Expressway tunnel entrance
Look at the picture, read the situation, and mark each of the three statements true (○) or false (✕). All three right scores 2 points.
You are in the left (driving) lane of an expressway, and a tunnel entrance is in sight ahead. The right lane is clear, but in the rearview mirror you can see a vehicle approaching from behind. Your headlights are not on yet. Answer true or false for each of the following.
- (1)Just before the tunnel, you move into the right lane and then speed up.
- (2)You slow down in advance, before entering the tunnel, and turn on your headlights.
- (3)You enter the tunnel at the same speed and brake hard once it gets dark and hard to see.
Show the answers and explanation
- (1) ✕ FalseJust before the tunnel, you move into the right lane and then speed up.
- (2) ○ TrueYou slow down in advance, before entering the tunnel, and turn on your headlights.
- (3) ✕ FalseYou enter the tunnel at the same speed and brake hard once it gets dark and hard to see.
Explanation
When you enter a tunnel at high speed, your vision drops sharply, so slow down beforehand (Rules of the Road (kyōsoku), Ch. 7, Sec. 2, 3(11)). In dark places such as inside a tunnel, turn on your headlights (Rules of the Road, Ch. 6, Sec. 3, 2(1)). A sudden lane change just before a tunnel risks a rear-end collision from the vehicle behind. Hard braking while driving at high speed is very dangerous (Rules of the Road, Ch. 7, Sec. 2, 3(8)).
Source: Rules of the Road (kyōsoku), Ch. 7, Sec. 2, 3(11) (slowing down before a tunnel) / Ch. 6, Sec. 3, 2(1) (lights inside a tunnel) / Ch. 7, Sec. 2, 3(8) (hard braking at high speed)
