TRAFFIC AND ROADWAY FUNDAMENTALS
Some things will never change. Red means stop and green means go. But it is important to familiarize
yourself with all signs and types of roadways.
There are many different types of roads. For this course we are using these three types/terms.
STREETS, ROADWAYS, HIGHWAYS
STREET
A street is a local neighborhood/
residential road. These are typically
located in urban/suburban areas and
usually have two lanes, may or may not
have center or side lane markings, could
be one way only.
ROADWAY
A roadway is a road or boulevard.
These are typically two- to four-lane
roads, with intersections that have
stop signs and/or traffic signals. These
roadways may have exclusive turn lanes
at selected intersections. They may
be median-divided or have no median
present.
HIGHWAY
A highway is an interstate road or
expressway: These are typically high
speed, with limited entry or exit points,
high-speed on/off ramps, multi-lane
and median-divided, and no or limited
traffic signals. A highway may be
divided or undivided ranging from four
to six lanes or more and can be found
in rural, suburban, or urban areas. A
median may be present to separate
opposing traffic flow, providing for a
safer driving condition.
www.aarp.org/drive Smart Driver Participant Guidebook 43
ARE WE READY TO DRIVE?
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