1. Changing Lanes, Passing, Hills & Curves
Driver Education
DE 4 and DE 5

2. Communication is Important!
Remember to…
Give clear signals and warnings
Pay attention to signals and warnings
Notice pedestrians
Give way to emergency vehicles
Signal – lights or hand signals (turning, backing, hazards, warning)
brake light (flash, slowing, stopping)
lane position (intent to change lanes or turn, hazard in lane ahead)
horn (warn, get someone’s attention)
head lights (to see and be seen, to warn others)

3. Why and How of Communication
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

4. Space and Following Distance (REVIEW)
DE 4

5. Remember to appropriate following distances
Drivers have the most control over the space directly in front of the vehicle
2-Second - Following Distance is effective at speeds under 35 mph
3-Second - Following Distance may provide enough time for evasive steering maneuver on dry surfaces or to brake at speeds up to 45 mph
4-Second - Following Distance provides time to steer out of a problem on dry surfaces and brake out of a problem at speeds up to 70 mph

6. Measuring Your Following Distance
Begin counting when rear of the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object
one-thousand-one one-thousand-two one-thousand- three, and…

7. Maintaining Your Following Distance
ESTABLISH FOLLOWING DISTANCE when you reach the fixed object
one-thousand-four

8. Judging Gaps in Traffic
In order to judge a gap you need to be able to judge speed, time and distance while moving. This is a very difficult skill for novice drivers.
Why is a vehicle approaching from the left most hazardous?
Why is a larger gap needed for a right turn than to cross an intersection?
Why is a left turn more dangerous than a right turn?

9. Judging Gaps from a Stopped Position
Traffic is moving at 30 mph
5-6 seconds to cross a two lane roadway (vehicles need to be at least a block away)
7-8 seconds to cross a four lane intersection
7-8 seconds to turn left (vehicles need to be more than a block away or length of a football field)
6-7 seconds to turn right (vehicles need to be at least a block away)
4-6 second gap to change lanes into traffic from parked position

10. Perception/Reaction/ Response Time
Perception Time
Time it takes to identify a risk
Average perception time varies with the circumstances
Reaction Time
Time it takes to respond with accelerator, brake, or steering
Average reaction time is ¾ second
Response Time
Total time it takes to complete the action

11. Factors Affecting Response Time
Distractions
Inattention
Poor Visibility
Line of Sight Restrictions
Fatigue
Medications
Alcohol
Illness
Age
Talking on Cell Phone
Others?

12. Calculating Speed & Distance Travelled
Formula to calculate feet per second for each MPH of speed
A vehicle will travel (rounded up to 1.5) feet per second for each mph of speed
40 mph x = feet per second
60 mph x = feet per second
80 mph x = 120 feet per second

13. Calculating Feet Per Second for Each MPH
Simplified Formula to calculate feet per second for each MPH of speed
Take the speed, divide by two, add the answer to the speed. Examples:
40 mph ÷ 2 = = 60 feet per second
60 mph ÷ 2 = = 90 feet per second
80 mph ÷ 2 = = 120 feet per second
A football field is 300 feet in length.
Calculate how long it will take a vehicle traveling 40 mph, 50 mph, and 60 mph to cover the length of the football field.

14. Changing Lanes

15. Changing Lanes
Changing lanes involves a movement either to the left or to the right and generally requires a change in speed.
Since you will be changing your vehicle’s position on the roadway, you are required to signal in advance to alert other drivers of your intentions.
Changing Lanes Video:

16. Changing Lanes Safely Use advance planning Reasons to change lanes
Make a turn
Pass another vehicle
Park
Exit a road
Manage driver requirements
Visibility: What is the path of travel like?
20-30 seconds ahead
Time: How fast are you going? How fast is traffic moving?
Space: Room to make a move safely

