Changing Lanes, Passing, Hills & Curves Driver Education Unit 2

Changing Lanes Safely Use advance planning Reasons to change lanes – Make a turn – Pass another vehicle – Park – Exit a road Visibility: What is the path of travel like? – seconds ahead Time: How fast are you going? Space: Room to make a move safely

Making the Lane Change Check mirrors Signal Check over shoulder Adjust speed Move only when you have enough time and space Steer smoothly…push- pull method Turn off signal

Passing and Being Passed Decide when to pass: Is passing legal?? – Pavement Lines must be broken – Your passing zone must be legal and safe Check pavement markings / signs – White center lines traffic will be moving in the same direction – Yellow center lines traffic will be moving in opposite directions. Is it safe under current road conditions? – Bright sunlight, rain, snow, fog = danger – Nighttime visibility and road surface

2.the time you will need to pass safely 3.the space you will need to safely pass the other vehicle Before you pass, you must determine: 1.if you are in a legal passing zone broken line = pass with caution solid line = no passing list other areas where passing is prohibited: hills, curves, intersections, railroad crossing Identifying a Safe & Legal Passing Zone

When Being Passed Maintain constant speed –DO NOT speed up Don’t take it personally Do not try to communicate with the other driver

2 – 3 Seconds Prepare to Pass: Position vehicle two to three seconds behind the vehicle to be passed. Check mirrors, blind spot and oncoming traffic. Check ahead for safe passing distance. Signal intention. Overtake the Ongoing Vehicle: Accelerate into passing lane. Accelerate quickly to a legal appropriate speed. Monitor the path ahead. Check the mirror for following vehicles. Return to Lane: Check rear-view mirror for the front of the vehicle being passed. When you can see the front end of the car in your rear view, return to the right lane Signal intention. Change lanes and maintain speed. Cancel turn signal. Passing Procedures

Passing Check the path ahead and behind Make sure no other vehicles are going to pass Check oncoming traffic to make sure they are far enough Signal your intent to move left Check over shoulder for blind spots Accelerate firmly Check rearview mirror When you see both headlights, signal and re-enter lane Turn off signal

Communicating with Other Drivers Remember to… 1.Give clear signals and warnings 2.Pay attention to signals and warnings 3.Notice pedestrians 4.Give way to emergency vehicles

Communicating with Other Drivers Intentions: plan to turn left, right, slow down, pass or back up Warnings: trouble ahead in my lane, need to stop suddenly, danger in lane, headlights are blinding Presence: parked car, disabled car Feedback: recognizing another driver’s signal, thanks to driver for allowing you to pass Electronic Signals: turn lights, brake lights, hazard flashers Body Gestures: hand signals, nodding, smiling, puzzled look

To estimate the time and distance of an oncoming vehicle, begin counting when the vehicle is first seen: 1000 and 1; 1000 and 2; etc. Continue the count until the approaching vehicle is opposite your vehicle. Practicing this technique will help you develop the ability to judge speed and distance and 20 COUNT and 1 = 1 second 1000 and and 1 Judging Speed & Distance of Other Vehicles

Passing a 90-foot tractor trailer Would require an additional 5 seconds for the Red vehicle 90-foot truck + 15-foot car = 75 feet additional distance traveled = 5 seconds 18 seconds x 60 fps = 1080 feet needed by Red vehicle traveling 40 mph, the total clear distance needed to pass safely becomes 1360 feet (23 seconds) If there is an oncoming vehicle traveling 40 mph, the total clear distance needed to pass safely becomes 1360 feet (23 seconds) (space cushion) Daylight Headlight Use Enhances Safety an approaching vehicle without headlights becomes visible at about 2,200 to 2,500 feet an approaching vehicle with headlights becomes visible at distances up to 4500 feet Passing on Multi-lane Roadways safer than on two lane roadways head-on crashes are rare will not feel rushed into returning to the lane can safely pass larger vehicles that require more time and space to pass Passing Considerations

