Module 5 Driver Readiness

The following information is a review of the lesson you just completed. Take time to review and study this information. Remember, this important information will be needed to pass your upcoming assessment, so take the necessary time in order to feel secure about your knowledge of this segment. This is not a graded portion of the course, but should be completed as an additional exercise.

Lesson 1 - Driver Attention / Distraction

Topic 1 - Divided Attention / Distractions

• Driver inattention is the most prevalent primary cause of collisions. Among the Inattention causes, Distraction and Looked-but-did-not-see are the highest reported factors. The most common types of accidents reported are rear-end, intersection, lane change/merge, road departure, and single vehicle crashes.

• To drive safely, a driver needs to give priority attention to the driving task. Even a momentary distraction can lead to a crash. The distraction can be caused by anything that draws the driver's attention away from the road.

• A study by the NHTSA in 1996 estimates that driver distraction contributes to between 20 and 30 percent of all crashes. That is 4,300 accidents every day, resulting in one-and-a-half million accidents a year!

Distractions

• What is a distraction? Distraction occurs when a driver is delayed in the recognition of information needed to safely accomplish the driving task, because something within or outside the vehicle draws his attention away from driving. The presence of a triggering event distinguishes a distracted driver from one who is simply inattentive or "lost in thought."

• Driving is a serious responsibility that demands and deserves your full attention. Driver distractions may occur anytime, anywhere. Americans have so many distractions in theircars they are becoming part-time drivers--trying to eat, talk on the phone, use a computer, navigate and change tapes while coping with highway traffic. It's a formula for disaster.

• Let’s review the top distractions you must be prepared for as a driver.

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Topic 2 - Top Distractions

Driving is a task that requires your full attention every time you get behind the wheel. As a driver, you must always remember to reduce driver distractions and focus on the driving task. Your first responsibility is road safety.

1. Using a wireless phone while driving increases your chance of getting into an accident by 400 percent. When you’re searching for a number, dialing or talking, you’re not watching the road like you should. “Hands-free” phone features help, but studies show that hands-free mobile phones distract drivers very much the same as hand-held phones. The major distraction associated with mobile phone use is intellectual. Therefore, the driver can be similarly distracted using either a hand-held or hands-free phone. Simply put, it is the conversation that distracts the driver, not the device

2. Using a laptop or handheld computer while driving is another large contributor to accidents. Just think about how much focus and attention is needed while operating a computer in a normal working environment. All that attention is now divided which complicates both driving and computer use.

3. As our daily lives get busier and busier, we find ourselves eating on the go. Fast food items can become a big part of our daily driving if we are not careful. Eating while driving is very dangerous, and a habit you shouldn’t let yourself get into. Think about it, one hand on the burger, and one hand on the coke. Who is steering your vehicle? Driving is a full time job.

4. Distractions such as pets and children complicate the driving task and make the trip much more dangerous. Pets need special attention if they are left to roam around in the car. This causes the driver to divide attention from the road and the pet. Pets should have a designated seat or carrier when riding in a vehicle. We all know how demanding children can be, especially during long driving times. This behavior in the children leads to frustration and anxiety for the driver. Many times drivers are distracted by constant questions, bickering and horseplay by children. Avoid these conflicts by providing enjoyable time occupiers such as books and toys.

5. How many times have you strained your neck to get a look at a recent accident or another car stopped by a police? External distractions such as new construction, scenic views, billboards or interesting people in other cars sometimes lead to accidents. These things are not as important as your focus on the driving task. Stay focused on your job as the driver. Get you and your passengers safely to your destination.

6. Personal grooming while in the car can cost you your life. While you are checking your teeth or reapplying lipstick, you are not paying attention to what is going on around you. The key to safety is constant awareness. Awareness could give you that extra split second in which to make avoidance maneuvers and prevent an accident.

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7. It is hard to believe that people actually drive a vehicle while reading a map, book or newspaper, but it is true. Many thousands of accidents each year are caused directly by the loss of attention on the roadway due to reading. Writing is just as bad. This is becoming commonplace on our highways, a driver with one hand on the cell phone and the other writing down information. You couldn’t put you and your passengers in a more dangerous situation.

8. Car crashes are the number one killer of teenagers in America – more than 5,000 teens die each year. Driver distractions are a big part of this number. Loud music, changing discs and tapes as well as tuning the radio are potentially deadly distractions when behind the wheel. And when a teen driver has friends in the car, the risk is even higher – the more passengers, the greater the chance of a serious crash. Other common teen driver distractions are:

• Friends in other vehicles. Don’t let saying “hi” or other fun and games take your attention off the road. Never try to pass items from one moving vehicle to another.

• Headphones. Hearing what’s going on around you is just as important as seeing

• The “show-off ” factor. It may be tempting to go faster, turn sharper or beat another car through an intersection. But don’t do it. Keep focused on staying safe and staying alive.

9. Radio station buttons, CD and cassette controls, volume, balance and fade, A/C and heat knobs, fan speed, cruise control. Those are just some of the knobs, switches, buttons and controls you can adjust, switch on or off and turn up and down while driving, and they all help make travel more comfortable and more fun. You may think all the adjusting and changing is routine – after all, you’ve been doing it since you got your license. But inserting a CD or searching for a radio station makes you six times more likely to get into an accident than glancing at the fuel gauge or speedometer.

10. We are now dealing with a new set of distractions associated with an ever-growing array of new in-vehicle electronic devices, referred to as "telematics," rapidly being developed by the electronics and automobile industries. These devices such as, route navigation systems, on-board computers that deliver personalized Internet-based information, and other multifunction systems are leading candidates for taking over the top spot for in-car distractions. It is predicted that by 2005 all new cars will have some form of on-board computer accessible to the driver.

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Topic 3 - Tips for Staying Safe While Driving

Here are some tips to stay safe while driving.

1. Make it a habit to turn off your cell phone in the car. Let your voice mail pick up. If you must have your phone on, PULL OVER to use it. DO NOT answer it while driving. If it’s that important, they'll call back or leave a message.

