Interstate driving — North Carolina Permit Test

Interstates are safer because they separate opposing traffic, have fewer entry and exit points, and have no railroad crossings, sharp curves, stop signs or traffic signals.

Most crashes come from traffic crossing or meeting. An interstate removes both, which is why its high speeds are survivable.

Interstate highways are safer roads because they have separate traffic lanes for vehicles moving in opposite directions and fewer places where traffic can enter and exit.

When entering an interstate, use the acceleration lane to bring your speed up to match the other traffic, then merge safely.

Merging at 40 into traffic doing 70 forces the car behind to brake hard. The ramp is there to get you up to speed first.

When entering the interstate, use the acceleration lane until your vehicle’s speed matches that of the other traffic and then merge safely;

On an interstate, keep to the right and use the left lanes for passing; do not tailgate, because the rear-end crash is one of the most frequent on an interstate.

Keeping right leaves the left open for whoever is faster. A car camped in the left lane makes everyone pass on the wrong side.

Keep to the right, use the left lane(s) for passing;

Stop at rest areas frequently on an interstate, preferably at least once every 100 miles, and never stop in the travel lane.

Interstate driving is monotonous, and monotony is what puts drivers to sleep. Regular stops break it up.

Stop at indicated rest areas frequently, preferably at least once every 100 miles;

If a breakdown forces you to stop on an interstate, move far off the road, tie a white cloth to the radio aerial or left door handle, raise the hood, and at night turn on the flashers or parking lights.

A raised hood and a white cloth are the signals patrols look for. They say “broken down, needs help” from a long way off.

If a vehicle breakdown forces you to stop, move far off the road. Tie a white cloth on the radio aerial or left-door handle and raise the hood.

When leaving an interstate, signal well in advance and, without slowing down, enter the deceleration lane, then proceed at the posted exit speed.

Slowing in the travel lane puts a slow car in front of fast ones. The exit lane is where the slowing belongs.

When leaving the highway, signal your turn well in advance, and without slowing down, enter the deceleration lane. Proceed at the posted exit speed limit.

Traffic moves much faster on an interstate, and it is dangerous to drive very far below the posted limit; follow the flow of traffic if you can do so without speeding.

On an interstate the danger is the difference in speed, not the speed itself. The car going 45 in a stream doing 70 is the hazard.

It is dangerous to drive very far below the posted speed limit. Follow the flow of traffic if you can do so without speeding.

If you enter an interstate headed the wrong way, pull over to the right shoulder and stop, then turn around when the way is clear; watch for DO NOT ENTER signs to avoid the error.

Every second going the wrong way is a second toward a head-on crash. The shoulder is the only safe place to fix it.

If you enter an interstate headed in the wrong direction, pull over to the right shoulder of the road and stop. When the way is clear, turn around and head in the proper direction.

If you miss an exit, do not slow down, back up or try to turn around; go on to the next exit and leave the highway there.

Backing up on an interstate puts a stopped car in front of traffic doing 70. The next exit is a few miles; the crash is forever.

If you miss an exit, do not slow down, back up or try to turn around. Proceed to the next exit and leave the highway there instead.

Before an interstate trip, plan the route, check the vehicle’s water, oil, tires and gas, and decide in advance where you will enter and exit.

A driver who knows the exit is not reading signs at the last second. The decision made at home is the lane change made calmly.

Decide in advance where you must enter and exit the highway;

Why are interstate highways safer than other roads?

Opposing traffic is separated and there are fewer entry points. Most crashes come from traffic crossing or meeting. An interstate removes both, which is why its high speeds are survivable. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.64: “Interstate highways are safer roads because they have separate traffic lanes for vehicles moving in opposite directions and fewer places where traffic can enter and exit.”