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5. Signs, Signals & Road Marks

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21. The Interstate System

A close look at the map above will show that the seemingly random red lines actually have a pattern. Let's start in California. Disregard Route 101.

Notice that the first interstate you see is I-5, which runs south-to-north through the state. At the bottom of the state is I-10, which runs in a west-to-east direction, through the bottom of the state. Now look over to the New England states. Notice that all the interstates are odd-numbered, and they all run in a south-to-north direction.

The Interstate Numbering System consists of even and odd numbers. EVEN numbered routes run in an east-to-west direction, while ODD numbered routes run south-to-north. In addition, the EVEN numbers get bigger as you move further NORTH, and the ODD numbers get bigger as you move EAST.

The standard interstate routes will always have one or two digits (I-5 or I-70) and will appear on a blue-and-red shield. Then there are SPURS and LOOPS. These signs have 3 digits (I-495). As a GENERAL rule, if the first digit is EVEN, the route is an Interstate Loop, which means it usually goes around a city or urban area and then reconnects to the Interstate again, with an Interstate at both ends. If the first number is ODD, then the SPUR route LEAVES an Interstate, and connects with a major highway, or ends (for example, at another street).

As a side note, to dispel a consistent rumor, there is NO provision in the Federal Highway Act that says "one-out-of-seven" miles of an Interstate must be straight and wide enough for military defense airplanes to land.


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Lesson Summary


  

Lesson 5 Quiz


You will now answer 5 questions to test what you learned during this lesson. You must answer all questions correctly to receive completion credit for this lesson. You may answer the questions as many times as necessary to get them right.

You should review the lesson material if you don't do well on the quiz.

  1. The Yield sign means:


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  2. A WHITE line, parallel to your lane, on the right, indicates:


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  3. A WHITE, transverse line across your lane means:


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  4. When does a CURVE become a TURN?


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  5. A center lane with solid and broken yellow lines that is used by vehicles making left turns in both directions is called a:


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