1. Speed & Space Management

2. How Far Ahead Do You Look?
You should be scanning traffic 15 seconds ahead.

3. Why Is This Important? Maintain awareness of the situation ahead.
Allows time to respond to changing conditions.
You’re not dependent on waiting for drivers directly ahead of you to react.

4. Safe Following Distance?
More results in an increased safety margin.
6 Seconds is a good minimum.

5. Can You Maintain That?
Problem: traffic will change lanes in front of you.
Solution: vehicles will cut in but many times will cut back out again looking for a faster lane.

6. Can You Maintain That?
If that doesn’t happen, you should make a slight speed reduction and regain your following distance.

7. It’s up to you to manage your following distance.
Can You Maintain That?
It’s up to you to manage your following distance.

8. What’s Appropriate Here?
Slippery road conditions or wet brakes increase stopping distance – you should react by increasing following distance.

9. Increase following distance
Traffic Conditions
Congested traffic may unexpectedly and suddenly slow or stop!
Increase following distance

10. …About Traffic Beside You?
What Can You Do…
Maintain awareness of what’s around you.
Pick your lane to minimize lane changes.
Adjust mirrors to remove blind spots.
Check mirrors several times during lane change.
…About Traffic Beside You?

11. Traffic Behind You What Should You Do?
Tailgating – you can’t prevent it but you can make sure you don’t have to suddenly hit the brakes.
Be prepared for passing traffic to cut over at exit.
Scan mirrors frequently to update traffic picture.
What Should You Do?

12. Speed Management

13. Are you properly managing your speed if you drive at the posted limit?
Speed Management
Are you properly managing your speed if you drive at the posted limit?
Not necessarily…there can be many reasons to drive slower than the posted limit…

14. Speed Management Limited visibility: hilly two-lane road
Bad weather: snow, rain, fog
Exit ramps: posted speed is for cars, not trucks
Long grades, especially in mountains
Heavy traffic
To increase fuel mileage

15. Recap Look ahead _______ seconds.
Look ahead 15 seconds and scan traffic periodically. This gives you time to react to changing traffic situations.

16. Recap A good minimum following distance is ____ seconds.
Maintain at least 6 seconds following distance, but more is better. Following distance is vital and it gives you time and space to react to sudden traffic changes.

17. Recap
Increase following distance when roads are ______________________________________.
Any condition that causes slippery road surfaces means you need more stopping distance which makes increased following distance vital.

18. Recap
You may find it prudent to drive below the posted limit when ___________________ ___________________________________________.
Analyze each new driving situation and slow down if conditions warrant. These are just a sampling of reasons to drive below the limit:
Limited visibility
Exit Ramps
Heavy Traffic
Bad Weather
Long Grades
Fuel Mileage

19. Professionals
Don’t let your defensive driving skills get rusty….stay focused!
© 2015 Your Company Resource • Fort Wayne, IN •

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