Unit 4CHAPTERS 7, 9, 10 AND 11

How to increase VISIBILITY: 1. Turning on HEADLIGHTS both day and night, increases visibility by more than 2,200 feet sooner. 2. SIGNAL well in advanced. 3. Avoid driving in other driver’s BLIND SPOTS.

How to manage TIME:Stopping distance has several factors

including:size/weight of carroad conditions

speedyour reaction

3 second following distance:Rear of the vehicle ahead passes a fixed pointCount 3 seconds If front of your vehicle passes the point before you finish

counting then you’re following to close

How to manage SPACE: 1. Adjust your FOLLOWING DISTANCE as needed.

2. Try to keep a 3-second distance BEHIND your vehicle.

3. Try to keep AS MUCH AS 8 FEET of space on either side of your vehicle.

4. If there is insufficient space ahead, behind, or to the side, of your vehicle take PROMPT ACTION TO INCREASE space.

Adjusting to Urban Traffic What are the two factors that make city driving difficult?

TRAFFIC IS MORE DENSE HAZARDS ARE CLOSER TOGETHER

Mile for mile city…ROADS HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER AND VARIETY OF HAZARDS

Many situations with closing zones and line-of-sight restrictions, therefore INCREASE your following distance, change YOUR LANE POSITION, slow or stop to allow TIME to respond to conflicts.

ADD ON THIS PAGE:

Special factors that affect city driving

1. Traffic density 2. Number of pedestrians 3. Intersections 4. Slow or irregular traffic flow 5. Lower speed limits 6. Potholes and other road defects

What are some areas for sudden stops?

INTERSECTIONS

LANES WITH PARKED VEHICLES

BUSINESS DRIVEWAYS WITH HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC

How to manage tailgaters

1. Increase following distance to FOUR SECONDS2. Move SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT 3. Signal EARLY FOR TURNS, STOPS, AND LANE CHANGES4. Change LANES or PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC

PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING LANES:

1. Use mirrors to check REAR ZONES2. Signal LANE CHANGE EARLY3. Check BLIND SPOT4. Change lanes without SLOWING5. Cancel SIGNAL

HOW FAR AHEAD SHOULD YOU LOOK AHEAD WHEN CITY DRIVING?

You should look one block or more ahead.

One Way Street HelpAvoid lane near parked cars

How to identify: SIGNS POSTED MOVING TRAFFIC AND PARKED VEHICLES FACE THE SAME WAY BROKEN WHITE LINES ONLY TRAFFIC SIGNS FACING SAME WAY

Benefits: MOVE GREATER VOLUME OF TRAFFIC LESS CONGESTED FEW CONFLICTS

Driving in rural areasSpecial factors that affect rural driving.

1. Road conditions

2. Higher speeds, fewer controls

3. Slow-moving vehicles

4. Sight obstructions

5. Animals and objects on the road

Common speed limit

on rural roads:

Why is night time driving more difficult than urban areas?

LACK OF ADEQUATE LIGHTING

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Compare the number of highway deaths with urban areas:

1. Collisions in rural areas account for TWICE as many fatalities.

2. More collisions occur in URBAN areas as compared with rural areas.

WHY???

FASTER SPEEDS = MORE DAMAGE

MORE HAZARDS, BUT SLOWER SPEEDS LESS DAMAGE

TIPS for driving in rural traffic:1. IPDE process will be more difficult because there is LESS TIME to

process because of increased DRIVING SPEED.2. Maintaining vehicle control is more difficult at HIGHER SPEEDS 3. DRIVE AT SPEEDS you know you will be able to BRAKE and STEER your vehicle.4. When approaching a curve SLOW going into and ACCELERATE GENTLY while coming out of curve. Stay in lane position 1.

THREE KEY QUESTIONS IN DECIDING TO PASS:

1. IS IT WORTH IT?2. IS IT LEGAL?3. IS IT SAFE?

STEPS TO EXECUTE A PASS ON A TWO-LANE ROADWAY:

1. Get into ready position with 3 sec. following distance2. SIGNAL FOR A LEFT LANE CHANGE WHEN SAFE3. Change lanes smoothly4. Accelerate at least 10 MPH faster than vehicle being passed. (Still within speed limit.)5. Make final evaluation. 6. Maintain speed. Remain in lane until you see BOTH HEADLIGHTS IN REAR VIEW MIRROR7. Signal RIGHT LANE CHANGE8. Return smoothly to right lane. 9. Cancel SIGNAL VIDEO

No Passing Situations1. UPHILL2. INTERSECTION3. 100 feet before Railroad 4. 2-lane bridge OR underpass5. When vehicle ahead is traveling at or near the speed limit

6. CURVES7. Sight is limited by fog, snow or rain8. Multiple cars ahead 9. CANNOT COMPLETE BEFORE THE START OF A NO PASSING ZONE10. Any time oncoming traffic is too close

Responsibilities for when you are being passed

1. Be aware2. Move to Lane Position 3 3. ALLOW TO BE PASSED

HIGH BEAMS should be switch to low beams within

500 feet of oncoming vehicle

AND

300 feet of overtaking a vehicle

500 ft

300 ft

5 Advantages of Expressways

1. CROSS TRAFFIC IS ELIMINATED2. MEDIAN OR BARRIER between opposing lanes3. Pedestrians, nonmotorized vehicles, and slow-moving vehicles are not permitted4. Wide SHOULDERS provide good escape paths5. Expressway signs are designed to help drivers anticipate conditions well ahead

Steps for entering

1. Entrance is the one you want 2. Check front and rear zones, Signal and over left should to find a gap 3. In acceleration ramp increase speed. Decide on safe time and place to merge into the gap in traffic 4. Decide vehicle to follow. Adjust speed to traffic’s speed. Position vehicle at safe interval behind other vehicle. Merge smoothly. 5. Once on expressway, cancel signal and adjust speed to traffic. 6. ENTRANCE ON LEFT: potential for conflict is greater due to higher speed in left lane

EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY1. Half mile before exit, check front and rear zones. Signal and move to lane position 3 in the lane that leads to deceleration lane. 2. Move to deceleration lane and cancel signal. 3. Flash brake lights to indicate slowing. Slow gradually and keep safe space cushion with vehicle ahead. 4. Identify exit-ramp speed sign. Check your speed and adjust.

VIDEO

video2

Lane Changing on Expressway1. Change lanes ONE LANE AT A TIME.2. Check traffic in sideview and rearview mirrors. Check BLINDSPOT.3. SIGNAL LANE CHANGE4. Re-check mirrors and blindspot3. If clear, ACCELERATE gently and move to next lane.4. CANCEL signal after change lanes. 5. Conflict can occur when two drivers head for the same space.

As you are making your right shoulder blind spot check, you are looking out of the backseat right side window. It’s not

necessary to look out the rear windshield.

When you make your head check on a multilane road be

careful of other drivers who may also intend to

move into the same lane at the same time!

If the same lane is used for both an entrance and exit

THEN

Exiting should merge behind entering traffic.

Disabled Vehicle

1. Check rear zones, signal, pull onto shoulder as far as possible2. Turn on hazards3. Call for help4. Emergency flares 500 feet behind vehicle5. Get back in vehicle, buckle up. Do not stand on expressway