1. Chapter 14: Driving in City Traffic
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2. Chapter 14: Driving in City Traffic
OBJECTIVES:
Adjusting to Urban Traffic
Following and Meeting Traffic
Managing Space in Urban Traffic
Special Urban Situations

3. Adjusting to City Traffic
Traffic Complexity
Two main factors make city driving difficult
Traffic is more dense in urban areas than rural areas. There are more cars, buses, trucks, and pedestrians per mile.
City traffic hazards are closer to you than they are in rural areas. Those hazards can quickly block your path.

5. Adjusting to City Traffic
Using the IPDE Process
Identify
Predict
Decide
Execute

7. Adjusting to City Traffic
Identify
Be vigorous in using your visual skills. “Aim high” and look well ahead of your target area. Check your searching ranges to make sure your front zone is open and you have time to spot things like a line-of-sight restriction.

8. Adjusting to City Traffic
Predict
Predict possible points of conflict quickly and gain valuable time to respond.
Decide
Always be ready to communicate or adjust your vehicle position by changing speed and/or using distance effectively.
Execute
Be ready to use your vehicle’s controls to make smooth low risk maneuvers in traffic.

9. Following and Meeting Traffic
Following Others
An adequate following distance has these advantages:
You can see further ahead to get the big picture
Others can see you better
You have more time to use the IPDE Process
You are in a better position to avoid the car ahead if it stops suddenly

10. Following and Meeting Traffic
3-Second Following Distance
Provides a safe following distance in most normal situations
Pick a fixed checkpoint on the road ahead. Road marks or shadows make good fixed checkpoints
When the vehicle ahead of you passes your checkpoint, count: one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, for your three second count
Now, check to see if you vehicle is still short of your fixed checkpoint. If not, slow and add more distance

11. Following and Meeting Traffic
3-Second Following Distance
Check distance often
This works well at all speeds
This is not the total stopping distance to avoid hitting a stationary object
Increase your distance in adverse driving conditions, or if you need more time to complete the IDPE process

13. Following and Meeting Traffic
3-Second Following Distance
Maintain extra distance in these situations
You are just learning to drive
A tailgating driver has closed your rear zone
You are approaching a line-of-sight restriction
Traction is low
You are carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer
The driver ahead seems unsure
You following a motorcycle

15. Following and Meeting Traffic
Looking Beyond the Vehicle Ahead
Look over, through, and around cars
Be alert for break lights, including high mount break lights
Always try to anticipate what the driver ahead is likely to do

17. Following and Meeting Traffic
Areas For Sudden Stop
Three high risk areas where closed zones and sudden stop can happen:
Intersections where drivers may have to stop for traffic or pedestrians
Lanes next to parked vehicles
Business driveways with high volume traffic

18. Following and Meeting Traffic
When to Look Away
Take these steps to prevent a mistake when looking away
Make sure the zone ahead is stable and open. If you are following another vehicle, increase your following distance to more than 3 seconds
Lower your speed even further when you have line-of-sight restrictions
Keep your eyes moving; take split second glances rather than one long look
If you have a passenger, ask them to look for the address

19. Following and Meeting Traffic
Being Followed
You are in a high risk closed rear zone when someone tailgates, or follows too closely
Tailgaters Are Hazards
A tailgater is a hazard because if you have to stop fast, he can hit you from the rear
Take these actions to avoid being hit from the rear
Increase you following distance to 4 seconds. If you have to stop suddenly you can do it more slowly and give the tailgater more time to respond

21. Following and Meeting Traffic
Tailgaters Are Hazards
Move slightly to the right to allow the tailgater to see the traffic in front of you
Signal early for turns, stops and lane changes. Flash break lights
In extreme situations, change lanes, or pull out of traffic to avoid the tailgater

22. Following and Meeting Traffic
Responding to Oncoming Traffic
If a driver closes your front zone by crossing the center line, you must react instantly
Reasons for Crossing the Center Line
Driver Impairment – drowsy, distracted, confused, intoxicated, or ill
Poor Judgment – Misjudge speed, distance, or position
Poor Visibility – direct sunlight, blinding headlights, or bad weather