2. Never use laptop or handheld computers while driving. If something comes up that is that important, pull off the side of the road, take a few extra minutes and arrive at your destination safely.

3. Don’t let food get in the way of good driving. Leave early and allow yourself plenty of time to stop and eat. If you are traveling, take turns eating and driving with a passenger. DO NOT eat or drink while driving. Each time you take your eyes off the road is a risk that you will crash. Spilling hot beverages on your self while driving will cause you to veer off the road - THIS CAN KILL.

4. It is always best to make sure children are properly buckled up. Provide the child something to occupy their time while driving, like a book or a game. When transporting a pet, use a pet carrier or portable kennel. This will limit their roaming ability and make your driving safer.

5. Don’t be a "rubbernecker." Let your passengers do the sightseeing for you. 6. Attend to your personal grooming before you leave for your trip. Doing your hair,

nails, and tie in the car while driving will cause accidents which can result in unnecessary injuries.

7. Pull over to the side of the road if you need to read a map or write down information. Put any reading material in the trunk if you are somehow tempted to read.

8. Don’t put you and your passengers at risk because of your lack of concentration. Make it a habit to ask your passengers to buckle up, refrain from constant conversation, keep the music at a reasonable volume level, avoid too many passengers and make good safe decisions. Don’t show off for anyone, it could be your last show.

9. Wait until you come to a complete stop at a traffic light or stop sign before changing radio stations or CDs. Pre-set your vehicles climate control, radio or CD/MP3 player. If you have passengers, get them to change the radio stations.

10. If your vehicle has any of these new technologies on board, be smart, don’t use them while driving. Your route navigation system might just navigate you into an accident.

Topic 4 - Ranking of Distractions

This chart shows the most common distractions and how they rank in causing accidents. Look over this chart carefully and think about it each time you get in your vehicle. Remember, adjusting your radio station before your begin driving could save your life, or at least prevent an accident.

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Topic 5 - Newspaper Articles There are hundreds of newspaper articles around the country that relate to Motorist Distractions. Read just a couple of interesting articles about real situations involving Driver Distraction.

Study shows drivers can suffer high-tech overload

By Duncan Mansfield / Associated Press

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- It's a sunny day and you're taking a virtual drive down a two-lane road inside the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. All of a sudden, a truck pulls out from the shoulder and the forward collision-warning system starts beeping. You brake, then an electronic voice announces: "Incoming Internet news." While trying to scan headlines on a dash-mounted computer screen, the cell phone rings. Then more Internet news arrives. Another voice poses a question: "If your car gets 12 miles to the gallon, how many gallons will you need to travel 96 miles?" Still pondering the math, you hear the onboard

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navigation system's electronic voice command, "Turn left ahead." An arrow appears on the computer screen. You miss the turn. So do one out of six drivers who take the test. Some don't answer the phone. Others ignore the Internet or can't remember what they read. Under the circumstances, even the third-grade math problem becomes a brainteaser. Those are the early results from the federal government's first attempt to measure how drivers deal with a potential information overload from an array of high-tech features being installed in automobiles such as onboard navigation systems and cell phones. The study -- expected to be formally released late this summer -- is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Intelligent Vehicle Initiative, which promotes in-vehicle devices that can warn drivers of dangerous situations, recommend actions or even assume partial control to avoid accidents. "All the stuff in there is based on actual systems," ORNL senior scientist Dr. Philip Spelt said of the gadgets he installed in a simulator to test the reactions of 36 drivers. Although numbers are still being crunched, Spelt said the overall outcome already is obvious: "People who got bombarded with three or four devices all at once had more trouble dealing with the whole situation than people where we spread them out." Studies until now have focused only on the impact of the gadgets individually, said Dr. Tom Granda, who oversees Spelt's study from DOT's Office of Safety Research and Development in Washington. "What we asked Phil Spelt to do ... was to look at what is the distraction value of a combination of these things. What are the human performance issues involving multiple systems in a vehicle?" Spelt recognizes that some might question how often all of these systems would go off in such rapid succession. "And the answer is: All it takes is once and if somebody is dead, they don't have to worry about it anymore," he said. Automakers are launching their own investigations. General Motors Corp last fall announced a three-year, $10 million study of driver interaction with cell phones and other gadgets. This month Ford Motor Co. announced its own $10 million effort and said it had just completed its own simulator. Many states are concerned about cell phones in particular. Eleven now ask patrol officers to determine if the phones were factors in traffic accidents. Thirty-seven states have considered curbs on cell phones in moving vehicles since 1995. So far only minor restrictions have been adopted by California, Florida and Massachusetts.

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"It has really been a struggle for states to keep pace with the rate of new technology going into the car," said Matt Sundeen, a senior policy specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures. The simulator Spelt created includes four systems already available or soon to be available to consumers: a cell phone, a forward collision-warning system, a navigation system and an Internet-equipped computer screen. He threw in occasional math questions to determine how much of the driver's "mental capacity is devoted to dealing with these devices and driving the car, and how much do they have left over." Spelt tested 18 men and 18 women, ages 20s to 50s. Each drove the simulator about 45 minutes, covering about 21 virtual miles. They were also asked to recall phone numbers, to stay within a speed limit and to stay on the road. Most did well, with little difference between men and women, Spelt said. Only two or three crashed. "What you learn very quickly is that people learn to cope, especially when it involves their lives," he said. "But just because 90 percent of the population can cope doesn't mean it is the right way to do it." Drivers did better when Spelt managed the data and warning systems so that they could finish one task before dealing with another. In the future, he said, that should be the job of an onboard computer -- to put a cell phone caller on hold until the driver has turned a corner, for instance. "The issue is how do you make this stuff work so that it helps and makes driving better and safer -- not worse," he said.

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Driver in fatal crash reportedly on phone Investigation also shows woman in SUV was speeding, State Patrol reports

By MIKE ROARKE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

The driver who caused a fiery crash that killed a family on Interstate 405 last month was talking on a cell phone at the time of the wreck, a Washington State Patrol investigation has concluded.

