Chapter 3

Seat Belts, Child Seats and Restraint Laws All front and back seats occupants must wear a seat belt. Seat Belts help in many ways: They keep passengers from being thrown from car in a collision. Prevent passengers from hitting the dashboard or windshield during a collision or severe breaking. Keep passengers from sliding on the seat during sudden stops and turns. Prevent driver from sliding off the seat and losing control of the car. Child Seats and Restraint Law: Car seats should be placed in the backseat. A child should be in a rear facing car seat till they are the age of 1 and at least 20 pounds. Children under the age of 12 years old should ride in the back seat. Child Restraint Law: Children 8 years old till 18 must wear a set belt, not matter wear they sit in the vehicle. Children who weight less then 80 pounds must be in a booster seat. Drivers are responsible for all passengers to be properly restrained. Top: a rear facing car seat Bottom: A front facing car seat

Air Bags Designed to supplement seatbelts. Identified in the steering wheel and dashboard panel. Children are safest in the backseat. Always put infants in rear-facing infant child-safety seat in the back-seats of a car with air bags. Children 12 and under should ride in the back sat of any car.

Car Conditions Always check the car’s condition before drinking. Reverse lights should light when driving in reverse. Brake’s should be smooth and stop a car quickly when necessary. Brake lights help prevent accidents replace broken bulbs and covers immediately. Head lights help prevent accidents. The horn should not be over used; check occasionally.

Starting A Parked Car Make sure all windows are clean and there is nothing blocking lines of sight. Adjust the seat so all pedals and controls are easily reached. Adjust inside and outside mirrors to reduce blind spots. Fasten safety belts and shoulder harnesses, adjusting them for firmness or comfort. Make sure the car is in park or neutral gear and the parking brake is set. While driving have a good posture while driving. Avoid wearing sunglasses with colored lenses.

Speed Control Start slowly. Increase gradually until you reach the speed limit, and consisting with the flow of traffic.

Steering Both hands on the upper half of the wheel. Hold wheel as steady as possible when increasing speed. Car should be in the center of the lane. If you picture the steering wheel as the face of a clock, you should keep your hands at 9 and 3 o’clock.

Stopping Distances for Cars This chart depends on several things: Weather and road conditions Vehical weight Brake conditions Road conditions Speed and many more Stopping distances on Dry Surfaces for Passenger Cars (in feet). Speed mph Reaction Distances Braking Distance total 10 11 6 17 20 22 25 47 30 33 55 88 40 44 105 149 50 188 243 60 66 300 366 70 77 455 532

Proper Braking Do not pump the brakes. Apply gentle pressure to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.

Driver Signals Always turn on the signals 100 feet. Before turning.

Driving in Reverse Before you drive in reverse, check mirrors and turn to check behind the car. Steering the car to the right moves the car right and steering the car to the left turns the car to the left. When driving in reverse, the front of the car will swing in the opposite direction of a turn.

Parking When parking on a decline, facing downhill, turn wheels toward curb and shift into park. When parking on an incline, facing up hill, turn wheels away from the curb, shift into park.

Angle Parking If the parking space is on the right, slow down and steer sharply into the space. Backing out of the parking spot, check your mirrors, then start out backing up slowly, wait till left front wheel passes the rear bumper of the car parked on the left then pull into the lane of traffic.

Parallel Parking Find a space that is big enough for you car, then pull along the side of it. Start backing up turning, Before turning make sure that there area no obstacles, the front of the car cleared the car’s bumper in front, stop. Turn the wheel all the way to the left while beginning to back up slowly, doing this the car will swing towards the parked car. Make sure to clear the back bumper of the parked car.