Sharing the road in Arizona

By the end of this topic you can

• You can give pedestrians and bicyclists the space the law requires.
• You can explain when Arizona motorcyclists may filter between stopped or slow cars.
• You can keep out of a large truck's blind spots.
• You can respond correctly to emergency vehicles and railroad crossing warnings.

What you need to know and understand

• When passing a bicycle you must leave at least 3 feet until you are safely past.
• Motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a lane.
• Two-wheeled motorcycles may filter past stopped vehicles only on roads with a posted limit of 45 mph or less, with two or more lanes in the same direction, at no more than 15 mph and when safe.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, slowing or stopping if needed.
• When a railroad warning signal is active or a gate is down, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.
• When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, pull to the right edge, clear of intersections, and stop.

People on foot and on bikes

Pedestrians in a crosswalk have priority when there is no working signal. Watch for people crossing between parked cars and near schools, and take extra care at dusk.

Arizona's 3-foot law protects bicyclists. If you cannot pass with that gap, wait behind until it is safe. Check for bikes before turning right across a bike lane and before opening a door.

Motorcycles and lane filtering

Never share a lane with a motorcycle; riders have the right to the whole lane. Since Arizona allows limited lane filtering, expect a motorcycle to move slowly between lines of stopped traffic on lower-speed roads. Check mirrors before changing lanes or opening a door in traffic.

Trucks and buses

• If you cannot see the truck driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
• Do not cut in close in front of a truck; it needs much more room to stop.
• Give extra room when a truck swings wide to turn right.
• Pass trucks quickly and steadily rather than lingering alongside.

Trains and emergency vehicles

1. At a railroad crossing, look and listen in both directions.
2. If lights flash, a gate is down or a train is close, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.
3. Wait until gates rise, signals stop and the track is clear before crossing.
4. For an emergency vehicle using lights and siren, pull to the right, stop and wait until it passes.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing past a bicyclist with less than 3 feet of room.
• Changing lanes in slow traffic without checking for a filtering motorcycle.
• Stopping on the tracks in queued traffic. Only cross when there is room on the other side.
• Stopping in the middle of an intersection for an emergency vehicle instead of clearing it first.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in Arizona

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Arizona Road Test
• Arizona 30-Hour Supervised Driving Log and Driver Ed Options
• Arizona Class G License Restrictions