--------- MCMDE Assignment Nine Begins-----------
Pre-Drive In-Car Instruction: Lesson 5
| SEAT BELTS | AIRBAGS | ROADWAY MARKINGS |
| THE RIGHT OF WAY | COMMENTARY DRIVING | ENTERING AN EXPRESSWAY/INTERSTATE/FREEWAY |
| CARPOOL LANE | EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY | USING INTERCHANGES (CLOVERLEAF & DIAMOND) |
| TOLL ROADS | AVOIDING COLLISIONS WITH ANIMALS | SWERVING, CORRECTING, & OVERCORRECTING |
| DRIVING BY SEMI TRUCKS & LARGE VEHICLES | DRIVING THROUGH CONTSTRUCTION |
Seat Belts
A seat belt, also known as a safety belt, is a vehicle safety device designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision or a sudden stop. A seat belt functions to reduce the likelihood of death or serious injury in a traffic collision by reducing the force of secondary impacts with interior strike hazards, by keeping occupants positioned correctly for maximum effectiveness of the airbag (if equipped) and by preventing occupants being ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
Seat Belts: Your Single Most Effective Safety Step
Seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of crash injuries by 50 percent. They save lives:
The good news is, in 2009, seat belt use averaged 88 percent nationally, compared with 69 percent in 1998. NHTSA attributes this increase to the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, originally created by the National Safety Council as part of its Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign.
Nationwide, seat belt use is higher than ever. Yet seat belt use remains lowest among young drivers.
According to a research report from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, seatbelts save approximately 13,000 lives in the United States each year. Furthermore, the NHTSA estimates that 7,000 U.S. car accident fatalities would have been avoided if the victims had been wearing belts.
The basic idea of a seatbelt is very simple: It keeps you from flying through the windshield or hurdling toward the dashboard when your car comes to an abrupt stop. But why would this happen in the first place? In short, because of inertia.
Inertia is an object's tendency to keep moving until something else works against this motion. To put it another way, inertia is every object's resistance to changing its speed and direction of travel. Things naturally want to keep going.
If a car is speeding along at 50 miles per hour, inertia wants to keep it going 50 mph in one direction. Air resistance and friction with the road are constantly slowing it down, but the engine's power compensates for this energy loss.
Anything that is in the car, including the driver and passengers, has its own inertia, which is separate from the car's inertia. The car accelerates riders to its speed. Imagine that you're coasting at a steady 50 miles per hour. Your speed and the car's speed are pretty much equal, so you feel like you and the car are moving as a single unit.
But if the car were to crash into a telephone pole, it would be obvious that your inertia and the car's were absolutely independent. The force of the pole would bring the car to an abrupt stop, but your speed would remain the same. Without a seatbelt, you would either slam into the steering wheel at 50 miles per hour or go flying through the windshield at 50 miles per hour. Just as the pole slowed the car down, the dashboard, windshield or the road would slow you down by exerting a tremendous amount of force.
Airbags
An airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint system consisting of a flexible fabric envelope or cushion designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision. Its purpose is to cushion occupants during a crash and provide protection to their bodies when they strike interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window. Modern vehicles may contain multiple airbag modules in various side and frontal locations of the passenger seating positions, and sensors may deploy one or more airbags in an impact zone at variable rates based on the type, angle and severity of impact; the airbag is designed to only inflate in moderate to severe frontal crashes. Airbags are normally designed with the intention of supplementing the protection of an occupant who is correctly restrained with a seatbelt. Most designs are inflated through pyrotechnic means and can only be operated once. Newer side-impact airbag modules consist of compressed air cylinders that are triggered in the event of a side impact vehicle impact.
Roadway Markings
Road surface marking is any kind of device or material that is used on a road surface in order to convey official information. They can also be applied in other facilities used by vehicles to mark parking spaces or designate areas for other uses.
Road surface markings are used on paved roadways to provide guidance and information to drivers and pedestrians. Uniformity of the markings is an important factor in minimizing confusion and uncertainty about their meaning, and efforts exist to standardize such markings across borders. However, countries and areas categorize and specify road surface markings in different ways.
Road surface markings are either mechanical, non-mechanical, or temporary. They can be used to delineate traffic lanes, inform motorists and pedestrians or serve as noise generators when run across a road, or attempt to wake a sleeping driver when installed in the shoulders of a road. Road surface marking can also indicate regulation for parking and stopping.
