Texas video lessons · Lesson 6 of 10
Texas Sharing the Road: five situations explained
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In this video
- 0:00Intro
- 0:17Why must you take extra care near light rail trains?
- 1:22A slower cyclist does not have to ride near the right edge in an outside lane narrower than how many feet without a bike lane?
- 2:23At 55 mph, about how far does a fully loaded tractor-trailer need to stop, compared with about 240 feet for a car?
- 3:29A cyclist with a Texas driver license is convicted of running a red light on a bicycle. Where does it go?
- 4:34A cyclist ahead points the right arm straight out. What is the cyclist about to do?
- 5:25Recap
In short
Light rail is very quiet. Slower cyclists ride near the right edge unless, among other things, the outside lane is less than 14 feet wide with no adjacent bike lane. A car at 55 mph stops in about 240 feet; a fully loaded tractor-trailer may need more than 400 feet.
The five situations
Pick an answer first, the way the video pauses for you. Each one cites the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7).
Situation 1
Why must you take extra care near light rail trains?
Answer: B. They are quieter than most buses and cars, so you may not hear one coming. Light rail is very quiet. Look both ways, cross only at designated crossings, and never drive around crossing gates.
Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) › Chapter 9 › Share the Road with Light Rail
Situation 2
A slower cyclist does not have to ride near the right edge in an outside lane narrower than how many feet without a bike lane?
Answer: A. 14 feet. Slower cyclists ride near the right edge unless, among other things, the outside lane is less than 14 feet wide with no adjacent bike lane.
Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) › Chapter 13 › Bicycle Traffic Laws
Situation 3
At 55 mph, about how far does a fully loaded tractor-trailer need to stop, compared with about 240 feet for a car?
Answer: C. More than 400 feet. A car at 55 mph stops in about 240 feet; a fully loaded tractor-trailer may need more than 400 feet.
Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) › Chapter 9 › Following a Truck
Situation 4
A cyclist with a Texas driver license is convicted of running a red light on a bicycle. Where does it go?
Answer: C. On the person’s driver record. Cyclists face the same penalties as drivers, and traffic convictions go on the person’s driver record whether the offense was on a bicycle or in a motor vehicle.
Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) › Chapter 13 › Bicycle Traffic Laws
Situation 5
A cyclist ahead points the right arm straight out. What is the cyclist about to do?
Answer: C. Turn right. A cyclist may signal a right turn with the left arm pointing up or the right arm pointing straight out.
Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) › Chapter 13 › Bicycle Traffic Laws
Transcript
0:00Intro
You share the road with trucks, bikes, buses and more, and each one changes how you drive. Here are five situations from the Texas Driver Handbook. For each one, pick your answer before I reveal it.
0:17Situation 1
You're coming up to a light rail crossing in the city. Why must you take extra care near light rail trains? The answer is B: They are quieter than most buses and cars, so you may not hear one coming. Light rail is very quiet. Look both ways, cross only at designated crossings, and never drive around crossing gates. Light rail is very quiet, so you may not hear it coming. Look both ways, cross only at designated crossings, and never drive around the gates.
1:22Situation 2
A slower cyclist is riding out in the outside lane, not at the right edge. A slower cyclist does not have to ride near the right edge in an outside lane narrower than how many feet without a bike lane? The answer is A: 14 feet. Slower cyclists ride near the right edge unless, among other things, the outside lane is less than 14 feet wide with no adjacent bike lane. In Texas, a slower cyclist doesn't have to ride near the right edge when the outside lane is less than 14 feet wide and there's no bike lane next to it.
2:23Situation 3
A car and a fully loaded tractor-trailer are both rolling at 55 miles per hour when they hit the brakes. At 55 mph, about how far does a fully loaded tractor-trailer need to stop, compared with about 240 feet for a car? The answer is C: More than 400 feet. A car at 55 mph stops in about 240 feet; a fully loaded tractor-trailer may need more than 400 feet. The car stops in about 240 feet. The loaded truck may need more than 400. Never cut in close in front of one.
3:29Situation 4
A cyclist who holds a Texas driver license runs a red light and is convicted. A cyclist with a Texas driver license is convicted of running a red light on a bicycle. Where does it go? The answer is C: On the person’s driver record. Cyclists face the same penalties as drivers, and traffic convictions go on the person’s driver record whether the offense was on a bicycle or in a motor vehicle. Cyclists face the same penalties as drivers. The conviction goes on the person's driver record, bike or car.
4:34Situation 5
The cyclist ahead of you sticks the right arm straight out. A cyclist ahead points the right arm straight out. What is the cyclist about to do? The answer is C: Turn right. A cyclist may signal a right turn with the left arm pointing up or the right arm pointing straight out. That's a right turn. A cyclist can also signal a right turn with the left arm pointing up.
5:25Recap
Light rail is very quiet. Slower cyclists ride near the right edge unless, among other things, the outside lane is less than 14 feet wide with no adjacent bike lane. A car at 55 mph stops in about 240 feet; a fully loaded tractor-trailer may need more than 400 feet. Cyclists face the same penalties as drivers, and traffic convictions go on the person’s driver record whether the offense was on a bicycle or in a motor vehicle. A cyclist may signal a right turn with the left arm pointing up or the right arm pointing straight out. Nice work. Try more sharing the road questions in Practice by Topic, then test yourself with a full mock exam.
The rules in this lesson
- Light rail is very quiet.
- Slower cyclists ride near the right edge unless, among other things, the outside lane is less than 14 feet wide with no adjacent bike lane.
- A car at 55 mph stops in about 240 feet; a fully loaded tractor-trailer may need more than 400 feet.
- Cyclists face the same penalties as drivers, and traffic convictions go on the person’s driver record whether the offense was on a bicycle or in a motor vehicle.
- A cyclist may signal a right turn with the left arm pointing up or the right arm pointing straight out.
Original practice lesson written from the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7). EstatePass is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Texas DPS; these are not official test questions.