1. Driver Responsibility
Chapter 3
Driver Responsibility

2. NJ Seatbelt Law: Click it or Ticket
Requires all passengers to wear a seatbelt
The driver is responsible for any passengers
under 18 years old.
Front-seat passengers 18 years of age and over are responsible for themselves.
All GDL permit drivers or probationary licenses must use seat belts and must require all passengers seated anywhere in the vehicle to wear seat belts.

3. Seatbelt Law
Primary offense- means that a police officer can stop a motorist solely for a violation of the seat belt law. Example: failure of a driver, front seat passenger, and children under 18 years of age to wear a seatbelt is Primary offense
Secondary law (offense)- all unbuckled back seat occupants 18 years of age and older may be issued a summons if the vehicle is stopped for another reason.

4. Seatbelt Law Exemptions
Exemptions for not wearing seatbelts are:
Vehicles manufactured before July 1st 1966
A passenger vehicle that is not required to be equipped with seat belt systems under federal law
A physical or medical reason with verified writing by a licensed physician that makes the passenger unable to wear a seat belt.

5. Reasons to wear a Seatbelt
They keep motorists and passengers from being thrown from the vehicle in a collision. If a motorist/passenger is held in place, any injury may be less severe.
They slow a body down with the vehicle. If a vehicle hits something, the vehicle stops, but the person keeps going at the same speed in which the vehicle was moving. Hitting the dashboard or windshield at 30mph is like falling from the top of a three-story building.
They keep a motorist/passenger from sliding on the seat during sudden stops and turns. They also keep a motorist in position to maintain control over the vehicle.

6. NJ Child Restraint Law: (UPDATED 9/1/15):
Any child under the age of 8 years old and a height of 57 inches shall be secured as follows in the rear seat of a motor vehicle:
A child under the age of 2 years and 30 pounds shall be secured in a rear-facing seat equipped with a 5-point harness.
B. A child under the age of 4 years and 40 pounds shall be secured as described in (a) until they reach the upper limits of the rear-facing seat, then in a forward-facing child restraint equipped with a 5-point harness.
C. A child under the age of 8 and a height of 57 inches shall be secured as described in (a) or (b) until they reach the upper limits of the rear-facing or forward-facing seat, then in a belt positioning booster seat.
D. A child over 8 years of age or 57 inches in height must be properly secured by a seat belt.

7. Car Seats
All child restraint systems built since January 1, 1981 must be designed to pass tough safety tests. These seats carry a label that gives the date of manufacture that reads--“This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.”
Different car seats are designed for children of all ages.
Forward facing, Rear facing.
Label also informs size & weight particular seat is designed to protect

8. Car Seats Should be placed in the back seat
Look for label
Should be placed in the back seat
If no back seat, put the car seat in the front seat and keep the seat away from the dashboard
Child seat should be placed in the vehicle facing the rear

9. Types of Car Seats
Infant Convertible Booster

10. Air Bags
Air Bags are standard equipment in almost all new vehicles and are designed to supplement seat belts in frontal crashes.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, statistics show that between 1986 and 2000, front air bags saved the lives of 5,303 front-seat drivers.

11. Air Bags
Air bags inflate at speeds of up to 200 mph to protect adults in a front-end collision. An average-sized adult who is correctly belted is not likely to come in contact with the air bag until it is fully inflated.

12. Cutoff Switches Driver and passenger side air bags:
Individuals with medical conditions, where the airbag employs more of a risk than actual impact would
Driver side airbags only
Individuals who cannot properly operate the vehicle and keep at least 10 inches between the center of the steering wheel and the center of the sternum
Passenger side airbags only
No backseat, motorist must place car seat in the front seat. If child must be placed in front seat in order to monitor medical condition of child. If there are more children than can be seated in the rear seat

13. Air Bags
Children of any age are safest when they are belted properly in the backseat of a vehicle.
Safety Points
Always put an infant in a rear facing infant child safety seat in the back seat with airbags
Always be sure that children 12 years old and younger ride in the backseat of the vehicle.
Always make sure everyone wears a seatbelt!

