DMV ch. 10
EXPRESSWAY DRIVING
"Expressway" means any divided highway where traffic moves in one direction on two or more lanes. You normally enter or exit the expressway on ramps (controlled-access). The speed limit is normally 55 mph. Before you travel on an expressway, identify your entrance and exit points on a road map. Know where to get on and off the expressway and be prepared to get into the correct lanes for your entrance and exit. If you get on a wrong exit, never drive in reverse to return to the expressway. Get off at the next exit and look for signs that tell you how to return to the expressway.
FIRE
If you see smoke come from under the hood, pull off the road and park your vehicle. Turn off the ignition. Get away from the car and call the fire department. It is dangerous to try to fight the fire yourself.
BRAKE FAILURE
If your brake pedal suddenly goes to the floor, try pumping it to increase pressure. If that does not help, use your emergency or parking brake - but use it gently. If you shift to a lower gear, it will help your vehicle decrease speed.
Stalling on Railroad Tracks
1. GET OUT! (That includes EVERYONE in the car, children, babies, an elderly passenger, etc.) 2. Get away from the tracks, even if you do not see a train. 3. Locate the Emergency Notification System sign and call the number provided, telling them about the stalled vehicle. Run toward the general direction the train is coming from. If a train is approaching, run toward the train but away from the tracks at a 45 degree angle. If you run "down the track," in the same direction as the train, you can be hit with debris when the train hits your vehicle.
DRIVING IN RAIN, FOG OR SNOW
A bit of rain, snow or ice makes roads slippery. Wet leaves can be slippery and hazardous. Reduced speed and increased following distance improve your safety. In heavy rain, your tires can begin to ride on the water that is on top of the road pavement. This "hydroplaning" can cause complete loss of traction and control of steering. Hydroplaning normally occurs at higher speeds, but it also can occur if your tires are tread worn or not inflated properly. Rain, fog or snow make it harder to see through your windshield, and difficult for other drivers to see you. New York State law requires you to turn on your headlights when the weather conditions require the use of windshield wipers to clear rain, snow, sleet or fog. "Daytime lights" do not qualify as headlights. For better visibility during these weather conditions, keep your headlights on low beam. Reduce your speed. Signal your turns further ahead of time to give other drivers and roadway users more warning. Brake early when you decrease speed behind another vehicle or come to an intersection stop.
GRADE CROSSINGS
A grade crossing is the point at which train tracks intersect with a roadway and is considered an intersection. As you approach a crossing, always expect a train. Trains can run on any track, at any time, from either direction. Never race a train to a crossing, never drive around lowered gates, and do not stop on tracks.
TIRE BLOWOUT
A thumping sound can be a warning that a blowout is about to occur. If you hear it, get safely off the road and check your tires. If a tire blows out, hold the steering wheel tight and slowly take your foot off the gas pedal. If your vehicle skids, handle it as you would on ice or snow. Do not use your brake until your vehicle is controlled. Leave the road when it safe to do so.
GOING INTO WATER
A vehicle will normally float for a while, and you should have time to remove yourself before it starts to sink. Release your seat belt and escape through a window. An open door would cause water to rush in and the car could turn over on top of you. If the vehicle sinks before you can remove yourself, get into the back seat. An air pocket can form there as the weight of the engine pulls the vehicle down front first. When the vehicle settles, take a breath and escape through a window. When you rise air pressure will build in your lungs. Let it out in small breaths through your nose or lips as you surface. Do not hold your breath tight or try to blow air out; just allow the air to escape in a natural way.
NIGHT DRIVING
At night, you must use extra caution to make up for reduced visibility. Night driving is more dangerous because the distance you can see ahead or to the side is reduced. You should drive slower than you would in daylight, especially in areas that are not known or on narrow roads with many curves. It is important that you drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely within that distance. This is called "driving within the range" of your headlights.
HOW TO AVOID COLLISIONS WITH DEER
Be careful when you drive at dawn and dusk; this is when driver visibility is bad and the deer are most active. The risk of deer-vehicle collisions increases when deer movements increase during breeding season in October, November and December. Decrease speed when you approach deer near roadsides. Deer can "bolt" or change direction at the last minute. If you see a deer go across the road, decrease speed and be careful. Deer travel in groups, expect other deer to follow. Use emergency lights or a headlight signal to warn other drivers when deer are seen on or near the road. Use caution on roadways marked with deer crossing signs. These signs are put in areas that have had a large number of deer-vehicle collisions.
