Right of Way & Intersections — Oklahoma

When you are stopped at an intersection, use your mirrors to watch for vehicles coming up behind you that may not be slowing down. The manual says knowing what is happening behind you is needed to make safe decisions about trouble ahead, and that mirror checks belong in your normal searching routine. It lists a special case: when you are stopped at an intersection, watch the cars coming up from behind, because a driver who is not paying attention could reach you before seeing you. Another page repeats this idea, noting it is especially important to flash your brake light when you are stopped at an intersection with traffic approaching from behind.

Intersections are usually a dangerous spot for riders, so treat them with extra care rather than relaxing. The manual points out that heavy oil and grease buildups tend to collect where traffic is busy, and intersections are named as one of those places. It tells you to stay off those buildups. A rider leaning through a turn on a slick patch loses grip easily, so the very place where cars stop and drip is a spot to watch rather than a safe stretch. The same page also warns against riding in another vehicle's blind spot, which fits the crowded, close-quarters setting of an intersection.

Ride with your headlight on to increase your chances of being seen at an intersection. The manual's intersection strategy starts with visibility: ride with your headlight on and choose a lane position that gives oncoming traffic the best view of you. It also says to slow and pick a lane position that makes you more visible when a driver is preparing to cross your path. That is why riding with the headlight on is the listed answer. The manual does not tell riders to wave or swerve to get noticed; it warns against changing speed or position radically near an intersection.