Driving Environments

1. Driving Environments

2. Rural Driving • The speed limit on rural roads when not posted is 35 mph. • Many rural roads are two-lane, two-way roadways. • Curves may be sharper and hills may be steeper than on many city streets. • These roads can be made of concrete, asphalt, gravel, or dirt surfaces. These roads may or may not have a shoulder. • Usually rural roads are poorly lit or not lit at all. • Some rural roads may have drainage ditches alongside of them.

3. Rural Road

4. Hazards On Rural Roads • Higher speed, fewer controls • Slow moving vehicles • Sight obstructions • Animals and objects

5. A Deer In The Headlights

6. Distance Rules on Rural Roads • Keeping an adequate following distance is the easier and most simple way to avoid an accident. • The space in front of the vehicle is the easiest space to control. • To control this space use the two-second rule for following distance. • The two-second rule is for good road and weather conditions. • When conditions are not ideal increase the following distance to three to five seconds.

7. Urban Streets • Are usually covered with people and traffic. • Expect to encounter pedestrians anywhere and everywhere. • Never assume pedestrians will see you or that they are going to obey traffic rules and signals. • Expect the unexpected at all times and places. • This is a great example of the “Predict” aspect of the S.I.P.D.E. process.

8. Urban Street

9. Slow Or Irregular Traffic Flow On Urban Streets • Cars stopping next to parked cars. • Park cars pulling into traffic. • Road work or construction. • Disabled vehicle. • Accident. • Special events (ex. crawfish boil, concert) • Pedestrians • Any object that restricts traffic flow.

10. Traffic Jam

11. Sight Obstructions On Urban Streets • Parked or double parked vehicles • Buses • Trucks • Vans • Smog / pollution • Buildings

12. When Driving In The City • Scan on to two blocks ahead. • Check traffic in all directions. • Keep alert to tail lights in front of you. • Expect pedestrians to enter the roadway. • Be alert for emergency vehicles. • Always be ready to stop. • Be aware of entrances and exits. • Drive with low-beam headlights. • Give yourself extra time. • Use the S.I.P.D.E. process to help identify risks.

13. Proper Lane Placement In An Urban Setting • Keep as wide a margin of space as possible between your car and parked cars. • Avoid driving side by side with other cars on multiple lane streets. • Keep as much space as you can between your car and vehicles in the on-coming lanes. • Before entering an intersection, make sure there are no cars or people blocking your intended path of travel.

14. Limited & Controlled Access Highways • Permits driving long distances without interruption, with minimum fatigue and maximum safety. • There are not stops and no cross traffic. • Allows vehicles to enter and exit only at specific places. • They include freeways, interstates, parkways, turnpikes, expressways, and other multi-lane highways. • Entrances and exits may be miles apart. • Interchanges are points where drivers can enter or leave the expressway or connect with another highway.

15. Limited & Controlled Access Highway