1. Information Processing:
Driver’s Ed Section 4
Information Processing:
Complex Risk Environments

2. Bell Ringer Write a half page red to red.
Think about interstate entrances and exits. Explain some of the difficulties of entering and exiting the interstate. What was a scary moment that you might have experienced entering or exiting the interstate?

3. Day 1 Objectives
The students will be able to identify the 3 parts of an expressway entrance
The students will be able to explain the steps of entering the entrance ramp
The students will be able to explain the steps of entering the acceleration lane
The students will be able to explain the steps of entering the merge area
The students will be able to list reasons for lane changes
The students will be able to explain the steps of passing on expressways
The students will be able to explain reasons of choosing lanes on expressways
The students will be able to identify parts of an expressway exit
Related SOL: DE.3, DE.4, DE.5, DE.6, DE. 7, and DE.20

4. Entering an Expressway:
Before entering an expressway, make sure you have searched guide signs for correct route number and direction or destination.

5. An Expressway Entrance
The ramp is divided into three sections:
Merge
Area
1. The Entrance or Access Ramp — gives the driver time to begin evaluating traffic conditions.
Acceleration
Lane
2. The Acceleration Lane — allows a driver to adjust vehicle speed to the speed of traffic on the expressway.
Entrance
Ramp
3. The Merging Area — allows the driver to merge onto the expressway.

6. Entering the Entrance Ramp
Enter the Entrance Ramp
Begin Searching for a Gap / Open Space
Identify Gap / Space
Entrance
Ramp

7. Problems With Expressway Entrances
General Problems
Heavy traffic
Short ramps and acceleration lanes
High walls that may block visibility
Traffic on ramp may slow or stop abruptly
Be glad you live in Harrisonburg

8. Problems With Expressway Entrances
Picking the wrong lane
Traffic ahead and behind on the ramp
Sharp curves on the ramp
Visibility problems ahead and on the expressway

9. Reducing Risk on the Entrance Ramp
Searching for the proper entrance
Searching ahead, behind, and to the expressway
Preparing to adjust speed for blocked ramp
Avoiding stopping or backing on ramp

10. Entering The Acceleration Lane
1. Use the left-lane signal indicator
2. Adjust speed to match the speed of the traffic on the expressway
3. Monitor gap on expressway
Acceleration Lane

11. Acceleration Lane Problems
Amount of traffic in lane and on expressway
Short acceleration lane
Limited space ahead
Actions of drivers ahead and behind

12. Reducing Risk in the Acceleration Lane
Searching ahead and for gap on expressway
Preparing to adjust speed
Pulling onto the shoulder if no merge is available

13. Entering Merge Area
Accelerate to blend with the speed of traffic on the expressway
Check Rear and Left Rear Zones
Merge Area

14. Selecting a Gap in Traffic
Check Front Zone
Check Rear and Left Rear Zones
Select Gap
Identify a Target Area in the Open Space
Target Area
Merge Area

15. Selecting A Gap
When merging onto an expressway, stay in the right lane until you become accustomed to the faster traffic flow.
Center Vehicle in Proper Lane
Adjust Speed to Traffic Flow and Legal Limit

16. Merging into the Traffic Flow
Continue searching for adequate gap
Search for potential conflicts
Prepare to adjust speed
Avoid stopping on the ramp
Be prepared to drive onto the shoulder if necessary
Merge smoothly
Create space around your vehicle once you have entered the lane

17. Merging Area Problems Heavy traffic Lack of a gap to merge
Traffic slowing or stopping ahead
Visibility problems ahead and to the side

18. Reducing Risk in Merging Areas
Searching ahead and to the side
Preparing to blend speed with traffic
Watching for traffic changing lanes at merge

19. Critical Points Keep a space cushion at least on one side of your car
The need to change lanes occurs often.
Can be dangerous

20. Critical Points
Driving at the common speed of traffic is the best way to establish and maintain a safe space cushion around your vehicle
Following distance is critical (4 seconds or more)

21. Changing Lanes and Exiting Expressways

22. Reasons for Lane Changes
Exit
Ramp
Entering or exiting
Allowing another driver to enter
Following large or slow-moving vehicles
Lane ahead becomes blocked
Being tailgated
Animals
Passing
Entrance
Ramp

23. Steps to safely change lanes:
Maintain a safe following distance from the vehicles in front of you.
Signal your intention to change lanes.
3. Check traffic ahead, behind and to the sides (mirrors and head check).
Scan in direction of the BLUE arrows

24. Steps to safely change lanes:
4. Select a safe gap in traffic.
Re-check blind spots in the direction of the lane change.
5. Adjust your speed — if clear, steer smoothly to the new lane, if not, wait and cancel your turn signal.
Move one lane at a time.

