Chapter 8: Sharing the Road

Highways are shared by a diverse mix of users, from pedestrians and bicyclists to large commercial trucks and emergency vehicles. A safe driver understands that each of these users has different capabilities, vulnerabilities, and rights on the road. Knowing how to safely interact with them is not just a matter of courtesy; it is a legal requirement essential for preventing serious injuries and fatalities, and a critical component of the driving test.

Sharing the road in Washington means actively looking for and accommodating other users. This involves yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians, giving sufficient space to bicyclists and motorcyclists, and understanding the limitations of large vehicles like trucks and buses. It also includes specific legal duties when approaching stopped emergency and service vehicles, governed by the “Move Over Law.”

Pedestrians and Bicyclists

Pedestrians and bicyclists are the most vulnerable road users. Drivers have a legal and ethical responsibility to exercise the utmost caution to protect them.

Pedestrians

Drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at all crosswalks and intersections, whether the crosswalk is marked or not. You must stop if a pedestrian is in your half of the roadway or is within one lane of your half of the roadway.

• Blind Pedestrians: A pedestrian using a guide dog or carrying a white cane has absolute right-of-way. You must stop and remain stopped until they have completely crossed the street. Do not honk your horn, as it could startle the person or their service animal.

Bicyclists and Motorcyclists

Riders have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers. They are legally entitled to the full use of a lane.