Sharing road with motorcycles — Tennessee Permit Test

About two-thirds of car-motorcycle collisions are caused by the car driver turning in front of the motorcycle, not by the motorcyclist.

Drivers look for cars and miss a narrow motorcycle. A left turn across its path is how most of these crashes start.

Research shows that two-thirds of car-motorcycle collisions are caused, not by the motorcyclist, but by the driver who turned in front of the motorcycle.

Motorcycles have the right to the full lane; never try to share a lane with a motorcycle.

A rider needs the whole lane to steer around potholes and wind blasts. A car beside them takes away their escape room.

You must never try to share a lane with a motorcycle, and you should always respect the cycle’s space and position in traffic.

Pass a motorcycle as you would a car, but not too close or too fast, because the blast of air can blow it out of control.

Your car pushes a wave of air as it goes by. A light motorcycle hit by that blast can wobble or be shoved off the road.

Pass as you would pass a car, and don’t pass too close or too fast as the blast of air can blow a motorcycle out of control.

At intersections, wait until a motorcyclist's intentions are absolutely clear, turning or going straight, before you move into its path.

A motorcycle's signal may be left on by mistake. Pulling out because you think it is turning can put you in front of a bike going straight.

At intersections, where most collisions and injuries occur, wait until the rider’s intentions are absolutely clear (turning or going straight) before you move into the path of travel.

At night, a motorcycle's single headlight or tail light can blend into other vehicles' lights, so its distance is easy to misjudge.

One small light far off looks just like a car's light up close. Guessing wrong can make you pull out in front of the bike.

You can easily misjudge distance because the single headlight or single tail light of a motorcycle can blend into the lights of other vehicles.

On metal or grated bridges, an experienced motorcyclist slows down and moves to the center of the lane, so be ready for the rider to do so.

A grated deck makes a motorcycle wobble. A rider moving to the middle of the lane is handling the bridge, not inviting you to pass.

An experienced cyclist slows down and moves to the center of the lane to allow room for handling the uneven surface.

Motorcyclists should wear a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards; check for the DOT label inside.

A helmet that only looks the part may crack in a crash. The DOT label shows it passed real safety tests.

Check for the DOT label inside your helmet.

Who causes about two-thirds of car-motorcycle collisions?

The car driver turning in front of it. Drivers look for cars and miss a narrow motorcycle. A left turn across its path is how most of these crashes start. Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.107: “Research shows that two-thirds of car-motorcycle collisions are caused, not by the motorcyclist, but by the driver who turned in front of the motorcycle.”