--------- MCMDE Assignment Three Begins-----------
Pre-Drive In-Car Instruction: Lesson 2
Student Goals
| VISION AREAS (FOCUS, CENTRAL, PERIPHERAL) | BACKING PROCEDURE | DETERMINE FOLLOWING DISTANCES | ENTERING ROADWAY | APPROACHING INTERSECTIONS |
| MAKING LEFT TURNS | MAKING RIGHT TURNS | LANE POSITION ADJUSTMENTS | SPEED ADJUSTMENTS | MOVING TO CURB/SIDE OF ROADWAY |
Vision Areas
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Focus Vision (also known as focal or foveal vision):o
Covers about three percent of one’s visual field and is used to read and identify distinct objects.o
Usually measured by determining visual acuity through an eye chart. Visual acuity refers to the clarity or clearness of one’s vision. In other words, it measures how well a person sees.o
Used for establishing targets and searching tasks.o
Useful for reading signs and interpreting signals.
Reading Traffic/Road Signs While Driving Video
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Central Vision (inner fringe):o
The 30-36 degree fringe area around the focal vision area that is used to judge depth and position.o
Helps determine standard visual references while driving, and relative position and movement.o
Useful for viewing the path of travel and the line of sight to a target.
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Peripheral (outer fringe) Vision:o
175-185 degrees of useful information.o
Conical in shape around the other vision fields. Peripheral vision lets us notice changes in color and object movement.o
It is strongly affected by fatigue, drugs, and speed at which you are driving.o
Peripheral vision often gives the driver initial warnings of a changing environment around the car.Singing May Disturb Your Driving Video
Backing Procedure
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Adjust restraints, if necessary. Your head restraint may need to be lowered or readjusted. Your seat belt may need to be loosened to allow movement.•
Check around the rear of your vehicle for pedestrians and cars.•
Press your floor brake. Once you take your foot off the brake, your car is going to start moving backwards.•
Put your car in ‘Reverse’. Your white reverse lights will come on automatically and warn others that you’re about to back up.•
Release the parking brake.•
Readjust seat position, if necessary. After turning to release the parking brake, you might have to readjust your seat position to reestablish your target. Remember to recheck for pedestrians and other vehicles.•
While backing, you should look to the visual target area, which is about three car lengths to the rear of your vehicle.•
Control rear movements. Your car will begin to move as soon as you take your foot off the brake. Many drivers move their foot to the acceleratortoo quickly and accelerate too fast. You should try to move backwards as slowly as possible to get a feel for using the brake to control the
backward movement of the vehicle.
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Steer using reference areas. You can use targeting and sight lines to establish any lane position when backing. When stopped, the right sidemirror should give you a good view of your vehicle’s distance from the curb.
General Backing Maneuver Video
Backing a Car Out to the Right Video
Backing a Car Out to the Left Video
Some Comic Relief for Driver Education Video
--------- MCMDE Assignment Three Ends-----------
--------- MCMDE Assignment Four Begins-----------
Following Distance
Drivers should display an understanding of how to calculate appropriate following distances. This exercise has the best results. This allows the driver to focus on determining the correct following distance. This will serve as preparation for you before you begin driving on roadways for the remainder of this lesson. The following are recommended minimum following distances for various speeds:
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2 seconds. Gives you enough time and space to steer out of a problem area at all posted speeds and brake out of problems at speeds under 35 mph.•
3 seconds. Gives you enough time and space to steer out of problem areas at all posted speeds and brake out of problems at speeds up to 45 mph.•
4 seconds. Gives you enough time and space to steer out of problem areas at all posted speeds and brake out of problems at speeds up to 70 mph.Following Distance Three Video
Note:
Many passenger car tires may not be designed to steer out of problem areas at speeds above 75 mph.What you should ask yourself:
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Ask yourself to explain the importance of following distance.•
Ask yourself to identify a fixed object in the path of travel, then:o
Drive at 35 mph and start counting when you think you are two seconds away.o
Repeat this process at 45 mph, but start counting when you think you are three seconds away from the fixed object.o
Repeat this process at 70 mph, but start counting when you think you are four seconds away from the fixed object.o
Repeat these steps until you have a firm grasp on how much space is needed for a following distance of two, three, and four seconds. This exercise can also be done with the parent driving in traffic and you are just practicing determining the following distance between their car and the car in front of them.*******TIP:
Reminder: You must increase following distance as road conditions worsen and when driving at night.Entering Roadway
You may be very nervous entering and driving on a road for the first time. It’s important that you remain calm and stay relaxed throughout this experience. After you’ve become comfortable entering the roadway driving forward, then practice entering the roadway while backing out of driveways.
