Driver Safety & Rules

Seat Belt Law All front seat occupants are required by law to wear a seat belt. The driver is responsible for enforcing seat belt law for passengers under 18. Front seat passengers older then 18 are responsible for themselves. Drivers with GDL permits must require all passengers seated anywhere in the vehicle to use seat belts.

Seat Belts Improve chances of surviving a crash by 60 percent. Chance of surviving a collision 3 to 4 times better when wearing a seat belt and shoulder strap. Only takes 3 seconds to put on.

How Seat Belts Help Keep passengers from being thrown from a car in a collision. Prevent passengers from hitting the dashboard or windshield during severe breaking or collision. Hitting the dashboard at 30 mph = falling from the top of a 3 story building Keep passengers from sliding on the seat. Prevent the driver from sliding off the seat and losing control of the vehicle.

Tips For Seat Belt Use Buckle up on every trip. Wear lap belt under the abdomen and low across the hips. Shoulder belt should come over the collar bone away from the neck. Never put more than one person in one seat belt. Never sit closer than 10 inches from the steering wheel.

Car Seats Traffic accidents are a leading killer of children. Child car safety seats should be placed in the backseat. If no backseat, move front seat as far back as possible. Infant rear-facing seats must never face forward. Children 12 and under should ride in the backseat.

Child Restraint Law Children up to age 8 or 80 lbs. must ride in a car seat. Children under age 8 and over 80 lbs. must be in back seat and wear seat belt Every passenger between the ages of 8 and 18 must use a seat belt – no matter where they sit in the vehicle.

Air Bags Inflate at speeds up to 200 mph. Can seriously injure or kill children. They are identified on steering wheel and dashboard panel. Air Bag SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) SIR (Supplemental Inflatable Restraint) Some vehicles have air bag cut off switches for car seats and medical conditions

Safety Points Children of any age are safest when belted properly in the back seat. Always put rear-facing infant safety seats in the back seat 12 years old and younger ride in the backseat. Make sure everyone is buckled up

Car Conditions Back Up/Reverse lights Brakes Smoothly and quickly ABS – never pump Brake lights Headlights Horn Signal when passing or coming out of a blind alley Steering Front end should not “shimmy” Taillights Tires 1/16 inch of tread (dime) Turn Signals Windshield No tint Snow/Ice

Snow & Ice NJ Law States that motorists are responsible for any ice that flies from his/her vehicle and causes death, injury, or property damage. NJ Law States that motorists are responsible for any ice that flies from his/her vehicle and causes death, injury, or property damage. Up to $1500 Fine Up to $1500 Fine

Starting a Parked Car Look behind and in front for: Children playing Animals Bottles Anything else that could be injured or broken Check for less conspicuous vehicles, such as bicycles and mopeds.

Starting a Parked Car Make sure windows are clean and nothing is blocking the line of sight. Adjust the seat, so all pedals and controls are easily reached. Adjust inside and outside mirrors to reduce blind spots. Fasten seat belts Make sure the car is in park or neutral. Doors locked

Blind Spots 95% of all information necessary for safe driving is visual information! Blind spots are areas hidden from the drivers view. Adjust mirrors to help reduce blind spots. Check by turning your head. Outside mirrors – tip of the driver-side front door handle is in view in the lower right corner of the mirror.

Idling Your Vehicle What’s idling? NJ law requires all motorists to restrict vehicle idling to 3 minutes or less. Fee of $250-$1,000 StoptheSoot.org Idling Stinks, and it’s against the law-turn the key and be idle free!

Steering Keep both hands on the upper half of the wheel. 9 o’clock left hand, 3 o’clock right hand Keep a firm but not too tight grip Keep both hands on wheel at all times except when shifting gears, or giving hand signals When driving around a curve, your vehicle will tend to keep going straight

Steering Hand-Over-Hand – allow a driver to make minor turns to half wheel turns, while keeping both hands on the wheel. For precision maneuvers, steering through curves, intersection entry and exit, and skid recovery Controlled Slipping – when coming out of a turn, allowing the wheel to slip through fingers

Hand-Over-Hand 123

Push Pull Steering

Speed Control Start slowly Gradually increase speed until safely within legal speed limit and flow of traffic Maintain steady speeds Press the gas pedal slowly Press the brake pedal lightly Check speedometer

Stopping Distances Factors: Individual reaction time Weather and road conditions Vehicle weight Brake conditions Condition and type of tire Roadway conditions Speed  The faster a vehicle is going, the longer it will take to stop.

Proper Braking Types of brakes: Conventional drum and disc system Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) New drivers often violently push the brake pedal Steady, gentle pressure should be applied to brakes for a controlled stop. Use the right foot to brake and accelerate. Use the left foot for the clutch.

Hand Signals Right Turn

Driver Signals Left Turn

Hand Signals * Use Signals 100 feet before turn. Slow Down or Stop

Driving in Reverse Check all mirrors Turn head and body back to the right Place right arm over the back of the passenger seat. Grasp top of the steering wheel with left hand

Driving in Reverse Steering the wheel to the right, moves the car to the right Steering the wheel to the left, moves the car to the left. The front of the car will swing in the opposite direction of a turn.

Making a Three-Point Turn (K-Turn) You cannot make a K-Turn on a highway, turnpike and parkways.

Three-Point Turn 1.Signal left and move forward slowly, turning the wheel to the left. Stop inches from the left curb. 2.Signal right and back slowly, turning the wheel to the right. Stop inches from the right curb. 3.Move forward signaling left, turning the wheel to the left. Straighten the vehicle out.

Parking Parking on a Decline facing Downhill – Turn the wheels toward the curb Parking on an Incline facing Uphill – Turn the wheels away from the curb No curbs – Turn the wheels toward the edge of the road Angle parking – common in parking lots and at curbs

Parallel Parking Most common in city streets. Legal space Large enough space Use your signal For practice use flags or markers 25 feet apart.

Parallel Parking Steps: Properly signal Pull alongside (parallel) about 2-4 feet from the parked car in front (back bumper to back bumper) Turn the wheel to the right. Begin to back into the space. Line up the center of the car with the right front bumper of the car behind you. Back straight into space until the front bumper clears the rear bumper of the car in front. Turn the wheel to the left. Back the car into the space. Pull forward to straighten out the car. 6 inches from the curb.