Drivers Education
Chapter 11
Driving on
Expressways
Characteristics of
Expressways
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 Entrances
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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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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
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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
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Since this lane is
usually used for highspeed 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
1. Cooperation among drivers.
2. Concentration on the driving task.
3. Use of the IPDE process.