Drivers Ed Midterm

Approximately how long does it take a new driver to reach the driving ability of the average experienced driver?

Five Years

Each year, approximately ____ people are killed in motor vehicle-related collisions in the U.S.

40,000

More than ____ percent of all vehicle-occupant fatalities occur in single-vehicle crashes.

50

Approximately what percent of crashes are caused by driver error?

90

Nearly half of all new drivers will either be cited for a traffic offense or be involved in a collision during their first 12 months of driving.

True

List three guidelines for assessing risk

-Consider the chance or possibility of a dangerous situation developing.

-Identify possible alternative actions and consider the consequences of each.

-Prepare to change speed or change direction to manage or control the situation.

List and explain the four characteristics of risk

-Risk is always present: There is always a risk at hand that you should be aware of at all times.

-Risk is affected by all road users: Everyone using the road has a contribution to adding risk to the scene

-Perceived risk differs from actual risk: What you think the risk is, could be completely different than the risk that is actually at hand

-Risk can be managed: You can control the risks around you to keep yourself safe.

Explain how to perform an aggressive visual search

-Searching 20-30 seconds ahead along your intended path or travel for objects or conditions that could increase the level of risk

-Be aware of the level or traction and identifying an alternative path of travel 12-15 seconds ahead into which you can steer if a threatening situation should develop.

Define "Graduated Driver Licensing" and explain each of the three stages of licensure.

Graduated Driver Licensing is an approach to ease new drivers into driving by providing practice and skill development under low-risk conditions.

Stages:

-Learner's Permit: Held for 6 months to a year, drive only under supervision of a licensed adult

-Provisional/Probationary License: No driving during certain nighttime hours, and some restriction on driving young passengers.

-Full License: Occurs at 17 or 18 with no restrictions other than the laws.

Explain how adopting a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement can benefit (a) a teen driver, (b) the family, and (c) the driving population as a whole.

(a) Avoid high-risk driving situations during the initial months of solo driving

(b) Family feels as is the driver is safer with the new restrictions put in place

(c) The risk of the population using the road is decreased due to the regulations the driving agreement enacts.

How often should the pre-driving checks identified for approaching the vehicle, outside the vehicle, and inside the vehicle be performed?

Every time you drive

When approaching your vehicle parked at the curb, you should:

Approach the driver's door from the front of your vehicle, facing oncoming traffic.

Under normal driving conditions, checks under the hood should be performed how often?

At least once a month or as recommended by the owner's manual.

In vehicles equipped with a driver's side air bag, sitting closer than ___ inches from the steering wheel increases the chance or arm, neck, or fatal injury in the event of a crash.

10

The top of the head restraint should be adjusted to a point:

Slightly above your ears

List the steps involved in safely approaching your vehicle.

-Have your keys in hand before approaching your car or entering the parking lot.

-Be alert to other pedestrians and drivers.

-Search for signs of movement between, beneath, and around objects to both sides of your vehicle.

-Make sure other drivers see you. Walk well away from parked vehicles.

If parked at the curb, face traffic as your approach the driver's door.

Explain how safety belts can help protect vehicle occupants in the event of a collision

Safety belts are designed to help slow occupants' rate of deceleration in a frontal collision. Safety belts also help keep vehicle occupants securely in place.

Explain the optimal seating position behind the steering wheel.

You should be seated in a comfortable, upright position, squarely behind the steering wheel. The seat should be positions so you can easily operate the accelerator, break, and clutch pedals without having to lift your heel from the floor.

Explain how to set the vehicle side mirrors, and how they help drivers monitor the space around their vehicles.

How To:

Place your head against the left side window and set the mirror so you can just barely see the side of the car in the right side of the mirror.

The driver can see directly into the spaces adjacent to each of the vehicles rear corners and blind spots for optimal vision.

Describe eight items that can appear on the instrumental panel.

1) Fuel Gauge: Tells you how much fuel your vehicle has

2)Check Engine Light: Informs you when your engine needs to be inspected for a malfunction

3) Left turn indicator: Informing you and others that you are going to make a left turn

4) Right turn indicator: Informing you and others that you are going to make a right turn

5) Headlight high-beam indicator: Informs you that you have your high beam lights on.

6) Speedometer: Tells you how fast your vehicle is moving

7) Odometer: Shows how far your car has traveled total

8) Parking brake indicator: Informs you that your parking brake is engaged.

To allow enough distance to stop in response to threatening objects or conditions, you should identify a planned path of travel ___ seconds head.

12-15

Under most conditions a minimum following interval of ___ will enable you to adjust speed or position appropriately.

3-4 seconds

If a vehicle's speed doubles from 20 mph to 40 mph, the distance needed to stop the vehicle increases by ___ times.

4

When braking hard, the weight of the vehicle noticeable shifts _____

To the front of the vehicle

When turning to the right, the contact patches of the ____ will increase in size.

Left side tires.

Define "hydroplaning" and how drivers can prevent its occurrence.

