When you start your driving lessons, most of the rules you focus on will involve how to drive safely with other motorists. However, roads are also shared with pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. While these individuals may travel differently, motorists are partly responsible for creating safe conditions for others on the road. If you’re new behind-the-wheel, here are a few important ways you can avoid an accident when traveling alongside non-motorists.   

Driving Lessons for Beginners: How to Share the Road With Non-Motorists

Treat Cyclists as Motorists

By law, motorcyclists and bicyclists are required to follow the same rules of the road that motorists abide by. As such, you should stay aware of their behaviors in a way that you would pay attention to other drivers. For example, if a bicyclist signals with their hand, you should expect them to turn in that direction and follow the proper precautions. And if you want to pass a cyclist in front of you, you must treat them as another motorist and make sure there is enough space to navigate around them before pulling into the other lane.

Keep Your Distance

Just as with other vehicles, riding too closely to bikers and pedestrians can dramatically increase the risk of accidents. For this reason, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges drivers to always stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and drive slowly when crossing sidewalks or passing through parking lots. If you see a car stopped at a crosswalk—even if the light is green—you should assume that they are waiting for pedestrians and should not attempt to pass around the vehicle.

Most state laws—including those of Kentucky—dictate that drivers should also maintain a three-foot distance from bicyclists. Keeping this space between you and a biker will allow you to pass or respond safely without the risk of collision. While three feet is the minimum in most states, it’s always a good idea to increase your distance if there is no bike lane present or weather conditions are bad.

Practice Active Awareness

One of the most important driving lessons is to act defensively with whomever you are sharing the road with. In this approach, you should always assume that other parties cannot see you and should follow all necessary precautions. To decrease the risk of an accident, it’s critical to keep distractions to a minimum and keep your eyes on the road. In terms of keeping non-motorists safe, you should also stay actively aware of blind spots, crosswalks, and passing lanes where pedestrians and cyclists may appear.

If you are a beginner behind-the-wheel, turn to Sure-Drive Driver's Training to learn everything you need to know about sharing the road with others. Offering comprehensive driving lessons in Ft. Mitchell, KY, this training school will help you develop the confidence you need to become a safe motorist. To learn more about these driving classes, visit this educator online. For help with enrollment, call a friendly team member at (859) 331-0007.