An analysis of the crash scene also determined the woman was driving between 75 and 80 mph before she plowed into the back of Fikret Attila's stalled car, killing him, his

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wife, and their two young daughters. The posted speed limit is 60 mph, and witnesses said the driver was passing other motorists.

The woman -- whose husband is a Bothell Police Department officer -- has declined interview requests from State Patrol detectives and never provided a formal statement about what happened, Lt. Grant Hulteen said.

Witnesses told investigators that they saw the SUV driver talking on a cell phone before the crash. Detectives were able to confirm those accounts by reviewing records from her cell-phone company, Hulteen said.

Based on the investigation, the State Patrol has recommended that the Bothell driver receive four counts of vehicular homicide because she was disregarding the safety of others at time of the crash, Hulteen said.

A King County deputy prosecutor said yesterday that she has received the case from the State Patrol and will review it. A decision on whether to file charges against the driver has not been made, but could be determined within two weeks.

Vehicular homicide by disregard for safety -- the lowest level -- carries a prison sentence of 15 to 20 months on each count if the person has no prior felony convictions.

Attila and his family were headed north on I-405 Aug. 10 when their Honda Accord stalled in the Kirkland area. The car was blocking traffic in the right lane when a Ford Explorer slammed into the back, setting it on fire.

Attila, 40, was pulled out by passing motorists, but he had burns on half his body. His wife and daughters were trapped and burned to death. Attila was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he died from his injuries about two weeks later.

Attila and his wife, Gulbahar, 26, were immigrants from Bulgaria. They lived with their daughters -- Seda, 4, and Eda, 2 -- in Lynnwood. The 25-year-old woman who plowed into the back of Attila's car has not been arrested. She was treated for a broken arm at a hospital after the crash.

The Seattle-Post Intelligencer typically does not report the names of criminal suspects unless prosecutors have formally charged them.

Hulteen couldn't say whether phone use might have contributed to the crash.

There are no regulations against talking on a cell phone while driving in Washington, although bans on holding a cell phone while behind the wheel have been enacted in York and considered in other states.

In the I-405 crash, detectives used skid and vehicle-impact marks to determine the condition of the sport-utility vehicle. Several witnesses' accounts supported the conclusion that the driver was speeding, Hulteen said.

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Those witnesses estimated the driver's speed somewhere between 65 and 80 mph, Hulteen said.

Friends of Attila said he had lived in the United States since the early 1990s and married his wife in Bulgaria. He was employed by Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Attila had no other immediate family living in Seattle. Family members lived in Turkey and Bulgaria, one friend said.

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Lesson 2 - Developing Good Habits

Topic 1 – What are Habits and Judgments? Habit Definition

• Habits are defined as a behavior pattern required as a result of frequent repetition. Due to the frequent repetition and competence of performance, the behavior becomes involuntary. This is the basis of vehicle operation and why procedures are used to perform basic operational tasks.

• Habits are formed by performing repetitive procedures in a timely and proficient

manner. Driver behavior is based on operational skills combined with decision-making skills influenced by guided experiences. The driver must have consistent practice to form habits and a driving system designed to develop responsive decision-making skills. When good operational skills and good decision-making skills are combined with a courteous attitude, drivers will exhibit competent roadway behaviors.

Judgment Definition Judgment is defined as the process of forming an evaluation based on identifying situations and comparing risks of performance. While habits are the foundation of vehicle operational skills, judgment is the foundation of decision-making skills. Judgments are formed by the combination of learned responses and positive as well as negative experiences. Good Driving on a Habit Level Once you attain the skills as a driver to operate your vehicle in a well-thought-out manner, based on the vehicle controls, size, weight and balance, along with observing all necessary space management practices, you will be considered a level one. Unfortunately, many drivers never attain this level of driving but assume they are capable because they can efficiently maneuver the vehicle. Good Driving on a Judgment Level All drivers can learn how to become efficient and precise in their driving. The judgment level affords the driver the feedback process necessary to determine whether a response is correct or incorrect. This level often is the level that young and inexperienced drivers should strive for during their first few years at the wheel. The more often the appropriate experiences take place, the more likely you will perform a correct response without having to think about it.

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Levels of Driver Performance A well thought-out system to search for problems, evaluate options, and execute decisions based on critical thinking, problem solving, and knowledge can reduce risk of collisions in most situations. The plan “SEE” requires all drivers to drive at a good habit and judgment level. It has been observed that drivers perform at four levels:

• Habit level of awareness with an acceptable performance; • Judgment level of awareness with an acceptable performance; • Judgment level of awareness with an unacceptable performance; and • Habit level of awareness with an unacceptable performance.

Let’s talk a little more about these levels, so you can understand them.

a. The first level is Habit level of awareness with an acceptable performance – Obviously this is the level that we strive for. This habit level means that you have set your driving skills to an acceptable performance by habit or instinct. The natural thought process brings correct movements and maneuvers that create a safe driving environment.

b. Judgment level of awareness with an acceptable performance - Most driver actions are made on a judgment level of performance. This is the time that we are learning and looking for feedback. This level is the second best performance level because the judgments we are making are considered acceptable and as we continue making these correct judgments, they will eventually become habit.

c. Judgment level of awareness with an unacceptable performance – Again, this level is the learning level. While this level is not a particularly good level, there is still hope that we can move ahead in a positive way. Hopefully, when we get feedback on a negative maneuver or reaction, you can use that knowledge to react differently the next time. Through positive feedback, this level could turn into an acceptable level.

d. Habit level of awareness with an unacceptable performance – This is the most dangerous level. Many drivers operate on this level and never feel that anything is wrong with their performance. This is because they never received positive feedback in level three, so they continue to perform the wrong maneuvers. Once a driver has reached this level, it is very difficult to change these bad habits.