HOW TO DRIVE IN WINTER
Before winter weather arrives, make sure your vehicle is in good condition. Make sure your vehicle has good snow tires. Put them on the vehicle before the first storm. Never combine radial and non-radial tires on the same vehicle. Tires with metal studs can be used in New York State only from October 16 through April 30. During ice or snow storms, do not drive unless you must. If you must drive, first clear the ice and snow from your vehicle. This includes the headlights and back lights, the windshield wipers and all of the windows. Make sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with a cleaning solution that resists freezing. Drive slowly. Even if your vehicle has good traction in ice and snow, other drivers will travel with caution. Do not break the flow of traffic by driving faster than other vehicles.
Railroad Crossing Warning Sign
COLOR: Yellow with black letters "RR" and "X" symbol. MEANING: There is a railroad crossing ahead. Use caution, and be prepared to stop. If you are following a bus or truck approaching a railroad crossing, be careful. Most buses and some trucks must stop at railroad crossings.
VEHICLE APPROACHING HEAD-ON IN YOUR LANE
Decrease speed, pull over to the right and sound your horn to warn the other driver. Do not turn into the left lane. If you do, the other driver may suddenly recover and pull back into that lane, causing a head-on collision.
Railroad Crossing Signals
Flashing red lights, lowered crossing gates and/or a bell at a railroad crossing indicate that you must stop, at least 15 feet (5 m)from the tracks. Do not go across the tracks until the lights and bell have stopped and the crossing gates are completely up. Do not drive around or under a gate that is moving up or down. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to cross any railroad tracks unless you are certain your entire vehicle will clear all of the tracks at the crossing.
LOSS OF A WHEEL
Handle this as you would a blowout. A thump or noise in the wheel can be a warning sound. Leave the roadway and stop. Then check your vehicle or have it checked.
STUCK GAS PEDAL
Hook your shoe under the pedal and see if you can free it. If not, shift into neutral and use the brake to slow your vehicle and get off the road. Do not turn off the ignition if your vehicle has power steering or a steering wheel thathas a column that locks, because if you do, you will lose power steering or not have the ability to steer at all.
STALLING ON RAILROAD TRACKS
If a train approaches, release your seat belt, leave the vehicle and get as far away as you can from the tracks. Run toward the general direction the train is coming from. If you run "down the track" in the same direction as the train, you can be hit with debris when the train hits your vehicle. When you are completely sure no trains are coming, open your window to listen for a train and try to start the engine. If that fails, shift your vehicle into neutral and push it from the tracks.
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
If your headlights suddenly go out, try your emergency lights, parking lights and directional signals. These may continue to work and can give you enough light to get from the roadway safely. If your headlights begin to dim, drive to a service station or pull off the road and go for help.
BLOCKED VISION
If your hood opens suddenly or your vision through the windshield becomes blocked by some other object or wipers that have failed, you can open the side window so you can see. Turn on your emergency lights and carefully pull your vehicle off the road and park it.
STEERING FAILURE
If your vehicle suddenly will not respond when you steer, slowly take your foot off the gas pedal, turn on your emergency lights and keep your foot off the brake pedal while it is safe to do so. The balance of the vehicle will allow it to continue going straight, but a sudden change in speed could send it out of control. As the vehicle decreases speed, you can brake very carefully to bring it to a stop.
RUNNING OFF THE PAVEMENT
If your wheels move off the pavement, do not pull the steering wheel back. Ease your foot off the gas pedal and brake gently. When your vehicle has decreased speed, check for traffic behind you, then turn carefully back onto the pavement.
Pavement Markings
Sometimes, grade crossings do not have flashing red light signals or gates. Pavement markings will often show you that a grade crossing is ahead. Stay behind the stop line while waiting for a train to pass.
Special Driving Conditions
When special conditions or hazards occur, attention and judgment become even more important. To be a good and safe driver, you must learn how to drive on expressways, at night in bad weather and when an emergency occurs.
EXPRESSWAY DRIVING #2
When you are on the exit ramp, decrease your speed. There is often a lower speed limit for the ramp. After you leave an expressway, look for speed limit signs and check your speedometer to be sure you are within the posted limit. You are not likely to be on a 55 mph (88 km/h) road