Tips for Driving on Streets

Video Transcript

Hi! It's Dr. Road Map, tips on beating traffic. Now we are on surface streets and there's a lot to be learned on surface streets. In fact, 96 percent of the pavement in the United States is surface street and only 4 percent is freeways so you might as well learn to master these surface streets. First thing is picking the right one. Sounds simple and it is true but go with the major street. The reason is because traffic engineers favor the lights on the big streets as much as 2 to 1. In other words 66 percent green for the major streets and 33 percent green for the cross streets. So on the big streets you will make better time. Having said that, what about lanes, which lane to pick. If it is a 2 lane road in either direction, you want the lane to the left. The reason is because the right lane has got people turning right, slowing traffic down, pedestrians step in the way and they slow traffic down, buses pull over and people are parking. So on a 2 lane road in each direction, go in the left lane. The only exception is if there is no left hand turn cut outs. Then you better keep your eyes for people turning left and stopping traffic. Barring that stay in the left lane. If there is 3 lanes in each direction, stay in the middle lane. No one turning right, no one turning left. The other thing with surface streets is timing the lights and this is an art. It is one of discretion more than speed. First of all identify the key light at major intersections. That is usually where the timing starts and then stay just a tad below the speed limit because traffic engineers go through a lot of trouble to set the green ban which is the time that the green lights are on in sequence. And they do it naturally keeping below the speed limit. So don't try and rush up ahead. You'll just catch the next red light. Lastly on surface streets, be observant. Just like for the freeways keep an eye out on what's up ahead. If you do see a jam up, turn right. That's one of the beauties of being on a surface street. You've got a lot of choices.

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