Back to notes

Transcript for:
Driver Education Key Concepts

MONDAY 16

  • 10x more likely than adults to crash 3x more likely than 18 year olds to crash They make more mistake
  • *The purpose of the highway transportation system is to move people and products from one place to another safely and efficiently. That includes engineering education emergency medical services and enforcement
  • 3 components of the HTS:
  1. Roads
  2. Vehicles
  3. Users

  • It takes approx. 5 years for a new driver to reach the driving ability of the average experienced driver.

  • The Graduated Drivers License Permit Process was created to reduce teen crashes. It requires 10 logged hours of night driving

  • Inexperience is the greatest problem facing beginning drivers.

  • The 3 levels of graduated Drivers License are: permit - provisional Licence (Drive alone with restrictions) - Full license

  • 16 years of age and completion of a driving log with a minimum of 60 hours are requirements to get a license with a level 1 permit.

  • You must be 15 years old in NC to obtain a limited learner's permit. Costs are $25.50. Full licenses are valid for 8 years, renewed on your birth date.

  • The Driving eligibility certificate is valid for 30 days. (make apt. Right away)

  • Loss of DEC: Dropping out, 10 days suspension, assigned to alternative educational school.

  • RISK always CAN be changed/analyzed/altered.

  • Nearly one half of all new drivers are either charged with a traffic offense or involved in a crash during their first 12 months of licensed driving.

  • Risk Perception is the evaluation of risk present at the time the maneuver is made.

  • Risk Management is altering risk by making adjustments to position and/or speed.

  • Inexperience is the greatest problem facing beginning drivers.

  • A teen driver's chance of crashing is higher when driving between 9pm and 6am.

  • Driver error is by far the most common cause of collisions.

  • Approximately 90 percent of crashes are caused by driver error.

  • The amount of risk can be reduced in driving situations by increasing following distance. MORE distance increases the time required to react to risks.

  • New Drivers tend to underestimate the risks involved in driving on any road.

  • Following distance should always be 3 to 4 seconds.

  • Failing to yield the right of way, driving too fast for road conditions, being distracted are primary factors involved in teen crashes.

  • Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death among young people.

TUESDAY 17

  • The primary responsibility of all drivers is to obey all traffic laws.
  • Accumulate more than 12 points within 3 years, your license may be suspended.
  • If the DMV is notified by the courts that you have failed to pay a fine, your license will be REVOKED!
  • *Two examples of a moving violation are following too closely (tailgating) and (failing to yield) to emergency sirens.
  • Passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights carries the most points.
  • *Always check around your vehicle before moving it because objects, people or pets may be around the vehicle.
  • *Communication between teacher, student and parent is achieved by Teacher making personal communication with student and parent using email/phone/text
  • *A supervising driver must be licensed for at least five years.
  • *ADTSEA: American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association.
  • *AAA: American Automobile Association.
  • R.E.A.D. the ROAD!: Right speed, for right now - Eyes up, brain on - Anticipate their next move - big Donut of space around you!
  • Items to be checked under the hood: Brake fluid, Power Steering Fluid, transmission fluid, oil level, battery, coolant, belts, hoses, washer fluid
  • Area around the vehicle: Space around the vehicle the driver cannot see when in the driver's seat due to the design of the vehicle.
  • Pre-entry checks the vehicle for body damages, underneath for fluid leaks and objects, and visually inspects tires for inflation or damage.
  • VIP indicators are Engine Oil pressure - Engine temp. Gauge - fasten safety belt warnings.
  • VIP - High beam indicator is something you need to monitor when in use.
  • The parking brake holds the vehicle in place when parked and protects the transmission.
  • Keep foot on Brake Pedal when starting the car.
  • The driver should sit a minimum of 10 inches from the steering wheel and head restraint in the middle of the head.
  • Safety belts Slow occupants rate of deceleration in a frontal crash and keep occupants securely in place.
  • Traffic laws enable highway users to predict the actions of other users.
  • The head restraint is adjusted properly behind the middle of the person's head.
  • Reduce the risk of neck injury due to whiplash from the impact of a crash.
  • Work with safety belts and protect against head and chest injuries.
  • The inside rearview mirror should be aimed at the middle of the back window, seeing the bottom of the window.
  • Hand positions: 9 and 3 o'clock, lower is 8 and 4 o'clock
  • Hand to hand steering technique keeping both hands on wheel
  • 3 Levels of Acceleration: Engine, Light, Aggressive

WEDNESDAY 18

  • 4 Levels of acceleration: 1- IDLE; 2- Light; 3- Progressive; 4- Thrust
  • 4 Levels of deceleration/braking: 1- Releasing the acceleration; 2- Controlled or squeeze braking; 3- Threshold; 4- Trail braking
  • *While looking out your rear window, imagine a point directly behind you
  • The driver maintains lane 1 position to lane 1 position - turn into the lane closest to you
  • Even numbers go east-west odd numbers go north-south
  • Interstate highways are identified on signs with the shape of a shield
  • Yellow sign with black markings is to: Warn of hazards ahead.
  • The purpose of traffic signals is to control traffic by indicating who must yield the right-of-way.
  • RED light, you make a complete stop; then proceed.
  • You must slow down and proceed with caution at a flashing YELLOW light.
  • DOUBLE DASHED/BROKEN YELLOW LINES are Reversible lanes - Traffic could go in either direction, depending on the traffic situation and time of day.
  • Raised roadway markers…
  • *There are times it is permissible to cross double yellow lines: When making a left turn off or onto a road or u-turn when it is safe to do so.
  • Passing permitted (either) direction with broken lines in the middle.
  • Two direction roadway passing permitted when broken line is on the drivers side.
  • *Most states require that when a school bus is stopped to load or unload passengers on a two-way street, others in both directions must stop.
  • WHITE LINES are great reference points on the RIGHT EDGE of the Roadway.
  • Vehicle to the “right” has the right of way at the uncontrolled intersection.
  • The sidewalk continues even if there is no visible stop line.

THURSDAY 19

  • The driving task includes: “Physical skills, mental skills, and social skills.”
  • Central Vision: provides detail of objects
  • Fringe vision: Judges depth and position
  • Peripheral Vision: Detects changes in color and object movement
  • Scanning means to glance continually and quickly in an orderly visual pattern.
  • An open zone is space where you can drive without a restriction to your line of sight or to your intended path of travel.
  • Your line of sight is the distance you can see ahead in the direction you are looking.
  • Intended path of travel is the space your vehicle will occupy.
  • Your path of travel is directed toward the target area.
  • The zone control system is a method for managing space around your vehicle.
  • S.E.E. = Search, evaluate, execute.
  • Perception distance, reaction distance, braking distance, total stopping distance.
  • Two methods that contribute to safe low risk driving are the “S”IPDE Process and Zone Control System.”
  • Judging where possible points of conflict may occur is in the PREDICT stem pf IPDE
  • When you look far and near and side to side you are “SEARCHING”
  • The visual lead is the distance the driver looks ahead (20-30 seconds from the front of the vehicle)
  • The space in which you can move your vehicle into safely is your path of travel.
  • Searching for threatening objects or conditions in traffic depend most on keeping your eyes moving.
  • Sudden braking or swerving in traffic indicates that a driver is not searching far enough ahead.
  • Highway and surroundings that you can see is called “Field of view”
  • Managing space to the front of your car requires a following distance of at least 3 to 4 seconds.
  • Increasing your following distance significantly reduces the chances of rear-ending the vehicle in front of you.