1. Driver Responsibility
Buckle Up- NJ’s Seat Belt Law
Car Seats
Child Restraint Law
Air Bags
Car Condition
Starting a Parked Car
Steering
Stopping Distances
Proper Braking
Driving Signals
Driving in Reverse
Turning
Parking

2. Buckle Up- NJ’s Seat Belt Law
The driver and all passengers MUST wear a seatbelt.
Primary offense: driver, front seat passenger & children under age 18
Driver is responsible for all passengers under 18
Exemptions
Vehicle manufactured before July 1, 1966
Federal law vehicle
Medical reason
Verified by licensed physician

3. Seat Belts
Save lives and improve a motorist’s chance of surviving a crash by 60%
Chances of surviving a collision are three – four times better.
Tips for seat belt use
Seat belt test

4. Car Seats
All child restraint systems built since Jan. 1, 1981 must be designed to pass tough safety tests.
Infant car seat:
protect a baby up to 20 pounds & 26 inches
Facing rear
Convertible car seat:
Larger seat;
Infant/ toddler up to 40 pounds & 40 inches; placed in vehicle facing backwards for a baby

5. Special Note…
It is preferred that whenever possible, child car safety seats be placed in the backseat. However, if there is no backseat in the vehicle, move the front seat as far back as possible.
NEVER place rear- facing infant safety seats in the front row of a vehicle with a front passenger- side air bag.

6. Child Restraint Law
Children up to age 8/ 80 pounds MUST ride in federally approved safety/ booster seat in rear seat of vehicle.
Children under age 8/over 80 pounds MUST be in rear seat & use a seat belt
$54.00 fine

7. Car Condition Responsibility of all vehicle owners Backup lights
Brake Lights
Headlights
Horn
Steering
Should always hold a straight course
Should not vibrate (shimmy)
Brakes
Conventional disc & drum brakes
Pump gently after driving through water to test & dry out
Antilock braking system (ABS)
Tested by applying steady pressure to brake pedal. NEVER pump or jerk steering wheel when braking

8. Starting a Parked Car Look behind, and in front Checklist:
Windows: clean & clear
Adjust seat: arms length
Inside/outside rearview mirrors
Seat belts- fastened
Vehicle should be parked; emergency brake set
Doors locked

9. Starting a Parked Car Good posture Eye checkup- every 2 years
After starting the engine
Turning & looking back; do not only depend on rearview mirrors
Blind spots

10. Car Condition Tires Turn signals Windshield Snow & Ice
Tire pressure should be checked often
Never should be driven= less than 1/16 in. of thread (dime)
Turn signals
Windshield
NJ laws prohibit add- on tinting on windshields and front side windows
Snow & Ice
Must remove snow/ ice before driving
$25-$75 fine

11. Idling Your Vehicle Engine is running, car isn’t moving.
Restrict vehicle idling to 3 minutes/ less.
Unnecessary
Harmful to vehicle & yourself
fines: $250-$1,000
Idling stinks, and it’s against the law- turn the key and be idle free!

12. Steering Hand position9 & 3 o’clock position.
Less chance of hand, wrist or arm injury if air bag is deployed.
Never turn the wheel while gripping it from the inside of the rim.
Steering wheel should be held firmly- not too tight.
Keep vehicle in center of the lane
Two lane road- keep to the right
ABS- NEVER jerk the wheel while braking!

13. Hand Position

14. Hand- Over- Hand- Steering

15. Stopping Distances Depends on: Reaction time
Weather & visibility conditions
Vehicle weight
Brake conditions
Condition and type of tires
Roadway conditions
Speed
The faster a vehicle is going the longer it will take to stop

16. Stopping Distances on Dry Surfaces for Passenger Vehicles:

17. Proper Braking Type of brake system
Conventional drum & disc system
ABS
Do not pump brakes violently/ jerk the wheel
Out of control
Steady, gentle pressure should be applied to bring a vehicle to a controlled stop
Should use right foot for both the brake & gas pedal
Manual transmission- left foot for clutch

18. Driving Signals Always give proper signal: 100 feet Hand signals:
Turning
Changing lanes
Stopping/ slowing down
100 feet
Hand signals:
Stopping/ slowing down: hand & arm downward, palm facing rear
Right turn: hand and arm upward
Left turn: hand and arm straight out
Another signal= the horn (200 feet)

19. Hand Signals:

20. Driving in Reverse Make sure path is clear:
Mirrors & turning to check.
Turning the wheel to the right will direct the vehicle to the right.
Steering the wheel to the left will direct the vehicle to the left.
Reverse in a straight line
Head & body should be turned to the right.
Right hand and arm should be placed over the back of the front passenger seat
Left hand grasp the top of the steering wheel
2-4 mph
Do not turn forward until vehicle is stopped

21. Driving in Reverse (cont.)
Other than reversing in a straight line, two hands must be on the wheel.
Front of vehicle will swing in opposite direction of a turn.

22. Turning
Motorist should decide well in advance where he/ she wants to turn (100 ft).
The faster the traffic is moving, the sooner the motorist should plan his/her turn.
If a turn is missed- NEVER back up.

23. Before turning, a motorist should always:
Use mirrors to look behind & to both sides for other vehicles or people.
Check for less visible vehicles:
Motorcycles
Bicycles
Mopeds
Signal first:
Turn signals
Hand signals
Slow down before reaching an intersection.
Keep a steady speed & follow pavement markings.
Always stay in the same lane until the turn is finished.
Make sure signal is turned off after the turn is completed.

24. The 3-point Turn (K turn)
When turning a vehicle around, motorist should start from the right edge of the road.
Choose a safe spot; good visibility
Signal left; move forward slowly turning the steering wheel to the left
Signal right & back slowly while turning the steering wheel to the right
Next, move vehicle forward, signaling left, turning the steering wheel to the left.
Finally- straighten the vehicles wheels

25. The 3-point Turn

26. Parking Always set the hand brake
When parking a vehicle facing downhill:
Hand brake should be set
Vehicles wheels should be turned toward the curb
When parking a vehicle facing uphill:
Vehicles wheels should be turned away from the curb

27. Angle Parking Parking lots Curbs Entering an angle parking space:
Watch for traffic
Signal & begin to slow down
Make sure rear of vehicle will clear parked cars
Steer sharply into parking space & straighten wheels; centering the vehicle
Shift to park; apply parking brake

28. Angle Parking
A motorist should follow these rules when backing out of an angle parking space:
Walk around; make sure nothing is in vehicle’s way
Slowly move vehicle in reverse
Tap horn to warn pedestrians
Look back & to each side for other motorists
Front of vehicle swings opposite to the direction of the turn
Back up slowly- left front wheel passes rear bumper of vehicle parked on left
Straighten the wheels

29. Parallel Parking Most common on city streets A motorist should:
Find a parking spot large enough to fit vehicle
Signal for a stop and to the right
Pull up alongside vehicle in front
2-4 feet
Turn & check to see that the way is clear
Turn his/ her body- look out rear window; turn steering wheel all the way to the right
When front of vehicle has cleared the rear bumper of vehicle in front- stop & check the angle
Make sure back right wheel has not hit the curb
Turn steering wheel all the way to the left- back up slowly
Turn vehicle’s wheels straight & drive to the center of the parking space
Vehicle’s tires should be no more than 6 inches from the curb

30. Parallel Parking Signal Stop & put RIGHT signal on
Reverse: Turn steering wheel all the way to the RIGHT
Stop & Check; Reverse; Turn steering wheel all the way to the LEFT
Straighten out vehicle; 6 inches