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LEARN BEFORE YOU DRIVE

What does it mean to read the road?

Passenger → Traffic Reader → Decision Maker

QUICK ANSWER

Reading the road means continuously gathering clues from vehicles, people, signs, signals, lane markings, road design, and conditions.

WHAT THAT MEANS

Drivers do not wait for problems to happen. They scan for information that tells them what is likely to happen next.

SUPPORTING ANSWER SECTIONS

Road information
Signs, signals, lane markings, curves, intersections, and surface conditions.

Traffic information
Vehicle speed, position, brake lights, turn signals, and traffic flow.

People information
Pedestrians, cyclists, children, workers, and anyone who may enter the road.

DRIVEx WAY OF THINKING

Ask: What information is the road giving me right now?

WATCH
KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Read beyond the car directly ahead.
• Use the whole environment.
• Look for clues before actions.
• Keep scanning instead of staring.

YOU MAY ALSO BE WONDERING

What do lane markings tell me?

They define travel paths, restrictions, and where traffic may move.

What does traffic flow tell me?

Changes in flow can warn you about congestion, signals, hazards, or turning traffic ahead.

How do I know where another car may enter my path?

Watch driveways, side streets, merge points, intersections, and parked vehicles.

How do conditions change what I expect?

Rain, darkness, construction, and limited visibility reduce certainty and can require more time and space.
KEEP LEARNING
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