Road markings are a traffic sign in the form and design of a marking on the surface of the road. They have the same standing as upright signs. Road users must obey these road markings.
The diagrams below show the most common types of road marking and what they mean.
WHITE
LINES painted on the pavement indicate traffic traveling in your direction.
Broken White Line: you may change lanes if it is safe to do so.
Solid White Line: requires you to stay within the lane and also marks the
shoulder of the roadway.
YELLOW LINES mark the center of a two-way road used for two-way traffic. You may pass on a two-way road if the yellow centerline is broken. When a solid and a broken yellow line are together, you must not pass if you are driving next to the solid line. Two solid yellow lines mean no passing. Never drive to the left of these lines.
DO NOT
PASS
When there are double solid yellow lines.
DO NOT
PASS
When a solid yellow line is on your side.
WHEN YOU
MAY PASS BROKEN YELLOW LINE
You may pass if movement can be made safely.
CROSSING A
SOLID DOUBLE YELLOW LINE TO TURN LEFT
It's okay to cross a double yellow line to turn left. YOU CANNOT cross a double
yellow line to pass another vehicle.
TWO SETS
OF SOLID DOUBLE YELLOW LINES
Two sets of solid double yellow lines that are two or more feet apart sometimes
appear as a road marking. Such lines stand for a solid wall. Don't drive on or
over these road markings. You may not make a left turn or U-turn across it.
TURN
LANES
Turn lanes are found in the middle of some two-way streets. The lane is marked
on both sides by two painted lines—inner line broken, outer line solid. Use this
lane only for making left turns.
Edge lines are used to outline and separate the outside edge of the pavement from the shoulder. Right edge lines are marked with a solid white line and left edge lines are marked with a solid yellow line.
--------- MCMDE Assignment Nine Ends-----------
--------- MCMDE Assignment Ten Begins-----------
The Right of Way
Right-of-way rules help people drive safely. These rules go
along with courtesy and common sense. Bicycle riders, moped riders, and
pedestrians must follow these rules, too.
Never insist on taking the right-of-way. Note that the law does not allow anyone
the right-of-way. It only states who must yield. When a driver is legally
required to yield the right-of-way but fails to do so, other drivers are
required to stop or yield as necessary for safety. So, if another driver does
not yield to you when he or she should, forget it. Let the other driver go
first. You will help prevent accidents and make driving more pleasant.
At an intersection without STOP or YIELD signs (uncontrolled intersection), slow down and prepare to stop. Yield to vehicles already in the intersection or entering it in front of you. Always yield to the car that arrived first. If you and another driver reach the intersection at the same time, yield if the car is on your right.
However, do not always insist on others going ahead of you. If another vehicle expects you to take your legal turn, you may delay traffic by stopping or slowing unnecessarily to allow another vehicle to go ahead of you.
At a four-way stop if two vehicles reach the intersection simultaneously, the
vehicle on the left must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.
So, in the given graphic, B should yield to A.
In some places you will find STOP signs on one side of the intersection but no signal control for the cross traffic as shown in the graphic. In this case, you have to remain STOPPED until all cross traffic is gone. So, in the given situation, the white car can not make a left turn until the blue car gets out of its way.
At T-intersections, vehicles on the through road have the right-of-way.
Whenever you are parked on the side of the road, you must yield to traffic before you enter the road again.
Commentary Driving
Commentary driving is a technique whereby the automobile student driver “speaks
out” all his/her observations, interpretations, evaluations, and intentions
which he/she believes are related to the traffic situation, that have developed
or are developing about him, while driving.
Briefly, it is simple a “reading” of the traffic picture aloud including a
running commentary or driving tactics to be employed.
Comments are expected to take place
before
the fact, not after. For the most part, they should be about things seen or
preparatory thinking or intentions on the part of the driver rather than a
description of the mechanics of the operation to be taken. Comments need not be
complete sentences or phrases.
Objections and Expected Outcomes
1. It helps create an awareness of the many problems involved in driving and
provides practice in solving some of these problems
2. It calls attention in a dramatic was to the vast number of things a driver
should be watching for and thinking about and driving is a full times job.
3. It helps build up resistance to common distractions
4. It reviews and reinforces the knowledge and driving skills previously
learned.
5. It provides for involvement and participation by student observers.
6. It assists in the development of the ability to judge how far ahead one
should observe and how early to start taking action.
7. It assists in the development of selective seeing habits.
Example:
Coming to an unmarked intersection. Way is clear. My speed is below 25 mph sign.
