Unit 1.

Highway Safety
In the U.S., ea ch yea r approx imate ly 3 m illion people a re injure d and a round 40,000
people a re k illed in tra ffic collisions. Motor vehicle collisions a re the lea ding cause of
dea th for people ages 3 to 33. Among those k illed, tee nage drive rs ha ve the highest
dea th ra tes pe r miles driven among all age groups, followed by
e lde rly drive rs a nd young adult males. Eve ry yea r the cost of
cra shes ex ceeds $230 billion dolla rs.
Driving a motor ve hicle involves the conduct of sk ille d and prope rly
time d a ctions unde r va rying road and tra ffic conditions base d on
de cisions tha t depe nd on:

Lea rned Informa tion

Rea listic Pe rce ptions
Sound Judgments

The top 12 causes of fa ta l crashes (in orde r):

1. Failing to mainta in lane position
2. Speeding
3. Driving unde r the influe nce of alcohol, drugs and othe r medica tion
4. Failing to yie ld the right-of-wa y
5. Inatte ntion
6. Re ck less driving
7. Failing to obe y tra ffic signs or signals
8. Imprope r driving te chnique
9. Mak ing a n imprope r turn
10. Drowsy driving
11. Obscured vision
12. Driving the wrong wa y on a one -wa y stree t
Tra ffic enginee rs a nd la wmake rs ha ve designe d the roads, la ws and traffic controls to
he lp drive rs anticipa te and predict wha t othe r road use rs a re about to do. These
efforts a re in our best inte rest a nd reduce the chances of us crashing into ea ch
othe r. In our integra te d tra nsporta tion system a ll drive rs ha ve to depend on ea ch
othe r to follow the rules.

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Our socie ty give s you the free dom to come and go whe re and
whe n you wish. Howe ve r, driving is not a constitutiona l right it is a
privilege you ea rned upon re ce iving your lice nse . You a re obliga ted
to follow state licensing regula tions a nd rules-of-the-road in orde r
to keep tha t privile ge.
Your licensing process is regula ted by your sta te gove rnment a nd
your sta te has spe cific motor vehicle la ws and designa te s va rious
pe nalties for viola tion of the se la ws.
Tra ffic la ws a re in pla ce to re gula te the flow of tra ffic. The y a re designed for your
sa fe ty and the sa fe ty of othe rs you a re sha ring the road with.
If the sta te court system ide ntifies you as an unsafe drive r or finds you negligent of
your re sponsibilities associa te d with driving, the court has the right to take a wa y
your privilege to drive a t any time .

In the driving environment, the chance of injury, damage , or loss

is a lwa ys present.
Re cognize how your driving e nvironment changes ea ch time you
ge t behind the whee l - we a the r, road conditions, your ve hicle and
othe r drive rs a re unpredictable .
De velop the habit of e valua ting ea ch of those risk fa ctors, including
your own we ll being, e ve ry time you drive .
Since it is nea rly impossible to de te rm ine the le vel of risk in spe cific driving
situa tions a ccura te ly, the following a re some guidelines tha t can he lp you assess risk
more a ccura tely:

Conside r the probability of a dange rous e ve nt de ve loping.

Conside r the conseque nces of your de cision.
Prepa re to take a ction to mana ge the situa tion.

Eva lua te these elements for their risk potentia l before and during your drive.

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Eva lua te your risk a s the drive r. Conside r things such as fa tigue , impa irment,
a lle rgies a nd illness.
Assess the conditions of the roa dwa y a nd your route.
Conduct a pre-drive inspe ction of your vehicle .

While driving, if you e ncounte r a worse sce na rio than you a nticipa te d, conside r the
conseque nces and make a sa fe de cision on how to proceed.
Sha rpen your driving skills to he lp lowe r your risk .

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Unit 2. The Driver

A crash occurs e ve ry 30 se conds. Before driving, assume you will
be in a cra sh. Drive r readiness lowe rs your risk . If you de te rm ine
your driving risks associa te d with physica l, menta l, or medica l
lim ita tions a re too high, conside r a lte rna tive transporta tion
choices.
Know your de stination and pla n the sa fest route. Plan a n a lte rna te
route in the e ve nt you ha ve an unexpe cted de tour.
Don't drive where you can't see. Most of the informa tion you process while driving is
visua l. Before driving be sure you ca n focus on things nea r a nd fa r a wa y. If you a re
sick , disa ble d or your vision is impa ired, ha ve someone else drive .
Position yourse lf to be a ble to stee r, a cce le ra te and brake efficie ntly.
1. Sit stra ight be hind the wheel with your ba ck aga inst the sea t.
2. Adjust the drive r's side mirror so you ca n see the rea rmost le ft corne r of the
vehicle.
3. Adjust your sea t so you can see and easily ope ra te the controls.
4. Put a 10"-12" spa ce be twee n you and the whee l.
5. Adjust the head restra int so it is e ven with the top of your ea rs.
6. Fasten your sa fety be lt. Te ll passenge rs not to re cline in the ir sea ts. In the
e vent of a crash, their bodie s could slide forwa rd, increasing the chance of
injury.
Elimina te unne cessa ry distra ctions or dive rsions. Loose obje cts be come proje ctiles in
a crash. Se cure loose obje cts in the trunk or the ca rgo ne t. Se cure yourself a nd your
passenge rs and buck le up.

