Chapter 12

Freeway Driving 12-1

THE FREEWAY DRIVING ENVIRONMENT

A. Select the word or phrase that best completes each of the following sentences and write the letter in the space provided. _____ 1.

Unlike city streets and rural highways, access to freeways is: a. free. b. controlled and limited. c. uncontrolled and limited. d. controlled and unlimited.

_____ 2.

Which of the following is not a characteristic of freeways? a. Wide shoulders b. Even grades c. Narrow lanes d. Banked curves

_____ 3.

Most intersections between freeways and other roadways are: a. controlled. b. uncontrolled. c. grade-separated. d. semicontrolled.

_____ 4.

The form an interchange takes is determined by: a. the volume of traffic. b. available construction space. c. public opinion. d. All of the above.

_____ 5.

Which type of interchange is commonly used when two major freeways intersect? a. Trumpet b. Diamond c. Semi-directional four-way d. Cloverleaf

_____ 6.

Which type of interchange is used when one freeway ends at another? a. Trumpet b. Diamond c. Semi-directional four-way d. Cloverleaf

_____ 7.

Which type of interchange is used when a freeway intersects a roadway with relatively heavy traffic? a. Trumpet b. Diamond c. Semi-directional four-way d. Cloverleaf

_____ 8.

Which type of interchange is used when a freeway intersects a roadway with relatively light traffic? a. Trumpet b. Diamond c. Semi-directional four-way d. Cloverleaf

_____ 9.

A key to defensive driving on freeways is to leave as large a gap as possible between yourself and: a. other drivers. b. the shoulder. c. the median. d. All of the above.

_____ 10.

At rush-hour times, the far-left lane of the freeway usually has the fastest traffic flow because in most cases it: a. is closest to merging traffic. b. is farthest from merging traffic. c. provides access to crossovers. d. has the best line of sight.

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B. In the space provided, describe the advantages and disadvantages of each of the following interchange designs. 1. Diamond: ________________________________________________________________________________

2. Six-ramp partial cloverleaf: _________________________________________________________________

3. Full cloverleaf: ____________________________________________________________________________

4. Semi-directional four-way: _________________________________________________________________

C. What does the long-distance sight on freeways allow you to do?

D. Why must you work harder to increase your space cushion on a freeway than on other roadways?

E. Why should you generally avoid driving in the far-right lane of a freeway?

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F.

Using the following illustration as a guide, describe the steps in safely changing lanes on a freeway.

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. __________________________________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________________________________

5. __________________________________________________________________________________________

G. What precautions should you take when passing other vehicles on freeways?

H. Complete each of the following sentences by writing the correct word or phrase in the space provided. 1. Intersecting freeways are connected by __________ ramps. 2. Higher driving speeds require larger __________ . 3. The center lanes of a freeway should be used for __________ traffic. 4. You should never try to __________ more than one lane at a time on a freeway. 5. If you are constantly being passed on the __________ , you are probably driving too slowly for your lane. I.

CHECK IT OUT.

As a passenger, take a ride on the nearest freeway interchange. If possible, travel on each of the connecting ramps. In the space provided, sketch the interchange, using arrows to indicate the flow of traffic, and identify what basic type it is.

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In the space provided, design your own interchange by modifying an existing model or coming up with something totally original. Give it your own name. Indicate those factors that influence the design, such as the geography of the surrounding area, the amount of traffic on the intersecting roadways, and so on.

Go to the library or use the Internet to find out more about the interstate highway system. When was it created? What was it intended to do? What was its projected date of completion? How many freeways are there? Has the system been a success? How much has it cost? How have people benefited from it? In the space provided, write down what you discover.

12-2

ENTERING FREEWAYS

A. For each of the following sentences, circle T if it is true and F if it is false. 1.

T

F

The three main parts of a freeway entrance are the on-ramp, off-ramp, and merging area.

2.

T

F

On-ramps always lead up to freeways from surface streets.

3.

T

F

You should only back up on a freeway on-ramp if drivers ahead of you are completely stopped.

4.

T

F

On-ramp entrances typically have guide signs and route markers.

5.

T

F

If you get on the wrong on-ramp, you should tap your brakes to warn drivers behind you and make a U-turn. 119

6.

T

F

Unlike most rural highways, freeways do not have acceleration lanes.

7.

T

F

The merging area is the space where the on-ramp merges with the acceleration lane.

8.

T

F

If traffic on the freeway is stop-and-go, you sometimes have to “dive in” to make room for drivers behind you on the on-ramp.

9.

T

F

Acceleration lanes give you time to match the speed of freeway traffic before merging.

10.

T

F

When merging onto a freeway, you should choose the lane with the lowest volume of traffic.

B. What are some of the dangers of on-ramps?

C. What should you do if traffic is backed up at the end of an on-ramp?

D. In the space provided, describe how you would apply the SAFE method to entering freeways.

E. What should you do if you have not found an opening in freeway traffic by the time the acceleration lane ends?

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F.

What potential dangers do you face when entering the merging area on a freeway?

