Lane position and keeping your distance
Questions and answers
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According to the manual, what is the best protection you can have on the road?
Distance, a cushion of space around you
Keeping a cushion of space between you and other vehicles is the best protection a rider has.
Keeping your distance · Keeping your distance ↗PDF, 8 MB -
If someone else makes a mistake, what does a cushion of space give you?
More time to respond and more space to maneuver
Space around you buys time to react and room to maneuver, including an escape route.
Keeping your distance · Keeping your distance ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Which lane position do many motorcyclists consider their default?
The left third of the lane, the left tire track of cars
Many riders start from the left tire track and then vary their position as conditions change.
Keeping your distance · Keeping your distance ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Is there any portion of the lane that a motorcyclist must always avoid?
No, no portion of the lane need be avoided, including the center
Vary your position as conditions warrant. No part of the lane is off limits, not even the center.
Keeping your distance · Keeping your distance ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How many paths of travel does each traffic lane give a motorcycle?
Three
Each lane offers a motorcycle three paths: left, center and right.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Which is one thing your lane position should help you do?
Increase your ability to see and be seen
A good lane position helps you see and be seen, avoid blind spots and keep a space cushion.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Besides helping you see and be seen, what else can a good lane position do?
Protect your lane from other drivers
Your position can keep other drivers from moving into your lane, help you avoid surface hazards and communicate your intentions.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Vehicles and other potential problems are on your left only. Which paths should you ride in?
Path 2 or 3
Move away from hazards on the left by riding in the center or right portion of the lane.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Hazards are on your right only. Which paths should you stay in?
Path 1 or 2
With hazards on the right, stay in the left or center portion of the lane.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Vehicles are being operated on both sides of you. Which path is usually your best option?
Path 2, the center of the lane
The center of the lane keeps the most space between you and traffic on both sides.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What tends to collect in the center third of a traffic lane?
Debris and oil drippings from cars
The center third is where debris and oil drip from cars and where manhole covers are found.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Can you safely ride on the average center strip of a lane?
Yes, unless the road is wet it gives adequate traction
On a dry road the center strip has enough traction. You can also ride to either side of the grease strip and still be in the center third.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Where are big buildups of oil and grease usually found?
At busy intersections or tollbooths
Avoid riding on the heavy oil buildups that form where cars stop and wait, such as busy intersections and tollbooths.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Experienced riders rely on their own judgment, but what is the one absolute about lane position?
Avoid riding in another vehicle's blind spot
Whatever position you choose, never ride where another driver cannot see you.
Keeping your distance · Lane Positions ↗PDF, 8 MB -
In traffic, how much distance does a motorcycle need to stop compared with a car?
As much distance as a car
Motorcycles need as much room to stop as cars, so following too closely is a real crash factor.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Normally, what is the minimum following distance behind the vehicle ahead?
Two seconds
Keep at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead in normal conditions.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When gauging your following distance, when do you start counting seconds?
When the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead passes a marker
Pick a fixed marker ahead and count from the moment the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead passes it.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
You count "one-thousand-one" and reach the marker before you say "two." What does that mean?
You are following too closely
Reaching the marker before two seconds means you are closer than the minimum two-second distance.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How much room does a two-second following distance leave you?
A minimum amount of space to stop or swerve
Two seconds is the minimum. It barely leaves room to stop or swerve if the driver ahead stops suddenly.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
The pavement is slippery or you cannot see through the vehicle ahead. What following distance should you open up?
Three seconds or more
When conditions mean you may need more room, increase your following distance to at least three seconds.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When is a larger cushion of space needed behind the vehicle ahead?
When your motorcycle will take longer than normal to stop
Whenever stopping will take longer than usual, leave more room in front of you.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How close should you be to the vehicle ahead when you are stopped in traffic?
Well behind it, even when stopped
Staying well back when stopped lets you get out of the way if someone bears down on you from behind.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Besides giving you room to escape from behind, why keep space when stopped behind a vehicle?
The vehicle ahead might start to back up
A gap ahead is a cushion in case the vehicle in front rolls or backs up.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When behind a car, why is the center portion of the lane a good place to ride?
It puts your image in the middle of the driver's rearview mirror
Drivers check the rearview mirror most often, and the center position puts you right in it.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why is riding at the far side of a lane, where you show in a sideview mirror, less effective?
Most drivers check sideview mirrors far less than the rearview mirror
A driver may see you in a sideview mirror, but they look there much less often than in the rearview mirror.
