Driving in Rural Areas

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Chapter 10

• Driving in Rural Areas

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10.1

• Characteristics
• of
• Rural Traffic

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Things to think about

• 82 of all miles of roadways in the US are rural
  roads.
• Typically _____ traffic
• BUT
• Collisions in rural areas account for nearly
  _______ as many highway deaths as collisions in
  urban areas.

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Roadways

• Roads are made from all different types of
  materials.
• ______, dirt, ______, , ______, , very poor
  condition
• Lack of adequate ______,
• Conditions can change suddenly with little
  warning.

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Speed

• Speed effects
• Line of sight
• Stopping distance
• Vehicle control
• Amount of damage and injury in the even of a
  collision
• Some have speed limits of ______ mph
• Some states even higher!

Always use your common sense and never drive
faster than conditions permit.
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Traffic Controls

• Traffic controls provide ______ _____________ and
  warning of
• Hazards that you cannot yet identify
• Major intersections ahead
• Unusual or hazardous conditions
• Traffic channeled into reduced space

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Roadside Hazards

• Shoulders maybe ______ with the edge of the
  roadway.
• ______, ______ , bushes or trees may be near the
  roads edge.
• A steep ______ might run from the shoulder down a
  hill or drainage ditch.

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10.2Using Basic Skills in Rural Areas
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Quiet rural traffic scene can change ______ with
little or no warning!
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Visual Search Pattern

• ______ second search range
• Are we going to look farther or closer if we are
  driving 55mph compared to 25mph?

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Curves

• Rural roads typically have many ______ .
• Collisions occur on curves because ______ on
  their approach is too great.
• You typically will see a warning sign warning you
  to slow down because a curve or dangerous curve
  is ahead.

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Hills

• Unless they have very steep slopes, hills are
  usually ______ ______ .
• Hills restrict your ______ of ______ .
• ___________ as you approach the crest of the hill.

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10.3Passing and being passed on rural roads.
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Deciding to pass

• Is it ______ it to pass?
• Is it ______ to pass?
• Is it ______ to pass?
• Consider passing if you can answer YES to all
  these questions!

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When NOT to pass

• No passing on Roads going up or down hill
• No passing at ______
• Within in 100 feet before a railroad
• On a ______ lane bridge or underpass
• On ______ !!!!
• When the vehicle ahead is traveling ______ or
  ______ the posted limit

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• When line of sight is limited by fog, snow, or
  rain
• When you ______ complete a pass before the start
  of a no passing zone
• Anytime oncoming traffic is too ______
• When you will be stopping or turning soon.
• Only pass ______ vehicle at a time.

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Being Passes

• It is ______ to not let someone pass you!
• You may ______ speed up, slow down, and/or move
  to the side to prevent someone from passing you.

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10.4Rural Situations You Might Encounter
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Slow-Moving Vehicles

• Is a vehicle that is unable to travel at highway
  speed.
• Not designated, nor intended, as means for
  personal transportation
• Farm vehicles
• Street cleaner
• Garbage trucks
• When driving at higher speed, you will ______
  approach a slow moving vehicle.
• Try to identify these vehicles as early as
  possible.

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Animals

• Can easily be frightened and dart out into the
  middle of the road.
• Hitting a large animal can damage your vehicle,
  and serious injury or death to you and your
  passengers.
• Areas where large wild animals are common, reduce
  your speed and search a much wider area than
  usual.

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Railroad Crossings

• Usually dont have complete controls (lights and
  gate)
• Travel ______ through rural areas!
• Never cross a railroad crossing until you know it
  is absolutely safe!
• Remember when a vehicle and a train collide,
  the train always wins!