California Car / Permit practice question · Sharing the Road
You should give a motorcyclist the full width of a traffic lane because:
Answer choices
- They may need to change position to avoid hazards— Correct answer
- They are required by law to ride on the lane's edge
- It lets a car legally share the lane beside them
- They must always ride two motorcycles abreast
Why this is the answer
Give a motorcyclist the full lane whenever possible, because road conditions can make them suddenly change speed or direction, so they may need room to shift position. Never try to pass a motorcycle within your own lane. Leaving them the whole lane is about giving them room to react, so squeezing your car in beside them is not the reason.
Source: California Driver Handbook — Sharing the Road with Motorcyclists
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Sharing the Road questions
- A school bus ahead has stopped and is flashing red lights with its stop arm out. You must:
- When approaching a light rail vehicle on the tracks, you should never:
- As you drive through a work zone, a flagger gives you directions. You should:
- A large truck or bus is making a right turn in front of you and swings wide to the left first. You should:
- When passing a bicyclist traveling in the same direction, you must give a clearance of at least: