Driving Notes

Common Reason for Collisions/Violations

• Inexperience

• Bad decisions/judgement

• Distracted

• Daydreaming

HTS Purpose

Safe, efficient, and convenient movement for people and goods

HTS Parts

• People (drivers, passengers, pedestrians)

• Vehicles (car s, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles)

• Roadways (streets, highways, sidewalks)

Hardest users to control

Other people

HTS regulators

• Governments (laws to keep order safety)

• Courts (judge if drivers violated laws or not)

• Highway Traffic Engineers (plan, build, and maintain roadway system)

Social Task

must communicate with others when maneuvering (HTS)

Smith System

• Look 15 seconds ahead

• Eyes scanning constantly

• Check mirrors every 5-7 seconds

• Make sure you are visible to others

• Manage your space (leave a way out)

IDPE

• Identify potential hazards by scanning around vehicle, usually when braking, near schools, at intersections

• Predict what the hazard will do in the situation in relation to your driving

• Decide what to do to prevent the hazard having consequences (slow down? stop? go around? speed up?)

• Execute your decision

Targeting

• Where you are looking is where you tend to go

• Look 12-15 seconds ahead to evaluate POT

• Don’t stare

• Keep eyes moving

LOS (Line of Sight)

• The area of which you can see in any direction

• Check for visual obstructions in the car (icy windows) and outside (trees)

POT (Path of Travel)

The area your vehicle will travel through your maneuvering; make sure the space is clear BEFORE moving into it

Walkaround

• Checking area around the car and car itself to make sure it’s good to approach and drive (done while parked)

• Check for things that shouldn’t be there (people?)

• Void Area, each side, windows, body, tires, underneath

• Are the license plates on?

Pre-Drive Process

1. Shut and lock doors

2. Place keys in ignition

3. Adjust seat and head rest to correct and comfortable positions

4. Adjust mirrors (side view mirrors see none of car)

5. Seatbelt on

Starting up the car (process)

1. Parking brake is on

2. Car is in “Park”

3. Right foot on brake

4. Left hand on wheel

Controlling Vehicle (process)

1. foot on brake when shifting into/out of “Park” or “Neutral” mode

2. Release parking brake afterwards

3. Heel on ground, pivoting to move between pedals

4. Gradual pushes and pulls on pedals (car is sensitive)

ABS (Antilock Braking System)

Car will lock all 4 wheel brakes when stomping on brakes

Cover brake pedal situations

• Backing

• Parking

• Safety stops

• Driving through small parking lots

• Foot is not on gas pedal

• eyes are on rearview mirror

• hazards nearby

Conditions to make car harder to stop

• High speeds

• Big/heavy vehicle

• Slippery weather (rain/snow)

• Hills/slopes

Hand positions

• 9 & 3 for best control and sharp turn ability

• 8 & 4 for most comfort but harder to do sharp turns

Steering

• Hands on outside of wheel, thumbs relaxed and outside wheel

• Done in top 1/3rd of steering wheel

• Large movements, no shuffling

Push-Pull Steering

two hands on wheel, pushing the wheel to the other hand

Hand over Hand Steering

arms crossing, faster turns, but airbag danger

Smooth Stop (process)

1. Check rearview mirror

2. Let of gas pedal early

3. Cover brake pedal and gradually press

4. Release brake pressure

Reference Points

• allow you to see where parts of the car are without needing to see them

• Front bumper, right side, and back bumper

Scanning

• Checking and clearing POT for any possible obstructions (far ahead, near, and side to side)

• If unable to see, clear a 4-6 second gap and go slow with brake covered

• scan 15 seconds ahead and check mirrors every 5-7 seconds

• allows the avoidance of sudden braking/swerving and being in dangerous situations

• don’t rely on traffic signals/signs to tell you of others crossing (eyes are more reliable)

SMOG

• Signal, Mirrors, Over-the-shoulder, Go when safe

• Done every time when moving sideways (turns, lane changes, merging, pulling to/from parking lanes or curbs)

• Start before 100 feet before turning

Turning Process

1. SMOG at least 100 feet before approaching the turn

2. Slow down as approaching the turn

3. Scan intersection

4. Turn while maintaining the same speed throughout the turn

5. Accelerate after turn has been made

6. Target space

Time spent for yielding

Wait at least 4 seconds (must also yield at turns)

