Driver's Ed-Adverse Conditions

To count "SIX SECONDS" when driving a vehicle (following intervals)

"One thousand one; one thousand two; one thousand three; etc" .You should make it to "one thousand six" (six seconds) before, or when you reach the object ahead of you if you are driving a vehicle at night. If you make it to 6 seconds beyond the supposed object, then you are going too fast.

Dangers of LOW WATER CROSSINGS:

#1 (the textbox listed above (they repeated it) .even the largest and heaviest of vehicles will float. as little as 6 INCHES OF WATER may cause you to LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. TWO FEET OF WATER will carry most cars away. DO NOT drive through floating water .a hidden danger awaits most motorists where a road without a bridge dips across a creek bed. Motorists develop a false confidence when they normally or frequently pass through dry low-water crossings .roadbeds may have been scoured or even washed away during flooding, creating unsafe driving condition. people who repeatedly drive through flooded low-water crossings often do not recognize the dangers of a small increase in the water level .driving too fast through low water will cause the vehicle to HYDROPLANE and lose contact with the road surface. Driving at night, when visibility is limited, increases the vulnerability of the driver to any hidden dangers. .heed ALL flood and flash flood watches and warnings. keep abreast of road conditions through the news media

Challenges presented when driving after sunset:

(a). glare (b). reduced visibility

Atmospheric Conditions that can affect Visibility

(a)Fog (b)Rain (c)Snow (d)Smoke

Types of Flooding:

(a)River Flood--flooding along rivers is a (1)natural and (2) inevitable part of nature; will occur seasonally when winter or spring rains, coupled with melting snows, fill river basins with too much water too quickly. Torrential rains from HURRICANES or tropical storms= produces an excessive volume of water in rivers and streams causing flooding to occur (b)Coastal Flood--occurs in coastal areas where winds generated by tropical storms, hurricanes, or intense offshore low pressure systems drive ocean water INLAND; C.F can also be produced by: (1) sea waves called "tsunamis" (sometimes referred to as "tidal waves; produced by EARTHQUAKES or VOLCANIC activity IN THE SEA). (c)Urban Floods--Urbanization INCREASES water runoff 2 to 6 times over what would occur on natural terrain. As land is converted from fields of woodlands to roads and parking lots, it loses its ability to ABSORB WATER. During periods of urban flooding, streets can become swift moving rivers. (d)Flash Flooding---a SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED rush of water; caused by SLOW-MOVING thunderstorms, thunderstorms repeatedly moving over the same area, or heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms. --Occasionally, floating debris or ice can ACCUMULATE at a natural or man-made obstruction and restrict the flow of water, causing flooding upstream and subsequently flash flooding will result downstream when the obstruction is removed.

"Turn Around, Don't Drown"

***when other vehicles are present, watch what they are doing, and remember two vehicles should NOT meet in deep water; one vehicle should go through BEFORE the next vehicle starts regardless of the direction the vehicle is traveling<<<reduces the possibility of your engine stalling caused by waves created by the other vehicle you are passing or following --Trip through deep water<<<slow and steady speed; if the water is LOWER than the bottom of your vehicle but over the rim of your tires, drive through using LOW GEAR on the HIGHEST SECTION of the roadway and try to stay AWAY FROM THE SHOULDER --Applying the brakes gently with the LEFT FOOT at the SAME TIME as you accelerate may help keep the breaks DRY! --Always check your brakes after leaving deep water to see if they stop slowly and evenly. --Wet brakes may grab and pull to ONE SIDE. If this happens, dry them by ACCELERATING SLOWLY for a few seconds while LIGHTLY holding down the brake pedal

EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS:

**Under normal weather conditions, situations arise that challenge a driver's ability to control a vehicle. These challenges can be both hazardous and difficult. .But if a driver encounters similar situations under "extreme weather conditions," they now become EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!

Reduced Illumination

-An inexperienced novice driver will also find it difficult in these conditions to determine size, color, distance, and speed of objects ahead--making stopping within the distance lighted by your headlights much more challenging. Whenever visibility is reduced, a driver will need time to: ---identify hazards EARLY and scan around the POT to the target area, and ----scan the road BEYOND the lighted zone. (If you only scan the lighted zone, you can adjust only to that zone and may not notice clues that would warn you of a hazard ahead.

