrows for a bridge, parked cars, or other obstructions on the right, be prepared for a bicyclist riding on the shoulder to merge left into the travel lane.