Sharing the Road

Study questions with answers

12 sample Sharing the Road questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. How much space should a driver leave between the vehicle and a bicyclist when passing?

   Correct answer: At least three feet

   Keep a cushion of no less than three feet whenever your car is beside a bicycle.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Bicyclists

2. 2. The blind spot directly behind a large truck (the rear No Zone) can extend up to about how far?

   Correct answer: About 200 feet

   The area a big rig cannot see straight to its rear can reach as far back as 200 feet, so don't tailgate one.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Commercial Vehicles (Rear No Zones)

3. 3. You see a motorcycle ahead with its turn signal flashing. Why should you not assume it is about to turn?

   Correct answer: The signal may not self-cancel and the rider may have forgotten it

   Motorcycle turn signals may not self-cancel, so the rider may have simply forgotten to switch it off; do not assume the motorcycle is turning.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Motorcyclists

4. 4. How much of a lane should you allow a motorcyclist to use?

   Correct answer: A full lane width

   Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width, because the rider needs that space to react to traffic and road hazards.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Motorcyclists

5. 5. Compared with cars, motorcycles generally require what when it comes to stopping?

   Correct answer: A greater stopping distance

   A motorcycle needs more room to come to a halt than a typical car does, so leave it added space.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Motorcyclists

6. 6. What minimum following distance should you keep behind a motorcycle in good conditions?

   Correct answer: At least 4 seconds

   When following a motorcyclist, allow at least a 4-second following distance, and more in wet conditions, so you have time and space to avoid a crash.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Motorcyclists

7. 7. Under Ohio law, how must a bicyclist ride on the roadway?

   Correct answer: With the flow of other vehicular traffic

   Bicycles are considered vehicles on the roadway and must ride with, not against, the flow of other vehicular traffic and obey the same rules.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Bicyclists

8. 8. Overtaking a slow-moving vehicle across a solid yellow line is legal only under which condition?

   Correct answer: The other vehicle is moving at under half the speed limit

   Crossing that line to get by is allowed only when the other vehicle is going under half the posted limit, you stay at or below the limit yourself, and the oncoming lane has room to spare.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Slow Moving Vehicles

9. 9. How can you tell whether the driver of a large truck can see you?

   Correct answer: When the trucker's face is not visible in their side mirror, they can't see you either

   If you cannot see the truck driver's face in the truck's side-view mirror, then the driver cannot see you either.

   Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Commercial Vehicles (Side No Zones)

10. 10. Why must drivers stay especially alert for pedestrians?

    Correct answer: Pedestrians may not obey signals or use marked crosswalks

    Pedestrians can be hard to see and do not always obey signals or use marked crosswalks, so drivers must yield to them.

    Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Pedestrians

11. 11. Out on rural roads you might encounter horse-drawn wagons and people on horseback. What is their legal status?

    Correct answer: The same rights as a motor vehicle

    Riders on horseback and drivers of animal-drawn wagons are entitled to use the road just as any motorist, and the same traffic rules bind them.

    Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Slow Moving Vehicles (Animal-Drawn Vehicles)

12. 12. Why do you need to give large commercial vehicles extra room to turn and stop?

    Correct answer: They have longer stopping distances and need more room to turn

    Commercial vehicles are larger and less maneuverable, have much larger blind spots, and need longer distances to stop, accelerate, and turn.

    Source: Section 9: Sharing the Road — Commercial Vehicles