1. Chapter 1
Basic Car Control

2. Driving
A driver-education course gives you a good start toward becoming a skillful driver
Learning to drive safely is a continuous process

3. Vehicle Performance Capabilities
Acceleration and speed
Directional control and cornering
Deceleration and braking

4. Types of Acceleration
Static acceleration- capability of the vehicle to move from a stationary position to a given speed in desired time or distance
Dynamic acceleration- capability to increase from one speed to a higher one

5. Controlling Acceleration
Creeping- a very slow and steady without jerking the car
Smooth acceleration- gradual build up of speed from a stopped position to a higher speed
Rapid acceleration- quickly increasing you speed

6. Directional Control
The ability of a vehicle to hold a straight line- slight steering wheel movements are required to keep the car centered

7. Cornering
Capability of a vehicle to steered around a turn without leaning too much.
Oversteering is the tendency of a vehicle’s front end to move to the inside of the pathway

8. Decrease the Speed of a Vehicle
Use the engine compression
Downshifting
Use the braking system
Use parking/emergency brake

9. How to put your Car in Motion
Check selector lever to see if it is in park
Apply foot brake with right foot and hold
Turn ignition switch to start
Move selector lever to drive position
Release park brake
Check for traffic in rearview mirror
Signal and check your blind spot
Move foot from brake to accelerator. Press gently and steer into proper lane

10. Entering Traffic Signal Check mirrors Check blind spots
Position in lane
Cancel signal

11. Leaving Traffic
Signal
Check mirrors
Position in lane
Cancel signal

12. Expressway Entry
As you move along the entrance ramp make sure you are not closing in on traffic ahead
Signal left, check shoulder for a gap
Enter acceleration lane and accelerate to the speed of traffic. Continue checking your gap using your mirrors and over your left shoulder
When you identify a safe gap, accelerate and steer left to merge. Blend with traffic
Stopping on an acceleration lane can cause a rear-end collision

14. Expressway Exit Position car in lane closest to exit ramp
Signal as approach the deceleration lane and steer as you reach it
Once in the deceleration lane, reduce speed to the posted ramp speed before entering exit ramp
If you miss you exit go on to the next exit

15. Exiting Expressway

16. Straight line driving Position your hands at 9 and 3 or 10 and 2
Keep arms and wrist relaxed

17. Right Turns
Hand over hand steering- always grip the wheel knuckles facing outward
Start all turns from 10 and 2 or 9 and 3
For right turn: grip the wheel with your left hand and turn it toward your right hand while right hand pulls down
When the right hand reaches the bottom, your right hand will release the wheel and cross over your left hand.
Re-grip the wheel with your right hand and continue turning

18. Left Turn
Hand over hand steering- always grip the wheel knuckles facing outward
Start all turns from 10 and 2 or 9 and 3
For left turn: grip the wheel with your right hand and turn it toward your left hand while left hand pulls down
When the left hand reaches the bottom, your left hand will release the wheel and cross over your right hand.
Re-grip the wheel with your left hand and continue turning

19. Straight Backing Place your left hand on top of the steering wheel
Your right arm on the back of the passenger seat
Take your right foot off of the brake
Cover with your right foot while your car is in motion

20. All steering corrections should be made gently and smoothly with a slight pull down on the steering in the direction you want the car to go. Do not push up to steer