Topic 2 – Processing Habits Learning A Habit Our goal in learning to drive is to learn the appropriate and correct response and then do it right every time. The only way to do that is to have defined behaviors in all circumstances and continue to practice the correct responses to those circumstances. This

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continued practice is what will eventually bring an instinctive and automatic performance in our driving. Don’t be confused, just because you know the right action and response in your head, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will respond that way. It takes practice. So learn correctly, practice correctly and eventually your responses will be correct all the time. Need for Habit Driving No matter how many years you have been driving, there is never any way of knowing what you may encounter in your next driving experience. We have talked about things that are out of your control. This is the reason that habit is so important. When an event presents itself, whether it is major or minor, your instincts may be the thing that will save you or your passenger’s life. During your learning period, don’t continue to perform the wrong action. If you find that you have performed a maneuver wrong more than two times in a row, you will need to specifically practice that move the correct way. In your sub-conscious level, even though your mind knows you’ve made a mistake, if your body mechanics continue to perform incorrectly, that is how you will react in an emergency. You need to learn and perform correctly. You need to form a safe and acceptable habit of driving. Habit Activators On almost every occasion, you will go from an unconscious level of thought to a conscious level of thought due to habit activators. These are stimuli within your own body that provides information to your brain. In the case of driving, your visual stimuli is by far the biggest activator, however, there will be times that other stimuli will help you respond quickly to a problem. Auditory or hearing is the next most common, a horn honking, the squealing of brakes or the shout of a pedestrian. These are activators that will help your response and will become part of the habit making process. Conversion Time We continue to discuss the importance of the four-second rule. One of the reasons this is so important in the habit-forming process is due to the need of conversion time. In other words, driving involves information processing. If you as a driver only allow for your brain one second to process a zone closing event, more than likely you will end up in a collision. Conversely, if you allow your brain four seconds to process the same event, you will more than likely be able to avoid this collision. This is conversion time. The processing of information and relaying this information to your body for the actual mechanics of a maneuver. This habit of keeping a four-second space is critical to safe driving.

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Topic 3 – Top Ten Novice Driving Errors List of Driving Errors Many accidents or collisions occur because of driver error. The top ten driving errors are:

1. Inattention to the path of travel. 2. Driving five or more mph that was too fast for conditions present. 3. Tried to drive through a curve at speed too high for conditions present. 4. Inadequate search at an intersection, causing driver to pull in front of

cross traffic. 5. Failed to see action developing at side of roadway. 6. Following too closely to another vehicle. 7. Willfully taking right-of-way instead of giving it to another driver when

required. 8. Distracted by internal or external forces. 9. Improper evasive action causing a lack of appropriate steering effort. 10. Failed to maintain an appropriate visual lead.

Developing Positive Habits In order for positive habits to develop you will need to:

• Know how to perform your driving tasks and have the desire to complete the tasks.

• Once the desire and know-how are there, you must then prove that you are capable by demonstrating the skills necessary.

• Ditch the bad habits if you have any. It will be difficult since bad habits are much harder to break than creating new habits, but this is essential for the development of positive habits.

• Use your good judgment, along with your parents to understand the correct performance of your driving. Until you can get full assurance that your performance is correct, you can’t be sure of your good habit development.

• Practice, practice, practice. It has been determined that if you do something enough times, it will eventually become habit. Remember, that is the goal, find the correct information, and perform it correctly time after time.

• Finally, all of this will come together and you will be able to perform the necessary tasks of driving correctly without thought.

List of Driving Habits There are ten basic habits that will help you maximize your driving success.

1. Be prepared to drive by always implementing the driver readiness steps that you have already learned in this course. Remember to adjust your seat and mirrors,

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buckle up your seatbelt, lock all doors, adjust any controls that need adjusting, and finally, get in a good mental state to drive.

2. Before moving your vehicle, check all zones to prepare for any obstacles you may face. Check your immediate path of travel to assure clearance and then proceed.

3. Use your 4 to 6, 12 to 15 and 20 to 30 second target ranges to prepare you for upcoming events.

4. Once you see a closed or changing zone, use your three steps to avoid any conflict. Reduce speed, change lane position and communicate to other drivers.

5. Remember to always leave yourself an escape zone and check your blind spots before changing lanes.

6. Be aware of signal lights and use the information learned in this course to judge your speed and stopping distance when entering an intersection with a red light, fresh green light, stale green light and stale yellow light.

7. When slowing or stopping, look first into your rear-zone to check for close vehicles to your rear. Adjust your speed to allow for smooth stopping.

8. Four-second rule, this is the best habit to learn and use. More time to process the information means more time to avoid conflicts.

9. Always stop a good distance behind other vehicles. As you have learned, if you see the bottom of their rear tires, you have made a proper stop.

10. Be a courteous and communicative driver. There is never a reason for road rage. When confronted, avoid eye contact and never follow too close or invade another driver’s path of travel.

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Lesson 3 - Intersections, Curves and Hills It is important that students understand the increased risk of joining and/or crossing multi-lane traffic traveling at speeds up to 60 mph at intersections controlled either by stop signs or traffic signals. While the procedures remain consistent, gap requirements, whether crossing or turning left or right, increase substantially. Multiple turn lanes with drivers cutting across lanes is another problem associated with traveling on multi-lane higher speed roadways to which new drivers must learn to be alert.

Topic 1 – Intersection Maneuvers Crossing and Joining Traffic at Intersection The procedures for crossing or joining traffic traveling at higher speeds on multi-lane roadways is similar to those employed for basic intersection maneuvers. Intersections Controlled by Traffic Signals

• Before entering a signalized intersection, check again for oncoming vehicles signaling a left turn and look for pedestrians in the crosswalk, bicyclists, and cross traffic to make sure that it is stopped before you start to move. Whether first in line or in a line of vehicles, try to develop the habit of checking traffic and counting to three (1-2-3) before moving. This provides some protection against drivers who fail to stop for the red signal or drivers ahead who suddenly brake to a stop. Do not move into the intersection until there is space in the next block.

