1. Vehicle Balance and Control
NV Driver Education Curriculum
Unit 5: Natural Laws and Car Control in Adverse Conditions
Presentation 3 of 6
TOPICS:
Vehicle Balance & Stability
Roll, Pitch, Yaw (Over/Understeer)
Crowned & Banked Roads

2. Vehicle Balance Video Click on web address to access video clips
Rules of the Road
Vehicle Balance
(9:20) real player
Always preview video before showing to students
Check content
Check availability
5min Image from:
“Lab” image from:
Video cover image from:
Retrieved: 10/07/10
Click on web address to access video clips
*Suggest full screen viewing

3. Poor Driving Positions
Driver Balance
Balance begins with the driver.
Proper Seating
Position of knees, feet, back, shoulders
Steering Position
Position of wheel
Position of arms and hands
Male Photo image from:
Drawing from:
Retrieved 10/10/10
Poor Driving Positions

4. Tire Footprints
The size of a tire’s “footprint” or contact patch is about the size of a hand.
Speed and steering input have a direct influence on weight transfer and tire footprint.
Car image from: Driver Right Textbook, 11th edition
“Footprint” images from:
Retrieved: 10/06/10

5. Vehicle Balance
Vehicle balance is the distribution of a vehicle’s weight on its tires as they contact the ground.
Car photo images from:
Retrieved: 10/10/10

6. Center of Gravity
Center of gravity is the point at which an object’s weight is evenly distributed.
Image from:
Retrieved: 10/10/10
Center of Gravity

7. A vehicle’s stability decreases as it’s center of gravity rises.
A lower center of gravity provides more stability
Load and weight affect a vehicles stability
Car image from:
Camper image from:
SUV from:
Retrieved: 10/10/10

8. Balance and Steering Weight shifts cause changes in vehicle balance
Three axes cross at the center of gravity
Roll
Pitch
Yaw
Roll
Pitch
Car images from:
Retrieved: 10/10/10
Yaw

9. Pitch Pitch is a tilting motion from front to back.
Acceleration If rapid, weight shifts to rear
Braking If rapid, weight shifts to front
REAR More contact
REAR Less contact
Grey images from:
Blue car images from: Montana Driver Ed Curriculum
Gauge image from:
Retrieved: 10/07/10

10. Load A heavy load, such as passengers and cargo changes:
Center of Gravity
Vehicle Pitch
Braking Distance
Acceleration
Red car image from:
Truck image from:
Trailer image from:
Canper from:

11. Roll Roll is a tipping motion to the side.
Happens in turning/cornering
Less contact
Black car image from:
Red car image from:
Grey images from:
Gauge image from:
Retrieved: 10/07/10

12. Curves In a curve inertia and traction work against your vehicle.
Your ability to control the vehicle will be based on:
Sharpness of curve
Speed of travel
Weight of vehicle
Photo image from:
VERY dangerous when traveling downhill

13. Driving Through a Curve
Slow down
Remove foot from gas
Brake if necessary
Turn with regularity
Avoid sudden movements
Keep same steering angle during curve
Accelerate out of the curve
Straighten out steering wheel
Blue car images from:
Sign images from:
Retrieved 10/10/10

14. Yaw Yaw is when your vehicle rotates clockwise or counterclockwise.
Tire lose traction
Rear or front slides
May happen on a slick road or while turning:
- Oversteer (rear slides)
- Understeer (front slides)
Car images from:
Retrieved: 10/07/10
Some new cars have Electronic Stability Control Programs/Systems

15. See Ford’s Driving for Life
Skid Management Video
See Ford’s Driving for Life
Speed Management
(6:19)
Skids & recovery
Always preview video before showing to students
Check content
Check availability
Ford image from:
Click on web address to access video clips
*Suggest full screen viewing

16. Skid Control When in a skid: Release brake or accelerator
Look to the target
Steer no more than necessary
Maintain constant attention until vehicle is back under control
Image from: hthttp://tendytoyota.blogspot.com/
Retrieved 10/10/10
In 2012 all new cars will have electronic stability control program (ESP) as a standard safety feature.

17. The shape of the road affects your ability to control your vehicle.
Images from:
Most roads are level.

18. humped Crowned Roads Crowned roads are in the middle.
Helps rainfall drain away from road
Traction is difficult
Gravity pulls vehicle to the side of the road
Crowned image from: Driver Right Textbook, 11th edition
Photo from: crasherama.dk
Retrieved 10/10/10

19. tilted Banked Roads Banked roads are to one side.
Banked curves are designed to prevent skidding
Provides more traction
Gravity pulls vehicle downward into curve
Crowned image from: Driver Right Textbook, 11th edition
Photo from:
Retrieved 10/10/10

20. Crash Safety Features Video
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
Safety & Crash Protection: Top Safety Picks
(1:20) real player
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
Car Size Comparison
During A Collision
(2:33) real player
Click on web address to access video clips
*Suggest full screen viewing

21. Did You Know
Final Thoughts
As speed increases, steering need is reduced for turns and other maneuvers.
The most common cause of a roll over crash is traveling too fast while turning.
Steering image from:
Desert image from:
Red SUV image from:
Retrieved: 10/10/10
Many roll over crashes are caused by quick or sudden turns (overcorrecting) after veering off a road.

22. Test Your Knowledge
If your driving privilege has been revoked, you may:
Drive only in an emergency
Still drive to and from work or school
Not drive in this state with any license or permit
Drive only in the presence of a license parent or guardian
Answer: C

23. Test Your Knowledge This warning sign means: No U-turn allowed
No trucks allowed
Left curve ahead, truck rollover warning
Right curve ahead, truck rollover warning
Answer: D
Image from:
Retrieved 10/20/10

24. Test Your Knowledge When driving near a bicycle, you should:
Follow at the same distance as you would a car
Edge up and share the lane with cyclist
Increase your following distance
Pass cyclist immediately
Answer: C