Intersection Search PatternsTopic 2 Lesson 1

T – 5.17

Step 1 (Search)

Step 2 (Evaluate)

Step 3 (Execute)

Intersection Approach:

Identify intersection Identify controlsCheck rear areas Search for intersection problems

Scan path of travel 1stScan all other areas Look for closed or changing frontal

areas

Adjust speedMaintain lane positionStop behind crosswalk, orProceed through open space area

in Time

Understanding Lane Markings

Shared Left Turn Lane Reversible Lanes

T – 5.18

Topic 2 Lesson 1

Special Lane MarkingsTopic 2 Lesson 1

T – 5.18a

Shared Left Turn Lane

Drivers traveling in either direction may use this lane for making left turns.

Drivers may not travel further than 150 feet in this shared lane.

Driver may use the shared left turn lane to enter a street from a driveway.

Reversible Lanes

Traffic in these lanes moves in one direction during certain periods of the day and in the opposite direction during other times of the day.

Often found in areas with a large volume of traffic coming in a city during the morning hours and going out during the afternoon hours.

Limited Line of Sight Through Curves

T – 5.19

Topic 2 Lesson 2

LOS/POT Curves

T – 5.20

Topic 2 Lesson 2

Entering a Curve to the Right• Determine Line of Sight / Path of Travel• LP2 provides the best visibility• Check traffic to the rear

Path of Travel

Line of Sight

Begin in Lane Position 2

Lane Position 3 Apex Point

Exiting the Curve• Adjust speed and

position for best visibility and space cushion

Moving Through the Curve• Determine target area• LP3 provides best space

cushion

Exit in Lane Position 1

LOS/POT Curves

T – 5.21

Topic 2 Lesson 2

Begin in Lane Position 3

Lane Position 2 Apex Point

Exit in Lane Position 1 Path of Travel

Line of Sight

Entering a Curve to the Left•Determine Line of Sight/Path of Travel•LP 3 provides the best visibility•Check traffic to the rear

Moving Through the Curve•Determine target area•Determine Apex

Exiting the Curve Adjust speed and position for best visibility and space cushion

Line of Sight Over Hill

Determine the Best Line of Sight and Path of Travel

Lane position 3 provides the best space cushion

Line of Sight is Restricted Up and Down Hill

T – 5.22

Topic 2 Lesson 2

Determining Passing Time/Space Needs

T – 5.23

Topic 3 Lesson 1

To pass another vehicle safely you must:

• identify a safe and legal passing zone;

• judge the time and space needed to pass;

• judge the relative speed and distance of other vehicles; and

• apply proper passing skills and complete the maneuver safely.

Identifying a Safe and Legal Passing Zone

Determining Passing Time/Space NeedsTopic 3 Lesson 1

T – 5.23a

2. the time you will need to pass safely3. the space you will need to safely pass the other vehicle

Before you pass, you must determine:

TRAVEL TIME = SPACE

Formula – Speed + ½ speed = feet per second (fps) traveled

60 mph -- 60 + 30 = 90 fps

1. if you are in a legal passing zone

• broken line = pass with caution

• solid line = no passing

• list other areas where passing is prohibited

Determining Passing Time/Space Needs

T – 5.24

Topic 3 Lesson 1

2 Second Space 60 fps X 2 = 120 ft.

Total distance traveled: 13 sec. X 60 fps. = 780 ft.

2 sec. following distance = 120 ft.1 car length

= 15 ft.1 sec. gap

= 60 ftTotal additional distance traveled

= 195 ft.Time needed to pass:195 ft. /15 ft.

= 13 sec.Total distance traveled:13 sec. X 60 fps.

= 780 ft.

Distance traveled = speed + ½ speed in feet per second

Time to pass = distance traveled to complete pass, divided by difference in distance traveled per second by each vehicle

RED car traveling 40 mph = 60 fps (40 mph X 1.5 fps = 60 fps)

BLUE car traveling 30 mph = 45 fps(30 mph X 1.5 fps = 45 fps)

60 ft - 45 ft = 15 ft. Red car is traveling 15 fps faster than Blue car

Judging Time and Space Needed to Pass Safely

1 car length = 15 feet

1 Second Space

60 fps x 1 = 60 ft

Determining Passing Time/Space NeedsTopic 3 Lesson 1

T – 5.24a

To estimate the time and distance of an oncoming vehicle, begin counting when the vehicle is first seen: 1000 and 1; 1000 and 2; etc. Continue the count until the approaching vehicle is opposite your vehicle.

Practicing this technique will help you develop the ability to judge speed and distance.

