How to Navigate Interstates & Freeways | New Driver Smart
Summary
TLDRIn this informative video, Rick from Smart Drive Test educates new drivers on navigating freeways, interstates, and limited access highways. He explains the systematic organization of the U.S. interstate system, emphasizing the importance of understanding mile markers and exit numbers for effective route planning. Rick also shares practical tips on defensive driving, lane changes, and using tools like Google Maps for a safer and less stressful driving experience.
Takeaways
- 🚦 Freeways, interstates, and limited access highways are designed for high-speed traffic traveling in the same direction with no intersections.
- 📍 Overhead signs are common on these roads for easy reading at high speeds, and the exits are specifically marked for entry and exit points.
- 🔢 The U.S. interstate system is organized with odd-numbered routes running north-south and even-numbered routes running east-west, with numbers increasing as you move west to east and south to north.
- 🛣️ Mile markers are crucial for navigation on interstates and freeways, often doubling as exit numbers, and they increase sequentially from south to north and west to east.
- 🔄 Three-digit interstate numbers indicate different types of roads: ring roads or circumferential roads if even, and spur roads if odd.
- 🚗 Route planning is essential before setting out on a trip, including noting mile markers and exit numbers to avoid confusion and ensure a smooth journey.
- 📝 It's recommended to write down or memorize key information from route planning, rather than solely relying on GPS, to enhance situational awareness while driving.
- 🛑 Defensive driving is important on freeways, including being aware of your lane positioning and making smooth, non-aggressive lane changes.
- 🔄 Junctions between different interstates or freeways are common and knowing the exit numbers for these can help in navigating complex highway systems.
- ⏱ Timing your trip to avoid peak traffic hours can significantly affect travel time, and planning breaks can make long drives more manageable.
- 🔄 Google Maps and similar tools can provide detailed route planning, including construction zones and estimated travel times, which should be considered during route planning.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video script?
-The main topic of the video script is how to navigate freeways, interstates, and limited access highways, with a focus on the United States interstate system.
Why is it important to understand the difference between freeways and limited access highways?
-It is important to understand the difference because freeways and limited access highways have distinct characteristics such as traffic flow direction, speed, and the presence of intersections, which impact how you navigate them.
What is a common mistake that new drivers make when navigating freeways?
-A common mistake is missing the correct exit or interchange, as illustrated in the story about the truck driver who ended up going west on State road 17 instead of continuing south on Interstate 81.
How are signs typically displayed on freeways and interstates?
-Signs on freeways and interstates are usually displayed overhead, making them easier to read while traveling at high speeds.
What are the characteristics of a freeway according to the script?
-Freeways have traffic traveling in the same direction at high speeds, overpasses for traffic movement, limited access points, and no intersections.
What is the significance of odd and even numbered interstates in the United States?
-In the United States, odd-numbered interstates run north-south, while even-numbered interstates run east-west.
Why are mile markers important for navigating along interstates and freeways?
-Mile markers are important because they help drivers know exactly where they are on the highway and provide a precise location for exits, aiding in both route planning and defensive driving.
What does the numbering system of three-digit interstates indicate?
-Three-digit interstate numbers indicate different types of roads: even numbers suggest ring or circumferential roads, while odd numbers indicate spur roads that connect to or terminate at the main interstate.
How can drivers prepare for their trip on the interstates or freeways?
-Drivers can prepare by doing route planning, studying Google maps or GPS, writing down exit numbers, and familiarizing themselves with the characteristics of the roads they will travel.
What is the advice given for drivers approaching junctions on the interstates?
-Drivers should pay attention to the overhead signs indicating the correct lane to be in and move into that lane as soon as possible to avoid missing their desired exit or junction.
Why is it recommended to note the mile marker numbers at junctions?
-Noting the mile marker numbers at junctions helps drivers to be aware of upcoming transitions between different interstates or freeways and to stay on the correct path.
What is the role of exit numbers in relation to mile markers?
-Exit numbers are the same as mile marker numbers and are used to identify specific exits along the interstate, which is crucial for navigation.
