1. Module to
Driver Readiness

2. Back It Up…You Got It… Beep. Beep. Beep.
Backing up your car may be considered one of the most dangerous maneuvers. As a matter of fact, CDC estimates that an average of 7,475 children under the age of 15 were injured as of a result of backing up cars between the years of The reason behind this is the presence of blind spots, not allowing sufficient visibility for the naked eye. For this reason when baking up, it is essential and of utmost importance to practice extreme caution.

3. Mirror usage should be secondary. Trust what you see with your eyes!
Backing
Mirror usage should be secondary. Trust what you see with your eyes!
Reverse

4. Common Mistakes While Backing
Failing to look both ways behind you
Mirrors don’t give full view
Turn body and head
Backing up too fast/in a hurry
Back-up slowly
Checking for pedestrians and approaching traffic
Foot remains on/near/covering the brake
If acceleration is required, press gently
Turning the wheel in the wrong direction…
Continued on next slide…

5. Turning the wheel in the Wrong Direction
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
Turn the wheel in the direction you want the back end of the car to turn.
If you want the rear of the car to turn to the right, turn the wheel to the right.
If you want the rear of the car to turn left, turn the wheel to the left.

6. Backing Straight
Place your left hand on top of the steering wheel and your right arm across the top of the passenger seat.
Reversing is the only driving situation where holding the wheel with one hand is encouraged.
Left Hand

7. Visibility
Most of what you do while driving depends on what you see. To be a good driver, you need to know what to look for, where to look, and how to adjust to possible problems. The single biggest contributor to crashes is failing to identify a risk. You must look down the road, to the sides, and behind your vehicle. You must also be alert for unexpected events. You must use your headlights at night and other times when it’s hard to see. You must be alert and pay attention to what is going on around you.

8. Put Vehicle in Motion
Put foot firmly on the brake, using the right foot.
Depress clutch pedal (manual transmission only).
Shift into desired gear (drive or reverse).
Release parking brake (if applied).
Check mirrors and blind spots.
Signal intentions.
Remove the foot from the brake (ease off clutch in manual transmission).
Apply gas pedal.
Cancel signal.

9. Stopping and Securing the Vehicle
Check traffic (mirrors).
Signal intentions.
Lightly tap brake pedal to warn others you are slowing or stopping.
Apply smooth, steady, firm pressure to the brake pedal until the vehicle has stopped (apply clutch pedal in manual transmission).

10. Stopping and Securing (cont.)
Set parking brake (optional).
Shift into park (reverse for manual transmission).
Take foot off brake (and clutch).
Check to make sure all optional equipment is off.
Unfasten seat belt.
Remove key
Open door, exit curbside (if possible), and lock doors.

11. BASIC MANEUVERS
There are several basic maneuvers involved in driving safely and correctly:
Steering
Braking
Parking
Turning

12. Push-Pull-Feed Steering
Safer because arms are not across the steering wheel at any time.
Preferred turning method if there are driver side airbags.
Hold steering wheel with right hand resting between 3 and 5 and left between 7 and 9. One hand pushes the wheel up toward 12 o’clock. At the same time, the other hand slides up to 1 o’clock for the right turn(11 for left), grasp the wheel, and pull it down. While pulling hand goes down, the pushing hand releases its grip and returns to original position.

13. PUSH –PULL-FEED STEERING
This method lets you keep both hands on the wheel at all times.
It helps to reduce fatigue on long drives and gives better control in emergency situations.

14. Steering Hand-Over-Hand
Method in which a driver’s hands cross when turning.
To turn right, use your left hand to push the wheel up, around, and down. At the same time bring your right hand across left forearm to grip wheel on far side. Then use your right hand to pull the side of the wheel up, around, and down. Reverse these for a left turn.

15. “9 and 3” or “8 and 4” Hand positions on the steering wheel
Picture the wheel as a clock and place hand at these positions
Either of these positions provide you the best control in an emergency situation.
“8 and 4” is safer with driver side airbags.

