1. Chapter 3 – Driver Safety
NJ Seat Belt Law
(not the GDL restriction)
All front seat passengers
Everyone under 18
The motorist is responsible for self & under 18
Non-compliance is a primary offense
TTLB – “I will not be an idiot; everyone will wear a safety belt”

2. Seat Belts continued
Belts improve surviving a crash by 60% and 3 to 4 times better with shoulder strap
Keep driver & passenger:
From being thrown from vehicle
From hitting dash board, steering wheel & air bag
Slows person down with the car
From sliding in seat during turns
Keep driver in position to control car

3. Car Seats
Infant seat – rear facing, back center for up to 1 yr, 20 lbs and 20 inches
Convertible car seat – forward facing up to 4 yrs and 40 lbs.
Booster seat – up to 8 yrs and 80 lbs
Exam – children up to 8 & 80 lbs must ride in a federally approved in back if available

4. Air bags (SRS or SIR) Are a supplement to seat belts
Can cause more damage if not properly belted
Air bags inflate at a speed of 200 mph
If children or seniors are riding in front seat adjust seat as far back as possible, turn off air bag
Law requires children 12 and under in back seat

6. Car Condition
It is the drivers responsibility that a car is road worthy. The following are the key safety features in a car and should be checked.
Backup lights – white lights on back of car when car is running in reverse
Brakes (not breaks) – at 20 MPH a car should stop in 25 feet & car not pull. Test them after driving through puddles. $$$
Brake Lights – all 3 on back must work

7. Car Condition continued
Headlights – Bright & dims (high & low) must work and be in line. Keep clean
Horn – often over used or used incorrectly. Honk when backing up or turning blind
Steering – On straight road & traveling straight car should not veer & should respond with little effort
Tail lights – red lights on back let drivers behind you see you.

8. Car Condition continued
Tires – If a driver hears and unusual thumping while driving they should check tires. Need to regularly check air pressure & tread wear $$$
Turn signals – key communication feature, are they blinking and clicking inside?
Windshield – NJ law prohibits add-on tinting to front windows check wipers & wash levels
Snow/Ice – Law requires you to remove all snow & ice from vehicle (primary now)

9. Before getting in… Less than 1 minute – quick walk around
Damage – has anything happened since parked
Fluids – on ground by engine
Tires – flat?
Debris – anything around or on car (windshield)
Exit route – anything in way of car

10. Once in car Secure all items – not on seat and console
Clear all windows
Adjust seat
Adjust all mirrors
Adjust steering wheel & pedals
Seat belts
Lock doors – may do so when key is turned
** Vehicle should be in park or neutral
8. Press brake, insert key and start, release parking brake

11. Starting Car Check List
Press brake, insert key and start, release parking brake
Turn head & check blind spots (area behind driver that cannot be seen through mirrors) and make sure path is clear
Check for pedestrians and other vehicles
Signal and shift to appropriate gear
Pull out slowly with caution – **anything that happens now is your fault

12. Steering
Hands should be on outside of wheel firm but not tight grip with hands at 3 and 9 – Your parents will tell you 10 & 2 just show them the manual
Both hands should be kept on the wheel except when signaling or shifting
Vehicle should be kept in the center of the lane they are driving in, with two way traffic motorist should stay to right

13. Steering continued
Hand-over-hand – this is a technique for making large turns and keeping 2 hands on the wheel.
Once a hands reaches 12 & 6 o’clock the hand at 6 is released & reaches over to the opposite side.
The original hand then returns continue until turn is completed.
To return reversed the procedure

14. Stopping Distances
Reaction distance – distance car travels while driver reacts to stop indicator.
Braking distance – distance it takes the car to physically stop
Stopping distance – the total of the above
Several factors effect the stopping distance:
reaction time, weather & road conditions, vehicle weight, condition of tires & brakes, types of tires & brakes, speed

15. Proper Braking
Common mistake of new motorists is braking too hard, Why? Consider brakes as primary safety devise (they are not)
Primary safety devises steering & anticipation
Brake and gas with right foot (left foot is for clutch only)
ABS brakes should not be pumped, apply a steady pressure

16. Driving Signals
Turn signals and horn are the best way to communicate with other drivers
Turn signals must be given at least 100 feet before turning or changing lanes
A turn signal is not a right-of-way
Turn signals should be canceled after turn
TTLB - 8 times but less than 12
Horn must be heard 200 feet ahead
You are require to know the hand signal (1 to 3 exam questions)

17. Driving in reverse
You may be asked to drive, straight in reverse for 100 feet
Technique –
wheels going straight
place left hand at 12 o’clock
Right hand and arm over the passenger seat
Head, turned to right, look out rear windshield
Remember front of car will go in opposite direction
Don’t rely on mirrors to drive in reverse

18. Turning
TTLB – if you miss a turn don’t backup, go to next turn or exit.
Before turning
Signal
Check all mirrors (vehicles, pedestrians, bikes)
Slow down
Check blind spots (turn head)
Follow lane markers, stay in lane till end
Cancel signal

19. 3-Point or “K” turn Most dangerous type of turn (road test)
Used for turning around in tight spaces where U-turns cannot be completed
Choose a safe spot with good visibility in both directions – signal
Check traffic in both directions
Get to far right 1st, then turn left and approach opposite curb perpendicularly, stop before tire touch curb.
Back slowly turning to right, Stopping before curb
Complete turn by straightening wheel and moving forward in other lane

20. Parking Shift to park (reverse or low gear) Always set the hand brake
Parking downhill turn wheel to the curb (reverse)
Parking uphill turn wheel away from curb (low)
No Curb – point wheels away from street or roads edge

21. Angle Parking

22. Parallel Parking

23. Perpendicular Parking
Not in manual