When the US interstate highway system became widespread, did the Dept. of Transportation undertake to train people on how to use it? Was there any significant confusion on the part of early users regarding how it worked, etiquette, etc?

by awinnie

Just wondering if there are some things we might take for granted today as "rules of the highway" that did not exist prior to the interstate highway system, and if so, how people learned them.

Obviously if you were familiar with US highways, it might not be too different. But the interstate system cut through some pretty remote areas where drivers may not have ever driven on "bigger roads"

HouseAtomic

Disney had at least 3 films that were based on freeway driving & etiquette. These films were shown in driving schools, boot camps, secondary & high schools and eventually on television as regular features.

The first was more of a regular Goofy short, dealing with stereotypical split personality driving. Freeway Troubles & Freewayphobia were educational, informative and entertaining. Dealing with typical freeway issues such as increased braking distances, not stopping on an entrance ramp, passing on the left & vehicle maintenance for high speed travel.

Watch Motor Mania here

Watch Freway Troubles here

Watch Freewayphobia here

kerbuffel

Follow on question to that: were there any major "revisions" of the rules during the lifetime of highways?

For example, you're supposed to pass on the left and drive on the right; were things like that always the case?

Foccsmolder

Is there a reason we picked this side of the road as opposed to the Brits?

GreenParallelogram

Why would road etiquette be any different than for the roads that already existed at the time