Chapter 7Chapter 7

Negotiating IntersectionsNegotiating Intersections

7.1 Searching Intersections7.1 Searching Intersections

Intersections- places where roadways meet or cross Examples: +, T, X, or a Y intersection Keys to Identifying Intersections:

-Street Lights or Signs

-Roadway Markings

-Approaching Traffic

-Pedestrians

-Rows of fences or mailboxes

-Power Lines crossing the roadway

Approaching an IntersectionApproaching an Intersection

After you ID an intersection then look for line of sight After you ID an intersection then look for line of sight restrictions like buildings or vehicles or bushesrestrictions like buildings or vehicles or bushes

12-15 Seconds Ahead: 112-15 Seconds Ahead: 1stst check for traffic controls and check for traffic controls and roadway markings, then plan a course of action and finally roadway markings, then plan a course of action and finally check your zonescheck your zones

4-6 Seconds Ahead: Widen your search pattern and move 4-6 Seconds Ahead: Widen your search pattern and move your eyes quickly, make sure your intended path of travel is your eyes quickly, make sure your intended path of travel is clear, if not then make adjustments to your speed or clear, if not then make adjustments to your speed or directiondirection

2 Seconds Ahead: Identify your 2 Seconds Ahead: Identify your Point of No Return-Point of No Return- the the point by which you can no longer stop safely without point by which you can no longer stop safely without entering the intersection!!!entering the intersection!!!

Deciding to StopDeciding to Stop

Reasons for stopping might include a signal or possible Reasons for stopping might include a signal or possible stop sign or even someone who is entering your stop sign or even someone who is entering your intended path of travelintended path of travel

If you still can not see if the intersection is clear then If you still can not see if the intersection is clear then perform a perform a Safety Stop:Safety Stop: making your front bumper making your front bumper even with the curb line or parked cars on the cross even with the curb line or parked cars on the cross street, allowing you to search 90 degrees to the right street, allowing you to search 90 degrees to the right and leftand left

If there is a vehicle ahead of you, then stop where you If there is a vehicle ahead of you, then stop where you can see it’s rear tires, that way if you need to drive can see it’s rear tires, that way if you need to drive around it you canaround it you can

Entering an IntersectionEntering an Intersection

You may enter an intersection if the light is green or if You may enter an intersection if the light is green or if there is no signal and your front zones are open with there is no signal and your front zones are open with NO RESTRICTIONNO RESTRICTION

If you do have restrictions then make numerous checks If you do have restrictions then make numerous checks to ensure your path of travel will remain open!!!to ensure your path of travel will remain open!!!

When turning your last check should be in your When turning your last check should be in your intended path of travel!!!intended path of travel!!!

7.2 Determining right of way 7.2 Determining right of way and judgment gapsand judgment gaps

Right of Way-Right of Way-the privilege of having immediate use of the privilege of having immediate use of a certain part of the roadway!!!a certain part of the roadway!!!

You only have the right of way when other drivers give You only have the right of way when other drivers give it to you…it is NOT something you can take!!!it to you…it is NOT something you can take!!!

Remember when deciding to yieldRemember when deciding to yield: your action : your action should not affect others intended path of travel, traffic should not affect others intended path of travel, traffic signs only show right of way…they don’t control traffic signs only show right of way…they don’t control traffic for you, don’t assume others will yield to you, and for you, don’t assume others will yield to you, and finally it is better to yield the right of way even if the law finally it is better to yield the right of way even if the law says you have it…then to push a bad situationsays you have it…then to push a bad situation

Figure 7 p. 190Figure 7 p. 190

Memorize every situation in this diagram!Memorize every situation in this diagram! Also be familiar with figure 8 on page 191Also be familiar with figure 8 on page 191 Gap-Gap-the distance between two vehiclesthe distance between two vehicles Joining Traffic-Joining Traffic-turning right or left into turning right or left into

lanes of other trafficlanes of other traffic

7.3 Controlled Intersections7.3 Controlled Intersections

Controlled Intersection-Controlled Intersection-one that has signs or signals one that has signs or signals to determine the right of wayto determine the right of way

Controlled with SignsControlled with Signs: Stop or Yield: Stop or Yield Controlled Intersections with Signals:Controlled Intersections with Signals:

--Fresh Green LightFresh Green Light: a light that has just turned green: a light that has just turned green

--Stale Green Light:Stale Green Light: a light that has been green for a a light that has been green for a long timelong time

--Yellow Light:Yellow Light: You must determine your point of no You must determine your point of no return and decide to either go or stopreturn and decide to either go or stop

--Red Light:Red Light: When the light is red you must stop!!! When the light is red you must stop!!!

