Driver's Ed (Module 1-2)

here are four ways that you may be alerted that a railway is ahead. They are:

(1) Railroad crossing sign (2) Pavement markings (3) Crossbuck sign (4) Red flashing lights and gates

Here's a few basic steps to safe and happy merging:

(1) Signal When you are about to merge into traffic, be sure to signal and make sure you can enter safely. In order to signal properly, use your indicator. Don't lean out the window pointing and yelling about where you're going. (2) Enter When you enter a highway, your vehicle should be cruising with the flow of traffic. Don't stop before merging with traffic unless it is absolutely necessary. Highway traffic always has the right-of-way. The other reason that you shouldn't stop is because then you'll have to accelerate into a line of traffic that is going exceedingly fast. This is no small feat, so just keep your speed up and do your best to blend in with the other traffic as you merge. Remember - whether you are merging or entering traffic, or simply passing other cars... you must not do so unless you have clear and safe access! That means... you need space and time. (3) Follow When you merge, leave a gap of at least four seconds between you and the vehicle ahead. Once you're in the flow of traffic, use your mirrors and turn signals to navigate. Turn and look behind you before changing lanes. Make sure you can stop safely by leaving three seconds of space between you and the cars ahead. (4) Changing Lanes If you need to cross several traffic lanes... cross them one at a time. Don't try and jump three lanes in one felt swoop, because you might cause an accident. Take one lane, stabilize your position, and check your mirrors before taking the next one. Be especially careful when merging behind a very large vehicle or a truck, because their stopping distance is very long, which eats up time and road space. When changing lanes, you should enact the same driving principles that come into play when merging. Again, allow a four-second gap between you and the vehicle in the next lane ahead, check your mirrors, and use your turn signal. If you are going across several lanes, please take them one at a time. Merging right-of-way - so who goes first NOW? Merging "right-of-ways" are a little different than controlled intersections. You see, when merging, the car on the right never has the right-of-way. Yeah, let that one bounce around your head for a while - confusing, huh? Well, don't worry; we'll give you a couple of examples here, to help explain:

What are the three things you can do to avoid an intersection crash:

(1) Stop short of the intersection, so you will have time to react to any unforeseen situation. (2) Keep your eyes moving, looking in all directions, so you don't focus your attention on one unimportant detail, to the exclusion of something more important. (3) Don't assume any behavior of your fellow driver. Be a good defensive driver.

What do all these intersections have in common?: Most of the accidents at intersections are caused by three main factors. They are:

(1) The delayed perception of the driver. (2) Vehicle speeds that exceed driving conditions. (3) False assumptions made by drivers.

The National Safety Council has some more safety tips you should use as you approach an intersection:

(A) Cover the brake. Covering the brake simply means to put your foot over it - not pushing down, but just holding your foot over the brake, READY to push down, should you need to do so. "Covering the brake" doesn't mean you need to knit a brake doily or anything - just keep your foot over the brake, just in case. This action will cut three-quarters of a second off your reaction time while braking. This might not seem like such a big deal, but that time saved could make a big difference in an emergency. That amount of time can be the difference between having a collision and being safe. We'll assume you'd rather be safe, so just cover the brake. (B) Observe yield signs and yellow lights. Go beyond just observing the yield signs and yellow lights, too - observe them, then DO something about them, which would generally be yielding or slowing down. The additional slow down time can come in handy if some other vehicle prompts you into an evasive maneuver, and yellow lights mean there will be a higher chance of needing an evasive maneuver... following those yield signs and yellow lights will help keep you out of a tough spot. (C) Delay acceleration. We know, you've heard it since the day you first walked: "Look both ways before crossing the road." Well, as it turns out, it's just as important now that you're driving as it was when you were just a poor, lowly pedestrian. J When you come to an intersection, after you have fully stopped, make sure the coast is clear before you accelerate. Sometimes, by accident (or sometimes on purpose), some drivers will blow right through an intersection. To be on the safe side, look for vehicles that may be speeding towards the intersection with no intention of stopping. Granted, this doesn't happen all the time or anything... but you don't want to be caught by surprise when it DOES happen. Don't just get in the habit of stopping and then blindly accelerating. You need to check in all directions before proceeding forward. Even if you have the right-of-way, you need to make sure that the other drivers are not coming. Sometimes other drivers will fail to stop or yield the right-of-way, and a vehicle that comes out of nowhere can hit you very hard. (D) Use the "rule of thirds." No that doesn't mean it's time for another helping of dinner. The rule of thirds means, as you are coming up to an intersection, maintain a safe speed for the first third of the block, signal your intent to turn and get in the proper lane for the second third, then apply the brake to stop at the final third. And you thought that you'd never need to use fractions again!

What is an controlled intersection?

