Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Driving in Rural AreasDriving in Rural Areas

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Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Driving in Rural Driving in Rural

AreasAreasObjectives:Objectives:

Characteristics of Rural TrafficCharacteristics of Rural Traffic

Using Basic Skills in Rural Using Basic Skills in Rural AreasAreas

Passing & Being Passed on Passing & Being Passed on Rural RoadsRural Roads

Rural Situations You Might Rural Situations You Might EncounterEncounter

Special Driving EnvironmentsSpecial Driving Environments

RoadwaysRoadways

Have different Have different characteristicscharacteristicsPaved, gravel, dirtPaved, gravel, dirtWide, narrowWide, narrowSmooth, roughSmooth, roughInadequate lighting, Very Inadequate lighting, Very Dark at nightDark at night

SpeedSpeed

Affects line of sight, stopping Affects line of sight, stopping distance, vehicle control, distance, vehicle control, amount of damage & injuryamount of damage & injury

Many speed limits are 55 mph Many speed limits are 55 mph or loweror lower

Posted speed limits are for Posted speed limits are for ideal conditionsideal conditions

Factors that affect speed Factors that affect speed selection are:selection are:

Other highway usersOther highway usersInclement weatherInclement weatherHillsHillsCurvesCurvesIntersectionsIntersectionsNarrow roadsNarrow roadsAnimals ( Deer, Cows Etc.)Animals ( Deer, Cows Etc.)

Other highway Other highway usersusers

InclementInclement WeatherWeather

Hills and Road SurfaceHills and Road Surface

CurvesCurves

IntersectiIntersectionsons

Narrow Narrow RoadsRoads

Traffic ControlsTraffic Controls

Warn drivers of:Warn drivers of: Hazards that you cannot yet identifyHazards that you cannot yet identify Major intersections aheadMajor intersections ahead Unusual or hazardous conditionsUnusual or hazardous conditions Traffic channeled into reduced spaceTraffic channeled into reduced space

Roadside HazardsRoadside Hazards

Older, narrow, less traveled rural roads Older, narrow, less traveled rural roads present hazardspresent hazards

Shoulders may be uneven, soft, or narrowShoulders may be uneven, soft, or narrow Bridges, guardrails, bushes, trees, sign Bridges, guardrails, bushes, trees, sign

posts, or steep slopes may be near road’s posts, or steep slopes may be near road’s edgeedge

Entrances to businesses, homes, or fields Entrances to businesses, homes, or fields can be a possible conflictcan be a possible conflict

Trees, shrubs, or piles of plowed or drifted Trees, shrubs, or piles of plowed or drifted snow create line-of-sight restrictionssnow create line-of-sight restrictions

Visual Search Visual Search PatternPattern

Visual Search PatternVisual Search Pattern

Maintain a 3 Second Maintain a 3 Second Following DistanceFollowing Distance

Longer following distances give you Longer following distances give you more control when you are:more control when you are: Being tailgatedBeing tailgated Driving on a steep downhill slopeDriving on a steep downhill slope Following a motorcycleFollowing a motorcycle Following a snowplowFollowing a snowplow Pulling a loaded trailerPulling a loaded trailer Following a large vehicleFollowing a large vehicle Driving on wet or icy roadsDriving on wet or icy roads

Passing on Rural RoadsPassing on Rural Roads

Rural Driving Review Rural Driving Review QuestionsQuestions

Are more roads in the U.S. rural or Are more roads in the U.S. rural or urban? Why are rural roads more urban? Why are rural roads more dangerous at night? dangerous at night?

What can you do to avoid hitting a deer?What can you do to avoid hitting a deer? How do you apply IPDE to rural driving? How do you apply IPDE to rural driving? When should you increase your following When should you increase your following

distance to more than 3 seconds? distance to more than 3 seconds?