What is the recommended approach for drivers who want to avoid traffic during their trip?
-Drivers should consider the timing of their departure to avoid peak traffic hours and plan their route to account for potential delays due to construction or other factors.
How can drivers ensure they are on the correct lane for their exit?
-Drivers should look for and follow the overhead signs with arrows that indicate the correct lane for their upcoming exit, moving into that lane as soon as it is safe to do so.
Outlines
🚦 Navigating Freeways and the Importance of Interstate Systems
In this paragraph, Rick from Smart Drive Test addresses the topic of navigating freeways, interstates, and limited access highways, highlighting the challenges faced by new drivers. He shares an anecdote about a truck driver who mistakenly took a wrong turn at a junction in Binghamton, NY, emphasizing the need for clear navigation. Rick explains that interstates in the U.S. are well-organized for high-speed travel, with overhead signs and specific on and off-ramps. He also touches on the historical perspective of how highways evolved to accommodate the increasing number of motor vehicles.
🗺 Understanding Freeway Characteristics and the Interstate Numbering System
This paragraph delves into the characteristics of limited access highways and freeways, including the absence of intersections and the presence of overpasses and ramps. Rick clarifies the difference between a freeway and a limited access highway and discusses the significance of mile markers in navigation. He explains the systematic organization of the U.S. interstate system, where odd-numbered interstates run north-south and even-numbered ones run east-west, with numbers increasing as you move west to east and south to north. Rick also describes the meaning behind three-digit interstate numbers, which can indicate ring roads, spur roads, or circumferential roads.
🛣️ Route Planning and the Role of Mile Markers in Freeway Navigation
Rick discusses the importance of route planning and the use of mile markers in navigating freeways effectively. He stresses the value of understanding exit numbers, which correspond to mile markers, and how they can aid in both route planning and defensive driving. The paragraph also covers the process of using Google Maps for route planning, demonstrating how to identify construction zones and plan stops, such as in Effingham, IN, for a trip from St. Louis, MO, to Indianapolis, IN. Rick advises on timing travel to avoid traffic and the importance of being aware of junctions and lane changes required by overhead signs.
📍 Final Tips on Freeway Navigation and Encouragement for New Drivers
In the concluding paragraph, Rick provides a quick review of the key points for navigating along freeways, interstates, and limited access highways. He reiterates the importance of route planning, using mile markers, and defensive driving practices. Rick also encourages new drivers to share their tips for navigating freeways and to make use of resources like Google Maps and GPS for a smoother driving experience. He ends with a humorous note and an invitation for viewers to engage with the content by sharing, subscribing, and commenting.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Freeways
💡Interstates
💡Limited Access Highways
💡Mile Markers
💡Route Planning
💡Navigation
💡Overhead Signs
💡On-Ramp and Off-Ramp
💡Defensive Driving
💡Junctions
💡Construction Zones
Highlights
Navigating freeways, interstates, and limited access highways is essential for new drivers, especially in the United States.
Freeways are well-organized for high-speed travel with specific entry and exit points, unlike roads with intersections.
Overhead signs are prevalent on freeways for easier readability at high speeds.
Freeway characteristics include high-speed traffic flow, overpasses, and no intersections.
Interstate numbering in the U.S. follows a systematic pattern with odd numbers for north-south routes and even for east-west routes.
Mile markers on U.S. interstates start in the south and increase northward, aiding in navigation.
Three-digit interstate numbers indicate ring roads, spur roads, or circumferential roads around urban centers.
Exit numbers on freeways correspond to mile markers, providing a crucial tool for drivers.
Route planning and navigation are two key components of successful freeway driving.
Using tools like Google Maps for route planning is recommended, but drivers should also memorize key information.
Mile markers help in defensive driving by providing awareness of the distance to the intended exit.
Freeway junctions where one interstate intersects with another require attention to mile marker numbers.
Lane discipline on freeways is crucial for safe navigation, with signs indicating the required lane for upcoming exits.
