Shelton School District Precise Vehicle Placement 2.02, 2.04 Reference Points Shelton School District ESD 113 Traffic Safety Driver Risk Prevention Curriculum Reference Points for Precise Vehicle Placement What is a reference point? Revised 7-07

Why Reference Points Are Needed How wide is a car? 5 – 6 feet wide. How wide is a lane? 9 – 14 feet wide. Generally a lane is twice as wide as a car! When do we use reference points? Revised 7-07

2.02, 2.04 Reference Points Vehicle Blind Areas The body of the car blocks the driver's view of the roadway One car length to the front Two car lengths to the rear One car width to the left Two car widths to the right Reference points help you know where you are in the void area. Revised 7-07

2.02, 2.04 Reference Points The Optical Illusion Drivers cannot see the actual position of the vehicle on the roadway. Blind Area creates an optical illusion that makes the vehicle seem larger than it really is. Reference Points Help Drivers Overcome This Problem Revised 7-07

Reference Points Defined A Reference Point is a place on the vehicle that relates to some part of the roadway Used for precision vehicle placement Reference: Mottola, F. R. (1997). “Empower Yourself with Zone Control Driving”

Advantages of Reference Points Helps to overcome the optical illusion caused by the body of the vehicle blocking the drivers view of the operating space. Allows for accurate lane position adjustments. Allows drivers to confidently maneuver in confined places. The reference points for one vehicle can be applied to any vehicle. Where should you practice your reference points? Revised 7-07

3-6 inches away from a line or curb 2.02, 2.04 Reference Points Right Side Limit 3-6 inches away from a line or curb Standard Reference Point: Center of the hood. The curb, pavement line, or edge of the road appears to line up with the center of the hood. Practice in the parking lot. Where is your reference point on the left side? Used when positioning vehicle on the right edge of the lane, Lane position 3, and parking Revised 7-07

Where are the right side tires in relationship to the curb? 2.02, 2.04 Reference Points Where are the right side tires in relationship to the curb? A. In the grass B. A foot to the left of the curb C. Just to the left of the curb How would you know you are in lane position 1? Revised 7-07

2.02, 2.04 Reference Points What should you use if you do NOT have a hood ornament? Revised 7-07

Front Limit Standard Reference Point: Corner post or side mirror. 2.02, 2.04 Reference Points Front Limit Are reference points same on different cars or people with different heights? The curb, pavement line, or edge of the road appears to line up under the side mirror or with the corner post. Standard Reference Point: Corner post or side mirror. Revised 7-07

Front Limit The curb line it appears to line up with the outside rear view mirror or corner post. How it is used? Precision legal stop: When you are at intersections Safety Stop to get a clear line-of-sight When you are perpendicular parking

Where is the front bumper in relationship to the white line? A. Well beyond the line, penetrating the traffic lane B. Just over the line C. Just before the line

2.02, 2.04 Reference Points Lane Position Options 4 2 1 3 5 When would you move to each of these lane positions- Make it easy for students to know these Airplane steward What is lane position 6- How often do you check it? Why? Lane positions 4 and 5 Straddling the line to avoid a problem Revised 7-07

Where is the rear bumper in relationship to the yellow line? 2.02, 2.04 Reference Points Where is the rear bumper in relationship to the yellow line? A. Well beyond the line B. Just over the line C. Just before the line View looking over drivers left shoulder out the rear side passenger window. Revised 7-07

Standard Reference Point: Rear Limit Used when backing to stop before a line, curb, sidewalk or wall. The curb, pavement line, or edge of the road appears to line up one foot behind the door post or the middle of the rear side window Standard Reference Point: 1 foot behind the door post or the middle of the rear side window.

Review Standard Reference Points Center of the Hood Right Side Limit Corner Post or Side Mirror Front Limit Rear Corner Post or Blind spot, directly above the center of the rear tire Pivot Point for Backing Turns