CHAPTER 3 Driver’s Education

NJ’s Seat Belt Law  Everyone in a vehicle must wear seat belts  You can be pulled over solely for a violation of the Seat Belt Law  Permit and probationary licensed drivers are responsible for everyone in the vehicle, regardless of age, to be wearing seat belts  All unbuckled passengers 18+ will be issued a summons if the vehicle is stopped for another reason

ALWAYS Wear a Seat Belt  Seat belts save lives and reduce the chances of serious injury!!  Improve chances of surviving a crash by 60%  Chance of surviving a collision are 3-4x better  Keep the driver and passengers from being thrown from the vehicle in a collision  Slow a body down with the vehicle  Keep the passengers from sliding on the seat during sudden stops and turns  Keep the driver in position so they can control the vehicle

Questions  As a driver with a permit or probationary license, you are responsible for in the vehicle to be wearing their seat belts  EVERYONE  Passengers ____ will be issued a summons if the vehicle is stopped for another reason  18+  Seat belts improve the chances of surviving a crash by %  60

Car Seats  Traffic accidents are a leading killer of children  An infant car seat protects a baby up to 20 lbs and 26” and must face the REAR of the vehicle NEVER face an infant car seat toward the front of the vehicle!!!  A convertible car seat is larger, can be faced toward the front or back of the vehicle, and protects infants and toddlers up to 40 lbs and 40” When an infant or toddler weighs at least 17 lbs. and can sit up well without help, the convertible car seat can be faced forward

Car Seats  It is preferred that whenever possible, car seats be placed in the backseat  BUT if the vehicle does not have a backseat, move the front seat as far back as possible from the dashboard and make sure the child is buckled properly in the appropriate restraint for their height and weight

Child Restraint Law  Up until a child is 8 years old or weighs 80 lbs, they must ride in a booster seat in the rear seat  Children over 80 pounds must ride in the rear seat and use a seat belt  Failure to comply with this law could mean a $54 fine and court costs

Questions  Infant car seats protect babies up to lbs and ” and convertible car seats protect children up to lbs and ”  20 lbs & 26”, 40 lbs & 40”  Infant car seats should ALWAYS face toward the __ of the vehicle.  BACK  Convertible car seats face toward the _______ of the vehicle.  FRONT OR BACK  Up until a child is 8 years old or weighs 80 lbs, they will use a ___________ in the rear seat.  BOOSTER SEAT  Children over 80 lbs use a __________ in the rear seat.  SEAT BELT

Air Bags  Air bags inflate at speeds up to 200 mph  Air bags could seriously injure or kill children who are sitting in the front seat  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) allows cutoff switches in pickup trucks, sport cars, and vehicles with no backseat  Children of any age are safest when they are belted properly in the backseat, especially when the vehicle is equipped with a passenger-side air bag  Always be sure that children 12 years old and younger ride in the backseat of the vehicle

Questions  Air bags inflate at speeds up to mph  200  Children are safest buckled in the of a vehicle  BACKSEAT  Children years old and younger must ride in the backseat of a vehicle  12  Why?  AIR BAGS CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL A CHILD SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT

Car Condition  It is the responsibility of all vehicle owners to ensure the proper working condition of their vehicles  Always check your vehicle before driving and prevent problems with regular maintenance and care

Backup Lights  Backup lights warn other drivers that a vehicle will be moving in reverse  It is against the law for backup lights to be on while a vehicle is moving forward

Brakes  A driver should be able to brake smoothly and quickly  Rule of Thumb: Stop within 25 ft at 20 mph  If the brakes are hit hard, they could lock up  If the vehicle pulls to one side when it stops, the brake pedal is taut, or an unusual squealing or grinding is heard, the brakes must be checked  A driver should pump brakes gently after driving through water to test and dry them out  Never pump the brakes for vehicles with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)  Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions to ensure that you have enough time to brake

Brake Lights  If a vehicle’s brake lights are not working, someone may crash into it from the back

Headlights  Bright and dim lights must work to provide the driver with visibility in dark and/or poor conditions  Use high beams in open country driving  Do NOT use if there is a vehicle directly in front of yours, oncoming in the opposite lane, or in foggy conditions

Horn  Use the horn to signal when passing or when coming out of a blind alley, curve, or driveway  The horn should be heard for at least 200 ft.