Wha t you a re able to see without obstruction is ca lled your line of-sight. The best condition for visua l sea rch is when your line -ofsight a round all sides of your vehicle is not obstructed.
Look fa r down the road a t least 30 se conds a head. Whe n you
de cide to exe cute a maneuve r, you will nee d a control zone of
approxima te ly 12 to 15 se conds.
De velop the habit of obse rving the ground for change s in road tra ction conditions

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and for shadows tha t might indica te hidden haza rds, such a s children be tween
pa rke d ca rs. This pra ctice will a lso he lp you judge the speed of othe r vehicles.
Whe n changing lanes, che ck for tra ffic behind you, gla nce in your rea rvie w and side
mirrors to make sure no one is prepa ring to pass you. Also, be fore you change lanes
glance ove r your shoulde r to che ck the blind a reas to be ce rta in no one is nea r the
left-or right-rea r corne rs of your vehicle. Insta ll la rge r side mirrors to reduce this
blind spot.
Whe neve r you ha ve to ba ck your vehicle , che ck behind it be fore
ge tting in. Childre n or sma ll obje cts a re ha rd to see from the
drive r's sea t. Ba ck up slowly be ca use your ve hicle is much ha rde r
to control and stop while you a re ba ck ing.
Low light a t night reduce s your vision and makes driving difficult
and da nge rous. Using the night se tting on your rea rvie w m irror
ma y he lp, but it may hampe r your ability to judge the distance of
tra ffic behind you.
At night, whe n the re is no opposing traffic, use your high beams whene ve r possible
to illum ina te your pa th. Be sure to turn off your high beams if the re is opposing
tra ffic or when you see ta illights of vehicles a head. If an approa ching drive r re fuses
to switch his high beams to low, you should loca te the white ma rke r and use it to
guide you.
Do not ove rdrive your hea dlights - ne ve r drive so fast you do not ha ve time to stop
to avoid hitting some thing just be yond your lights. If you "ove r-drive" your
hea dlights, and you see a n obsta cle in your pa th, you will not be able to stop before
you hit tha t obsta cle.
Speed influences crashes in five basic ways:
1. It increases the distance a vehicle travels from when a driver
detects an emergency until the driver reacts.
2. It increases the distance needed to stop a vehicle once an
emergency is perceived.
3. Crash severity increases by the square of the speed;
for example, when speed increases from 40 to 60 mph,
speed goes up 50 percent while the energy released in a
crash more than doubles.
4. Higher crash speeds reduce the ability of vehicles, restraint
systems, and roadway hardware such as guardrails, barriers, and impact
attenuators to protect occupants.
5. Traction and maneuverability are reduced.

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Stopping dista nces involve three fa ctors:

1. Pe rce ption dista nce
2. Rea ction distance
3. Brak ing distance

Ma inta ining a sa fe ga p be twee n vehicles reduces front and rea r-end collision
pote ntia l. De te rmine a safe spee d to tra vel base d on:

Tra ffic density and the ra te of flow

The design a nd condition of the roadwa y
How fa r ahead you can see

Ma naging speed is critical to mane uve ring safe ly through a curve. Ente r the curve
slowe r tha n the posted spee d if:

Road conditions a re slippe ry or if surfa ce tra ction is less than ideal.

You a re ente ring a blind curve tha t you ca nnot see a round.
Your ve hicle is ta ll and has substa ntia l we ight that is loa ded high.

The amount of spa ce you need to safe ly mane uve r increases with
highe r speeds. The faste r you tra vel the more spa ce you nee d to
rea ct to situa tions on the roa dwa y.
You ha ve the most control ove r the spa ce in front of your vehicle .
On dry pa vement, with good visibility, a llow a t least a 3-se cond
inte rva l be tween your vehicle and the vehicle ahea d. This rule
work s we ll for speeds up to 50 mph; howe ve r, the faste r you
tra ve l, the more dista nce you cove r while bringing the vehicle to a
stop.
C rea te a following dista nce grea te r than 3 se conds when:

Tra ction a nd visibility a re reduce d.

A drive r be hind you is trying to pass.
Following a la rge truck or vehicle with lim ited rear vision.
Following a la rge vehicle tha t is block ing your vie w of the road ahead.
Following motorcycle s.

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Stopped on a hill or incline .

You a re distra cte d.

Spa ce behind your vehicle is important if you need to stop or slow quick ly and it is
a lso the most difficult spa ce to manage . Spa ce be hind crea tes a sa fegua rd or buffe r
from be ing rea r-ended. To manage spa ce to the rea r:

Ma inta in a steady speed

Communica te your intention to stop or slow by tapping your brakes
Prior to slowing, che ck your rea r-vie w m irror for vehicles behind you

Deal with tailga te rs by crea ting more spa ce in front of your vehicle and change lanes
to allow them to ge t in front of your vehicle.

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Unit 3. Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving

Alcohol ente rs the bloodstream ve ry quick ly and begins to a ffe ct
the body almost immedia te ly. It is quick to find its wa y to the
brain be ca use the brain conta ins more blood tha n a ny othe r organ.
The amount of a lcohol prese nt in the bloodstream is ca lled blood
a lcohol conce ntra tion (BAC).
Ma ny fa ctors can a ffe ct an individua l's BAC - such as gende r,
we ight, numbe r and size of drinks.
Typically, one drink equals one 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or one shot.
In general, for males it takes the liver one hour to process approximately one drink.
An alcohol-impa ired drive r is less able to inte rpre t wha t he or she sees. They make
e rrors inte rpre ting shapes, ha ve a lte red depth pe rception, and expe rience difficulty
in judging speed.
Ne ve r drive with a n impa ired drive r. If inte rvention is not work ing, ca ll a cab.
In 2005 in the U.S., 16,885 people died in a lcohol-re late d crashes. Tha t's one e ve ry
31 m inutes or an a ve rage of 46 pe r da y.