Right Turn Optimizations

• LP3 (on the right) but LP1 is ok

• turn steering wheel 1/4th to the right before corner if stopping before turn

• Don’t block lanes/entrances while waiting to turn

Left Turn Optimizations

• LP2 (on the left) but LP1 is ok

• Don’t hang car in the intersection, can also cause red light violation

• 300ft travel distance between left turning cars

Lane Change

• Leave POT open

• Done when POT or LOS is blocked

• Find gap in traffic, vehicles should be 4 seconds apart

3 Way to Create a Gap for Lane Changing

• Speeding up

• Slowing down

• Signaling (works if other driver is nice)

Straight Line Backing Process

1. Position body towards middle of car

2. Right arm over chair

3. Left hand on wheel, palm to control it

4. Looking towards the back

5. Use reference points to turn and avoid objects

6. Keep looking back until the car comes to a complete stop

Regulatory Signs

• colored red, black, and/or white

• Legally tell what to do or what not to do

Stop Sign

• Regulatory sign

• must make a complete stop before the line/crosswalk/edge

• feel “pull back” and scan for 2 seconds

Yield Sign

• Regulatory Sign

• Give right of way to others and slow down (do not have to stop though)

Speed Limits if not posted

• 20mph in a school zone

• 25 mph in a city/town street

• 50mph in a county road

• 60mph on highway

Speed Zone Ahead sign

indicates that speed limit will be reduced ahead

Warning Signs

• colored black, yellow, and/or orange

• indicate hazard nearby, may need to slow down

Construction Zones

• colored orange

• obey signs and flagger, follow cones

• traffic fines are doubled in these

• drive at posted speed

• do not lane change or pass

Railroad Crossing

• X shape/symbol

• look/listen for trains, flashing lights, or gates (train is approaching)

• don’t stop on the track

School Zones

• placed within 1 block of a school

• slow down to listed speed, 20mph if not listed

Guide Signs

• green, blue, or brown

• locations, street, or nearby services in area

Red Light

• must make complete stop and wait outside of intersection

• can make right turn (check for signs)

• scan after stopping’

Flashing Red Light

• functions as a stop sign

• scan for other signs nearby

• stop fully, then proceed with caution

Green Light

• Go if safe (never guaranteed safety)

• scan every intersection and be ready to adjust speed/LP before going

Protected Green Light

• Solid green arrow

• other lanes must yield, you have right of way

Unprotected Green Light

• Solid green circle/flashing yellow arrow

• must yield to others; do not have to stop

Stale Green Light

light that has been green for a while, may change soon

Yellow Light

• use caution and yield

• red light is coming

• must try to stop if yellow light

Point of no return

• The point where you can no longer safely stop if the light were to turn yellow

• Look for this point if approaching a stale green (target ahead)

• If ahead of it while it turns yellow, just commit and go, but if behind, stop

• Fast braking is bad

Flashing Yellow Light

yield to oncoming traffic

Variable Lanes

Lanes that change direction or speed based on the time of day (regulatory sign)

Green Arrow (Variable Lane)

can use the lane

Yellow Arrow/X

caution advised; lane merging

Red X

do not use the lane

White Lines

Separate lanes going the same direction

Yellow Lines

Separate lanes going different directions

Only white lane markings on a road indication

one-way street

Dashed Line

can cross line

Solid White Line

outer edge of the road; can be crossed if it’s a single, less than 18in thick line

Solid Yellow Line

• never cross solid yellow line to enter the oncoming lane

• allowed to cross it if turning into a driveway, alley, or road AND if it is safe to do so

Turn Bay

promote traffic flow; do SMOG if entering one

Two-Way Left Turn Way

• allow cars that are turning to slow or stop without disrupting the cars going straight

• can only drive 300 ft down this and then MUST turn left on to nearest lane

Bike Lane

• lane reserved for bikes

• bikes going straight have right of way over vehicles turning/moving to the curb

• no parking/driving in a bike lane, even if going around another vehicle

• allowed to cross bike lanes, but SMOG while watching for bikes if doing so

Bike Sharrows

not a bike lane, but indicates that bike traffic is common

Restricted Lanes

• usually are HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes

• indicated by diamond shaped marker on the ground

• signs will tell rules of the restricted lane

Crosswalk

• marked by lines or completely unmarked

• pedestrian crossing

• must always yield to pedestrians

Controlled Intersection

has lights, signs, or both controlling traffic in the intersection

Uncontrolled Intersection

• usually in residential areas and have no traffic control devices

• right of way priority follows same rules as four way stops

Four Way Stops

• must make a full, legal stop

• right of way priority starts with whoever stopped first, then the car on the right, and left turning cars go last

Mixed Signs (Right of Way Priority)

No signs have first priority, then yield signs, and stop signs last

Three-Way Intersection (T Intersection)

