Drive Right Chapter 10 Driving in Rural Areas Unit 5

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Drive RightChapter 10Driving in Rural Areas
Unit 5

• Theory Notes from
• Mr. Millers
• Driver Education
• Class

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10.1 Characteristics of Rural Traffic

• Approximately 82 of all miles of roadways in the
  US are rural roads.
• Collisions in rural areas account for nearly
  twice as many deaths as urban areas.
• Rural roads can be two-lane or multi-lane.
• Some rural roads are paved and others are not.
• Shoulders can be wide or narrow, paved or gravel.
• Road surfaces can be paved or in very poor
  condition.

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10.1 Characteristics of Rural Traffic

• At night, the lack of adequate lighting causes
  difficulty in seeing.
• Pay attention for changing conditions, road
  condition, curves, etc.
• Usually these changes come with little or no
  warning.

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10.1 Characteristics of Rural Traffic

• Speed is critical for safe rural driving.
• Speed affects
• Your line of sight.
• Your stopping distance.
• Your vehicle control.
• The amount of damage and injury in the event of a
  collision.
• Many rural roads have a speed limit of 55 mph.
  Some states allow greater speed limits.

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10.1 Characteristics of Rural Traffic

• There is a difference between safe speeds and
  posted speeds.
• Posted speed limits are the maximum speed allowed
  under ideal conditions.
• When conditions are not ideal, safe speeds should
  be used. Slow down to a safe speed.
• Factors that affect safe speed selection include
  other highway users, inclement weather, hills,
  curves, intersections and very narrow roads or
  lanes.

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10.1 Characteristics of Rural Traffic

• Traffic Controls
• Signs, signals, and markings direct, regulate,
  inform, and warn drivers.
• They provide advanced warning of
• Hazards that you cant identify yet.
• Major intersections ahead.
• Unusual or hazardous conditions (curves, animal
  crossings, etc.)
• Traffic channeled into reduced space.

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10.1 Characteristics of Rural Traffic

• Roadside Hazards
• Consider the existing conditions in selecting
  safe speed.
• Shoulders may be uneven with the edge of the
  roadway, soft, or narrow.
• Bridges, guardrails, bushes or trees may be near
  the roads edge.
• Sign posts may only be a few feet away from the
  actual roadway.
• Steep slopes might run from shoulders.
• Entrance to roads may be blocked.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Applying the IPDE Process
• You may be forced to make an emergency response
  on rural roads.
• Sudden responses at higher speeds create more
  problems and risks.
• Slow your speed to allow for more time to use the
  IPDE Process.
• Drive at speeds that you know you will be able to
  brake and steer your vehicle without losing
  control.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Visual Search Pattern
• In your 12-15 second search range look for clues
  of hazards that have the potential of closing
  your front zone.
• Strive to maintain a 12-15 second visual search
  lead. This is the distance your vehicle will
  travel in 12-15 seconds.
• Maintaining this visual search lead will help you
  identify hazards earlier.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Driving on two-lane roads
• Curves
• Rural roads typically have many curves.
• Collisions happen on curves because speed on the
  approach is too great.
• Look for yellow warning signs.
• Warning signs usually have advisory speed signs
  posted below.
• Natural forces work to push you to the outside of
  the curve.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Driving on two-lane roads
• Hills
• Unless you have a very steep slope, hills are
  usually not marked.
• Hills restrict your line of sight.
• Slow as you approach a hills crest.
• Look for oncoming traffic and escape to the right
  if you need an escape path.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Driving on two-lane roads
• Intersections
• Follow the same procedures learned in earlier
  chapters for rural intersections.
• Early identification of traffic controls will
  help you predict potential conflicts.
• A typical rural intersection is one where a side
  road crosses a main road.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Driving on two-lane roads
• Intersections
• The side road will usually have a stop sign.
• Tall crops, trees, or shrubs can block or limit
  the line of sight at rural intersections.
• Treat driveways like intersections.
• Look for loose gravel, electric poles,
  reflectors, mailboxes, etc.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Following Traffic
• Establish and maintaining at least a 3 second
  following distance is very important in rural
  areas.
• This following distance provides you with space
  and time to prevent conflicts.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Following Traffic
• You will want to increase your following distance
  to 4 seconds under these conditions\
• Being tailgated
• Driving on a steep downhill slope
• Following a motorcycle or snowplow
• Pulling a loaded trailer
• Following a large vehicle
• Driving on wet or icy roads