Drugs a re designed to a lte r spe cific body functions and

conseque ntly can a lte r the ability to pe rce ive, make sound
judgments and rea ct quick ly.
The ca tegorie s or types of drugs include :

Depressants
Stim ula nts
Na rcotics
Hallucinogens

Depressants affe ct the central ne rvous system by slowing down or "depressing"

re flexe s and coordina tion. Your ability to focus and respond is impa ired quick ly.
Seda tives a re a type of de pressa nt.
Stim ula nts "stimula te" or speed-up the centra l ne rvous system . They increa se hea rt

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ra te and gene rate a fa lse sense of ale rtness and well be ing. The y ex cite and
a cce le ra te the centra l ne rvous system . Mode ra te amounts may produce blurre d
vision, hallucina tions a nd pa ranoia .
Na rcotics a re strong depressants tha t a re often prescribed for se ve re pa in. The y shut
down the ce ntra l ne rvous system. The y can produce a wide va riety of side effe cts
including nausea , dizziness and vomiting. Drive rs also ma y expe rience slowe d
rea ction time and drowsiness.
Hallucinogens a lte r the m ind. The y change the wa y the mind pe rce ives, processes
informa tion, and rea cts.
Combining diffe rent drugs and alcohol ma y cause a more intense
effe ct than if you only take one drug a t a time . This e ffe ct is ca lled
syne rgism and is unpredictable a nd ex treme ly dange rous. Neve r
combine drugs and use le gal drugs only as re commende d.
Wa tch for indications tha t othe r drive rs m ight be impa ired:

Erra tic change s in speed

Wea ving from side to side
Tra ve ling in the wrong lane
Running stop signs and lights

Distance yourse lf from the impaired drive r by increa sing the amount of spa ce
be twee n you and the othe r vehicle.

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Unit 4. Other Driving Impairments

La ck of sleep is one of the leading causes of traffic fa talities.

Fa tigue has many of the same dange rous e ffe cts as drinking
a lcohol. For example, be ing a wake for 18 hours straight has the
same e ffe ct as a .07 BAC.
The circa dia n rhythm is built into the human body to seek rest for
itse lf.
We will be most slee py during the m iddle of our nighttime sleep pe riod, and aga in 12
hours la te r, be tween 2 p.m. a nd 4 p.m .
Whe n you a re tired, your body is relaxed and it takes more time to stee r and brake .
Your bra in is slowing down a nd your a bility to rea ct quick ly is reduced.
Fa tigue blurs your visua l a cuity, shrinks your pe riphe ra l vision, and slows your
ha za rd re cognition abilities. You may miss critica l informa tion such a s roa d signs a nd
tra ffic signa ls.
Micro sleeps a re sudden, unexpe cted moments of sleep tha t la st 4-5 se conds. In 4-5
se conds, tra veling 50 mph, your vehicle ca n tra ve l the length of a footba ll fie ld.
If you expe rience m icro sleep, pull off whe re it is sa fe and re st.
If you a re taking seda tive-hypnotic drugs such as Ambien or Lunesta , re duce the risk
of unpredicta ble "sleep driving" by tak ing no more than the prescribe d amount and
not mix ing it with a lcohol.
Tips for pre venting fa tigue whe n driving on long trips include :
1. Ge t plenty of sleep before you depa rt.
2. Ensure you vehicle ha s good circula tion.
3. Wea r your safe ty be lt - it "holds" you in your sea t and your muscles do not
tire so quickly.
4. Sche dule and plan to stop eve ry two hours, ge t out and wa lk a round.

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Driving requires inte ra ction be twee n your body and menta l

processes. Drive rs routinely drive in menta l sta te s tha t inte rfe re
with the a bility to pe rce ive risk a nd rea ct quickly. You a re impa ired
whe n your a bility to ope ra te a vehicle is limited or hampe red.
Drive rs who drive re ckle ssly while ex pe riencing these emotions a re
cha ra cte rized as unwilling to exe rcise se lf-control be ca use they a re
expe riencing fea r, vengeance , a nd pre judice or expre ssing
disre spe ct for othe rs.
If you a re stuck in a tra ffic jam a nd you can fee l your a nge r rising, you a re
expe riencing a n emotiona l cha lle nge called restriction.
The Na tional Highwa y Traffic Sa fety Administra tion (NHTSA) de fines a ggressive
driving as the ope ra tion of a motor ve hicle in a manne r tha t enda nge rs or is likely to
endange r pe rsons or prope rty.
Examples of aggre ssive driving beha vior include:

Imprope r passing
Speeding
Imprope r la ne changing
Failure to obe y traffic controls
Re ck less, ca rele ss or ina ttentive driving
Ta ilga ting
Failure to signa l
Shouting, honking, swea ring, name -ca lling
Using the vehicle to cut off othe r drive rs
Cha sing othe r ve hicles in pursuit

Aggressive drivers injure two to four times more people than drunk drivers.
Concentra te on the sa fe ty of your ve hicle , yourse lf and your pa ssenge rs. Be a
courteous drive r and enjoy your journe y.
Inatte ntion a nd distra ctions a re dange rous be cause the y take
YOUR MIND off of driving. Ina ttention is a gene ral la ck of focus on
the task of driving.
Sta y focused on the task of driving be cause in one split se cond a n

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unexpe cted eve nt ca n occur, a nd you ha ve to be ready to see it and rea ct quick ly!
Most distra ctions a re outside of the vehicle , a nd you ca nnot control them, but you
C AN control the urge to look and sta re . Do not take your e yes off the roa d ahea d and
keep both hands on the whee l so you ca n control your ve hicle . Pla n your route to
a void distra ctions outside of your ca r.
Keep in m ind tha t the re a re occasions whe n your vehicle can be come a distra ction.
When engaged in a conversation, even on a hands free phone, the conversation
involves your thought process and often emotions, which take your mind off driving.
If you need to have a conversation, pull over and use the phone only when you are
parked in a safe and secure location.
If you nee d dire ctions, stop your vehicle a nd then read the map.
Groom yourse lf be fore your ve hicle is in motion. Control your passenge rs - while you
a re driving, you a re responsible for the ir lives. If you ha ve to eat or drink , buy "ca rfrie ndly" food a nd get it rea dy be fore you a re in motion.
Enjoy the radio a nd C Ds... loa d your C Ds and se t your radio sta tions be fore driving.
Keep the volume down so you can hea r e vents tha t occur outside of the vehicle.
Wa tch out for othe rs who a re not pa ying a ttention - the y a re e ve rywhe re ! And
a lwa ys sta y focused be hind the wheel.

