Kansas · Handbook chapter 9 · 5 min read

Chapter 9: Sharing the road

Kansas rules for pedestrians, blind pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and mopeds, emergency vehicles, traffic stops, the move-over law, trucks and their No-Zones, transit buses and light rail, slow-moving vehicles, farm machinery, animal-drawn vehicles and horseback riders.

Why this chapter matters

Everyone has a right to the road. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are easy to miss and badly hurt in crashes, and trucks cannot see or stop like cars.

Pedestrians

• You must always yield to pedestrians, even jaywalkers.
• Crosswalks exist at every intersection where a sidewalk meets the street, marked or not. Yield at mid-block crosswalks too.
• For a person with a guide dog or white cane, come to a complete stop.
• Even on green, yield to pedestrians in the intersection. Check for them before left turns, U-turns and right turns on red.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians, even on a multilane road.
• In school zones, obey the lower limit when lights flash or children are present.

Bicyclists

• A bicycle on the road is a vehicle with the same rights and duties as you.
• Cyclists ride on the right, but may use the whole lane to avoid hazards, ride two abreast, and move left to go straight or turn left at intersections. Under the Dead Red law, a cyclist may go through a red light that will not detect the bike after waiting a reasonable time, if it is safe.
• Yield to cyclists in intersections and where bike lanes cross. Do not drive, stop or park in a bike lane except to enter or leave a driveway or in an emergency.
• Give cyclists as much room as possible. Do not pass a cyclist just before turning right; let them clear the intersection.
• Do not honk close to cyclists, and do not brake hard right after passing one.
• Before opening your door, check for cyclists. The Dutch Reach, opening the door with your right hand, turns your body so you can see traffic behind.
• Sharrows show where in the lane a cyclist should ride; bike lanes are marked with solid white lines.

Motorcycles and mopeds

• A motorcycle may use a full lane; never pass one in the same lane.
• About half of motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle, and nearly 40 percent of those happen when the other vehicle turns left in front of the rider.
• Motorcycle signals may not cancel themselves; wait until the rider actually turns.
• Follow a motorcycle by 3 to 4 seconds or more, and dim your high beams when you meet one.
• When a motorcycle passes you, keep your lane position and speed.
• A moped has a motor of no more than 3.5 horsepower or 130 cc, an automatic transmission and a top speed of 30 mph.

Emergency vehicles and traffic stops

• When you hear a siren or see flashing lights, pull to the right curb or edge and stop, keeping intersections clear. Afterward, stay at least 500 feet behind.
• If an emergency vehicle is leaving its station with lights flashing, stop until it is out of your way.
• When stopped by police: pull far to the right, turn off the engine and radio, turn on hazard flashers (and the interior light at night), lower the window, keep your belt on and your hands on the wheel, and stay in the car unless asked to get out. Never run from police.
• Move-over law: when you approach a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck or recovery vehicle with flashing lights going your way, move out of the closest lane if it is safe, or slow down.

Trucks and buses

• Large vehicles have big blind spots, called No-Zones, on the sides, front and back. If you cannot see the driver's face in their side mirror, they cannot see you. The right-side No-Zone is the largest.
• A loaded truck at 55 mph needs at least 335 feet to stop, more than 1 1/2 times a car. Do not cut in front; after passing, wait until you see the whole front of the truck in your mirror.
• The rear No-Zone can reach 200 feet. Do not follow closely.
• Trucks swing wide left to turn right. Do not squeeze between a turning truck and the curb; wait until it finishes.
• When meeting a truck, keep right to reduce wind push. Do not turn left in front of a truck if you are unsure of its speed.
• Runaway ramps are for out-of-control large vehicles only; never stop or park there.

Transit and light rail

• Unlike school buses, you need not stop for a transit bus loading passengers unless you are behind it.
• Pass a light rail safety zone at no more than 10 mph. Where there is no safety zone, stop behind the nearest door while people board or leave.
• Do not pass a trolley or light rail vehicle on the left except on a one-way street, and never turn in front of one.

Slow-moving vehicles

• An orange and red triangle on the back means the vehicle travels less than 25 mph.
• Farm machinery may be wider than a lane, may lack turn signals, and may swing left before turning right.
• Animal-drawn vehicles travel about 5 to 8 mph. Pass with care and do not honk or rev your engine. The same goes for horseback riders.
• If you drive a slow vehicle and traffic stacks up behind you, pull over when safe to let it pass.