Sharing the road
Why is following a motorcycle closely especially risky?
- Under the right conditions a motorcycle can stop in a shorter distance than a car, and its slowing is hard to notice. Correct answer
- A motorcycle always needs a longer distance to stop than a car does.
- A motorcycle's brake lights are mounted at eye level, which can dazzle the driver behind.
Why
Tailgating a motorcycle combines two problems. First, in good conditions a motorcycle can stop in less distance than a car, so the gap you would leave behind another car may not be enough. Second, it can be hard to tell when a motorcycle is slowing or stopping. Its taillight is always on, so the brake light does not stand out, and most motorcycle brake lights sit below eye level, unlike the high center brake light on most cars and trucks. That is why the third option has it backwards. In rain or darkness the manual asks for even more space. A motorcycle can stop sooner than you expect and give less warning when it does, so the following distance has to make up for both.
Where this comes from
New York State Driver's Manual (MV-21), April 2026 version. The correct answer is Under the right conditions a motorcycle can stop in a shorter distance than a car, and its slowing is hard to notice.
More on sharing the road
- The car in the lane next to yours has stopped at a crosswalk, but you cannot see anyone crossing. What should you do?
- You are about to get out of your car after parking along a street where bicyclists ride. What should you do before opening the door?
- You are on a divided highway. On the opposite side of the median, a school bus has stopped with its red lights flashing. What must you do?
- A school bus ahead of you has stopped with its red lights flashing. What minimum distance from the bus does the manual tell you to keep when you stop?