Page 41 - Georgia Department of Driver Services Drivers Manual
P. 41

SECTION     8  : SAFETY GUIDELINES


          Move a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning    •  Chassis (frame) design;   Use of Lanes on Expressways
        to fresh air, contact emergency medical services,       •  Type of brakes, condition, and balance of  Drivers operating vehicles on divided high-
        and give artificial respiration if it is necessary     brakes;       ways must drive to the right of the median un-
        and you are trained to do so.                                        less directed to do otherwise by a sign, traffic
                                             •  Wind direction and velocity.   control   device, or police officer. Drivers must




        Steering Locks                      Speed is a leading fact  or in serious injury and     obey   the yellow or white striping on the roadway
                                          death as a result of traffic crashes. The greater     that indicates lanes, the convergence of lanes,
          Steering locks are anti-theft devices found in    the speed, the greater the force of impact. The     or areas in which vehicles should not operate.
        most cars manufactured since 1969.     illust  ration below conveys the relative force of     Drivers may only access or exit controlled-access
          Steering locks can cause dangerous situations    impact when you strike a fixed object.   roadways at designated entrances and exits.
        for drivers who are not familiar with their opera-                   Gores
        tion. If a vehicle’s ignition is placed in the lock
        position while the vehicle is in motion, the steer-                   The term “gore” means the area of conver-
        ing capability of the vehicle will be disabled, and                  gence between two lanes of traffic. The gore is
        the driver will be unable to steer the vehicle.                      the area, usually similar to a triangle, formed
          Further information concerning steering                            by solid white lines between an existing lane of
        locks is available from the Automobile Safety                        travel and a merging lane of travel. Gores are
        Foundation at   www.carsafe.org.                                     most often seen at the convergence of an ac-
                                                                             celeration lane and the adjacent travel lane on



                                                                               a controlled access highway. The gore is the area

        Following Too Closely                                                bounded by solid white lines between the ac-
                                                                             celeration lane and the adjacent travel lane.
          A rear-end crash is caused by following an-                        Drivers entering the controlled access highway
        other vehicle too closely. When fol  lowing an-                      are prohibited by law from crossing this solid
        other vehicle on any street or highway, there                        white line, and are required to continue travel-
        must be enough distance for you to safely stop                       ing in the acceleration lane until the solid white
        if the vehicle in front of you suddenly slows                        line disappears.
        down or stops. One way to determine if there is
        enough distance between your vehicle and the
        vehicle in front of you is to measure the amount     Expressway Driving
        of time between when the vehicle in front of
        you passes a reference point and when your     An expressway differs from normal roads
        vehicle passes the same reference point. Watch     or highways in that access to it is controlled.
        the car ahead of you. When it passes a reference     Vehicles can only enter and exit the expressway   HOV Lanes
        point, such as a telephone pole or street sign,     at specific places known as interchanges. Most   High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are
        count “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two.”     expressways in Georgia are free, but there   are   travel lanes that are restricted to vehicles with
        If you pass the same spot before you are through       a few that require a toll.   more than one occupant, buses, motorcycles, and
        counting, you are following too closely. During     With the exception of the controlled enter/   vehicles with Alternative Fuel Vehicle license
        inclement weather, during construction, during     exit points and HOV lanes, expressways are   plates. The lanes are marked with a diamond
        heavy traffic, and always at night, the distance     similar to traveling on a divided highway. There   symbol and the hours of restriction are posted.
        between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of     is a median separating traffic traveling in op-  The penalty for violating HOV lane restrict  ions is
        you should be even greater.                                          a fine up to $75 for a first offense; up to

                                                                                                        $100 for a
                                          posite directions; lanes are marked with dashed
                                          lines, and the edge of the roadway is marked   second offense; up to $150 for a third offense; and
        Speed and Stopping Distance       with a solid line; slower traffic should keep to   up to $150 plus one point added to the violator’s
                                          the right; and all traffic laws and guidelines   driving record for a fourth or subsequent offense.
          The distance it takes to stop your vehicle is    associated with safe driving still apply.
        important in determining a safe driving speed.
        The chart below may be used as a guide, but    Entering Expressways
        actual stopping distance can depend on the     The entrance ramp is a short one-way road
        following factors in addition to vehicle speed:   that leads to the expressway. From the entrance
                                          ramp, you should move into the acceleration
                                          lane. This is the lane that runs alongside the
                                          main roadway. In the acceleration lane, you
                                          can adjust your speed to the speed of the ex-
                                          pressway traffic. When   safe to do so, you should
                                          merge into traffic. Vehicles on the expressway   HOV LANES
                                          have the right of way, but courteous drivers will     Double White Lines (No Entry)
                                          permit you to move into the expressway traffic.   Dashed White Line (You May Enter)
                                          Exiting Expressways
                                            Prepare to exit a controlled access highway   HOT Lanes
                                          by safely moving to the right lane for an exit on
                                          the right, or the left lane for an exit on the left.   High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes are I-85




                                          Guide signs will tell you of the approachi  ng exit.     Express   Lanes that allow registered transit, three
                                          At the exit, deceleration lanes are provided for   or more person carpool, motorcycles, emergency
                                          slowing down when leaving the expressway.   vehicles, and Alternative Fuel Vehicles to use the

                                          Posted exit speeds are usually low due to the   lanes toll-free.
           •  Mental and physical reaction of the driver;   design of the roadway. Drivers should use either   Tips For Expressway Driving
                                          brake lights or a turn signal to indicate a change
           •  Type and condition of the pavement;

                                          in speed to the drivers behind if slowing down    •  Plan your trip carefully. Mark the map to

           •  Kind of tires and tread composition;   in the traveling lane when preparing to exit.   indicate all entrances, service areas, and exits
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