Lesson 4 Expressway Driving

Summary

The script is a driving lesson dialogue between a father and his son, Adam. It covers various driving scenarios, including navigating curves, approaching hills, merging onto expressways, and maintaining safe following distances. The father advises on defensive driving, avoiding distractions, and the dangers of drowsy driving. The lesson emphasizes the importance of practice to build confidence and skill, especially at high speeds and in heavy traffic.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Practice is essential for getting comfortable with driving, especially on the expressway.
• 🛣️ When approaching a curve, assess its direction, sharpness, and visibility before entering to determine the best speed and lane position.
• 💡 It's crucial to enter a curve in the right half of the lane to maximize space from oncoming traffic.
• 🔒 Squeeze the brakes when entering a curve and trail off through the middle to improve tire traction.
• 👀 Always look as far ahead into the curve as possible to anticipate any obstacles.
• ⛰️ Reduce speed when approaching hills to prepare for the unknown on the other side.
• 🚨 Slow down for emergency vehicles and pull over when necessary to give them space.
• 🚴‍♂️ Share the road with bicycles, respecting their rights and responsibilities as road users.
• 🔁 When merging onto the expressway, use the acceleration lane to reach the speed of traffic and merge smoothly.
• 🚦 Maintain a safe following distance, especially in adverse weather conditions or when following large vehicles.
• ❌ Avoid crossing multiple lanes at once on the expressway to prevent accidents.

Q & A

What is the main concern for Adam when driving on the expressway?

Adam is concerned about getting used to the pace of the expressway and being nervous around all the traffic.

What advice does Adam's dad give for approaching a curve while driving?

Adam's dad advises asking oneself questions about the curve's direction, sharpness, and visibility of the exit before entering, and to adjust speed and lane position accordingly.

What is the recommended lane position when entering a curve?

It's best to enter a curve in lane position three or the right half of the lane to allow the most space between your vehicle and oncoming traffic.

How should one apply the brakes while navigating a curve?

One should slow down by squeezing the brake upon entry of the curve and then trail off the brake through the central part until the exit point.

What is the significance of looking far ahead into the curve while driving?

Looking far ahead into the curve allows the driver to see if anything is in their path of travel, ensuring safety.

Why is it advised to reduce speed when approaching the top of a hill?

Reducing speed when approaching the top of a hill provides more time to respond to any obstructions that might be on the opposite side, as visibility is limited.

What should a driver do if they see a large truck behind them with smoke coming out from beneath it?

The driver should pull over and let the truck pass, as it likely indicates the truck has lost its brakes.

What is commentary driving and why is it used?

Commentary driving is a method where the instructor asks questions to keep the student driver engaged and aware during the drive. It's used to enhance learning and maintain sharpness.

What is the importance of maintaining a following distance of at least 4 seconds on the expressway?

A following distance of at least 4 seconds provides enough time to react and stop in case the vehicle in front suddenly brakes, reducing the risk of a collision.

Why is it crucial not to get 'boxed in' while driving on the expressway?

Getting 'boxed in' can limit the driver's ability to steer away from potential problems in their lane, increasing the risk of an accident.

What should a driver do if their car stalls on a railroad track?

If a car stalls on a railroad track, the driver and passengers should exit the vehicle and move away from it towards the oncoming train, then call for help.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Driving Skills and Curve Management

The first paragraph introduces a father teaching his son, Adam, how to drive. It emphasizes the importance of practicing driving skills, particularly on the expressway. The father advises Adam on how to handle curves by asking himself key questions such as the direction and sharpness of the curve and visibility of the exit. It's recommended to enter a curve in the right half of the lane to maximize space from oncoming traffic and to slow down when entering the curve. The father also stresses the importance of looking ahead into the curve and not braking through the entire curve to maintain traction. The conversation also touches on approaching hills, where reducing speed is advised due to the lack of visibility over the hill.

05:03

🛣️ Expressway Etiquette and Safety

The second paragraph discusses the challenges of driving on the expressway, where speeds can reach up to 70 mph and traffic is unpredictable. It covers how to merge onto the expressway safely, including using the acceleration lane and signaling intentions. The importance of maintaining a safe following distance, especially in adverse weather conditions, is highlighted. The father also explains the dangers of getting 'boxed in' and advises against crossing multiple lanes at once. The concept of 'no-zones' around large trucks is introduced, cautioning drivers to be aware of these blind spots to avoid accidents.