14. Indicators marking Air bags
A motorist can tell if his/her vehicle has an airbag by the words “air bag” or the letters “SRS” (supplemental restraint system) or “SIR” (supplemental inflatable restraint) on the steering wheel & dashboard panel. Manufacturers also may mark the sun visors or the sides of the open door frame with warning labels or enter a warning in the vehicle owner’s manual.

15. How do
Airbags Work?

16. Driver Responsibility
Car Condition
Driver Responsibility

17. Starting a Parked Car Checklist
Circle Check: before you enter the vehicle look for obstructions
Windows clean & clear to see
Adjust the seat
Adjust mirrors (inside & outside)
Fasten seat belt
Car is in park or neutral gear & parking brake is set
Door must be locked

18. Backup Lights When driving in reverse, they must be on White lights
When car is put into Reverse, the lights will automatically go on

19. Brakes Know the type of braking system your vehicle uses
Conventional drum and disc system--Test by tapping/pumping
ABS (anti-lock braking system)--Test by applying steady pressure
Never pump ABS brakes or jerk the steering wheel when braking
Rear or front wheel drive does not determine proper braking
Most common mistake made by new drivers is pressing/slamming the brake pedal too hard
Use the right foot for both gas and brake pedal
Apply gentle pressure to bring the car to a controlled stop.

20. Antilock Braking System (ABS)

21. Brake Lights Red Lights
Prevent Accidents by alerting other drivers that you are slowing down/coming to a stop.

22. Head Lights
Increase visibility at night/early mornings
Keep clean

23. Horn Never overuse & check that it works
Use when passing or when coming out of blind spots
A way to communicate with other drivers in a positive manners

24. Taillights
Allow cars to see you
Prevent accidents

25. Tires Should never have bumps, cuts, or a bad tread
Rotate every 6,000 miles
Check pressure often
1/16 inch is minimum tread

26. Windshield Must be kept clean and have a clear view Wipers must work
NJ laws prohibit add-on tinting of windshields and front side windows

27. Snow/Ice
State law that requires a motorist to remove snow or ice from a vehicle before driving it

28. Blind Spots Areas hidden from a driver’s view
Correctly adjusted mirrors help to reduce blind spots along with turning your head to check for other cars

29. Steering Normal driving-keep both hands on the upper half of the wheel
Hands should be kept at 9 and 3 o’clock
Firm and steady grip on wheel
Keep car in center of lane
Hand over hand steering

30. Stopping Distances Depends on numerous factors
Individual reaction time
Weather and road conditions
Vehicle weight
Brake conditions
Condition/type of tires
Roadway conditions
Speed

31. Driving Signals
Turn signals must be given at least 100ft in advance (blinkers or hand signals)
The horn is a warning signal that is audible from 200ft
Hand signals

32. Driving in Reverse
Be sure the path is clear
In reverse, turning the wheel to the right moves the car to the right, steering to the left, turns to the left
Drivers head and body should be turned back & to the right to get the clearest view possible
Place your right hand over the back of the front passenger seat and left hand should grasp the top of the steering wheel. Do not “palm” the wheel with one hand
Use mirrors as a guide, but DO NOT depend on them.
Remember that the front of a vehicle will swing in the opposite direction of a turn
*Must be mastered for road test--100ft in a straight line

33. Parking Parking on the street with a curb
When parking downhill, turn the wheels toward the curb
When parking uphill, turn away from the curb---*up, up and away!*
When parking uphill without a curb, turn wheels toward the edge of the road. (Facing downhill or uphill).
Angle parking
Used in parking lots often

34. Parallel Parking Must pass in order to pass road test
New law states you can use cameras to aid in parking for the road test
Signal 100 feet in advance
Flags or markers 25 feet apart may be used to show where the other vehicles would be
State law prohibits parking farther than 6 inches (tires) from the curb

36. 3 point K-Turn *Will be required to complete on road test
Used to turn around in a tight space
Should start from the right edge of road
Must use turn signal
During a K-turn you will hit 3 points of reference