Defensive Driving

You try!!!!

Changing Lanes Inclement Weather/ Road Conditions Space Cushion Night Driving Following Distance Emotions/ Road Rage Communicating Passing/ Being Passed City vs. Country Driving

What is Defensive Driving? Driving in a way that keeps you as a driver safe and the other drivers and passengers on the road safe as well. It involves being alert in all different types of situations on the road.

Most accidents are caused by… Preventing Accidents Most accidents are caused by… Driver Error The error may be yours or the other drivers.

Reduce chances of accident by following this formula . . . Preventing Accidents Reduce chances of accident by following this formula . . . #1--- BE ALERT Never think the other driver will not make a mistake #2--- BE PREPARED Learn how to have a good reaction time #3--- ACT IN TIME Try not to panic. Don’t get nervous, stay calm, cool, and collected

Be Alert! Avoid DISTRACTIONS & MULTI-TASKING Try it in your seats!!!!!

Smoking… should not be doing that anyway.

Reaching across the seat to close a door or look in the glove compartment

Reaching for coins in pocket while driving up to a toll booth

Watching children or pets in the car

Eating while driving

Adjusting a mirror while driving

Using a cellular phone

Changing the cassette or compact disc

Highway Hypnosis ZZZZZZZZZ!! Stare off! Trance-like/ hypnotic state resulting from driving long hours on a monotonous, non-scenic road such as a highway. HOW TO AVOID… Get a good nights sleep Don’t take medicines that can cause drowsiness Do not drive long hours Take rest stops even if you aren’t tired Switch drivers Do not stare Chew gum or sing with radio Open window for fresh air Stare off!

How does one drive defensively? Be Proactive Make sure everyone in the car is secured (wear seatbelts). Do not drive under the influence. Drive at the speed limit. Be aware of what other drivers on the road are doing, so you can react to them easily.

How to drive defensively… Follow the laws that control the roads do not tailgate abide by and anticipate the changing of the traffic lights read and follow road signs. Make sure your car is safe and all parts are maintained.

Why should one drive defensively? 41,000 people die each year from motor vehicle accidents. Over two million people receive disabling injuries from motor vehicle accidents each year. It is the driver’s responsibility to protect yourself and others on the road by driving defensively.

How to protect yourself Road Rage Causes Symptoms How to protect yourself

Communication What are they?

Left Turn

Right Turn

Slow and/or Stop

Changing Lanes Here are the steps for making a lane change: 1. Check mirrors for a space in traffic where you can enter safely. Check blind spot by looking over your shoulder in the direction of the lane change. Signal that you want to move left or right. Check again to make sure the way is clear and that no one is coming too fast from behind or from two lanes over on a multi-lane road. Steer gradually into the new lane. Do not slow down - maintain the same speed or gently increase it.

Space Cushion What is it? CAR Why is it imp't?

Space between your car and others on all sides. SPACE CUSHION Space between your car and others on all sides. The space between you and other vehicles gives you time to react in emergencies. Space cushion between desks?

Passing Here are the steps for passing a vehicle: 1. Use your left-turn signal to show that you want to pass. Check ahead and behind before moving into the passing lane. Watch for small vehicles that may be hidden from view in front of the vehicle you are about to pass. Change lanes only after signaling. After passing, signal that you want to move back into the original lane. When all of the front of the vehicle you are passing is in your rear view mirror you may make the lane change. Be careful not to cut off a vehicle by suddenly moving in front of it. If the vehicle you are passing speeds up, move back to your original lane.

Passing on the Left DO NOT Pass if… Your lane has a solid yellow center line. You cannot safely return to the right lane before reaching a solid yellow centerline for the right line. You cannot safely return to the right lane before any approaching vehicle comes within 200 feet of you. You are approaching a curve or the crest of a hill on a two-way road and cannot see around or over it. You are within 100 feet of a railroad crossing on a two-way roadway. You are within 100 feet of a bridge or tunnel on a two-way road and your view is obstructed. Passing will interfere with oncoming traffic.

Passing on the Right Pass on the right if… When a vehicle ahead is making a left turn.

Why is it important to keep a safe following distance? The space provides motorists with time to react in case of an emergency or sudden shift in traffic flow. Increased reaction time helps drivers avoid accidents.

