Welcome to Drivers Ed

Highway Transportation System (HTS)

A SYSTEM is a group of elements that work together to fulfill a purpose.

Cell Phone Satellite

Cell Phone

Major Elements of the HTS Persons: Those Persons: Those

who use the who use the system: system: drivers, drivers, passengers, etcpassengers, etc

Major Elements of the HTS

Vehicle: Machines used in the system: cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, snowmobiles, etc.

Major Elements of the HTS

Environment: Paths on which vehicles are driven or pedestrians walk: streets, county roads, highways, expressways, sidewalks, bicycle paths, trails, etc

Purpose of the HTS

The safe, efficient and convenient movement of people and goods from place to place.

Breakdowns can cause serious problems

Congestion Crash Loss of Money Injury, Death

The Driving Task

Driving is a SOCIAL TASK

Driving is a person maneuvering a vehicle through other traffic and varying environmental conditions

Driving Precision

Driving Precision requires GOOD DECISIONS

Sound Judgment: based on learning to

anticipate what could happen Accurate Perception: being able to know how

to view/look at traffic scenes Knowledge: understanding what to do to be

safe and efficient

Rule of the Road

Don’t drive like you own the road

Drive like you own the car

HTS Breakdowns and Failures

Most often caused by driver error Often caused by driver

inexperience Sometimes caused by driver

distraction Or some combination of these

factors

New Drivers

Inexperience is the primary cause of problems driving

Making high risk decisions also is a primary factor

Car’s Dashboard

Car’s Instrument Panel

Preventative Maintenance

Daily Preventative Maintenance Items

Fluid Leaks – Look under your car Tire Inflation – Check your tires Physical Damage – Do a visual check Gas Level – Check your gas gauge

Preventative Maintenance

Weekly Preventative Maintenance Items

Tire Pressure – Use your pressure gage every time you fill up with gas

Safety/Communication Devises – check to see if your headlights, signals, brake lights, reverse lights work

Obvious tire wear – check your treads

Preventative Maintenance Monthly Preventative Maintenance Items

Oil Level – Check your dip stick Wiper Fluid Level – Check under hood Coolant Fluid Level – Check under hood Brake Fluid Level – Check under hood

Six Month Preventative Maintenance Items

Filters (air, oil) Transmission Fluids Regular Maintenance (tune ups) Wash/Wax your car

Driver Operational Tasks Maintaining Balance

4 point contact (both hands, both feet) Seating Position

Comfortable arm position Upright

Holding Steering Wheel 9-3 or 8-4

Steering Wheel Movements Push-Pull Hand over Hand

Driver Operational Tasks Braking Control

Pivot on Heal Press with Toes

Braking Technique Controlled Threshold Trail Brake

Vehicle Operating Space Area your car takes up “Safety Footprint”

Driver Operational Tasks Accelerator Techniques

Releasing the Brake Cover Accelerator Progressive Acceleration Thrust Acceleration

Weight Transfer Weight on all 4 tires

Sequencing Driver Action Vision Control (LOS-POT) Motion Control Steering Control

Line of Sight – Path of Travel

Path of Travel

Line of Sight

Reference PointsReference points are visual guides which help you judge your distance when parking or turning. From your viewpoint in the drivers seat, reference points help you to see the exact location of the wheels, both front and back bumpers, and also the side of the car when parking or turning.

Reference Points

Reference Points