Chapter 9Chapter 9

Driving in Urban TrafficDriving in Urban Traffic

Traffic ComplexityTraffic Complexity Traffic is more Traffic is more ___________ in in

urban areasurban areas

City traffic hazards are City traffic hazards are ___________ to you than they are to you than they are in rural areas.in rural areas.

Following and Following and Meeting TrafficMeeting Traffic

3-Second Following 3-Second Following DistanceDistance

To determine a 3-second To determine a 3-second following distance, start following distance, start counting as the rear of counting as the rear of the car ahead passes the car ahead passes your fixed check point.your fixed check point.

* Increase distance under adverse * Increase distance under adverse conditions.conditions.

Looking beyond the Looking beyond the vehicle aheadvehicle ahead

Look ______, ______ and ______ Look ______, ______ and ______ the vehicle you are followingthe vehicle you are following

What can we be looking for?What can we be looking for?

Always try to ______what the Always try to ______what the driver ahead is likely to do.driver ahead is likely to do.

Areas of sudden StopsAreas of sudden Stops ______where drivers may have to ______where drivers may have to

stop for traffic or pedestriansstop for traffic or pedestrians

Lanes next to ______vehiclesLanes next to ______vehicles

Business driveways with Business driveways with ______volume traffic.______volume traffic.

What if we are being What if we are being tailgated?tailgated?

Move slightly to the ______so the Move slightly to the ______so the tailgater can see better.tailgater can see better.

Signal ______for turns, stops, and lane Signal ______for turns, stops, and lane changes.changes.

Flash your ______.Flash your ______.

In extreme situations, change ______, or In extreme situations, change ______, or pull out of ______to avoid the tailgater.pull out of ______to avoid the tailgater.

Reasons for Crossing the Reasons for Crossing the Center LineCenter Line

Driver Driver ____________ Driver might be drowsy, distracted, Driver might be drowsy, distracted,

confused, intoxicated or ill.confused, intoxicated or ill. ____________JudgmentJudgment

Driver might misjudge speed, Driver might misjudge speed, distance, or position.distance, or position.

____________visibilityvisibility Direct sunlight, blinding headlights, Direct sunlight, blinding headlights,

or bad weather.or bad weather.

Crossing the center line con’tCrossing the center line con’t ____________SpaceSpace

Snow bank, narrow bridge, or other Snow bank, narrow bridge, or other objects.objects.

Sudden Sudden ____________by othersby others Children, bicycles, pedestrians, Children, bicycles, pedestrians,

animals, a vehicle door opensanimals, a vehicle door opens Vehicle Vehicle ____________

Drive might loose control because of Drive might loose control because of vehicle failurevehicle failure

Crossing the center line con’tCrossing the center line con’t Turning Turning ____________& & ____________

Longer vehicles need extra room to Longer vehicles need extra room to make a normal turnmake a normal turn

____________-parked vehicles-parked vehicles Drivers or delivery trucks may park Drivers or delivery trucks may park

carelesslycarelessly

If a vehicle comes at you…If a vehicle comes at you… Slow down until the other driver can Slow down until the other driver can

return to their lane.return to their lane.

Turn on or ______your headlights and Turn on or ______your headlights and blow your ______.blow your ______.

If your right front zone is open; move If your right front zone is open; move as far to the ______to try to give the as far to the ______to try to give the other driver room to pass.other driver room to pass.

Looking ahead while Looking ahead while staying back…staying back…

Look Look at leastat least a ______away and/or a ______away and/or ______seconds.______seconds.

If behind a truck maintain a If behind a truck maintain a ______second or more second ______second or more second following distance.following distance.

Covering the Brake…Covering the Brake… Taking your foot off the Taking your foot off the

accelerator, and hold it ______the accelerator, and hold it ______the brake pedal.brake pedal.

Use this when you see Use this when you see ______conflict.______conflict.

Could cut ______time down.Could cut ______time down.

Adjusting Speed in citiesAdjusting Speed in cities Drive ______traffic flowDrive ______traffic flow

Stay ______the speed limitStay ______the speed limit

Adjust ______and position ahead Adjust ______and position ahead of time for other driver who of time for other driver who might block your waymight block your way

Selecting the Best LaneSelecting the Best Lane Select the lane with the Select the lane with the

______number of hazards.______number of hazards.

______is usually faster, but can ______is usually faster, but can be held up by drivers waiting to be held up by drivers waiting to turn left.turn left.

Right moves slower, because of Right moves slower, because of people slowing down to make people slowing down to make turnsturns

Changing lanesChanging lanes1.1. Use your mirrors to check traffic in Use your mirrors to check traffic in

your rear zones.your rear zones.

2.2. Signal your lane change earlySignal your lane change early

3.3. Quickly check your blind spot areaQuickly check your blind spot area

4.4. Change lanes without slowingChange lanes without slowing

5.5. Cancel your signal.Cancel your signal.

Identifying one-way streetsIdentifying one-way streets ______signs are posted on most ______signs are posted on most

one-way streetsone-way streets All moving and parked vehicles All moving and parked vehicles

point in the ______directionpoint in the ______direction ______broken white lines are used ______broken white lines are used

to separate lanes.to separate lanes. Signs will be facing the Signs will be facing the

______direction.______direction.

Signaling wrong-way driversSignaling wrong-way drivers ____________

Steer ______Steer ______

Sound ______Sound ______

______headlights______headlights