Chapter 7: Special Driving Situations

Follow these guidelines for driving at night:

1. Avoid "over driving" your lights (driving too fast for what you can see) 2. High beam headlights can reveal objects up to a distance of 450 feet and are most effective for speeds faster than 25 MPH 3. When leaving a brightly lit area, drive slowly until your eyes adjust to the darkness 4. Don't look directly at oncoming headlights. Use lane lines as visual guides and look quickly to check the other vehicle's position for every few seconds 5. Drive as far to the right as you can if a vehicle with one light comes towards you; it could be a vehicle with a missing headlight

If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer:

1. Safely pull of the roadway immediately to the extreme right, and clear of traffic 2. At night, reduce your headlights to parking lights and turn on your interior light 3. Stay in the driver's seat. Do not get out of the vehicle unless asked to do so. Keep your hands visible. Sit calmly and follow the officer's instructions 4. Be prepared to show your driver license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance when asked

Florida law says you must do what for night driving?

1. Use headlights between the hours of sunset and sunrise 2. Not use high beam headlights within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle; use low beam headlights 3. Not use high beam within 300 feet of the vehicle ahead of you; use low beam headlights 4. Not drive using only parking lights in place of headlights 5. Turn on your parking lights at night when you are parked on a roadway or shoulder outside of cities and towns

When driving in low conditions:

1. You must turn on your headlights. Parking lights are not a substitute 2. Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will reflect back off the fog and impair visibility even more 3. DO NOT drive using flashing hazard lights, which can only be used when your car is broken down/stopped on the side of the road 4. Turn on your headlights whenever you turn on your windshield wipers 5. Use wipers and defrosters for maximum visibility. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if poor visibility is due to fog or moisture on the windshield 6. Use the right edge of the road or edge lines as visual guides 7. Eliminate all distractions in your vehicle. Turn off the radio, call phone, etc. 8. Watch out for slow-moving and parked vehicles 9. Keep your windshield and headlights clean to reduce glare and increase visibility

Why should you driver with extra care at night?

Because you can't see as far ahead and the glare from oncoming cars can reduce your vision more

What kind of crashes occur the most frequent from October to December?

Deer/Vehicle

What should you do if a collision if inevitable with an animal?

Do not swerve to avoid the animal. Keep your vehicle under control and on the roadway

What should you do to warn other drivers when animals are spotted on or near the road?

Flash your headlights

If a law enforcement officer is directing traffic where there is a traffic signal...

Obey the officer, not the signal

If you have time to avoid hitting an animal....

Reduce your speed, tap your brakes, and sound your horn. Deer tend to fixate on headlights so flashing them may cause the animal to freeze. If there are no vehicles close behind you, brake hard without locking your wheels

What should you do if you crash and it involves a large animal such as a bear, deer, or farm animal?

Report it to the law enforcement

What should you do if your brakes may pull on one side or the other, or they may not hold at all?

Slow down and gently push on the brake pedal until your brakes are working again

What should you do when driving in the rain?

Slow down! Roads become slick during rainstorms and especially if it has not rained in a while (oil build-up on the highway)

What should you do when approaching animals that are standing near the roadway?

Slow down. They may bolt out or change direction

What can affect your visibility to see when driving?

Smoke from wild fires and controlled burning, fog, and heavy rain

Why should you sue caution when driving at dawn and dusk?

That is when animals are most active

Scan the sides of the road and watch for the reflection of your headlights in...

The eyes of animals

What is hydroplaning?

The tires loose their contact with the road and have little or no traction

How does rain affect your brakes?

They often become wet after driving in heavy rain. They may pull on one side or the other, or they may not hold at all.

Why shouldn't you swerve into oncoming traffic when an animal suddenly runs in front of your vehicle?

This may result in a more serious crash than if your vehicle collided with the animal

What increases the risk of hydroplaning?

Tires with low air pressure or bad tread and speeding

What should you do if you come to a roadway that is flooded?

Turn around and find another way to go. Do not attempt to drive through the water! It is impossible to determine the depth or current and your vehicle could become submerged or swept away

When does hydroplaning happen?

When your vehicle slides on top of a thin layer of water between your tires and the road

When must flashing hazards lights be used?

While your vehicle is legally stopped or disabled on the highway or shoulder (exception: funeral processions)

Should you be extra alerted when driving on roadways marked with animal crossing signs and near woods and water?

Yes

When your tires are not touching the road...

You can easily lose control and skid

What do wet road conditions increase?

Your braking/ stopping distance, so be sure to increase following distance

When you turn on your windshield wipers, turn on what?

Your headlights. Do not turn on hazard lights