10:05

👀 Avoiding Distraction and Defensive Driving

The third paragraph focuses on the dangers of distractions while driving, such as rubbernecking at accidents. It stresses the importance of keeping eyes on the road and not staring at incidents, as it can lead to severe accidents, especially at high speeds. The father uses the 'mom brake and clothesline combo' as an example of an instinctive reaction to a sudden incident, reminding Adam to always be aware of his surroundings. The conversation also covers the importance of defensive driving and not to rely on other drivers making safe choices.

15:06

💤 The Risks of Drowsy Driving

The fourth paragraph delves into the dangers of drowsy driving, comparing it to driving under the influence of alcohol. It shares personal stories of accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel, emphasizing the importance of taking breaks during long drives and pulling over to rest if feeling tired. The father and son discuss the effects of highway hypnosis and the need to be vigilant against the drowsiness that can come from long periods of concentration on the road.

20:07

🏎️ Mastering the Expressway

The fifth and final paragraph wraps up the driving lesson, with Adam reflecting on his experience merging onto the expressway and the importance of managing space while driving. The father reassures that with practice, Adam will become comfortable with high speeds and the rules of the road still apply. The paragraph ends on a positive note, encouraging consistent practice to build confidence and skill in expressway driving.

Keywords

💡Expressway

An expressway is a wide, high-capacity highway designed for high-speed traffic. In the video, the expressway is a central setting where the learner driver practices driving at high speeds and navigating complex traffic situations. The script mentions the need to adjust to the pace of the expressway and the importance of merging onto it safely, which are key skills for new drivers to learn.

💡Curve

A curve in driving refers to a bend in the road. The script emphasizes the technique of safely navigating curves by adjusting speed and position. It advises entering a curve in the right half of the lane to maximize space from oncoming traffic and to use the brake appropriately to maintain traction, illustrating the concept with practical advice for new drivers.

💡Hill

A hill is an elevated landform that can affect driving, especially when visibility is limited at the top. The video script cautions about reducing speed when approaching the crest of a hill to prepare for potential obstructions that may not be visible, highlighting the importance of anticipating hazards in driving.

💡Following Distance

Following distance is the gap maintained between one's vehicle and the vehicle ahead to allow for safe stopping in case the leading vehicle suddenly stops. The script stresses maintaining a following distance of at least 4 seconds on the expressway, especially in adverse weather conditions, to ensure enough reaction time and space to avoid collisions.

💡Merge

Merging in driving involves joining a stream of traffic from an entrance ramp. The video script provides a detailed process for merging, including using the acceleration lane to reach appropriate speed, signaling intentions, and finding a safe gap in traffic. It also touches on the concept of defensive driving when merging, such as being cautious of other drivers' actions.

💡Passing

Passing in the context of driving refers to overtaking a slower vehicle. The script advises on safe passing practices on the expressway, including signaling, checking traffic, and changing lanes smoothly. It also warns against the dangers of passing on two-lane roads, curves, hills, and intersections, emphasizing the need for caution and judgment.

💡Lane Position

Lane position refers to where a vehicle is situated within its lane. The video script suggests optimal lane positions for different scenarios, such as being in the right half of the lane when entering a curve or avoiding getting 'boxed in' between vehicles, which can limit escape routes in case of an emergency.

💡Traffic Light

A traffic light is a signaling device for controlling traffic at intersections. The script mentions the importance of responding appropriately to traffic light signals, such as slowing down for a red light or being prepared to stop at a yellow light, which are fundamental rules of road safety.

💡Railroad Crossing

A railroad crossing is where a road intersects a railway track. The video script highlights the dangers of railroad crossings, advising never to attempt to beat a train or stop on the tracks, emphasizing the need for vigilance and adherence to safety rules at these locations.

💡Bicycle

The script mentions sharing the road with bicycles, which have the same rights and responsibilities as cars in many places. It advises slowing down and sharing the road, reflecting the theme of coexistence and mutual respect between different road users.

