Florida Driver's Handbook 2009

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3. Your Driving

• 3.1. Defensive Driving
• 3.2. Safety Belts
• 3.3. Protecting Children
• 3.4. Speed Limits
• 3.5. Right-of-Way
• 3.6. Pedestrians
• 3.7. School Buses
• 3.8. Making Turns
• 3.9. Passing
• 3.10. Parking
• 3.11. Expressway Driving
• 3.12. Animals
• 3.13. Handling Emergencies
• 3.14. Sharing the Road with a Truck
• 3.15. The "No Zone"
• 3.16. Sharing the Road with a Bicycle
• 3.17. Sharing the Road with a Motorcycle

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Sharing the Road with a Motorcycle

• When you follow a motorcycle, remember that motorcycles have the ability of stopping much more quickly than other vehicles in emergencies. Following too closely endangers your life and that of the motorcyclist. Do not follow a motorcyclist closely.
• Watch for motorcycles and yield right of-way before turning.
• Include motorcycles in your visual search pattern.
• Do not share the lane with a motorcyle. The motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely and is entitled to the entire lane.
• When your automobile is being passed by a motorcycle, you should maintain your lane position and speed. Allow the motorcycle to complete the maneuver and assume proper lane position as quickly as possible.
• Do not follow the cyclist closely. Motorcycles can stop in a shorter distance than a car.
• In traffic, especially in inclement weather or under certain road conditions, motorcycles operate differently than other vehicles. Wind gusts can move a motorcycle across an entire lane. Wet or icy roads impair a motorcyclist's ability to brake and maneuver. Potholes or railroad tracks often require motorcyclists to change positions within their lane. Gravel roads decrease traction and may cause a rider to slow down or brake where a car would not.

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