Most Common Questions
This is a dirty secret that has its roots in anxiety. The difference here is that the anxiety is specific only to the highway. Try this: Drive by the service or access road as many times as you are comfortable with. Carefully watch the people who are entering. Most of the time they do not stop, in fact most drivers enter on acceleration, not braking. That is a better approach because it prevents bottleneck for traffic on the highway. Merging traffic does not have right of way, so be prepared to stop if necessary.
Notice the length of the on ramp. Use it to adjust your entry speed, but avoid entering too early because you risk getting rear ended or angering other drivers. Also, your spacing between vehicles as you enter is really important in order to stop safely on the ramp when necessary.
Driving on the highway is easy compared to the merge. The greatest risk is being rear-ended by a driver looking left for too long instead of watching the vehicle just ahead while merging. When it's all said and done, merging on to the highway is no different than changing lanes in normal traffic.
The highway system is designed so that the lower even route numbers start south in the country, going east to west. The odd route numbers, like I-95 are North/South directions only. If you encounter a route number such as 495, then it is likely that this mixed route will merge or cross at some point, based on your direction of travel.
Bridge anxiety is not the subject on this page, but I do realize that is the reason for reading this. It may help to think of bridges as the normal grounded roadway. With this approach accessing the bridge can be a normal interchange approach just like any multilane intersection.
It will be to your advantage to seek out the inner lane - close to the divider, this way your view over the side is limited and interference from merging traffic is less. As you drive, look ahead toward the end of the bridge, this will reduce any previous anxiety.
Be aware that you may have to change lanes in order to access your desired route. However, avoid lane changes while you are on the bridge.
Changing lanes should be done before or after traversing the bridge where directional signs will route you to your destination. Be patient
When driving next to a semi tractor trailer, keep in mind that they were professionally trained. A truck driver's responsibility is to the cargo and safety. They are not interested in aggressive driving habits. So don't be afraid of the larger trucks.
Without any doubt, truck drivers are the safest and most considerate drivers on the road. They are also the most experienced, since they already possess another class of license. So relax and keep only the next few warnings in mind: Just like your car or SUV, trucks have blind spots, but much larger so.
Therefore, avoid driving between the front wheels of the tractor and the rear wheels of the trailer - as seen here. Just like a school bus, there is a large blind spot around the front. You may need to be over twenty feet ahead of the tractor for the driver to see your vehicle. So, do not cut them off when changing lanes.
A truck driver rarely makes a mistake, but when cut off they are trying to avoid hurting you. So, stay safe by being curteous.
Think of it that way and you will be prepared. Most of the time when you see a vehicle broken down on the side of the road it's the result of poor maintenance. Yes, the flat tire issue which comes next is understood.