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Driving on Multilane Roads
• Many have four or more lanes
• Posted speed limits are higher
• They have intersections instead or ramps
• Typically a two lane roadway will cross a larger
  four way roadway.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Multilane Roadways with Center Lines
• Some may only have a yellow line (dashed or
  solid) separating high speed traffic moving in
  opposite directions.
• Drivers should never cross a solid yellow line or
  double yellow lines except to make a left turn or
  clear an obstacle blocking their lane.
• Whenever you cross a yellow line, you are
  responsible to do so safely.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Divided Roadways
• Always have lanes of traffic moving in opposite
  directions separated in some way.
• The division may be a simple guardrail or median.
• Medians come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
• If you cross a median, treat each half as though
  it were a one-way street.
• You will be entering faster traffic.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Lane Choice
• Whenever possible, drive in the right lane on a
  multilane highway, unless signs indicate
  otherwise.
• The left lane is usually for passing or preparing
  to turn left.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Turning at an Intersection
• When leaving a multilane roadway, turn right form
  the right lane.
• When making a left turn, turn from the lane
  nearest the center line or median strip.
• Some intersections may have special turning
  lanes.
• Signal your intention at least 5 seconds ahead of
  time.

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10.2 Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas

• Entering a Multilane Road
• To turn right, check left-right-left and enter
  the nearest right lane. Speed up and move to the
  left after you have gained speed and clear the
  intersection.
• To turn left, make sure you have a larger gap.
  Cross the lane on your side of the roadway.
  Choose the time when no traffic is approaching in
  the lane just across the center line and turn
  into the nearest lane.

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10.3 Passing and Being Passed on Rural Roads

• Passing on a two lane road carries a higher level
  of risk than passing on a multilane road.
• When you pass on a two lane rural road, you will
  be in the same lane as oncoming traffic for a
  short period of time.
• Passing another vehicle is really a three stage
  procedure.
• You decide to pass, prepare to pass and execute
  the maneuver.

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10.3 Passing and Being Passed on Rural Roads

• Deciding to pass
• Before you pass a vehicle, assess your situation.
• Asked yourself these questions
• Is it worth it to pass?
• Is it legal to pass?
• Is it safe to pass?
• Consider passing only if you can answer yes to
  all of these questions.

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10.3 Passing and Being Passed on Rural Roads

• Take these actions when preparing to pass
• Identify the reason why the front zone is
  closing.
• Check roadway markings.
• Check roadway conditions.
• Check roadway shoulders.
• Check your rearview mirror.
• Check quickly over your left shoulder.
• Check your rearview mirror.
• Check oncoming lane.
• Check for driveways.

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10.3 Passing and Being Passed on Rural Roads

• Executing a Pass on Two-Lane Roads
• Keep your 3 second following distance.
• Signal when it safe to pass, signal for lane
  change and check blind spot.
• Change lanes smoothly.
• Accelerate at least 10 mph faster than vehicle
  you are going to pass. Dont speed!
• Make final evaluations.
• Maintain your speed.
• Signal for right lane change.
• Return to the right lane.

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10.3 Passing and Being Passed on Rural Roads

• No Passing on Roads Going Uphill
• Passing is not allowed within 700-1,000 feet
  before the top of a hill.
• No Passing at Intersections
• Passing is illegal within 100 feet of an
  intersection.

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10.3 Passing and Being Passed on Rural Roads

• Other No-Passing Situations
• There are other situations where passing is
  prohibited or should no be attempted
• Within 100 feet before a Railroad crossing.
• On a two-lane bridge or underpass.
• On curves, where your line of sign is restricted.
• When the vehicle ahead is traveling at speed
  limit.
• When your line of sight is limited fog, snow, or
  rain.
• When several vehicles are ahead of you, pass one
  at a time.
• When you cannot complete a pass before the start
  of a no passing zone.
• Any time oncoming traffic is too close.
• When you will be stopping or turning soon.

