Driver EducationDriver Education

Chapter 3Chapter 3

- - Driver safety and the Driver safety and the rules of the roadrules of the road

Buckle up – New Jersey’s Buckle up – New Jersey’s seat belt law seat belt law

The New Jersey seat belt law requires all front-The New Jersey seat belt law requires all front-seat occupants of passenger vehicles operated seat occupants of passenger vehicles operated in New Jersey to wear a seat belt.in New Jersey to wear a seat belt.

The motorist is responsible for all passengers The motorist is responsible for all passengers under 18 years of age. under 18 years of age.

Front-seat passengers 18 years of age and Front-seat passengers 18 years of age and over are responsible for themselves.over are responsible for themselves.

Motorists with GDL permits or provisional Motorists with GDL permits or provisional licenses must use seat belts. Additionally, they licenses must use seat belts. Additionally, they must require all passengers seated anywhere must require all passengers seated anywhere in the vehicle to use seat belts. in the vehicle to use seat belts.

Seat Belt Law (Cont.)Seat Belt Law (Cont.)

Requires the motorist, front-Requires the motorist, front-seat passenger and children seat passenger and children under 18 years old to be under 18 years old to be belted.belted. Non-compliance is a primary Non-compliance is a primary

offense. A police officer can offense. A police officer can stop a motorist solely for a stop a motorist solely for a violation of the seat belt law. violation of the seat belt law.

NEW LAW 2010NEW LAW 2010 As a secondary offense As a secondary offense (meaning the car was (meaning the car was stopped for another stopped for another infraction) ALL passengers infraction) ALL passengers regardless of age MUST regardless of age MUST wear seatbelts or they can be wear seatbelts or they can be issued a summons. issued a summons.

Why wear Seat Belts…Why wear Seat Belts…

Seat belts can save a life and improve a motorist’s Seat belts can save a life and improve a motorist’s chances of surviving a crash by 60 percent. chances of surviving a crash by 60 percent.

Seat belts help in many ways, for example: Seat belts help in many ways, for example: They keep motorists and passengers from being thrown from They keep motorists and passengers from being thrown from

the vehicle in a collision. If a motorist/passenger is held in the vehicle in a collision. If a motorist/passenger is held in place, any injury may be less severe. place, any injury may be less severe.

They slow a body down with the vehicle. If a vehicle hits They slow a body down with the vehicle. If a vehicle hits something, the vehicle stops, but the person keeps going at something, the vehicle stops, but the person keeps going at the same speed that the vehicle was moving. Hitting the the same speed that the vehicle was moving. Hitting the dashboard or windshield at 30 mph is like falling from the top dashboard or windshield at 30 mph is like falling from the top of a three-story building of a three-story building

Belts and straps also keep a motorist in position so he/she can Belts and straps also keep a motorist in position so he/she can control the vehicle control the vehicle

Car SeatsCar Seats

Traffic accidents are a leading killer of children. Traffic accidents are a leading killer of children. An infant car seat will protect a baby up to 20 pounds and 26 An infant car seat will protect a baby up to 20 pounds and 26

inches and must be placed in the vehicle facing the rear. inches and must be placed in the vehicle facing the rear. A convertible car seat is a larger seat that can be used for an A convertible car seat is a larger seat that can be used for an

infant or a toddler of up to 40 pounds and 40 inches in height. infant or a toddler of up to 40 pounds and 40 inches in height. Whenever possible, child car safety seats should be placed in the Whenever possible, child car safety seats should be placed in the

backseat or rear seat. backseat or rear seat. However, if a motorist is riding with a new infant and the vehicle However, if a motorist is riding with a new infant and the vehicle

does not have a backseat, move the front seat as far back as does not have a backseat, move the front seat as far back as possible from the dashboard and make sure the child is buckled possible from the dashboard and make sure the child is buckled properly. properly.

Never place rear-facing infant safety seats in the front seat of Never place rear-facing infant safety seats in the front seat of a vehicle with a front passenger-side air bag.a vehicle with a front passenger-side air bag.

AirbagsAirbags

When air bags are combined with lap/shoulder When air bags are combined with lap/shoulder seat belts, they have saved many adult lives seat belts, they have saved many adult lives and prevented many injuries in motor vehicle and prevented many injuries in motor vehicle crashes.crashes.

However, air bags could seriously injure or kill However, air bags could seriously injure or kill children who are sitting in the front seat.children who are sitting in the front seat.

Always put an infant in a rear-facing infant child Always put an infant in a rear-facing infant child safety seat in the back seat of a vehicle with air safety seat in the back seat of a vehicle with air bags. bags.

Always be sure that children 12 years old and Always be sure that children 12 years old and younger ride in the backseat of the vehicle. younger ride in the backseat of the vehicle.

Car ConditionCar Condition

BrakesBrakes With conventional disc and drum brakes, a With conventional disc and drum brakes, a

motorist should pump them gently after motorist should pump them gently after driving through water to test them and dry driving through water to test them and dry them out. them out.

In wet or slippery conditions, a motorist In wet or slippery conditions, a motorist should still drive carefully, always keep a should still drive carefully, always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and safe distance from the vehicle in front and maintain a speed consistent with the road maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions. conditions.

Car Condition (cont.)Car Condition (cont.)

HornHorn Use the horn to signal when Use the horn to signal when

passing or when coming out passing or when coming out of a blind alley, curve or of a blind alley, curve or driveway.driveway.

