Ch. 10: Negotiating Intersections 10.1: Searching Intersections 10.2: Controlled Intersections 10.3: Uncontrolled Intersections 10.4: Determining Right of Way & Judging Gaps

Searching Intersections Chances of a collision are greater at intersections than at any other point on a roadway More than 1/3 of all collisions & ¼ of all fatal collisions Dangerous because many drivers’ paths cross & many unexpected stops occur there. In order to identify a safe path of travel, first locate: Street signs & lights Roadway markings Crossing traffic Parked vehicles Turning & stopping traffic

Approaching an Intersection Determine if you have an open zone Search the left-front, front, & right-front zones   Once you are within 4-6 seconds of the intersection, WIDEN your searching pattern When searching, briefly pause at each zone to detect objects in that location DO NOT move your eyes in a constant scan, you may miss something

Continue Moving Ahead You may continue ahead if: The traffic light is green The intersection has no signals or signs & the front, right-front, & left-front zones are open You should continue through the intersection once you pass the POINT OF NO RETURN Point beyond which you can no longer stop safely without entering the intersection. If you have a line-of-sight restriction, you may want to change your lane position & reduce your speed. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE LANE CHANGES WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN INTERSECTION!!!

Quick Question. . . With your partner, talk about things that you consider when deciding whether or not to go through a YELLOW light?

Deciding to Stop You may have to stop at an intersection when you identify or predict a closed zone. yellow or red traffic light YIELD sign Something moving into your intended path of travel. As soon as you identify a closed zone, check your rear zone and begin to brake.

Moving After a Stop Before you start to move, search at 90-degree angles to the right & left When turning, your last check should be in the direction of your turn If stopped behind another vehicle, wait 1 second after it begins to move before you move. Gives you room to respond to any sudden stop made by the vehicle ahead.

Controlled Intersections with Signs One at which traffic signals or signs determine the right of way. Obey all signs & traffic signals when you approach a controlled intersection YIELD the right of way to through traffic. 2 kinds of signs control intersections: STOP & YIELD Come to a FULL STOP for a STOP sign Slow & yield the right of way at a YIELD sign

Controlled Intersections with Signals Always predict that the signal is about to change.  Search 12-15 seconds ahead to see what color the light ahead is. STALE GREEN LIGHT: a light that has been green for a long time. FRESH GREEN LIGHT: a light that has just turned green. YELLOW LIGHT If the light turns yellow before you reach the point of no return, check your rear zone & if it’s safe, begin to stop. RED LIGHT: you MUST STOP

Protected & Unprotected Left Turns An UNPROTECTED LEFT TURN: a signal-controlled intersection that does not have a special left-turn light WHEN TURNING LEFT, YOU MUST YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC A PROTECTED LEFT TURN: special left-turn light, green arrow, or delayed green light lets you turn left while oncoming traffic is stopped. A DELAYED GREEN LIGHT: one side of an intersection has a green light while the light for the oncoming traffic remains red.

What makes them dangerous? Yet Another Question With your partner, discuss specific intersections that you feel are dangerous in this area. What makes them dangerous?

All states allow turns on red Come to a full stop at line. Check traffic to the left. Check vehicles across the street that may be turning left. Turn right when all is clear Most states permit turning LEFT on RED if the turn is from a one-way street onto another one-way street. Follow the same procedure as turning RIGHT on RED.

Controlled Railroad Crossings Usually has red lights along with crossing gates. Make a complete stop when the lights are flashing and/or the gates are down. Remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the gaits have risen. It is ILLEGAL, UNSAFE, and COSTLY to drive around the gates. Proceed only when it is clear.

Uncontrolled Intersections Has no signs or signals to regulate traffic. Usually found in areas of light traffic, such as residential areas. If you do not see a traffic sign or signal, predict that other traffic will NOT STOP. Reduce your speed, search aggressively, & always be prepared to stop.

Approaching Uncontrolled Intersections Determine if you have an open path of travel. If a vehicle is coming from the left or right, the driver on the left must YIELD to the driver on the right. Predict the worst: NEVER ASSUME THAT THE OTHER DRIVER WILL YIELD!!! Treat an uncontrolled intersection as you would a YIELD sign.

Uncontrolled Railroad Crossings Does not have flashing red lights or crossing gates Nearly all are marked with a sign as you approach them. In towns & cities, the sign is posted about 250 feet from the actual crossing In rural areas, the sigh is posted about 750 feet from the crossing. A CROSSBUCK, a large white X-shaped sign, is located beside the crossing. Treat uncontrolled crossings as you would a YIELD sign.

Crossing Railroad Tracks Slow down to check tracks on both sides & to handle a possible rough crossing  Turn off anything that makes noise & open the window If a train is approaching, stop at a safe distance before the tracks Wait for the train to clear & be sure another train is not approaching If it is safe to cross, increase you speed to at least 20 m.p.h. Make sure the vehicle ahead of you clears the tracks Be prepared to stop behind buses or trucks hauling flammable contents

Crossing & Joining Traffic A GAP is the distance between vehicles. You must know how long it takes to turn right, to turn left, & to cross traffic at an intersection. Joining traffic

Determining Right of Way & Judging Gaps To be a safe driver, you need to know when to yield the right of way In yield situations, remember: Your actions should not cause those around you to slow, stop, or change their intended path of travel. Traffic signs & signals only show WHO should yield, not who WILL NEVER assume others will always yield to you It may be better to yield even though the law says otherwise Failure to yield is one of the most frequent violations in fatal collisions.

Yield at STOP signs to . . . Pedestrians in or near the crosswalk All traffic on the through street

Yield at fresh green lights to. . . Pedestrians still in the crosswalk Vehicles still in the intersection

Yield coming from an alley, driveway, or private roadway to. . . Pedestrians before reaching the sidewalk All vehicles on the street Make two stops

Yield at ALL YIELD signs to. . . All pedestrians in or near crosswalks All vehicles on the cross street

Yield to Emergency Vehicles Sounding a siren or using a flashing light Stop clear of the intersection close to curb Wait for emergency vehicle to pass

Yield when turning left at any intersection to. . . All pedestrians in your turn path All oncoming vehicles that are at all close

Yield at four-way stops to. . . All pedestrians in or near crosswalks Vehicles that arrive first A vehicle from the right if you arrive at the same time

Yield at uncontrolled intersections to. . . Pedestrians in or near the crosswalk Any vehicle that has entered the intersection A vehicle from the right if you both arrive at the same time