Route planning can incorporate breaks and stops at strategic locations like truck stops or restaurants.
Timing your departure can help avoid traffic congestion in major cities along your route.
GPS and Google Maps are helpful, but drivers should not solely rely on them and should be prepared with a route plan.
Freeway navigation requires awareness of the specific interstate characteristics in the U.S., such as the systematic numbering.
Aggressive lane changes should be avoided on freeways for safety reasons.
The importance of getting into the correct lane as indicated by freeway signs to ensure the right exit or transition.
A final reminder to do route planning to enhance the driving experience and avoid unnecessary detours.
Transcripts
Hi there smart drivers, Rick with Smart Drive Test
talking to you today about how to
navigate freeways, interstates and
limited access highways. I had a comment
from Tuffyute Productions, and he wanted a
bit more information about how to
navigate along a freeway. He had just
recently gotten his license and wanted a
bit more information about that. Little
doubt that some of you are having some
challenges with that. When I first became a
trainer, I took a truck driver down
through New York State. We we're heading
into Pennsylvania and I crawled in the
bunk to get some sleep. I said to him,
"there's a big junction in Binghamton, NY
where it intersects with State road 17,
which runs east-west through New York
state. And it intersects with Interstate
81. And as many of you know, some of the
Interstates - the state roads will
continue along the Interstate - then you
get back off the Interstate and continue
along the state road. Well at that
Junction he had gone down there and
missed staying on Interstate 81 southl,
and ended up going west on 17, which was
completely the wrong direction that we
wanted to go. And I said to him - you're
going to need to get the truck turned
around and head back to the junction
because we've got to go down on I#81 south,
not on 17 west. So I'll give you a bit of
information today and you're going to
find out that, especially in the United
States on the Interstate systems, they're
incredibly well organized for travelers
traveling at high speed. So you can
navigate the interstates and freeways
and all this information applies to
Canada and Australia and other parts of
the world that have freeways. So stick
around, we'll be right back with that
information.
[OPENING CREDITS & MUSIC]
Hi there smart drivers, welcome back. Rick
with Smart Drive Test talking to you
today about how to navigate freeways,
limited access highways, and interstates.
Most of this is going to be about
interstates in the United States because
Tuffyute productions in the United States and he
wanted to know how to navigate
interstates in that country. Most limited
access highways and freeways all have
the same characteristics: traffic
traveling in the same direction at high
speeds. Most of the signs on freeways and interstates
will be overhead because
they're easier to read as you're moving
down the freeway at high rates of speed -
often in excess of a hundred kilometers
an hour or 60 miles per hour because signs
along the roadway are more difficult to
read than overhead signs. So most of the
signs are overhead. Traffic traveling in
the same direction - they have lots of
overpasses to facilitate movement of
traffic and there aren't any
intersections. If the multi-lane road
that you're on has intersections it's not a
freeway - it's a limited access highway.
There's only certain places that you can
get on and off the interstate or freeway. I
not learned that once in Ohio with the
truck trying to get back on the
interstate and realized that there's are
very specific places that you have to go
in order to get onto the freeway or
interstate. As well, there's deceleration and
acceleration lanes that run up beside
the lanes of traffic that allow you to
attain speed or too slow down. The off-ramp
or on-ramp is the part of the road that
transitions from the freeway out onto
the state or provincial road or other
secondary road that you're going to get
onto. So these are the characteristics of
freeways. And interesting enough, when
motor cars began to ply for road space
in the early 20th century, Punch magazine
in 1906 caricaturized, which means that
made a comic of, motor cars on roads all
by themselves. And at that time
people thought that was absurd!
But in this day and age,
this is what we have - we have highways
and freeways that only have cars on them.
And it's only for cars - you won't see
cyclists and pedestrians and slow moving
vehicles as well - that's another
characteristic. The United States
interstate system is systematic:
odd-numbered interstates run north-south
and even numbered interstates run
east-west. The numbers increase as you
move
west to east. So in the west - down the west
coast of the United States you have
interstate 5 and in the east you have
interstate 95, which runs north to south
along the east coast of the United
States - the eastern seaboard as it's
commonly referred to. And in the south
they run east-west. It starts with
interstate #8 is down there as well, but
interstate 10 is the one in the south
that runs all the way from west to east
or east to west whichever direction
you're going.
