1. MAINTAINING VEHICLE BALANCE
Vehicle Balance is reached when:
vehicle is not moving
moving in a straight line at a constant speed
Balance Changes When:
vehicle accelerates, brakes, or turns

2. PITCH, ROLL, YAW
Yaw
Pitch
Roll

3. PITCH, ROLL, YAW
Pitch
Roll
Yaw

4. ESP Electronic Stability Program

5. TIRES AND TRACTION
The size of a tire’s “footprint” contact on the surface is about the size of a small hand

6. CHANGES TO A VEHICLE’S FOOTPRINT
Describe the driving maneuvers that create these footprints
Accelerating
Braking
Stopped

7. CHANGES TO A VEHICLE’S FOOTPRINT
Describe the driving maneuvers that create these tire footprints
Steering Right
No Braking
Steering Left
No Braking

8. SEATING FOR BALANCE AND CONTROL
Knees
Legs
Feet
Back and Shoulders
Arms
Hands
Photo courtesy of AAA Foundation

9. STEERING FOR BALANCE AND CONTROL
Sit at a safe distance from the wheel
Use a balanced hand position
As speed increases, steering need is reduced for turns and other maneuvers
Photo courtesy of ADTSEA

10. Advantages of these hand positions

11. The key is to stabilize the foot by keeping the heel on the floor
Braking Basics
The key is to stabilize the foot by keeping the heel on the floor

12. Left foot on Dead Pedal, right foot pivots
Brake
Accelerator
Dead Pedal
Left foot on Dead Pedal, right foot pivots

13. Four Braking Techniques
1. Release the Accelerator
Slows the vehicle by transferring weight to the front of the vehicle

14. 2. Controlled Braking
Smooth, steady braking to bring the vehicle to a stop
Good Habits
Check rear view and side view mirrors
Apply smooth, steady, squeezing pressure on brake pedal
Ease off brake few seconds before stopping for a smooth stop – curl toes back

15. 3. Threshold Braking
Slows the vehicle as quickly as possible without locking brakes or losing traction
Good Habits
Release accelerator
Keep heel on floor, apply steady, maximum brake pressure without lockup
Release brake pressure few seconds before stopping for a smooth, non-jerky stop
Check traffic to rear and sides

16. 4. Trail Braking
Used while turning to maintain balance and steering control
Good Habits
On entry to a turn or curve, use controlled braking prior to any steering movement
As you enter the turn, ease off the brake and maintain slight braking pressure until halfway through the turn, then accelerate out

17. Accelerate out of
the turn.
Ease off the brakes as you enter
the curve, by using trail braking
until halfway through the turn.
Use controlled
braking prior to reaching the
curve.

18. ABS Antilock Braking System

19. Understeer/Oversteer
Under-steer- Driver did not turn the wheel enough. Vehicle’s FRONT end slides.
Over steer- Driver turned the wheel too much. Vehicle’s REAR end slides.