1.2 Sharing the Road

Why Sharing the Road Is Heavily Tested

Many of the people you share the road with are vulnerable road users — pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists who have little or no protection in a crash. The Washington Driver Guide devotes a full section to them plus buses, work zones, and large trucks, and the knowledge test draws several questions from it. The unifying idea is simple: the driver of the larger, faster vehicle carries the responsibility to give room.

Motorcycles

Treat a motorcycle as a full vehicle, with extra caution:

• A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane. Never try to share a lane or squeeze past one in the same lane.
• Motorcycles are narrow and easy to overlook, so they hide in blind spots. Always check your mirrors and look over your shoulder before changing lanes or turning.
• Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle. It can stop more quickly than a car, and a rider may slow by downshifting or rolling off the throttle without a bright brake light.
• Give a rider extra space in rain, on gravel, and over metal grates or wet leaves, where two wheels lose traction fast.

Bicycles

Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers and may use a full lane when needed, such as to avoid a parked-car door zone.

• When passing on a single-lane road, RCW 46.61.110 requires you to move completely into the next lane to the left when it is safe, or — where that is not possible — slow to a safe speed and give at least 3 feet of clearance where practicable before passing.
• Watch for bicyclists at intersections and driveways, where most car-bike crashes happen, and check for a rider before turning right across a bike lane.
• Before opening a car door into the street, check for an approaching cyclist (the "Dutch reach" — opening with your far hand — turns your body to look).

Pedestrians

Drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, whether the crosswalk is marked or unmarked — every intersection legally has a crosswalk even with no painted lines.

• Stop and stay stopped while a pedestrian crosses your half of the road plus the next lane.
• In school zones, slow to 20 mph during posted hours and stop for crossing guards and children.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk; it may be yielding to a pedestrian you cannot see.
• Yield to blind pedestrians using a white cane or guide dog at all times — they always have the right-of-way.

School Buses

When a school bus turns on its flashing red lights and extends the stop-arm, the stopping rule depends on the road (RCW 46.61.370):

In every case you must remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing or the bus resumes moving. A violation carries a penalty equal to twice the normal fine, which may not be waived or reduced. The classic trap question puts you oncoming on a two-lane undivided road — you must stop.

Work Zones and the Move Over Law

In work zones, slow down, watch for workers and equipment, obey the flagger and the reduced limit, and merge early. Traffic fines are doubled in work zones.

Washington's Move Over law (RCW 46.61.212) protects any stopped vehicle displaying warning lights — police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks, and roadside-assistance or maintenance vehicles. As you approach the emergency zone:

1. Change lanes away from the stopped vehicle when it is safe on a road with room to do so.
2. If you cannot move over, slow down — on a highway with fewer than four lanes, reduce to at least 10 mph below the posted limit.

The penalty for violating the Move Over law is doubled and cannot be waived.

Large Trucks and No-Zones

Large trucks behave very differently from cars:

• They have huge blind spots ("no-zones") on all four sides — directly in front, directly behind, and along both sides, especially the wide blind spot on the right. A rule of thumb: if you cannot see the driver in the truck's side mirror, the driver cannot see you.
• Trucks make wide right turns and may swing left first. Never try to pass on the right of a truck that is turning right or squeeze between it and the curb.
• Trucks need much more room to stop. Do not cut in front of one and brake, and pass quickly rather than lingering alongside.
• Allow extra space when a truck is climbing or descending a grade, and expect it to roll back slightly when starting on a hill.