Chapter 11 Driving on Expressways Drivers Education Chapter 11 Driving on Expressways

Characteristics of Expressways Expressways/Controlled-Access Highways – vehicles can only enter and exit at interchanges. Expressways include: interstates, freeways, turnpikes, toll roads, parkways, and some beltways. Despite the high speed and heavy traffic, you are safer on an expressway. Cross traffic is eliminated. There is a median or barrier between opposing lanes of traffic. Pedestrians and slow moving vehicles are no permitted on expressways. They have wide shoulders and signs are designed to help you anticipate what is ahead.

Expressway Interchanges Cloverleaf Interchange – Resembles a four-leaf clover and enables a driver to proceed in either direction. Expressway to expressway. Diamond Interchange – used when the cross street is not as busy as the expressway.

Expressway Interchanges Trumpet Interchange – when side road form T with expressway. All-Directional Interchange – used in complicated intersections with a high volume of traffic. Traffic is channeled in many directions.

Safe Expressway Driving Travel about the same speed as other drivers on the road. Know the name of roads, route numbers, and entrances/exits you will use. Plan stops for food, fuel, and rest when driving long distances. Keep vehicle in top condition to guard against mechanical failure on expressways.

Expressway Driving Build experience gradually, choose times when traffic is light. Never lose sight of the fact that high speed driving can present a high degree of danger. React cautiously if someone cuts you off. Be smooth with reactions at high speeds. Expressway driving

Expressway Entrances Entrance Ramp – build speed and prepare to enter expressway. Acceleration Lane – accelerate to speed of traffic and look for gap to merge onto expressway. Merging Area – this is where you blend into expressway traffic.

Step for Entering Expressway Make sure that you have the proper entrance, look for signs that say “Wrong Way.” Once on the entrance ramp, put on your turn signal, check to the rear through the mirrors and and check to the front. When you think that it is clear give a quick look over your left shoulder into your blind spot. Keep accelerating and merge into traffic. Once on the expressway, cancel you turn signal and adjust to traffic.

Possible Entrance Ramp Problems Short entrances and high dividing walls can cause the driver problems on entry. If you take the wrong ramp, continue onto the expressway and go to the next exit to turn around. NEVER BACK UP ON AN EXPRESSWAY! Very sharp curves on ramp. Make every effort to enter expressway without stopping.

Entrance Ramp on Left Since this lane is usually used for high-speed traffic, the potential for conflict is greater. Checking traffic over your right shoulder can be more difficult because of head or roof supports in your vehicle.

Lane Choice Generally it is safer to drive in the right lane and pass in the left lane. When traffic is heavy, especially at entrance ramps you may want to use the center or left lanes to avoid conflict. Large trucks are required to drive in the right lane on many expressways. You may want to move from behind a large to avoid line of sight restrictions.

Signs, Signals, and Roadway Markings Green arrow over your lane means the lane is open Yellow X over means the lane will close ahead. Red X over a lane means the lane is closed. Many cities have express lanes. These bypass exits to move traffic more quickly. If you are not sure about an exit, do not use these lanes.

Speed Limits Drive at the speed that is safe and prudent for the weather and roadway conditions. Minimum Speed Limit – a minimum speed drivers are permitted to travel to reduce risk of rear-end collisions. Use the far right lane if you are travel at the minimum speed. Common Speed – the speed used by most of the drivers on the expressway. Drivers who exceed the common speed are more likely to weave in and out of traffic to pass other vehicles.

Wolf Packs Wolf Pack – bunches of vehicles traveling together. Responsible drivers’ try to avoid wolf packs. Being a “loner” on the expressway will reduce your chances of conflict.

Following on Expressways Maintain 3-second rule. Increase following distance behind large trucks, in bad weather, and when driving a heavy vehicle/pulling trailer. If you are being tailgated by another drive, reduce speed and move to the right to encourage the driver to pass you.

Lane Changing Avoid unnecessary lane changes, changing lanes to often can lead to collisions. Change lanes one at a time. Signal every lane change. Always check your mirrors and blind spots. Cancel your signal after lane change.

Lane Changing Changing lanes on expressways with 3 or more lanes moving in the same direction is much more complicated. Conflict can occur when 2 driver are trying to moving into the same lane. Some lane changes will help traffic entering the expressway.

Passing Passing on an expressway is safer than passing on a 2-lane highway. Make sure you condition are safe before you perform the maneuver. Passing on the left is most common. However, you can pass on the right is slower traffic is on the left or there are more than 2 lanes going in the same direction.

Passing Steps Check traffic to the front and rear. Signal your lane change. Check blind spot before you change lanes. Use same procedure for returning to lane. Make sure that you can see the entire front end of the vehicle before you return to the original lane.

Exiting Expressways Exiting expressways safely requires skill and planning, plan you exit as early as possible. Deceleration Lane – a lane in which you slow your vehicle without blocking lane behind you. Exit Ramp – this is the ramp leading off the expressway. Never stop or back up if you go past your exit.

Possible Exiting Problems Crossing Paths – lane is used for both and entrance and an exit. Ramp Overflow – traffic backed up from exit ramp onto the expressway. This is unsafe and illegal, go to the next exit. Short Deceleration Lane – slow more quickly, identify ramp speed, and check rear zones.

Driver Conditions Highway Hypnosis – inattentive, drowsy state. Open window, get out of car and exercise. Fall-Asleep collisions – 100,000 collision each year. These drivers pose risk to themselves and other on the roadway. Velocitation – unconsciously driving to quickly on slower roads after driving on the expressway for a long time.

Expressways Through Cities Expressways in cities have more entrances and exit cause more conflicts. Driver in center or left lane to avoid conflict. Know well ahead where you want to exit. Search constantly for signs. Predict other drivers are less aware and alert than you.

Disabled Vehicle Pull over as far as possible. Turn on hazards. Put a white cloth on the door or antenna. Set emergency flares or reflectors if you have them. Never get into a stranger’s vehicle. Do not stand in the expressway or try to direct traffic.

Roadway Repair Watch for orange construction signs. Reduce your speed and follow directions of the construction workers. Fines are doubled for speeding violations in construction zones.

Tollbooths You must stop at tollbooths and pay a fee or toll, for driving on that expressway. Rough sections on road called rumble strips, warn of the approaching tollbooth. Green light indicates the lane is open, red the lane is closed, and yellow is ez-pass lane.

Using Expressways Safely Three key factors contribute to safe driving on expressways Cooperation among drivers. Concentration on the driving task. Use of the IPDE process.