Chapter 1You Are The Driver

Drive Right Textbook

• Main risk in driving:– Having a conflict that results in an accident

• A driver is responsible for:– Him/herself– Passengers in the car– Other drivers/passengers in other cars

Highway Transportation System• Made up of people, vehicles, and roadways• Purpose move people and cargo from once

place to another in a safe, efficient manner• Most important part drivers who operate

vehicles in a low-risk manner & obey laws

Highway Transportation System• Most complex transportation system• Safe driver is responsible for everyone on the

roadway• Courts decide if drivers are guilty or innocent

after violating the laws

• Driving task– Includes social, physical, and mental skills and

actions required to drive

• Defensive driver– Drive in a way that reduces conflicts

• Implied Consent– By getting your license and

driving behind the wheel, you agree to take an alcohol test if requested

– If you refuse, you will lose your license

• A breakdown in the HTS occurs when any part of the system does not work well– Ex: traffic, collisions, poor weather conditions

• Driver Error is the most common cause of collisions– Ex: speeding, tailgating, texting while driving

• Traffic collisions usually have more than 1 cause– Ex: a car skids because of a slippery road and hits a

tree

• Traffic collisions are the most common cause of death for young people

IPDE Process• Definition: process of seeing, thinking, and

responding• I: Identify – important information in the ongoing

driving scene• P: Predict – when and where possible points of

conflict will develop• D: Decide – when, where, and how to

communicate, adjust speed, and change position to avoid conflict

• E: Execute – the right action to prevent conflict

Chapter 2Signs, Signals, and Roadway Markings

Drive Right Textbook

Purpose of Traffic Signs• Regulate regulatory sign–Controls traffic– Ex: stop sign

• Warn warning sign–Alerts you to possible hazards and road

conditions• Guide guide sign–Gives directions– Ex: interstate sign

Colors• Red: stop, yield,

prohibited• Orange: construction• Blue: motorist service• Brown: cultural interest

• Yellow: warning• White: regulatory• Black: regulatory• Green: guide

SHAPES

• Octagon: stop• Triangle: yield• Pentagon: school• Diamond: warning

• Vertical rectangle: regulatory

• Horizontal rectangle: guide

• Round: railroad crossing

• Pennant: no passing

Stop Sign• Red, octagon• Always come to a full

stop before stop line• Yield – Allow others to use the intersection before you do

• Right of way– Accept the privilege of immediate use of the road

4 Way Stop

1. Driver who stopped first – Proceeds first

2. If cars stop at the same time– Driver on left should yield to driver on the right

3. If stopped across at the intersection– Driver going straight should go first– Driver turning left should wait

Other Signs• Yield Sign– Always slow or stop and give

the right of way to traffic

• Speed Limit Signs– Basic Speed Law: may not drive faster than is safe for

existing conditions, regardless of posted speed

• Warning Signs– Yellow, diamond

• School Signs– Pentagon

Traffic Lights• Green– Proceed if intersection is clear

• Yellow– Make the effort to stop safely

• Red– Come to a complete stop before intersection

• What should you do if the light turns green and pedestrians are crossing the intersection?

• Flashing Red Light– Will never turn green!– Stop and proceed if there are no cars or

pedestrians

• Curb painted yellow– You may not park alongside the curb

Roadway Markings• Yellow Lines: separate 2 way traffic– Broken line: may pass when no traffic is coming

from the opposite direction– Solid line: passing is not allowed

• White Lines: separate lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction– Broken line: may switch between lanes– Solid line: cannot switch between lanes

Rumble Strips• Short sections of corrugated roadways• Alert drivers through noise the tires make

when driving over them

• Located…- Before tolls- Side of highways

Chapter 3Basic Vehicle Control

Drive Right Textbook

• Speedometer–Tells you the speed you are traveling

• Odometer– Indicates the total number of miles the

vehicle has driven

• Fuel Gauge–Shows the amount of fuel in the tank

• Temperature Light or Gauge–Warns you when the coolant in the

engine is too hot

• Safety Belt Light– Reminds you to fasten your seat belt before moving

• Turn Signal Indicators– Tell you the direction you have signaled to turn

• High Beam Indicators– This light glows when the high-beam lights are on

• Inside and Outside Rearview Mirrors– Inside: shows the view from the rear

window–Outside: shows the view from the left and

right rear of your vehicle–Blind Spot Areas: the area to the left and

right the driver cannot see when looking through the outside windows

• Hazard Flasher Control–Both front and rear turn signal lights flash at

the same time

• Horn– Located on the steering wheel

Gears• P = Park– Locks the transmission– Only can remove key

when vehicle is in park

• R = Reverse– Backing up

• N = Neutral– Wheels can roll without

engine power

• D = Drive– Moving forward

Outside Checks• Walk around your vehicle and look for objects

in the path you intend to take• Check tires to see they are properly inflated• Notice what direction your tires are pointed• Make sure windshield is clear– Remove any snow/ice that may have accumulated

Hand Steering Positions

• Hands should be kept at 9 and 3 o’clock or 8 and 4 o’clock to avoid injury from airbag

Putting Vehicle in Motion• Press on brake• Move gear to DRIVE• Release the brake• Check for traffic• Use signals to move away

from the curb if parked• If all is clear, press the

accelerator

Chapter 4Managing Risk with the IPDE

ProcessDrive Right Textbook

Risks

• Driver

• Vehicle

• Roadway

Identify• Open and closed zones

• Specific clues

• Other users

• Roadway conditions

• Traffic controls

Predict• Actions of other users

• Speed

• Direction

• Control

• Point of conflict

Decide

• Change or maintain speed

• Change direction

• Communicate

Execute

• Control speed

• Steer

• Communicate

• Combine actions

Smith System

• Helps drivers develop good seeing habits– Aim high in steering– Get the big picture– Keep your eyes moving• Highway hypnosis

– Leave yourself an “out”– Make sure they see you

Zone Locations

Zones of Roadway

• Space around the vehicle in the drivers sight

• Open Zone– Space where you can drive without a restriction

• Closed Zone– Space not open to you because of a restrict in

your intended path of travel

Searching Ranges• Target Area Range– Search this area to detect early any

conditions that might affect your intended path of travel

• 12-15 Second Range– Identify changes in your line of sight

to make decisions about controlling your path of travel

• 4-6 Second Range– Get the final update of how you are controlling your

intended path of travel

Orderly Visual Search Pattern

• Look ahead at your target area• Evaluate the zones in the 12-15 second range• Glance in the rearview mirrors and check rear

zones• Evaluate your 4-6 second range before

entering that space• Check speedometer and gauges• REPEAT!

Where to look?• Field of Vision– Area you can see

around you

• Central Vision– Area you can see

sharply

• Peripheral Vision– Area to the left and right

• Aim High in Steering– Look 12-15 seconds ahead

What to look for?

• Change from multilane to single lane

• Change in width of lane

• Roadway surface

• Roadside hazards

What to Predict?

• Path: where other drivers may go

• Action: what actions other drivers will take

• Space: what type of space zones are around you

• Point of Conflict: where two paths may cross

• Minimize the Hazard– Reduce the possibility

of conflict

• Separate the Hazard– Dealing with one hazard

at a time

• Compromise Space– When hazards cannot be

avoided, give as much space to the greater hazard