Ability to adjust to glare conditions:

-To avoid being blinded by the headlights of ONCOMING vehicles, reduce speed and look to the RIGHT-HAND SIDE of the road; making brief glances ahead to monitor your POT .To avoid being blinded by headlights of FOLLOWING vehicles, use CONTEMPORARY MIRROR SETTINGS, adjust your inside mirror to the "NIGHT" setting

Dust and Sand storms SAFETY MEASURES:

. if dense dust is observed blowing across or approaching a roadway, pull your vehicle to off the pavement as far as possible. Stop, turn off lights, set the emergency brake, take your foot off the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated and turn on your hazard flashes .don't enter the dust storm area if you can avoid it .if you cannot pull off the roadway, proceed at a speed suitable for visibility, turn on lights and sound horn occasionally. use the painted center line to help guide you. look for a safe place to pull off the roadway .never stop on the traveled portion of the roadway .wait in your vehicle until the storm passes .as soon as you can after the storm, have your vehicle serviced. dirt particles may be in the oil and air filters

Gathering Information (Searching):

.90 PERCENT of a driver's ability to identify risks depends on vision --At night, visual acuity is limited, and the two major factors for night driving loss of visual acuity are (a).reduced illumination and (b).glare

Rain:

.A vehicle equipped with (a)good tires, (b)brakes, and wipers (c) can usually be driven safely in the rain. But drivers should NOT assume good equipment ALONE guarantees vehicle traction control. .Heavy rains not only limit visibility, but may also flood roads, and overwhelm the ability of the ties to channel water

HEADLIGHTS-passed or being passed:

.Before passing (approximately 600 feet) the driver passing may flash his/her headlights to warn the other drivers .Drive with LOW beams on .When two vehicles are side by side, the PASSING driver may switch to high beams, and the driver BEING PASSED to low beams

Nighttime Precautionary Measures:

.Clean windshield INSIDE and OUT: a diffused light gives an appearance of a HALO around the headlights of oncoming vehicles. .Clean ALL lights: 50 to 90 PERCENT loss of headlight efficiency is due to ROAD GRIME on lens .Reduce daytime speed .Increase following interval .Look to the RIGHT of oncoming vehicles.

In all 3 bad weather situations:

.Continue to reduce speed to limits imposed by visibility, but do NOT stop in the TRAVEL LANE or ON THE SHOULDER (for snow conditions, look for an exit from the highway, turn on the radio and tune into a weather report. When it is impossible to leave the highway, stop BEYOND the guardrail. If you have a cell phone and it is functioning, call and check on road conditions) .Turn headlights to LOW beam .Turn on emergency flashers .Maintain lane position 1 .Turn on windshield wipers (snow and smoke may require use of windshield WASHER FLUID)

Driving through deep water:

.Each year, more deaths occur due to FLOODING than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. Why? Main reason--people UNDERESTIMATE the force and power of the water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, BUT TOO MANY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DRIVE AROUND THE BARRIERS THAT WARN YOU THE ROAD IS FLOODED.

Pedestrian Safety:

.If you MUST walk on a dark roadway due to vehicle breakdown or any other reason, carry a white HANDKERCHIEF or wear light clothing. .If possible, wear reflective clothing if you must be on or near a road at night. Having reflective stripes also increases your chances of being seen. <<<<<<Remember>>>>> .DO NOT wear DARK CLOTHES .CARRYING A HANDKERCHIEF increases your chances of being seen on the road .WEARING STRIPES also increases your chances of being seen .At the most, wear RETRO-REFLECTIVE MATERIAL

Driver's need to be alert and drive with caution:

.Keep the vehicle's windshield clear, use your wipers and put your defroster on high .Use your LOW beam headlights to see and be seen .Slow down to compensate for reduced visibility .Heavy rain or heavy fog may reduce your visibility to a level where it is unsafe to drive. So, pull off the road and sit out the storm in a safe location.

What YOU can do:

.Know you flood risk and elevation above flood stage. Do your local streams or rivers flood easily? If so, prepare to move to a place of safety. Know your evacuation routes. Keep your automobile fueled; if electric power is cut off, gas stations may not be able to operate pumps for several days. Store drinking water in clean bathtubs and in various containers water service may be interrupted. Keep a stock of food that requires LITTLE COOKING and no refrigeration; electric power may be interrupted. Keep first aid supplies on hand. Keep a NOAA Weather Radio, a battery-powered portable radio, emergency cooking equipment, and flashlights in working order. Install check valves in building sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.