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10.3 Passing and Being Passed on Rural Roads

• Passing on Multilane Roads
• You need to be cautious when only a centerline
  separates traffic.
• Check all traffic before attempting to pass.
• Make sure no one will enter your front zone
  before you pass.
• The vehicle you are passing should be going
  several mph slower than you are traveling.
• All passing should be done in the left lane.
• Passing on the right is illegal.

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10.3 Passing and Being Passed on Rural Roads

• Being Passed
• If you are executing a pass, you have the
  majority of the responsibility to do it safely.
• He also have responsibilities when being passed.
• You must be aware when another vehicle is passing
  you. Even if they dont warn you.
• If the passing vehicle is having a difficult time
  passing you, slow down to help the other driver.
• Intentionally speeding up while being passed is
  illegal.
• Only speed up when the driver has decided not to
  pass and drops back.

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10.4 Rural Situations You Might Encounter

• In rural situations you may encounter vehicles,
  animals and situations that you do not encounter
  on city streets.
• Slow moving vehicles are unable to travel at
  highway speeds.
• Most tractors and other farm equipment qualify.
• Slow moving vehicles have an orange and red
  triangle sign on the vehicle.
• When driving at higher speed, you will rapidly
  close in on a slow moving vehicle.
• If you find yourself closing in on a slow moving
  vehicle, slow down and prepare to pass when it is
  safe to do so.

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10.4 Rural Situations You Might Encounter

• Animals can be a problem on rural roads.
• They can easily become frightened and dart out
  into your path.
• Millions of dollars are lost each year by hitting
  large animals on the roadways.
• You may see warning signs to alert you potential
  animal crossings.
• If you see animals crossing the roadway, slow
  down and allow them to pass.
• When small animals appear in the road, be careful
  and try to avoid hitting them.

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10.4 Rural Situations You Might Encounter

• Meeting Oncoming Traffic
• Meeting traffic on two way roads may be
  dangerous.
• Head on collisions can cause serious injuries.
• Try to move to the right and adjust your lane
  positioning.
• Oncoming drivers may cross into your path for the
  following reasons
• Blowout, hitting or swerving to avoid a pothole
  or other debris.
• An unexpected loss of traction due to ice, snow,
  etc.
• A distraction or vehicle failure.
• An impairment due to alcohol, illness or fatigue

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10.4 Rural Situations You Might Encounter

• Meeting Slow Moving Vehicles
• When you see a slow moving or stopped vehicle in
  your left front zone, check to the rear of the
  vehicle for a passing vehicle. The passing
  driver may not see you.
• Make sure you know where you have an open zone.
• If you do not have an open zone, brake enough to
  create space for yourself or the passing driver.

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10.4 Rural Situations You Might Encounter

• Meeting at Night
• Be aware at night.
• You need to be aware of vehicles in the distance.
• Keep your windshield clean.
• At night, headlights in the distance can warn you
  of oncoming traffic.
• If you have your high beams on, dim them at least
  500 feet from oncoming traffic.
• Glance to the right edge of the road to avoid
  glare from oncoming headlights.
• There is often a white line on the edge of the
  road to assist you with lane positioning.

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10.4 Rural Situations You Might Encounter

• Railroad Crossings
• Many railroad crossings do not have complete
  controls (flashing lights and gates).
• In rural areas, trains travel at high speeds.
• Be alert for railroad crossing warning signs.
• Slow and check left and right before crossing.
• Never cross a railroad crossing until you know it
  is absolutely safe to do so.
• Remember when a vehicle and a train collide, the
  train always wins.

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10.5 Special Driving Environments

• Mountains and desserts can challenge your
  patience, energy and skills.
• Adhere to the speed limits and warning signs.
• Mountain roads often zigzag across a mountain
  with a series of sharp turns called switchbacks.
• Accelerate steadily when driving uphill to
  maintain speed because gravity is pulling your
  vehicle downhill.
• When you cant see around a curve, slow down.
• Driving too fast is the leading cause of
  collisions in the mountains.
• Large vehicles move more slowly up mountains.
• Some mountains have pull-out areas where an
  additional right lane is provided for slower
  moving vehicles.