• If turning right, yield right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Where there is more than one right turn lane, exit and enter the corresponding lane and be alert for drivers crossing or drifting while making the turn. Remember when turning right on red, first stop and yield right-of-way to any vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians in the intended path of travel. While many signalized intersections of multi-lane streets and faster moving traffic provide special left turn lanes and/or delayed or advanced left turn signal lights, such protection is not always available.

• When such protection is not provided, the risk associated with a left turn can increase sharply. In addition to the precautions listed for right turns, the driver must check for oncoming drivers signaling for either left or right turns, identify an adequate gap in oncoming through traffic, determine whether there is space available in the lane to be entered, and check for the presence of pedestrians in the crosswalk to the left.

• Frequently a driver wishing to turn left will move into the intersection on a green signal light with left turn signal on and wheels pointed straight ahead only to find that it is necessary to wait until the signal light turns red before it is safe to make

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the turn. It is important to remember that prior to moving into a signalized intersection and stopping, the law requires that a driver wishing to make a left turn make certain there is space available in the street to be entered. Failure to do so frequently results in being unable to clear the intersection, which may lead to a traffic citation for blocking traffic and what is commonly referred to as grid lock.

Intersections Controlled by Stop or Yield Signs

• Entering or crossing a multi-lane street with traffic traveling at higher speeds at an intersection controlled by a stop or yield sign requires critical time-space judgments. At a brisk rate of acceleration, crossing a two-lane roadway 30 feet wide requires a gap of about six or more seconds. For an approaching vehicle traveling 30 mph, it is 264 feet, or about a half block. At 60 mph., the same vehicle would travel 528 feet. If turning right into traffic traveling 30 m.p.h. a gap of about eight or more seconds, 352 feet, is needed to turn into the lane, accelerate to the speed of traffic while leaving the driver approaching from the left a following interval of four seconds. With traffic traveling at 55 mph, a gap of about 11 seconds, about 880 feet, is needed.

• Similar, but more complex problems exist relative to left turns. Since it is

necessary to first cross the lanes of traffic traveling from left to right, the decision of when it is safe to go becomes more complex. Assuming no stop is required for a vehicle crossing the intersection from the opposite direction before merging with traffic closing from the right, a gap of three to four seconds to the left is needed. If traffic from the right is moving 30 mph, a gap of 11 or more seconds, 484 feet, is needed to drive to and turn into the left lane. Accelerate to the speed of traffic while leaving the driver approaching from the right a following interval of four seconds. With traffic traveling at 55 mph a gap of 14 or more seconds, about 1130 feet is needed. When crossing a divided highway, it may be necessary to yield right-of-way before crossing both sets of roadway.

Topic 2 - Mirror Usage

• Anytime anything, an object (i.e. traffic control device, vehicle, pedestrian] or condition [i.e. interchange, area of limited visibility, water on the roadway] in or adjacent to the path of travel indicates the possible need to adjust speed or position, the driver needs to be aware of the location, size, and speed of any vehicles to the sides and/or rear. It is equally important to remember that while a vehicle is in motion, mirror usage is intended to assist in detection and not intended for gathering detail.

• As indicated previously, drivers cannot afford to divert attention from the path

ahead for more than a second at a time. Three quick mirror checks can answer the following questions: Are there vehicles present? If yes, where are they located? If yes, are they big or little?; If yes, what is their relative speed?

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When Stopping

• Anytime a driver prepares to stop [i.e. traffic control device] before braking, the eyes should go to the rear-view mirror. Flash the brake lights to alert any following driver. When stopping, stop back at least one car length from the stop bar or vehicle ahead. Direct attention to the rear-view mirror until two cars or a truck has stopped to the rear. Concentrating on the mirror and allowing extra space ahead increases ability to steer out of the lane if it becomes apparent that a vehicle closing from the rear is traveling too fast to stop in time.

• Stopping when you can see the rear tires of the vehicle in front contact the road

provides room to steer around a stalled car]. Once stopped, vehicles that provide protection to the rear, should ease off the brake pedal and allow the vehicle to slowly move forward. If stopped behind another vehicle, retain the safe distance.

Mirror Usage when Turning When a turn is anticipated, mirrors should be checked before any change of speed or position is made, to enable the driver to assess and control rear and side space. An update of space to the rear should be made as soon as the turn is completed and the space to the front has been reassessed. Checking Mirror Blind Zones

• Regular side view mirrors, even when angled out an additional 12 to 16 degrees, do not provide sufficient information to safely make a movement to the side without first making a mirror blind-spot check. A mirror blind-spot check involves making a quick eye check to the left or right in the direction of intended movement.

• A partial solution to the problem of restricted vision [mirror blind spots to the left

and right] is the use of convex mirrors such as those found on the right outside of new cars. Due to their rounded surface, convex mirrors provide a much wider view. A problem associated with such mirrors, however, is that objects are much closer than they appear to be when viewed in the mirror. If details are recognized, [i.e. headlights or grill] when checking a convex mirror for objects to the left or right side and rear, the vehicle is generally too close to allow movement in that direction.

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Topic 3 – Shared Left Turn Lanes Using a Shared Left Turn Lane To Enter A Driveway Shared left turn lanes are marked with solid and broken yellow lines on both sides of the lane and white turn arrows that indicate that drivers traveling in either direction can use the lane. Shared left turn lanes are intended only for vehicles making left turns. As a rule drivers should not travel more than about 200 feet while slowing to stop or turn across traffic or accelerating to enter traffic. When traffic is so heavy that a safe gap in oncoming traffic is not available, drivers can move out of the left travel lane, slow, or stop, if necessary, and then complete the left turn when there is a safe gap in traffic.

When preparing to use a shared left turn lane to turn left from moving traffic, a driver must:

• Check the shared left turn lane for vehicles already stopped waiting to turn from or onto the highway.

• Check ahead on the right to see if anyone wanting to make a left turn onto the highway will be entering the shared left turn lane.