💡Defensive Driving

Defensive driving is a strategy for anticipating and responding to potential hazards to prevent accidents. The video script includes various examples of defensive driving, such as avoiding staring at accidents, maintaining safe following distances, and being cautious of other drivers' behaviors, which are crucial for staying safe on the road.

Highlights

The importance of getting used to the pace of the expressway and overcoming nervousness around traffic.

The technique of asking oneself key questions before approaching a curve.

The recommendation to enter a curve in the right half of the lane for safety.

The advice to slow down upon entering a curve and trail off the brake through the central part.

The strategy to look as far ahead into the curve as possible to anticipate obstacles.

The caution about misjudging the sharpness of curves and the dangers of high speeds.

The guidance on reducing speed when approaching hills to prepare for unknown conditions.

The advice to check rear view mirrors when driving down hills for potential problems.

The instruction to describe surroundings and actions while driving to enhance awareness.

The reminder to always slow down for emergency vehicles and give them space.

The warning about never trying to beat a train at a railroad crossing.

The advice to share the road with bicycles and respect their rights and responsibilities.

The explanation of how to merge onto the expressway safely.

The emphasis on minimal steering input when changing lanes at high speeds.

The necessity of maintaining a following distance of at least 4 seconds on expressways.

The instruction to avoid getting boxed in by other vehicles to maintain maneuverability.

The dangers of passing on a two-lane residential road and the conditions that make it safe.

The steps to safely pass another vehicle on the expressway, including signaling and checking traffic.

The advice on how to react when being passed on the expressway to reduce the risk of accidents.

The dangers of crossing several lanes at once on the expressway and the importance of lane discipline.

The concept of 'no zones' around large trucks and the need to avoid driving in these blind spots.

The reminder to drive defensively and avoid being distracted by accidents on the side of the road.

The procedure for exiting the expressway, including slowing down and watching for entering vehicles.

The dangers of highway hypnosis and the importance of taking breaks during long drives.

The personal accounts of drowsy driving accidents and the lessons learned from them.

The final review of expressway driving guidelines emphasizing safety and awareness.

