HOW CAN YOU COMMUNICATE YOUR VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS?

 Lights!!!  VA law requires motorists to use headlights during inclement weather, night, or visibility being reduced to 500 ft.  Must use headlights when wipers are used for bad weather.  BE SEEN IN INCLEMENT WEATHER!

The Code of Virginia requires That you use your headlights from sunset to sunrise and during inclement weather, such as rain, fog, snow, or when you use your windshield wipers. You also must use headlights when visibility is reduced to 500 ft. At twilight, when the sun light begins to fade, turn your headlights ON. This will make your vehicle more visible to others.

Properly aligned LOW BEAM headlights  beam hits roadway 100 to 150 feet ahead  illuminates area above road 300 to 500 feet ahead  load, load distribution, and vehicle height affect light beam distance  a maximum safe speed of 40 to 45 mph is based on your ability to stop within the lighted area lighted area above road 300 to 500 feet illuminated roadway 100 to 150 feet

Properly Aligned High Beam Headlights illuminated roadway 300 to 500 feet lighted area above road 500 to 1800 feet the beam hits the roadway 300 to 500 feet ahead illuminates the area above the road 500 to 1800 feet ahead load, load distribution, and vehicle height affect light beam distance maximum safe speed is 65 mph based on your ability to stop within the lighted area

Lower (dim) your high-beam headlights when you are: within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle following closely behind another vehicle (within 200 feet) driving on lighted roadways driving in fog, heavy rain, sleet, snow, or dust

Handout Overdriving your headlights Your vehicle’s stopping distance is greater than the distance lighted by your headlights. To determine if you are overdriving your headlights, select an object the moment the headlights pick it up, and count off six seconds.  The posted speed limits are calculated for daylight driving and are often too fast for nighttime conditions.  Dirty headlights and improper headlight alignment will add to this traffic safety problem.  If the object is still ahead of your vehicle, you are driving at a safe speed.  If you have passed it, you are driving too fast.

 Headlights only let you see about 350 feet ahead (normal conditions)  Fog, rain, snow, etc.  If you cannot see more than 100 ft. ahead, you can’t drive safely at any speed.  Get off roadway until weather breaks.

 When you plan to change lanes, turn, [maneuver through a parking lot] or enter or exit a highway, first give the proper turn signal. Using your turn signal, which is required by law, communicates your intended movement to drivers around you. Develop a good habit and use turn signals or hand signals even if no other traffic is on the road.

 Turn Signals  Develop a good habit  3 or 4 seconds ahead of time  Speed limit more than 35 MPH, signal at least 100 feet before turning point (>35mph = 100ft ahead)  Speed limit less than 35 MPH, signal at least 50 feet in advance. (<35mph = 50ft ahead)

If your turn signals have burnt out?

Left Turn Left hand and arm pointing straight out Right Turn Left hand and arm pointing upward Slow or Stop Left hand and arm pointing downward

Another form of Communication: LANE POSITION Create Space and Improve Visibility by Adjusting the Position of the Vehicle in the Lane Lane Positions – 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 T – 5.15 Within Lane Positions Straddle Lane Positions LP 3 LP 2 LP 4 LP 5 LP 1

 5 Lane Positions  1 - center of the lane - 3 ft. on both sides of car between lines  2 - to the left of your lane - 6 ft. from right side line  3 - to the right of your lane - 6 ft. from left side line  4 - to the left, straddle the line  5 - to the right, straddle the line

The Highway Transportation System The Highway Transportation System (HTS) provides safe, convenient, and efficient movement of people and goods from place to place The HTS affects the economy

People –Walking, Driving, or Riding Vehicles –From Bicycles, Cars and SUVs, to Tractor-Trailer Trucks Roadways –From the smallest dirt road to the complex multilane expressways The Highway Transportation System (HTS) Three Components of the HTS

Federal Government Traffic Safety Guidelines Federal Government Traffic Safety Guidelines Enforcement Agencies Federal State Local Governments Enforcement Agencies Federal State Local Governments Who Regulates the HTS Federal State Local Governments Who Regulates the HTS Federal State Local Governments Federal Laws Uniform Vehicle Code Federal Laws Uniform Vehicle Code States Laws, Cities, Towns State Code and Local ordinances States Laws, Cities, Towns State Code and Local ordinances Motor Vehicle Depts. Administer state laws for drivers and vehicles Motor Vehicle Depts. Administer state laws for drivers and vehicles Courts Decide violations Courts Decide violations Law Enforcement Ensure laws are obeyed Law Enforcement Ensure laws are obeyed Highway Engineers Plan, build, maintain Highway Engineers Plan, build, maintain Who Regulates the HTS?

Rules of the Road  Dry road, good tires and brakes ft. for a passenger vehicle to stop at 55 MPH.  Adjust speed to visibility issues - hills, curves, intersections, weather, night/day, etc.

Good Driving Habits On the Road… Speed Limit: The speed posted is the maximum speed that you can drive under ideal conditions You may driver slower than the posted speed, but cannot driver faster Basic Speed Law: By law, you must drive slower that the speed limit if conditions make the posted speed unsafe ***Radar Detectors: Illegal to use in Virginia***

Speed limits Maximum speed limit for passenger vehicles and motorcycles (unless otherwise posted) Interstate highways70 mph Public roads not part of the interstate system 55 mph Rural roads35 mph School, business, and residential zones (You are required to travel 25 mph in a school zone ONLY when indicated by sign or signal.) 25 mph

Rules of the Road: Hitting the Road

Find a legal, safe parking place Find a legal, safe parking place Stop and set parking brake Stop and set parking brake Shift gear selector to (P)ark (Shift to Reverse if Manual Transmission) Shift gear selector to (P)ark (Shift to Reverse if Manual Transmission) Close windows Close windows Turn off accessories Turn off accessories Turn ignition switch to “off” Turn ignition switch to “off” Lock ignition switch and remove key Lock ignition switch and remove key Unfasten occupant restraints Unfasten occupant restraints Securing the Vehicle

 Check traffic flow to rear prior to opening door  Monitor door swing into adjacent lane or when parked next to another vehicle  Exit quickly to avoid conflict with traffic  Lock doors  Walk toward rear of the vehicle facing traffic Exiting the Vehicle