Hydroplaning is when the tires rise up on a wedge of water. This can be prevented by decreasing your speed, and holding your steering wheel firmly.

List and explain the factors that affect the traction between a vehicle's tires and the roadway surface.

Objects on the road or weather conditions can affect the traction your car has with the road.

This decreases the traction a vehicle has with a road which makes the vehicle harder to control.

List four substances that can reduce traction between a vehicle's tires and the roadway.

Sewer covers, paint, vinyl strips, tar, wet leaves, and such

Explain the relationship between inertia and traction.

A large amount of inertia moving in a direction when a vehicle is trying to turn will attempt to keep the car in its original path of travel, which could cause a lack of traction when turning with a large velocity.

Explain the effects of uphill and downhill roadway sections of (a) traveling speed, (b) acceleration ability, and (c) braking ability.

Uphill:

-Traveling speed decreases

-Acceleration ability decreases

-Braking ability increases

Downhill:

-Traveling speed increases

-Acceleration ability increases

-Braking ability decreases

These are all due to the force of gravity

When starting the engine, you should release the key:

As soon as the engine starts

When backing:

1) Brace your arm over the back of the front passenger seat

2) Grip the steering wheel at the 12 o' clock position with your hand

3) Move the wheel left or right in the direction you want the rear of the vehicle to go

____ acceleration is used to maintain slow forward motion or allowing speed to increase gradually with minimum weight shift

Light

Total stopping time is made up of

1) Reaction time

2) Braking time

3) Perception time

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Help drivers maintain steering control under hard braking.

List five habits you should develop when starting a vehicle engine

1) Check to ensure the parking brake is set

2) Check to ensure the gear selector lever is in park

3) Turn the key clockwise to start the engine.

4) As soon as the engine starts, release the key

5) Let the engine idle for at least 15-20 seconds before you start driving

Explain how to perform the three steering techniques

Hand to hand steering:

Both hands will typically retain their original grip on the wheel, requiring only slight finger or wrist movements to maintain path or travel (push and pull method)

Hand-over-hand steering:

Use one hand to push the steering wheel up and over the other hand, past the 12 o' clock position, then down toward 9 or 3 o' clock.

One-handed steering:

Should only be used when backing up in a straight line or only briefly when adjusting dashboard controls.

List and explain the four levels of acceleration

Idling acceleration:

Releasing pressure from the brake can result in a slow forward movement

Light acceleration:

The purpose of which is to maintain slow forward motion or allowing speed to increase gradually with minimum weight shift

Progressive acceleration:

With firm pressure on the accelerator to increase speed

Thrust acceleration:

A firm push or thrust of the accelerator for increased acceleration

List and explain the four levels of decceleration

Releasing the accelerator stops the vehicle's forward propulsion

Controlled or squeezed is with sufficient pressire to slow the vehicle while avoiding abrupt weight shifting

Threshold braking is the application of pressure to a point of just short of locking up the brakes

Tail braking is used to smoothly and gradually reduce brake pedal pressure at the end of a braking maneuver

Explain the benefits of braking in a straight line

Braking in a straight line rather than turning will allow the tires of the vehicle to maintain an increased grip to the road rather than turning which substances on the road can affect while turning and braking.

Signs communicate meaning using:

1) Color

2) Shape

3) Words

Railroad advance warning signs are:

Yellow and round

An odd-numbered Interstate using a single or double digit number indicates a route that:

Runs north and south

A solid yellow line on your side of the road means:

You may not pass

Solid white lines are used to

1) Mark the right edge of highways

2) Between lanes to indicate areas where lane changes are discouraged or unlawful due to increased danger associated with such movements

Explain the key steps in safely using shared left turn lanes:

Used where there is a high volume of traffic, and where vehicles are turning into and out of businesses on either side of the street. This lane may be used by vehicles traveling in either direction when turning left from a roadway

Explain the meaning of a signal light's three colors

Red: Stop

Yellow: Slow

Green: Go

Explain the type(s) of information communicated by the following sign colors:

Green: Directional information

Yellow: Caution/Warning

Red: Prohibition

Explain the type(s) of information communicated by the following sign colors:

Blue: Services

Brown: Recreational

Orange: Construction

Identify four signs or roadway markings used with reversible lanes:

Red X - lane is closed to you

Green arrow - you are permitted to drive in a lane

Flashing yellow arrow- you may use the lane but only to turn left

Steady yellow arrow - driver should safely vacate the lane because it will soon be a red X

A drivers license:

gives an individual permission to operate a motor vehicle on public highways

serves to verify each drivers knowledge of the laws that govern the use of motor vehicles on public highways

can be taken away by the state

____ laws are designed to help drivers understand who should be granted the privilege of proceeding first when more than one vehicle approaches an intersection at about the same time.

right of way

A certificate of motor vehicle title:

demonstrates proof of ownership

Which of the following is related to reckless driving behavior?

a driver intentionally drives recklessly

a driver knows his or her actions will create significant risk

conditions make the risk obvious and serious

Most states have blood-alcohol concentration limits of _____ percent for drivers under the age of 21.

