Today’s appointment focused on the Highway/Freeway and learning to drive in the city. Before we took off, we adjusted the settings for the driver and reviewed our pre-drive checklist. As we made our way to the Highway (65)/Freeway (80), we reviewed traffic checks (side streets/lighted intersection/parking lots) and safety looks (signals, looking in mirrors and over your shoulder for the blind spot) before changing lanes or making a right turn. The student then worked on entering the Highway/Freeway using a controlled entrance merging into the flow of traffic. Once we merge onto 80 by Greenback entrance the student worked on changing lanes while maintaining proper spacing while keeping the speed with the flow of traffic. At the split of 80 we merged onto Capital City Freeway into downtown Sacramento. Continuing on Capital City, we headed towards Highway 160. As we entered Hwy 160, we started prepping our student of the differences of the city driving vs suburbia driving. We drove through downtown/midtown Sacramento dealing with train tracks for light rail, pedestrians, bicyclists, one-way streets, un-protected left turns, crosswalks, parked cars, etc. We continued onto Old Sacramento to experience driving with foot traffic, cobble stone roads, tourists, blind spots due to parked cars, alleys, general shenanigans and uncontrolled intersections. Anytime when a driver drives through a major city you have to be ready for closures or events happening within the city. It could be a farmer’s market, concert/sports event, or protesters to name a few. Depending what’s happening in the city, we will make our way back home driving through downtown Sacramento to Hwy 160 to business 80 back home. Or if there is closure we may take 99/5 to 80 back home. It really depends what we experience while in Downtown Sacramento.