Chapter 4 4.1 The SIPDE Process

Risk Contributors (user) Adjusting radio Being angry Having blurred vision Combing hair Drinking while driving Using a cell phone

Owner responsibility (maintenance) Bald tires Poorly adjusted brakes Dirty windshield Broken headlight Worn wiper blades

Risk: Environment & Roadway Bright sun Construction Dark Shadows Snow & Ice Sharp Curve

SIPDE Scan Identify Predict Decide Execute

SCAN Looking to the left, straight, right, and behind the area surrounding your vehicle.

Identify Use of visual search pattern to identify… Open and closed zones Specific clues Other users Roadway features and conditions Traffic controls

Predict Use knowledge, judgment, and experience to predict Actions of other users Speed Direction Control

Squirrels

Decide Decide to use one or more action to: Change or maintain speed Change direction Communicate

Execute Execute your decision to: Control speed Steer Communicate Combine actions

Orderly Visual Search Pattern Is a process of searching critical areas in a regular sequence. When should we practice this?

Smith System Is an organized method to help drivers develop good seeing habits Aim high in steering Keep your eyes moving Get the big picture Make sure other see you “BE SEEN” Leave an “OUT”

Aim high in steering Look ahead 12-15 seconds Look far ahead to identify clues and analyze situations before the zone becomes closed. Some restrictions include: hills, large vehicles, weather, curves, etc…

Keep your eyes moving Looking near and far, side to side, and in the mirrors will help you! You must fixate on an object for an instant so you can analyze it! Don’t fixate too long!

Get the big picture Is a mental process of putting together the critical clues you have selected. It is the result of aiming high and keeping your eyes moving!

“BE SEEN” Let others see you. Don’t hangout in the blind spots of other vehicles. “If you cant see my mirrors then I cant see you!”

Leave an “OUT” Always be looking for open zones. Cities will have less open zones then country areas! What can we look for?

around you, while looking straight ahead Field of Vision The area you can see around you, while looking straight ahead

Central Vision The area that you can see clearly and sharply This is only about 10 degrees in front of you!

Peripheral Vision The area you can see to the left and right of central vision is your side vision The farther you get away from your central vision the less clearly you can see 180 degrees

How to communicate with other drivers. Headlights, taillights, and brake lights Turn signals Parking lights and hazard flashers Back-up lights Horn Eye contact

How to handle a hazard

Minimize a hazard Reduce the possibility of a conflict by deciding to put more distance between yourself and the hazard Ex. A car driving down a street moves closer to the middle of the lane because they predict a car door will open.

Separate Hazards There will be times that you will face more than one hazard at a time Do not try to handle both or all at once! Decide to adjust your speed to deal with only one hazard at a time.

Compromise the space Sometimes they cant be minimized or separated. When this happens you need to compromise by giving as much space as possible to the greater hazard. Sometimes you might have to risk a hazard to prevent a bigger one!

The area of space all around your vehicle Space Cushion The area of space all around your vehicle

How do we get into our vehicle?

Closed Zone A space not open to you because of a restriction in your line of sight or intended path of travel

drive without restriction Open Zone A space where you can drive without restriction