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Unit 5. Traffic Laws

Wa rning signs "wa rn" drive rs of road a nd traffic conditions and

communica te haza rds tha t lie a head. Ne w pe destrian a nd school
zone signs ex ist on the roadwa y to wa rn drive rs of an a pproa ching
crosswa lk. The y a re fluore scent yellow-gree n diamond-sha ped.
Guide signs provide informa tion about routes, ex its, loca tion,
distances, points of inte re st, and se rvices.
Regula tory signs communicate la ws. The re gula tory speed limit sign is the most
common sign on our roadwa ys.
Tra ffic enginee rs use signa ls in combina tion with signs and ma rk ings to dive rt tra ffic
off main roa ds.
Lines a re the most common road ma rk ing and a re prima rily used to signify traffic
lanes. Lines also communica te whe re to stop, when the road na rrows a nd whe re
pede strians may safe ly cross the road. A broad white stop ba r pa inted on your lane
a t a n inte rse ction indica tes the be st pla ce to stop your vehicle . Tex t is a lso use d with
a diamond symbol to represent rese rve d lanes.
Arrows a re used to he lp the drive r position the ir vehicle in the prope r lane for turning
left, right or going straight.
If you ha ve a SO LID ye llow line on your side of the roa d, do not pass or cross ove r
into the oncoming la ne.
Ele ctronic highwa y message boa rds communica te safe ty messages. W hen you see a
message boa rd with four ambe r dots fla shing in ea ch corne r, this indica tes the
shoulde r is close d.
Construction zones present a very high risk to all who are present.
Each year motorists injure thousands of roadway workers in construction zones.
Communica tion, if used consistently, ca n re duce the risk of collision.
Turn on your signa l we ll in adva nce of your ma neuver to turn or change lanes. Signa l
fa r e nough ahea d so othe r drive rs in your vicinity can make adjustments to your
change in speed a nd dire ction.

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Use your low beam or da ytime running hea dlights to communica te your prese nce to
othe r roa d use rs e ve ry time you drive . Flash your high-beam headlights to othe r
drive rs you a re behind and about to pass. Flash your high-beam
hea dlights to oncom ing drive rs with the ir high-beam hea dlights on.
Use you eme rgency haza rd lights to communica te when you a re in
trouble, the re is trouble a head, or whe n you a re moving ve ry
slowly.
Be familia r with the loca tion of your horn a nd the pressure re quired
to ope ra te it. Do not use your horn unle ss it is nece ssa ry to wa rn
othe r roa d use rs of a haza rdous situa tion. Using your horn can be bene ficia l or ve ry
irrita ting to othe r drive rs.
Position the ve hicle in the right side of your lane before turning right and move
towa rd the cente rline whe n you a re about to turn left.
Use ha nd gesture s as a courtesy. Ne ve r use obscene ha nd gestures whe n driving.
Avoid e ye conta ct unless you a re making a courteous gesture. Eye conta ct can be a
trigge r for road rage when you a re communica ting a ne ga tive message .

Do your best to communica te your intentions whe n the re is

confusion a bout the right-of-wa y.

Yie ld to any eme rgency vehicle tha t is using its sire n and
has at least one lighted lamp emitting red light.

Signa l your intention when turning le ft a t an inte rse ction or

whe n mak ing a U-turn. Yie ld to a ll oncoming tra ffic until
the re is a gap providing you with sufficient time and spa ce
to safe ly turn.
Yie ld to a ll vehicles a lrea dy tra ve ling in the roa dwa y.
Drive rs must yie ld to pede stria ns in ma rked or unmarked crossings.
Alwa ys yie ld to pe rsons who ca rry a white cane or have a guide dog,
whe re ve r they a re in the roa dwa y.
If your lane is blocked, you must yie ld the right-of-wa y to othe r vehicles
a round you before you pre pa re a lane change to go around the vehicle
block ing your lane .
If your lane is e nding, you must yield the right-of-wa y to vehicles already
tra ve ling in adja cent lanes.

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Light trucks ha ve a high ce nte r of gra vity which increases the ir

susceptibility to roll ove r.
Whe n you approa ch a school bus on an undivided roadwa y, be
pre pa red to stop. When you see the flashing red stop lights, stop
be fore rea ching the bus zone a nd wa it for the bus to unload or
load. Proceed only a fte r the bus drive r turns off the re d fla shing
lights. Wa tch for children.
Whe n tra ve ling behind la rge truck s, increase your following dista nce. Avoid tra ve ling
in no-zones tha t a re ahead, to the sides a nd behind la rge trucks. If you find
yourself in one of the se a reas, maneuve r to ge t out of it quick ly so you will be seen
by the drive r.
As you a pproa ch a bicyclist, adjust your speed and position. Slow down and create a
wide spa ce . Do not pass if the road is too na rrow for you to pass sa fely. Do not pass
them if you ca nnot safe ly move out of your la ne. Be pa tient and follow them a t a
distance until it is safe to pa ss.
When being passed by a motorcycle, maintain your lane position and prepare to adjust
your speed to let it in ahead of you. If you see a motorcycle rapidly overtaking you
from the rear, maintain your lane position until it passes.
A fe w guide lines to he lp reduce the risk of colliding with la rge
anima ls include:

