Texas · Handbook chapter 8 · 4 min read

Chapter 8: Sharing the road

Texas rules and tips for driving near trucks, motorcycles, light rail, bicycles and pedestrians, including blind spots, following distances and the most common crashes.

Why this chapter matters

Cars hit pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists far more often than the other way round, and those road users have little protection. Texas tests the blind spot rules and following distances here.

Trucks

• A loaded tractor-trailer takes much longer to stop: a car at 55 mph stops in about 240 feet, a loaded truck may need more than 400 feet.
• Blind spots: if you cannot see the truck driver in the side mirror, the driver cannot see you. Do not follow closely behind a truck.
• Passing: on a level road, passing a truck takes 3 to 5 seconds longer than passing a car. Move back in only when you can see the whole front of the truck in your rearview mirror, then keep your speed.
• When a truck passes you, keep to the far side of your lane and slow slightly.
• At night, dim your lights when following a truck; they reflect off its big mirrors.
• Stopped behind a truck on an upgrade, leave room in case it rolls back, and keep to the left of your lane so the driver can see you.
• Trucks make wide right turns. Do not pass on the right if a truck may be turning right.
• Never cross behind a truck that is backing up, and never cut in front of a truck.
• A truck often looks slower than it is. Many car-truck crashes happen at intersections because drivers misjudge its speed.

Motorcycles

Motorcyclists have the same rights as other drivers, but they are hard to see and judge. The most common car-motorcycle crash is a car turning left in front of a motorcycle.

• Look twice for motorcycles, especially before turning left and changing lanes.
• A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane. Never share the lane with one.
• Follow at least 4 to 6 seconds behind a motorcycle.
• Motorcycle turn signals often do not cancel themselves; wait until you are sure the rider is turning.
• Potholes, gravel, rail tracks and wet surfaces can make a rider change speed or position suddenly. Strong wind and gusts from trucks can push a motorcycle across a lane.

Light rail

Light rail trains are very quiet. Cross tracks only at marked crossings, look both ways, never drive around crossing gates, and never stop or park on the tracks.

Bicycles

A bicycle is a vehicle, and its rider has the same rights and duties as any driver.

• A bicyclist moving slower than traffic rides as far right as practical, but may use the full lane when passing, preparing for a left turn, avoiding hazards, or when the outside lane is less than 14 feet wide or too narrow to share.
• When you turn right, merge behind the bicycle; do not turn across its path.
• The most common driver-caused crashes are turning left in front of an oncoming bicycle, turning right across a bicycle's path, and pulling out from a STOP sign without yielding to a bicycle.
• A bicyclist may signal a right turn with the left arm up or the right arm straight out.
• At night a bicycle needs a white front lamp visible from 500 feet and a red rear reflector.
• A shared lane marking (bicycle with arrows) shows where bicyclists are likely to ride.
• An orange flag on the back of a bicycle may mean the rider is hearing impaired: slow down.

Pedestrians

• When a pedestrian is crossing or about to cross, slow down, use the horn if needed and be ready to stop.
• A white cane or guide animal means the person may be blind or partly blind. Take every precaution, and come to a full stop if that is the only way to avoid danger.
• Pedestrians must yield to vehicles when crossing outside a crosswalk.

Distracted driving

Texting, eating, adjusting controls, reading maps and even daydreaming take your attention from the road. If you react half a second slower, crashes double. Texas bans reading, writing or sending electronic messages while driving. Give distracted drivers plenty of room.