1. Chapter 9 Driving in Urban Traffic

2. Traffic Complexity  Driving in heavy, fast moving, city traffic is very challenging.  Traffic is more dense  Move cars, buses, and pedestrians per mile.  Traffic hazards are closer to you and can quickly block you path.

3. Driver Hazards  Avoid drivers using cellular phones.  Avoid aggressive drivers who needlessly increase the risk in a situation by challenging other drivers.  Avoid angry drivers who will actually charge at other drivers.  Give angry, distracted, or absent minded drivers distance.

4. IPDE Process  Identify – Check your searching ranges to make sure your front zones are open and you have time to spot line of sight restrictions.  Predict – possible points of conflict quickly and gain valuable time to respond.  Decide – always be ready to communicate, adjust your vehicle position, or change speed.  Execute – Be ready to use your vehicle’s controls to make smooth low-risk maneuvers in traffic.

5. Advantages of Adequate Following Distance  You can see further down the road to get the “Big Picture.”  Other can see you better.  You have more time to use IPDE  You are in a better position is a car suddenly stops.

6. One Car length Method  Keep at least one car length (about 20 feet) for each ten miles per hour of speed  During bad weather or at higher speeds, increase following distance

7. 3 Car Lengths (about 60 feet) You 30 MPH

8. 3 – Second Following Distance Rule  Pick a fixed point on the roadway. This can be a shadow, mark on the road, or a sign.  When the vehicle in front of you passes the checkpoint count: one-one- thousand, two- one-thousand, three-one-thousand.  Now check to see if your vehicle is short of the checkpoint. If not, slow down and add more following distance.  Under adverse conditions you will need more than 3-seconds.

9. ObjectYou

10. Count… One Two Three

11. Object You

12. Following Others  Look beyond the vehicle ahead of you.  Look over, through, or around vehicles ahead of you.  Be aware for brake lights.  Always try to anticipate what the driver ahead is likely to do.  Be alert in areas where sudden stops can occur.  Intersections  Lanes next to parked cars.  Business driveways with high volume traffic.  In city driving use the 12 second rule

13. Being Followed  Tailgaters – someone who follows to closely.  This can be a hazard because if you have to stop quickly they can hit you in the rear.

14. Tailgating

15. Managing Tailgaters  Increase your following distance to 4 seconds.  Move slightly to the right.(help tailgater see better)  Signal early for turns, stops, and lane changes.  In extreme situations, pull over and let the tailgater pass you.

16. Responding to Oncoming Traffic A driver may cross into your path of travel for these reasons  Driver Impairment – drowsy, distracted, confused, intoxicated, or ill.  Poor Visibility – direct sunlight, blinding headlights, or bad weather.  Reduced Space – snowbank, narrow bridge, or object in the road.  Sudden Move by Others – children, bicycles, pedestrians.  Mechanical Failure – loss of wheel or brakes.

17. Avoiding Conflicts  Slow down until the driver returns to the normal lane.  Turn on or flash your headlights and blow your horn.  If your right zone is open, move to the right.

18. Looking Ahead While Staying Back  By looking far ahead, you will be able to spot problems in time to adjust your speed and position.  By maintaining a safe following distance you will e able to view the road ahead.

19. Approaching Traffic Signal  If the light is red, slow and be ready to stop.  If the light is green when you first see it, predict that it will change.  Never speed up through a light.

20. Covering the Brake  Cover the Brake – taking you foot off the accelerator and hold it over the brake pedal.  Use this technique whenever you sense a possible conflict.  This will help your reaction time and help you avoid possible collisions.  Ride the Brake – This is when you rest your foot on the brake pedal.  This heats your brake and cause them to wear faster.  This may confuse the driver behind you, you should only flash your brake lights when you are slowing down.

21. Speed Control  Drive with the flow of traffic.  Stay within the speed limit.  Adjust speed for drivers who may block your way.  Judge your speed by existing road conditions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hesp2CckNMs

22. Speed Limits  School Zone, Business and Residential Districts Suburban Business and residential areas

23. Speed Limits Continued  Non-posted rural roadways  State highways, expressway, interstates, etc

24. Speed Limits (Cont.)  Certain Interstate Highways (as posted) Note - Drivers pay double fines for exceeding a 65 mph limit by 10 mph or more. Double fines also apply to most other moving violations committed in 65 mph zone.

25. Safe Corridors  Doubles fines for Speeding Aggressive driving  Placed in areas with high accident rates

27. Selecting the Best Lane  Select the lane with the fewest number of hazards.  Left lane is usually for faster traffic, but it can be held up by drivers making left turn.  At intersections, choose lane for which direction you plan to travel.

28. Changing Lanes  Signal your lane change early.  Use your mirrors to check traffic in your rear zones.  Quickly check you blind-spots.  Change lanes without slowing.  Smoothly move lane and cancel turn signal.

29. Overtaking or Passing  Overtaking – or passing is moving ahead of the vehicle in front of you.  Passing in a city can be dangerous because of cross traffic, pedestrians, and signals.  Make sure you can pass legally and safely.  It is illegal to pass over double center line.

30. Carpool Lanes  To help move rush hour traffic many cities now have special lanes like buses and carpool lanes.  People who ride together save time, fuel, reduce parking problems, and reduce air pollution.

31. One-Way Streets One-way streets can move a greater volume of traffic with less conflict.  One-way signs are posted on most one- way streets.  All moving traffic and parked cars point in the same direction.  Broken white lines are used to separate lanes of traffic.

32. Leaving One-Way Street  Left turn – stay to the far left of the street.  Right turn – stay to the far right.  Straight – stay to the middle of the street.  Watch for signs that may warn that a one- way street will turn into a two-way street.

33. Signal Wrong-Way Drivers  If you encounter a vehicle going the wrong way on a one-way street, slow, steer right, and sound horn and flash lights.

34. The Teen Brain……..is it ready for driving?