17. How to Safely Change Lanes
Check ahead, to the sides, and to the rear for a safe gap in traffic.
Signal your intention to move left or right.
Re-check Mirrors and blind areas in the direction of your intended lane change.
When conditions are safe, change lanes and adjust your speed.
Once you reach the new lane, cancel your turn signal and re-check your vehicle’s speed and position.
SMOG:
Signal
Check Mirrors
Look Over your Shoulder Go

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

19. Concepts to Remember Need to change lanes Adequate gap Courtesy
Communication
Appropriate speed
Traffic Check
ahead
to the rear
to the sides
Controlled steering
Controlled speed change
Establish lane position
Check traffic to sides and rear
Re-establish space around vehicle

20. Passing
DE 4

21. Passing Other Vehicles
Two dangers face the driver who wants to pass:
Impatience
Errors in judgment

22. Passing Other Vehicles
Three questions-
When considering passing another vehicle, you must ask yourself three questions, and the answer to each question must be YES:
Is passing legal?
Is passing safe?
Is passing necessary?

23. IS Passing LEGAL? 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.
Pavement Lines must be broken
Make sure it is not marked as a NO PASSING ZONE

24. Passing – NOT ALLOWED It is illegal to pass on: Hills Curves
Intersections
Rail Road Crossings
Solid Lines

25. Is Passing Safe If you are in a legal passing zone then
1 – Do you have the time you will need to pass safely?
2 – Do you have the space you will need to safely pass the other vehicle
When passing a vehicle while traveling on a roadway with yellow center lines, you must be careful of oncoming vehicles when you change lanes.

26. Is Passing Necessary?
Why are you passing?

27. Preparing toPass 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

28. Passing Considerations
Daylight Headlight Use
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
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 Roads
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
If there is an oncoming vehicle traveling 40 mph, the total clear distance needed to pass safely becomes 1360 feet (23 seconds)
(space cushion)

29. Passing Procedures USE S.M.O.G TWICE
Lane change Left, accelerate past the vehicle, lane change right to return to your lane.
When you accelerate to pass it is illegal to exceed the speed limit as you pass!
Return to your lane (lane change #2) ONLY when you can see the front of the passed vehicle in your rearview mirror

30. Passing Procedures Prepare to Pass: Overtake the Ongoing Vehicle:
2 – 3 Seconds
Prepare to Pass:
Overtake the Ongoing Vehicle:
Return to Lane:
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.
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.
Accelerate into passing lane.
Accelerate quickly to a legal appropriate speed.
Monitor the path ahead.
Check the mirror for following vehicles.

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

32. Hills and Curves
DE 5
c and d

33. Techniques for Hills and Curves
Searching Into a Curve
Look ahead and through the curve
Look for problems that may affect your path of travel and line of sight
Apex: the point at which your car is closest to the inside edge of the usable roadway
Trail Braking: Releasing brake pressure while you steer.

34. Hills Continued
A hill can rise and descend gently, or can be part of a mountain range
Gravity is every driver’s passenger when travelling up and down hills .

35. Hills & Mountains
Hills are dangerous because they can become slippery very easily.
Hills can be thought of as a vertical curve.
You should approach a hill in Lane Position 3 to give yourself time to react.
Gravity is always with you
Uphill: works against you
More power
Downhill: works with you
Maintain control

36. Up Hill Driving Always approach the top of a hill
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
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

37. 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

38. 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

39. Visual Cues for Curves
There are several clues that the driver can identify.
The road sign
The speed under the curve sign
The yellow line curves to the right
The chevrons at the end of the road
The tree line at the end of a curve
The curving white line

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

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

42. Speed in a Curve You should reduce speed going into a curve
Brake going in a straight line.
Squeeze the brake on entry and trail off the brake until the apex (peak) or exit point is determined
Once apex is reached, use light acceleration to pull the car out of the curve through the exit

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

44. Speed in a Curve
Speed going through a curve will determine how much traction your car will have.
Remember Vehicle requirements are Traction, Space and Time

45. Road Position in a Curve
Under-steer: Traction loss into a curve.
Over-steer: Traction loss on the exit of a curve.