Sharing the road in Wyoming

By the end of this topic you can

• You can yield correctly to pedestrians and blind pedestrians.
• You can pass a bicyclist safely.
• You can stay out of a truck's blind spots.
• You can respond correctly to wildlife and railroad crossings.

What you need to know and understand

• You must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked.
• Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers. When space allows, leave at least 3 feet when passing.
• Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane. Never share a lane alongside one.
• A loaded truck at 55 mph needs about 190 to 200 feet to stop, compared with about 130 to 140 feet for a car.
• The slow-moving vehicle emblem means the vehicle cannot go faster than 25 mph.
• Wildlife crashes peak in fall and spring, and at dawn and dusk.
• Crossbuck signs at railroad crossings are yield signs. You must yield to trains.

People on foot and on bikes

Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, when turning on red after a stop, and always to a blind person carrying a white cane or using a guide dog. Slow down near schools and parks, where children can run out without warning.

Cyclists must ride as far right as is practical and safe, but they may swerve to avoid grates, debris or opening car doors. Do not try to pass unless you have a clear lane. If there is not room, slow to the cyclist's speed and wait. Avoid driving alongside a cyclist for long, and leave at least 3 feet when you pass.

Motorcycles, trucks and slow vehicles

• Look twice for motorcycles before turning left. Drivers turning left in front of them cause many car-motorcycle crashes.
• Motorcycle turn signals often do not cancel by themselves, so wait to be sure a rider is actually turning.
• Trucks have large blind spots, called No-Zones, on both sides and directly behind. If you cannot see the driver in their mirror, they cannot see you.
• When passing a truck, keep a steady speed and do not pull back in until you can see both its headlights in your rearview mirror.
• Be patient behind vehicles showing the slow-moving vehicle emblem. They have a legal right to be there.

Wildlife, emergencies and trains

1. In deer-crossing areas, slow down, scan the roadsides and use high beams when no one is ahead or oncoming.
2. If an animal is on the road, slow, tap your brakes to warn drivers behind and sound your horn. Do not swerve suddenly. Brake firmly and stay on the road.
3. For an emergency vehicle approaching with lights or siren, pull to the right and stop until it passes.
4. At a railroad crossing, never drive onto the tracks unless you can clear them without stopping. Never go around lowered gates.
5. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get everyone out and far away at once, then call 911.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing past a cyclist in the same lane with oncoming traffic. Wait for a clear lane.
• Cutting in sharply after passing a truck. It may not be able to stop in time.
• Swerving into the other lane to miss a deer. Swerving can be more dangerous than hitting the animal.
• Assuming a train has passed at a multi-track crossing. Look and listen for a second train.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in Wyoming

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

Go deeper

• How to Get a Driver’s License in Wyoming
• Wyoming 50 Hour Driving Log and Behind-the-Wheel Certification
• Wyoming Driving Test