1. Unit 4
Chapters 7, 9, 10 and 11

2. How to increase VISIBILITY:
1. Turning on HEADLIGHTS both day and night, increases visibility by more than 2,200 feet sooner.
2. SIGNAL well in advanced.
3. Avoid driving in other driver’s BLIND SPOTS.

3. How to manage TIME: Stopping distance has several factors including:
size/weight of car
road conditions
speed
your reaction
3 second following distance:
Rear of the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point
Count 3 seconds
If front of your vehicle passes the point before you finish counting then you’re following to close

4. How to manage SPACE: 1. Adjust your FOLLOWING DISTANCE as needed.
2. Try to keep a 3-second distance BEHIND your vehicle.
3. Try to keep AS MUCH AS 8 FEET of space on either side of your vehicle.
4. If there is insufficient space ahead, behind, or to the side, of your vehicle take PROMPT ACTION TO INCREASE space.

5. Adjusting to Urban Traffic
What are the two factors that make city driving difficult?
TRAFFIC IS MORE DENSE
HAZARDS ARE CLOSER TOGETHER
Mile for mile city…ROADS HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER AND VARIETY OF HAZARDS
Many situations with closing zones and line-of-sight restrictions, therefore INCREASE your following distance, change YOUR LANE POSITION, slow or stop to allow TIME to respond to conflicts.
ADD ON THIS PAGE:

6. Special factors that affect city driving
1. Traffic density
2. Number of pedestrians
3. Intersections
4. Slow or irregular traffic flow
5. Lower speed limits
6. Potholes and other road defects

7. What are some areas for sudden stops?
INTERSECTIONS
LANES WITH PARKED VEHICLES
BUSINESS DRIVEWAYS WITH HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC

8. How to manage tailgaters
1. Increase following distance to FOUR SECONDS
2. Move SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT
3. Signal EARLY FOR TURNS, STOPS, AND LANE CHANGES
4. Change LANES or PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC

9. PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING LANES:
1. Use mirrors to check REAR ZONES
2. Signal LANE CHANGE EARLY
3. Check BLIND SPOT
4. Change lanes without SLOWING
5. Cancel SIGNAL
HOW FAR AHEAD SHOULD YOU LOOK AHEAD WHEN CITY DRIVING?
You should look one block or more ahead.

10. One Way Street Help Avoid lane near parked cars How to identify:
SIGNS POSTED
MOVING TRAFFIC AND PARKED VEHICLES FACE THE SAME WAY
BROKEN WHITE LINES ONLY
TRAFFIC SIGNS FACING SAME WAY
Benefits:
MOVE GREATER VOLUME OF TRAFFIC
LESS CONGESTED
FEW CONFLICTS

11. Common speed limit on rural roads:
Driving in rural areas
Special factors that affect rural driving.
Common speed limit on rural roads:
Why is night time driving more difficult than urban areas?
1. Road conditions
2. Higher speeds, fewer controls
3. Slow-moving vehicles
4. Sight obstructions
5. Animals and objects on the road
LACK OF ADEQUATE LIGHTING 55

12. Compare the number of highway deaths with urban areas:
Collisions in rural areas account for TWICE as many fatalities.
More collisions occur in URBAN areas as compared with rural areas.
WHY???
FASTER SPEEDS = MORE DAMAGE
MORE HAZARDS, BUT SLOWER SPEEDS LESS DAMAGE

13. TIPS for driving in rural traffic:
1. IPDE process will be more difficult because there is LESS TIME to process because of increased DRIVING SPEED.
2. Maintaining vehicle control is more difficult at HIGHER SPEEDS
3. DRIVE AT SPEEDS you know you will be able to BRAKE and STEER your vehicle.
4. When approaching a curve SLOW going into and ACCELERATE GENTLY while coming out of curve. Stay in lane position 1.

14. THREE KEY QUESTIONS IN DECIDING TO PASS:
IS IT WORTH IT?
IS IT LEGAL?
IS IT SAFE?

15. STEPS TO EXECUTE A PASS ON A TWO-LANE ROADWAY:
1. Get into ready position with 3 sec. following distance
2. SIGNAL FOR A LEFT LANE CHANGE WHEN SAFE
3. Change lanes smoothly
4. Accelerate at least 10 MPH faster than vehicle being passed. (Still within speed limit.)
5. Make final evaluation.
6. Maintain speed. Remain in lane until you see BOTH HEADLIGHTS IN REAR VIEW MIRROR
7. Signal RIGHT LANE CHANGE
8. Return smoothly to right lane.
9. Cancel SIGNAL VIDEO

16. No Passing Situations
1. UPHILL 2. INTERSECTION feet before Railroad 4. 2-lane bridge OR underpass 5. When vehicle ahead is traveling at or near the speed limit
6. CURVES 7. Sight is limited by fog, snow or rain 8. Multiple cars ahead 9. CANNOT COMPLETE BEFORE THE START OF A NO PASSING ZONE 10. Any time oncoming traffic is too close

17. Responsibilities for when you are being passed
Be aware
Move to Lane Position 3
ALLOW TO BE PASSED

18. HIGH BEAMS should be switch to low beams within
500 feet of oncoming vehicle
AND
300 feet of overtaking a vehicle
500 ft
300 ft

19. 5 Advantages of Expressways
1. CROSS TRAFFIC IS ELIMINATED 2. MEDIAN OR BARRIER between opposing lanes 3. Pedestrians, nonmotorized vehicles, and slow-moving vehicles are not permitted 4. Wide SHOULDERS provide good escape paths 5. Expressway signs are designed to help drivers anticipate conditions well ahead

20. Steps for entering 1. Entrance is the one you want
2. Check front and rear zones, Signal and over left should to find a gap
3. In acceleration ramp increase speed. Decide on safe time and place to merge into the gap in traffic
4. Decide vehicle to follow. Adjust speed to traffic’s speed. Position vehicle at safe interval behind other vehicle. Merge smoothly.
5. Once on expressway, cancel signal and adjust speed to traffic.
6. ENTRANCE ON LEFT: potential for conflict is greater due to higher speed in left lane

21. EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY
1. Half mile before exit, check front and rear zones. Signal and move to lane position 3 in the lane that leads to deceleration lane.
2. Move to deceleration lane and cancel signal.
3. Flash brake lights to indicate slowing. Slow gradually and keep safe space cushion with vehicle ahead.
4. Identify exit-ramp speed sign. Check your speed and adjust.
VIDEO
video2

22. Lane Changing on Expressway
1. Change lanes ONE LANE AT A TIME.
2. Check traffic in sideview and rearview mirrors. Check BLINDSPOT.
3. SIGNAL LANE CHANGE
4. Re-check mirrors and blindspot
3. If clear, ACCELERATE gently and move to next lane.
4. CANCEL signal after change lanes.
5. Conflict can occur when two drivers head for the same space.

23. As you are making your right shoulder blind spot check, you are looking out of the backseat right side window It’s not necessary to look out the rear windshield.
When you make
your head check on
a multilane road be
careful of other
drivers who may
also intend to
move into the same
lane at the same time!
When lane changing

24. If the same lane is used for both an entrance and exit
THEN
Exiting should merge behind entering traffic.

25. Disabled Vehicle
1. Check rear zones, signal, pull onto shoulder as far as possible
2. Turn on hazards
3. Call for help
4. Emergency flares 500 feet behind vehicle
5. Get back in vehicle, buckle up. Do not stand on expressway