A Controlled intersection is.. let's see, how should we put this... um... it's controlled... by... um controlling devices. Controlled intersections generally have: (A) Multi-Lanes (B) Traffic Signs (C) Traffic Signals (D) Pavement Markings You get it - it's controlled by something, so it's called a "controlled intersection."

50% of all Crashes Happen at Intersections

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in figures from 2002, 43% of vehicle crashes occur at intersections. That's more than 1.8 million intersection incidences, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In urban areas, 50% of all crashes happen at intersections. These figures include accidents at merge sites, running red lights, and median divides. Side impact crashes at intersections have a higher rate of fatalities and serious injuries because there is less structural protection on the sides of the vehicle, plus many times, the driver who blows through the intersection is moving at high speeds. That's what we call "getting T-Boned." You don't want to get T-Boned.

What is an intersection?

An "intersection" is where two or more roads "intersect"... hence the really imaginative name.

What are the Two types of intersections?

Controlled and Uncontrolled.

Where else are there intersections?

Dirt Roads Dirt roads are roads just like any other road with the same laws and regulations. Don't just assume that dirt roads are lawless country where you can do anything you want... unless you're in the Wild West about to have a duel with Billy the Kid, but that's a whole other discussion. Dirt roads are fun, but a lot of times they are in rural areas, so you should be especially aware that they could be obscured by plants, a bend in the road, or a cow or some type of thing that you wouldn't come across in a big city. Also, it can be harder to slow down or even control your vehicle at higher speeds while on gravel, so use caution, and be prepared for any intersections you may approach. (B) Driveways Granted, there's not a lot of traffic on most driveways, but driveways are intersections too, and the view can be obscured by bushes, trees, buildings, or other objects. Use caution around driveways, because you never know when a car may suddenly pop out. (C) Highway On- and Off-Ramps Highway ramps are not only intersections - they're high speed intersections, which means more things can go wrong a lot quicker. That's why we need to review intersection rule #1: stay calm (a.k.a. "don't freak out!"). If you remain calm and in control, highway ramps can also be some of the smoothest intersections, so just be aware that you are in an intersection, and don't lose your cool. (D) Junctions with Side Streets Junctions with side streets or alleyways (found especially in urban settings) can be very similar to driveways. Often times the view of the side street can be obscured, so you won't see a vehicle approaching until it is there. A car can easily come zipping out of a side street and cause the old "T-Bone" maneuver we talked about, so be sure to keep an eye out. (E) Building Entrances Building entrances and exits can be among the most deceptive intersections. If a car comes directly out of a parking garage, the driver won't have a good view of the road, and you won't be able to see him. When passing a building entrance or exit, always be prepared for a car to come out, and if you can, switch lanes to leave more space. (F) Railroad Crossings Okay, this is a whole other can of worms. Railroad crossing aren't traditional intersections in the sense that cars are crossing each others' paths - here, you're dealing with trains. Trains are big time dangerous. I mean, come on, we're talking about train wrecks here. If you get hit by a train, it ain't pretty, and that's an understatement. We'll give you a whole section on railroad crossing later to tell you more, but for now, just realize that railroad crossing are in fact intersections, and wait with bated breath for the entire section with more info in a few pages. (G) Rotaries or Traffic Circles If you've ever been to Europe, you probably know what these are! A "rotary" (or "traffic circle") is a large circular area in the middle of an intersection meant to control the right-of-way of vehicles. The circle is used to decrease vehicular speeds on a street and may decrease traffic volume as well. Traffic approaching the rotary must yield to those cars which have already in the rotary, so be prepared to yield, and even come to a complete stop, if necessary. Drivers should use their turn signals both upon entering and upon exiting the rotary.

There are a few special circumstances when you automatically give up the right-of-way. These special circumstances are: (A) Emergency Vehicles (B) School Buses (C) Pedestrians If you think about it for a moment, these situations will all make sense to you...

If an active emergency vehicle is heading towards you or coming up fast behind you... you must legally STOP or pull off to the side of the road, and give them a clear path to get by. This is called the "Move Over Act." If you are unable to completely stop, then slow down and move to the right side of the road. When you stop, ensure that you don't block an intersection that the emergency vehicle needs to go through.

Paved and Unpaved Roads (Including Private Roads and Driveways)

If you're driving on an unpaved road (such as a private road or driveway) and you intersect with a paved road, you must yield to the vehicles driving on the asphalt road. You must also yield if you are driving through an alley or if you're on a private driveway or road. Basically, the bigger, fancier road gets the right-of-way, again. Why? Because it's bigger and fancier... and because there's probably more traffic on it. Just like in voting, when it comes to roads, the majority rules.

How do I get it?

In order to get the right-of-way, it must be yielded or given to you.

