Ch 1 - Driving & Mobility Driver’s Education

 Assessing Risk and Managing Risk  Getting Ready: Your Minnesota Driving Test  Knowing Yourself and Your Driving Skills  Handling Social Pressure DRIVING BEGINS WITH YOU

 Driving is a privilege  With privilege comes responsibility  We all have a responsibility to drive safely, buckle up, pay attention and drive sober DRIVING AND YOU

 Motor vehicles  Roadways  Streets  Highways  Drivers & Pedestrians THE HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION

 Planned based upon traffic flow, road use, turns, etc.  Over 230 million registered vehicles travel the highway transportation system  Safety features are built into vehicles in case of a collision HIGHWAY CONCEPT & DESIGN

 Collapsible steering wheel  Bumper design  Seat belts  Air bags  Shatterproof glass  Padded dashboards  Car designs SAFETY FEATURES OF VEHICLES

 Nearly 4 million miles of roadways like states, counties, cities, towns  Simple two lane roads to complex interstate highways  East-west roads are even numbers - 90 & 94  Lower numbers in south and higher in the north  North-south roads are odd numbers - 35  Lower numbers on west coast and higher as you go to the east coast ROADWAYS

PEOPLE - PEDESTRIANS  Over 194 million licensed drivers  3.8 million in Minnesota  55 million pedestrians and bicyclists  Drivers need to be aware of all activity outside their vehicle  It is hard to predict what children will do

 It is regulated by federal, state, and local governments working together - example: speed limits in states  Requirements for people to become licensed drivers  Maintenance of roads and development of traffic laws HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

 Federal  Set uniform standards for vehicle and driver safety  The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act  The National Highway Safety Act  State  Driver’s license requirements, vehicle registration, state laws  Local  Speed limits, traffic controls, roads HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

 Required auto makers to build certain safety features into the vehicles  Also requires manufacturers to correct defects discovered after the vehicle is sold THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT

 Established specific guidelines for state motor vehicle safety programs  Registration and inspection of vehicles, driver licensing, traffic laws and traffic court, and highway construction and maintenance THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ACT

 Risk - the chance of injury to yourself or others and the chance of damage to vehicles and property. REDUCING THE RISK OF DRIVING

RISK AND DRIVING  1:9 involved in collision  38% deaths ages because of motor vehicle crash injuries  Over 57% of vehicle deaths involve one vehicle

 Vehicle safety  Behavior factors  Roadway characteristics  Environmental factors  Volume of traffic  Weather  Age  Emergency Medical Services FACTORS AFFECTING TRAFFIC CRASHES

ACCIDENTS  Leading cause of death for persons aged 1-37  5th leading cause of death overall

 78,396 traffic crashes  143,681 motor vehicles involved  190,700 people involved in crashes  361 deaths – lowest since 1843  49,439 people injured  94.7% seat belt compliance rate MN MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH INFORMATION

 215 crashes  1 deaths  81 people injured CRASHES ON AVERAGE DAY IN MN

 361 Deaths  271 died in motor vehicle accidents  46 motorcycles  7 ATV  4 snowmobiles  5 bicycles  1 farm equipment  6 large trucks  4 other IN MN IN 2014

 25,258 impaired driving incidents (DWIs)  70 per day  1 in 7 MN drivers/DWI  1 in 17 have two DWI  111 deaths  2,040 people injured 2014 CRASHES INVOLVING ALCOHOL

 Keep vehicle in top condition  Anticipate actions of others  Take steps to protect yourself and others  Drive only when you are in sound physical and mental condition  Make conscious effort to develop your driving skills REDUCING YOUR DRIVING RISK

MANAGING VISIBILITY, TIME & SPACE  Visibility - what you can see from behind the wheel, how well you see it  Time and Space - ability to judge your speed, other’s speed, and make adjustments

MARGIN OF SPACE  Space refers to distance  Wise drivers keep a margin of space between their vehicle and other vehicles

 Easy-to-use system for dealing with the challenge of driving  Refers to Search, Identify, Predict, Decide and Execute  SIPDE is a five-step process SIPDE PROCESS

 SEARCH - the roadway and the off- road areas seconds ahead for information  IDENTIFY - objects or conditions within seconds  PREDICT - what actions or changes others will make  DECIDE - what action or action you will take  EXECUTE - your decision SIPDE

 Aim High and Look Ahead, Not Down  Keep Your Eyes Moving  Get the Big Picture  Make Sure Others See You  Leave Yourself a Way Out or a Margin of Safety SMITH SYSTEM

 Thorough knowledge about driving and driving conditions  How to minimize your risk  Consumer information  Understanding of what to do in an emergency  Understanding of how drugs and alcohol impair driving  Awareness of limiting factors for yourself and vehicle  Increase understanding of laws Value of Driver’s Education

Getting Ready: Your State Driving Test

 Some, not all states have GDL  Minnesota does have a form of GDL  Typical stages include:  The Learner’s Permit  Intermediate/Probationary License  Full License GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSING (GDL)

 30 Hours of classroom instruction  Age 15 - take permit test  Must complete 6 hours of Behind-The- Wheel instruction  Age 16 - take driver’s test (road test)  2 year - Provisional license  No accidents within timeframe - full driver’s license Minnesota’s License Process

 Study material  Study each section at a time, reread if needed  Study with someone else  Take sample tests  Be well rested  Eat right to keep energy level up  Think carefully before answering the question  Bring proof of age and identity  Bring proof of completed driver’s ed course  Parent/guardian  Stay calm KNOWLEDGE TEST

 Know what you are doing  Practice  Ask other driver’s for advice  Be sure to understand signs and road markings  Practice skills in vehicle you’ll take the test in  Be rested and eat well  Bring necessary paperwork - permit, completion of BTW, insurance, SS#  $$$ to pay for license IN-VEHICLE (ROAD) TEST

TEST VEHICLE  Bring your own vehicle  In good all-around condition  One you feel comfortable driving  Make sure all equipment works

FAILING ROAD TEST  If you violate a traffic law  If you commit a dangerous act  Don’t listen to examiner  It’s okay to admit you are nervous to the examiner

 Practice driving upon a public street or highway without an instruction permit and a licensed driver, is unlawful and both the driver and the person with him/her may be arrested.  True or False SAMPLE PERMIT QUESTIONS

 Practice driving upon a public street or highway without an instruction permit and a licensed driver, is unlawful and both the driver and the person with him/her may be arrested.  True

 You must make application for a renewal or duplicate license within 30 days after you have changed your permanent Minnesota residence or name.  True or False SAMPLE PERMIT TEST QUESTION

 You must make application for a renewal or duplicate license within 30 days after you have changed your permanent Minnesota residence or name.  True