Sharing the road in Hawaii

By the end of this topic you can

• You can give pedestrians the right of way and drive with extra care near children and older people.
• You can pass a bicyclist with a safe gap and check bike lanes before turning right.
• You can judge motorcycles carefully and leave them a full lane.
• You can stay out of a large vehicle's blind spots and allow for its wide turns.
• You can stop correctly at a railroad crossing.

What you need to know and understand

• Stop for pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk on your half of the road or approaching closely from the other half.
• Bicycles are vehicles with the same rights and duties as other vehicles.
• The manual says to keep at least 3 feet between your vehicle and a bicyclist until you have safely passed.
• A motorcyclist is entitled to the full width of a lane. Never share a lane with one.
• Leave at least a 2-second following distance behind a motorcycle, and more when you can.
• At a railroad crossing with active signals, a lowered gate or a train close by, stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail.
• A slow-moving vehicle triangle marks a vehicle designed to travel at 25 mph or less.

People on foot

Slow down and be ready to stop whenever people are walking on or beside the road, especially children, who can dart out, and older people, who may cross slowly. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. Hawaii fines a first crosswalk offense $150, and repeat offenses within a short period can lead to license revocation.

Bicycles and mopeds

Bicyclists usually ride near the right edge, but may move into the lane to turn left, pass, avoid hazards or where the lane is too narrow to share. They may ride on the left edge of a one-way road.

Stay out of bike lanes when turning right, and yield to bicyclists when you cross a bike lane. If you plan to turn right just ahead, it is often better not to pass the bicyclist at all. Look behind you before opening your car door, because opening a door into a rider's path causes serious crashes.

Motorcycles, trucks and buses

• Motorcycles look farther away and slower than they are. Take a second look before turning or pulling out. Most car and motorcycle crashes happen when a car turns in front of the rider.
• Do not assume a motorcycle is turning just because its signal is on. Motorcycle signals often do not cancel themselves.
• When passing a motorcycle, use a full lane and do not cut back in too soon.
• Trucks and buses need more space to turn and much longer to stop. Do not cut in front of them.
• Stay where a large vehicle's driver can see you, and be ready for wind gusts when passing a fast-moving truck.

Emergency vehicles and railroad crossings

When an emergency vehicle uses its siren or flashing lights, do not jam on the brakes. Slow down, work out where it is, move out of its path and stop. In heavy traffic keep moving slowly until you can get out of the way.

At a railroad crossing, stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail when the signals are working, the gate is down, a flagger signals, or a train is close or sounding its warning within 1,500 feet. Never drive around a lowered gate.

Common mistakes

• Passing a bicyclist and then turning right across their path. Slow down and turn behind them.
• Pulling out in front of a motorcycle because it seemed far away. Look twice.
• Riding close behind a truck. If you cannot see its mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
• Stopping on the tracks in traffic. Wait until there is space on the far side.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in Hawaii

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

Go deeper

• Hawaii Driver’s Ed Requirement for Under 18s
• Hawaii Road Test for a Class 3 License
• Driving in Hawaii on an Out-of-State or Foreign License