Snow or IceSnow or Ice State law (N.J.S.A 39:4-77.1) State law (N.J.S.A 39:4-77.1)

requires a motorist to remove requires a motorist to remove snow or ice from a vehicle snow or ice from a vehicle before driving it. If snow or before driving it. If snow or ice dislodges from a moving ice dislodges from a moving vehicle, it could strike vehicle, it could strike another vehicle or pedestrian, another vehicle or pedestrian, causing injury or property causing injury or property damage. damage.

Blind SpotsBlind Spots

These are areas where a These are areas where a motorist cannot see motorist cannot see behind his/her vehicle behind his/her vehicle through the mirror. through the mirror.

A motorist can check this A motorist can check this by turning his/her head by turning his/her head quickly. quickly.

Never drive in someone Never drive in someone else's blind spot.else's blind spot.

SteeringSteering

The steering wheel can be The steering wheel can be thought of as the face of a thought of as the face of a clock. clock.

For normal driving, a motorist For normal driving, a motorist should grip the steering wheel should grip the steering wheel by the outside rim at the 9 by the outside rim at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions, and 3 o’clock positions, keeping his/her thumb along keeping his/her thumb along the face of the wheel. the face of the wheel.

Both hands should be kept on Both hands should be kept on the wheel at all times, except the wheel at all times, except when shifting gears or giving when shifting gears or giving hand signals. hand signals.

Stopping DistancesStopping Distances

Stopping distance Stopping distance depends on: depends on: Motorist reaction time Motorist reaction time Weather and road Weather and road

conditions conditions Vehicle weight Vehicle weight Brake conditions Brake conditions Condition and type of tires Condition and type of tires Roadway conditions Roadway conditions Speed Speed

Speed Reaction distance

Braking distance

Total distance

10 mph 11 ft 6 ft 17 ft

20 mph 22 ft 25 ft 47 ft

30 mph 33 ft 55 ft 88 ft

40 mph 44 ft 105 ft 149 ft

50 mph 55 ft 188 ft 243 ft

60 mph 66 ft 300 ft 366 ft

70 mph 77 ft 455 ft 532 ft

Driving SignalsDriving Signals

Stop or slowing downStop or slowing down: hand and arm downward, palm facing to : hand and arm downward, palm facing to the rear the rear

Right turnRight turn: hand and arm upward : hand and arm upward Left turnLeft turn: hand and arm straight out : hand and arm straight out A motorist should turn on the turn signal at least 100 feet before A motorist should turn on the turn signal at least 100 feet before

turning and be sure to cancel the signal after making a turn. turning and be sure to cancel the signal after making a turn.

Driving In ReverseDriving In Reverse

Before driving in reverse, a motorist must be sure that the path is clear. Before driving in reverse, a motorist must be sure that the path is clear. In reverse, turning the wheel to the right will direct the vehicle to the right. In reverse, turning the wheel to the right will direct the vehicle to the right. Steering to the left will direct the vehicle to the left. Steering to the left will direct the vehicle to the left. If a motorist does not turn the wheel while in reverse, the vehicle will If a motorist does not turn the wheel while in reverse, the vehicle will

move straight backward.move straight backward. To drive in reverse, a motorist’s head and body should be turned to the To drive in reverse, a motorist’s head and body should be turned to the

right until he/she can see clearly through the back window of the vehicle right until he/she can see clearly through the back window of the vehicle without the use of mirrors. without the use of mirrors.

The motorist’s right hand and arm should be placed over the back of the The motorist’s right hand and arm should be placed over the back of the front passenger seat; the left hand should grasp the top of the steering front passenger seat; the left hand should grasp the top of the steering wheel. wheel.

A vehicle should be driven slowly in reverse – typically, walking speed (2 A vehicle should be driven slowly in reverse – typically, walking speed (2 to 4 mph). The motorist should not turn forward until the vehicle is totally to 4 mph). The motorist should not turn forward until the vehicle is totally stopped.stopped.

TurningTurning

To make safe turns, a motorist should To make safe turns, a motorist should decide well in advance where he/she decide well in advance where he/she wants to turn. wants to turn.

Always stay in the same lane until the Always stay in the same lane until the turn is finished turn is finished

Remember signal 100 ft before turning.Remember signal 100 ft before turning.

The 3-Point Turn (K Turn) The 3-Point Turn (K Turn)

Parallel Parking Parallel Parking

Find a parking space that is large enough to fit the Find a parking space that is large enough to fit the vehicle. vehicle.

Signal for a stop and signal to the right to alert Signal for a stop and signal to the right to alert motorists that the vehicle will back up to the right. motorists that the vehicle will back up to the right.

Pull up alongside (parallel) about two to four feet Pull up alongside (parallel) about two to four feet from the vehicle in front. from the vehicle in front.

Turn and check to see that the way is clear Turn and check to see that the way is clear behind the vehicle before backing up. behind the vehicle before backing up.

Begin backing up slowly for about two feet and Begin backing up slowly for about two feet and turn the steering wheel all the way to the right. turn the steering wheel all the way to the right.

When the front of the vehicle has cleared the rear When the front of the vehicle has cleared the rear bumper of the vehicle in front, stop and check the bumper of the vehicle in front, stop and check the angle. angle.

Make sure the right back wheel has not hit the Make sure the right back wheel has not hit the curb. curb.

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left while beginning to back up slowly. Make sure the while beginning to back up slowly. Make sure the vehicle can clear its back bumper. vehicle can clear its back bumper.

When the vehicle is in line, stop. Be sure not to hit When the vehicle is in line, stop. Be sure not to hit the vehicle in back. the vehicle in back.

Turn the vehicle’s wheels straight, and drive to the Turn the vehicle’s wheels straight, and drive to the center of the parking space. The vehicle’s tires center of the parking space. The vehicle’s tires should be no more than should be no more than six inchessix inches from the curb. from the curb.