Sharing the road in New Jersey

By the end of this topic you can

• You can stop correctly for pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• You can pass cyclists and other vulnerable road users under the Safe Passing Law.
• You can stay out of a truck's no-zones.
• You can respond to emergency vehicles and railroad crossings.
• You can handle frozen dessert trucks and horse riders legally.

What you need to know and understand

• You must come to a full stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian at a crosswalk.
• When passing a cyclist, move over a lane if possible, or give at least 4 feet; if 4 feet is not possible, slow to 25 mph.
• Pull to the right and stop for emergency vehicles with sirens or lights, then stay at least 300 feet behind.
• Stop at least 15 feet from a railroad crossing when lights flash or gates come down.
• For a frozen dessert truck showing red lights and a stop arm, stop, then pass at no more than 15 mph.
• Slow to 25 mph or less when passing a horse rider or horse-drawn vehicle.
• You must yield to buses re-entering traffic from a stop.

People on foot and on bikes

Every corner of an intersection has a crosswalk, marked or not. Stop for pedestrians in a marked crosswalk, or crossing at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, and stay stopped until they have cleared your lane and the next lane in your direction. Keep waiting if the signal changes while they are still crossing. Failing to stop can bring fines, jail time, community service, a license suspension and points.

The Safe Passing Law protects cyclists, skateboarders, skaters and other vulnerable road users. Change lanes to pass when you can. On a single-lane road, leave at least 4 feet. If you cannot, slow to 25 mph and wait until it is safe. Check for cyclists before opening your door or turning right.

Big vehicles and motorcycles

Trucks and buses have large blind spots, called no-zones, at the front, back and sides. If you cannot see the driver's mirrors, they cannot see you. Do not cut in front after passing, do not linger alongside, and leave space when a truck swings wide to turn. Motorcycles are easy to miss, so check blind spots twice and allow extra following room.

Emergency vehicles, trains and special cases

• Emergency vehicles: steer to the far right, stop, and follow no closer than 300 feet afterward. Volunteer responders may use blue lights.
• Trains: stop at least 15 feet from the crossing when signals activate. Never stop on tracks. If you stall on tracks, get out and move away at an angle toward the train's direction.
• Frozen dessert trucks: with red lights and a stop arm out, yield to people crossing, stop, then pass at 15 mph or less.
• Horses: slow to 25 mph or less, and stop if a rider coming the other way signals you to.

Where to learn more

Our New Jersey road test guide shows how examiners watch for these hazards, and the phone law guide explains why distraction is so dangerous near people on foot.

Common mistakes

• Overtaking a car that has stopped at a crosswalk. It is probably stopped for someone you cannot see.
• Squeezing past a cyclist on a narrow road. If you cannot give 4 feet, slow to 25 mph and wait.
• Following an ambulance closely to get through traffic. Stay at least 300 feet back.
• Driving past an ice cream truck at normal speed. Stop first, then pass at 15 mph or less.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in New Jersey

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

Go deeper

• New Jersey Cell Phone Law for Permit and New Drivers
• NJ Road Test Explained
• Getting a First New Jersey License as an Adult Over 21