What features separate divided highways?

Divided highways are designed to separate traffic moving in opposite directions to enhance safety and improve traffic flow. The primary feature that distinguishes a divided highway is the presence of a median or barrier. This physical separation between the lanes of traffic helps prevent head-on collisions and allows for a safer driving environment.

Medians can take various forms, including grass or concrete strips or even barriers that are designed to absorb the impact in case of an accident. They serve not only as a visual cue that indicates the separation of traffic but also as a protective measure that can reduce the likelihood of accidents.

While traffic signs, road markings, and shoulder lanes play important roles in overall highway safety and traffic management, they do not provide the same physical separation that a median or barrier does. Signs may direct, inform, or regulate traffic behavior, road markings can indicate lane divisions or restrictions, and shoulder lanes serve as an area for emergencies or breakdowns, but none of these features are specifically designed to separate opposing traffic flows like a median or barrier.