CHAPTER 5DEFENSIVE DRIVING

STANDARD COLLISION-PREVENTION FORMULA

• 1. BE ALERT• NEVER THINK THE OTHER MOTORIST WILL NOT MAKE A DRIVING MISTAKE

• 2. BE PREPARED• LEARN HOW TO ACT FAST, ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!

• 3. ACT IN TIME• TRY NOT TO PANIC. KNOW WHAT TO DO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS SUDDENLY

NOTE: KNOW THIS FOR THE WRITTEN EXAM!!!!

SPACE CUSHION•KEEPING SPACE BETWEEN YOUR CAR AND

OTHERS ON ALL SIDES. THE SPACE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES

GIVES YOU TIME TO REACT IN EMERGENCIES.

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING•AGGRESSIVE DRIVING- A PROGRESSION OF UNLAWFUL

DRIVING ACTIONS, SUCH AS SPEEDING, IMPROPER OR EXCESSIVE LANE CHANGING, OR IMPROPER PASSING.•ROAD RAGE- WHEN MOTORIST LOSE THEIR TEMPERS

OR BECOME FRUSTRATED BECAUSE OF A TRAFFIC DISTURBANCE.

DISTRACTIONSTHINGS TO ELIMINATE WHILE DRIVING

• 1. LIGHTS A CIGARETTE• 2. TRYING TO FASTEN SEATBELT• 3. WATCHING CHILDREN OR PETS• 4. EATING• 5. TEXTING/ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• CAN YOU LIST MORE DISTRACTIONS???

MAGGIE’S LAW

•"MAGGIE'S LAW," FOR MAGGIE MCDONNELL• A COLLEGE STUDENT KILLED IN 1997 BY A DRIVER

WHO ADMITTED TO BEING AWAKE FOR 30 HOURS BEFORE HE CRASHED INTO HER CAR.

HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS•A TRANCE LIKE STATE WITH THE SOUNDS OF THE WIND, TIRES, AND THE HUM OF THE ENGINE DULLING YOUR SENSES.

NOTE: KNOW THIS FOR THE WRITTEN EXAM!!!!

HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS• HOW WOULD YOU AVOID HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS????• DO NOT LOOK AT ONE THING FOR MORE THEN A FEW SECONDS.

* IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A MOTORIST REST EVERY 2 HOURS AND/OR SHARE THE DRIVING WITH ANOTHER LICENSED MOTORIST.*

WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY “TALK” TO OTHER DRIVERS?

•COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION• THE BEST WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER DRIVERS ARE….

• HORN• HAND SIGNALS• EYE CONTACT• LIGHTS

TAILGATING

•FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY BEHIND A VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN

FRONT

WHAT IS A SAFE DISTANCE???

•ONE CAR LENGTH FOR EVER 10MPH

• EXAMPLE: • DRIVING 50 MPH= 5 CAR LENGTH BEHIND• DRIVING 65 MPH= 6 ½ CAR LENGTHS BEHIND

NOTE: KNOW THIS FOR THE WRITTEN EXAM!!!!

3 SECOND RULE•PICK A STATIONARY OBJECT•YOUR CAR SHOULD NOT REACH THAT OBJECT UNTIL THREE SECONDS AFTER THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU HAS PASSED.

• HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=IONXTF8F9-Q -HOW TO• HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=PSAAFPEOOZG - PROOF IT WORKS

10 POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN PASSING OR LANE CHANGES

•1. ONLY PASS IF NECESSARY•2. PASS IF IT CAN BE

COMPLETED WITHOUT SPEEDING•3. KEEP A SAFE FOLLOWING

DISTANCE•4. DO NOT TAILGATE•5. CHECK TRAFFIC AHEAD AND

BEHIND

• 6. ONLY PASS WHEN ROAD SIGNS AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS PERMIT• 7. SIGNAL EVERY LANE CHANGE• 8. TAP HORN IF NECESSARY TO SIGNAL

THE DRIVER AHEAD• 9. RETURN TO THE RIGHT LANE ONLY

WHEN AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE BEING PASSED• 10. CANCEL THE TURN SIGNAL

PASSED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE

• STAY IN THE PROPER LANE AND SLOW DOWN TO MAKE THE PASS EASIER FOR THE OTHER MOTORIST.

• NOTE: KNOW THIS FOR THE WRITTEN EXAM!!!!!

DO NOT SPEED UP AND MAKE THE PASS DIFFICULT= AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

ROAD CONDITIONS•WET ROADS• ROADS SURFACES ARE THE MOST SLIPPERY DURING THE FIRST FEW

MINUTES OF RAIN FALL.•WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, A MOTORIST SHOULD TEST THE

BRAKES BY PUMPING THEM.

NOTE: KNOW THIS FOR WRITTEN EXAM

HYDROPLANING

•WHAT IS HYDROPLANING?!?!?!?