.00 to .02

explain 3 ways drivers and vehicle owners can demonstrate proof of financial responsibility

automobile liability insurance

deposit money in the amount required by the state

deposit bonds or other securities

four possible principles of right of way

always given, never taken for granted

to receive R.O.W. you must obey all traffic laws

a driver has not yielded ROW if they force other highway users to slow or wait

whoever has the last clear chance to avoid a collision has an obligation to do so

explain procedure for responding to approaching emergency vehicle

pull parallel to and as close to the right side of the road as possible clear of all intersections until emergency vehicle has passed (unless directed to do otherwise by a police officer)

explain differences between aggressive driving and road rage

both aggressive mind sets

aggressive driving: not directed anger at a specific driver

road rage:directed toward a specific driver

conditions under which a driver can be charged for DUI of alcohol or drugs

BAC test .08+

other tests (blood, urine, field sobriety)

______ vision is the five degree cone that makes up only 3% of a drivers total visual field

central

the distance you look ahead is:

visual lead

a driver should search the highway _____ seconds ahead

20 - 30

A driver should maintain a visual-control zone of a least _______ seconds ahead

12 - 15

to effectively search the total traffic scene, drivers should monitor the area _________ of the vehicle

to the...

-rear

-front

-sides

Central Vision:

-5 degree cone

-3% of total vision

-details of objects and conditions

-primary visual function in TARGETING

Fringe Vision:

-judge DEPTH and POSITION

-information about objects close to the travel path and lane position

Peripheral Vision:

-detects COLOR and MOTION

-information about moving or stationary objects

-sense of speed

-most affected by drugs, fatigue and speed of travel

How to perform ground viewing and how it can help reduce risk

normal vision is well ahead of vehicle. also search area near vehicle to look for children and animal, road conditions, other vehicles lane position, and speed of your vehicle and other vehicle

5 common errors of drivers with poor visual habits

PG. 157

-don't prepare for stops or turns far enough in advance

-unaware of own speed

-easily distracted

-often surprised

A space into which you can safely direct your vehicle with the lowest possible risk is referred to as you:

intended path of travel

the size of your space margin depends on:

-your speed

-width of your vehicle

-maneuvers you expect to perform

You should always maintain a stopping zone distance of ____________ seconds

4 - 5

The key to basic speed law is to drive at a _____ speed for conditions.

reasonable and proper

Changes in ________ is a major highway condition that requires you to adjust speed.

-traction

-space

-visibility

4 factors affecting the selection of a path of travel

-roadway conditions

-off-road conditions

-traffic conditions

-the unexpected

explain how to put the three to four second following distance rule into practice

pick checkpoint, count distance between back of vehicle in front of you and the front of your car

explain the risk reduction concept of seperating and give an example of its successful use

-TIMING so you meet vehicles at a good time

-meeting traffic of narrow bridge

explain the risk reduction concept of compromising and give an example of its successful use

-faced with two dangerous situations. give more space to one with greater risk

- behind biker on 2 lane road, oncoming vehicle - more space to biker

define :reasonable and proper speed":

-provides safe path of travel

-time and space to brake and steer

Before making a turn in an urban area most states' laws require a driver to signal at least ___ feet before the turn.

100

When preparing to turn, you should:

Complete your braking before turning the steering wheel

When reversing direction, you should consider:

Traffic Density, Your speed, Visibility

a.k.a. all of the above

Parking in a traffic lane is called ____ and is illegal in most states.

Double-parking

When parking uphill with a curb, you should turn the front wheels:

Away from the curb

The primary challenge in driving a manual transmission vehicle is learning to:

Release the clutch smoothly to move forward

The point at which the engine begins to move the car as the clutch is released is called the _____

Friction point

A frequent mistake is:

Shifting into a higher gear at too low a speed

When shifting gears, you should look:

Along your intended path of travel

When shifting gears, you should press the clutch:

All the way to the floor

Single-vehicle crashes account for more than ____ percent of all motor vehicle fatalities

50

All of the following are common messages communicated by drivers to reduce risk except:

Frustrations

Areas where pedestrian traffic is heavy include:

Parking lots

Bus stops

School zones

(All of the above)

When passing a motorcycle or scooter, _____

Give the rider the whole lane

______ is a coming together or blending of vehicles to maintain a smooth, uninterrupted traffic flow

Merging

"BAC" stands for _________________

Blood alcohol concentration

Alcohol is a _______ drug

Depressant

The first ability to be impaired by alcohol or other drugs is ______

Judgement/decision-making

A one ounce shot of 80 proof whiskey contains ______ alcohol than/as a 12 ounce can of beer

less

It takes the body, on average, approximately _______ to eliminate the alcohol contained in one drink.

1.25 - 1.5 hours