Sharing the road in New Hampshire

By the end of this topic you can

• You can give pedestrians and bicyclists the right of way and safe space.
• You can work out the legal passing distance for a bicyclist at different speeds.
• You can stay out of a large truck's No-Zones.
• You can respond correctly to emergency vehicles and railroad crossings.

What you need to know and understand

• Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks and when crossing an alley entrance or driveway on a sidewalk.
• You must stop completely for a person with a white cane or harnessed guide dog trying to cross.
• When passing a bicyclist, leave at least 3 feet at 30 mph or less, plus 1 more foot for every 10 mph above 30.
• Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane. Never share a lane with one.
• A loaded truck at 55 mph needs at least about 335 feet to stop in ideal conditions.
• An orange and red triangle on the back of a vehicle means it travels under 25 mph.

People on foot and on bikes

Be ready to yield to pedestrians at all times, especially near schools, bus stops, parks and parked cars. If a person carrying a white cane or using a guide dog is trying to cross, New Hampshire law requires you to stop completely. Never honk or shout at them, since they listen for stopped traffic before crossing.

Bicycles are vehicles with the same rights and duties as drivers. Pass with at least 3 feet of space at 30 mph or below, and add a foot for each extra 10 mph, so 4 feet at 40 mph and 5 feet at 50 mph. Yield where a bike lane crosses the road, do not drive or park in bike lanes, check for cyclists before opening a door, and avoid using the horn close to riders.

Motorcycles, slow vehicles and horses

• Leave at least four seconds behind a motorcycle.
• Check carefully for motorcycles before turning left; their speed is hard to judge.
• Many motorcycle signals do not cancel themselves, so make sure a rider is really turning.
• Pass farm machinery and horse-drawn vehicles only when it is safe.
• Near horses, slow down and never sound your horn or rev your engine.

Trucks, emergency vehicles and trains

Large trucks have No-Zones on both sides, in front and up to 200 feet behind. If you cannot see the driver's face in the truck's side mirror, the driver cannot see you. Do not cut in front of a truck, and do not squeeze between a right-turning truck and the curb.

For police, fire or ambulance vehicles using a siren or flashing lights, pull to the right and stop without blocking an intersection, then signal before rejoining traffic. Stay 500 feet behind a responding fire truck.

At a railroad crossing with a train coming, stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail. Buses carrying passengers and trucks carrying hazardous materials must stop at crossings, so be ready to stop behind them.

Common mistakes

• Passing a cyclist with the same small gap at 50 mph as at 25 mph. The required space grows with speed.
• Honking at a blind pedestrian to signal that they can cross.
• Lingering beside a truck where the driver cannot see you.
• Turning left across a motorcycle because it looked far away.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in New Hampshire

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

Go deeper

• NH Road Test Guide
• Learning to Drive in New Hampshire
• New Hampshire Driver’s Ed Requirements