Keeping your distance · Following Another Vehicle ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Someone is tailgating you. What happens if you speed up to lose them?
They usually keep tailgating you at a higher speed
Speeding up does not solve tailgating. It just means being tailgated faster.
Keeping your distance · Being Followed ↗PDF, 8 MB -
A tailgater is behind you and you cannot change lanes. What should you do?
Slow down and open up extra space ahead of you
Extra space ahead gives both of you room to stop and encourages the tailgater to pass.
Keeping your distance · Being Followed ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What does the manual call a better way to handle tailgaters than trying to outrun them?
Get them in front of you
Letting a tailgater pass removes the danger from behind you.
Keeping your distance · Being Followed ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Passing on a motorcycle is much like passing in a car. What is more critical for a rider?
Visibility
Make sure other drivers see you and that you see potential hazards when passing or being passed.
Keeping your distance · Passing and Being Passed ↗PDF, 8 MB -
As you prepare to pass a vehicle, where should you ride in your lane?
In the left portion, at a safe following distance
The left portion of the lane improves your line of sight and makes you more visible before you pass.
Keeping your distance · Passing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
While passing, how should you deal with the other vehicle's blind spot?
Ride through it as quickly as possible
Do not linger beside the vehicle. Move through the blind spot quickly.
Keeping your distance · Passing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What should you do before returning to your original lane after a pass?
Signal again and do mirror and head checks
Signal, check your mirrors and turn your head before moving back, then cancel the signal.
Keeping your distance · Passing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
May you exceed the posted speed limit to finish a pass?
No, passes must be completed within posted speed limits
A pass must stay within the speed limit and be made only where passing is permitted.
Keeping your distance · Passing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
A vehicle is passing you from behind. Where should you ride?
In the center portion of your lane
The center keeps you away from the passing vehicle without inviting the driver to cut back in too soon.
Keeping your distance · Being Passed ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why should you not move to the portion of the lane farthest from a vehicle passing you?
It might invite the driver to cut back into your lane too early
Giving extra room can make the passing driver think it is safe to return to your lane before clearing you.
Keeping your distance · Being Passed ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why can a passing car hit you even when its body clears you?
Its mirrors may hang out farther than its fenders
Some drivers forget that their extended mirrors stick out past the sides of the vehicle.
Keeping your distance · Being Passed ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why is the middle portion of the lane best when a large vehicle passes and its wind blast hits you?
You have more room for error than on either side of the lane
A blast of wind can push you sideways. From the middle of the lane you have room on both sides.
Keeping your distance · Being Passed ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What does the manual say about lane sharing?
Cars and motorcycles need a full lane, and it is usually prohibited
Every vehicle needs a full lane. Riding between rows of cars leaves you open to doors, hands and sudden turns.
Keeping your distance · Lane Sharing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When are drivers most tempted to squeeze into your lane beside you?
When you are preparing to turn at an intersection
Drivers try to share your lane in heavy traffic, when they want to pass, when you turn and when you take an exit.
Keeping your distance · Lane Sharing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How can you discourage other drivers from sharing your lane?
Keep a center-portion position when they might squeeze by
A rider in the middle of the lane leaves no room for a car to slip alongside.
Keeping your distance · Lane Sharing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
A driver on an entrance ramp may not see you on the highway. What should you do first if a lane is open?
Change to another lane
Give merging drivers plenty of room. Moving over is the first choice when another lane is open.
Keeping your distance · Merging Cars ↗PDF, 8 MB -
A car is merging from a ramp and there is no room for you to change lanes. What should you do?
Adjust speed to open up space for the merging driver
If you cannot move over, slow down or speed up so the merging car has a gap.
Keeping your distance · Merging Cars ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why should you avoid riding next to cars or trucks in other lanes?
You might be in the blind spot of a car in the next lane
A driver who cannot see you may switch into your lane without warning.
Keeping your distance · Cars Alongside ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Besides the blind spot risk, what problem do cars in the next lane create?
They block your escape if danger appears in your lane
With a car beside you, you have nowhere to go if something happens ahead in your lane.
Keeping your distance · Cars Alongside ↗PDF, 8 MB -
You find yourself riding alongside a car in the next lane. What should you do?
Speed up or drop back to a place clear of traffic on both sides
Change your speed until no one is next to you on either side.
Keeping your distance · Cars Alongside ↗PDF, 8 MB