Scan we ll ahea d and fa r off to the sides of the roadwa y

whe n you see "dee r crossing" signs.
At night, use your high-beam lights, conditions pe rmitting,
to illum ina te the roa d's edge s.
If you see a dee r on or nea r the roadwa y and think you
ha ve time to a void hitting it, re duce your speed, ta p your brakes a nd sound
your horn to wa rn othe r drive rs of the haza rd ahea d.
Do not fla sh your headlights.
If the re is no vehicle close behind you, brake ha rd.
If a collision is ine vitable , do not swe rve to avoid the animal, your risk of
injury may be grea te r if you run off the roa d. Ma inta in control of your vehicle .
Report the collision to the police and your insurance company.

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Unit 6. The Driving Environment

An inte rse ction is a point whe re two or more roa dways inte rse ct.
The re a re both controlle d and uncontrolled inte rse ctions.
As you nea r a controlle d inte rse ction, sea rch the inte rse ction to
identify othe r roa d use rs. Loca te traffic controls and begin to follow
the ir dire ction. If you need to turn, look for spe cia l turn la nes.
Reduce your speed. Yie ld to anyone tha t is a lready in the
inte rse ction.
At the inte rse ction, sea rch le ft, cente r, right, and left aga in.
If you approa ch a ye llow or red signa l in your lane, you a re require d to slow a nd be
pre pa red to stop. Afte r you stop, keep pre ssure on the brake a nd wa it for the gree n
signal. Remembe r to de la y your sta rt to a void be ing struck by a re d light runne r.
Whe n the inte rse ction is clea r, maneuve r your vehicle through the inte rse ction.
Whe n you a re stopped a t a n inte rse ction, if your vie w is obstructed in a ny dire ction,
your line-of-sight is blocked. Do not a cce le ra te . Inch forwa rd ve ry slowly by easing
off the brake. Continue to inch forwa rd until you ca n see past the obstruction a nd
into the inte rse ction. If a nothe r vehicle is approaching, it has the right-of-wa y. When
your pa th of tra ve l is clea r, begin to a cce le ra te and turn or go through the
inte rse ction.
Approa ch a ra ilroa d crossing with extreme caution. Look both wa ys, roll your
windows down to hea r, and be prepa red to stop. If signa l and be lls a re flashing a nd
ringing, do not ente r the inte rse ction. Do not try to bea t the tra in. Ne ve r stop your
vehicle while ove r the railroa d tra cks or be twee n the ga tes.

Rural or country driving involves unique cha ra cte ristics and risk
fa ctors:

Fe we r inte rse ctions (many hidden or uncontrolled)

Undivided, two-la ne roa ds with oncoming traffic
Lim ited shoulde rs a nd gua rdrails
W ild anima ls
Horse -dra wn ca rriages, fa rm equipment and othe r slowmoving ve hicle s
Fe we r vehicles, less traffic

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Drive rs tend to tra ve l a t highe r speeds with lowe r sea t be lt

use
Lim ited a ccess to a dva nced medical ca re (in the e vent of
injuries re late d to a crash, the a ve ra ge time to rea ch an
eme rgency ca re fa cility in a rura l a rea is 53 m inutes ve rsus 37 m inutes in an
urban a rea)

Slow-moving vehicles such as fa rm equipment might be block ing your pa th.

O ve rtake these vehicles only if you ha ve time and spa ce to make a sa fe mane uve r. If
it is not safe , ba ck off and wa it; drive rs of the se vehicles fre quently will pull ove r to
a llow ba cked-up traffic to pass. Exe rcise courte sy and pa tience .
Before tra ve ling on hills and mounta ins, pre pa re your ve hicle 's
brakes and tires for ex treme force s of gra vity and ine rtia . Whe n
going through a curve , sta y to the right side of your lane .
Ne ve r coa st down a hill in neutra l or in ove rdrive - your vehicle
could speed up beyond your control. Coa sting downhill is illega l in
some sta tes.
Whe n tra ve ling on rura l roadwa ys a t highe r spee ds, remembe r you will need a longe r
stopping distance . Increase your following dista nce - make sure you ha ve ple nty of
room to stop be twee n you and any vehicle a head.
Ma ny head-on, passing crashes occur be cause drive rs fail to see and a ccura te ly
judge the speed and distance of approa ching vehicles. Whe n you see oncom ing
vehicles ge tting close r, it is too close for you to sta rt the pass. Alwa ys be sure the re
is safe spa ce to return.
Expresswa y driving demands continuous sea rching sk ills, smooth mane uve rs, speed
adjustment and positioning.
Signa l your intention to me rge as you ente r the a cce le ra tion lane. Quick ly e va lua te
the free wa y tra ffic, look for a spa ce to me rge , and adjust your speed. Be prepa re d to
slow or a cce le ra te quick ly depe nding on the flow. Pre vent an eme rgency situa tion by
me rging without stopping. Position your vehicle a t least a 3-se cond following
distance from the vehicle you plan to follow. Me rge smoothly. Turn off your signa l.
Adjust your speed to the tra ffic flow.
When you enter the expressway, select the lane you want to drive based on traffic flow,
road conditions and how far away your exit is. Reserve your use of the center and left
lanes for passing. If you are in heavy expressway traffic at rush hour, use the center
lane to avoid vehicles constantly entering and exiting in your path.

