District of Columbia Driver Manual Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the District of Columbia Driver Manual covering safety initiatives, licensing programs, and traffic rules.

Vision Zero

A multinational road traffic safety project aimed at achieving a highway system with no fatalities or serious injuries in road traffic.

Distracted Driving

Any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving, such as texting or eating.

Impaired Driving

Operating a motor vehicle while affected by alcohol, legal or illicit drugs, and sleepiness.

Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Program

A program requiring drivers guilty of impaired driving to install devices on all registered vehicles and only drive vehicles equipped with them.

Drowsy Driving

The operation of a motor vehicle while being impaired due to a lack of sleep, which can affect driving as much as alcohol.

Dutch Reach Method

A technique for opening a vehicle door using the hand farther from the door to force the body to turn and see approaching bicyclists.

HAWK Signal

High-Intensity Activated crossWalk; a signal-beacon designed to help pedestrians safely cross busy streets by stopping traffic with a red signal.

Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS)

Equipment for the disabled that provides an audible message and vibrating arrow button to announce when the WALK signal is on.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB)

A pedestrian-activated device with high-frequency flashing yellow lights designed to help drivers see pedestrians crossing at high-volume traffic areas.

Gradual Rearing of Adult Drivers (GRAD) Program

A program that permits novice drivers between the ages of $16$ and $20$ to gain driving experience before obtaining full privileges.

Highway Hypnosis

A state of being unaware of surroundings caused by monotony, such as the steady hum of the engine or the sound of the wind.

Aggressive Driving

A form of reckless driving estimated to cause $2/3$ of all fatal crashes, including behaviors like tailgating and failing to yield right-of-way.

Reckless Driving

Driving a motor vehicle with a willful disregard for the safety of people or property.

Negligent Driving

Driving a motor vehicle in a careless or imprudent manner that endangers any property or the life of any individual.

Hydroplaning

A condition occurring at speeds usually above $35\,mph$ where tires start to ride on a layer of water, causing loss of control.

Black Ice

A thin layer of ice on asphalt highways produced by melting and re-freezing that is often hidden from view.

No-Zone

The large blind spots around trucks and buses, including up to $20\,feet$ in front and $200\,feet$ in the rear.

Queue Jump Technology

A traffic technology that allows buses to pull away from a stop and through an intersection before the light turns green for other vehicles.

Streetcars

Passenger vehicles that operate on fixed rails on public streets, often at average speeds of $25$ to $35\,mph$.

Safety Zone

An area on a roadway marked by signs for pedestrians only, which drivers are prohibited from entering.

Sharrow

A shared lane marking consisting of a bicycle symbol with a double chevron arrow used on travel lanes too narrow for side-by-side sharing.

HOV Lane

High Occupancy Vehicle lane, reserved for buses, motorcycles, and vehicles with a specified minimum number of occupants, marked by a diamond shape.

BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration)

A measure of alcohol in the blood affected by factors such as body weight, alcohol concentration, medications, and food in the stomach.