And in the north we have interstate 90
and interstate 94 - so they start in the
south and they increase in number as you
go north. And one of the reasons for this -
the other thing that coincides with the
numbering system of the United States' interstate
system is the mile markers. The mile
markers start in the south and
increase in numbers as you go north.
Cincinnati, Ohio, for example, the mile
marker start at 0 in Cincinnati and go
to #214 in Toledo, OH in the north.
Most United
States interstates are numbered with two
digit numbers and those are the main
arteries that run north-south east-west.
If it's a three digit number on the
interstate, it indicates that it is a
ring road around an urban center, it's a
spur road, or it's a circumferential
road, which means that it's a half loop.
So it starts at one side of the
interstate and connects back up with the
interstate. If it is an even three digit
number--so it starts with an even number
at the beginning, so 495, 475 for example--
it indicates that it is either a
ring road or circumferential road. If it
is an odd number at the beginning of the
three digit number, then it is a spur
road as 170 in St. Louis, Missouri. That
indicates that it's a spur road and it's
going to start and it's going to terminate.
Either at another road or it's going to
go into an urban center, for example. So
those are three digit numbers and they
indicate different types of interstates
and from that you can know that you may
end up in high-density traffic or
congestion - those types of things because
you're moving in and around urban
centers where there tends to be a lot
more traffic. So that's the way the United States
interstate system works. Now all
interstates and freeways all have exit
numbers and the exit numbers
are also the mile marker numbers as you
can see here in the image. And the mile
markers are probably the most important
tool that you have for navigating along
interstates and freeways. And in this day
and age of GPS (Global Positioning Satellites) and Google maps and all
of the other navigational tools that we
have, it is important that you get the
mile marker number for the exit where
you're going to get off the freeway.
I know that all these exits have names
and whatnot, but the names can be
confusing.
Navigating along a freeway is actually a
two-part piece: 1) the first part is route
planning and 2) the second part is
navigation. Navigation is the execution
of the route plan. And in this day and
age of Google maps and GPS and those
types of things, it's important that you
take a few minutes before you actually
set out on your trip and actually study
Google maps and write down the
information - don't just print it out
because if you just print it out, none of
that's going to go into your head. And
remember, you're trying to get all this
information when you're traveling down
the interstate 55 or 70 miles an hour. So
have a little bit of it in your head -
don't just rely on your GPS to tell you,
because you know, not all the time is GPS
correct. The most important tool that you
have in navigating along freeways and
interstates and limited access highways
are mile markers. And it's important that
you get the mile markers for the exit
that you're going to get off the
interstate with. Mile markers and exit
numbers are one and the same thing. Mile
markers on the interstate system in the
United States start in the south of the state and
then increase in numbers as you go north;
they also start at the west side of the
state and an increase in number as you
move east. So that's how the mile marker
numbers work. And again I said the exit
numbers are one in the same as the mile
markers so get your mile marker written
down - know which exit number you're
getting off the freeway with. And as
well, the mile markers are also a
defensive driving tool because they will
help you drive defensively. Because if
you're at exit number 365 or mile marker
exit 365, and you're getting off at 375,
you know that you've got 10 miles or 10
kilometers to go down the road before
you have to exit off the freeway. Now the
other piece about navigating along
freeways is that lots of times there's
junctions with one interstate to another
interstate or freeway with another
freeway. For example, the #403 in Ontario, Canada
intersects with the #401 and there's a
junction there. And you'll be able to get
the exit number of where those two
freeways intersect and know there's a
junction. As well, as you're traveling
down the interstate sometimes where you
exit to get off onto the other road that
you want to get onto is not always going
to be on the right.