• Check oncoming traffic for vehicles signaling a left turn. • Check the driveway to the left for any vehicle signaling a left turn with

intentions of moving into the lane while waiting for a gap in traffic to the right.

• Check traffic to the rear and signal intention to turn left. • Adjust speed and enter lane. • If an adequate gap is not available, brake to a stop. • When oncoming traffic is clear, complete the turn.

Using A Shared Left Turn Lane to Enter a Street from a Driveway

• Signal a left turn and stop at edge of roadway. • Check for drivers on the opposite side of the roadway waiting to turn left. • Check for drivers approaching from the right signaling or waiting to turn left. • Check for a safe gap in traffic to the left. • If traffic is clear in both directions, enter the nearest through lane. Do not use

the shared left turn lane. • If there is a gap to the left but not to the right, turn into the shared left turn

lane, stop, and apply the right turn indicator. When traffic in the lane to the right is clear, accelerate and steer into the nearest traffic lane.

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Topic 4 – Lane Flows and Lane Markings Rules for Lane Flow While you should always apply SEE IT Space Management rules when driving, it is especially important when traveling in moderate to heavy traffic in a complex street grid.

1. Move with the flow of traffic - Try to keep speed the same as that of the surrounding vehicles. [Any speed more than five miles per hour slower or faster than the flow of traffic tends to cause disruption in the flow.]

2. Anticipate lane blockages and select the lane that allows movement with the least conflict - A visual lead of one to one-and-a-half blocks [20 -30 seconds ahead] helps to identify the better lane. Identifying double-parked vehicles or turning vehicles backed up in a lane due to pedestrian or oncoming traffic well in advance provides time to make a lane change if necessary.

3. Sometimes there is no gap in which to make a lane change - Do not just force it. Ask for permission to make the lane change by turning on the turn signal, position vehicle, and make eye contact. In short, ask the other driver to cooperate by helping to make a gap. Remember to return the courtesy when someone else needs help.

4. Predict traffic stoppages that could cause an intersection trap - As previously noted, position the vehicle so that a traffic search 20 to 30 seconds ahead enables the driver to spot conditions that determine whether an intersection can be cleared when a signal light turns red.

5. Identify streets as one- or two-way - One-way streets are usually marked with arrows mounted on corner posts and close to the overhead signal light.

6. Reversible Lanes - In some large cities, during rush hours, additional lanes are designated for traffic traveling into or out of the city. Identified as reversible lanes, they are marked with special double yellow broken lane line markers. In addition, signs at the side of the road and overhead signals tell the driver which lanes can be used.

7. Plan ahead for anticipated turns - In heavy traffic, know where to turn. Since it is frequently difficult to change lanes, plan to get into the proper lane two or three blocks in advance.

8. Using a shared left turn lane - Shared left turn lanes are frequently found between intersections where a large number of vehicles turn left across a moderate to high volume of traffic that is traveling at higher rates of speed. Shared left turn lanes may be used by drivers turning from or onto a roadway. They are to be used only by drivers making a left turn.

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9. Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the crosswalk when turning left - Finding a gap in oncoming traffic while at the same time yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk can be very difficult when turning left at a major intersection.

10. Frequently turns are allowed from more than one lane - It is important to remember that regardless of the number of lanes from which turns can be made, the driver maintains lane position throughout the turn. Also, it is important to check traffic in the other turn lane(s) to be sure other drivers are not crossing into the lane being entered.

Position within lane important on turns - While it is always important to move well to the left or right when preparing to make a turn, it is especially important in heavy traffic when pedestrians in the crosswalk may cause a vehicle to stop. By moving as far left or right as possible, movement may be continued. Understanding Lane Markings

Topic 5 – Curves Driving Through Curves Searching as far ahead as possible and identifying the existence of a curve provides more time to evaluate and control the level of risk.

• Does the roadway curve to the left or right? • Can the exit of the curve be seen ahead? • What is the sharpness of the curve? • What is the lane width, shoulder conditions,

posted speed, or traffic volume?

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• Is the curve on grade...up or down hill? • Is the field of view restricted? • Can an apex point for exiting the curve be

determined?

Answering these questions and checking traffic to the rear better enables a driver to determine the best speed and lane position for negotiating a curve. Also, this is one more situation where driving with headlights on during daylight hours helps manage the level of risk since doing so makes a vehicle more visible to oncoming drivers.

It is generally best to approach the curve in lane position 3, as far away as possible from oncoming traffic. This position also provides the best targeting point for the line of sight. On narrow rural roadways with limited traffic and limited visibility, curves to the right present special problems in that oncoming drivers are more apt to drive over the centerline. Under such circumstances, with headlights on and after making appropriate speed adjustments, approach the curve in lane position 2 to maximize the probability of being seen by the oncoming driver and the ability to establish a line of sight and target line. Establish lane position 3 using the apex of the curve as the target and assess off road conditions if an escape path is required. Speed Control

The driver should slow the vehicle on entry to the curve based on the ability to maintain the line of sight through the curve. The foot should squeeze the brake on entry and trail off the brake through the central part of curve until the apex or exit point is determined. Once the apex (the point that the car is closest to the inside of the curve line) is reached, light acceleration is used to pull the car out of the curve through the exit. The acceleration should be progressively firmer until adjusted to speed limit. Road Position The outside road position on entry to a curve allows for a longer braking effort on entry and a better chance to establish a sightline to the apex and exit of the curve. Entering from the outside, moving the late apex point, and then back out to the top of the curve allows the driver to maintain the best sightline and steer the least amount through the curve. Traction loss into a curve (under-steer) is often caused by excessive speed, excessive braking, or excessive steering. Traction loss on the exit of a curve (over-steer) is often caused by excessive acceleration, sudden braking, or sudden steering efforts. The goal of positioning the vehicle is to reduce the amount or suddenness of brake, acceleration, or steering efforts.