Pedestrian stepping off curb. Will yield. No car behind. Traffic light block
ahead is green. It may be ready to change. Am prepared to stop if
necessary--checking mirror. Deliver truck in my lane double parked, Not sure,
will tap horn. May need to change lanes. Check mirror. Driver Behind is
responding to my slow down. Driver ahead is signaling left turn.
Entering an Expressway/Interstate/Freeway
A controlled-access highway is a highway designed exclusively for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow and ingress/egress regulated. They are known by various terms worldwide, including Autobahn, autostrada, autopista, autoroute, freeway, motorway, otoyol, snelweg, thruway, and sometimes less precise terms such as expressway, highway, Interstate, or parkway. They may also be called limited-access highways, although this term can also refer to a class of highway with somewhat less isolation from other traffic.
A controlled-access highway provides an unhindered flow of traffic, with no traffic signals, intersections or property access. They are free of any at-grade crossings with other roads, railways, or pedestrian paths, which are instead carried by overpasses and underpasses across the highway. Entrance and exit to the highway are provided at interchanges by slip roads (ramps), which allow for speed changes between the highway and arterial roads and collector roads. On the controlled-access highway, opposing directions of travel are generally separated by a central reservation containing a traffic barrier or just a strip of grass.
Allowing Others to Enter the Expressway Video
Entering the Expressway Steps
Driver should enter an expressway by following the procedure below:
1. Enter the entrance ramp.
2. Search for gaps in traffic on the expressway.
3. Enter the acceleration lane and signal to indicate that you plan to enter the expressway.
4. Adjust speed to match the flow of traffic and continue to search for a gap.
5. Enter the merge lane by maintaining your speed or accelerating lightly.
6. Check your rear and left rear zones.
7. Choose a gap, making sure to check your mirrors for traffic around you, and merge onto the expressway.
8. Turn off turn signal.
9. Maintain appropriate speed by obeying all speed limits signs.
******TIP:
The first expressway that you enter should have a long acceleration lane and merge area. You’ll probably be nervous about entering the expressway for the first time, so commentary drive through your first few merges, making sure that you use clear and concise directions. Commentary driving will help relieve nervousness.Carpool Lane
A high-occupancy vehicle lane (also HOV lane, carpool lane, diamond lane, and transit lane or T2 or T3 lanes in Australia and New Zealand) is a restricted traffic lane reserved at peak travel times or longer for exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers, including carpools, vanpools and transit buses. The normal minimum occupancy level is 2 or 3 occupants. Many jurisdictions exempt other vehicles, including motorcycles, charter buses, emergency and law enforcement vehicles, low emission and other green vehicles, and/or single-occupancy vehicles paying a toll. HOV lanes are normally created to increase higher average vehicle occupancy and person throughput with the goal of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution[1][2][3] although their effectiveness is questionable.[4]
Using the Carpool (HOV) Lane Video
Exiting an Expressway
Exiting Expressways:
- Make sure you know your exit well in advance and move into the proper lane at least 1/2 mile before exiting
- Signal about a block before the Off Ramp
- Check for possible conflicts with other vehicles before exiting
- Slow down to posted Ramp speed or so that you have complete control
- Make sure to look into the lane far enough ahead to keep from turning wide off the road
- Adjust to the speed of the road you've entered considering road conditions
Using Interchanges (Cloverleaf & Diamond)
Cloverleaf Interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns (reverse directions in left-driving regions), are handled by ramp roads (US: ramps, UK: slip roads). To go left (in right-hand traffic), vehicles first continue as one road passes over or under the other, then exit right onto a one-way three-fourths loop ramp (270°) and merge onto the intersecting road.
They were originally created for busier interchanges that the original diamond interchange system could not handle. Their chief advantage was that they were free-flowing and did not require the use of such devices as traffic signals. This not only made them a viable option for interchanges between freeways (where such devices are typically not an option), but they could also be used for very busy arterials where signals could present congestion problems.
They are very popular in the United States and have been used for over 40 years as the Interstate Highway System expanded rapidly. One problem is that, frequently, large trucks exceeding the area speed limit (i.e., 25 mph; 40 km/h) roll over.[citation needed] Another problem is the merging of traffic (see below). For these reasons, cloverleaf interchanges have become a common point of traffic congestion at busy junctions.
*****TIP: The curves of cloverleaf interchanges can be quite sharp. You need to pay close attention to exit and entrance ramp speed limit signs.