Sometimes it's going to be on the left -
my left - your right. [CHUCKLING] So as you're going
down the interstate or the freeway, make
sure that you're under the arrow of
the overhead sign that tells you which
lane you need to move into. Get into that
Lane as soon as possible. That way you're
not going to end up off the freeway - off
somewhere where you don't want to go!
You're actually going to end up going
where you want to go! So get into the
lane as early as possible. That way you're
not going to end up lost. And what we're going to
do here is, I'm going to go to the
computer and go to Google maps and
I'm going to show you how to route plan
a route from point A to point B. That way
it's going to give you some information
about how to do that, and then the
execution of the route plan is actually
fairly straightforward. So let's head
over to the computer.
Hi there smart driver, at the computer here.
We're planning a trip from St. Louis
University in St. Louis, Missouri back to
our home in Indianapolis, Indiana. And the
address of our home is 1131 Shelby
Street. And the reason I am using that for
Indianapolis is I typed residential address
into Google and that's the address that
Google gave me - so if you live at 1131
Shelby Street, Google knows where you
live... [LAUGHING]
Big brother is watching! So we type this
into Google and we can see here there
are some yellow circles, with obviously
the "man feeding whale" sign here, which
would be AKA, the construction sign. If
we zoom in here a little bit we can mouse
over that and it will say construction
zone roadwork on I-70 east. And we zoom
in a little bit more, we can see it's at
approximately exit 62. So you know
that on your route as you move to east
from St. Louis to Indianapolis. And you
can see here that there are two or three
construction zones there. That will give
you information. As well, you can send the
"directions to your phone" - you can see
here on the left and you can see that
the distance is 244 miles from St. Louis University
to Indianapolis. And it's a time of
three hours and 41 minutes. And if you
click on details here, it will give you
the specific details of how to get there.
And it will give you the specific
details for each leg of the trip from
the University out onto the interstate
is three minutes; and from St. Louis to
Indianapolis on the interstate is three
hours 34 minutes; and we can see that
once we get off the interstate in
Indianapolis, it's six minutes to 1131
Shelby Street. Now we just have a quick
glance here at the route and we can see
that Effingham, IN is about half way. And we
don't feel like doing three hours and 41
minutes of driving in one shot - i mean we
could, but you might as well take a break.
And so we just zoom in on Effingham and
I like Effingham because it sounds
like you're cursing pork! [PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER] And if we just
look at the interstate here we can see
that there's a huge junction here. We
just follow up on the map - just zoom out
here a little bit and it intersects
with interstate 57 running north-south
because it's an odd-numbered interstate.
And I-70 runs east-west because it's an
even-numbered interstate. We can see we
have the Pilot Travel Center at exit #162.
And if we get off at exit #160, we can
go into the Flying J - both of those are
truck stops... You know, maybe you don't
want to go to the truck stop or
what not. You could also go to the Walmart, which is
there. You can also see--if you zoom in a
little bit more--
Buffalo Wild Wings, the Cracker Barrel
Old Country Store, and the Firefly Grill. All
of those are different places that you
could potentially stop, if you did stop
in Effingham. And this time that Google
gives you--three hours and 41 minutes is
obviously under ideal circumstances. If
you hit traffic or whatnot that time is going to be longer, so you want
to kind of time your route when you
leave because if you leave you know four
o'clock in the afternoon, you're either
going to be in traffic in St. Louis,
Missouri. Or say for example, you left at
noon and ended up in
Indianapolis four hours later--four o'clock... say
4:30, 5 clock. Again you're going to be in
traffic in Indianapolis. So you want to
sort of think about what time you going
to leave so you don't end up in traffic.