Transcripts

so Dad how's it going better than I was

at that age by far oh he's doing well we

still need to work on polishing a few

skills here and there though I need to

get used to the pace of the expressway I

get nervous around all the traffic I did

too you'll be fine once you get some

practice yeah we're going to head to the

expressway now and we'll practice a few

things along the way all right I'll let

you go then good

luck

Adam is approaching a curve and it's

important that he asks himself a few

questions before he reaches the

curve does it curve to the right or left

how sharp is the curve can I see the

exit of the curve

ahead after asking himself these

questions and checking traffic to the

rear he can determine the best speed and

Lane position in which to enter the

curve in most cases it's best to enter a

curve in Lane position three or the

right half of the lane this allows the

most space between your vehicle and any

oncoming traffic you must slow down upon

entry of the curve by squeezing your

brake however you should Trail off the

brake through the central part of the

curve until the exit Point your tires

will have more traction on the road

surface than if you break break all the

way through the

curve once you reach the exit point or

apex of the curve you should accelerate

lightly to pull the car through the

curve always remember to look as far

ahead into the curve as possible in

order to see if anything is in your path

of travel you're getting much better at

handling these curves some of your

sisters friends would misjudge the

sharpness of Curves and take them at

speeds way too high if you can't tell

how sharp a curve is just slow down

assume the worst it's also a good idea

to be in Lane position three when you

approach Hills in most cases you have no

idea what's on the other side of the

Hill ahead of you neither do oncoming

drivers because of this you should also

reduce your speed as you approach the

top of the hill this will give you more

time to respond to any obstructions that

might be on the opposite side of the

Hill when driving down a hill you should

always check your rear view mirrors for

any potential problems Vehicles may be

approaching too quick

or large trucks may be having trouble

breaking if you see a large truck behind

you with smoke boiling out from beneath

it pull over and let it pass the truck

has most likely lost its

brakes as you drive I want you to tell

me what you see around you and what

you're doing okay well I'm driving 40

mph and there's a car behind me with its

headlights on is that a

Dodge that look look on Adam's face is

appropriate my dad has the right idea to

ask questions while Adam drives it's

called commentary driving once your

student becomes more comfortable with

their Driving Experience it's a good

idea to help keep them sharp by

involving them in commentary driving but

that last question was a bad example try

to avoid questions that require your

student to look away from the road ahead

for seconds at a time however you should

ask simple questions relevant to the

current Drive

sorry Adam that was a distracting

question uh how about if you just tell

me what you see in front of us we're

approaching an intersection controlled

by a traffic light the light's green so

I can continue through it the car

directly ahead of me is breaking so I

have to slow

down now he's signaling left to change

lanes further ahead of us there's a

police car with its lights on so I'll

have to slow down that's right always

slow down for emergency vehicles and

pull over to get out of their way when

necessary what should you be concerned

about up ahead uh we are approaching a

railroad crossing and what should you

never do with a railroad crossing you

should never try to beat out a train and

you should never stop on the tracks

that's right that's dangerously stupid

if your car would ever stall on a

railroad track get out and run as far

away from the car and towards the train

then call for help okay I got it

now what are you going to do about the

bicycle ahead I've got to slow down and

share the road right in many places

bicycles have the same rights and

responsibilities as cars and some places

they even have bicycle lanes and other

places you just have to carefully share

the road with

them Adam's probably getting close to

entering the expressway

Expressway driving involves speeds of up

to 70 mph with heavy and unpredictable

traffic for drivers this means less time

to identify problems ahead and much less

steering input needed to maneuver let's

take an overhead graphical look at

merging first you enter the entrance

Ram these often include sharp curves

that require you to greatly reduce your

speed located directly after the

entrance ramp is the a short

acceleration Lane this Lane allows you

time to accelerate to appropriate speeds

before merging at this point you should

signal that you intend to merge onto the

expressway the merge area is directly

ahead of the acceleration Lane and can

be identified by Broken White Lines

replacing solid white lines you should

try to merge onto the expressway at the

speed of Expressway traffic once you

find an appropriate Gap merge into the

lane at high speeds it's important

important to know that minimal steering

input is necessary when changing lanes

abrupt steering movements may cause

total loss of control of your vehicle

along with parallel parking merging at

such high speeds can be super stressful

for new drivers you have to enter the

expressway at high speeds or you'll

become a hazard to everyone it may take

time to get comfortable with this so

parents help your students determine

appropriate gaps when merging on the

highway the first few

times

following distance is critical on

expressways because of the high speeds

always try to maintain a following

distance of at least 4

seconds remember to increase following

distance when following large trucks

buses and

motorcycles following large trucks and

buses too closely blocks your view of

the roadway ahead and may put you in

their blind spot when weather conditions