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Tra ve l a t the speed of the flow of tra ffic to a void conflicts. Ma inta in a 3-4 se cond
following dista nce. If the road is slippe ry or we t, increase the dista nce to 6-8
se conds. Increa se your following dista nce if you have lim ited visibility. Avoid truck
and la rge vehicle "no-zone s".
As you a re be ing pa ssed, position your vehicle so the re is adequa te
spa ce to the side to be passed. Keep your spee d steady and do not
a cce le ra te .
If you drive a high-profile ve hicle , slow in advance of ente ring a
tight curve on an entrance or ex it ramp.
Wa tch out for a mental condition ca lled "highwa y hypnosis" which
is rela te d to drowsy driving. If you notice fa tigue se tting in, sit up
stra ight, cha nge your sea t position slightly, and the n turn on the a ir conditioning.
Stop a t the nex t ex it and take a stre tch, wa lk a round, or drink some thing re freshing.
Ve locitation is cause d by long pe riods of high spee d tra ve l. The e yes be come
fatigued in the horizonta l plane due to images stream ing through the windshie ld.
Ve locitation ca n be noticed whe n ente ring slowe r traffic a fte r long pe riods of country
driving. A sudden drop in speed gives the illusion tha t you a re tra ve ling m uch slowe r
tha n you a ctua lly a re. When you expe rience velocitation, stop for se ve ra l m inute s
and a llow the e yes to re st.

Urban or city roadwa ys ha ve la rge popula tions, high tra ffic flow,
many road controls and a la rge amount of visua l stimula tion. With
congestion and traffic jams, spee ds tend to be lower, but the re is
quite a bit more se nsory input tha t you ha ve to pa y a ttention to.
Urban driving often involves limited vision. Limited vision often
eliminates advance warning of traffic obstacles. High buildings,
delivery trucks and other large vehicles can restrict your field of
view. Bicyclists and pedestrians are everywhere and can also block
your line-of-sight.

If you find yourse lf in hea vy tra ffic, demonstra te pa tience and courte sy. Be coming
angry or aggressive will not ge t you to your de stina tion a ny soone r.
In the city, be prepa re d to slow or stop suddenly cove r the brake. Your foot will be
in position for a sudde n stop.

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As a ge ne ra l rule whe n driving in the city choose a la ne that is not congested or a t

least less congested than the othe r la nes. Do not da rt in and out of traffic.
Wa tch for signs ide ntifying a street as one -wa y. Begin prepa ring to ente r a one-wa y
stree t a t least one block be fore you rea ch it, and turn into the first a vailable la ne
tha t is heading in the prope r dire ction. Drive slowly since one-wa y stree ts ma y turn
into two-lane stree ts.

We t wea the r driving increases risk due to re duced tra ction and
visibility. Reducing speed minim izes tra ction loss a nd he lps you see
your stopping zone .
Before a ra iny season begins, se rvice your ve hicle for we t wea the r.
Keep your windshie ld, windows and hea dlights clea n. Prepa re
yourself for driving in we t wea the r by be ing menta lly prepa red to
drive . Conside r alte rna te routes and depa rture times.
The first 20 m inute s of a ra in showe r is the most dange rous time to be driving.
Acce le ra te gradually and stee r with pre cise a nd smooth movements. Avoid puddles
and flooded pa vement. To a void hydroplaning, reduce your spee d; do not brake ha rd
or stee r aggre ssive ly. Ne ve r drive in wa te r tha t is flowing a cross the roadwa y.
Turn your windshie ld wipe rs on as soon as it sta rts ra ining. Make sure your
hea dlights a re on. Watch for oncom ing drive rs who have not ye t turned on the ir
lights. If conditions a re so bad tha t you ca nnot see the road ahead, pull off the road.
Try to a void sandstorms and flash floods. The dese rt is ex tremely ha rd on your
vehicle - ha ve your vehicle che cked whe n you re turn from your trip.
If you ha ve to drive in ice and snow, comple te your ma intena nce che cks be fore the
winte r months. Alwa ys keep your gas tank a t least half full. Ca rry the equipment you
will need if you break down. Wa tch for ice on bridges a nd ex presswa y ove rpasses.
If you ge t stuck , do not spin the whee ls. Rock the vehicle out or ca ll for he lp.

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Unit 7. Driving Emergencies

The vehicle 's e ngine provides the powe r required to move the
vehicle a cross the surfa ce of the road. Your engine should a lwa ys
ope rate smoothly with no strange or irregula r noises. If you
suddenly lose powe r, be prepa re d to stee r out of dange r without
braking.
Pull off the road as soon as it is sa fe a nd DO NOT drive if your oil
pre ssure wa rning light is illum ina ted.
If you de te ct a fire, ex it the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you lose your headlights, conce ntra te on "be ing seen" a nd ge tting off the road as
quick ly as possible to a safe location.
If you lose stee ring, safe ly lea ve the tra ffic stream , and if tha t is not possible , use
the pa rk ing brake to quick ly slow and stop the ve hicle .
Tire fa ilure can occur sudde nly and without wa rning. A "blowout" occurs when a tire
suddenly lose s a ll of its air pressure. DO NOT brake ha rd; slow the vehicle - then
ge ntly apply the brake as you drive slowly off the road and onto the shoulde r.
If your brakes fa il, downshift and use your pa rk ing brake to slow or stop the vehicle.
If that does not work , stee r towa rds some thing soft or into a clea r a rea . Ma nage
your collision.
If you expe rience a stuck a cce le ra tor, apply the brake s, shift into neutra l and stee r
into an e scape pa th or off the roadwa y. Turn off the ignition.

