Highway & Rural Driving Chapter 11

11-1 The Rural driving environment Highway A main public roadway designed to carry traffic for long, uninterrupted periods at medium to high speeds Can have intersections with cross traffic, side roads, driveways, etc.

11-1 The Rural Driving Environment Typical highways is a two-way, two-lane road separated by double yellow lines Major rural highways, including interstates, have four or more lanes. Divided Highway Opposing directions of travel are separated by a fixed barrier or area of space called a median strip Areas can be paved, dirt, or landscaped

11-1 The rural Driving Environment Rural Roads Old, narrow, and originally designed for slower speeds Paved with various materials Concrete, asphalt, macadam, cobblestone or brick Traction varies with weather conditions May be grooved or rutted Potholes and other damaged sections left unrepaired for long periods of time Patched quickly with asphalt Not cleaned regularly Debris can be left on the road for

11-1 The Rural Driving Environment Rural Intersections T-Intersections Side roads join a main road with through traffic at a right angle Common and dangerous Difficult to see vehicles enter from the side roads Y-Intersections Often the site of junctions of minor and major roads Can be confusing for beginning drivers Either fail to stop or stop when they are not supposed to

11-1 The Rural driving environment Unmarked Driveways Driveways to farms or fields Can be hidden by bushes, crops, or trees Look for mailboxes, gates, openings in fences, Reduce speed and be prepared for vehicles to pull out in front of you Entry/Exit Problems When entering: Wait for larger gaps in traffic before you pull out When exiting: Make sure you slow down earlier than usual

11-1 the rural driving environment Crossover Special area where vehicles can turn around and go in the opposite direction Unpaved crossovers are usually restricted to law-enforcement and emergency vehicles

11-2 Defensive Driving on highways Reduced visibility Vision is more limited than on city streets Examples? Because of this, signs are posted further in advance Make sure to look off-road as well as in front of you Increase your following distance At highway speeds greater than 50 mph, you need 6 seconds to stop or avoid an accident Utilize “covering the brake”

11-2 defensive driving on highways Highway Passing Multilane roads – stay in the right lane unless you are passing another vehicle or preparing to turn Two-lane Highway – do not cross the center line unless you can see far enough ahead to know whether you can pass safely Don’t pass on hills or curves – pass on straight sections of the road Multi-Lane - Always pass on the left unless the vehicle you are wanting to pass is turning left or not keeping with the flow of traffic, then you can pass on the right

11-3 other dangers of highway & rural driving Velocitation Driving much faster than intended Highway Hypnosis Becoming hypnotized by the road Feel like you just awakened from a dream with no recollection of the last few seconds To prevent both: Drive when mentally fresh Stop frequently and break trips up

11-3 other dangers of highway & rural driving Slow-Moving Vehicles “wide-load” vehicles Construction zones Farm equipment Dangers: Not designed for high speed travel Difficult to pass Reduce speed and don’t attempt to pass unless you can see clearly the road ahead

11-3 other dangers of highway & rural driving Off-Road Vehicles Less stable than cars and provide little protection to operators in a collision with a motor vehicle Livestock Crossing Areas Horse-Drawn Vehicles and Riders Wild Animals