HYDROPLANING•RIDING ON A THIN FILM OF WATER•LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR•AFTER 55MPH ,TIRES MAY TOTALLY LEAVE ROAD SURFACES

NOTE: KNOW THIS FOR WRITTEN EXAM

HYDROPLANINGHOW TO AVOID IT:

•1. DO NOT DRIVE ON BALD OR BADLY WORN TIRES•2. SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY RAIN, STANDING WATER (PUDDLES) AND

SLUSH•3. HEAVY RAIN STORM- TRY TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE

ROAD (CENTER LANE)•4. GO 30 MPH OR LESS•5. AVOID HARD BRAKING•6. SHARP TURNING•7. TRY TO DRIVE IN THE SAME TRACK AS VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU.

HYDROPLANINGWHAT TO DO IF YOUR CAR HYDROPLANES

• 1. TAKE FOOT OFF OF GAS• 2.STEER IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO WHEN YOU GAIN TRACTION• 3.. DON’T SLAM ON BRAKE, JUST APPLY GENTLY• 4. APPLY BRAKE AGAIN WHEN ON PAVEMENT• • HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SPAOEDD3RGO – WHAT TO DO

NIGHT DRIVING•A MOTORIST SHOULD ALWAYS BE SURE THE VEHICLE CAN STOP WITHIN THE DISTANCE THAT HE/SHE SEES AHEAD*

NIGHT DRIVING4 FACTORS

•1. SPEED YOU TRAVEL AT•2. YOUR REACTION DISTANCE (DISTANCE TRAVELED BEFORE

HITTING THE BRAKE)•3. BREAKING DISTANCE (DISTANCE NEEDED TO COMPLETELY

STOP VEHICLE)•4. STOPPING DISTANCE

NOTE: KNOW FOR THE WRITTEN EXAM!!!!

CITY DRIVING•HOW MANY SECONDS AHEAD SHOULD YOU

LOOK IN THE CITY?????

•12 SECONDS (SCANNING ROAD AHEAD)

REACTING TO DRIVING PROBLEMSSKIDS

•REAR END STARTS TO SLIDE1.TAKE FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL2.IF SPINNING- TURN THE WHEEL THE DIRECTION THE REAR OF VEHICLE IS SKIDDING

(W/0 OVER STEERING)3.ONCE UNDER CONTROL, STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS

*KEY POINT: A MOTORIST SHOULD LOOK IN THE DIRECTION THAT HE/SHE WANTS TO GO* NOTE: KNOW THIS FOR WRITTEN EXAM!!!!!

REACTING TO DRIVING PROBLEMSSKIDS

•SIDE SKID:•AVOID USING BRAKES

REACTING TO DRIVING PROBLEMSRUNNING OFF PAVEMENT

•1. SLOW DOWN•2. REGAIN CONTROL•3. TURN SLOWLY ONTO THE ROAD

REACTING TO DRIVING PROBLEMSBRAKE FAILURE

•1. SHIFT TO LOW GEAR•2. PUMP BRAKES FAST AND HARD SEVERAL TIMESSTILL DOES NOT WORK?

3. USE THE PARKING BRAKE4. LOOK FOR A SAFE PLACE TO STOP OFF ROADWAY5. CALL FOR HELP

REACTING TO DRIVING PROBLEMSTIRE BLOWOUT

•1. HOLD STEERING WHEEL FIRMLY•2. KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT, WHILE GRADUALLY SLOWING DOWN•3. REMOVE FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL (DO NOT USE THE BRAKES)

•4. COAST TO A STOP ON ITS OWN

COLLISIONS•IF A COLLISION LOOKS POSSIBLE:• A MOTORIST SHOULD HIT SOMETHING THAT WILL “GIVE” (BRUSH, SHRUBS)

NOTE: KNOW THIS FOR THE WRITTEN EXAM!!!

COLLISIONTYPES:

•REAR COLLISION•SIDE COLLISION•HEAD-ON COLLISION

•WHAT WOULD YOUR INITIAL INSTINCTS BE????

COLLISIONREAR

• 1. BE READY TO APPLY THE BRAKES – TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT• 2. BRACE BODY BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL & THE SEAT BACK• 3. PRESS HEAD FIRMLY AGAINST HEAD REST.

COLLISIONSIDE

•1. TIGHT GRIP ON STEERING WHEEL•TO PREVENT BEING THROWN AGAINST SIDE OF

VEHICLE.

COLLISIONHEAD-ON

IF VEHICLE HAS AIRBAGS & MOTORIST IS WEARING SEAT BELT.1. COVER FACE WITH ARMS/HANDS

IF VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE AIRBAGS & MOTORIST IS NOT WEARING SEAT BELT

1. THROW YOURSELF ACROSS SEAT, TO PREVENT HITTING STEERING WHEEL OR GOING THROUGH THE WIND SHIELD.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A COLLISION

WITNESS OR INVOLVED1. STOP VEHICLE2. REMAIN CALM3. ASSUME THE WORST & GET HELP!4. WAIT AT SCENE5. ASK FOR ASSISTANCE FROM PASSING MOTORIST (IF NEEDED)6. WARN ONCOMING TRAFFIC????

REPORTING ACCIDENTSIF DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IS MORE THAN 500$ OR INJURY INVOLVED:

1. GET A POLICE REPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- IF NO POLICE REPORT, YOU HAVE 10 DAYS TO

SEND A WRITTEN REPORT TO MVC.2. NOTIFY INSURANCE COMPANY3. SEE A DOCTOR ASAP IF SHAKEN UP.