The Wrong Thing To Do: Tailgating Tailgating is following too closely being the vehicle directly in front. Tailgating is dangerous because it decreases a driver’s time to react.

Tailgating

There are two methods drivers can use to determine a safe following distance.

One Car-Length Method Keep at least one car length (about 20 feet) for each ten miles per hour of speed During bad weather or at higher speeds, increase following distance

3 Car Lengths (about 60 feet) You Speed: 30 mph Road Condition: Ideal

Two-Second Rule This rule takes into account the traveling speeds of the two cars. It can help develop good judgment for proper following distances. During bad weather, the two second rule should be increased to four or more seconds.

How to: 1. Choose a fixed object such as a sign or a tree, ahead of the car directly in front of you. 2. Make sure the object does not cause any distraction 3. At least two seconds should elapse between the two cars passing the sign or tree.

Object You

Count… One Two

Object You

City Driving vs. Country Driving

What is the best thing to do in bad weather? It is best not to drive! = But if you have too…

Before driving in cold weather (snow)… Let the vehicle warm up Remove all snow and ice from the car (including the roof). Always make sure the vehicle has windshield wiper fluid. In New Jersey, motorists are liable if ice flies from a vehicle and causes death, injury, or property damage. Use studded snow tires for better traction from Nov 15th – April 1st.

When driving in the rain… Turn on windshield wipers. WIPERS ON, LIGHTS ON! Allow additional stopping distance.

During the first few minutes of rainfall, road surfaces are the most slippery. Hydroplaning 35 mph and up- contact with road surface is like a windshield wiper Like water skiing At about 55mph the tire will lose control with the road. No friction to brake

When driving in fog… Slow down in patches of fog Turn on your low beam headlights or fog lights… why? Turn on your defroster and windshield wipers Be alert for surrounding traffic In heavy fog, roll all your windows down (one can hear cars before you see them)

Night Driving

Night Driving 90% of driving decisions are made based on observations…..At night vision is reduced Slow down Be sure you can stop within the distance you can see ahead Drive within the range of headlights 500 feet-- high beams 350 feet-- low beams

Elderly (poor eyesight) Dangers… People Drinking and Driving Reckless Driving Inexperience Elderly (poor eyesight)

Danger… Conditions/Weather Few or no street lights Windy/poorly maintained roads Deer/animals run towards oncoming cars

Dirty lights/windshields/mirrors Danger… Mechanical Dirty lights/windshields/mirrors Wrong mirror angle

Stats Traffic death rates are 3X as high at night than during the day 50 yr. old drivers need twice as much light to see as well as a 30 yr. old driver When smoking, the nicotine and carbon monoxide hamper night vision On average, 45% of all car accidents with fatalities were the result of drunk driving

Sources Images: Information: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sovietuk/5861614/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottoman42/24385675/in/set-569819/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/143596412/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/fish_at_taipei/198024832/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/miika/216440150/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/183862233/ http://www.trucks.about.com/.../l/bl_ramsrt10_8.htm http://www.uniqueshoppes.com/rafflecorvette http://www.autobarthobraat.nl/productssimple1.html http://images.google.com/ http://www.whatisnext.co.uk/files/night_driving_1280x1024.jpg http://www.mpi.mb.ca/Images/WFPColumn/NightDriving.gif http://www.keacher.com/photos/images/small/1079591066.jpg Information: New Jersey. Motor Vehicle Commission. New Jersey Driver Manual. New Jersey, 2006. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/Aggressionwisc/chapter_1.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_explosive_disorder http://www.state.nj.us/lps/p80418a.htm http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Licenses/Driver%20Manual/Chapter_5.pdf http://nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter06-manual.htm http://www.drivingschool.ca/drivereducation/page6.html “Driving in Bad Weather.” Bergen County Office of Emergency Management. 2005. 16 November 2006. http://www.bcoemorg/driving.htm “Safe Communities of Wright County.” Concentrate on Driving. 2006. 16 November 2006. http://www.safecomm.org/inclement_weather.htm http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/nightdr.htm http://www.roadandtravel.com/safetyandsecurity/nightperils.html