§ — Passing when overtaking a vehicle The driver of any vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at least two feet to the left of the overtaken vehicle and shall not again drive to the right side of the highway until safely clear of such overtaken vehicle. In approaching or passing a person riding a bicycle or moped, the driver of a motor vehicle shall pass at a safe distance and at a reasonable speed. § — When overtaking vehicle may pass on right § — Passing bicycle or moped A. The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle only: 1.When the overtaken vehicle is making or about to make a left turn, and its driver has given the required signal 2.On a highway with unobstructed pavement, not occupied by parked vehicles, of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles in each direction; or 3.On a one-way street or on any one-way roadway when the roadway is free from obstructions and of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles. B. The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle on the right only under conditions permitting such movement in safety. Except where driving on paved shoulders is permitted by lawfully placed signs, no such movement shall be made by driving on the shoulder of the highway or off the pavement or main traveled portion of the roadway § — Driver to give way to overtaking vehicle Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. Any over-width, or slow-moving vehicle shall be removed from the roadway at the nearest suitable location when necessary to allow traffic to pass. Virginia Law on Passing

Hills & Mountains Hills are dangerous because they can become slippery very easily. Hills can be thought of as a vertical curve. Gravity is always with you Uphill: works against you – More power Downhill: works with you – Maintain control

Hills Always approach the top of a hill – A.) understanding that you cannot see what is on the other side of the hill – B.) in such a manner that you could stop if you saw a hazard in the roadway as soon as you could see the other side of the hill cover the brake

Uphill Driving Need more power Auto transmission…..as car loses speed – More pressure on the gas – Downshift to get more power Manual Transmission – Before you lose power, downshift

Downhill Driving Car will gain speed, need to decrease power Control with brakes and gears Auto Transmission – Ease off pressure on gas pedal – Too much speed…apply brakes – Move selector to lower gear – Don’t ride brake pedal…Can overheat Manual Transmission – Downshift before you gain too much speed – Control with brake & shifting

Driving on Mountains Limits to how much you can see.. Sharp Curves – Slow down, tap horn, flash lights to warn Steep Grades Other vehicles in front of you – If you are behind a truck or trailer…give them space Careful, watch out for signs and markings

Curves Brake before getting to a curve –Energy of motion (inertia) attempts to keep your vehicle traveling in a straight line. Accelerate through the curve

Entering a Curve to the Right Determine Line of Sight / Path of Travel LP2 provides the best visibility Check traffic to the rear Path of Travel Line of Sight Begin in Lane Position 2 Lane Position 3 Apex Point Exiting the Curve Adjust speed and position for best visibility and space cushion Moving Through the Curve Determine target area LP3 provides best space cushion Exit in Lane Position 1 LOS / POT Through Curves

Begin in Lane Position 3 Lane Position 2 Apex Point Exit in Lane Position 1 Path of Travel Line of Sight Entering a Curve to the Left Determine Line of Sight/Path of TravelDetermine Line of Sight/Path of Travel LP 3 provides the best visibilityLP 3 provides the best visibility Check traffic to the rearCheck traffic to the rear Moving Through the Curve Determine target areaDetermine target area Determine ApexDetermine Apex Exiting the Curve Adjust speed and position for best visibility and space cushion LOS / POT Through Curves

Cornering / Apex Basic Cornering - As you approach a curve or release the accelerator, do your braking in a straight line. Remember to factor in the limitations of the tire patches. If you are braking at 1.05 Gs, and that is the limit of the tires, you will experience limited vehicle control if you start to turn. As the driver turns to the apex, he should release pressure on the brake. If the driver is still braking while steering, he should release pressure in the same manner as he steers. This is called trailing brake and will allow the driver to control motion of vehicle into curve. The apex of the corner is the point at which your car is closest to the inside edge of the usable roadway surface. With most cars, the driver should use a late apex so that they can use the power sooner on the exit of the curve