drivers ed

vocab

HTS

Highway Transportation System:  It is composed of motor vehicles, streets, highways, and people

Nevada Motor Vehicle Laws

a set of laws that intend to provide traffic safety in Nevada

GDL

Graduated Drivers Licensing; 3-stage approach to granting full license privileges

Suspension

administrative action disallowing continued use of a license for a period of time

Restriction

a law or rule that limits or controls something

Regulatory Sign

a range of signs that are used to indicate or reinforce traffic laws and regulations

Warning Sign

a type of traffic sign that indicates a hazard ahead of the road

Guide Sign

**signs used to indicate locations, distances, directions, and routes**

**Traffic Control Signs**

devices placed along, bedside, or above a roadway to guide, warn, and regulate traffic

Roadway Markings

lines and symbols on the roadway surface that indicate or convey official information

HOV Lane

a restricted traffic lane reserved for the driver and one or more passengers

Rumble Strips

raised strips across a road or along it's edge that result in a warning noise

Speed Bumps

a ridge set in a road surface to control the speed of vehicles.

Head Restraint

an automotive safety feature, attached to the top of each seat

Key Fob

a remote control for locking/unlocking a car door

Mirror Usage

proper use of side and rear-view mirrors

Safety Belt

a belt fastening a person to an object (such as a car seat) to prevent falling or injury

Shift Lever and Indicator

a lever that enables the driver to shift, or change, gears

Emergency Flashers

lights warning other drivers of an emergency you may be in

Hood Release Lever

a lever that releases the hook in the front of the car so it can pop open

Odometer

an instrument for measuring the distance traveled by a vehicle

Parking Brake

a latching brake that is usually used to keep the vehicle stationary

Speedometer

an instrument on the vehicle's dashboard indicating its speed

Steering Wheel

a wheel that a driver rotates in order to steer a vehicle 

Tachometer

an instrument that measures the working speed of an engine

Acceleration

increase in the rate of speed of something

Clutch Pedal

a pedal or lever that engages or disengages a rotating shaft and a driving mechanism

Transmission

the mechanism by which power is transmitted from an engine to the wheels of a motor

Turnabout

a continuously moving traffic circle that flows in one direction

Angle Parking

parking the vehicle diagonally to the curb

Parallel Parking

parking the vehicle parallel to the curb

Perpendicular Parking

parking the vehicle at a right angle to the curb

Central Vision

eyes focus straight, allowing us to drive, read, and see sharp details

Peripheral Vision

what is seen on the side by the eye when looking straight ahead

Depth Perception

the ability to perceive the relative distance of one's visual field

SIPDE

Search, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute

Fringe Vision

used to see reference points, stay on the targeted path, and judge depth and perception

Space Management

managing the road space around your car

Open Zone

available space that you can see and move into

Closed Zone

restricted space that you cannot move into or an area that is restricted by lack of visibility

Braking Distance

the approximate distance traveled before coming to a complete stop when the brakes are applied in a vehicle moving at a specified speed

Gravity

a force that pulls all objects toward the center of the earth

Inertia

the tendency of an object at rest to stay at rest or of an object of motion to stay in motion

Momentum

the product of velocity and mass

Reaction Time

the length of time needed to apply the brake

Center of Gravity

the point in a body through which the earth's gravitational force acts and around which the body's weight is evenly balanced

Footprint

the mark left by a loaded tire's tread as it comes in contact with the road surface

Traction

a form of friction that enables the tire to grip the roadway surface

Tread

the grooved surface of a tire

Glare Recovery

the time your eyes need to regain clear vision after being affected by glare

Night Blindness

the ability to see well at night

Active Restraint Device

restraint device that you have to engage

Force of Impact

the force with which a moving object hits another object

Passive Restraint Device

a safety device that is activated automatically to protect an automobile passenger at the moment of impact when a collision occurs

Intersections

places where two or more streets meet or cross each other

Staggered Stops

when the stop line for the right-most lane is set as far forward as possible and the stop line for the other lanes set further back

Point of No Return

point beyond which a driver can no longer stop safely without entering the intersection

Uncontrolled Intersection

an intersection that has no signs or signals to regulate traffic

Controlled Intersection

the intersection at which traffic signals or signs determine the right of way

Protected Turn

when you have the assistance of a light/signal for a turn

Unprotected Turn

when you do not have the assistance of a light/signal for a turn

Roundabout

a circular intersection where drivers travel counterclockwise around a center island

Passing

an act or the process of moving past another vehicle or person traveling in the same direction

Space Cushion

the open area around a vehicle consisting of adequate following distance between it and the vehicles ahead and behind, plus swerve paths to left and right

One-way Street

a street on which vehicles should only move in one direction

Two-way Street

a street that allows vehicles to travel in both directions

Multi-lane Street

a street that has two or more lanes for traffic

Rural Roadways

low traffic roads located in forested and rangeland settings that serve residential, recreational, and resource management use

Open Range

a large area of grazing land without fences or other barriers

Shoulder

reserved lane by the verge of a road or motorway; serves as an emergency stopping lane

Traffic Flow

total number of vehicles passing a given point at a given time

Passing

process of moving past another vehicle or person traveling in the same direction

Expressway

a highway designed for fast traffic

HOV

traffic lane reserved for vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers

Interchanges

where drivers can cross over or under traffic and enter or exit the expressway

Weave Lane

a lane used for both entering and exiting the highway

Toll Plaza

a place where a driver stops to pay money before going onto a highway

road Rage

violent anger caused by the stress and frustration involved in driving a motor vehicle in difficult conditions

Aggressive Behavior

reactionary and impulsive behavior that often results in breaking household rules or the law

Tailgate

the act of driving on a road too close to the vehicle in front, such that the distance between the two vehicles do not guarantee that stopping to avoid a collision is possible

Impairment

deterioration of an individual's judgment and decrease in his or her physical ability

BAC

blood-alcohol concentration; the percentage of alcohol in the bloodstream 

DUI

driving under the influence; the act or crime of driving while affected by alcohol or drugs

Depressant

a substance that is able to diminish or reduce nervous or functional activity

Stimulant

a substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body

Hallucinogen

a drug that causes hallucinations

Fatigue

extreme tiredness

Peer Pressure

an external force that results from peers trying to influence you to do certain things

Driver Inattention

the failure to pay proper attention to the road while driving

Distracted Driving

the practice of driving a motor vehicle while engaged in another activity

Pedestrian

a person walking along a road or in a developed area

Risk

the chance of injury, damage, or loss

Tractor-Trailer

a transport vehicle consisting of a semi-tractor and attached trailer

Potholes

a hole formed in the pavement, as by excessive use or by extremes of weather

Frontal Collision

a traffic collision where the front ends of two vehicles hit each other in opposite directions

Rear-End Collision

a traffic accident in which a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it

Right of Way

the privilege of having immediate use of the roadway

Brake Fade

the partial or total loss of braking power used in a vehicle brake system

Budget

a plan used to decide the amount of money that can be spent and how it will be spent

Lease

an agreement to pay only a portion of the vehicle's cost, which is the part that you "use up" during the time you are driving the vehicle