Chapter 15

Driving in Rural Areas

What is a Rural Roadway?

Any roadway that has wide open spaces and less traffic are considered rural roadways.

Rural roadway collisions account for nearly 2x’s the amount of deaths than urban collisions.

Speed

Major factor in rural driving collisions.

Affects the following: Line of Sight Stopping Distance Vehicle Control Amount of Damage and Injury in a Collision

Traffic Controls

Signs, Signals, and Roadway Markings Alert you to the following:

Hazards you can’t yet identify Major intersections ahead Unusual or hazardous conditions Traffic channeled into reduced space

Facts and Figures for Rural Roads

Vehicles leaving the road and hitting a fixed object account for 1/3 of all motor vehicle deaths.

Most of these involve a single vehicle. Approximately 42% of all roadside deaths

occur on curves. About 1/3 of all roadside collisions involve

vehicle rollovers and 1/3 involve occupant ejections.

Driving on Two Lane Roads

Things to consider: Curves

Advisory Speed Limits Hills Intersections

Following Distance

Rural settings that need increased following distances: (greater than 3 seconds) Being tailgated Downhill slope Following motorcycles Following snowplows Pulling a trailer Following a large vehicle (truck, RV, bus) Wet/Icy road conditions

Multilane Rural Roads

Entering a multilane road: Check target area and front zones. Enter nearest lane in your direction Accelerate to the appropriate speed. Remember a left turns requires a larger gap in

traffic than a right turn. (the more lanes you cross the larger the gap you need)

Video Segment

The IPDE process in Rural Areas

Passing

When deciding to pass consider: Is it worth it to pass? Is it legal to pass? Is it safe to pass?

Remember passing does not give an exemption to the speed limit!!!

No-passing Situations: Uphill road Intersections Within 100’ of RR On a 2 lane bridge. Curves Vehicle ahead traveling at speed

limit Line of sight is restricted More than one vehicle ahead When approaching a no-passing

zone When oncoming traffic is too close When you will be turning or

stopping soon

Slow Moving Vehicles

SMVs are identified by the orange triangle with red border

Video “In the Blink of an Eye” (might want to take notes b/c you may see some of this on a quiz)

Animals

Anticipate more than one animal Evaluate front zones for line of sight

restrictions and other animals Check rear zone to make sure if is safe for you

to slow/stop quickly Check left-front and right-front zones for

escape route

Separating Hazards

Adjust speed

Meet where the most space is available

Change lane position to create more space

For Quiz

Should be able to: Explain the features of a rural roadway List what roadway markings and signs alert drivers

to (4 things) Define Advisory Speed Limit Explain how to enter a multilane road List 7 of the 11 No passing situations