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Line of Sight Through Curves

• Establish Line of Sight and Projected Path of Travel • Check to the Rear • Adjust Position for Maximum View of Oncoming Traffic • Curve to Right • Curve to Left • Establish Target Area for Path of Travel • Adjust Speed and Position to Conditions

Exit Line of Sight (LOS) Through Curves The apex of the corner is the point at which your car is closest to the inside edge of the usable roadway surface. With most cars, the driver should use a late apex so that they can use the power sooner on the exit of the curve. Enter LOS Through Curves

Searching into a curve

• Seeing the curve and/or downgrade 12 seconds ahead as a front zone change or a limitation in the path of travel will cause less stress and give the driver more control because he/she will now test the braking capabilities and get the best speed and lane position to negotiate the curve.

• If a driver notices that the front is closed to your POT (DEFINE) due to the red

light and the stopped car. You can save fuel if you stop accelerating and use the energy of the car’s momentum. You should also apply the brake with light

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pressure. Looking 12 seconds ahead would enable you to see the right zone change created by the traffic that is pulling out of parking spaces and by the bus that is stopped or stopping in the right lane. The control you have of the front zone will be changed by the curve of the entrance ramp and by the traffic flow that will be coming from your left. Trees can cause a LOS limitation.

• Curves and hills reduce a LOS. You are unable to see what you are driving into;

therefore, you cannot know how your POT is. Looking 12 seconds ahead into curves means to direct your eyes through the curve, trying to see to the end of the curve as soon as you possibly can. By looking through hills and curves, you are consciously looking to see if your POT is open or closed to your vehicle’s movement.

Using Vision Techniques on Curves If you were looking ahead, you would see the zone change to your LOS-POT created by the curve. Your LOS is closed. As you get closer to the curve, by looking into the curve you would be able to see the condition of your POT as early as possible. While looking into the curve you will be using your central vision to see any changes to your POT, and your fringe vision should keep account of your tracking path. As you are more confident in the use of reference points, your fringe vision will be more comfortably and efficiently used. Steps to Take When Entering a Curve By searching into the curve you are able to immediately evaluate any problem to your LOS-POT at a time when you may need to avoid a surprise crash situation.

1. After seeing a curve in the roadway, make a mirror check for rear zone awareness.

2. Check the left, front and right zones to know what your options are. 3. To evaluate your POT, search into the curve before you turn the steering wheel. 4. Search 12 seconds ahead for new LOS-POT changes.

Looking for Problems

• The problem most drivers have is that most often they don’t have problems. Think about that for a while. I mean, who really expects a problem over the hillcrest or around the curve? For the previous 9,000 times going into the curve, there wasn’t a problem. Drivers feel comfortable going a little faster than they perhaps should, but still there is no problem. When the problem does occur, we get surprised. For example: a car stalls while backing out of a driveway into our POT. So what’s the solution? We must see the curve and hillcrest as a LOS change, then aggressively look for the actual POT available or not available to you.

• Imagine that you are the driver in the photos at the left. While searching into the

curve, you see the circled parked car as a left zone change, then check the related

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zones such as the left front zone to see if there is or will be an oncoming vehicle. Check the right zone to see if you have an escape path or if you have a closed right zone.

Topic 5 – Hills Cresting Hills Hillcrests on roadways with opposing traffic and limited sight lines should generally be approached in lane position 3 near the right edge of the roadway. Also, it is essential to check traffic to the rear and reduce speed prior to cresting the apex, to assure a better position for responding appropriately if some object is blocking the path of travel on the downgrade. LOS over a Hill

Here are a few things to know when dealing with curves and line-of-site. • Sightline limitations are similar to curve • Adjustments are speed reduction and position to the right or outside of lane • Restriction to sightline is up or down

Traveling Downgrade When driving down long, steep grades [six-degrees or greater] it is important to control the vehicle’s speed and to check to the rear about every five seconds for the presence of large vehicles. Any rapidly approaching large vehicle, particularly one with white smoke boiling out from beneath the rig, is apt to be a run-away, generally one that has lost its brakes. Do not attempt to outrun the truck. Instead, pull off the road as far as possible to give the driver as much room as possible.

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Lesson 4 - Passing

Topic 1 – Passing and Being Passed

• Head-on collisions, typically involving a passing maneuver, annually account for approximately 8,000 or nearly 20% of all traffic fatalities. While some crashes occur due to impatience or illegal actions, many occur due to lack of knowledge regarding time/space gap requirements. The purpose of this lesson is to assist students in learning the passing laws and the legal responsibilities placed on both the driver doing the passing and the driver being passed. Emphasis is placed on developing the ability to determine a safe gap at various speeds.

• Impatience, errors in timing, and poor judgment of space result in approximately 5,500 fatal crashes annually as a result of head-on collisions. There are a number of instances when it is illegal to pass. Passing is not permitted when the left lane marker is a solid yellow line, or a sign indicates a no passing zone. It is illegal to pass on a two-lane road when approaching a hillcrest, curve, or intersection. It is also illegal to pass within 100 feet of bridges, tunnels, and railroad crossings where traffic is limited to one lane of travel in each direction.

Learning to Estimate Passing Gap Needs

• A four-lane divided or undivided highway can also be used to practice identifying space gap needs when passing a vehicle on a two-lane roadway. A driver traveling 40 mph is going to make a flying pass of a vehicle traveling 30 mph. If the driver makes all of the visual checks, signals intentions, and starts the pass from an interval two seconds behind the vehicle ahead, it will take about 13 seconds to complete the pass (at 50 and 40 mph, about 16 seconds and at 60 and 50 mph, about 19 seconds). If the passing maneuver is started from three seconds back with both vehicles traveling the same speed, the passing driver will have to accelerate to a speed 15 mph faster than the vehicle to be passed to complete the pass in the same time limits.

• To estimate the time and distance of an oncoming vehicle, begin counting one, 1,000; two, 1,000; etc. When an oncoming vehicle is seen, continue the count until the approaching vehicle is opposite. Keep trying until accuracy at estimating the passing time needed is achieved.

