Roadwise States Illinois Driving lessons Expressways, night driving and rural roads Illinois driving lesson · Safe Driving Tips
Expressways, night driving and rural roads A 3-minute lesson from the Illinois course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Safe Driving Tips
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 89, 90 Expressways are fast and busy, so merging, lane choice and exits need planning. At night your vision shrinks to your headlights, and glare can blind you. Rural roads bring hidden intersections and sharp curves.
Know the rule
Expressways, interstates, toll roads, turnpikes and freeways are fast, multi-lane roads with maximum limits of 55, 65 or 70 mph.
Handbook p. 89 ↗ Know the rule
Entering an expressway, use the speed-change lane to build speed. Signal, look for an opening, match the speed of traffic, and merge when it's safe.
Handbook p. 89 ↗ Merging from the speed-change lane On the expressway: Check mirrors and use turn signals when changing lanes Don't follow too closely Right lane is for slower traffic; left lane for faster traffic and passing Don't drive continuously in the left lane Never stop on the expressway; pull off, lift the hood and turn on hazard flashers Never walk along an expressway Handbook p. 89 ↗ Exits and lane reductions: Exits may be on the right or left; get in the correct lane and signal Slow down for the exit in the speed-change lane Missed your exit? Go to the next one. Backing up on an expressway is illegal Lane closed ahead: merge early if traffic is light; in dense, slow traffic, zipper merge Handbook p. 89 ↗ Know the rule
Never overdrive your headlights. Keep them clean and properly aimed, and use them from sunset to sunrise.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Night driving: Dim the dashboard lights and avoid other interior lights Use the sun visor against glare Use edge lines and center lines as guides Don't stop on the roadway; if you must, a red warning light is recommended Handbook p. 90 ↗ Know the rule
Rural intersections may or may not have signs, and other drivers can be hard to see. Slow down and look both ways before entering any rural intersection.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Know the rule
Slow down before a curve. Don't brake suddenly, which can cause skidding or locked wheels, and never cross the center line.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Know the rule
If a vehicle is coming head-on in your lane, slow down, pull to the right, and sound your horn.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Put it into practice
You miss your exit on the interstate. Don't stop or back up on the shoulder. Continue to the next exit and turn around there.
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.
How far before meeting an oncoming vehicle must you dim your high beams? 1,000 feet 500 feet 300 feet 100 feet Answer: 500 feet
High beams must be dimmed 500 feet before meeting an oncoming vehicle.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ If you miss your expressway exit, what should you do? Make a U-turn on the shoulder Continue to the next available exit Back up carefully to the missed exit Stop and wait for a gap to reverse Answer: Continue to the next available exit
Backing up on an expressway is illegal; continue to the next exit.
Handbook p. 89 ↗ The right lane on an expressway is for slower traffic; you should not drive continuously in the left lane. True False Answer: True
The right lane is for slower traffic; avoid lingering in the left lane.
Handbook p. 89 ↗ What should you do when entering an expressway from a speed-change lane? Match traffic speed and merge when safe Stop and wait for a large gap Merge at once without checking mirrors Enter slowly regardless of traffic Answer: Match traffic speed and merge when safe
Use the speed-change lane to match traffic speed before merging.
Handbook p. 89 ↗ How far before passing a vehicle ahead of you at night must you dim your high beams? 300 feet 500 feet 100 feet 1,000 feet Answer: 300 feet
Dim high beams 300 feet before passing a vehicle you're overtaking.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ What does it mean to 'not overdrive your headlights'? Being able to stop within the distance you can see Using high beams whenever possible Using headlights only after dark Keeping below 45 mph at night Answer: Being able to stop within the distance you can see
Do not overdrive your headlights: stay within the limits of your vision in case you must stop suddenly.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Previous lesson Driving in fog, rain, wind and winter Next lesson Skids, fire, water and other emergencies More in Safe Driving Tips About the source Roadwise’s Illinois course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 89, 90. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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