Chapter 11 (Driving on Expressways)
Why are expressways safer than other types of roads?
Cross traffic is eliminated.
Traffic is heavy on the expressway and you cannot find a gap as you attempt to enter expressway traffic. How should you warn a driver behind you?
Flash your brake lights.
If the entrance ramp enters the expressway from the left, you should realize a greater potential for conflict because you will be entering
a higher speed traffic lane.
If the acceleration lane is short, you will need
a longer gap to enter traffic.
Under normal driving conditions, your following distance when traveling at 55 mph on the expressway should be
a minimum of three seconds.
Stopping on an acceleration lane can cause
a rear-end collision.
The acceleration lane is where you usually can
adjust your speed to the flow of traffic.
When you encounter large trucks on the expressway, you should
avoid driving between two trucks.
A wolf pack on an expressway is a
bunch of vehicles.
In order to avoid conflicts when traffic is heavy in the right lane, use the
center or left lane.
If you enter an expressway entrance ramp that you do not want, you should
continue onto the expressway and use the next exit ramp.
To drive safely on an expressway, you should be willing to
cooperate with other drivers.
Assume that the common speed on the expressway is above the posted speed limit. You should
drive at the posted speed.
Expressway collisions tend to be more serious than those on other types of roads because
expressway speeds are higher.
When driving a truck or towing a trailer, you should
generally use only far right lanes.
Express lanes
have few entrances and exits.
As you drive on an expressway, you may be lulled into
highway hypnosis.
The expressway is defined as a
limited-access or controlled-access highway.
Higher speeds on the expressway, multiple lanes to watch, and heavier volumes of traffic
make the Identify step more difficult.
A characteristic of expressways that helps to prevent head-on collisions is the
median or barrier between opposing lanes of traffic.
If you miss the exit you want, you
must go on to the next exit.
If there are signal lights on the entrance ramp, you
must wait for a green light.
If the expressway has three lanes going in your direction, you should change
only one lane at a time.
If your vehicle becomes disabled on an expressway, you should
pull onto the shoulder or median.
For a long trip on an expressway, you
should plan for fuel, food, and rest.
When passing on the expressway, you should always
signal and check traffic behind.
A yellow X on an overhead signal above your lane indicates
the lane will be closed farther ahead.
Passing on an expressway is usually safer than on a two-lane highway because
there is little threat of a head-on collision.
Velocitation means
thinking the car is traveling slower than it really is.
The exit ramp you want to use is entirely blocked by traffic. You should
use the next exit ramp.