Driving in Rural Areas 82 percent of all

Driving in Rural Areas 82 percent of all miles of roadways are rural roads.

Different types of Roads • Do you drive the same way on all of these roads? • Made up of – brick, Asphalt, concrete, Gravel, crushed stone, dirt

Rural Areas • Wide open spaces, less traffic • Collisions – 2 x’s as many highway deaths than in urban areas • Biggest mistake people make – – Assume that conflicts will not occur

Safe Speeds • Speed affects – Your line of sight – Your stopping distance – Your vehicle control – Amount of damage & injury in a collision What is the Basic Speed Law? What is the speed limit in the country?

Driving into curves • Warning signs • When do you slow down for a curve in the road?

Driving on Hills • What happens to your Sight Distance? • How does gravity affect your driving?

Mountain Driving • Trucks can have bad brakes and be unable to stop going down a steep road.

Runaway Truck ramp

Divided Roads always have lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions separated in some way.

Divided Highway

Divided Roadways

Passing on Rural Roads • What 3 questions should you ask yourself? -is it legal? -is it safe? - is it worth it? 3 stages -decide to pass -prepare to pass -execute (10 -15 sec)

Passing on 2 lane roads • How fast should you go to pass another vehicle? • Can you go above the speed limit? • Can you pass more than 1 car at a time? • What can you do to help others pass you?

No Passing Situations No passing on hills -- 700 ft-1000 ft No passing at intersections – w/in 100 ft No passing at railroad tracks w/in 100 ft Oncoming traffic – too close or too narrow of road

No Passing

Remember • You should not pass if you cannot complete the pass before the no-passing zone begins. • When meeting an oncoming car at night, you might avoid being momentarily blinded if you glance at the right edge of the road.

Other Rural Situations

Watch out for Deer!!

• Heat on the car • Heat effects on the driver • Sand Storms • Flash Floods

Driving in a Sand Storm