1000 and 20

COUNT --- 1000 and 1 = 1 second

1000 and 2 1000 and 1

Judging the Relative Speed and Distance of Other Vehicles

13 seconds / 780 ft. 13 seconds / 780 ft.

SpaceCushion

200 ft

TOTAL distance required to pass safely is 1760 ft (30 seconds).

To complete a pass safely you must take ALL factors into account

Judging the Relative Speed and Distance of Oncoming Vehicles

Passing Time/Space Needs — Oncoming VehiclesTopic 3 Lesson 1

T –5.24 b

The example below is based on the approaching vehicle traveling at 40 mph.

Red vehicle will need 780 feet to complete the pass

Brown vehicle will travel 780 feet

Allows a minimum 200 ft. space cushion

Passing Considerations — Larger Vehicles

T – 5.25

Topic 3 Lesson 1

Passing a 90-foot tractor trailer

• Would require an additional 5 seconds for the Red vehicle

90-foot truck + 15-foot car = 75 feet additional distance traveled = 5 seconds

• 18 seconds x 60 fps = 1080 feet needed by Red vehicle

If there is an oncoming vehicle traveling 40 mph, the total clear distance needed to pass safely becomes 1360 feet (23 seconds)1080 + 1080 + 200 (space cushion)

Daylight Headlight Use

Enhances Safety

• an approaching vehicle without headlights becomes visible at about 2,200 to 2,500 feet

• an approaching vehicle with headlights becomes visible at distances up to 4500 feet

Passing on Multi-lane Roadways

• safer than on two lane roadways

• head-on crashes are rare • will not feel rushed into returning

to the lane• can safely pass larger vehicles

that require more time and space to pass

Passing Procedures

T – 5.26

Topic 3 Lesson 1

2 – 3 Seconds

Prepare to Pass:

• Position vehicle two to three seconds behind the vehicle to be passed.

• Check mirrors, blind spot and oncoming traffic.

• Check ahead for safe passing distance.

• Signal intention.

Overtake the Ongoing Vehicle:

• Accelerate into passing lane.

• Accelerate quickly to a legal appropriate speed.

• Monitor the path ahead.

• Check the mirror for following vehicles.

Return to Lane:

• Check rear-view mirror for the front of the vehicle being passed.

• Signal intention.

• Change lanes and maintain speed.

• Cancel turn signal.

Information Processing:

Complex Risk Environments

Topic 1 -- Characteristics of Expressways

Topic 2 -- Entering, Changing Lanes, and Exiting

Topic 3 -- High Speed Considerations

Module Six Transparencies

Virginia Department of Education

Provided in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Controlled access (limited entry and exit)

High speed (up to 65 mph)

Divided by a barrier or median

Multiple lanes

May have minimum speed limit

Only for motorized vehicles

Characteristics of an Expressway

T – 6.1

Topic 1 Lesson 1

Cloverleaf Interchange

T – 6.2

Topic 1 Lesson 2

A cloverleaf interchange has a series of entrance and exit ramps that resemble the outline of a four leaf clover.

allows for the interchange of two expressways or major roadways.

has shared entrance and exit weave lanes.

This design

Traffic is permitted to move ONLY in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Diamond Interchange

T – 6.3

Topic 1 Lesson 2

A diamond interchange is designed to be used when a road with slower speeds crosses a busy expressway.

Traffic is permitted to move ONLY in the direction indicated by the arrows.

for the interchange of a major roadway with a secondary dual or multiple lane roadway.

This design allows:

Trumpet Interchange

T – 6.4

Topic 1 Lesson 2

A trumpet interchange is used when an intersecting side road forms a T intersection with the expressway.

Traffic is permitted to move ONLY in the direction indicated by the arrows.

This design:accommodates the T-intersection flow of traffic at the junction of two roadways.

allows for traffic on a secondary two-way street to merge onto a multiple lane roadway.

Frontage Road Interchange

T – 6.5

Topic 1 Lesson 2

Frontage Road Interchanges allow vehicles using parallel secondary two-way or one-way roadways to merge onto a major multiple lane roadway.

Traffic is permitted to move ONLY in the direction indicated by the arrows.

drivers to exit a multiple lane roadway and use the parallel frontage road.

secondary road traffic flows to mix efficiently with higher speed traffic flows on the multiple lane roadway.

This design allows:

Common Expressway Signs

Interstate signs

Warning signs

Guide signs

Speed limit signs

T – 6.6

Topic 1 Lesson 3

A major contributor to your decision as to how you will maintain a safe path of travel, proper lane position, and your lane choice, is based on the information provided by the road signs and lane markings.