Diamond Interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge. Approaching the interchange from either direction, an off-ramp diverges only slightly from the freeway and runs directly across the minor road, becoming an on-ramp that returns to the freeway in similar fashion.
The two places where the ramps meet the road are treated as conventional intersections. In the United States, where this form of interchange is very common, particularly in rural areas, traffic on the off-ramp typically faces a stop sign at the minor road, while traffic turning onto the freeway is unrestricted.
The diamond interchange uses less space than most types of freeway interchange, and avoids the interweaving traffic flows that occur in interchanges such as the cloverleaf. Thus, diamond interchanges are most effective in areas where traffic is light and a more expensive interchange type is not needed. But where traffic volumes are higher, the two intersections within the interchange often feature additional traffic control measures such as traffic lights and extra lanes dedicated to turning traffic.
Toll Roads
A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private roadway for which a fee (or toll) is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically implemented to help recuperate the cost of road construction and maintenance, which (on public roads) amounts to a form of taxation.
Toll roads in some form have existed since antiquity, collecting their fees from passing travelers on foot, wagon or horseback; but their prominence increased with the rise of the automobile, and modern tollways asses their fees of motor vehicles exclusively. The amount of the toll usually varies by vehicle type, weight, or number of axles, with freight trucks often charged higher rates than cars.
When you enter a
toll road, you drive through a booth in which you
receive a
ticket. This ticket contains the information of
where you got on and the prices for each of the exits you may get off at. These
booths are usually automated machines.
When you reach the exit for your destination, you pass through another booth in
which you pay. These are usually monitored by an attendant. You hand them your
ticket and they charge you the necessary amount. Most of them are still money
based, so you need cash in order to pay. It's becoming fairly common for people
to purchase passes, though. Passes are a certain set amount and allow a person
to use the toll road in their state or region freely. They'll usually be used by
people who use the toll road frequently, as it offers a cost savings over paying
for each individual trip.
Costs vary depending on how far you're traveling on the toll road the fees set
in place by the owners of each individual toll road.
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--------- MCMDE Assignment Eleven Begins-----------
Texting and Driving is Huge Problem Video
Avoiding Collisions with Animals
Preventive Techniques
Encountering an Animal
Avoiding Collisions with Animals Video
Swerving, Correcting, & Overcorrecting
Swerving or Avoiding (due to wind, slippery surface, vehicle, object,
non-motorist in roadway, etc.)-
Defensive driver action to defend against an apparent danger in, on, or due to
the condition of the roadway or the presence of a motor vehicle or object or
non-motorist in the roadway in order to avoid a crash.
|
Over-Correcting / Over-Steering (from a State Police Instruction Manual)
a steering maneuver which is too sharp or severe for the driving
conditions or travel speed. This is not improper turning. |
Think about the last time you had a close call in the car. How did you react?
Chances are, as an experienced driver, your instincts took over. If someone
tried to change lanes without seeing you, you honked the horn or, because you
were aware of road conditions, carefully maneuvered your car out of harm’s way.
Now imagine you are 16 and newly licensed. Even small incidents like a car
starting to swerve into a their lane can cause big trouble for an inexperienced
teen driver. Why?
Because of over correcting.
Master Police Officer James Poer III has stated that over correcting a vehicle
is one of the most common mistakes he has seen among teen drivers. To bring the
point home, just last week, a wreck on Tara Boulevard in Clayton County, Georgia
left a teenage boy in critical condition all because he over corrected.
Over correction occurs when a teen driver faces a situation on the road to which
he is unaccustomed. Because he isn’t an experienced driver, his natural instinct
is to turn the wheel quickly to avoid an accident. Unfortunately, when a car or
truck is over corrected, momentum makes the vehicle continue to go forward while
the sudden change of direction makes the rear of the vehicle veer in another
direction. When the inexperienced driver perceives that he has turned the wheel
too far and fast, he immediately turns it back in the other direction, causing a
total loss of control. Many times, as happened in the Clayton County accident,
the car will go into a roll. In that case, the car rolled and ended up in the
opposite lane of traffic where the critically ill teenager was found by rescue
workers hanging from a passenger window.
The only way to stop your teens from falling into the over correction trap is to
make sure they have enough driving experience to deal with difficult situations.
