Driver’s Education Chapter 5 Natural Laws and Car Control

Gravity Gravity – is the force that pulls all things to the earth Driving up hill – your vehicle will lose speed. You must increase power to overcome gravity and maintain speed Driving down hill – your vehicle will pick up speed. You must coast or shift to a lower gear to maintain speed

Energy of Motion Energy of Motion(Kinetic Energy) – is energy acquired when an object moves. When load weight doubles, energy of motion will double. Then the vehicle will need twice the stopping distance. Energy of motion will change in proportion to the square of its change in speed. If speed doubles, you will need 4 times the stopping distance. If speed triples, you will need 9 times the stopping distance

Traction Traction – friction created by tired on the road surface. Friction – is the force of two surfaces in contact, this keeps each tire from sliding off the roadway.

Tires Tread – Grooved surface of a tire that grips the road. When the road is wet the tread allows water to flow through the grooves and away from the tire. A tire’s ability to grip the roadway will increase with the amount of tread touching the road.

Blowout Blowout – is when all the air escapes from the tire at once. This may happen as a result of the tire being bald or from a puncture

Tire Inflation Each tire is design to work properly at a certain air pressure. Underinflation – only the outside edges of the tire contact road, can cause uneven tire wear. Overinflation – only the center will contact the road. Will wear more quickly and decrease traction

Reduced Traction Vehicle Condition Good shock absorbers are important for maintaining traction. Worn shock absorbers will cause your vehicle to bounce of the road. Worn tires will limit your control. Road Surface Wet, Icy, or rough roads can greatly reduce traction. When road surface is poor reduce speed for more control

Checking Traction Check rear zones to make sure no traffic is near. Brake to see how the vehicles responds. If your vehicle does not slow or if your antilock brakes start to work then reduce your speed.

Vehicle Control in Curves Speed – to reduce your chance of skidding, lower your speed before entering a curve. Your vehicle will tend to keep going straight Sharpness of Curves – the sharper the curve the more traction your vehicle will need to grip the road. Use slower speeds for sharp turns Banked Curves – is a curve that is higher on the outside than on its inside. This will help the vehicle grip the roadway better.

Vehicle Control in Curves Load – the greater the load of a vehicle, the slower the vehicle will have to go around a curve. Vehicles with a high center of gravity will flip easier in curves

Stopping Distance Total Stopping Distance – is the distance your vehicle travels while you make a stop. This is measured from when you first see a hazard to the point where your vehicle stops. Reaction Time – the length of time it take you to identify a hazard and begin to slow. Reaction Distance – this is the distance your vehicle travels during this time.

Stopping Distance Braking Distance – the distance your vehicle travels from the time you apply the brakes until you stop.

3 Second Rule 1. Pick a fixed checkpoint – like a shadow over the road or a sign where you think that you could stop. When the car in front of you passed the checkpoint. 2. Count off 3 seconds: “one-one-thousand, two one-thousand, three-one-thousand.” If you pass the checkpoint before you finish counting you are to close to the vehicle in front of you.

Factors That Affect Stopping Distance Speed – the higher your speed to longer your braking distance. Vehicle Condition – worn tire and shock absorbers takes longer to stop Road Surface – rain, snow, ice, dirt, wet leaves, and gravel will increase stopping distance. Driver Ability – if you are distracted or impaired it will take longer to stop. Hills – when driving downhill stopping distance will increase. Loads – heavy loads will increase braking distance.

Force of Impact Force of Impact – force with which a moving object hits another object. Speed – most important factor in determining how hard a vehicle will hot another object. Weight – the heavier the vehicle, the more damage it will cause. Distance Between Impact and Stopping

Safety Belts Three collisions occur when a vehicle hits a solid object. 1. Vehicle hits object and stops. 2. Occupant either hits inside of the vehicle or restraint devices. 3. Occupants may suffer internal collision as their organs impact inside of the body. “Seatbelts don’t save lives, the people who use them do.”

NJ Seat Belt Law Requires all front seat occupants of passenger vehicles to wear a seat belt The driver is responsible for all passengers under 18 Front seat passengers over 18 are responsible for themselves Motorists with GDL permit or provisional license must use seat belts and must require all passengers seated anywhere to use seat belts

Seatbelt Safety Seat belts can improve your chances of surviving a crash by 60 percent. BX2nnUw BX2nnUw

Do you wear your seatbelt all the time? Yes No

Do you agree that seatbelts will save your life in an emergency situation? Yes No

How do seatbelts help? Keep passengers from being thrown from the vehicle. Keep passengers from sliding in the seat while driving. Buckle up with lap/shoulder belt on every trip Lap belt and seat belt position One person in belt Proper use?

Child Restraint Laws Children up to age 8 or a weight of 80 pounds must ride in a safety or booster seat in the rear of the vehicle Children under age 8 and over 80 pounds must be in a rear seat and use a seat belt. Failure to comply $54.00 fine & court fees

Restraint Devices Passive Restraint Devices – like an air bag, works automatically. Active Restraint Device – one you have to engage, like a safety device.

Other Safety Devices Airbags – a balloon like device that inflates automatically to protect you. Front and rear crush areas – vehicles are now designed to crush on impact. Reinforced Windshield – to avoid flying glass in a collision, vehicles has laminated windshields.

Other Safety Devices Padded Dash – this can reduces injury in all crashes. Child Seats – special seats for infants or small children. Must be used in the rear seat and used properly. Head Restraints – padded head rests on the top of seats to protect against whiplash.

Do you think texting while driving is safe when behind the wheel of a vehicle? Yes No

Texting while driving…..is it worth it? Your last text message! tch?v=iOQbbS0AQ80&feat ure=youtube_gdata_player tch?v=iOQbbS0AQ80&feat ure=youtube_gdata_player

driving+commercial&www_google_domain= e.com&emb=0&aq=1&oq=texting+# As of July 1, 2004, hand held cell phones were not permitted at the wheel

Littering Throwing trash from a vehicle is illegal up to $1,000 fines driver’s license could be suspended.