worsen traveling in rain rain sleep snow

or fog requires a greater following

distance because you can't see as far

ahead as normal and it takes your car

longer to stop when entering and exiting

the

expressway you need to increase

following distance to provide a gap for

yourself and other drivers you also

never know what's on the other side of

the sharp curves of entrance and exit

ramps do you see a pattern here as a

general rule increase following distance

anytime you're unsure of what's

ahead

do you see how there are cars driving

directly next to you in both surrounding

Lanes yeah I see them try not to get

yourself boxed in like this this will

prevent you from steering away from any

potential problems that might be in your

lane ahead of you should I slow down to

give myself some more space well yeah

but just a little bit you don't want to

slow down too much and become a

hazard if you're ready we'll give pass a

try let's do it passing is a very

dangerous maneuver and the high speeds

and the large volume of traffic on the

expressway doesn't make it any safer go

ahead and signal and check the traffic

around you take a quick glance over your

shoulder to make sure that the lane is

safe for you to move

into looks good wait a minute a the lane

next to you may be clear but there's a

vehicle on the far left that has its

turn signal on so what does that mean

when two cars want to enter the same

Lane at the same time the car on the

left has the RightWay this applies to

merges also and vehicles exiting the

expressway have the rideway over

Vehicles attempting to enter

it now that the car is passed check

traffic again and smoothly change

lanes once you get ahead of the vehicle

you must signal and see both both of the

other vehicles headlights in your rear

view mirror before you move back into

your original

Lane make sure you turn off your turn

signal because you don't want the

drivers behind you to be guessing

whether you're going to be changing

lanes

again passing on a highway can be

dangerous but passing on a two-lane

residential road is even more dangerous

to pass on a two-lane roadway make sure

you have a broken yellow line and that

oncoming traffic is is a safe distance

away if you have any doubt whether

oncoming traffic is a safe distance away

do not pass passing is never worth the

risk of a head-on collision never

attempt to pass on curves Hills and

bridges or at intersections and railroad

crossings it's simply unsafe so you know

how to pass someone safely but what

about being passed when you're being

passed on an expressway you can reduce

the risk of an accident by changing Lane

position if the vehicle passing you is

too close by not increasing speed when

you're being passed speeding up only

makes other drivers angry and by

adjusting your speed after you're passed

you want to create that 4 second

following distance and reestablish

adequate space around your vehicle here

are a few more things you should watch

for on an

expressway something you should never do

on an expressway is cross several Lanes

at once your you're just asking to cause

a major accident if you do that while

passing on the right is illegal on some

State roadways it's legal on most so

always be aware that drivers may be

passing you on the right when on an

expressway you should also be aware that

drivers of large trucks have a few large

blind spots these are called No zones if

you driving close to a truck you should

avoid these zones because the driver

can't see you they might unknowingly

perform perform an action that could

lead to a serious accident remember if

you can't see the mirrors of the truck

the driver can't see you well just like

when you're driving anywhere else you

need to drive defensively on the

expressway you just never know whoa what

relax dad I saw the car oh he just came

out of nowhere Adam I'm I'm sorry I

guess I

overreacted there it was Dad employing

the mom break and cloth line

combo sometimes things happen so quickly

that parents can't avoid a reaction like

that parents shouldn't make a habit of

it but students shouldn't take it as a

criticism either you never know when bad

drivers are about to make a mistake as

long as you are paying attention to the

road and vehicles all around you you

will prevent a great deal of accidents

potentially caused by these bad

drivers that car's bumper is smashed put

your hand back on the wheel and focus on

the road ahead aren't I supposed to be

aware of everything around me yes but

you were rubbernecked and you took your

eyes off the road don't stare at someone

else's accident it's none of your

business and it's not safe dad's right

about that staring at something on the

side of the road like an accident is

extremely dangerous especially on

expressways when you're traveling 70 mph

you drive over 200 ft in Just 2 seconds

a lot can happen in 200 ft when you Look

Away you risk veering from your lane and

at such high speeds it doesn't take much

veering to end up colliding with a

concrete median or running off the road

and into something else at 70 mph the

force of impact with any object could be

deadly so keep your eyes on the road

ahead I want you to take the next exit

so move into the right

lane in many cases the lane you use to

exit will be a weave Lane do you know

what I mean by weave Lane it's used to

both enter and exit the expressway right

that's right so the lane you are using

to exit the expressway may contain

Vehicles who are attempting to enter it

but I'll have the rideway well yes you

will but you still need to watch out for

vehicles entering the expressway you

just can't assume that they're going to

yield for

you okay here we

go

great job Adam just as you did while

entering the expressway you had to slow

down considerably on the exit ramp to

combat the sharp curves where are we

going now we're going to go to the park

to meet your

sister

how's the lesson going was going well

until I had to stop for a picnic with

you oh it was time for a break Adam

driving for extended periods of time

isn't good for anyone dad's right