Common Expressway Signals

Lane Signals

T – 6.7

Topic 1 Lesson 3

A GREEN arrow over a lane — the lane is open for travel.

A YELLOW “X” over a lane — travel in that lane is about to change or close.

A RED “X” over a lane — travel in that lane is closed or prohibited.

Reversible lane signals

Expressway Lane Markings

T – 6.8

Topic 1 Lesson 3

Solid YELLOW line

Solid WHITE line

Broken WHITE line

HOV lanes

marks the left edge of the roadway.should always be on the driver’s

left side.

separates lanes of traffic going in the same direction.

marks the right edge of the roadway, or entrance and exit lanes.

are marked with a white diamond.require a minimum number of passengers in the

vehicle.

Traffic Flow

(high occupancy vehicle)

Entrance Ramps

T – 6.9

Topic 2 Lesson 1

EntranceRamp

Acce

lera

tion

Lane

Mer

geAr

ea

Entrance ramps provide one-way directional access to an expressway.

The ramp is divided into three sections:

1. The Entrance or Access Ramp — gives the driver time to begin evaluating traffic conditions.

2. The Acceleration Lane — allows a driver to adjust vehicle speed to the speed of traffic on the expressway.

3. The Merging Area — allows the driver to merge onto the expressway.

Entering the Entrance Ramp

EntranceRamp

Enter the Entrance Ramp

Begin Searching for a Gap / Open Space

Identify Gap / Space

T – 6.10

Topic 2 Lesson 1

EntranceRamp

Use the left-lane signal indicator

Adjust speed to match the speed of the traffic on the expressway

Monitor gap on expressway

Acceleration Lane

T – 6.11

Topic 2 Lesson 1

Acceleration Lane

Accelerate to blend with the speed of traffic on the expressway

Check Rear and Left Rear Zones

Entering Merge Area

T – 6.12

Topic 2 Lesson 1

Mer

geAr

ea

Merge Area

Check Front Zone

Check Rear and Left Rear Zones

Select Gap

Identify a Target Area in the Open Space

Selecting a Gap in Traffic

T – 6.13

Topic 2 Lesson 1

Merge Area

Target Area

Merging into the Traffic Flow

T – 6.14

Topic 2 Lesson 1

Continue searching for adequate gap

Search for potential conflicts

Prepare to adjust speed

Avoid stopping on the ramp

Be prepared to drive onto the shoulder if necessary

Merge smoothly

Create space around your vehicle once you have entered the lane

Selecting the Appropriate LaneTopic 2 Lesson 1

T – 6.15

When merging onto an expressway, stay in the right lane until you become accustomed to the faster traffic flow.

Center Vehicle in Proper Lane

Adjust Speed to Traffic Flow and Legal Limit

Reduced Risk Lane Changes

T – 6.16

Topic 2 Lesson 2

Entering or exiting

Allowing another driver to enter

Following large or slow-moving vehicles

Lane ahead becomes blocked

Being tailgated

Animals

Passing

Reasons for changing lanes include:

EntranceRamp

ExitRamp

Reduced Risk Lane Changes

T – 6.16a

Topic 2 Lesson 2

Steps to safely change lanes:

Maintain a safe following distance from the vehicles in front of you.

Check traffic ahead, behind and to the sides (mirrors and head check).

Signal your intention to change lanes.Select a safe gap in traffic.Re-check blind spots in the direction of

the lane change.Adjust your speed — if clear, steer

smoothly to the new lane, if not, wait and cancel your turn signal.

Move one lane at a time.

Scan in direction of the BLUE arrows

Choosing Lanes at Exit or EntranceRight Lane: Heavier and slower vehicles

Vehicles entering the expressway

Vehicles getting ready to exit

Left Lane:Higher speed and passing traffic

Exit / Entry

Right Lane

Center Lane

Left Lane

T – 6.17

Topic 2 Lesson 2

Center Lane:Long distance or passing

Passing on Multi-Lane Roads

T – 6.19

Topic 2 Lesson 3

Check traffic ahead, to the sides, and behindSignalMake a head checkAccelerate smoothlyChange lanes smoothlyCancel signalPass and signal to returnCheck mirrorsWhen both sets of headlights of the vehicle being

passed are visible, return to the laneCancel signalAdjust speed and/or vehicle position to create space

all around your vehicle

The RED line shows path of the red car.

The BLUE arrows show where the driver’s eyes are searching.

When Being Passed

Monitor passing vehicle’s position

Move to lane position 3 to increase space cushion

Do not increase speed—decelerate if necessary

Once passed, create space ahead and behind

move away

T – 6.20

Topic 2 Lesson 3