Florida Drivers Handbook - Chapter 3
Sharing the Road with a Motorcycle

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The Florida drivers handbook is your guide to getting a Florida drivers license. Inside the drivers manual you will find driving laws, explanations of how to get your drivers license, and details of the different types of drivers licenses Florida offers.

Chapter 3 - Sharing the Road with a Motorcycle

This section of the Florida Driver Handbook covers how to safely drive around Motorcycles on Florida roads.

Topics Addressed in Chapter 3 of the Florida Driver Handbook include:

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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 before turning and yield right of-way.
• 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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