Now again, when you get into Indianapolis
you can see here and if you click down
here on the route here and go down to
what it is it says - take exit #79A. So
you're going to go across the state line
and once you go across the state line
you've got 79 miles from the state line
into Indiana. And you're looking for exit
79A. So 79 miles... that's going to take
you an hour and a half - almost 90 minutes
to drive that far, but that's the exit
that you're looking for and you can see
here that around Indianapolis is the
ring road I-465. And you know it's a ring
road because it's an even number three
digit. And
you just stay on Interstate 70 - take Exit #70A,
and you get off at that exit and then you
can follow the directions here at the
bottom--f you click on that--onto the
secondary roads that you will take to
get home to 1131 Shelby Street. So that's
an overview of Google Maps and how you
can use the information to move from
point A to point B. And again, as I said -
take note of the mile markers because
the mile markers and the exit numbers
are one in the same and that will help
you navigate from point A to point B on
the interstates. Just one last note
here: you can see that there are several
junctions here
interstate 70 intersects with
interstate 55 and with interstate 57. And
again, just take note of the mile marker
numbers at those junctions and when you
get there, just make sure that you stay
under the arrows that keep you on
Interstate 70 eastbound. And when you get
in those lanes, just get underneath the
sign with the arrow on it and you'll be
fine. You'll just stay on Interstate 70 and
continue east. Quick review of navigating
along freeways, interstates or limited
access highways. Route planning: take a
bit of time to work with your GPS or to
work with Google maps and write out some
of the information, especially the exit
numbers. That way, it's going to help you
to get off at the very specific exit
that you need to get off; or where the
junction is for the interstate to
transition into another interstate; or
get off onto the state road or
provincial road or wherever that is
that you're going. So mile markers are
your first and foremost tool. As well.
route planning, which is the preparation
before you actually get out and start
leaving - take a bit of time to do your
route planning. As well, if you do your
route planning--you don't just get off
the interstate or freeway somewhere to
take a break--you can actually get off and
take in some of the local attractions and
eat your lunch or your meal or whatever. So
take a bit of time and do your route
planning. Mile markers - mile markers are
also the exit numbers and they will help you
with defensive driving and it is
important that you do defensive
driving on freeways and not make
aggressive movements, especially in terms
of lane changes because that could
potentially get you into some trouble.
And as well, make sure that you get into
the lane that you need to be into as
soon as the signboards over top of the
freeway indicate that you need to get
into that lane. Because if you don't get
into that lane right away and get under
the arrow that tells you the information
that you need in order to make the
transition wherever that is that you're
going, you're gonna end up off the
freeway or interstate into someplace
that you really don't want to go. And
it's always kind of a hassle to get back
to where you want to go and you're going
to lose time and those types of things.
And yes, in this day and age the GPS is going
to reroute you, but it's still a pain. And
if you do a bit of work prior to
actually getting onto the freeway with
your Google maps or GPS or whatnot, it's
going to help you out and make your ride
less eventful, with less
adventures and excitement, and those types
of things. If you don't mind a bit of
excitement, you know, by all means you can
negate the route planning, but I do
suggest that you do route planning.
Certain characteristics in the United
States: odd-numbered interstates run
north-south, even-numbered interstates
run east-west, and three digit numbers
are going to be
ring roads, spur roads, circumferential roads...
there i said it perfectly that time. So
that's the interstate system in the
United States. Mile markers - route
planning, do all of that. Question for my
smart drivers: do you have any tips for
new drivers learning how to navigate
along freeways, interstates, or limited
access highways? Leave a comment down in
the comment section there. All that helps
out the new drivers learning how to
drive after getting their license.
I'm Rick with Smart Drive Test - thanks
very much for watching. If you like what
you see here share, subscribe, or leave a comment
down in the comment section. As well, hit
that thumbs up buton. Check out all the
videos here on the channel if you're
working towards getting your license or
starting your career as a truck or bus
driver - lots of great information here
and over my website. Head over there as
well for
more great information. Stick around to
the end of the video - funny bits and
links to the other videos andto my website.
Thanks again for watching. Good luck on
your road test. And remember, pick the
best answer not necessarily the right
answer.
Have a great day. Bye now.
It goes like this....
[WAVING ARM IN AIR FRANTICALLY IN A HALF LOOP] [LAUGHING]
I can't say it... circumference
circumferential circumferential
[CLOSING CREDITS & MUSIC]
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