2.5 Roadways and Their Unique Risks

Scan

____ning is a process by which a driver looks ahead (15 seconds) to the sides, rear and blind spots periodically while driving.

4 top roadway risks and your safe skills response

1. Type of road 2. Improperly maintained roads 3. Weather 4. Poor lighting

Shoulder

A road ________ is an emergency stopping lane to the right of the driving lane, and may be paved or unpaved.

Fog lights

A fog light is an automobile headlight throwing light if a color intended to diminish the effect of fog, dust, etc., in the air.

Limited access highways include

Interstates, highways, and expressways

The Florida Driver Handbook calls expressways

Limited access highways

Interstates, highways, and expressways are all built and maintained by

Local, state, and federal governments

1. Type of road

On unpaved roads, slow down! A rock or hidden object might throw your car out of whack and give you a flat or worse. On narrow roads with no shoulder or twists and turns, same advice; slow down. On rural roads, especially at night, be mindful of animals that may be grazing near the road or about to cross. And, are we sounding repetitive here? Slow down. On single lane roads, slow down to a speed that allows you to see as much as possible before taking a blind curve. In remote areas, always have a good old-fashioned map with you, as you may lose reception for your GPS device.

3. Weather

Plan ahead of time. If the forecast says a severe storm or flooding is imminent, plan your trip for another time! Give yourself more time if you need to travel in poor weather, and slow down. Speed limits are intended as max speeds meant for optimal conditions, rushing in bad road conditions is a recipe for disaster. If rain is forecasted, it's usually most slippery at the start of rainfall, so don't start a trip at the start of a rain shower. Slippery road conditions vastly increase your stopping distance (by as much as 10 times!) Keep that in mind when you need to brake on slippery roads! It takes longer to slow down on wet or icy roads, so accelerate and decelerate slowly. Increase your following distance. Because it takes longer to stop in the event of a hazard, you need to give yourself, and others, more room. Keep your headlights and/or fog lights engaged at all times.

2. Improperly maintained roads

Scan constantly, so you will be aware of potential hazards ahead. Plan your trip ahead of time to avoid poorly maintained roads, or roads under construction.

4. Poor lighting

Turn on your headlights well in advance of dusk. Use your high beams on poorly lit or rural roads, but be sure to switch to low-beam headlights when you see an approaching car. Also, remember that the person in front of you may not appreciate your high beams either! Use night view on your rearview mirror, so you're less affected by glare from behind.