1. Unit 3 – Driver Physical Fitness
T H E D R I V E R S E D G E
I N T E R A C T I V E
slides and videos
Partial Lesson
first 19 out 45 slides
Unit 3 – Driver Physical Fitness

2. Human Physical and Psychological Issues of Driving

3. Human Physical and Psychological Issues of Driving
Purpose: To become acquainted with the important physical and psychological issues of the driver, including vision, hearing, emotional state and and introduction to the effects of alcohol and drugs.
This lesson will be divided into two parts.

4. Physical Senses and Driving
Part one --
Physical Senses and Driving
The physical nature of the driver
In order to drive safely, you must be in good physical condition. In particular, you need to be able to see and hear well enough to detect potential hazards and handle emergency situations.
What are some specific abilities needed for safe driving?

5. The role of vision in safe driving
Part one --
The role of vision in safe driving
Physical Senses and Driving
Vision plays a key role in the steps by which you detect and avoid a hazardous situation which include:
a) the transmission of a visual image to your brain,
b) the comparison of this image with learned rules and experiences,
c) a decision to take an action, and
Let’s now
consider
visual acuity
d) the transmission through your nervous system of commands to your hands and feet to turn the steering wheel, apply brakes, accelerate or decelerate, use the horn, etc.
Good vision is key to being able to stop your vehicle in time to avoid a collision.
Therefore

6. The role of vision in safe driving
Part one --
The role of vision in safe driving
Physical Senses and Driving
Visual acuity is sharpness of vision…it’s your central vision which discerns the clearest details which may be perceived.
Let’s now
consider
peripheral
vision
A person who can read 3/8-inch high letters clearly from a distance of 20 feet is considered to have normal vision and is said to have _____vision.
20/20
You can
compensate for
poor visual acuity
by wearing glasses
or contact lenses
The DMV uses Snellen wall charts and optical devices to test eyes. Your vision must be at least 20/40 with or without correction.
A person with 20/40 vision must be 20 feet from the eye chart to read what a person with normal vision would be able to read at 40 feet.
And so when it comes to driving, visual acuity is very important for reading road signs and identifying hazards.

7. The role of vision in safe driving
Part one --
The role of vision in safe driving
Physical Senses and Driving
…you compensate for it by increased scanning and visual searching (turning of head)
If your side vision is very poor it can seriously affect safe driving, unless…
Peripheral vision or side vision is the field of view that surrounds the central portion of the visual field.
You can see things most clearly directly ahead, while things to each side (your peripheral vision) are less distinct.

8. The role of vision in safe driving
Part one --
The role of vision in safe driving
Physical Senses and Driving
You will also use peripheral vision to monitor traffic in front when looking in your rear view mirror…
Peripheral vision also helps keep the vehicle centered in the lane as it monitors your lane boundaries.
Peripheral vision: It helps detect signs, hazards, and changes in the traffic flow. As a driver, when you notice something important, you will move your eyes or head to look at the object or situation.

9. The role of vision in safe driving
Part one --
The role of vision in safe driving
Physical Senses and Driving
No matter how good your peripheral vision, there will still be areas to the sides and behind your vehicle…
…that cannot be seen. These areas are referred to as blind spots.
Poor peripheral vision can result in:
a) failing to see or obey a traffic light.
Let's consider
blind spots . . .
b) failing to react to a hazard coming from the left or the right; weaving on a curve; or driving too close to parked cars.

10. Physical Senses and Driving
Part one --
Physical Senses and Driving
Other vehicles, especially compact cars and motorcycles are easily hidden in your blind spots. Your mirrors will not eliminate all blind spots.
Therefore, when lane changing, you need to check for vehicles in your blind spots by turning your head and and looking into the lane you want to enter.
This car will soon disappear into a blind spot
Let's consider
blind spots . . .
Large vehicles such as trucks have more extensive blind spots than smaller vehicles.

