Road Safety & Traffic Management Flashcards

A driver approaches an intersection where traffic signals are not working. What should they do?

Answer: Treat it as a four-way stop

When traffic signals are inoperative, all drivers must treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

What is the primary purpose of rumble strips on a highway?

Answer: Alert drowsy or inattentive drivers they are leaving the lane

Rumble strips produce vibration and noise to alert drivers who are drifting out of their lane.

Under the Safe System approach adopted by many US transportation agencies, which factor is considered the most critical in preventing fatal crashes?

Answer: Safer speeds

The Safe System approach places safer speeds at the center because speed determines crash energy and survivability.

A driver is traveling at 60 mph and needs to brake suddenly. Compared to traveling at 30 mph, stopping distance is approximately:

Answer: Four times greater

Stopping distance increases with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples the stopping distance.

Which of the following is an example of a Proven Safety Countermeasure recognized by the FHWA?

Answer: Median cable barriers on divided highways

Median cable barriers are an FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasure shown to significantly reduce cross-median crashes.

What does a flashing yellow arrow signal at an intersection indicate?

Answer: Left turns are permitted but drivers must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians

A flashing yellow arrow means left turns are allowed but drivers must yield to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians.

Road diet conversions typically reduce crashes by converting a four-lane undivided road to:

Answer: Two travel lanes, a center two-way left-turn lane, and bike lanes

A road diet reduces conflict points by replacing the inner lanes with a shared center turn lane and often adds bike lanes.