16. Thumbs Up
With either one of the hand positions, always rest thumbs on the wheel, not wrapped around.
This is safer and a more relaxed, comfortable hold.

17. Steering in a Straight Line
When steering or tracking straight ahead, steer to a point in the center of your path of travel.
Look well ahead, not down.
Make slight, constant corrections with the steering wheel.
Don’t “oversteer” or wander in your lane.

18. Steering (tracking) to the rear
When backing a vehicle, visibility through the rear window is limited.
To maximize visibility, turn your head and shoulders to look in the direction you are going.
When moving backward, the rear of the vehicle moves in the direction that you turn the wheel.
The front of the vehicle will move in the opposite direction (swing outward)
DON’T USE THE MIRRORS FOR BACKING. Look in the direction your vehicle is moving.
Keep looking back until your vehicle comes to a stop.

19. Backing
When backing in a straight line, the left hand should be at the 12 o’clock position
The right hand/arm should be positioned so that the shoulders can turn.
When backing to the sides use both hands (push-pull-feed or hand over hand) and look in the direction you will be travel with quick glances to the front.

20. BRAKING There are different types of braking systems:
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) is the safest system. ABS is designed to the wheels from locking when the driver presses too hard on the brake pedal in an emergency. They do not shorten the stopping distance.
Conventional braking involves disc brakes. With this system pressure squeezes the brake pads against a flat metal wheel disc, producing the friction needed to stop the wheel from turning.

21. BRAKING
With conventional braking, to avoid locking the brakes in an emergency situation, press the brakes until they almost lock then ease up slightly and back down.
The parking brake is attached by a cable to the rear wheels. It is used to prevent a parked vehicle from rolling. It can also be used in case of brake failue.

22. PASSING LANE CHANGING MERGING
Basic Maneuvers
PASSING LANE CHANGING MERGING

23. PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE
Check the roadway ahead, signal, check mirrors and blind spot.
Return when you can see both headlights of the car being passed in your rearview mirror – don’t cut in too soon.
Don’t speed up when being passed.
It is illegal to pass on the shoulder of the road.
You will need to accelerate at least 10 mph faster than the car being passed (ok to speed??)

24. PASSING
Use a very slight controlled movement of the steering wheel when moving to pass or change lanes – usually not more than1/8 of a turn.
Be alert for places where highways may narrow and don’t pass there.
Hold the steering wheel firmly when being passed by large trucks to adjust for possible wind gust.
Move out of a driver’s blind spot as quickly as possible when passing

25. PASSING
Before risking a pass, consider the driver’s likely action – will they soon pull over or turn, will they need to swerve to avoid a pedestrian, cyclist, animal, etc.?
When in doubt as to the safety of a passing maneuver – don’t pass.
If the vehicle being passed demonstrates erratic behavior, drop back and re-evaluate the situation.
If, when passing, one misjudges the speed and distance of an oncoming car, try to brake and fall back behind the vehicle being passed. If this is impossible then speed up quickly to complete the pass.

26. Lane changing and Merging
Never move from one lane to another until you make certain that you do so safely.
To change lanes safely, follow these steps:
Check mirrors
Signal intentions
Check your blind spot
Adjust speed as needed
Move smoothly when time and space permits
Cancel signal, if necessary.

27. SIGNALS
The vehicle is equipped with mechanical signal that communicates your intention to turn or change lanes.
To operate the signal, move the indicator arm upward for a right turn, and downward for a left turn.
Alabama law states that you must signal at least 100 feet prior to a turn, and a good rule of thumb, signal before you start braking.
Signal all changes in lane position.

