What Should You Do If You Miss An Expressway Exit?

If you have missed the exit on an expressway, what should you do?

This is a question you may encounter on the DMV driving test, so what's the right answer?

What Is The Best And Safest Thing To Do If You Miss An Exit On A Highway?

If you encounter the above question on your written driving test, there's a good chance you'll see options such as:

A: Continue to the Next Exit

B: Signal, Brake, and Turn Sharply

C: Pull Aside and Back up the Exit Ramp

D: Cross the Median and Exit from the Opposite Direction

It's one of those questions that you don't really need to memorize or even research, as the answer should be obvious to anyone with any driving experience.

It's A. It's always A. It doesn't matter where you are or how late you are. If you miss the exit, simply continue to the next exit, turn around, and return to the one that you miss.

Yes, you will lose a little time. Yes, it can be frustrating. But it's also the safest option and one that won't put your health or that of other drivers in danger.

Things You Should Never Do On the Expressway

Backing up the exit ramp, heading in the opposite direction, and making sharp and dangerous turns aren't the only mistakes you can make on an expressway or highway.

Everyone is prone to making poor decisions on occasion, but when you're sitting behind the wheel of a large motor vehicle moving at speed, those mistakes can be deadly. So, the next time you're on the highway, make sure you avoid these reckless, dangerous, and even illegal mistakes.

Don't Exit Your Vehicle

There may come a time when you need to get out of your vehicle, such as if it's on fire or there is another emergency. In such cases, you should pull over, exit your car, and get to a safe distance.

Every other time, exiting your vehicle is very dangerous and could place you in the path of a motor vehicle moving at speed.

There have been many incidents of individuals exiting their cars on the highway and being hit by traffic. Stay in your car and avoid becoming part of this tragic statistic.

Don't Stop on the Highway

Highways are dangerous places. Even if it seems like there is no traffic around. Cars can appear out of nowhere, and if you're stationary and in their way, they will hit you.

Don't stop on a highway, and never drive in reverse. If you have missed the highway exit, you'll just have to live with it and deal with the delay.

Don't Drive on the Shoulder

The shoulder is used by emergency vehicles. It's not there to help you bypass an accident so you can get home before the game starts.

Using the shoulder could slow down and hinder emergency vehicles. It could also cause those vehicles to crash into the back of your car.

Don't Make a U-Turn

Turning on the highway is always very dangerous, and that's true even if you're using the median. As with the shoulder, the median is not there for your benefit.

Don't Drive Drunk, Drugged, or Drowsy

This is always a good rule to follow and it's one that every qualified driver knows well, but it's also a law that many people ignore.

We tend to assume that certain laws only apply to other people. We know it's wrong for people to drive tired. We may even chastise a family member who gets behind the wheel when they are drowsy, but it's okay for us because we "can handle it". We know it's wrong to drink and drive, but we tend to dismiss those 2 beers as being okay because we "feel fine".

No one is exempt from this rule. Highways are dangerous places, and if you're drowsy, drunk, or under the influence of drugs, you could be placing your life and the lives of others in danger.

Even if you're not involved in an accident, you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law. At best, you'll have a fine, a few points on your driver's license, and higher insurance rates. At worst, you could lose your license, end up with jail time, and kill someone.

Avoid Driving in Dangerous Conditions

Try to refrain from driving in extremely wet, icy, foggy, and snowy conditions if you can. You won't always have a choice—such as when you need to go to work, pick up the kids, or drive to the hospital—but when you do, stay inside.

If you find yourself on the road at these times, make sure you're paying attention, stick to the speed limit, stay in the right lane, leave plenty of distance between other cars, and take a break if you're tired.

What's the Difference Between a Highway and Expressway?

Although the terms expressway and highway are used interchangeably, there are differences between them.

An expressway has a limited access area and it is only accessible through this area. There are no other roads merging with it. Where a highway is concerned, there can be many roads merging with it and crossing it.

Summary: What To Do When You Miss Your Exit

To summarize, if you miss your exit, just continue, take the next one, and then go again. It's not the end of the world—you'll get to where you need to go eventually.

Refrain from making any rash decisions and performing dangerous maneuvers.