Sharing the road in Massachusetts

By the end of this topic you can

• You can pass vulnerable road users with at least four feet of space.
• You can yield correctly to pedestrians, including blind pedestrians.
• You can share lanes safely with bicyclists and motorcyclists.
• You can respond correctly to moving emergency vehicles, trucks and trolleys.

What you need to know and understand

• Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, roadside workers, bicyclists, horse riders, and people using wheelchairs, scooters, skateboards and similar devices.
• You must leave at least four feet when passing a vulnerable road user, and obey the speed limit while doing so.
• You must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk in your path and never pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian.
• The White Cane Law requires a complete stop for a blind pedestrian crossing.
• Keep at least four seconds behind a motorcycle and never share its lane.
• Pull to the right and stop for an emergency vehicle using lights or siren, and do not follow closer than 300 feet behind one responding to an alarm.
• Do not drive within eight feet of a trolley step while passengers are getting on or off.

People on foot and on bikes

Look for pedestrians who may be hidden by parked cars, curves or hill crests, and take extra care near schools, transit stops and senior centers. You must yield when turning into a driveway or parking lot, and when your light turns green while people are still crossing.

Bicyclists may use the full lane on any road except posted limited-access highways, even where there is a bike lane. They may ride to the right of traffic and may ride two abreast. When turning left, yield to oncoming bicyclists, and do not turn right just after passing one. Opening a car door into a bicyclist can bring a fine of up to $100, so use the Dutch Reach: open the door with your far hand so you turn and look back.

Motorcycles, trucks and buses

• Check twice for motorcycles before changing lanes or turning left; they are easy to miss.
• Large trucks may need twice the stopping distance of a car, so never cut in and slow down in front of one.
• If you cannot see a truck's rearview mirrors, you are following too closely.
• Do not pass a truck or bus on the right; they swing wide to turn.
• Keep at least ten seconds behind heavy equipment such as dump trucks and tractors.
• Let buses pull away from stops when they signal.

When an emergency vehicle approaches

1. Check your mirrors and signal right.
2. Pull as far to the right as you safely can and stop. Do not just slow and roll.
3. If you are in an intersection, drive through it first, then pull over.
4. After it passes, check for more emergency vehicles, signal left and rejoin traffic.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing past a bicyclist in a narrow lane. Wait until you can leave four feet.
• Opening a door into traffic without looking behind.
• Turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle because it looks far away.
• Pulling left or stopping in an intersection for an ambulance.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in Massachusetts

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

Go deeper

• Massachusetts Hands-Free Law for JOL and New Drivers
• Massachusetts Road Test
• How to Drive Through a Massachusetts Rotary