Michigan · Handbook chapter 8 · 6 min read

Chapter 8: Sharing the road

Sharing Michigan roads with trucks and buses, slow-moving vehicles and horse-drawn buggies, pedestrians and children, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and autocycles, including the 3-foot passing law.

Why this chapter matters

In any crash between a car and a truck, a motorcycle, a bicycle or a person on foot, the smaller party nearly always comes off worst. Michigan roads carry everything from tractor-trailers to Amish buggies, and the test checks that you know how to give each the space it needs.

Trucks and buses

• A car at 55 mph stops in about 130 feet; a commercial vehicle at the same speed needs about 400 feet.
• Trucks have large blind spots ("no zones") in front, beside and close behind them. Do not linger there. If you cannot see the driver in the truck's mirror, the driver cannot see you.
• Do not tailgate or draft behind a truck. You block your own view and the driver cannot see you. Leave even more room in bad weather.
• At night, use low beams when following a truck or bus.
• A truck signaling a right turn may first swing left. Do not squeeze in beside it, and stop behind the white stop line so turning trucks have room.
• Never cross behind a truck that is backing up. A trailer about 8 1/2 feet wide can hide a whole car.
• On freeway ramps, trucks may not be able to move over: match the traffic speed, pick your gap and go.

Passing a truck

• Pass on the left, at a steady speed, and stay visible.
• Do not pull back in until you can see the whole cab in your rearview mirror. Never cut in and force the truck to brake.
• Keep both hands on the wheel: trucks push strong gusts of air.
• Do not pass or ride beside trucks in roundabouts.
• When a truck passes you in the rain, slow a little and turn on your wipers before the spray hits.

Slow-moving vehicles

Vehicles that cannot go faster than 25 mph, such as Amish buggies, farm tractors and combines, and construction equipment, carry an orange triangle on the back. Four-wheelers and golf carts do not count. Be patient: the driver will usually pull aside when possible.

Behind a horse and rider or a horse-drawn buggy, slow to 15 to 20 mph, stay at least 20 feet back and pass only when safe. Never honk or rev your engine near horses.

Pedestrians

• Always yield to pedestrians: walkers, joggers, skateboarders, people with strollers and so on. Take every precaution to avoid hitting one.
• Expect them at driveways, alleys, stop signs, signals, roundabouts, crosswalks, and mid-block.
• Yield to people crossing even on a green light.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. A stopped bus or truck may hide someone.
• Where there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should walk facing traffic. Watch both sides of the road.
• Give extra time to older people, children and people with disabilities.
• You must stop or yield for anyone using a white cane or guide dog, and avoid honking or revving, which drowns out sounds they rely on.
• Stop at the crosswalk limit line, or before the intersection if there is none. Never block a crosswalk.
• At mid-block crosswalks, a yield line may show where to stop.

Children

Take extra care near parked cars, school zones, playgrounds and parks. Children are unpredictable and can dart into the street.

Motorcycles, scooters, mopeds and bicycles

Their small size makes them hard to see and makes their speed and distance hard to judge.

• Give riders room and pass only when it is legal and safe to move into the next lane. Riders may share a lane with each other.
• Intersections and left turns are the most dangerous places. Assume a rider is closer than they look and wait for them before turning.
• Tailgating is illegal. Leave at least 3 to 4 seconds behind a motorcycle, scooter or bicycle; they can stop quickly and may swerve around potholes or tracks.
• Your car's wind blast can push a rider off balance.
• Watch for signals and for a rider moving within the lane, turning their head or leaning, all signs of a turn.
• A single headlight or taillight can blend in with other lights.
• Check your blind spot before changing lanes, and look again before moving back after passing.
• Use the right hand to open your door and look back for riders. Opening a door into traffic is illegal.

Motorcycles

• It is illegal to drive beside a motorcycle in its lane or pass it in the same lane. Use the next lane.
• Most car-motorcycle crashes happen at intersections and on busy city streets.
• Motorcycles of 125cc or more may use freeways.
• Riders often slow by downshifting, which does not light the brake light. Keep extra space.
• Use your horn sparingly; a sudden blast can startle a rider.

Mopeds

Under Michigan law a moped has two or three wheels, an engine of no more than 100cc, a top speed of no more than 30 mph on level ground and no gear shifting. "Scooter" covers mopeds and bigger machines.

Bicycles

• Bicyclists may ride on all Michigan roads except limited-access freeways, anywhere in the lane as long as they ride with traffic. They have the same rights and duties as drivers.
• Before turning right, look for cyclists coming up from behind on the shoulder or in a bike lane, and let them pass. Do not use a bike lane as a turn lane.
• Leave at least 3 feet when passing a bicyclist. If that is not practical, pass at a safe distance and speed, which may mean waiting or using another lane. Some cities require 5 feet.
• You may pass a bicyclist in a no-passing zone when it is safe.
• Do not move back until well clear of the cyclist; large vehicles should leave even more room.
• Cyclists do not have to use a bike lane and may leave it to turn left or avoid hazards.
• Watch for low recumbent bikes and handcycles, often flying tall orange flags.

Autocycles

An autocycle is a three-wheeled motorcycle with seat belts, a roll bar, a steering wheel and no straddle seat. Treat it like a motorcycle and watch for it at intersections and when turning.