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Depress service brake. Maintain pressure on the service brake until you are ready to move. Service brakes act on all four wheels, although the front brakes usually do 60-70 percent of the work.•
Select the proper gear.•
Check for traffic. In addition to the area immediately surrounding your car, check the area outside of your direct visual field by using your mirrors.•
Signal properly. Use signals to alert other drivers that you are moving into the flow of traffic. This is also necessary when moving away from a curb.•
Release parking brake. Make sure that your foot is on the service brake before you release the parking brake.•
Check for traffic, again. Be sure to check all areas surrounding the vehicle, including your blind spots.•
Determine lane position. Visually target the lane position that you want to occupy before you begin to move into it.•
Release service brake. Take your foot off the brake and move it to the accelerator. Remember, the car will begin to move as soon as you remove your foot from the brake.•
Accelerate. Gradually apply pressure to the accelerator to move forward. Steer the vehicle into the driving lane and use lane position one whenever possible.Don't Drive with Apparent Dead Animals Video
Intersections
You need to be ready to approach at least four intersections of any kind (stop signs, flashing red/yellow lights, stoplight). The following steps should be used when approaching an intersection. Discuss these items with your parents as they are driving.
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Step 1 - Search| 1. IDENTIFY THE INTERSECTION | 2. IDENTIFY CONTROLS (STOP SIGNS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ECT...) | 3. CHECK AREA TO REAR OF YOUR VEHICLE |
| 4. SEARCH FOR ANY PROBLEMS WITHIN THE INTERSECTION | 5. ADJUST SPEED & LANE POSITION AS NECESSARY |
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Step 2 - Evaluate| 1. SCAN OPEN SIDE AREAS | 2. SCAN CLOSED SIDE AREAS | 3. LOOK FOR CLOSED OR CHANGING FRONTAL AREAS |
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Step 3 - Execute| 1. ADJUST SPEED | 2. MAINTAIN LANE POSITION |
| 3. STOP BEHIND CROSSWALK OR STOP LINE | 4. OR PROCEED THROUGH OPEN SPACE AREA |
Look for the following things at each intersection you or your parent encounters:
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Were the proper vision skills used?•
Were the proper steering skills used?•
Did you or your parents stop at the appropriate spot?
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Did you or your parents obey all traffic laws regarding intersections?
Making Turns
Look for the following things during each turn you or your parent makes:
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Was the proper acceleration used? Be sure you accelerate at a smooth and steady rate to the proper speed.•
Were the proper steering skills used? In most situations, hand-to-hand is the recommended technique.•
Were the proper vision skills used? Be sure you check for oncoming traffic.•
Was the correct signal appropriately used?Lane Position and Speed Adjustments
Drivers must practice lane position adjustments and speed adjustments. Use the following exercises as a guideline:
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You should move from lane position #1 (LP1) to lane position #2 (LP2). LP2 allows for six feet of space to the right of the vehicle and is used when preparing for a left turn, to avoid problems on the right side of the lane, when there are cars parked on the right side of the street, and when you are passing through an intersection and another vehicle enters the same intersection too quickly.•
You should move from lane position #2 to lane position #3 (LP3). LP3 allows for six feet of space to the left of the vehicle and is used when there is an obstruction in the left side of the lane and when preparing for a right turn.•
You should decrease your speed when it’s safe to do so. If you’re driving on a multi-lane road, then you should decrease your speed to move out of another driver’s blind spot.•
You should increase your speed to return to the speed limit. If driving on a multi-lane road, then you should increase your speed to move out of another driver’s blind spot.*******TIP:
Reminder: Increasing your visual lead gives you more time to gather information. This increases your peripheral vision field, allowing you more time to execute responses to the actions of other drivers.
Sometimes You Just Have to Make a Pit Stop Video
Moving to Curb/Side of Roadway
To move to the side or curb of a road, follow the steps below:
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Check for traffic around your vehicle.•
Signal to let other drivers know that you plan to move off the roadway.•
Target your visual reference point. You want to stop between zero and six inches from the curb. This is called right side limitation.•
Use controlled brake pressure to eliminate jerky stops and to inform other drivers that you are planning to stop.•
Stabilize the steering wheel. You are moving a small distance, so you shouldn’t have to change your hand position to align with the curb.•
Recheck the traffic.•
Turn off your turn signal if it hasn’t already turned off itself.--------- MCMDE Assignment Four Ends-----------
Pre-Drive In-Car Instruction: Lesson 3