MODULE 5

Objectives: Students will learn to recognize moderate risk environments, establish vehicle speed, manage intersections, hills, and passing maneuvers

Topics Covered:— Processing Information — determine roadway position,

establish speed, and communicate with other roadway users

— Intersections, Curves, and Hills — develop space management concepts for controlled and uncontrolled intersections, hills, and curves

— Passing — select and safely execute speed and position for passing another vehicle

Space Management and Visual Search Process Visual search—the first space management skill--

drivers need to know—involves classifying traffic elements into four major groups to organize search patterns—Where to look—involves using your eyes and searching

20-30 seconds ahead of your vehicle and possible alternative paths 12-15 seconds in advance—this allows you to identify objects or conditions for an open path of travel (POT)

—Monitor your immediate path of travel 4-8 seconds ahead—4 seconds ahead represents following the interval and 8 seconds provides a safe stopping zone

Space Management and Visual Search Process When to search (involves timing, monitoring the

conditions all around your vehicle)—Driver should look for specific kinds of information such

as road characteristic—construction zones, roadway surface conditions, signs, signals, markings, and motorized vehicles

How to search—involves looking in a pattern that goes from far ahead, near, left, right and rear of the vehicle

Using Information to Manage Space Space Management includes the ZONE Control

process-- the driver monitors 6 zones around the car—Adjust lane position—Time management (time arrival)—Control speed

A Zone--the areas of space around a car that is at least the width of a lane —Open zone is a space a driver can drive in without a

restriction—Closed Zone –is when an area around a car is not

available to the driver because the space is already occupied or there is a restriction to the driver’s line of sight A red traffic light is an example of a closed zone

Roadway Positions A car positioned 6 inches from the left line is in lane position 2 –vehicle position is a method of communicating with other drivers

—Lane position 2 is not recommended when approaching

the crest of a hill

If the left front zone is closed and the right front zone is open, lane position 3 would be a better choice

Staggered stop lines —Allows wider turning radius

—Increases visibility When stopped in traffic behind another car, the driver

should:—Be able to see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead touching the

pavement

Before turning right on RED, the driver in this diagram must—Stop —Yield to pedestrians —Yield to traffic approaching from the left

To cross a two-lane road at 30 mph takes a gap about 1/2 block

Roadway Positions

You should not drive more than 150 feet in a shared left turn lane

Once you have reached the apex of a curve,

you should accelerate—excessive steering

in a curve can result in either over-steering or

under-steer skids

Intersections are the highest risk areas drivers will encounter—never enter an intersection until you identify an open space for your car on the other side of the intersection

Communication—using turn signals, emergency flashers, brake lights, lane selection, horn, and the speed of the vehicle— Before stopping, defensive drivers tap their brakes to warn traffic behind

them

Intersections, Curves, and Hills

Passing When passing another vehicle on a two-lane road,

you should—Return to your lane only when you can see the front of

the vehicle behind being passed in your rear view mirror A vehicle traveling 40 mph will take about 13

seconds to pass another car traveling 30 mph—A vehicle traveling 40 mph, is going approximately 60

feet per second It is illegal to pass another vehicle on

—Hills—Curves—Railroad crossing—Or when you are crossing a solid white line

When determining a safe passing area, the driver must take into account the closing rate of approaching vehicles—Passing is legal only when passing a vehicle traveling slower

than the posted speed limit— It is necessary to signal before returning to your lane after

passing another vehicle Passing on a multi-lane roadway is usually safer than on two

lane roadways Without headlights, an approaching vehicle may not become

visible until it is within 2500 feet Braking distance is the distance a car will travel from the point

where the brakes are full applied when it comes to a complete stop

Passing