1. Defensive Driving

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

3. 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

4. Road Rage
Road rage occurs when motorists lose their tempers or become frustrated because of traffic disturbance.

5. Avoid DISTRACTIONS Smoking Watching children and pets in car Eating
Applying makeup
Using cell phones
Changing CD’s
Tuning radio stations or Ipod
Programming GPS

6. Smoking… should not be doing that anyway.

7. Watching children or pets in the car

8. Eating while driving

9. The most common of all!

10. Using a cellular phone

11. Distractions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Changing a CD
Programming your GPS
Checking out your brand new head unit
Getting that perfect song on your ipod
Tuning the right radio stations
Distractions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12. Highway Hypnosis ZZZZZZZZZ!! Stare off!
Trance-like/ hypnotic state resulting from driving long hours on a monotonous, non-scenic road such as a highway.
WHO IS AT RISK
motorists
passengers
pedestrians
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!

13. Communication
Turn Signals Brake lights Horn
Left Slow or Stop
Right

15. Left Turn

17. Right Turn

18. Slow and/or Stop

20. 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.

21. Tailgating

22. 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.

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

24. 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

25. 3 Car Lengths (about 60 feet)
You
Speed: 30 mph
Road Condition: Ideal

26. 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.

27. Count…
Two
One

28. Object
You

29. Object
You

30. 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.

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

32. 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?

33. 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.

34. 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.

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

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

37. 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

38. 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.

39. 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)

40. Chapter 5 B notes
Emergency Situations

41. Night Driving

42. City Driving
vs.
Country Driving

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

44. 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

45. 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.

46. 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.

47. 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.

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

49. Night Driving

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

51. 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

52. Sources Images: Information:
Information:
New Jersey. Motor Vehicle Commission. New Jersey Driver Manual. New Jersey, 2006.
“Driving in Bad Weather.” Bergen County Office of Emergency Management
16 November
“Safe Communities of Wright County.” Concentrate on Driving
16 November