28. Turning Before you make a turn you should consider:
- Is there heavy traffic?
- Do signs prohibit a turn?
- Can I see clearly for 500 feet?
-Do I have enough space?
- Traffic and pedestrians

29. TURNING RIGHT Check the roadway ahead Choose the correct lane
Signal your intentions
Position car near the right side of the lane “turning right – keep it tight”
Wait for a 6-8 second gap in traffic to your left.
When your front wheels are even with the bend in the curve, start turning (using push-pull-feed or hand over hand) and follow the general curve of the curb.
Look through the turn along your intended path of travel.
Complete the turn by reversing your steering as you accelerate.
Cancel your signal, if necessary.

30. TURNING LEFT
Check the roadway ahead for vehicles, pedestrians, or other obstacles in your intended path.
Choose the correct lane
Signal your intentions
Position car near the left side of the lane .
Wait for a 9 second gap to the right and a 7 second gap to your left..
Proceed into the intersection until just prior to the centerpoint of the intersection.
Keep your wheels straight and yield to any oncoming traffic.
Look through the turn along your intended path of travel. Turn into the lane just to the right of the centerline “elbow on the yellow”
Complete the turn by reversing your steering as you accelerate.
Cancel your signal, if necessary.

31. Steering Straight Forward
The adjustments you need to make to drive in a straight line are small but critical.
Oversteering – turning the wheel to much. Will weave from side to side.
Understeering – do not turn the wheel enough to keep vehicle on planned path.

32. Steering Straight Backward
Turn body to the right and put your right arm over the back of the passenger seat
Put left hand on top of steering wheel.(12 o’clock)
Glance quickly to the front and side to check traffic.

33. Signaling
Develop the habit of signaling every time you plan to turn, change lanes, slow, or stop.
If your vehicle’s turn signals do not work, used hand signals.

34. Left Turn

35. Right Turn

36. Slow/Stop

37. Changing Lanes
1. Check traffic to the front and left side. Check traffic to the rear with rearview mirrors.
2. Signal and make blind spot check over the left shoulder.
3. Increase your speed slightly.
4. Cancel your signal and adjust your speed.
Change lanes as smoothly as possible

38. Steering
Hand-Over-Hand Steering – pull the wheel down with one hand while the other hand crosses over to pull the wheel down.
Push-Pull Steering – push the wheel up with one hand and pull it down with the other.

39. Making a Turn Look for pedestrians and oncoming vehicles.
Plan turn well in advance. Be in the correct lane.
Obey all traffic signs, signals, and roadway markings.
When turning left your must yield to oncoming traffic.

40. Position vehicle in proper lane
Position vehicle in proper lane. Right lane right turn, left lane left turn.
Brake early to reduce speed.
Check for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclist.
Right turn, begin turning when front bumper is even with the curb line.
Left turn, begin turning when front bumper reaches the center of the intersection.
Check blind spots as you begin turning.
Accelerate about halfway through the turn and return the wheel to the straight position.
Making a Turn

41. Shared Left Turn Lane
Some left turns into business areas can be made in mid block from a center lane.
This type of left turn can be very hazardous.

42. Backing to the Left and Right
Backing to the left, look over the left shoulder.
Backing to the right look over the right shoulder.
Keep both hands on the steering wheel, use hand-over-hand steering.
When backing to the right or left, leave a wide space on either side. The front wheels will swing out past the rear wheels.

43. Turn the Vehicle Around
K-Turn– a maneuver for turning your vehicle around to go in the opposite direction.
Make sure local law permits the K-Turn.
Select a site with at least 500 feet of visibility in each direction.
Do not make a turnabout near hills, curves, or intersections.
Never attempt a turnabout in heavy traffic or at high speeds.
Turn the Vehicle Around

44. Mid Block U-Turn
Check traffic to the front and rear, pull to the far right and stop.
Signal left, check traffic to the front and back.
Check blind spot then turn wheels sharply left while moving across roadway.
Accelerate gently and straighten the wheels going in the opposite direction.

