1. Virginia Department of Education
Module Three PowerPoint
Basic Maneuvering Tasks:
Low Risk Environment
Topic 1 -- Basic Maneuvers
Topic 2 -- Vision and Perception
Topic 3 -- Controlling Risk Using a Space Management System
Topic 4 -- Developing Good Driving Habits
Provided in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

2. Entering Roadway Tasks
1. Place Foot Firmly on Service Brake
2. Select Proper Gear
- Overdrive, Drive, or Reverse
3. Perform Traffic Checks
- Forward, Rear, and Sides
4. Apply Proper Signal
- Communicate Intentions
T – 3.1

3. Entering Roadway Tasks
Release Parking Brake
Select Gap in Traffic Flow
Move to Lane
- Target Lane Position #1
Release Service Brake
8. Accelerate Gradually
9. Steer to Center of Lane
When Entering the roadway your target should be lane position 1
3 feet
Lane Position #1
CENTER OF LANE
3 feet
T – 3.2

4. Moving to Curb/Side of Road
Traffic Checks Front/Rear/Sides
Proper Signal
Select Target
Recheck blind zones
- for bicyclist, pedestrians, etc.
Adjust speed with controlled braking
T – 3.3

5. Moving to Curb/Side of Road
Move gradually
Use reference point to establish 6” from curb
Make Adjustments to Align Visual Reference Points
Cancel Signal Indicator
T – 3.4

6. Backing Backing Sit up straight Look over your right shoulder
Look through the rear mirror
Begin with your foot on the brake( heel on the floor)
Shift to reverse
Backing
T – 3.7

7. Backing Grip the steering wheel with the left hand at 12 o’clock.
When backing to the left, turn the steering wheel to the left.
When backing around a corner, align the rear bumper with the corner before beginning your turn.
Backing
T – 3.5

8. Backing Signal if Backing Right or Left
Often you do not need to use the accelerator
Maintain pressure on the brake
Backing
T – 3.6

9. Vision and Perception Requirements
Gaining Visual Information
Vision is the ability to see and understand what we see.
- A driver gains approximately 90% of the driving information through the eyes.
T – 3.8

10. Driver’s Useful Vision Areas Gathering Useful Visual Information
Focal Vision Area
Includes 3 to 5 degrees of useful information that is used when:
Used to read and identify distinct objects.
T – 3.10

11. Driver’s Useful Vision Areas Gathering Useful Visual Information
Central Vision Area (Inner Fringe)
30 to 36 degrees of useful information that includes:
Referencing Vehicle Position to Roadway and depth perception
Viewing Path of Travel
Viewing Line of Sight to Target Area
T – 3.11

12. Driver’s Useful Vision Areas Gathering Useful Visual Information
Peripheral Vision
Peripheral Vision
Peripheral Vision (Outer Fringe Area)
degrees of useful information that detects:
Motion Changes
Color Changes
T – 3.12

13. Visual Fields in Operation
Capacity of Visual Fields
Focal Vision
Determine make and model of vehicles
Visual Lead, Targeting, Signs, Signals
Focus Vision
Central Vision
Central Vision
Identifying the type of vehicles
Referencing, Path of Travel, Sightlines
Peripheral Vision
Peripheral Vision
Vehicle approaching from the side
Motion and Color Changes
T – 3.13

14. Visual Fields in Operation
When your path of travel is restricted, you will need to adjust speed or position.
Path of Travel
Target
Good visual habits involve establishing a path of travel with a targeted area seconds ahead of the vehicle. This is known as visual lead.
T – 3.14

15. Effect of Speed on Vision and Steering
VISUAL FIELDS NARROW
As speed increases:
When you are unable to see you target area ahead, you should reduce your speed.
central vision narrows and blurs
peripheral vision decreases
T – 3.16

16. Following Intervals
2 Seconds… Allows driver time to steer out of problem areas at all listed speeds on a dry surface and stop before problem areas at speeds under 35 mph.
3 Seconds… Allows driver time to steer out of problem areas at all listed speeds on dry surface and stop before problem areas at speeds to 45 mph.
4 Seconds… Allows driver to steer out of problem areas at speeds up to 65 mph on dry surface and stop before problem areas at speeds to the legal limit of 65 mph.
Most factory equipped passenger car tires are not designed to steer out of problem areas at speeds beyond 75 mph. At such speeds, speed rated tires are required due to increased tire heat and reduced traction caused by excessive sidewall flexion--especially on curves or when turning.
T – 3.20

17. Determining Following Intervals
Fixed Object or Shadow
One Thousand One
One Thousand Two
One Thousand Three
One Thousand Four
T – 3.18

18. Space Management System
Good Drivers Develop a Space Management System
S earch
E valuate
E xecute
i n
T ime
A space management system is a process used to manage time, space, and visibility to reduce risk situations.
T-3.20a

19. The first step is to Search and Identifying high risk situations
Searching
The first step is to Search and Identifying high risk situations
Before proceeding straight through an intersection, check left , right then       and one final glance left . Don’t forget to check ahead for vehicles turning left into your path of travel.
T – 3.21

20. Decision-making Evaluating Preventing high risk situations
Maintain open LOS and POT & proper lane position
Manage time and space
What are high risk situations?
Pedestrians
On-coming traffic
Bicyclist
T – 3.23

21. Approach to Intersection
Step 1 (Search)
Identify Intersection
Identify Controls
Check Rear Areas
Search for cross traffic
Step 2 (Evaluate)
Scan Open Side Areas First
Scan Closed Side Areas
Look for Closed or Changing Frontal Areas
Step 3 (Execute)
Adjust Speed
Maintain Lane Position or Stop Behind Crosswalk
Proceed Through Open Space Area or Stop Behind the Crosswalk
T – 3.28

22. The Top Ten Errors
that resulted in crashes involving teen drivers are: 1.
23.9%
not attending to the path of travel
(distractions – cell phone, sound system, passengers, etc.) 2.
13.7%
driving five or more mph too fast for conditions 3.
6.6%
driving too fast through a curve 4.
6.3%
inadequate search at an intersection and moving in front of cross traffic 5.
6.1%
lack of attention at an intersection and being struck by another driver

23. The Top Ten Errors
that resulted in crashes involving teen drivers are: 6.
6.5%
improper evasive action—quick turn not executed properly or braking instead of steering 7.
3.9%
failed to maintain visual lead 8.
failed to see action developing at side of the roadway 9.
following too closely
10.
3.3%
willfully taking right-of-way
T – 3.32