Chapter 7 · Lesson 21 of 38
Interstate highways
3 min read · Safe Vehicle Operation
Explanation
- Entering: on the on-ramp, stay to the right and speed up in the acceleration lane, then merge when your path is clear. Drivers on the interstate should make room, but you must yield to vehicles already on the interstate.
- Missed exit: never back up. Drive to the next exit.
- Median crossovers: only emergency vehicles and highway maintenance vehicles may U-turn across the median.
- Shoulder: don’t stop or park there except for an emergency or a disabled vehicle.
- Trucks: restricted to the right lane where there are two lanes each way, and to the right two lanes where there are three or more.
Example
You’re about to pass your exit in heavy traffic. You stay in your lane, go to the next exit, and come back the other way — no backing up, no crossover.
Common mistake
Slowing to a crawl or stopping at the end of an on-ramp. Use the acceleration lane to match traffic speed, then merge into a gap.
What the manual says
When you enter an interstate on-ramp, stay to the right and increase your speed in the acceleration lane to allow your vehicle to merge with traffic when your path is clear. However, drivers entering an interstate must yield the right of way to vehicles on the interstate.
It is unsafe to back up on an interstate highway to reach a missed exit. If you miss an exit, you must drive to the next exit.
It is illegal for any vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle or a highway maintenance vehicle, to make a U-turn by crossing the median or crossover of an interstate highway.
Sources
- Manual p. 46
“When you enter an interstate on-ramp, stay to the right and increase your speed in the acceleration lane to allow your vehicle to merge with traffic when your path is clear.”
- Manual p. 46
“However, drivers entering an interstate must yield the right of way to vehicles on the interstate.”
- Manual p. 46
“It is unsafe to back up on an interstate highway to reach a missed exit. If you miss an exit, you must drive to the next exit.”
- Manual p. 46
“It is illegal for any vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle or a highway maintenance vehicle, to make a U-turn by crossing the median or crossover of an interstate highway.”
- Manual p. 46
“Except in the event of an emergency or a disabled vehicle, do not stop or park a vehicle on the shoulder of an interstate highway.”
- Manual p. 46
“Trucks are restricted to the right lane on sections of interstate with two lanes in one direction and restricted to the right two lanes of interstate with three lanes or more in one direction.”
Check your understanding
Question 1 of 3