Transcript Chapter 12 - Freeway Driving

Chapter 12
12-1 The Freeway Driving
Environment

Freeways
 Divided roadways with at least two lanes
going in the same direction
 Built to maximize safety at higher speeds
○ Lanes & shoulders are wider
○ Signs & bridge supports are clear of the
roadway
○ Less time to react to an emergency situation
 Typically more crowded than an open highway
 Escape routes are limited
Interchanges
Used to allow traffic to enter, exit, or
cross a freeway without interrupting the
normal flow of traffic
 Types of Interchanges:

 Cloverleaf
 Diamond
 Trumpet
 Directional
Types of Interchanges

Cloverleaf Interchange
 Two freeways intersect, with ramps allowing
drivers to move from one to the other
without having to stop or turn
Types of Interchanges

Diamond Interchange
 A freeway intersects a highway with less
traffic
 Drivers must stop or yield before turning left
or merging right into cross traffic
Types of Interchanges

Trumpet Interchange
 A freeway and highway form a “T”
 Drivers exiting the freeway merge on the
highway after one direction of traffic crosses
over or under the freeway
Types of Interchanges

Directional Interchange
 Several freeways and/or highways meet
 Traffic is channeled in various directions
through a complicated series of elevated
ramps
Scanning for Danger
Scan ahead
 Pay attention to signs, signals, roadway
markings
 Increase following distance
 Identify hazards before you get to them
 Be on the lookout for speedsters,
constant lane changers, tailgaters, etc.

Choosing a Lane
Depends on the volume and speed of
traffic
 Usually the center lanes are for through
traffic
 Left lane is for faster than normal traffic
and for vehicles passing slower traffic
 Right lane is for slower traffic or traffic
preparing to exit

 Avoid driving in this lane – cars are trying to
merge
Changing Lanes

Must be patient and cautious
 So many lanes and so many cars
 Drivers competing for the same space
 Openings in traffic can appear and
disappear in seconds
 Only change one lane at a time
 Accidents can and will happen
12-2 Entering Freeways

Three major parts of freeway entrance:
 On-Ramps
○ May go up or down to the freeway
○ Never back up on an on ramp
○ Scan for a gap from the on ramp to prepare to merge
 Acceleration Lane
○ A temporary lane that allows you to match speeds of
the freeway before entering
 Merging Area
○ Space where the acceleration lane merges with the
freeway
○ Make speed adjustments and steer gradually into the
through lane
○ Always merge into the first lane of the freeway
12-3 Exiting Freeways

Smoother than entering
 More time to prepare
 Deceleration Lanes
○ Allow drivers exiting the freeway to adjust to
slower speed conditions
○ Don’t slow down to enter
 That’s what the lane itself is for
 Off-Ramps
○ Speed limits will be posted
○ Will be short and have sharp curves
12-4 Other Dangers of Freeway
Driving

“Weave” Lanes
 One of the most dangerous situations facing
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freeway drivers
Sharing acceleration and deceleration lanes
Occurs when an off-ramp is placed
immediately after an on-ramp
Vehicles share right-of-way
Actively scan and communicate with other
drivers
SPACE CUSHION
12-4 Other Dangers on the
Freeway

Double-Merge Lanes
 Separate lanes that stay separate throughout
the entire merge
 Entering the freeway
○ From the inner lane
 Find and appropriate merging space with the through
traffic
 Watch out for vehicles from the outer lane
 Exiting the freeway
○ Not as problematic, but be ready for drivers to
make erratic changes
 May get stuck on the inner lane and cut across to exit
12-4 Other Dangers on the
Freeway

Express Lanes
 Special reversible lanes that go into and out
of cities
 Make sure you know the direction of travel
for that time of day
12-4 Other Dangers on the
Freeway

Rush-Hour Traffic
 Freeways are designed for high-speed driving, but not the
case with Rush-Hour
 Attempts to alleviate the problem
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Road construction
Tollways
Commuter lanes
Carpool lanes
Metered on-ramps
Public transportation
 Can and will be frustrating and dangerous
○ If traffic is stopped in one lane and not the other
 Cars will move in and out of lanes
 Traveling at high and low speeds
 Don’t use the median or shoulder
12-4 Other Dangers on the
Freeway

Tollways
 Also called turnpikes, toll expressways, or toll
roads
 Can be connected to freeways and provide
alternate routes
 Signs will be posted telling you which lane to get
into
 Pay the toll at a toll booth
○ Usually located at exits or entrances to tollways
○ Three types of tollbooths
 Scan
 Machine-operated
 Attendant operated
 Approach with caution and allow plenty of time
 It helps to have exact change ready. If you don’t,
people will get irritated