1. Basic Maneuvers in Urban Traffic
NV Driver Education Curriculum
Unit 6: Mixing with Traffic
Presentation 5 of 5
TOPICS:
Inexperienced Driver Tips
Lane Choices, Positions, & Changes
Shared Turn Lane

2. Inexperienced Drivers
Speed Control
Space Management
Risk Perception
Visual Search
Hazard Recognition
Lifestyle Issues
Six factors highly correlated with teen auto crashes
Graphic from:
Retrieved 03/04/11

3. Inexperience
Per miles driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely to crash than other drivers
Crash risk is particularly high during the 1st year
What are you going to work on to reduce your risk?
Speed Control
Space Management
Risk Perception
Visual Search
Hazard Recognition
Lifestyle Issues
Six factors highly correlated with teen auto crashes
Statistics from:

4. Wrecked: Life and Death on the Road
Teen Drivers Video
Farmers Insurance
Wrecked: Life and Death on the Road
(14:00)
Always preview video before showing to students
Check content
Check availability
Geico image from:
State Farm image from:
Farms image from
Retrieved: 03/04/11
Click on web address to access video clips
*Suggest full screen viewing

5. You can’t respond to what you don’t see.
IPDE and You
Over 90% of auto accidents are caused by a single distracted driver, who fails to see and respond to changes in traffic.
Road image from: Image from:
Driver image from:
Retrieved 03/07/11
You can’t respond to what you don’t see.

6. What is a potential hazard in this scene?
Image from teenSMART
People in street – unpredictable
Traffic in rear may not see pedestrians

7. What is a potential hazard in this scene?
Image from teenSMART
Blind curve in road
People unload car on right – unpredictable
Traffic in rear may not see pedestrians

8. What is a potential hazard in this scene?
Image from teenSMART
Green light ahead
Cars braking ahead
Blind spot – Van on right
Red car on right moving to traffic

9. Nevada Roads
Nevada roads range from neighborhood streets, single lane country roads, city streets, and multi-lane expressways.
Images from:
Retrieved 03/07/11

10. Remember
Basic Speed Law
Nevada’s basic speed law states never drive at “such a rate of speed as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person.”
Posted speed are set for normal road and weather conditions.
In rain, snow, or high winds it would be unsafe to travel at the posted speed.
Image from:
Retrieved 03/17/11

11. Experience is the best teacher.
Basic Maneuvers
All drivers perform basic maneuvers on every trip:
Changes in speed
Lane choices and positions
Merging and turning in traffic
Experience is the best teacher.
Image from:
Retrieved 03/07/11

12. Look Beyond the Vehicle Ahead
Look over, around, or through the vehicle you are following.
Always try to anticipate what the driver ahead is likely to do in response to a changing zone condition. 12

13. Increase Your 3 Second Following Distance when:
You are just learning to drive.
A tailgating driver is behind you.
You are approaching a line-of-sight restriction.
Traction is low.
You are carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer.
The driver ahead of you seems unsure.
You are following a motorcycle. 13

14. Areas for Sudden Stops
Intersections where drivers may have to stop for traffic or pedestrians.
Lanes next to parked vehicles—give at least 3 feet of space.
Business driveways with high volume traffic. 14

15. Cover the brake
Covering the brake means that you take your foot off the accelerator and hold it over the brake pedal.
Be sure that you are not resting your foot on the brake pedal—known as riding the brake.
Use this technique when you are driving past vehicles that are stopped/parked on the street.
Watch for doors that might open unexpectedly.
Drive at least one car door’s width away. 15

16. Lane Choices Select the lane with the fewest number of hazards.
The left lane is usually for faster traffic, but it may get held up by drivers waiting to turn left.
The center lane usually has the smoothest traffic flow.
The right lane is considered the slow lane because people are entering and exiting the roadway with this lane. Be aware of:
Buses stopping in the lane
Vehicles turning in or out of driveways
Vehicles turning right 16

17. Lane Choices Select the best travel lane:
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If two lanes traveling in same direction, travel in right lane, use left lane to pass.
If three lanes, travel in the middle lane. Why?

18. Lane Changes Many situations require a driver to change lanes:
Bus blocking lane
Road sign indicating lane end
Vehicle in your lane is preparing to turn
Slow-moving vehicle or visibility obstruction
Bus image from:
Lane end image from:
Retrieved 03/07/11
In all these situations, the driver in the blocked lane must yield right of way, to oncoming vehicles, as well as vehicles in adjacent lanes.

19. Preparing to Change Lanes
Before changing lanes ask:
Is it safe?
Will others (ahead or behind) be making lane changes?
Is the lane available?
Will adjacent vehicles also attempt to enter the open space?
Is anyone rapidly approaching from the rear?
Top image from:
Mirror image from:
Retrieved 03/07/11

20. How to Change Lanes Safely
Changing lanes involves steering and speed adjustments. Signal in advance to alert others!
Check mirrors for gap
Signal intention
Re-check blind spot
When safe, steer into new lane
Adjust your speed to flow of traffic
Cancel signal and re-check speed and position
Mirror image from:
Street image from:
Retrieved 03/07/11

21. Center Turn Lanes Shared left-turn lane May not be used for passing
Remember
Center Turn Lanes
Shared left-turn lane
May not be used for passing
May not travel more than 200ft before turning left
May not travel more than 50ft after turning left before merging with traffic
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Arrows image from:
No arrows image from:
Retrieved 03/07/11

22. Sharing the Center Lane
Remember
On busy streets, a shared left-turn lane helps drivers get into and out of businesses in the middle of the block. Who should yield the right of way?
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23. One-Way Streets Identify one-way streets using these clues:
ONE WAY signs are posted on most one-way streets.
All moving traffic and parked vehicles point in the same direction.
Broken white lines are used to separate all lanes.
Most traffic signs will be facing the same direction.
If you are driving on a street and the signs are facing the other way, you are probably going the wrong way on a one-way street. 23

24. When can you make a left turn on a red light?
One-Way Streets
When entering or exiting a one-way street it is expected that you will enter traffic in the lane closest to you OR the designated lane (as indicated on sign).
Signs image from:
Diagrams from:
Photo from:
Retrieved 03/07/11
When can you make a left turn on a red light?

25. Signaling Wrong-Way Drivers
Things you should do to signal someone who is traveling in the wrong direction.
Slow down or Stop
Steer to the Right
Sound your Horn
Flash your Headlights 25

26. Reducing Risk is all up to You
When driving:
Maintain a visual lead to identify hazards
Create space margins to help avoid hazards
Use speed to adjust to possible hazards
Make choices that reduce hazards from happening
Driving image from:
Crash image from:
Retrieved 03/07/11

27. Safety Tip
Final Thoughts
Drivers should allow a minimum of 3 feet of space between the vehicle and cyclists when passing.
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Buffer image from:
Retrieved 03/07/11
Buffered Bike Lane

28. Test Your Knowledge Nevada’s “Basic Speed Law” says:
Never drive faster than the posted speed
Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions
The maximum speed limit in Nevada is 70 mph on rural interstate freeways
The minimum speed limit in Nevada is 15 mph in school zones
Answer: B

29. Test Your Knowledge
When deciding to change lanes on a multi- lane road, first look for vehicles:
Turning off the road
Immediately in front of you
Following closely behind you
In the lane you wish to move into
Answer: C

30. Test Your Knowledge This sign means: Winding road, use caution
Slippery when wet, use caution
Merging traffic from right
Sharp left curve then right curve, use caution
Answer: B
Image from:
Retrieved 12/03/10