A lot of collisions occur when drivers don’t know how to drive alongside different vehicles.
This is why it’s important to know how to share the road with others.
And this is why, here, we’re going over the Vermont road rules.
We’ll show you the road rules when it comes to sharing the road with:
- Pedestrians
- School buses
- Bicycles
- Skateboards, scooters, etc
- Motorcycles
- Large trucks
- Slow-moving vehicles
- Domestic animals and wildlife
There’s a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in!
How to Share the Road with Pedestrians
Pedestrians are the most vulnerable on the road. Even if there are crosswalks, these areas are not enough to protect pedestrians from drivers who don’t see them crossing.
So, as a driver, here are some things you should know when dealing with pedestrians:
- Slow down when you see people on the sidewalk – they might cross anytime!
- Stop before the crosswalk or before the horizontal stop line.
- Never block, stop, or park at a crosswalk.
- If a vehicle in front of you stops, assume that they are letting a pedestrian pass. Do not pass them even if there is an unused lane.
- Drive slowly when you are passing parks and school zones. Kids might suddenly run towards the road.
- When a pedestrian is holding a white cane or has a guide dog, this means that the person is visually impaired. Fully stop when they are crossing and only proceed when they pass. Don’t try to maneuver around them.
Likewise, pedestrians are also responsible for their safety. Traffic signals and crosswalks are placed in a lot of areas to have designated safe crossings.
But don’t rely on that too much — pedestrians may cross anywhere, anytime.
How to Share the Road with School Buses
Did you know that there is a law on passing school buses?
In Vermont, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and a stop sign.
Even if you’re coming from the opposite direction, you are required to stop and wait.
However, vehicles in the opposite direction don’t need to stop only if it is a divided highway.
Another thing.
School buses will often turn on yellow flashing lights to signal that they are about to stop. When you see this, you should prepare to stop too.
Stay stopped until the school bus has turned off the flashing lights and withdrawn its stop sign.
Violating this law will incur a fine of $250 and 5 points on your driver’s license.
How to Share the Road with Bicycles
Like pedestrians, bicyclists experience the same risks on the road.
Sure, they may be on wheels, but they still aren’t that visible to vehicles.
Bicyclists, however, have the right to use all roads unless otherwise stated (e.g. Interstate). And just like any vehicle on the road, bicyclists are subject to the same laws.
So when you see a bicyclist, here are road rules you should remember:
- Always put them in your line of sight. Bicyclists are easy to miss, so make sure you see them.
- When turning, look at your side mirrors to check if there is an approaching bicyclist. If there is, wait for them to pass.
- Give bicyclists plenty of room when passing. Do not force them to move to the side.
- Use your horn only when you need to warn a bicyclist. Honking loudly can startle the driver.
- Be aware of hazards that might be dangerous to bicyclists, such as potholes, barriers, and tracks. Give them enough space to maneuver safely.
- Always watch out for a bicyclist’s hand signal.
How to Share the Road with Skateboards, Scooters, Etc
Nowadays, there are other modes of transportation — such as scooters, electric wheelchairs, skateboards, and rollerblades.
When you see them on the road, be extra cautious and always expect them to have sudden speed changes.
Give them enough room, and follow the road rules you would use when driving alongside a bicyclist.
How to Share the Road with Motorcycles
Motorcycles are similar to bicycles — only this time, they can go a lot faster.
Follow these rules to avoid colliding with motorcyclists:
- Give more than 4 seconds of distance between you and the motorcyclist.
- Turn signals of some motorcycles aren’t self-canceling. If you see a lighted turn signal, make sure that the driver is really going to make a turn before you pass them.
- Give them the entire lane. Do not try to push them to the side of the road.
- Don’t assume that a motorcycle is showing off when they are adjusting their lane position. Sometimes, they’re just avoiding a hazard.
- Check for oncoming motorcycles when making a turn.
- If you need to pass a motorcycle, change lanes and show a signal. Do not suddenly change lanes that you startle the motorcyclist.
- Don’t assume that a motorcycle can quickly move to the side or give way. Always give them space and time.
How to Share the Road with Large Trucks
Driving alongside large trucks feels different because this time, you’re the one who’s not visible to them.
So to protect yourself, follow these Vermont road rules:
- Do not linger in a truck’s blind spots or no-zone.
- Bigger trucks need more room to maneuver. When they’re turning and you’re beside the lane they are turning to, get out of the way and try to give them more space.
- Increase your following distance. Or better yet, do not stay behind a truck.
- If you need to pass a truck, do so quickly and make yourself visible to the driver. Before returning to your lane, make sure you see the truck’s cab in your mirror. That way, there’s enough distance between you and the truck.
- Never go around a truck when they’re backing up. They won’t see you.
- Do not cut in between the truck and the curb or shoulder to the right.
How to Share the Road with Slow-Moving Vehicles
You can easily spot slow-moving vehicles as they will have an orange reflective triangle on their rear.
As the name implies, these vehicles, such as farm equipment and animal-drawn vehicles, cannot travel fast.
So when driving alongside these, remember these road rules:
- Do not expect them to move to the side of the road to make you pass. If you have to pass them, do so when it is safe, and make sure to show your intent to the driver.
- Yield to wide equipment on narrow roads.
- Some farm equipment may not see you because of the load or size of their trailer. Try to make yourself visible and take note of their blind spots.
How to Share the Road with Domestic Animals and Wildlife
Lastly, we have animals.
At times, you’ll see an animal crossing the roads in Vermont. When this happens, don’t panic.
Instead, here’s what you need to do:
- Be alert for animal crossing road signs.
- If you see animals on the side of the road, slow down. They might cross anytime.
- Never blow your horn or rev the engine when an animal is crossing. These might startle the animals and make them more reluctant to cross the road.
- When passing an animal, go to the other lane. Never pass right in front of them.
- Deer and moose often cross the roads during nighttimes and early mornings. During these hours, be extra cautious and look out for them.
- Headlights might make animals temporarily freeze and stop on the road. If you can, stop before the animal, turn off your headlights, and wait for them to cross.
Conclusion
It’s important to know the Vermont road rules on how to share the road.
This keeps you and everyone on the roadways safe.
So make sure to follow all these rules when you meet any of the vehicles (or people and animals!) we mentioned here.
Be a safe driver!