45. Pull into Driveway on Left Side
The disadvantage of this is you must back into traffic before moving forward.
Check traffic to the front and rear.
Put on left turn signal and turn left into the driveway. Stay as close as possible to the right side.
Check traffic and back slowly to the right onto the roadway.
Accelerate gently and check traffic as you drive forward.
Pull into a Driveway on the Right – this is very high risk because you must back across two lanes of traffic.
Pull into Driveway on Left Side

46. Back Into Driveway on Right Side
Choose this turnabout if there is a clear driveway on the right and the rear zones are clear.
Check traffic to the rear and slow as you proceed past the driveway.
Stop about 3 feet from the curb and your rear bumper is just beyond the driveway.
Check traffic and back slowly into the driveway.
Signal left, check traffic and when the path is clear drive in the opposite direction.
Back Into Driveway on Right Side

47. Three Point Turnabout/ K-Turn
Check traffic and put on right turn signal and come to a stop as close to the curb as possible.
Left turn signal and turn wheels all the way to the left.
Check Traffic and pull across the road.
Stop right before hitting the curb.
Turn the wheels all the way to the right.

48. Three Point Turnabout/ K-Turn
Back until the wheels are halfway across the road.
Put on left turn signal.
Straighten the wheel and move in the opposite direction.
Only use on dead end streets or on rural roadways with no driveways.

49. Deciding Which Turnabout to Use
Legality of turnabout
Amount of traffic
Types of driveways available
Ample space to enter traffic
Number of traffic lanes to cross
Backing into a driveway on the right is the safest because you enter traffic forward.

50. Parking
Try to find spaces with ample room for entering and exiting easily.
Avoid spaces with poorly parked vehicles on either side.
It is illegal to park more than 6 inches from the curb
Reference Points – is some part of the outside or inside of the vehicle, as viewed from the driver’s seat, that relates to some part of the roadway.
Standard Reference Point – is a point that is typical for most drivers.(mirror, center of hood)
Personal Reference Point – is an adaptation of standard reference point for your own vehicle.

51. Angle Parking This is parking your vehicle diagonally to the curb.
Position your vehicle at least six feet from the row of parked vehicles.
When you can see the center of the space without the parking line crossing your line of sight, this will be your reference point to turn into the spot.

52. Perpendicular Parking
Parking your vehicle at a right angle to the curb.
Eight feet from row of parked cars.
When front bumper hits first line start turning into the spot.
Straighten wheels as you pull into the spot.

53. Leaving Parking Space Creep straight back while riding the brake.
When front bumper is even with rear wheels of the vehicles next tom you, start to turn your wheels.

54. Parallel Parking Parking with vehicle parallel to the curb.
Need space that is at least 5 feet longer then your vehicle.
As you approach space put on turn signal and flash brake lights to warn vehicles behind you of your intensions.
Line up your rear bumper with the rear bumper of the car in front of the space you would like to park in.
When you see the inside headlight of the car behind the space you are parking in straighten your wheels.
Parallel Parking

55. When your front bumper is even with the vehicles back bumper turn the wheels sharply to the left.
When the vehicle is parallel to the curb, straighten the wheels and center the vehicle in the space.
Parallel Parking

56. Parking on Hills Uphill parking with a curb
Turn wheels sharply to the left
Let the vehicle creep backward until the back of the right front wheel gently touches the curb.

57. Parking on Hills
Uphill parking with no curb – turn wheels sharply to the right.
Downhill parking with a curb – turn the wheels sharply to the right. Let the right front wheel rest gently against the curb.
Downhill no curb – turn wheels to the right.

58. Do not Park………. On an interstate highway
Nice to know……
You must know these………
On an interstate highway
In a handicapped space unless you are permitted to do so.
In front of a public/private driveway
Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant
Within 25 feet of a crosswalk or intersection
Between a safety zone for pedestrians or 20 feet from the end of a safety zone
Do not Park……….

59. Starting on a Hill This involves timing and coordination.
Hold the brake and gently press the accelerator to move forward without rolling backward.
In a manual transmission vehicle, use the parking brake with one hand and gently start to accelerate and then release the parking brake.