Sharing the road in Idaho

By the end of this topic you can

• You can yield correctly to pedestrians, including blind pedestrians.
• You can pass bicyclists with safe space and avoid right-hook crashes.
• You can stay out of truck blind spots and allow for their stopping distances.
• You can cross railroad tracks safely and handle livestock on the road.

What you need to know and understand

• Yield to pedestrians in any marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, and when entering a street from an alley or driveway.
• Always yield to a pedestrian using a white cane or guide or service dog.
• Leave at least 3 feet when passing a bicyclist, and more at higher speeds.
• Idaho bicyclists may treat stop signs as yields and, after stopping, may go through a red light when clear. Expect this.
• Leave more than 3 seconds of following distance behind a motorcycle.
• A loaded truck at 55 mph on a dry road needs about 450 feet to stop.
• At railroad crossings, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail when required.

Bicyclists and motorcyclists

Bicyclists have the same rights as drivers and ride with traffic, near the right edge unless it is unsafe. Change lanes to pass if you can; otherwise wait for a gap and give at least 3 feet. Before turning right, stay behind a cyclist rather than racing them to the corner. Never honk close to a rider. When parked, open your door with your far hand so you turn and check for cyclists.

Motorcycles are easy to miss and hard to judge for speed. Look twice before turning left in front of one, never share a lane with a motorcycle, and remember a flashing signal may have been left on by mistake.

Trucks, plows and pilot vehicles

• If you cannot see a truck driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
• Do not squeeze past on the right when a truck swings left to turn right.
• After passing, wait until you see the whole cab in your mirror before moving back.
• Stay two car lengths behind a snowplow for every 10 mph, and do not pass on the side where snow is spraying.
• Meeting an oversize load's pilot vehicle, slow down and move as far right as you safely can.

Railroad crossings and animals

Expect a train at any time. Stop when lights flash or gates come down, and never drive around lowered gates. Do not stop on the tracks, and only cross when there is room for your whole vehicle on the other side. Vehicles carrying hazardous materials must stop at every crossing, so be ready to stop behind them.

Livestock being moved across a road have the right-of-way, and on open range animals may be on the road day or night. Slow down for horseback riders and never sound your horn near a horse. For deer, elk and moose, slow down and expect more nearby.

Common mistakes

• Checking only to the left before turning right. Cyclists may approach on the sidewalk or from the right.
• Passing a car that has stopped at a crosswalk. Another driver may be stopped for a pedestrian you cannot see.
• Tailgating a large truck, which blocks your view of the road ahead.
• Following a snowplow too closely in blowing snow.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in Idaho

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

Go deeper

• Idaho Parent-Led Driver Training
• Idaho GDL Rules and the Supervised Instruction Permit
• Idaho Permit Test