Unit 4 Chapters 7, 9, 10 and 11

How to increase VISIBILITY: 1. Turning on HEADLIGHTS both day and night, increases visibility by more than 2,200 feet sooner.   2. SIGNAL well in advanced. 3. Avoid driving in other driver’s BLIND SPOTS.

How to manage TIME: Stopping distance has several factors including: size/weight of car road conditions speed your reaction 3 second following distance: Rear of the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point Count 3 seconds If front of your vehicle passes the point before you finish counting then you’re following to close

How to manage SPACE: 1. Adjust your FOLLOWING DISTANCE as needed. 2. Try to keep a 3-second distance BEHIND your vehicle. 3. Try to keep AS MUCH AS 8 FEET of space on either side of your vehicle. 4. If there is insufficient space ahead, behind, or to the side, of your vehicle take PROMPT ACTION TO INCREASE space.

Adjusting to Urban Traffic What are the two factors that make city driving difficult? TRAFFIC IS MORE DENSE HAZARDS ARE CLOSER TOGETHER Mile for mile city…ROADS HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER AND VARIETY OF HAZARDS Many situations with closing zones and line-of-sight restrictions, therefore INCREASE your following distance, change YOUR LANE POSITION, slow or stop to allow TIME to respond to conflicts. ADD ON THIS PAGE:

Special factors that affect city driving 1. Traffic density 2. Number of pedestrians 3. Intersections 4. Slow or irregular traffic flow 5. Lower speed limits 6. Potholes and other road defects

What are some areas for sudden stops? INTERSECTIONS LANES WITH PARKED VEHICLES BUSINESS DRIVEWAYS WITH HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC

How to manage tailgaters 1. Increase following distance to FOUR SECONDS 2. Move SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT 3. Signal EARLY FOR TURNS, STOPS, AND LANE CHANGES 4. Change LANES or PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC

PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING LANES: 1. Use mirrors to check REAR ZONES 2. Signal LANE CHANGE EARLY 3. Check BLIND SPOT 4. Change lanes without SLOWING 5. Cancel SIGNAL HOW FAR AHEAD SHOULD YOU LOOK AHEAD WHEN CITY DRIVING? You should look one block or more ahead.

One Way Street Help Avoid lane near parked cars How to identify: SIGNS POSTED MOVING TRAFFIC AND PARKED VEHICLES FACE THE SAME WAY BROKEN WHITE LINES ONLY TRAFFIC SIGNS FACING SAME WAY Benefits: MOVE GREATER VOLUME OF TRAFFIC LESS CONGESTED FEW CONFLICTS

Common speed limit on rural roads: Driving in rural areas Special factors that affect rural driving. Common speed limit on rural roads: Why is night time driving more difficult than urban areas? 1. Road conditions 2. Higher speeds, fewer controls 3. Slow-moving vehicles 4. Sight obstructions 5. Animals and objects on the road LACK OF ADEQUATE LIGHTING 55

Compare the number of highway deaths with urban areas: Collisions in rural areas account for TWICE as many fatalities. More collisions occur in URBAN areas as compared with rural areas. WHY??? FASTER SPEEDS = MORE DAMAGE MORE HAZARDS, BUT SLOWER SPEEDS LESS DAMAGE

TIPS for driving in rural traffic: 1. IPDE process will be more difficult because there is LESS TIME to process because of increased DRIVING SPEED. 2. Maintaining vehicle control is more difficult at HIGHER SPEEDS 3. DRIVE AT SPEEDS you know you will be able to BRAKE and STEER your vehicle. 4. When approaching a curve SLOW going into and ACCELERATE GENTLY while coming out of curve. Stay in lane position 1.

THREE KEY QUESTIONS IN DECIDING TO PASS: IS IT WORTH IT? IS IT LEGAL? IS IT SAFE?

STEPS TO EXECUTE A PASS ON A TWO-LANE ROADWAY: 1. Get into ready position with 3 sec. following distance 2. SIGNAL FOR A LEFT LANE CHANGE WHEN SAFE 3. Change lanes smoothly 4. Accelerate at least 10 MPH faster than vehicle being passed. (Still within speed limit.) 5. Make final evaluation. 6. Maintain speed. Remain in lane until you see BOTH HEADLIGHTS IN REAR VIEW MIRROR 7. Signal RIGHT LANE CHANGE 8. Return smoothly to right lane. 9. Cancel SIGNAL VIDEO

No Passing Situations 1. UPHILL 2. INTERSECTION 3. 100 feet before Railroad 4. 2-lane bridge OR underpass 5. When vehicle ahead is traveling at or near the speed limit 6. CURVES 7. Sight is limited by fog, snow or rain 8. Multiple cars ahead 9. CANNOT COMPLETE BEFORE THE START OF A NO PASSING ZONE 10. Any time oncoming traffic is too close

Responsibilities for when you are being passed Be aware Move to Lane Position 3 ALLOW TO BE PASSED

HIGH BEAMS should be switch to low beams within 500 feet of oncoming vehicle AND 300 feet of overtaking a vehicle 500 ft 300 ft

5 Advantages of Expressways 1. CROSS TRAFFIC IS ELIMINATED 2. MEDIAN OR BARRIER between opposing lanes 3. Pedestrians, nonmotorized vehicles, and slow-moving vehicles are not permitted 4. Wide SHOULDERS provide good escape paths 5. Expressway signs are designed to help drivers anticipate conditions well ahead

Steps for entering 1. Entrance is the one you want   2. Check front and rear zones, Signal and over left should to find a gap 3. In acceleration ramp increase speed. Decide on safe time and place to merge into the gap in traffic 4. Decide vehicle to follow. Adjust speed to traffic’s speed. Position vehicle at safe interval behind other vehicle. Merge smoothly. 5. Once on expressway, cancel signal and adjust speed to traffic. 6. ENTRANCE ON LEFT: potential for conflict is greater due to higher speed in left lane

EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY 1. Half mile before exit, check front and rear zones. Signal and move to lane position 3 in the lane that leads to deceleration lane.   2. Move to deceleration lane and cancel signal. 3. Flash brake lights to indicate slowing. Slow gradually and keep safe space cushion with vehicle ahead. 4. Identify exit-ramp speed sign. Check your speed and adjust. VIDEO video2

Lane Changing on Expressway 1. Change lanes ONE LANE AT A TIME. 2. Check traffic in sideview and rearview mirrors. Check BLINDSPOT. 3. SIGNAL LANE CHANGE 4. Re-check mirrors and blindspot 3. If clear, ACCELERATE gently and move to next lane. 4. CANCEL signal after change lanes. 5. Conflict can occur when two drivers head for the same space.

As you are making your right shoulder blind spot check, you are looking out of the backseat right side window. It’s not necessary to look out the rear windshield. When you make your head check on a multilane road be careful of other drivers who may also intend to move into the same lane at the same time! When lane changing

If the same lane is used for both an entrance and exit THEN Exiting should merge behind entering traffic.

Disabled Vehicle 1. Check rear zones, signal, pull onto shoulder as far as possible 2. Turn on hazards 3. Call for help 4. Emergency flares 500 feet behind vehicle 5. Get back in vehicle, buckle up. Do not stand on expressway