Sharing the Road Chapter 13

13-1 Pedestrians A pedestrian is a person who uses or crosses the roadway on foot or by means of a self propelled device other than a bicycle Running, walking, jogging, skating, wheelchairs, crutches Encounter on city streets, school areas, shopping areas, & residential areas

Driver Responsibilities to Pedestrians Drivers must give right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing the street at an intersection, using a crosswalk, or using the sidewalk when crossing an entrance to a driveway or alley Must give right-of-way to blind people Give right-of-way to any pedestrian since you are protected and they are not Most vehicle/pedestrian collisions happen at intersections Either the pedestrian crosses illegally or drivers running red lights Vision is blocked behind bigger vehicles Pedestrians step in front of vehicles – not paying attention What you can do: Stop at the stop line or crosswalk If none, pretend

Pedestrian Responsibilities to Driver Pedestrians have a much better view of the road than drivers, fewer distractions, and can stop or change direction quicker than a vehicle Use common sense and remember you are vulnerable Wait for gaps in cross traffic – do not assume they are going to stop for you The more time the driver has to see you, the better prepared they will be to slow down Less distance to cover

Jaywalking Crossing the street without regard for traffic rules or signals Most dangerous form – crossing at a place other than an intersection or crosswalk Laws prohibit jaywalking Things to indicate someone may jaywalk: Long blocks Bad weather People being late Unsupervised children The more people around, the higher the risk

13-2 Bicycles Commonly found in residential areas, in certain business districts, school areas, scenic roads, park areas Used for both recreation and transportation for all ages – don’t need a license Bicyclists are vulnerable because they ride next to vehicles Pay extra attention to them and aid in their safety

Driver Responsibilities to Bicyclists Expect sudden moves hazards can force bicyclists to swerve suddenly In residential areas, bicyclists will ride in the middle of the street and disregard signs Be alert for children Don’t pass if the street is too narrow for you to pass safely Create a wide space when passing, especially at high speeds Use your horn if needed Always check blind spots when turning or changing lanes

Bicyclist Responsibilities to Drivers Must signal all turns with hand signals, stop at all intersections, ride on the right-hand side of the street or in a designated lane instead of the sidewalk Wear proper safety equipment Make sure your bike is working properly Avoid: Driving against the flow of traffic Going too fast for hills Ignoring signs and signals Riding in the middle of the street Disregarding right-of-way Can be ticketed for all of these – even as a rider

13-3 Motorcycles Motorcycle Motorcyclists Any two- or three- wheeled motor vehicle having a seat for riders and weighing less than 1500 pounds with at least a 15 horsepower engine More powerful than automobiles High speed and acceleration More maneuverable Motorcyclists Directly exposed to the elements Hearing is reduced Rocks and dirt kicked up Virtually no protection One of the most dangerous forms of transportation

Driver Responsibilities to Motorcycles Failure to spot motorcycles is the primary cause of crashes involving motorcycles Smaller than vehicles Train yourself to look for them while you drive Double check your estimates Easy to misjudge due to their small size Motorcycles also can’t see you Mirrors are small, so assume that the rider can’t see you Riders need all the space within their lane to make moves if needed Potholes don’t bother us as drivers, but can affect a rider tremendously Increase your following distance and space cushion When being passed, maintain your lane position Let the motorcycle pass When passing, be cautious, especially if there is a passenger Any wrong move by the passenger can affect the motorcycle

Motorcyclists Responsibilities to Drivers Keep your motorcycle in proper working condition Wear proper safety equipment Glasses or goggles, helmet, leather boots, abrasion resistant clothing, rain suit, bright clothing Ride to the side of a lane, not in the middle Left side of the lane is the best because if gives you the best view of traffic ahead Makes you more visible to other drivers Don’t follow too closely The closer you are, the less time you have to react Don’t ride in blind spots, weave in and out of traffic, “split lanes”-riding between lanes of slow or stopped traffic (legal in some places) Slow down and reduce speed at intersections, driveways, parking spaces, and other dangerous spots for motorcycles

Mopeds & Motorized Cycles Any two- or three- wheeled device with pedals that has an automatic transmission A motor less than 2 horsepower Cannot exceed 30 mph Riders should ride them on the right side of the road Avoid riding on higways

13-4 Trucks & Buses Commercial Trucks, often called “semis” are easy to see, but the most dangerous Bigger vehicle – slower acceleration larger blind spot more room needed to maneuver longer it takes to stop Driver of the car is almost always the one killed in a fatal crash involving both types of vehicles

“No Zones” Large blind spots of trucks are called “no zones” In addition to blind spots on either side of the cab, there is a 200 feet deep blind spot behind the truck Driver can’t see you, you can’t see them There is another blind spot 20 feet in front of the bumper Cars could move into this area and be completely unnoticed by the driver

Driving Behind Trucks Increase your following distance Rule – if you can see their side mirrors, they can see you Compensate for the trucks loss of speed when going uphill Allow more room for the truck to maneuver at a stop Rocking backward before forward

Passing Trucks Know how long the truck is Type of terrain Upgrade, downgrade Don’t cut right back in front of the truck you are passing Wait until you can see the cab of the truck in your rearview mirror before pulling back Compensate for the “wind effect” Try not to pass 2 trucks at one time

Oncoming Trucks Merging Trucks Trucks need extra time to adjust to high speed traffic Slow down and move to another lane to allow the truck to safely enter the roadway Biggest cause for collisions is the inability of motorists to accurately determine the speed of approaching vehicles before making a left turn When in doubt, wait! Large trucks use air brakes Take longer to stop than hydraulic brakes If you guess wrong when passing, the truck can’t stop Takes more than 100 yards to stop for an average truck going 55 mph

Off-Tracking Occurs when a truck driver swings wide on a turn Greater on right turns than left because the turns are sharper and the turn radius of the rear of the truck is less If you are approaching an intersection and see a truck wanting to make a turn: Reduce your speed Stay far enough back from the intersection so that the truck can maneuver efficiently If you are already at the intersection and there is enough room to back up, do it

Commercial Buses Buses present many of the same problems as trucks Long, heavy, and difficult to maneuver or stop Large blind spots Can have a deceptively fast approach Take a long time to pass Go slower uphill and faster downhill Make wide turns Produce wind effect at high speeds The unique danger – buses make frequent stops to drop off or pick up passengers When following: Increase your following distance Improves visibility and reaction time If the bus is stopped, use caution Blocking view of cross traffic Pedestrians getting on or off Do not pass a bus on the right

School Buses Children are unaware of traffic rules and safety Less predictable When a bus is stopped and has the stop sign arm extended you must come to a complete stop Unless you are on the opposite side of a divided roadway Resume driving only once the bus begins moving Give bus extra space cushioning, especially when passing Drivers can be distracted