California · Handbook chapter 6 · 6 min read

Chapter 6: Sharing the road

Driving safely around trucks, buses, light rail, motorcycles, emergency vehicles, slow-moving vehicles, animals, bicyclists and road workers in California, with the key distances, speeds and fines.

Why this chapter matters

California roads are shared by trucks, streetcars, motorcycles that may legally split lanes, bicyclists and work crews. Test questions here often hinge on a distance: 3 feet, 300 feet, 10 mph.

Large trucks and the No Zone

• Trucks have big mirrors and a good view ahead, but also large blind spots called No Zones. If you cannot see the truck's side mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
• Stopping: an average passenger vehicle at 55 mph can stop within about 300 feet; a large vehicle at the same speed can need up to 400 feet. A loaded truck takes longer than an empty one. Never cut in front of a truck and then slow down or stop.
• Turning: a truck's rear wheels track inside its front wheels, so long vehicles swing wide. A truck that seems to be turning one way may first swing the other way. Check its signals before you try to pass.
• On a divided highway with four or more lanes in one direction, trucks may use the two right-hand lanes.
• Do not change lanes right in front of a truck, linger beside it, or tailgate it. Pass on the left, then move well ahead. Trucks are often going faster than they look.

Buses, streetcars and trolleys

• Safety zones are areas set aside for people waiting to board, marked with raised buttons or markers. Never drive through one.
• When a bus, streetcar or trolley is stopped at a safety zone or a light, you may pass at no more than 10 mph.
• Do not pass a light rail vehicle or streetcar on the left, moving or stopped, unless the tracks are too close to the right side to pass there, you are on a one-way street, or an officer directs you.

Light rail

Light rail vehicles have the same rights and duties as other road users. Know where they run, keep a safe distance, never turn in front of one, and check for them before turning across tracks. They can change traffic lights as they approach.

Motorcycles

• Motorcyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers.
• Check mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or entering a road.
• Keep a three-second following distance.
• Give a motorcycle a full lane where you can, but remember that lane splitting is legal in California.
• Never try to pass a motorcycle in the same lane.
• Check for motorcycles before opening a door next to traffic, and move to one side of your lane to give them room to pass.
• Leave extra space when following a motorcycle over metal surfaces, railroad tracks or gravel.

Emergency vehicles

• When a police car, fire engine, ambulance or other emergency vehicle approaches with siren and red lights, drive to the right edge and stop until it has passed. Not pulling over can bring a ticket.
• If you are already in an intersection, keep going through it, then pull right and stop.
• It is illegal to follow within 300 feet of an emergency vehicle that has its siren or flashing lights on.
• Driving to the scene of a fire, collision or disaster to watch can get you arrested.
• Obey a police officer's or firefighter's directions, even if they conflict with signs or signals.

Move Over, Slow Down

Move over and slow down for stationary emergency vehicles and tow trucks with flashing lights, and for stopped road work vehicles showing flashing or amber warning lights.

Slow-moving vehicles

• An orange and red triangle on the back marks a slow-moving vehicle, such as road maintenance equipment, which usually travels at 25 mph or less.
• Scooters, golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) may also be on the road. NEVs and low-speed vehicles (LSVs) have a top speed of 25 mph and are barred from roads with limits above 35 mph. Watch for NEV USE ONLY and NEV ROUTE signs.

Animals

Horse-drawn vehicles and riders may use the road. It is illegal to deliberately scare horses or livestock. Where animals are near the road, slow down or stop, and follow the directions of whoever is in charge of them.

Bicycles

Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers. They may ride on some freeway sections where there is no alternative and it is not prohibited, move left to avoid hazards, ride near the left edge of a one-way street, and cross at crosswalks as pedestrians.

What bicyclists must do

• Obey signs, signals and right-of-way rules, and ride with traffic.
• Look over the shoulder before turning or changing lanes, and yield to pedestrians.
• Wear a helmet if under 18.
• When slower than traffic, ride as close to the right edge as possible, except when passing, preparing for a left turn, avoiding hazards, in a lane too narrow to share, approaching a right turn, or on a one-way road with two or more lanes.
• Stay off sidewalks unless the city allows it, and have working brakes.

At night, a bicycle needs

• A white front light visible from 300 feet.
• A rear red reflector or red light (solid or flashing) visible from 500 feet.
• White or yellow reflectors on the pedals, shoes or ankles, visible from 200 feet.
• Wheel reflectors (white or yellow front; white or red rear) or reflective tires.

Passing a bicyclist

• Change lanes to pass if you can, then return to your lane.
• If you cannot change lanes, leave at least three feet. If you cannot give three feet, wait until you can.
• Enter a bike lane no more than 200 feet before a turn, and merge behind the bicyclist rather than cutting them off.

Work zones

Slow down, leave extra space, expect sudden stops, watch for lane changes and avoid distractions. Follow cones, drums and flaggers, and merge early without crossing the cones.

• Fines for violations in a work zone can be $1,000 or more.
• Assaulting a highway worker can bring a fine of up to $2,000 and up to one year of imprisonment.
• Fines are doubled in Safety Enhanced-Double Fine Zones, and in construction or maintenance zones when workers are present.