Bottom of T must yield

Traffic Circles (Roundabouts)

• Go around the circle to the right/counterclockwise

• can only go around once

• no lane changing

• signal to right when exiting circle

• slow down and yield to cars in the roundabout

• right lane can go straight or right turn

• left lane can go straight, left turn, or U-turn

Backing Speed

slow

Pre-backing Process

check mirrors, blind spots, then area behind you (360 degree check)

Backing Process

1. Foot on brake

2. Shift to reverse

3. Release parking brake (hand brake)

4. wheels straight

5. establish clear LOS & POT

6. gradual brake pressure release

7. determine if POT is clear and continue if so

Backing Around a Corner (process)

• start within 12 inches of the curb

• back up and safety stop to scan if you can see the roadway (repeat until you can)

• steer to keep back tires within 18 inches of the curb

• glance in the mirror and the back to clear POT

• stop backing when reference point is met and car is aligned

Turnabout

maneuvering the car to go around in another direction; always scan for traffic in all directions

5 Turnabout Types

• Mid Block U-Turn

• Two Point Turn

• Three Point Turn Left

• Three Point Turn Right

• Y Turn

Mid Block U-Turn

• make sure it is legal

• signal left and sharp left turn onto lane

Two Point Turn

• safest turnabout

• passing a driveway on the right, backing into it, and then turning left onto the other lane

Parking Types

• angle

• perpendicular

• parallel

• hill

Spots to never park in

• more than 12 inches from the side of the road

• no parking zone

• disabled parking spot (unless you have the permit)

• wrong side of the road

• shoulder of the freeway (unless having emergency)

• 5 ft of a driveway

• 15 ft of a fire hydrant

• 20 ft of a crosswalk/pedestrian safety zone

• 30 ft of an intersection or traffic control device

• 50 ft of a railroad crossing

• 20 ft of a fire station on the same side, 75 ft on the opposite side

Parking Process:

• find a spot matching vehicle size

• avoid end spaces (more likely to be hit)

• avoid spaces next to poorly parked vehicles

• use reference points

Three Point Turn Left

pulling into driveway on the left

Three Point Turn Right

• most dangerous

• pulling into driveway on the right

• can do Two Point Turn instead

Angle Parking Process

• position vehicle 6 feet away from row of cars

• signal for a right turn

• slow down then SMOG

• creep forward until you can see the space without your LOS crossing the parking stripe

• sharp right turn

• straighten wheels

• stop at curb/stop line

Perpendicular Parking Process

• Right angle to curb

• LP as far from parking spot as possible

• slow down, then SMOG

• turn when parking lines in front of car

• alternatively, back into spot instead

Backing into a parking space (process)

• stop in LP1 about 1.5 spaced past the one you want to enter

• shift to reverse

• SMOG

• turn in direction of space

• creep into space with brake covered

Parallel Parking Process

• pick a spot at least 6 feet longer than vehicle

• SMOG

• pull 2-3 inches away along side the vehicle ahead of the spot

• shift to reverse

• back up until passenger side front door is even with parked car's side bumper

• turn wheels away from curb to get the front of the car straight

Leaving a Parallel Parking Spot Process

• back slowly

• SMOG (left turn)

• turn left to bring front end out

• turn right to bring back end out

• accelerate into lane

Parking on Hill Process

• stop within 12 in of curb

• turn wheel away from curb

• shift to Neutral, allow car to roll back slowly and touch curb

• leave tires touching curb

Wheels facing when parking on hill

• Parked uphill on a hard curb, turn wheels away from curb

• Otherwise, turn wheels toward curb

Internal Conditions to Never Drive Under

• angry

• drowsy/sleepy/fatigued

• noisy car/peer pressure

• emotionally upset

• blurry/unclear vision

Dealing with Others’ Road Rage

• put distance from situation

• do not make eye contact

• maneuver the car to make yourself safer (slow down, move over, etc.)

• call 911

• do not drive home

If gap for lane changing disappears

• cancel lane change

• cancel signal

• look for new gap

Passing

• the act of passing a car in front through accelerating

• will have to enter oncoming lane to execute

When to pass other cars

• two lane, two way road with a broken yellow line or no line

• no “No Passing Zone” sign (pennant shaped usually)

• other vehicle is traveling under speed limit for no apparent reason

• safe, legal, and necessary (illegal to pass other car by speeding up if not safe)

• if not on a hill

Passing Process

1. be behind 3 seconds of car in front (no tailgating)

2. SMOG (signal left)

3. change lanes

4. accelerate 10mph faster than car being passed

5. signal right lane change

6. change lanes