Chapter 1

Basic Car Control

Driving

• A driver-education course gives you a good start toward becoming a skillful driver

• Learning to drive safely is a continuous process

Vehicle Performance Capabilities

• Acceleration and speed

• Directional control and cornering

• Deceleration and braking

Types of Acceleration

• Static acceleration- capability of the vehicle to move from a stationary position to a given speed in desired time or distance

• Dynamic acceleration- capability to increase from one speed to a higher one

Controlling Acceleration

• Creeping- a very slow and steady without jerking the car

• Smooth acceleration- gradual build up of speed from a stopped position to a higher speed

• Rapid acceleration- quickly increasing you speed

Directional Control

• The ability of a vehicle to hold a straight line- slight steering wheel movements are required to keep the car centered

Cornering

• Capability of a vehicle to steered around a turn without leaning too much.– Oversteering is the tendency of a vehicle’s

front end to move to the inside of the pathway

Decrease the Speed of a Vehicle

• Use the engine compression

• Downshifting

• Use the braking system

• Use parking/emergency brake

How to put your Car in Motion• Check selector lever to see if it is in park

• Apply foot brake with right foot and hold

• Turn ignition switch to start

• Move selector lever to drive position

• Release park brake

• Check for traffic in rearview mirror

• Signal and check your blind spot

• Move foot from brake to accelerator. Press gently and steer into proper lane

Entering Traffic

• Signal

• Check mirrors

• Check blind spots

• Position in lane

• Cancel signal

Leaving Traffic

• Signal

• Check mirrors

• Position in lane

• Cancel signal

Expressway Entry• As you move along the entrance ramp make

sure you are not closing in on traffic ahead• Signal left, check shoulder for a gap• Enter acceleration lane and accelerate to the

speed of traffic. Continue checking your gap using your mirrors and over your left shoulder

• When you identify a safe gap, accelerate and steer left to merge. Blend with traffic

• Stopping on an acceleration lane can cause a rear-end collision

Expressway Exit• Position car in lane closest to exit ramp

• Signal as approach the deceleration lane and steer as you reach it

• Once in the deceleration lane, reduce speed to the posted ramp speed before entering exit ramp

• If you miss you exit go on to the next exit

Exiting Expressway

Straight line driving

• Position your hands at 9 and 3 or 10 and 2

• Keep arms and wrist relaxed

Right Turns• Hand over hand steering- always grip the

wheel knuckles facing outward• Start all turns from 10 and 2 or 9 and 3• For right turn: grip the wheel with your left

hand and turn it toward your right hand while right hand pulls down

• When the right hand reaches the bottom, your right hand will release the wheel and cross over your left hand.

• Re-grip the wheel with your right hand and continue turning

Left Turn• Hand over hand steering- always grip the

wheel knuckles facing outward• Start all turns from 10 and 2 or 9 and 3• For left turn: grip the wheel with your right

hand and turn it toward your left hand while left hand pulls down

• When the left hand reaches the bottom, your left hand will release the wheel and cross over your right hand.

• Re-grip the wheel with your left hand and continue turning

Straight Backing

• Place your left hand on top of the steering wheel

• Your right arm on the back of the passenger seat

• Take your right foot off of the brake

• Cover with your right foot while your car is in motion

• All steering corrections should be made gently and smoothly with a slight pull down on the steering in the direction you want the car to go. Do not push up to steer