In many cases, when a crash is about to occur, the re a re

maneuve rs a nd te chnique s you can use to e scape or m inimize the
se ve rity of a crash.
The first step to collision a voidance is being in the prope r sea t
position to e nsure optimal control of the vehicle. To a void pa nic
stops, look we ll down the road a nd locate pla ces whe re othe rs ma y
cross your pa th.
Ma inta ining a 3-se cond following distance is e ffe ctive in good conditions a t speeds

Page 20

unde r 50 mph. At highwa y speeds grea te r than 50 mph, when driving through hills,
curves, inclement we a the r or low-light conditions, increase the spa ce ahead to a t
least 5 se conds.
To lowe r the probability of a collision, try to mainta in a t least one ca r width of spa ce
to one side of your vehicle a t a ll times. When possible , it is best to ma inta in spa ce on
both sides of your vehicle . Whe n you must drive through a n a rea with le ss than one
ca r width of spa ce on the sides, reduce your speed to allow more spa ce to the front.
The most importa nt thing to remembe r when driving on the shoulde r, or any dirt or
grave l surfa ce , is your tires do not ha ve the same le vel of tra ction as the y do on
pa vement. On low tra ction, you cannot turn as sha rply on off-road surfa ces or brake
as ha rd as you can on the roadwa y.
Whe n you a re be ing followed too close ly by a nothe r vehicle, allow more spa ce ahead
and identify an escape route to at least one side .
Evasive a cce le ra tion is an effe ctive maneuve r during me rging situa tions or when you
de te ct anothe r vehicle about to hit you from the side.
We e ncounte r unexpe cted obsta cles tha t demand more sk ill tha n we pra ctice with
our e ve ryda y driving maneuve rs.
Be prepa red in the corre ct sea ting position with your hands in the low-hand stee ring
position. To re duce the probability of se rious injury, keep your safe ty belt se curely
fastened a t a ll times.
Brak ing ma y be the best choice if you ha ve enough time a nd
distance to a void colliding with a n obje ct in your pa th.
If you ha ve ABS, a pply firm , steady pressure on the brake peda l.
Do not pump the brake peda l or remove your foot from the brake .
The re a re major advanta ges of using push/pull stee ring with lowe r
ha nd positions:

Injuries to the a rms, hands, fa ce and e yes a re greatly re duced during a

collision when the drive r-side a ir bag deploys.
Ma inta ining a ha nd position more close ly associa te d with a norma l sea ting
position reduces muscle fa tigue .
The drive r tends to not turn as much; a common m istake in eme rgency
maneuve rs which can result in running off the road.

Page 21

Ex ce ssive spee d and we t, snowy, icy, or sa ndy road conditions combined with abrupt
braking, stee ring, or a cce le ra tion could cause a skid. If you expe rience a sk id:

Respond quick ly and do not panic.

Look and stee r in the dire ction you wa nt the front of the ve hicle to go.
Make smooth stee ring corre ctions.
Do not give up. You ma y ha ve to make se ve ra l stee ring corre ctions before
you rega in stee ring control.

Remembe r, sk ids a re usua lly caused by drive r e rror.

The numbe r of ve hicles on our roa dwa ys is continuing to increase , conseque ntly so
a re the numbe r of cra shes and injuries. Use the safe ty equipment
insta lled in your vehicle .
Be sure tha t you a nd your passenge rs buck le up before putting the
vehicle in motion. Ensure a ll childre n a re prope rly se cured:

Se cure them with a ca r sea t or by a safe ty belt in the ba ck

sea t.
Do not put a small child in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with pa ssenge r side air ba gs unless the vehicle has a safe ty switch
to dea ctivate the bag.

Make sure you se cure a ll loose obje cts inside a vehicle.

The re a re wa ys to m inimize the consequences of a vehicula r collision such as be ing
a le rt a t a ll times, prepa ring to maneuve r, and taking the brunt of the collision on the
rea r portion of your ve hicle .
If you ha ve a choice of wha t you a re going to hit in a crash, hit the obje ct tha t will
tra nsfe r the lea st force . The worst type of collision to be in is a head-on collision.

If you ca n see wa rning tria ngles, vehicle wa rning lights or

eme rgency vehicles ahead, slow down; you may be approa ching
the scene of a collision.
Do not follow too close ly behind a ny fire engine, police ca r,

Page 22

ambulance, or othe r eme rgency vehicle. If you a re the only pe rson on the sce ne DO
NO T move a ny victim unless the y a re in immedia te dange r of susta ining additiona l
se rious or life threa tening injury. Do not lea ve the scene - ca ll 911 for assistance.
In the e vent of a roa dside breakdown, remain ca lm and pre vent furthe r damage or
injury by moving your vehicle out of the roadwa y. If you pa rk off the shoulde r afte r a
break down, be m indful of ta ll, dry gra ss.
Se t out wa rning triangles and fla res in the ir proper positions to wa rn othe r tra ffic.
Quick ly ex it the vehicle if you see smoke or fire , or if othe r drive rs cannot see your
vehicle. Wa it in a sa fe loca tion.
If you a re involved in a collision you a re required to stop immedia te ly. If possible,
pull ove r to a loca tion tha t minim izes traffic obstruction. Turn on your haza rd lights.