Swerving - Correcting-Overcorrecting Video
Driving by Semi Trucks and Large Vehicles
Long hours of travel means spending a lot of time sharing the road with semi
trucks. Did you know there are approximately 400,000 semi truck accidents per
year? How about that over 80% of those are caused by passenger vehicles? As you
can see, it’s important that you’re aware of some basic safe driving tips so you
can safely share the road with trucks before you take off to wherever it may be
that you’re going. Whether you’re making a 500 mile trip to Fort Lauderdale or a
5 mile trip to the local Walmart, these tips are helpful for everybody.
Recent studies have shown that the death rate of 16 and 17-year-old drivers is
on the rise after falling for many years. There's no question that drivers today
are more distracted than in years past. The habits and lack of attention of
younger drivers can lead to an increase in accidents and fatalities. We all have
a responsibility to share the road safely when we're behind the wheel.
Weighing as much as 80,000 pounds, large trucks and truck-tractor combinations require more acceleration and deceleration time than an average passenger vehicle and can have blind spots in multiple locations.
It is important for drivers to share the road responsibly with large trucks. Drivers should always take extra care and observe the following safety tips.
Pass Safely
When passing a large truck or semi truck, you should use a consistent speed. Truck drivers have a tough time seeing you and all of their blind spots anyway. If you are speeding up quickly and slowing down quickly, you will only stay hidden, distract the driver, or confusion the truck driver of your intentions.
Never cut in front of a truck. After you pass, make sure the entire truck appears in your rearview mirror before returning to the lane. Trucks need additional space because they take twice as long to stop as a passenger car. If you move into that space and brake suddenly, the truck may not have enough time to stop safely.
Always leave at least ten car lengths between the back of your car and the front of any large truck you pass.
When signaling with your blinkers or turn signals, always signal before the large truck's mirrors disappear from your view. If you can't see the large truck's mirrors, then the large truck cannot see you. Remember, your signals must blink at least three times before you change lanes. The truck driver must be able to see all three signals.
Stay out of the "No Zone"
"No Zones" are danger areas around large trucks in which crashes are more likely to occur. Because of a truck's size, there are four large blind spots where cars disappear from the driver's view. Passenger car drivers should avoid lingering in these areas whenever possible.
Avoid Tailgating
A severe collision can result when a car hits the rear end of a truck. Large trucks and the trailers they pull do not have impact-absorbing bumpers. Additionally, the truck's metal bumpers may not align with those of your car.
Leaving 20-25 car lengths between your vehicle and a truck will provide the space you'll need to stop safely during an emergency or traffic slow down. That following distance will also allow you to see ahead of the truck and react to any change in driving conditions.
Stay Away from Front and Rear Blind Spots
Following a truck too closely obscures your view of the road in front of you. The driver of the truck is also unable to see your vehicle. If you can't see the driver in the truck's side mirror, the driver can't see you or your vehicle.
Large trucks take very wide turns. Always give them plenty of space. This includes when they are stopped at a stop sign, stop light, or any other type of intersection. Leave plenty of space between you and them. Also, if there is one in the vicinity but not right next to you, leave a little extra space between you and all of the other vehicles in the area if possible. Those other vehicles may be too close and may have to unexpectedly move to avoid the large truck.
A typical tractor-trailer or other large truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds
by law. Most passenger vehicles are about 3,000 - 4,000 pounds. A passenger
vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds, traveling under ideal conditions at a speed of 65
miles per hour would take 316 feet to stop (nearly the length of a football
field). In comparison, a fully loaded tractor-trailer weighing 80,000 pounds
traveling under ideal conditions at a speed of 65 miles per hour will take 525
feet to stop (almost the length of two football fields).
Driving by Semi Trucks and Large Vehicles Video
Driving Through Construction
The United States has over 4 trillion miles of road, over 65% of which is paved. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created over 12,600 road construction projects, over 10,000 of which are currently in progress.[12] Workers in highway work zones are exposed to a variety of hazards and face risk of injury and death from construction equipment as well as passing motor vehicles. Workers on foot are exposed to passing traffic, often at high speeds, while workers who operate construction vehicles are at risk of injury due to overturn, collision, or being caught in running equipment. Regardless of the task assigned, all construction workers work in conditions of poor lighting, poor visibility, inclement weather, congested work areas, high volume traffic and speeds.[13] In 2011, there were a total of 119 fatal occupation fatalities in road construction sites. In 2010 there were 37,476 injuries in work zones, about 20,000 of those injuries are construction workers.
MANAGE
YOUR SPEED:
MANAGE YOUR SPACE:
MANAGE YOUR
STRESS:
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