Tail Lights  Tail lights signal other drivers in the dark and prevent accidents

Tires  If a driver feels or hears any unusual thumping while driving, they should check the tires  Bumps, cuts, or bad tread can cause blowouts A vehicle should not be driven with tires that have less than 1/16” of tread  Tire pressure should be checked often

Turn Signals  A driver should always give a proper signal when turning, changing lanes, or parking  Before making a turn:  Use the mirrors to look behind and to both sides for other vehicles to see if it is safe to turn  Get into proper lane  Signal at least 100 ft before the turn  Slow down before reaching the intersection  Stay in the same lane until the turn is finished  Make sure the turn signal is turned off after the turn is completed  If a turn is missed, the driver should take the next turn, NEVER back up.  A driver should be able to hear the clicking and see the lighted arrows flash on the dashboard  If the blinkers don’t work, use hand signals

Windshield  Windshield should always be clean  Windshield wipers should always work  Cracks or chips in a windshield could cause it to break; it should be replaced  NJ laws prohibit add-on windshield and front side window tinting

Snow and Ice  A driver is required to remove ice or snow from their vehicle before driving it  If snow or ice dislodges from a moving vehicle, it could strike another vehicle or pedestrian  Any person who violates this law is subject to fines of $25-75, regardless of whether any snow or ice is dislodged from vehicle  If dislodged snow or ice causes injury or property damage, fines up to $1,500 may be assessed

Starting a Parked Car Checklist  Before getting into a vehicle, look behind and in front of it to ensure that nothing is blocking its path  All windows should be clean and clear of anything that blocks the driver’s vision  More than 95% of the information a driver needs is visual  Adjust the seat so all pedals and controls can be easily reached  Buckle up  Inside and outside rearview mirrors should be adjusted to reduce blind spots  Vehicle should be in park or neutral gear and the parking brake should be set  Doors should be locked

Idling Your Vehicle  Don’t allow your vehicle to idle for more than 3 minutes  Harms your health (CO2)  Harms your engine  Wastes fuel ($$$) $250-$1,000 fine

Steering  A driver should grip the steering wheel by the outside rim at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions, keeping their thumb along the face of the wheel  This grip diminishes the risk of hand, wrist, or arm injury if the air bag is deployed  Both hands should always be kept on the wheel  Hand Over Hand Steering 

True/False  A driver should not pump the brakes after driving through water because they could lock up  FALSE – they should be pumped, brakes can lock if hit hard  A vehicle should not be driven with tires that have less than 1/16” of tread  TRUE  Turn signals should be used at least 75 ft before a turn  FALSE – 100 ft  Left turn= arm bent up, right turn= arm straight, stop= arm bent down  FALSE – left turn= arm straight, right turn= arm bent up  More than 95% of the information drivers need is ______.  VISUAL  Drivers should grip the steering wheel at 10 and 2 o’clock  FALSE – 9 & 3

Stopping Distances  How long it takes a vehicle to stop at a certain speed depends on:  Driver’s reaction time  Weather and visibility conditions  Vehicle weight  Brake conditions  Condition and type of tires  Roadway conditions  Speed

Driving in Reverse  The driver’s head and body should be turned until they can see clearly through the vehicle’s back window  The driver’s right hand and arm should be placed over the back of the front passenger seat  The driver’s left hand should grasp the top of the steering wheel  Turning the wheel to the right will turn the vehicle right, turning the wheel to the left will turn the vehicle left, not turning the wheel will keep the vehicle straight  Always drive slowly in reverse  The driver should not turn forward until the vehicle is totally stopped 

3 Point Turn/K-Turn  Used to turn vehicle around  Always check mirrors for vehicles/pedestrians before turning and backing up  Remember turn signals!!

Parking  When parking a vehicle facing downhill  The vehicle should be in park, the hand brake should be set, and the vehicle’s wheels should be turned TOWARD the curb  When parking a vehicle facing uphill  The vehicle should be in park, the hand brake should be set, and the vehicle’s wheels should be turned AWAY from the curb

Questions  When parking a vehicle facing downhill, the wheels should be turned the curb  TOWARD  When parking a vehicle facing uphill, the wheels should be turned from the curb  AWAY

Parallel Parking  The parking space must be large enough to fit your vehicle  Always check mirrors for vehicles/pedestrians before backing up  Back up VERY SLOWLY!  Remember turn signals!  Always keep 2 hands on the wheel when parallel parking  You will fail the Road Test if you palm the wheel with one hand while turning in reverse  When parked, your vehicle’s tires should be no more than 6” from the curb