Page 23

Unit 8. The Vehicle

Conduct weekly, monthly and m ileage -base d ma intena nce to

pre ve nt moving and non-moving ve hicle fa ilure .
Consult your owne r's manua l for spe cific guide lines for your
vehicle.
As you a pproa ch your ve hicle , look unde rnea th and around it for
any leaking fluids. Color indica tes the type of fluid leak ing out.
Che ck your owne r's manual to be sure of the color and appea rance of the fluids in
your vehicle . Common fluid colors and the ir indica tions include :

Red: Transm ission fluid (che ck transm ission sea ls)

Purple: Powe r stee ring fluid (che ck system)
Bla ck: Motor oil (che ck the engine , a nd repla ce the oil)
Green: Coola nt (che ck the wa te r pump)
C lea r: Wa te r (usua lly norma l conde nsa tion or wa te r from the a ir conditione r)

Afte r you sta rt your vehicle, ensure tha t the wa rning lights a re off. As you begin to
drive , a lwa ys che ck your brakes.
Do not authorize any work to be done tha t you have not approve d on an estimate .
Also, keep copies of all se rvice a nd ma inte nance records re la ted to your ve hicle .
Using a n octa ne ra te d highe r than your vehicle doe s not increa se powe r. One driving
te chnique tha t could increase your fuel e conom y is to avoid unne cessa ry idling.

Ma nufa cture rs a re striving to put the most advance d sa fe ty

applica tions possible into toda y's vehicles. Te chnology cannot
compe nsa te for poor driving - although it m ight he lp pre vent or
reduce the consequences of a crash.
One of the first conside ra tions when purchasing a ne w vehicle is
vehicle size and we ight. Small, light ve hicles gene rally provide less
prote ction than la rge r, hea vie r ones. Dea ths and injuries a re more
like ly to occur in sma ll vehicles be ca use the re is le ss structure to absorb the ene rgy
of a crash.

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Ele ctronic sta bility control (ESC ) a nd tra ction control systems (TC S) a re not designed
to "take ove r" or repla ce the drive r. The y a re designed to a ssist the drive r in
maintaining vehicle control.
C ruise control re duces fa tigue and ca n re sult in bette r gas mileage . C ruise controls
a re designe d for open roads and should not be used in urban se ttings, when driving
uphill or downhill, or whe n the road surfa ce is slippe ry.
ABS pre ve nts your whee ls from "lock ing-up", ena bling the drive r to
stee r the vehicle while bringing it to a stop, espe cia lly on slippe ry
surfa ce s. ESC he lps drive rs mainta in control in the worst situa tions.
For example , if a drive r e nte rs a curve too fa st, the ve hicle ma y
begin to spin out. The ESC engage s automa tica lly to he lp bring the
vehicle ba ck in the intended lane of tra vel. This te chnology lowe rs
the risk of a fata l single -ve hicle cra sh by about half, so it is worth
shopping for.
Ne w sa fe ty be lt sensors e nable sa fe ty be lts to se nse pre tension and immine nt
collisions.
Night vision systems amplify existing light, enabling drive rs to see obstructions in the
roa dwa y tha t a re invisible in night, low-light conditions.

Plan your va ca tion e ve nts so you and your pa ssenge rs will ha ve an

enjoyable, stress free expe rie nce. Do not wa it until the last m inute
to prepa re .

Plan your route with designa ted loca tions for ge tting fuel,
food a nd rest. Conside r tak ing a route tha t max imize s your
vehicle 's ope ra tion a nd fue l e conom y.
On long trips, try to trave l with a t least one other
compe tent, safe , licensed drive r. Be sure you ge t enough
rest be fore you ge t behind the whee l.
Stop, stre tch and rota te drive rs e ve ry two hours. Plan to ea t lightly during the
drive to a void drowsiness. Ne ve r drive longe r tha n 8 hours in one da y.
Se le ct a good tra ve l and de pa rture time to a void fatigue, hea vy traffic and
inclement we a the r.
Pa ck eme rgency equipment. Do not ove r-pa ck or obstruct your ability to see
in all dire ctions. Re fe rence your owne r's manua l for max imum load we ight.

Page 25

While fue ling, or whe n paying for fuel, ne ve r lea ve your keys in the ignition
and your mone y and othe r va luables in a loca tion whe re the y ca n be seen by
othe rs. Try to re-fue l during da ylight hours.

Whe n re nting a ca r, ge t an estima te of your tota l cha rge s including all taxe s, fees
and any manda tory cha rges. Maxim ize coupons, dea ls and wa ys to sa ve mone y.

Ensure any additiona l drive rs a re included on the re ntal agreement.

Before driving a renta l ca r, be come fam ilia r with its fea tures and unde rstand
its handling cha ra cte ristics.

Pa rk your vehicle in a we ll lit, popula ted a rea of the pa rk ing lot. If possible, ba ck
your vehicle into the pa rk ing spa ce so you can drive out of the lot quick ly. Walk
whe re you ca n be seen by othe rs.
Vehicle position is the best indica tion tha t anothe r motorist is be ing ove rtly
aggressive towa rds you. Be a wa re of signs such a s be ing cut off, sudde n re duction in
spee d in front of you, ta ilga ting, continuous fla shing of high to low beam lights,
ex cessive horn use or inappropria te hand signa ls.
If you a re be ing rage d aga inst, a void e ye conta ct, a void stopping a nd position your
vehicle a s fa r a wa y as you can from the aggressive drive r. C hange la nes a nd slow
down. Drive to a loca tion whe re you will ha ve witnesses. Do not ex it your vehicle. Do
not enga ge and do not confront the othe r drive r. Ensure you have an exit route until
police a rrive.
If you nee d a rest or break when driving on a n intersta te highwa y, a void pulling off
the road a t a n unfam ilia r loca tion. Take advanta ge of the rest a reas tha t a re in pla ce
for motorists to ha ve a sa fe loca tion off the roa dwa y when the y need to take a break
and re turn to the highwa y more ale rt.
If a n authorized police vehicle is approa ching you with its lights on, it is your
responsibility to yie ld the right-of-wa y and immedia te ly drive to the right-hand edge
of the roadwa y and stop a fte r clea ring a ny inte rse ctions.

Page 26