1. Ch. 10: Negotiating Intersections
10.1: Searching Intersections
10.2: Controlled Intersections
10.3: Uncontrolled Intersections
10.4: Determining Right of Way & Judging Gaps

2. Searching Intersections
Chances of a collision are greater at intersections than at any other point on a roadway
More than 1/3 of all collisions & ¼ of all fatal collisions
Dangerous because many drivers’ paths cross & many unexpected stops occur there.
In order to identify a safe path of travel, first locate:
Street signs & lights
Roadway markings
Crossing traffic
Parked vehicles
Turning & stopping traffic

3. Approaching an Intersection
Determine if you have an open zone
Search the left-front, front, & right-front zones  
Once you are within 4-6 seconds of the intersection, WIDEN your searching pattern
When searching, briefly pause at each zone to detect objects in that location
DO NOT move your eyes in a constant scan, you may miss something

4. Continue Moving Ahead You may continue ahead if:
The traffic light is green
The intersection has no signals or signs & the front, right-front, & left-front zones are open
You should continue through the intersection once you pass the POINT OF NO RETURN
Point beyond which you can no longer stop safely without entering the intersection.
If you have a line-of-sight restriction, you may want to change your lane position & reduce your speed.
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE LANE CHANGES WITHIN 100 FEET OF AN INTERSECTION!!!

5. Quick Question. . .
With your partner, talk about things that you consider when deciding whether or not to go through a YELLOW light?

6. Deciding to Stop
You may have to stop at an intersection when you identify or predict a closed zone.
yellow or red traffic light
YIELD sign
Something moving into your intended path of travel.
As soon as you identify a closed zone, check your rear zone and begin to brake.

7. Moving After a Stop
Before you start to move, search at 90-degree angles to the right & left
When turning, your last check should be in the direction of your turn
If stopped behind another vehicle, wait 1 second after it begins to move before you move.
Gives you room to respond to any sudden stop made by the vehicle ahead.

8. Controlled Intersections with Signs
One at which traffic signals or signs determine the right of way.
Obey all signs & traffic signals when you approach a controlled intersection
YIELD the right of way to through traffic.
2 kinds of signs control intersections: STOP & YIELD
Come to a FULL STOP for a STOP sign
Slow & yield the right of way at a YIELD sign

9. Controlled Intersections with Signals
Always predict that the signal is about to change. 
Search seconds ahead to see what color the light ahead is.
STALE GREEN LIGHT: a light that has been green for a long time.
FRESH GREEN LIGHT: a light that has just turned green.
YELLOW LIGHT
If the light turns yellow before you reach the point of no return, check your rear zone & if it’s safe, begin to stop.
RED LIGHT: you MUST STOP

10. Protected & Unprotected Left Turns
An UNPROTECTED LEFT TURN: a signal-controlled intersection that does not have a special left-turn light
WHEN TURNING LEFT, YOU MUST YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC
A PROTECTED LEFT TURN: special left-turn light, green arrow, or delayed green light lets you turn left while oncoming traffic is stopped.
A DELAYED GREEN LIGHT: one side of an intersection has a green light while the light for the oncoming traffic remains red.

11. What makes them dangerous?
Yet Another Question
With your partner, discuss specific intersections that you feel are dangerous in this area.
What makes them dangerous?

12. All states allow turns on red
Come to a full stop at line.
Check traffic to the left.
Check vehicles across the street that may be turning left.
Turn right when all is clear
Most states permit turning LEFT on RED if the turn is from a one-way street onto another one-way street.
Follow the same procedure as turning RIGHT on RED.

13. Controlled Railroad Crossings
Usually has red lights along with crossing gates.
Make a complete stop when the lights are flashing and/or the gates are down.
Remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the gaits have risen.
It is ILLEGAL, UNSAFE, and COSTLY to drive around the gates.
Proceed only when it is clear.

14. Uncontrolled Intersections
Has no signs or signals to regulate traffic.
Usually found in areas of light traffic, such as residential areas.
If you do not see a traffic sign or signal, predict that other traffic will NOT STOP.
Reduce your speed, search aggressively, & always be prepared to stop.

15. Approaching Uncontrolled Intersections
Determine if you have an open path of travel.
If a vehicle is coming from the left or right, the driver on the left must YIELD to the driver on the right.
Predict the worst: NEVER ASSUME THAT THE OTHER DRIVER WILL YIELD!!!
Treat an uncontrolled intersection as you would a YIELD sign.

16. Uncontrolled Railroad Crossings
Does not have flashing red lights or crossing gates
Nearly all are marked with a sign as you approach them.
In towns & cities, the sign is posted about 250 feet from the actual crossing
In rural areas, the sigh is posted about 750 feet from the crossing.
A CROSSBUCK, a large white X-shaped sign, is located beside the crossing.
Treat uncontrolled crossings as you would a YIELD sign.

17. Crossing Railroad Tracks
Slow down to check tracks on both sides & to handle a possible rough crossing 
Turn off anything that makes noise & open the window
If a train is approaching, stop at a safe distance before the tracks
Wait for the train to clear & be sure another train is not approaching
If it is safe to cross, increase you speed to at least 20 m.p.h.
Make sure the vehicle ahead of you clears the tracks
Be prepared to stop behind buses or trucks hauling flammable contents

18. Crossing & Joining Traffic
A GAP is the distance between vehicles.
You must know how long it takes to turn right, to turn left, & to cross traffic at an intersection.
Joining traffic

19. Determining Right of Way & Judging Gaps
To be a safe driver, you need to know when to yield the right of way
In yield situations, remember:
Your actions should not cause those around you to slow, stop, or change their intended path of travel.
Traffic signs & signals only show WHO should yield, not who WILL
NEVER assume others will always yield to you
It may be better to yield even though the law says otherwise
Failure to yield is one of the most frequent violations in fatal collisions.

20. Yield at STOP signs to . . . Pedestrians in or near the crosswalk
All traffic on the through street

21. Yield at fresh green lights to. . .
Pedestrians still in the crosswalk
Vehicles still in the intersection

22. Yield coming from an alley, driveway, or private roadway to. . .
Pedestrians before reaching the sidewalk
All vehicles on the street
Make two stops

23. Yield at ALL YIELD signs to. . .
All pedestrians in or near crosswalks
All vehicles on the cross street

24. Yield to Emergency Vehicles
Sounding a siren or using a flashing light
Stop clear of the intersection close to curb
Wait for emergency vehicle to pass

25. Yield when turning left at any intersection to. . .
All pedestrians in your turn path
All oncoming vehicles that are at all close

26. Yield at four-way stops to. . .
All pedestrians in or near crosswalks
Vehicles that arrive first
A vehicle from the right if you arrive at the same time

27. Yield at uncontrolled intersections to. . .
Pedestrians in or near the crosswalk
Any vehicle that has entered the intersection
A vehicle from the right if you both arrive at the same time