11. Physical Senses and Driving
Part one --
Physical Senses and Driving
Other vehicles, especially compact cars and motorcycles are easily hidden in your blind spots. Your mirrors will not eliminate all blind spots.
Therefore, when lane changing, you need to check for vehicles in your blind spots by turning your head and and looking into the lane you want to enter.
Do not linger in blind spots!
Let's consider
blind spots . . .
Large vehicles such as trucks have more extensive blind spots than smaller vehicles.

12. Physical Senses and Driving
Part one --
Physical Senses and Driving
Let’s now
consider depth
perception

13. Part one -- Depth perception
Physical Senses and Driving
Depth perception is the ability to correctly perceive the distances of objects in relation to your own position.
Depth
perception
“It’s tight, but I think I can…”

14. Part one -- Depth Let's now consider perception night vision
A person can compensate for poor depth
perception by using extra caution in judging
the speed and distance of on-coming vehicles
and approaching objects.
Physical Senses and Driving
Depth perception is the ability to correctly perceive the distances of objects in relation to your own position.
Depth
perception
Let's now consider
night vision
Vehicles on the left side. You have better depth perception on your left side because you are sitting on that side of your car.
Poor depth perception can result in:
a) stopping too short of limit lines or inside intersections
b) turning too wide or too short
c) being unable to maintain a constant speed, or
d) being unable to follow other vehicles at a distance appropriate for driving conditions
With parked cars on both sides, it is a little tight Which vehicles will you move closer to and WHY?
Depth perception is also important when passing, turning and parking.

15. Physical Senses and Driving
Part one --
Night vision refers to your ability to see well in low light levels and is necessary for being able to drive safely at night.
Physical Senses and Driving
Let's now consider
night vision
Poor night vision can result in:
a) not being able to react to hazards in front of your car in time.
b) tailgating
c) failing to steer in the proper direction when necessary to avoid low contrast road features such as the edge of the roadway and other irregularities in the road surface.
The visual ability of two drivers may be about the same during daylight hours, but can be very different at night.

16. Let's now consider glare resistance and recovery
Part one --
Night vision refers to your ability to see well in low light levels and is necessary for being able to drive safely at night.
Physical Senses and Driving
Let's now consider
night vision
Wear lighter colored clothing.
Driving safely at night also requires being able to see low contrast objects.
A person wearing dark clothing and crossing the street in front of a driver is much harder to detect at night because there is much less contrast at night with the dark background.
What could this pedestrian have done to be more visible?
Let's now consider glare resistance and recovery

17. Glare is intense and blinding light
Part one --
Glare is intense and blinding light
Physical Senses and Driving
For example, glare caused by the brightness of on-coming headlights can prevent a driver from seeing an approaching vehicle or pedestrian crossing the roadway.
Let's now consider
glare resistance
and recovery
Glare resistance is the extent to which a driver can still see objects and events while facing a steady source of glare such as on-coming headlights or a setting sun.
The white edge line.
If on-coming cars are blinding you with their bright lights, where should you look to avoid the direct, bright glare?
In this situation

18. Glare is intense and blinding light
Part one --
Glare is intense and blinding light
Physical Senses and Driving
Glare recovery is the speed with which a driver’s vision returns to normal after being exposed to glare such as the brightness of a low sun.
Let's now consider
glare resistance
and recovery
What effect
would a dirty
windshield
have with
sun glare?
STOP
and
THINK
It would make
everything much
harder to see.
Both glare resistance and recovery is important for being able to drive safely during sunset or at night.

19. Part one -- Glare is intense and blinding light
Physical Senses and Driving
Poor glare resistance and recovery can result in a driver being blinded by a glare source which can result:
a) in missing curves in the road
b) striking unobserved pedestrians
c) crashing into the rear of a slow moving, stalled, or stopped vehicle
Drop the sun visor / use sunglasses
What could she do to minimize
the direct sun glare?
Glare resistance and recovery deteriorate with age; also, older drivers must drive more cautiously at night.