highway hypnosis and falling asleep at

the wheel are just as dangerous as

driving drunk highway

hypnosis highway hypnosis is a drowsy

condition that results from

concentrating on the road for long

periods of time it causes you to become

temporarily hypnotized and lose track of

where your vehicle is going it takes

less than a second of dropped

concentration to cause a serious crash

the same can happen with falling asleep

at the wheel I've interviewed two people

about their experiences with drowsy

driving I stayed up all the night before

watching movies it was a fun thing to do

that we'd stay up all night with friends

and myself and a group of friends who

were all about 19 at the time um went

out camping I remember making the right

turn but the 300 yards from that stop

sign to where my accident occurred I

don't remember anything of it so at some

point there I'd fallen asleep on the way

back the guy driving the car that I was

in fell asleep at the wheel uh on the

highway and ended up waking up to

hearing my friend scream my name and

glass coming through the windshield uh

when he awoke he was heading towards a

um pole on the side of the road couldn't

get out my door I was up against the

telephone pole there was a fence post

that came through my windshield he

turned the wheel so far that the the car

you know sort of turned skitted and and

just flipped over the fence post had

caught her ear and I I saw her bleeding

I remember um waking up screaming the

driver's name and then um then I

remember sort of flipping over a couple

times couldn't get out my side I had to

jump over her get her out I had to take

my shirt off and wrap my my shirt around

her head to stop the bleeding L I had

the next thing I remember was being you

know upside down inside the car so I'm

laying on the roof of the car called the

paramedics it took them about a half

hour to get there and I just remember

just watching the blood soak through my

t-shirt as it was wrapped around the

girl's head luckily everyone who was in

the car there were four of us um were

okay my passenger had gotten had to have

plastic surger on her ear to repair what

the fence post had done to her I had for

some period of time a little bit of fear

of being in you know the back seat while

someone else was was driving um I also

would not be able to fall asleep in a

car anymore I I was annoy so annoyed

with it I up shaving my head after the

whole accident was over I was so annoyed

and terrified there there was more glass

around it was one of those things I was

really really afraid of the driver of

the car you know tried all those things

to stay awake he you know told me later

he turned up the music and had roll down

the window people tell you to you know

roll down your window crank up your

music to stay awake if you're tired but

that's only really a temporary thing the

answer should have been to have somebody

else drive or to you know just pull the

car over and sleep or something like

that but you we wanted to get back so

the tired feeling will still overcome

you in the end and you will eventually

something could happen something bad

could happen and so when I'm tired I

either pull off to the road take a nap

or I just don't drive at all to avoid

accidents like that you should plan

regular breaks when taking long trips

and if you do become tired you should

pull over to a safe area and rest your

eyes please don't try to drive if you're

knowingly tired now as A Brief Review

let's go over some guidelines that you

should follow when driving on an

expressway you should always try to

maintain a following distance of at

least 4 seconds so that you can steer

and break out of potential problems

carefully use minimal steering input

excessive or abrupt steering can lead to

total loss of control of your

vehicle when changing lanes move only

one lane at a time moving through

multiple Lanes in a hurry greatly

increases your chance of causing an

accident if it's safe to do so be

courteous and move over a lane in order

to allow drivers entering the expressway

to merge easily you want to keep up with

the flow of traffic on expressways if

traffic is moving at 70 mph driving at

50 mph is not safe and could cause

serious accidents but what about keeping

up with traffic that's traveling faster

than the speed limit I know just the guy

to ask that question is very easily

answered should I keep up with the flow

of traffic even though they're exceeding

the speed limit very simple the answer

to that is no the speed limit is a speed

limit if it's 55 miles an hour it's 55

miles an hour not 60 if it's 70 it's 70

not 85 the problem is people will be

picked out of group of cars they'll be

stopped and they'll be issued a summons

uh for speeding and of course the

response is why did you pick me

everybody else was I was going with the

flow of traffic everybody else was

driving fast well the fact of the matter

is we can only stop one car at a time

and it would just happen to be your turn

so no the speed limit is a speed limit

if it's 55 it's not 56 it's not 57 it's

55 miles an hour well there you have it

so do either of you have any thoughts

about the driving you've done today well

merging is definitely a challenge at

first it's intimidating pulling onto the

ramp and seeing those cars go so fast

not that I didn't pay attention on the

residential roads but driving on the

expressway really helped me better

understand the importance of managing

space in the end it's just driving but

you still can't lose focus for even a

second or you're in trouble Adam didn't

do so bad as a parent you want to talk

your student through the merge until

they're comfortable and doing it on

their own but you've got to practice and

it'll take some time to get used to

those high speeds and I'll try not to

use that Mom break anymore but it might

be a little bit difficult it sounds like

Adam's getting the hang of driving on

the expressway and you will too as long

as you practice on a regular basis the

high speeds of expressways can be a

little intimidating at first but all the

rules you've learned throughout still

apply