1. Chapter 1: You Are the Driver
Make sure you get a book, and start working on the 8 questions on page 17. Write all the questions!

2. Chapter 1: You Are the Driver
Objectives;
You are Part of the System
Your Driving Risk
Your Driving Responsibilities
Your Driver’s License

3. You Are Part of the System
The Highway Transportation System
Three main parts:
People – called Roadway Users because they walk, drive, or ride on the roadways.
Vehicles – these vary in size and shape (i.e. mopeds, motorcycles, cars, trucks, vans, buses, campers, construction vehicles, farm vehicles, and tractor-trailers.
Roadways – these differ from dirt lanes to complex multiple expressways.

4. You Are Part of the System
Regulating the HTS
Laws are passed to make up the vehicle code.
Enforcement agencies assure that laws are obeyed.
Motor vehicle dept. set rules to assure
that driver and vehicle
standards are met.
Courts decide whether
drivers charged with
violating laws are guilty
or innocent.
Highway traffic
engineers plan, build,
and maintain the complex
system of roadways.

5. 1.1 You Are Part of the System
Review
What are the parts and purpose of the HTS?
The HTS is made up of roadway users, vehicles, and roadways.
Its purpose is to move people and cargo from one place to another in a safe and efficient manner.
How is the HTS regulated?
Federal, state, and local government help regulate the HTS, but the actual drivers are the most important element in making sure the HTS is safe and efficient.

6. Your Diving Task You must develop habits for:
using knowledge and visual skills
obeying traffic laws
judging time and space
anticipating how your car will respond under normal and emergency conditions

7. 1.2 Your Diving Task Social Skills Physical Skills Mental Skills
You must be courteous to other drivers in order for low-risk driving to occur.
Physical Skills
You must have the physical skills to control your vehicle.
Mental Skills
Decision-making is the primary mental task for safe, low-risk driving.

8. Your Diving Task IPDE Process
Identify important information in the ongoing driving scene.
Predict when and where possible points of conflict will develop.
Decide when, where, and how to communicate, adjust speed, and/or change position to avoid conflict.
Execute the right action(s)
to avoid conflict.

9. Your Diving Task Two systems that help with the IPDE Process:
Smith System
Organized method designed to help drivers develop good seeing habits.
Zone Control System
Method for managing the space around your vehicle.

11. Your Driving Responsibilities
Driving is a privilege – not a right.
Driving is a major responsibility.
Attitude is the most important factor.
Effects willingness to learn and effectively use safe-driving habits.
Distance yourself from “Road Rage.”
Gain respect with low-risk driving.
Helps manage relationships with others.

12. 1.3 Your Driving Responsibilities
Breakdown of the HTS:
Occurs when any part of the system does not work well.
Examples: Traffic tie-ups and Collisions
Collisions – occurs when a vehicle conflicts with and hits another object. Almost every collision is the product of a predictable cause.
Accident – implies that something just happens by chance.

13. Your Driving Responsibilities
Causes of Collisions
Driver error is the most common.
Breaking various laws
Not slowing in adverse conditions
Operating a defective vehicle
Following too closely
Driving too fast for conditions
Not wearing safety belts
Driving after drinking or
drug usage
Driving while very tired

14. Your Driving Responsibilities
Causes of Death
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young people.
Reasons:
Lack of experience
Exposure to night driving
Increased risk taking
Susceptibility to peer pressure
Mixing drinking with driving

15. Your Driving Responsibilities
Other Responsibilities
Financial Responsibility
Your share of the driver-related costs.
These include:
Fuel
Maintaining your car
Insuring your car
Any damage or
injuries you cause

16. Your Driving Responsibilities
Environmental Responsibility
Threats to environment
Air pollution
Water pollution
Chemical spills
Land pollution through thoughtless disposal of vehicle-related products
Drivers can help by
Buying and maintaining fuel-efficient vehicles
Using fuel-efficient driving habits
Recycling used materials
Reducing driving through car pools and the use of public transportation
Working for strong national, state, and local policies that encourage the use of energy-efficient driving

17. Your Driver’s License Licensing Process
Graduated Driver Licensing Program - A progression of licensing stages
Learner’s Permit Stage
May drive when supervised by a licensed adult.
Must be held for six months violation and collision free
Safety belts must be worn at all times by all occupants
Must complete a minimum number of practice driving with a supervising, licensed driver.

18. Your Driver’s License Intermediate License Stage
Must successfully complete the learner’s permit stage.
Supervised driving may be continued to compete required hours.
Safety belts must be worn at all times by all occupants.
Night driving is restricted.
Passengers can be limited in age and/or number.
Must be held for six months violation and collision free.
Penalties for violations are increased.

19. Your Driver’s License Full-Privilege License Stage
Successfully complete Intermediate Stage violation and collision free.
In some states, complete an advanced driver education course .

20. Your Driver’s License Organ Donor Program Implied Consent Programs
You may fill out an organ donation declaration on your driver’s license or by signing an organ donor card.
Remember to inform your family of your decision.
Implied Consent Programs
In most states you are asked to sign a statement when you get your driver’s license saying that you agree to take an alcohol test on request.
If you refuse, you automatically lose your license.

21. Your Driver’s License Driver Education and Your License
Your Beginning of the Drive Right Program
Driving is a mental decision-making process.
Attitude greatly influences your driving.
Safety belts must be
used at all times.
Statistics on drinking
and driving should
convince you to
never drink and drive.