23. Following and Meeting Traffic
Avoiding Conflicts
If a vehicle comes at you, take these actions to avoid a collision
Slow until the other driver can return to the normal lane
Turn on or flash your headlights and blow your horn
If your right front zone is open, move to the right to give the oncoming driver more room

24. Managing Space in Urban Traffic
Looking Ahead While Staying Back
In addition to looking around your vehicle, look a block or more ahead
By looking far ahead, you will be able to spot zone problems in time to adjust your speed and/or position as needed
Continue to maintain a a distance of 3 seconds or more to have a good view of the road

25. Managing Space in Urban Traffic
Approaching Traffic Signals
Look ahead to detect traffic signals. By doing so you will have more time to respond
If the light is red, slow and be ready to stop
If the light is green, predict that it will change soon
Never speed up to go through a green light

26. Managing Space in City Traffic
Covering the Brake
If you are traveling into a situation where you may need to stop quickly, you should cover the brake
Take your foot off the accelerator, and hold it over the brake pedal
Make sure not to rest your foot on the brake pedal, or ride the brake

27. Managing Space in City Traffic
Take these actions to identify and respond to a parked Vehicles
Cover your brake and move left in your lane
Look for drivers through the windows of parked Vehicles
Be alert for parked vehicles’ brake lights, exhaust, or wheels turned out
Lightly tap your horn if needed
Be ready to stop or swerve

28. Managing Space in City Traffic
Adjusting Speed
Blending into traffic is one of the most common city driving skills you will need. Use these techniques to select your best driving speed

29. Managing Space in City Traffic
Selecting the Best Lane
When driving in multilane traffic, use the lane or zone with the fewest hazards. Use these techniques to position your vehicle in multilane traffic
Increase your following distance to more than 3 seconds in heavy traffic
Adjust your speed and lane position as needed to stay out of other drivers’ blind spots
Move to another lane if your front zone closes

30. Managing Space in City Traffic
Changing Lanes
Once you start driving in a lane, try to stay in that lane. If you must change lanes, use these steps
Use your mirrors to check in your rear zones
Signal your change early
Quickly check your blind spot
Change lanes without slowing
Cancel your signal

31. Managing Space in City Traffic
Overtaking and Passing
At times you might decide to overtake, or pass, a vehicle ahead
Use the lane changing procedure and drive past the slower moving vehicle
Signal briefly and return to your lane

32. Managing Space in City Traffic
Special Traffic Lanes
To help move rush hour travel, many cities have special lanes for bus and/or carpool drivers called HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicles)
You must have more than one person in a vehicle to use these lanes during designated times
These lanes save time and fuel, and reduce pollution and parking problems

33. Special City Situations
Driving on Two-Way Streets
Most city roadways are two-way streets with one lane going in each direction
Many city intersections do not have traffic controls
Some intersections have special left-turn lanes
If you turn left at an uncontrolled intersection, you must yield to oncoming traffic

34. Special City Situations
Driving on One-Way Streets
One-way streets can move a greater volume of traffic with fewer conflicts than two-way streets
Identifying One-Way Streets
One Way signs are posted on most one-way streets
All moving traffic and parked vehicles point in the same direction
Broken white lines are used to separate lanes
Most traffic signs will be facing the same direction

35. Special City Situations
Entering One-Way Streets
To turn right on a one-way street, turn from the right lane to the nearest right lane
To turn left onto a one-way street, position yourself in the nearest left hand lane and make a sharp left turn into the nearest lane going left

36. Special City Situations
Lane Choice on One-Way Streets
Try to avoid a lane next to parked vehicles
Use center lane to reduce possible conflicts
When you plan to turn, position yourself ahead of time. Move into the right or left lane at least one block before you turn

37. Special City Situations
Leaving One-Way Streets
To turn left from a one-way street, position your vehicle in the far left lane
To turn right from a one-way street, position your vehicle in the far right hand lane
On some one-way streets, the outside lane may be for turning only

38. Special City Situations
Signaling Wrong-Way Drivers
If you encounter a vehicle headed in the wrong on a one-way street, slow, steer right, and sound your horn to warn the other driver