Sharing the Road
Signalling, cyclists, and crosswalks.
Scan for vulnerable road users before every turn and lane change, give cyclists at least one metre of passing space, and treat every large vehicle’s blind spot as if you were invisible in it.
Sharing the road means looking for the road users who are hardest to see and slowest to protect themselves: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists all depend on a driver noticing them first.
Key facts
- When passing a cyclist, drivers must leave a minimum distance of one metre, where practical, between their vehicle and the cyclist.
- If you cannot see a large truck or bus driver’s face in their mirror, they cannot see you.
Give cyclists real space and time
Ontario law requires a minimum one-metre passing distance between your vehicle and a cyclist, where practical, and failing to do so carries a fine and demerit points. A cyclist is entitled to use any part of the lane when it is not safe to ride close to the curb.
Before turning right, check your blind spot for a cyclist who may be travelling alongside you; before turning left, stop for an oncoming cyclist the same way you would for an oncoming vehicle. Use a light, distant tap of the horn rather than a loud blast if you need to signal your presence.
Watch for pedestrians who may not see you coming
Making eye contact with a pedestrian before you proceed is one of the most reliable ways to confirm they have seen you. Watch especially closely in school zones and residential areas, where a child can move unpredictably, and slow down for seniors or people with disabilities who may need more time to cross.
A pedestrian who is blind or has low vision often relies on engine sound to judge whether a vehicle is present; a hybrid or electric vehicle moving quietly at low speed needs extra caution around them.
Respect large vehicles and motorcycles
Large trucks and buses have wide blind spots on both sides; if you cannot see the driver’s face in their side mirror, assume they cannot see you. Never move into a gap that opens up beside a large vehicle making a wide right turn, since it needs that space to complete the turn safely.
A motorcycle is small and can be hard to judge for speed and distance; treat it with the same following and passing rules as a car, but allow for the possibility that its turn signal may not have self-cancelled and does not necessarily mean a turn is coming.
Common mistakes
- Passing a cyclist with less than one metre of space because the lane looks wide enough.
- Checking mirrors before a right turn but not checking the blind spot for a cyclist.
- Moving into the gap that opens beside a truck making a wide right turn.
- Assuming a stationary motorcycle’s turn signal means a turn is definitely coming.
Check your understanding
1. What is the minimum distance you must leave when passing a cyclist in Ontario?
One metre, where practical, between your vehicle and the cyclist.
2. Why should you check your blind spot before turning right if a cyclist might be nearby?
A cyclist can be travelling alongside your vehicle in a position your mirrors do not cover, and a right turn can cross directly into their path.
3. How can you tell if a large truck driver can see your vehicle in their mirrors?
If you cannot see the driver’s face in their side mirror, they cannot see you either.
Related Ontario G1 guides
Official references
- Official MTO Driver's Handbook: Sharing the road with other road users
- Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Driving through intersections
Facts reviewed .
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