1. Managing Risk With the IPDE Process

2. The IPDE Process

3. Understanding Risk Factors
Driver contributed factors
Ex: Radio, combing hair, using cell phone, eating/drinking, what else?
Vehicle-Contributed Factors
Bald tires, broken windshield, broken headlights
Roadway/Environment Factors
Bright sun, glare, sharp curve, ice and snow…

4. IPDE PROCESS AN ORGANIZED SYSTEM OF SEEING, THINKING AND RESPONDING The driving task is primarily a thinking task.
IDENTIFY
PREDICT
Use visual search pattern to identify
Open and closed zones
Specific clues
Other users
Roadway features and conditions
Traffic controls
Use knowledge, judgment and experience to predict
Actions of other users
Change of direction
Points of conflict
Consequences of your actions

5. IPDE PROCESS cont… AN ORGANIZED SYSTEM OF SEEING, THINKING AND RESPONDING
DECIDE
EXECUTE
Decide to use one or more actions to…
Change or maintain speed
Change direction
communicate
Execute your decisions to…
Control speed
Steer
Communicate
Combine actions

6. The Smith System
Is a method to help drivers develop good seeing habits.
1. Aim high in steering.
2. Keep your eyes moving.
3. Get the big picture.
4. Make sure others see you.

7. Zone Control System – is a method for managing the six zones of space surrounding your vehicle.
1. See a zone change.
2. Check other zones.
3. Create time and space by getting the best speed control, lane position, and communication
Zone Control allows you to see and respond to the changes in the traffic environment.

8. IDENTIFY AND PREDICT IDENTIFY ZONE LOCATIONS
When to look, where to look, how to look and what to look for!
Right Rear Zone
Right Front Zone
Rear Zone
Front Zone
Left Front Zone
Left Rear Zone

9. Open Zone is space where you can see without a restriction to your line of sight, or to your intended path of travel.
Line of sight is distance you can see ahead in the direction you are looking.
Path of travel is the space your vehicle will occupy as you travel ahead.
Closed zone is a space not open to you because of a restriction in your line of sight or intended path of travel.
i.e A red traffic light, a vehicle driving to close behind.

10. Three searching ranges
1. The target area range, which is the space from your vehicle to the target area. (Early detection) 2. The twelve to fifteen second range, which is the space you will travel in during the next twelve to fifteen seconds. (Identify changes) 3. Four to six second range, space traveled in the next four to six seconds. (Final update)

11. Orderly Visual Search Pattern
What is it?
Safe Driving Tip
Process of searching critical areas in a regular sequence.
“Beginning drivers sometimes fixate for several seconds on the same clue or event. They do not look far enough in to target-area ranges, and often drive with swerves and jerky movements. Do not let yourself become a “stare” driver!”

12. Orderly Visual Search Pattern Steps
Look ahead to your target area range.
Evaluate your left front zone in the second range.
Glance in the rearview mirror to check your rear zone.
Evaluate your 4-6 second range before entering that space.
Look ahead again to evaluate another second range.
Check your 4-6 second range.
Glance in your rearview mirror.
Check speedometer and gauges.
Practice using these steps as a passenger.

13. Aspects of Vision Field of vision is the area you can see around you.
Aim high in steering – to look ahead second into your target area.
Scanning is glancing continually and quickly with very brief fixations through your orderly visual search pattern. KEEP EYES MOVING.
Get the big picture.
REMEMBER: Too look at the ground as well.
Ground viewing – making quick glances at the ground. Check other drivers wheels to see the direction they are headed.

14. PREDICT Taking the information you have identified and thinking about what could possibly happen
How to predict
Past experience
Scanning is vital!
What to predict
Actions of roadway users
Your control of the vehicle
Consequences of actions
Predicting actions of others
Path
Action
Space
Point of conflict

15. PREDICT Predicting control of your vehicle Knowledge/Experience
The slower you go the more control you have
Traction your vehicle has on the roadway surfaces
Knowledge/Experience
Gaining knowledge takes time
Traffic Laws and drivers education materials.
Learn from others and past experiences so you can make solid predictions later
Judgment
Speed, time, space, distance, traction and visibility
Judgments about your driving as well as other roadway users

16. DECIDE Decide to change speed Decide to change direction
Decide to communicate
Space Cushion – open area around a vehicle consisting of adequate following distance between it and the vehicles ahead and behind, plus swerve paths to left and right
Traffic flow
Separate hazards – more than one hazard at a time. Change speed so your can deal with one hazard at a time.
Compromise Space – reduce risk by giving as much space as possible to the greater of two or more hazards.
Steer
Communicate (lights, signal, flashers, horn, positioning and eye contact)

17. Traffic Flow Minimize a hazard Separate hazards Compromising space
Reduce the possibility of conflict, by deciding to put more distance between yourself and the hazard
Separate hazards
Being able to handle more than one hazard at a time.
KEY POINT : Decide to adjust your speed so you only deal with one hazard at a time.
Compromising space
Reduce risk by giving as much space as possible to the greater hazard
In every situation, the action you decide on should be the one involving the least amount of risk.

18. Execute Carrying out your decision
Control Speed – your action to maintain speed, decelerate or increase speed (always check rear zone before decelerating)
Steer – When steering away from a conflict execute just the amount of steering needed. Be aware not to over or under steer.
Communicate – Do it early enough so others users know your intentions.
Headlights, taillights, and break lights
Turn-signals lights (3-5 seconds before)
Parking lights and hazard flashers
Back up lights
Horn

19. Using the IPDE Process Commentary Driving
Continuous Practice with the IPDE
Commentary Driving
Once you have developed the IPDE as a habit you will
See more
Make more accurate predictions and correct decisions
Execute maneuvers more successfully
A system of “thinking out loud” as you practice the IPDE process.
You verbalize what you identify, predict, and decide.