Destination Drive - Lesson #6
HOW TO DRIVE SAFELY ON THE INTERSTATE
In this practice driving environment, speeds range between 55 to 70 mph. Ideally, the teen driver should learn how to drive safely on the highway with a driver’s ed instructor before practicing with a parent. Usually, driving on 3-lane highways with paved shoulders is easier than 2-lane highways without paved shoulders. Begin these highway driving lessons during the day with dry pavement and no adverse weather. Avoid practicing at night, during rush hour, in adverse weather, in heavy traffic, and in active school zones until the learner is not making common errors in easier, less risky, conditions. When your teen is ready, practice in the next driving environment: Country Roads.
HOW TO DRIVE SAFELY ON THE INTERSTATE
In this practice driving environment, speeds range between 55 to 70 mph. Ideally, the teen driver should learn how to drive safely on the highway with a driver’s ed instructor before practicing with a parent. Usually, driving on 3-lane highways with paved shoulders is easier than 2-lane highways without paved shoulders. Begin these highway driving lessons during the day with dry pavement and no adverse weather. Avoid practicing at night, during rush hour, in adverse weather, in heavy traffic, and in active school zones until the learner is not making common errors in easier, less risky, conditions. When your teen is ready, practice in the next driving environment: Country Roads.
Entering & Exiting
Goal:
Help the new driver learn to safely enter and exit highways.
Activity:
To enter the highway, follow the same steps as changing lanes on intermediate roads. The new driver should signal his or her intent, build speed to match the traffic, check mirrors and blind spot, and then merge into a gap in traffic. When exiting, slow down when in the exit lane, well in advance of the turn, and then watch speed carefully when on other roads.
Common Errors:
- Not aware of cars ahead in the acceleration lane
- May stay in acceleration lane too long
- Sometimes not comfortable checking blind spots with a head check
- May signal too late when exiting
Signs Learner Gets It:
- Consistently checks traffic to evaluate whether the gap is sufficient and his or her speed has matched the traffic
- Yields right-of-way to through traffic
- Plans ahead for the exit
- Is comfortable waiting for the next exit if missed opportunity
Navigating Using Signs
Goal:
Know where the signs are on a highway and be able to read them quickly.
Activity:
Before the practice drive, discuss highway signs and what to do when approaching each one. While on the practice drive, the new driver should practice identifying exit signs, tolls, landmark signs and work zones. Your teen should verbalize how to react to each sign.
Common Errors:
Goal:
Know where the signs are on a highway and be able to read them quickly.
Activity:
Before the practice drive, discuss highway signs and what to do when approaching each one. While on the practice drive, the new driver should practice identifying exit signs, tolls, landmark signs and work zones. Your teen should verbalize how to react to each sign.
Common Errors:
- Sometimes does not understand what some signs mean and becomes distracted
- Takes eyes off of road for too long
- Understands what signs mean
- Reacts appropriately to highway signs
- Does not divert attention from traffic while reading signs at high speeds
Monitoring Blind Spots
Goal:
Watching the blind spots at higher speeds.
Activity:
The new driver should practice looking over his or her shoulders to check for blind spots. Drivers should be comfortable checking blind spots even at highway speeds.
Common Errors:
Goal:
Watching the blind spots at higher speeds.
Activity:
The new driver should practice looking over his or her shoulders to check for blind spots. Drivers should be comfortable checking blind spots even at highway speeds.
Common Errors:
- Thinks blind spots can be seen by only using the mirrors
- May not recognize blind spots on both sides of the car
- May not realize blind spots vary by vehicle
- Does not know a blind spot can appear in front when view is obstructed by a truck ahead
- Sometimes forgets to do head checks
- Checks mirrors every 20 to 30 seconds, or more if the highway is crowded
- Does head checks for blind spots
- Leaves extra space in front when following a truck
Six Second Rule – Space Cushion
Goal:
Help the new driver learn to leave six seconds between his or her car and the car ahead.
Activity:
Drivers should leave one-second of separation for every 10 mph travelling, so on the highway, they should leave about six seconds. Identify a marker that’s next to the car ahead and count six seconds. If you pass the marker before reaching 6,000, you are driving too closely.
Common Errors:
Goal:
Help the new driver learn to leave six seconds between his or her car and the car ahead.
Activity:
Drivers should leave one-second of separation for every 10 mph travelling, so on the highway, they should leave about six seconds. Identify a marker that’s next to the car ahead and count six seconds. If you pass the marker before reaching 6,000, you are driving too closely.
Common Errors:
- May follow too closely
- May not realize he or she is tailgating
- Reponds too much to the car behind
- Uses the six second rule to maintain space cushion
- Adjusts speed according to traffic density
- Does not tailgate
Disruptions In Traffic
Goal:
Know how to react to changes in traffic due to lane closures, accidents, and work zones.
Activity:
Go over some examples of traffic obstructions and ask how the new driver would react. Watch out for cues that may indicate disruptions in traffic, including brake lights, emergency lights, merge signs, lane closure signs, or detour signs.
Common Errors:
Anticipating Others' Behavior On Highways
Goal:
Help the new driver understand the cues from other drivers.
Activity:
Practice observing and monitoring the other cars. Watch for drivers who may be lost, distracted or aggressive. Be sure to give these drivers extra space.
Common Errors:
Lane Changing
Goal:
Help the new driver learn to move from one lane to another.
Activity:
The new driver should demonstrate awareness of other surrounding cars by identifying the other cars by color. When consistently aware of the surrounding cars, follow the same steps to lane change as in the Intermediate Roads Environment: Signal well in advance, look ahead and make sure there is space to speed up, check side mirrors and blind spot, look ahead again, adjust speed to match the speed of the cars in the next lane, and move into the lane when there is ample space between cars.
Common Errors:
Goal:
Know how to react to changes in traffic due to lane closures, accidents, and work zones.
Activity:
Go over some examples of traffic obstructions and ask how the new driver would react. Watch out for cues that may indicate disruptions in traffic, including brake lights, emergency lights, merge signs, lane closure signs, or detour signs.
Common Errors:
- May not realize the need to lower speed at the appropriate time
- May not realize the need to merge, or may try to race ahead of other cars
- Identifies changes in traffic and adjusts accordingly
- Is aware of how other drivers react to traffic disruptions
Anticipating Others' Behavior On Highways
Goal:
Help the new driver understand the cues from other drivers.
Activity:
Practice observing and monitoring the other cars. Watch for drivers who may be lost, distracted or aggressive. Be sure to give these drivers extra space.
Common Errors:
- May not identify or recognize aggressive drivers
- May not be watching side mirrors for fast cars
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- Assumes the worst of other drivers; other drivers can act unexpectedly
- Is aware of aggressive drivers well in advance and increases space cushion
Lane Changing
Goal:
Help the new driver learn to move from one lane to another.
Activity:
The new driver should demonstrate awareness of other surrounding cars by identifying the other cars by color. When consistently aware of the surrounding cars, follow the same steps to lane change as in the Intermediate Roads Environment: Signal well in advance, look ahead and make sure there is space to speed up, check side mirrors and blind spot, look ahead again, adjust speed to match the speed of the cars in the next lane, and move into the lane when there is ample space between cars.
Common Errors:
- May automatically take foot off the gas when changing lanes
- May be nervous when passing vehicles, especially large trucks
- May hesitate to make a lane change
- Focuses too much on the cars in the lane
- Correctly judges distance necessary to pass
- Changes lanes and passes other vehicles appropriately
- Allows other vehicles to pass or change lanes safely by adjusting the space cushion