Headlights While Passing Passing is one more situation in which the use of headlights during daylight hours is critical. The combined distance traveled by the passing and oncoming vehicle at 60 mph is 38 seconds or 3,344 feet. Without headlights on, an approaching vehicle may not become visible until it is within 2,200 to 2,500 feet. This is in contrast to about 4,500 feet with headlights or daytime running lights illuminated. The difference in visibility can be critical.

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Being Passed

• Demands are also placed on the driver of a vehicle being passed. The law specifically prohibits a driver who is being passed from increasing the speed of the vehicle. Further, upon audible signal, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way [move] to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle.

• You must always be aware of another vehicle passing. Constantly check your

mirrors and be aware of other vehicles. When a vehicle begins passing, it is a good idea to move into lane position 3. This provides the passing driver a better view of his line of sight and it improves the safety for both you and the passing driver.

• There may be times when slowing down is necessary. If you see a possible

dangerous situation ahead and feel there won’t be enough time for the vehicle passing to make the change, slow down in order to allow for the driver to move back into your lane. This maneuver may save both of your vehicles from an accident.

Topic 2 – Passing Considerations Larger Vehicles When passing large vehicles such as tractor-trailer rigs, you will generally need 24 seconds to pass if the truck is moving 50 mph and you are moving 60 mph, you will need approximately 2,160 feet to complete the pass. Oncoming Vehicles

• Approaching vehicle travels 2160 feet @ 60 mph • Total clear distance needed to pass becomes 4320 feet when approaching

vehicles exist Determine Passing Time/Space Needed Become familiar with the time and space required to pass a vehicle. When you begin to pass a vehicle you will start two- to three-seconds from the on-going car. At 40 mph this should be about 120 feet. When you begin your pass, accelerate to 50 mph; this should take between eight- to ten-seconds to pass the vehicle enough to begin your return to the lane. Reduce your speed to 40 mph and return to the lane. The entire pass should take approximately 15 seconds from beginning to end.

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Topic 3 - Deciding to Pass Before you pass a vehicle, assess your situation. You will need to determine:

• It is worth it to pass? • It is legal to pass? • It is safe to pass?

If you determine that all of these have been met, you should pass. The major responsibility for passing safely belongs to the driver who is passing. Prepare to Pass When preparing to pass a vehicle, perform these tasks:

• Position vehicle two to three seconds behind the vehicle to be passed. • Check mirrors and oncoming traffic. • Check ahead for safe passing distance. • Signal intention.

Overtake the Ongoing Car When overtaking an ongoing car, you should:

• Signal intention and accelerate into passing lane. • Accelerate quickly to an appropriate speed. • Concentrate on the path ahead. • Check the mirror for following cars.

Return to Lane When returning to the lane:

• Check the rear-view mirror for the front of the car being passed. • Signal intention. • Change lanes and maintain speed. • Cancel turn signal.

Steps for Executing a Pass on Two-lane Road Follow these steps when passing on a two-lane road:

• Get at least three seconds of following distance between you and the vehicle you plan to pass.

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• When it is safe to pass, signal for a left lane change and glance over your left shoulder to check your blind spot. Move over to the passing lane.

• Accelerate at least 10 mph faster than the vehicle you are passing. All passing should be done within the speed limit.

• Make your final evaluations. If you notice a problem that is within 20-30 seconds ahead, you can still change your mind-provided you have not gone beyond the vehicle you were trying to pass. If it is clear, continue to accelerate to the proper speed.

• Maintain your speed. Remain in the left lane until you can see two headlights of the vehicle you are passing in your inside rear-view mirror.

• Signal for a right-lane change. • Return smoothly to the right lane. Do not slow down.

Topic 4 - No-Passing Situations No-passing situations are marked by solid yellow lines. Signs can also mark the passing zones. Rectangular white signs on the right side of the road will indicate DO NOT PASS; yellow pennant-shaped signs are on the left side of the road and indicate NO PASSING ZONE. Passing is illegal and unsafe when your:

• Line of sight is restricted • Space is narrowed, and your front zones are closed • Cross-traffic is present, even if no warning signs or lines are present.

a. Passing is not allowed within 700 to 1,000 feet before the top of a hill. Your

line of sight is restricted to that point. b. Passing is illegal within 100 feet of an intersection. c. Passing is illegal within 100 feet of a railroad crossing. d. Passing is illegal when your line of sight is limited by fog, rain or snow. e. Passing is illegal when the vehicle ahead of you is going the legal speed limit. f. Passing is illegal when you will be stopping or turning right after your pass. g. Passing is illegal when your line of sight is limited by a curve or hill. h. Passing is illegal on a two-lane bridge or overpass. i. Passing is illegal when traffic is too close. j. Passing is illegal when you can’t complete the pass before the NO PASSING

ZONE line.

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Topic 5 - Passing on Multi-Lane Roads When traveling on a multi-lane road you will eventually find yourself in need of passing another vehicle. There are certain things to know when you encounter such a situation. First, check all traffic around you and make sure that passing will not interfere with another vehicle. Check your zones, including your blind-zone. Be careful that another vehicle is not moving into the zone that you plan to occupy. Always pass to the left if possible. There may be times that passing on the right is necessary, but check the roadway, on some roads it is illegal to pass on the right side. Passing

When passing another vehicle you should:

• Pass on the left

• Always perform maneuver in a safe manner

• Return to the original lane when safe to do so

• Return to lane at least 200 feet from oncoming vehicle

Being Passed on the Left

When being passed on the left:

• Give way to the right

• Do not increase speed

Passing on the Right When passing on the right:

• You may not immediately turn left

• There must be two or more lanes

• All the traffic must be moving the same direction and you must do so in a safe manner

• You may not drive on the shoulder of the road

Passing Forbidden

Passing is forbidden:

• On two lane roadways

• On approaching crest of hill

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• On a curve where view is obstructed

• Within 100 feet of intersection or railroad crossing

• If View is Obstructed, Within 100 Feet of a Bridge, Viaduct or Tunnel

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