Expressway Driving

Advantages of Expressway- reasons for fewer collisions

• No cross Traffic

• Median or Barrier to separate traffic

• Pedestrians & slow moving vehicles are not permitted

• Wide Shoulders & extra wide underpasses

• Sight Distance & Signs to help drivers anticipate conditions ahead

Expressway Interchanges

• Vehicles can cross over or under expressway

• Vehicles can enter and leave w/out interfering with the traffic flow

Cloverleaf interchange- no left turns or cross traffic conflict

Diamond Interchange- street w/ little traffic crosses expressway

Trumpet interchange: t-intersection

All-directional interchange- high volume of traffic

Entering the Expressway

• Never back up on an expressway or the entrance ramp. Miss exit- go to the next one

• Some entrance ramps have a traffic light to help space traffic.

• Some times you have an entrance on to the left lane of the expressway – be careful speeds are faster

Lane Choice

• It is generally safer to drive in the right lane and pass on the left

• Center lane – avoid conflicts from merging traffic in rush hour

Avoid driving between 2 large trucks

• Left lane is the fastest & most stressful• Right lane may have lots of entrances & exits.

Passing on expressways

Exit Ramps

Safe Driving Strategies

Prepare Yourself and your car

Know the name, route number and exit and entrance numbers for your trip

Keep your car in good condition, plan for stops for food, fuel and rest stops

Remember: You have less vehicle control at higher speeds

Build Experience Gradually

Signs & Roadway Markings

• Rumble strip- along right side of road to alert you that you have gone off the road

What do these signs mean?

•

Mile Markers

Signs and Markings

• Signs may be overhead to help you plan ahead

• Overhead sign w/yellow panel indicates exit lane

• Overhead signals tell you if lanes are open or closed– Yellow X gives early warning that lane will be

closing ahead– Red X tells you lane is closed

Lane changing

• Check lanes beside and ahead of you, signal

• Check your blind spots

• Watch for lane changes in front of you

What is the Speed Limit?

• What is the speed limit in Montana?

• In Illinois it is posted at 55 or 65 miles per hour.

• Many of the Western states have higher speed limits.

• Common speed used by most drivers to blend in

• Wolf pack- group of vehicles

Driver Conditions

Highway Hypnosis - What can you do to prevent this?

What is Velocitation?

Speeding

If you get pulled over……

Unusual Expressways

Open Road Tolling

• Glenwood Canyon Colorado