Single, Two-Lane, and Multi-Lane Road

On single and two-lane roadways, you must yield to other drivers as your vehicle enters a divided or multi-lane street. Basically, if you are entering a larger, busier road from a smaller one, the cars on the "bigger" road have the right-of-way. At a one-way intersection (an intersection of two one-way streets), you may turn left at a red traffic signal once you have come to a full stop and yielded to any approaching vehicles and pedestrians. However, when you are turning onto a one way street, make sure you are going in the right direction; otherwise it's just a big mess.

What is the "Right-of-Way?

The "right-of-way" is essentially the right to go. That is to say, whoever has the right-of-way has priority to either go first or maintain their lane position. While driving, the right-of-way generally comes up at intersections, but once you know the rules, you can use them anywhere, like in your school hallway. If someone jumps in front of you, just yell, "Hey, I had the right-of-way!" It's loads of fun. We'll tell you more about intersections in a little while, but now - back to the right-of-way.

What does "yield" mean?

The driving definition of "yield" is when you let another vehicle move before you do by stopping for a moment or slowing down. Just because there is no yield sign doesn't mean you don't need to yield. Sometimes there will be a yield sign to remind you that you must yield at highway entrances or rotaries. A "yield" sign is different than a "stop" sign. A "stop" sign means you have to stop... period. A "yield" sign means you must yield to the flow of traffic by stopping OR slowing down. If you approach a yield sign and you can see that the road you wish to enter is clear, then you don't need to stop at all. BOOYA!

Ok... but HOW do I get the right-of-way?

The right-of-way has to be given to you. That means another driver must recognize what you intend to do and then let you do it. You can't just take the right-of-way. The entire concept revolves around it being given to you, like a present. Not so much a Christmas present, but more of a "you can drive without another car running into you every five minutes" kind of present. You'll appreciate it more when you're older, just like that sweater your grandmother gave you. For just one second, let's imagine a world with no right-of-way. Oh sure, it sounds fun living all foot-loose and fancy-free at first, but imagine this: You stop at an intersection at the exact same time as two other cars. GASP! If you each go at the same time, you'll have a massive wreck in the middle. GASP AGAIN! Uh-oh, life without the right-of-way isn't so much fun anymore. But lucky for you, and the other drivers, the right-of-way does exist, and you all know that the car to your right receives the right-of-way, you all yield it as such, and everyone is safe. Oh thank you, sweet right-of-way! I love you so much!

Private Roads and Driveways

When entering or crossing a road, street, or highway from a private road, alley, building, or driveway - irregardless of whether it's paved or unpaved - and after you have made a complete stop at the walkway, you must yield the right-of-way to all approaching vehicles and pedestrians. Once again, the right-of-way goes to the bigger, fancier road. Stupid big, fancy roads.

Right-of-Way RULE:

When you arrive at the same time at an intersection the car to your right receives the right-of-way. And these rules also apply to bicyclists, moped riders, motorcyclists, and even pedestrians too.

No Signage

You enter an intersection that is not controlled by multi-lane indicators, signs, signals, or pavement markings. You should treat an uncontrolled intersection as if it were a four-way stop. You should yield the right-of-way to the first vehicle that arrives at the intersection. The first driver should only proceed if the road to the immediate right is clear. In addition, make sure that the road to your left is clear and that those drivers are giving you the right-of-way. Just because you technically have the right-of-way, make sure that the other drivers around you are aware of your vehicle's intention. The last thing you need is another vehicle hitting you because of visual miscommunication. Keep in mind, if you are at an intersection with traffic lights that have lost power or are otherwise malfunctioning, it automatically becomes an uncontrolled intersection, and must be treated like a four way stop. Also, be aware of pedestrian traffic at uncontrolled intersections. A national study by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) showed that intersections that had only pedestrian markings had a much higher pedestrian crash rate than unmarked crosswalk. The marked walkways made pedestrians feel more secure and emboldened to venture across, increasing the chances of being hit by unfocused drivers.

Here are some important tips to remember when driving near train tracks:

f you see a crossbuck sign reduce your speed, look both ways, roll down your window and listen for a train whistle before proceeding. If a train is approaching STOP! If red lights are flashing at a railroad crossing, STOP! Remain stopped until the train passes by and the lights stop flashing. If railroad arms have been lowered STOP! You must wait until the train has passed and the gates are raised to proceed. Never stop on the tracks. Check to be sure ALL tracks are clear

What is an uncontrolled intersection?

uncontrolled or "latch-key" intersections have no controlling devices, signs, signals, or markings. Instead, they rely solely on right-of-way rules. An example of this would be when one rural road crosses another. We tend to think of intersections as being only on regular urban or rural streets, but that's not true. Intersections can be on any road ranging from highways to driveways and everything in between. You might also hear the terms "traditional" and "non-traditional intersections." A traditional intersection is just the a point where two roadway users meet and cross. A non-traditional intersection is a, well, non-traditional point where two roadway users meet - such as a railroad crossing or turnabout. Intersections are everywhere, and they can create quite a hazard too. In fact...