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Colorado driving lesson · Weather & Special Conditions

Mountain & rural driving

A 3-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Weather & Special Conditions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
20

Colorado's mountain roads bring steep grades, sudden weather, wildlife and rocks. Rural highways, with their curves and narrow lanes, have the highest fatality rate per mile of any U.S. roads.

Know the rule

Shift to lower gears to control your speed going down steep hills or mountains.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

It's illegal to use the oncoming lane to pass when approaching a hill crest, a curve, or anywhere your view of oncoming traffic is blocked.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

If your vehicle struggles up steep roads, pull off at the first safe place or stay in the right lane so others can pass.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

On mountain roads, vehicles going uphill have the right-of-way over vehicles going downhill.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

Be ready for intersections hidden by trees, brush or crops and for animals on or near the road.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Rural road hazards:

  • Sharp and blind curves, steep hills and dips
  • Few or hidden guide signs
  • Narrow roads that make passing hard
  • No shoulders or no guard rails
  • Blind driveways, T-intersections and hidden side streets
  • Rocks, debris, animals, farm vehicles and unmarked railroad crossings
  • Rough pavement, or unpaved dirt or gravel roads with less traction
Handbook p. 20 ↗

Washboarding

A series of potholes, often found on gravel roads, that can affect steering and vehicle control.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

Many bicyclist deaths happen on rural roads because of higher speeds. Watch for bicyclists on the shoulder, or in the lane if there's no usable shoulder.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

When passing bicyclists on rural roads, slow down and give more than the required three feet because wind blasts can pull them into vehicles.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Put it into practice

Climbing a narrow mountain pass, your car is slowing and a line forms behind you. Pull off at the first safe turnout, or keep right so the traffic can pass.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

On a mountain road, where is it illegal to pass using the oncoming lane?
  1. Approaching a hill crest or blind curve
  2. Only on gravel sections
  3. Only when other vehicles are also passing
  4. On any downhill grade

Answer: Approaching a hill crest or blind curve

It is illegal to use the oncoming lane to pass when approaching a hill crest, curve, or other spot where visibility is obstructed.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
On mountain roads, which vehicles generally have the right-of-way?
  1. Vehicles going downhill
  2. The larger vehicle
  3. Vehicles going uphill
  4. Whichever vehicle arrives first

Answer: Vehicles going uphill

Vehicles going uphill have the right-of-way over vehicles going downhill on mountain roads.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
According to the handbook, rural highways in the U.S. have what distinction?
  1. The most traffic signals per mile
  2. The lowest crash rate of any road type
  3. The highest fatality rate per mile
  4. The most traffic congestion

Answer: The highest fatality rate per mile

Rural highways are described as the most dangerous roads, with the highest fatality rate per mile driven.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
What is 'washboarding' on a gravel road?
  1. A series of potholes that can affect steering and vehicle control
  2. A term for a paved shoulder
  3. A type of guardrail
  4. A special road marking

Answer: A series of potholes that can affect steering and vehicle control

Washboarding refers to a series of potholes commonly found on gravel roads that can affect steering.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
If your vehicle has difficulty climbing a steep roadway, what should you do?
  1. Turn around immediately, even mid-hill
  2. Stop in your lane until the vehicle cools down
  3. Pull off when safe or stay right to let others pass
  4. Accelerate harder regardless of traffic behind you

Answer: Pull off when safe or stay right to let others pass

If your vehicle struggles to climb a steep road, pull off at the first safe spot or stay right to let faster vehicles pass.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
Which of these is a hazard specifically associated with rural roads, according to the handbook?
  1. Frequent roundabouts
  2. Wide, multi-lane intersections
  3. Frequent traffic signals
  4. Roads with no shoulders

Answer: Roads with no shoulders

Rural roads often have no shoulders, which is listed as one of several hazards specific to rural driving.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
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