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RoadSmart Report | April, 2003
Practise safe freeway driving
The term "freeway" is not used very often, but most
Saskatchewan residents have driven on one – sometimes even
daily.
A freeway is a multi-lane, divided highway with restricted access.
Parts of the Trans-Canada Highway, Regina’s Ring Road and
Saskatoon’s Circle Drive are freeways.
"In addition to the province’s busiest highway, there
are freeways in Saskatchewan’s two biggest cities," says
Garry Davis, SGI’s Supervisor of Driver Safety
Services. "With the high usage, it’s important for drivers
to possess the proper skills for safe freeway driving."
Entering a freeway
The key to entering a freeway is to increase your speed in the acceleration
lane until it matches the speed of the vehicles already on the freeway.
You also need to plan your merge. While on the entrance ramp, look
at the freeway traffic and determine the spot where you want to
merge. Build up your speed on the entrance ramp, while continuing
to check the spot where you want to merge. Then signal, make your
final shoulder check and accelerate into the freeway lane.
"Merging at less than freeway speeds can be dangerous,"
warns Davis. "If a driver coming behind in the lane you just
merged into is going freeway speed and you aren’t, it could
lead to a serious rear-end collision."
While on the freeway
Once you have successfully merged onto the freeway, it’s important
to provide a safe merge for other vehicles entering from access
ramps. You can do this by either moving left to free the right lane
or by adjusting your speed.
You should drive in the right lane, or perhaps the centre lane
if there are three lanes. The left lane is for passing or may be
used by faster vehicles when the traffic is dense.
While on the freeway, maintain a three-second following distance
and keep at least two "gates" open at all times. Gates
are the spaces around your car – in front, behind and on either
side. Keep in mind that in poor weather conditions, you may need
to increase your following distance.
Leaving a freeway
When leaving the freeway, signal your intention and move into the
deceleration lane. Slow down in the deceleration lane, not on the
highway. Some deceleration lanes are shorter than others, so watch
your speed. When exiting a freeway, you are likely to underestimate
your speed when you slow down.
If you miss an exit, keep going.
"Never stop on the freeway, and never back up on the freeway,"
warns Davis. "Keep driving to the next interchange and then
go back to the correct exit."
Emergencies on the freeway
If your vehicle starts to give you trouble, check your mirrors,
signal, shoulder check and pull over to the nearest shoulder as
quickly and as safely as possible. Put on your emergency flashers
and stop as far right on the shoulder as possible.
"You should never stop your vehicle in one of the driving
lanes on the freeway," says Davis. "Don’t wait for
your car to stall. At the first sign of trouble, pull over safely.
If traffic is heavy, you may want to exit your vehicle from the
door away from the traffic. Turn on your four-way flashers or raise
your hood to alert other motorists you need assistance."
If possible, you should stay with your car. If you must cross
the freeway on foot, use extreme caution.
Davis also notes that in some cities you may encounter roadways
that have both the characteristics of a freeway and of a normal
street, so you should be alert for unexpected traffic patterns.
Contact: Garry Davis
Supervisor, Driver Safety Services
SGI
Moose Jaw
(306) 691-4565
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