Trucks, Motorcycles and Bicycles

Key points

1. In 72 percent of fatal car and tractor trailer crashes, the car is usually at fault.

   Source: Handbook p. 64

   “72 percent of fatal crashes involving two or more vehicles, in which one of the vehicles is a tractor-trailer, the cause is usually attributed to a car.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 64

2. A car at 55 mph stops in about 225 feet; a loaded tractor trailer may need more than 335 feet.

   Source: Handbook p. 64

   “The average passenger car traveling at 55 miles per hour can stop in about 225 feet. A fully loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 55 miles per hour may take more than 335 feet”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 64

3. A truck's blind spots reach up to 20 feet in front and up to 200 feet behind.

   Source: Handbook p. 65

   “A car can disappear; up to 20 feet in front of the cab, on either side of the tractor-trailer (particularly alongside the cab), and up to 200 feet in the rear of the truck.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 65

4. If you cannot see the truck driver in the side mirror, the driver cannot see you.

   Source: Handbook p. 66

   “if you can’t see the truck driver in the tractor side mirror, the driver can’t see you.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 66

5. Nearly 60% of motorcycle crashes at intersections were caused by vehicles turning left in front of the rider.

   Source: Handbook p. 69

   “Nearly 60% of those crashes were caused by the other vehicles turning left in front of the motorcyclist.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 69

6. Follow a motorcycle by at least 4 to 6 seconds.

   Source: Handbook p. 70

   “Allow more following distance, at least four (4) to six (6) seconds, when following a motorcycle”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 70

7. Never pass between a bicyclist and oncoming vehicles on a two lane road.

   Source: Handbook p. 67

   “A driver should never attempt to pass between a bicyclist and oncoming vehicles on a two-lane road.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 67

8. A red or orange flag on a bicycle means the rider may have impaired hearing; slow down.

   Source: Handbook p. 68

   “If you see a bicyclist with a red or orange pennant flag attached to the bike, slow down; this is a symbol to indicate the rider has impaired hearing.”
   Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Handbook p. 68

Numbers to know

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the Arkansas practice test

1. 1. What causes nearly 60 percent of motorcycle crashes at intersections, according to the Arkansas guide?

   1. Other vehicles turning left in front of the motorcyclist
   2. Motorcycles running red lights
   3. Wet pavement
   4. Motorcycle brake failure
   Show answer

   Other vehicles turning left in front of the motorcyclist. Over 40 percent of all motorcycle crashes occur at intersections, and nearly 60 percent of those were caused by other vehicles turning left in front of the motorcyclist, a failure to yield right of way. Motorcycles are small and easy to miss in a quick look, and their speed is hard to judge. Before turning left, look again specifically for a motorcycle and wait.

2. 2. In fatal crashes between a car and a tractor trailer, who is usually at fault, according to NHTSA figures in the Arkansas guide?

   1. The truck driver, in most cases
   2. Neither, usually weather
   3. Both equally
   4. The car, in 72 percent of such crashes
   Show answer

   The car, in 72 percent of such crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 72 percent of fatal crashes involving two or more vehicles where one is a tractor trailer, the cause is usually attributed to a car. Cars cut in front of trucks, linger in the no zones, and misjudge how long a loaded truck needs to stop, which can be more than 335 feet at 55 mph.

3. 3. How far may a fully loaded tractor trailer at 55 mph need to stop, according to the Arkansas guide?

   1. More than 335 feet, the length of a football field
   2. About 100 feet
   3. About 225 feet
   4. About 50 feet
   Show answer

   More than 335 feet, the length of a football field. A fully loaded tractor trailer traveling at 55 mph may take more than 335 feet to come to a complete stop, the length of a football field, compared with about 225 feet for a car. That difference is why cutting in front of a truck and braking is so dangerous. Trucks also swing left before a right turn because the rear wheels follow a shorter path.

Source: the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide, Chapters 6 and 7: Sharing the Road. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.