MODULE 6
Objectives: Students will learn about using risk
reducing strategies to manage multiple-lane
roads at speeds up to 65 mph in complex risk
environments
Topics Covered:
— Characteristics of Expressway
— Entering, exiting traffic, steering, establishing
speed and lane positions, and traveling on
multiple-lane roadways
— Managing interchanges, merging, exiting from
traffic flow, and selecting vehicle positions in
expressway driving
Expressways

Expressways include interstate highways, freeways,
turnpikes, toll roads, parkways, and beltways—high
speed roadways—divided by a barrier/medium—
limited access highways
— Have
no traffic lights and many signs are designed to
break away when hit by a vehicle
— Have exits and entrances only at certain locations
— Have two or more lanes going in one direction
— Have no cross traffic
— Have higher injury severity rates
— Rumble strips are installed on the edge of roads to alert
drivers who drift off the road
— Are designed so that traffic either entering or exiting has
separate lanes from fast moving traffic and for low-risk high
speed driving
Expressways Types/Signs

Diamond expressway (interchanges) allows a driver to reenter
the expressway by moving across the intersection of the
secondary road
 A trumpet interchange allows for interchange of second twoway streets to a multiple lane roadway with minimal traffic mix
 Cloverleaf interchange allows two expressways to cross with
minimal disruption
— When entering an expressway, motorist should try to enter
at the same speed as traffic already on the expressway
— The maximum speed limit on rural expressways in North
Carolina is 65 mph
 Interstate signs shaped like a shield are red, white and blue
Expressways Signs

HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes are marked
with a diamond
 The red X over a lane means that traveling in that
lane is prohibited

An interstate route with even numbers travel east
and west routes
 An interstate route with odd numbers travel north
and south routes
 The far right lane should be used for slower traffic;
the far left lane should be used for faster traffic
 Never go in reverse when you are driving on an
expressway
Expressway Entering

Alternate routes that travel around the city begin with even
numbers
 A solid yellow line on any roadway should be on the drivers
left side
 The correct procedures for entering an expressway is to read
ramp signs, search ahead and behind for gaps in traffic,
adjust speed, merge and blend with traffic
 Motorist should try to enter an expressway at the same speed
as traffic already on the expressway
— If a driver mistakenly enters the wrong entrance ramp and
is headed in the wrong destination -- continue on in that
direction until you come to the next exit
— The most dangerous mistake to make when entering an
expressway is entering the exit ramp
Expressway Speeds

At expressway speeds, you should maintain a following
distance of at least 3-4 seconds
—
Peripheral vision is affected by the speed of the vehicle

The correct procedures for changing lanes is check traffic
ahead, behind, beside, signal, select gap, check blind spots,
adjust speed, steer smoothly into lane, and cancel signal

A driver should increase their following distance on an
expressway when
—
—
—

Weather conditions are bad
Following large trucks
Being tailgated
Driving with the flow of traffic is the best way to maintain a
space cushion around your vehicle
Expressway Passing and Exiting



Passing on an expressway includes special challenges for
the novice driver which are
— Higher speeds
— Passing on the right and left
— Vehicles and drivers on both sides moving into the same
lanes
When exiting an expressway, it is important to
— Plan your exit in advance
— Signal any changes in position
— Move to the lane nearest the deceleration—this lane
allows the driver exiting the time and space needed to
adjust vehicle speed
The best way to be prepared for a blocked lane is to allow
for an escape route to one side of your vehicle
Managing Interchanges

When driving in large cities, traffic may stop
abruptly—drivers must be attentive and prepared
 A driver should increase their following distance
when sleepy, being tailgated, and following an SUV
—A
dulled, drowsy, trance-like condition while driving is
known as highway hypnosis

If you miss an exit, you should continue on to the
next exit and turn around—never make a U-turn on
expressways
 Construction zones usually have slower speed
limits even on expressways