G. CHECK IT OUT. As a passenger, take a drive that takes you onto the freeway at several different on-ramps. In the space provided, record your general impressions of the experience. Were the on-ramps clearly identified on surface streets? If on-ramps were located on either side of the street, were you given adequate warning to get into the appropriate lane? Did some ramps have more than one lane? How was visibility? Did you have adequate time to scan for a gap in traffic? Did you encounter backed-up traffic? Did the driver of your vehicle have to stop suddenly because of a vehicle ahead? Did any drivers behind you merge onto the freeway earlier than was safe and cut you off?

12-2

EXITING FREEWAYS

A. Complete each of the following sentences by writing the correct word or phrase in the space provided. 1. When exiting a freeway, you should signal and move into the proper lane at least __________ before your exit. 2. __________ lanes allow drivers exiting a freeway to adjust to slower-speed conditions without blocking traffic in the through lanes. 3. Avoid __________ to enter the deceleration lane. 4. Deceleration lanes lead directly to one-way __________ .

B. Why is exiting a freeway normally smoother than entering one?

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C. What should you do if you miss your freeway exit?

D. What precautions should you take when entering a deceleration lane?

E. What precautions should you take when traveling on an off-ramp?

F.

CHECK IT OUT.

As a passenger, take a drive that takes you off the freeway at several different off-ramps. In the space provided, record your general impressions of the experience. Were you given plenty of time to prepare for each exit? How many guide signs indicating the distance to the exit appeared before the actual exit? Were any of the off-ramps short or did any have sharp curves? Did you encounter backed-up traffic? Did any drivers enter the deceleration lane earlier/later than was safe and cut you off?

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12-4

OTHER DANGERS OF FREEWAY DRIVING

A. Select the word or phrase that best completes each of the following sentences and write the letter in the space provided. _____ 1.

Shared acceleration and deceleration lanes are known as: a. merging areas. b. double-merge lanes. c. express lanes. d. “weave” lanes.

_____ 2.

In congested urban areas, some on-ramps have two lanes that merge together at the end of the ramp so that a single __________ lane enters the freeway. a. “weave” b. double-merge c. express d. merging

_____ 3.

Local jurisdictions have attempted to deal with the problem of rush-hour traffic with more: a. public transportation. b. interchanges. c. “weave” lanes. d. double-merge lanes.

_____ 4.

Rush-hour traffic can be made worse by: a. collisions. c. bad weather.

_____ 5.

b. lane closings. d. All of the above.

If you get caught in rush-hour traffic, you should: a. use the shoulder to get to the nearest exit. b. pull over on the median and wait. c. stay calm and accept the situation. d. jump from one “fast” lane to the next.

B. Where are you likely to encounter “weave” lanes?

C. What must you be prepared to do when driving in a double-merge lane?

D. Why should you never use the median or shoulder to get past a traffic backup on the freeway?

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E. What precautions should you take when entering a toll facility?

F.

CHECK IT OUT.

Contact your jurisdiction’s highway authority to find out which stretches of freeway have the highest average volume of daily traffic. By how much has urban congestion increased in the last decade? What specific steps is your jurisdiction taking to reduce rush-hour on urban freeways? In the space provided, write down what you discover.

Locate the nearest toll facility to you. If you are not within driving distance of one, use the Internet to find the closest one. What type of toll collection systems does it use? How many tollbooths does it have? How are open and closed tollbooth lanes indicated? In the space provided, write down what you discover.

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE: FREEWAY DRIVING Across 2. Freeway lanes to allow drivers to reduce speed 5. “T” interchange 7. Interchange with six or eight connecting ramps 9. Lanes with shared right-of-way 10. Never use to bypass rush-hour traffic

Down 1. Controlled and limited on freeways 3. ______ only 4. Lanes to allow drivers to match freeway speed 5. Fee to use some roads, bridges, and tunnels 6. Area where acceleration lane joins freeway 8. Freeway lane used by slower traffic 11. Interchange with four short directional ramps

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DRIVER’S LOG: FREEWAY DRIVING Event

Date

Traveled on diamond interchange Traveled on partial cloverleaf Traveled on six-ramp partial cloverleaf Traveled on semi-directional four-way Traveled on trumpet interchange Trapped in the carpool lane Got scared driving on freeway Encountered left freeway on-ramp/connecting ramp Caught in slow-moving freeway traffic in right lane Observed driver changing several lanes at a time Observed driver swerving in and out of lanes Close call changing lanes Observed dangerous pass on freeway Had difficulty maintaining space cushion on freeway Had trouble identifying on-ramp Close call on on-ramp Trouble entering freeway Close call entering freeway Encountered backed-up traffic on on-ramp Close call exiting freeway Trouble exiting freeway Missed freeway exit Close call on off-ramp Close call in “weave” lane Close call in double-merge lane Caught in rush-hour freeway traffic Close call in freeway traffic Went on toll road Went on toll bridge Went through toll tunnel

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Time

Where

What Happened?