25. Choosing Lanes on Expressways
Depends on volume of traffic, type of traffic, speed and the planned exit
Right lane conflicts with traffic entering and exiting the expressway
Right Lane
Center Lane
Left Lane

26. Choosing Lanes on Expressways
Right Lane:
Heavier and slower vehicles
Vehicles entering the expressway
Vehicles getting ready to exit
Right Lane
Center Lane
Left Lane
Center Lane:
Long distance or passing
Left Lane:
Higher speed and passing traffic

27. Passing on Expressways
Check traffic ahead, to the sides, and behind
BGE mirror settings.
Signal
Make a head check
Accelerate smoothly
Change lanes smoothly
Cancel signal
Pass and signal to return
Check mirrors and look over shoulder
When both sets of headlights of the vehicle being passed are visible, return to the lane
Adjust speed and/or vehicle position to create space all around your vehicle
The RED line shows path of the red car.
The BLUE arrows show where the driver’s eyes are searching.

28. Being Passed on Expressways
Monitor passing vehicle’s position
Move to lane position 3 to increase space cushion
Do not increase speed—decelerate if necessary
Once passed, create space ahead and behind
move away

29. Other Users
Trucks, trailers, buses, and other large vehicles add additional challenges to driving on multiple lane roadways.
Large and slow moving vehicles have inconsistent speeds when driving uphill and downhill

30. Other Users
Large vehicles may provide a wind blast that can move smaller vehicles when passing.
It is easy to underestimate the amount of time needed to pass larger vehicles

31. Exiting an Expressway

32. Parts of an Expressway Exit
An expressway exit has two components:
Exit
Ramp
The Deceleration Lane — gives the driver the time and space needed to adjust his/her vehicle’s speed to the slower posted ramp speed without disrupting the flow of traffic on the expressway.
The Exit Ramp — allows traffic to enter an adjoining roadway.
Deceleration Lane

33. Identify the Exit Early
Exits are marked with guide signs, usually one to two miles before the exit.
You can determine if an exit is a right exit or a left exit by the position of the exit number on the sign. So, Exit 45A is a right exit, because in this picture the exit number on the upper right-hand side of the sign.
About one-half mile (20- to 30- seconds) before the exit, signal and move to the lane closest to the deceleration lane.

34. Mile Markers
In Virginia, exit numbers correspond with mile marker numbers.

35. Exiting an Expressway
If you miss the exit, do not stop and/or back up on the expressway or ramp.
Take the next exit and turn around.

36. Exiting the Expressway
Signal
Maintain speed while on the expressway
Use mirrors to check behind and to the sides
Check mirror blindzones
Move into deceleration lane
Prepare to decelerate quickly
Exit
Ramp
Deceleration Lane
Deceleration Lane

37. Deceleration Lane
Enter Deceleration Lane by easing over several of the broken lines
Release Accelerator and Cancel Signal
Check Rear and Begin Braking
Deceleration Lane

38. Adjusting Exit Speed Brake to Warning Sign Speed — Check Behind
Scan New Path of Travel to the Front
Search for Traffic Control Signs or Signals
Exit
Ramp
Deceleration Lane

39. Weave Lane
Traffic entering and exiting the expressway uses the same lane.
To avoid a conflict, the driver in the BLUE car entering from the entrance ramp must yield the right-of-way to the driver in the RED car who is leaving the expressway.

40. Weave Lane Conflicts Traffic on exit ramp
Short deceleration lane prior to sharp curve
Very slow ramp speed

41. Class Work
Read pages 114 – 117
Answer Lesson 1 Review Questions on page 117
#’s 1-3

42. THE END !