Driving on Expressways

1. Driving on Expressways Chapter 11

2. Characteristics of Expressway Driving • Known as a Controlled-Access Highway • Vehicles enter & leave only at interchanges • Other Names: • Interstate highways, Freeways, Toll Roads • Turnpikes, Parkways & Beltways • Advantages • Low risk / High Speed Travel • Cross Traffic Eliminated • Median between opposing lanes • No pedestrians, bikes, slow moving vehicles • Wide shoulders make good escape paths • Signs well posted, in advance to warn drivers

3. Characteristics of Expressway Driving • Types of Interchanges • Cloverleaf – drivers proceed in either direction • Diamond Interchanges – Little traffic crosses a busy expressway – Left turns by exiting traffic can be made

4. Characteristics of Expressway Driving • Types of Interchanges – continued • Trumpet Interchange- side road forms a T- intersection with expressway • All Directions Interchange – complicated interchange with high volume traffic

5. Characteristics of Expressway Driving • Safe Driving Strategies • Collisions on Expressway more serious • Due to higher speeds • Travel about same speed as other vehicles • Too Fast – constantly passing • Too Slow – block flow of traffic • Prepare for trip • Travel plan – route plan, number and name of exits • Plan stops for fuel & food • Maintain your vehicle • Cooperate with other drivers • Don’t challenge other drivers – Road Rage!!!

6. Entering An Expressway • 3 Parts see page 225 • Entrance Ramp – give you time to evaluate zones & adjust to best speed • Acceleration Lane – give you time to accelerate to the speed of the traffic • Merging Area – place where vehicles blend into the flow of traffic • Steps to Entering • Make sure you use the correct entrance ramp • Look for Red & White WRONG WAY or DO NOT ENTER

7. Entering An Expressway • Steps to Entering – continued • Once on entrance ramp • check front & rear zones • Signal & use mirrors to look for openings • At the end of the ramp check your blind spot • Once on acceleration lane • Gradually increase speed • Continue to check mirrors & blind spots • Before entering merging area • Adjust speed to match flow of traffic • Position vehicle • Once on the expressway • Cancel your signal • Adjust to speed of traffic

8. Entrance Ramp Problems • Short entrance ramps, acceleration lanes and high dividing walls • If you make an error and enter the wrong entrance ramp – continue on to the next exit • NEVER back up on an entrance ramp or expressway • Some ramps have sharp curves (yellow advisory signs) • Adjust your speed • Entrance Ramp Signal Lights • Signal Lights help space traffic entering the expressway • You must wait for the green light before entering the expressway

9. Entrance Ramp Problems • Acceleration Ramp Problems • Large numbers of vehicles (trucks) • May limit acceleration to expressway speeds • You may need a longer gap to enter traffic • Make every effort to enter and expressway without stopping • If you must… • Flash brake lights • Pull to the shoulder at the end of the acceleration lane • Wait for a large safe gap

10. Driving On The Expressway • Apply the IPDE process • Higher speeds, multiple lanes & heavier traffic make this more difficult • Lane Choice • Generally, safer to drive in the right & pass in the left • Reserve the left & center lanes for passing & faster traffic • Heavy traffic or near entrance ramps use center lane • Signs, Signals & Roadway Markings • Know your destination, think ahead • Avoid making sudden last minute decisions • Express Lanes = few entrances & exits (make sure you know where your exit is)

11. Driving On The Expressway • Speed Limits • Most states post speed limits • Some have no maximum speed limits • Drive at the speed that is safe & prudent • Minimum Speed Limits • Driving too slow can be very dangerous • Minimum Speed Limit • Lowest speed limit under ideal conditions • Use the far right lane when traveling at or near minimum speed limit • Common Speed • Speed used by most drivers • Sometimes it is above the maximum speed limit • Avoid the temptation!

12. Driving On The Expressway • Wolf Packs – bunches of vehicles • Avoid – be a loner on the expressway • Traveling in a wolf pack … • all zones may be closed • More conflicts • Following • Use the 3 second rule • Increase to 4 seconds when… • Following a large vehicle • Following a motorcycle • Driving in bad weather • Being tailgated • Entering or exiting an expressway

13. Driving On The Expressway • Blind Spots • Check yours often • Avoid driving in another vehicles blind spot • Being Followed • Encourage tailgaters to pass you • Reduce speed gradually • Change lanes when safe to do so • Lane Changing • Avoid changing lanes too often ( No weaving) • Change lanes one at a time • On 3 lane road, be sure far lane isn’t moving into the same space • It’s Illegal to pass on the shoulder • Shoulders may be used for emergency vehicles

14. Driving On The Expressway • Passing & Being Passed • Passing on Expressway is usually safer than passing on a two lane road • Median separates you from oncoming traffic • Head on collisions are usually not a threat • Passing on the left is common • Passing on the right is legal if slower moving vehicle is in the left lane • If you are continually being passed on the right • Move to the right lane • If you are frequently being passed on both sides • Dangerous situation! • Blend into traffic

15. Exiting Expressways • Plan your exit as early as possible • Most have a Deceleration Lane • Allows you to slow without blocking vehicles on expressway • Try not to decelerate until you are in this lane • Deceleration lane leads to the Exit Ramp • Identify the sign showing the ramp speed • Many ramps have sharp curves • If you miss an exit ramp, go on to the next • NEVER stop or back up

16. Exiting Expressways • Steps in Exiting • ½ mile before exit • Check zones • Signal • Do not reduce your speed until you are in the deceleration lane • Move to the deceleration lane • Cancel signal • Flash brake lights • Check rear zones and slow gradually • Identify Exit Ramp Speed • Check your own speed • Predict a stop or yield sign at the end of the ramp

17. Exiting Expressways • Possible Exiting Problems • Crossing Paths – Yikes!!! (Larkin North / 80 & 55) • Same lane used as both entrance & exit ramps • Exiting traffic should merge behind entering traffic • Ramp Overflow • Traffic backed up from an exit ramp on to the expressway • Route 30 (Mall) @ Christmas time • Rather than joining the overflow & risking a rear end collision pass the exit & use the next exit • Pulling off on the shoulder is unsafe & illegal • If you must exit flash your brakes, check rear zone, slow gradually • Short Deceleration Lanes – slow more quickly – check rear zone

18. Special Problems • Highway Hypnosis – inattentive drowsy state • Occurs when traveling long distances • More than 100,000 collisions each year in US are caused by sleepiness • Velocitation – hours of driving fool you into thinking you are traveling slower than what you really are • Unconsciously you drive to fast • Especially hazardous when exiting the expressway • Drive at expressway speeds after exiting the interstate

19. Special Problems • Expressway Driving Through Cities • More exit & entrance ramps = more merging • Most cases drive in the center lane to avoid merging • Disabled Vehicle • Check rear zones, Signal & pull to shoulder • Turn on hazard flashers • Raise the hood & tie a white cloth to antenna or handle • Phone for help • Place emergency flares 500 feet from your vehicle • Get back in your vehicle & lock doors • Anyone that stops to assist you ask them to call for help • NEVER get in a stranger’s vehicle • NEVER stand in the expressway and direct traffic

20. Special Problems • Tollbooths • Pay a fee or toll for using the expressway • May use “rumble strips” to alert traffic • Green light above tollbooth means it is open • 3 Types • Automatic – driver deposits coins • Attendant – for drivers without exact change • I-Pass or electronic devices