Texas Car / Permit practice question · Sharing the Road
How much following distance is recommended when you are traveling behind a motorcycle?
Answer choices
- One second, since a motorcycle is short
- At least four to six seconds— Correct answer
- The same two seconds you would leave behind a car
- Ten seconds in every condition
Why this is the answer
Leave at least four to six seconds behind a motorcycle so the rider has time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. Even the lightest contact can put the rider down or hurt them. At intersections, signals and crossings, stay a safe distance back, and the handbook suggests a full vehicle length to guard against a rear-end collision.
Source: Texas Driver Handbook — Sharing the Road with Motorcycles
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Sharing the Road questions
- A school bus ahead stops with its red lights flashing alternately. You must:
- You are following a tractor-trailer at night. Why should you switch to low beams?
- A large truck ahead of you has its right-turn signal on but first swings wide to the left. You should:
- When driving near a motorcycle, you should remember that the motorcycle:
- When sharing the road with a bicyclist, you should: