Ch. 16
Driving on Highways
For Your Quiz
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Be able to explain the safe driving strategies
for expressway driving.
Know the situations that require you to
increase your following distance.
Be able to explain why there are fewer
collisions on expressways.
Explain what you should do if you encounter
a “wolf pack.”
List and explain the common exiting
problems.
Define highway hypnosis.
Define velocitation.
Key Idea
This chapter
discusses ways to
manage risk when
entering, driving on,
and exiting
multilane highways.
Students also learn
about problems and
features specific to
highways.
Why are
expressways
safer?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cross Traffic is
Eliminated
Expressways have
medians/barriers
between opposite lanes
of traffic
Access is restricted to
not allow slow moving
vehicles/pedestrians
Wide shoulders provide
good escape paths
Signs are designed to
help drivers anticipate
changes ahead of time
Classification of
Highways
Review
• What type of signs
are these?
• What information
do you get from
these signs?
There are three
classifications of
highways:
1. Interstate
2. US Highway
3. State Highway
Interstate
Highway System
Controlled Access
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Vehicles can only enter
or leave at designated
interchanges.
Interchange
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Places where drivers
can cross over or under
traffic as well as enter
or leave the
expressway.
Non-controlled Access

This roadway could
have traffic lights,
intersections, and
driveways where traffic
is able to enter or leave
the expressway
Freeway
Interchanges
Four Types of
Interchanges:
1. Cloverleaf
2. Diamond
3. Trumpet
4. All-Directional
Safe Driving Strategies
1. Prepare
2. Build
yourself and your vehicle
experience gradually
3. Concentrate
4. Cooperate
on the driving task
with other drivers
Entering
Controlled-Access
Highways
•
Gap Size applies to this
maneuver
When entering a controlledaccess highway:
•
Make sure you are on an
entrance ramp.
There are 3 parts to an
entrance ramp:
1. Entrance ramp
2. Acceleration Lane
3. Merging Area
Short video on
merging
Entrance
Problems
Wrong Ramp
•
Don’t back up! Go to next
exit and fix it then.
Ramp Meter
•
Red and Green light used
to help control the flow of
traffic onto the
expressway.
Acceleration Lane
•
Avoid coming to a stop if at
all possible.
Left-Entrance Ramp
•
Dangerous because you
are merging with the faster
traffic.
Steps for Entering
an Expressway
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Check your front and
rear zones.
Accelerate in
acceleration lane.
Decide on gap.
MIB and match speed.
Merge, cancel signal,
adjust speed.
Following Distance
Applying the
IPDE Process
Identify
•
Open and closed zone
•
Line of sight restrictions
•
Other users
•
Traffic signs and signals
•
Roadway Features and
Conditions
Predict
•
Actions of Others
•
Speed
•
Direction
•
Control
Decide
•
Change/Maintain Speed
•
Change/Maintain Steering
•
Communicate with Others
•
Combine Actions
Execute
•
Use smooth, deliberate
actions to carry out your
plan.
Lane Choice
•
•
•
•
•
Safer to drive on right and
pass on left.
Safest lane?
• Depends on situation
but usually still the
right lane
• Approaching
entrances – move
to center to avoid
conflicts
• Avoid passing on
the right whenever
possible
Reversible lanes
HOT/HOV Lanes
Speed limit and Common
Speed
Changing Lanes
•
•
•
Avoid making lane changes
too often.
Avoid changing multiple
lanes at one time.
Avoid changing lanes when
others are changing too.
Passing and
Being Passed
•
Pass on the left…it’s
safer!!
•
If being passed:
• Change lane
position if
necessary to
increase space
• To let them pass
quickly reduce
your speed
slightly
Exiting ControlledAccess Highways
•
Locate the proper
exit:
• Deceleration
Lane
• Exit Ramp
• Advisory
Speed Limit
• Identify type
of ramp
• Do Not Slow
Down on the
Expressway
Itself!!!!
3 Common
Exiting Problems
1.
2.
3.
Ramp Overflow
Crossing Paths
Short Deceleration
Lane
Highway Problems
and Features
•
Drivers
•
•
•
Highway
Hypnosis
Velocitation
Disabled Vehicles
•
•
•
•
Use hazard
lights
Raise hood
Tie white cloth
to antenna
Stand near the
back of the car
away from the
road
Expressway
Wolf-packs
•
•
•
•
Vehicles bunching
together on an
expressway.
Avoid to keep
space cushion and
reduce risk
Change speed to
avoid packs
Become a “loner”
and drive in
between packs is
possible
Roadways and
Toll Plazas
•
•
•
•
•
Beltway
Spur
Manual Lane
Automatic
Lane
IPASS Lane
For Your Quiz







Be able to explain the safe driving strategies
for expressway driving.
Know the situations that require you to
increase your following distance.
Be able to explain why there are fewer
collisions on expressways.
Explain what you should do if you encounter
a “wolf pack.”
List and explain the common exiting
problems.
Define highway hypnosis.
Define velocitation.