West Virginia · Handbook chapter 8 · 2 min read

Interstate route numbering, planning ahead, entering, exiting and stopping on interstates, minimum speeds, breakdowns, fog, U-turns and construction zones in West Virginia.

Why this chapter matters

Interstates remove head-on crashes but demand constant attention at high speed. Entering, exiting and breakdowns are where most trouble starts.

Route numbers

• Even numbers run east-west; odd numbers run north-south.
• Three-digit numbers with an even first digit are beltways or bypasses; an odd first digit means a spur.
• Common interchange types are cloverleaf, diamond and trumpet.

Entering

• Watch for DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY signs at ramps.
• About halfway down the ramp, check traffic, signal, find a gap and match the speed of traffic. Do not cut sharply into the lane.
• Interstate traffic has the right-of-way. If there is no gap, stopping on the shoulder past the acceleration lane is a last resort.

Exiting

Move into the exit lane early. Never slow down on the interstate itself: brake in the deceleration lane to the posted ramp speed.

Stopping and speed

• Shoulders are for disabled vehicles only. Do not stop in the exit gore.
• Do not drive slower than 55 mph unless conditions are bad or a lower limit is posted. Keep right except to pass.
• No U-turns; median crossovers are for police and emergency vehicles.

Breakdowns and bad weather

• Move as far off the road as possible, turn on four-way flashers, and get everyone out and away from the road.
• Put one flare about one vehicle length behind and another about 300 feet back.
• In dense fog it may be better to leave the interstate for slower roads.

Construction zones

Obey work zone speed limits, signs and flaggers, and move to the open lane as early as possible when a lane is closed.