Ohio · Handbook chapter 8 · 5 min read

Chapter 8: Sharing the road

Ohio rules for pedestrians, school zones, motorcycles, bicycles and the three-foot passing rule, trucks and buses and their No Zones, emergency vehicles, the Move Over law, slow-moving vehicles, farm machinery and horse-drawn buggies.

Why this chapter matters

Many test questions are about other road users. Ohio's numbers here: three feet when passing a bicycle, three and four seconds behind a motorcycle, 335 feet for a loaded truck to stop from 55 mph, 200 feet of rear No Zone and 25 mph for slow-moving vehicles.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians are hard to see and do not always use crosswalks or obey signals, so the driver must yield.

• A blind or visually impaired pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog has the right-of-way.
• Yield to pedestrians when you turn.
• Watch for people stepping out between parked or stopped cars, and check before backing.
• Be ready to stop near playgrounds and in neighborhoods.
• In school zones, obey the lower limit when lights are flashing or children are present, and follow crossing guards.

Motorcycles

Motorcyclists have the same rights and duties as other drivers but are harder to see.

• Give a motorcycle a full lane width: the rider needs that space to react to traffic.
• Check mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles.
• Motorcycles need a longer stopping distance than cars.
• A motorcycle's turn signal may not cancel itself, so do not assume it is turning.
• Follow at least three seconds behind in ideal conditions at low speed, and four seconds or more at higher speeds, in heavy traffic, bad weather, poor visibility or when tired.
• Expect riders to change speed or position suddenly to avoid potholes, gravel, wet surfaces, seams, railroad tracks and grooved pavement.

Bicycles

A bicycle on the road is a vehicle. Cyclists ride with traffic and obey the same signs, signals and markings.

• Slow down when you approach or pass a cyclist.
• Leave at least three feet between your vehicle and a bicycle.
• Do not honk close to a cyclist, cut sharply in front of one or force one off the road.
• Take extra care when the road is wet or sandy, which affects bikes far more than cars.
• Learn the bicycle hand signals, and watch for a cyclist looking over a shoulder before moving over.

Trucks and buses

Large vehicles are less maneuverable, have much larger blind spots, need longer to stop and speed up, and need more room to turn.

• Wide turns: a truck may swing left before turning right. Never squeeze between it and the curb.
• Stop behind the stop line: it leaves room for big vehicles to turn.
• Do not turn left in front of an oncoming truck if you are unsure of its speed.
• Never cut in front of a truck to reach an exit or a single-lane work zone.

The No Zone

The No Zone is the set of blind spots around a truck or bus: sides, front and rear. The bigger the truck, the bigger the blind spot.

• Sides: if you cannot see the driver's face in the truck's side mirror, the driver cannot see you. Do not linger alongside.
• Front: a loaded truck at 55 mph needs at least 335 feet to stop, more than one and a half times a car. After passing, wait until you can see the whole front of the truck in your rear-view mirror before pulling in.
• Rear: the blind spot behind can reach 200 feet. Do not tailgate. Stay out of the right lane near steep hills and weigh stations where trucks re-enter traffic.

Emergency vehicles

When a police car, fire truck or ambulance approaches with lights and siren, pull to the right quickly and safely and stop, without blocking intersections. Stay there until it has passed or an officer tells you to move.

Move Over law

When you approach a stopped police car, emergency vehicle, tow truck, snowplow, road maintenance vehicle, waste collection vehicle or utility commission vehicle with its warning lights on, move to a lane not next to it if it is safe. If you cannot change lanes safely, slow down and proceed with caution.

Slow-moving vehicles

• An orange and red triangle on the back of a vehicle (farm equipment, construction equipment, animal-drawn vehicles) means it travels at less than 25 mph.
• Slow vehicles keep to the right lane or as close as possible to the right edge.
• You may cross a solid yellow line to pass a slow-moving vehicle only if it is going less than half the speed limit, you do not speed while passing, and there is enough clear room in the oncoming lane.
• Farm machinery must show the emblem and use a flashing red light at night. The operator may not hear you coming.
• Horse-drawn vehicles and riders have the same rights as motor vehicles and must obey the same rules.