The
high speeds of controlled-access highways and the density
of traffic on them require a special set of operating rules.
Depending on your location, they may be called freeways, expressways,
or "the super-slab," but no matter what you call
them, the standard operating procedures are the same. For
this rule, I'll call them "freeways" for the sake
of simplicity.
First, there are forbidden actions. There
is NO STOPPING on a freeway. This includes the roadway itself,
the shoulder, the off and on-ramps, and the median—anywhere
on freeway right-of-way. Emergency stops are permitted, but
you must take extra care. The shoulder of a busy freeway is
a very dangerous place. If you leave an unattended vehicle
along a busy freeway, you can expect it to be towed by the
authorities pretty quickly. If you are approaching a vehicle
stopped along a freeway, or a pedestrian, PLEASE change lanes
to the left as you pass by. Imagine yourself standing beside
the freeway, with traffic less than 3 feet away passing you
at 75 mph. Please give them a WIDE berth, for their safety.
It is illegal to back up on a freeway,
and you may not cross a median. If you miss a ramp or need
to go back for some reason, you have no choice but to proceed
to the next exit and then double back. Crossover roads are
for official use and emergency vehicles only. Using a crossover
to turn back is an extremely dangerous move, because you must
enter the high speed traffic in the left lane
A properly designed freeway on-ramp gives
you the space to gain freeway speed before entering the traffic
flow. Do not be tentative about accelerating to highway speed—the
most significant danger is that caused by disparate vehicle
speeds. Do not drive to the end of the ramp and slow to a
crawl or stop while waiting for a "break" in traffic.
If you accelerate to a proper merge speed, you can merge safely,
and the existing traffic will be more likely to accommodate
your entry. Traffic merging onto a freeway must yield to traffic
already on it, but at the same time, competent, courteous
drivers will make room for others to merge. Be careful to
always make a visual head-check (not just mirrors!) before
changing lanes or merging.
Be aware that it is often illegal to cross
a freeway "gore area." This is the triangular-shaped
zone formed by the single or double white lines of an on or
off-ramp as it connects with the through traffic lanes. In
some states, signage prohibits crossing a gore area, in others
special striping is used (double parallel white lines). In
these states, you MUST use the lane until it ends; the end
marks the beginning of the merging area. Understand that it
is NOT illegal to cross a single, solid white line—only
when they are doubled is crossing them a prohibited act (unless
posted otherwise). These are federal rules, adopted by most
states.
Generally, the right lane of a freeway
is for entering and exiting the traffic flow. It's a "staging"
lane, for use at the beginning and end of your freeway "run."
The middle lanes are for through traffic, and the left lane
is for passing. If you are not passing someone, you should
not be driving in the left lane. Likewise, unless you are
driving at a slower speed or preparing to enter or exit, you
should move out of the right lane (this applies to a roadway
with more than two lanes, of course).
If you encounter an emergency vehicle on
a freeway, you should move to the right as much as necessary
to let it pass you on the left. You are not expected to pull
right and stop as you would on other roads—doing so would
be dangerous. Keep in mind that emergency vehicle drivers
are trained NOT to pass you on the right, so it's important
for you to move that direction to allow them safe passage
on your left.
Finally, drive at a safe speed. Excessive
speeding (more than 10 mph faster than traffic flow) or traveling
too slowly increases the dangers and difficulty for all. If
you view the traffic on a freeway as a giant, single organism,
then it becomes apparent that it is the exceptions and differences,
especially in speeds, that cause problems. The freeway is
one driving arena where it is important to "blend."
Keep the shiny side up!
<Rule
#20: Beware of Intersections!
Rule #22: Know How To Stop!>