Turning Left at SignalsTurning Left at Signals

Unprotected Left Turns:Unprotected Left Turns: If a signal controlled If a signal controlled intersection does not have a left-turn light then you intersection does not have a left-turn light then you must make an unprotected left turn by yielding to must make an unprotected left turn by yielding to oncoming traffic first!!!oncoming traffic first!!!

Protected Left Turn:Protected Left Turn: You make one of these when a You make one of these when a left turn signal light is displayed and oncoming traffic is left turn signal light is displayed and oncoming traffic is stopped!!!stopped!!!

Delayed Green Light:Delayed Green Light: indicates that one side of an indicates that one side of an intersection has a green light while the light for the intersection has a green light while the light for the oncoming traffic remains redoncoming traffic remains red

Turns on RedTurns on Red

Right on Red is allowed in all 50 states and the District Right on Red is allowed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia after coming to a complete stop and of Columbia after coming to a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and traffic!!!yielding to pedestrians and traffic!!!

Left on Red is also allowed when you are n a ne way Left on Red is also allowed when you are n a ne way street turning left onto another one way street after street turning left onto another one way street after coming to a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians coming to a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and traffic!!!and traffic!!!

7.4 Uncontrolled Intersections7.4 Uncontrolled Intersections

Uncontrolled Intersection:Uncontrolled Intersection: an intersection with no signs an intersection with no signs or signals to regulate trafficor signals to regulate traffic

When in Rural Areas you first need to ID the intersection:When in Rural Areas you first need to ID the intersection:

-Power lines, green street signs, change in crops, -Power lines, green street signs, change in crops, approaching traffic, or if in country it is seperated into approaching traffic, or if in country it is seperated into square miles so every square mile you come to will be a square miles so every square mile you come to will be a new intersection!!!new intersection!!!

Next: If you do not have a stop or yield sign then you Next: If you do not have a stop or yield sign then you need to slow and prepare to come to a complete stop…as need to slow and prepare to come to a complete stop…as you are slowing down if you ID the backs of stop signs for you are slowing down if you ID the backs of stop signs for the cross traffic, then you may proceed without stopping!!!the cross traffic, then you may proceed without stopping!!!

But…But…

If you do not ID the backs of stop signs, If you do not ID the backs of stop signs, then that means the intersection is truly then that means the intersection is truly uncontrolled and you must come to a uncontrolled and you must come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians complete stop and yield to pedestrians and traffic…and traffic…ESPECIALLY IN LATE ESPECIALLY IN LATE SUMMER WHEN THE CORN IS TALL!!!SUMMER WHEN THE CORN IS TALL!!!

7.5 Railroad Crossings7.5 Railroad Crossings

Crossbuck-Crossbuck-a large white x-shaped signa large white x-shaped sign Active Railroad Crossing-Active Railroad Crossing-crossings controlled with crossings controlled with

electrical signalselectrical signals Passive Railroad Crossing-Passive Railroad Crossing-crossings with no active red crossings with no active red

lights or crossing gateslights or crossing gates When crossing tracks during the daytime, make sure you When crossing tracks during the daytime, make sure you

pay attention to all of the signals and also look both ways pay attention to all of the signals and also look both ways just in casejust in case

At night time if there are no flashing lights then come to a At night time if there are no flashing lights then come to a complete stop 15 feet from the tracks, roll down the complete stop 15 feet from the tracks, roll down the window and listen for an approaching train!!!window and listen for an approaching train!!!

7.6 Roundabouts7.6 Roundabouts

Roundabouts-Roundabouts-traffic circles or rotariestraffic circles or rotaries These are safer and more controlled then the These are safer and more controlled then the

traditional intersectionstraditional intersections They are all one-way and move counter clockwise!They are all one-way and move counter clockwise! Reduce speed and react accordingly based on it being Reduce speed and react accordingly based on it being

stop or yield sign. stop or yield sign. Do not pas or switch lanes when maneuvering through Do not pas or switch lanes when maneuvering through

a roundabout!!!a roundabout!!!