The road belongs to many kinds of users, and this section is about sharing it safely with pedestrians, emergency vehicles, school buses, motorcycles, bicyclists, and large trucks. The common thread is space and awareness: the more distance you keep, the more time you have to react. Learning each group's needs helps you avoid the surprises that lead to crashes.
Emergency vehicles and school buses have firm rules. For an emergency vehicle with lights and sirens, pull over and stop until it passes, but do not stop in the middle of an intersection; when passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights, move into the lane not nearest it and stay in the farthest lane until you are past. Under the Move Over law, when a police car is stopped with lights and sirens on, you must move over or slow down. When a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing you must stop at least 20 feet away, whether it is on your side or the opposite side, and you may go only after the red lights stop flashing — except on a divided highway with a barrier, where you do not need to stop if you are not on the bus's side.
Two-wheelers and big trucks need special care. Motorcycles are light and can stop faster than most vehicles, so give them extra room and check your blind spots. Bicyclists may use the whole traffic lane, so do not share a lane with them; wait for oncoming traffic to clear before passing and give at least three feet of room, and stay watchful because not every bicyclist has reflectors or lights. Large trucks have No-Zones — blind spots about 200 feet behind and 20 feet in front — so either speed up or drop back to stay visible, and clear their blind spots quickly when passing.
How far must I stop from a school bus with flashing red lights?⌄
Stop at least 20 feet away, whether the bus is on your side or the opposite side, and proceed only once the red lights stop flashing. On a divided highway with a barrier, you do not need to stop if you are not on the bus's side.
How much room should I give a bicyclist when passing?⌄
Give at least three feet of room, and wait for oncoming traffic to clear before passing. Bicyclists may use the whole lane, so do not try to share a lane with them.
What are a truck's No-Zones?⌄
No-Zones are areas where a large truck's driver cannot see you — about 200 feet behind and 20 feet in front. Either speed up or drop back so the driver can see you, and get out of the blind spot quickly when passing.