PROPERLY aligned LOW-BEAMS

.Lights should be adjusted so that they illuminate the roadway 100 to 150 feet ahead, and light the area 300 to 500 feet above the roadway .LOAD DISTRIBUTION and VEHICLE HEIGHT effect LIGHT BEAM DISTANCE .Maximum safe speed illuminated by low beam headlights is 40 TO 45 MPH

PROPERLY ALIGNED HIGH-BEAMS:

.Lights should be adjusted so that they illuminate the roadway 300 TO 500 FEET ahead, and light the area 500 TO 1800 FEET ABOVE THE ROAD

Interesting Facts (Rainbow Bridge):

.Located in Bridge City, Orange County. Clearing the Neches River at approximately 176 feet, the steel structure was the tallest highway bridge in the SOUTH upon its completion. Today, the Veterans Memorial Bridge serves northbound traffic and the Rainbow Bridge serve southbound traffic.

Glare

.Many drivers think glare as the sun's rays shining directly into their windshields, but glare can also impair a driver's vision at night---except, the cause is not from the sun but headlights from approaching vehicles. Sources of glare include: .Oncoming and following vehicle headlights .High beam headlights .Misaligned headlights .Improperly loaded vehicles .Dirty windshield .Paper on Dashboard .Snow-covered landscape .Facing the sun at dawn or dusk .Flashing neon signs .Flood lights on buildings next to the roadway .Traditional versus contemporary side mirror settings

Follow these safety rules:

.Monitor the NOAA Weather Radio, or your favorite news source for vital weather related information .If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc .Avoid areas already flooded, especially if the water is flowing fast. Do Not attempt to cross following streams "Turn Around. Don't Drown" .Road beds may be washed out under flood waters. NEVER drive through flooded roadways. "Turn Around Don't Drown" if your vehicle is suddenly caught in rising, leave it immediately and seek higher ground. .Do NOT camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions .Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers

Snow:

.Not only will it reduce your visibility, but it will also produce DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TRACTION as you drive .When fresh snow falls, vehicle traction may be fairly good. But as traffic packs the snow (especially at INTERSECTIONS) tire traction is reduced because roads become more slippery. .Temperatures may rise, and tire heat or hot exhaust may cause the snow to melt and then freeze again making dangerous icy road conditions

BEFORE entering HEAVY FOG be prepared to:

.Reduce speed but do not stop in a travel line .turn on emergency flashers .look for an exit from the highway .leave the highway, or stop beyond the end of the guardrail, back up to the inside of the outboard of the guardrail, turn off all lights and wait for the fog to lift

DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE:

.Safe driving requires you to have good tire contact with the road (traction). But when snow and ice are between your tires and the road there is a lot less tire grip on the road surface resulting in a LIMITED VEHICLE CONTROL. <<<<<<Whatever the situation --smooth ice, packed, or blowing or loose snow --you need to be very careful

Heavy Smoke, Rain, or Snow: Mother Nature can be VERY unpredictable....

.Smoke is EVIDENT ahead--billows of smoke and ash from a large brush fire suddenly cover the roadway making it difficult to see .It's sprinkling--a few moments later, rain falls in sheets, slashing across the roadway .Snow is falling in large lazy flakes---Two miles down on the road, there is a whiteout and visibility is reduced to inches <<Brush fires are restricted to a LIMITED AREA and torrential rains are of SHORT DURATION. <<A snow storm-induced whiteout could cover a MUCH GREATER AREA

If your vehicle begins to hydroplane:

.Take your foot OFF OF THE accelerator .Do NOT BRAKE(!!), and, if possible, AVOID steering changes .Hold the steering wheel firmly until your tires grip the road again

High-Beam Headlights:

.Used on highways when no other vehicle is approaching within 500 feet. .If the high-beams of an oncoming care are NOT dimmed, avoid looking directly at the bright lights. .Glance toward the side of the road, then look quickly ahead to determine the vehicle' position. Keep doing this until you have passed the other vehicle. .Even though the other driver does not dim his headlights, do NOT retaliate by turning on YOUR high-beam headlights

Why does a vehicle float and drift in as little as a foot or two of water?

.Water weighs 62.4 pounds PER cubic foot and typically flows downstream at 6 to 12 miles an hour .When a vehicle stalls in water, the water's momentum is transferred to the cat. For each foot the water rises, 500 LBS of LATERAL FORCE is applied to the car. .The biggest factor is BUOYANCY. For each foot the water rises up to the side of the car, the car displaces 1,500 LBS of water. In effect, the car loses 1,500 lbs of for each foot the water rises. *****TWO FEET OF WATER WILL CARRY AWAY MOST AUTOMOBILES*****

Fog

.When driving in fog, your vehicle's headlights will be reflected back off the water particles in the fog, making it difficult for you to see. ---Your ability to see can be even further reduced if you use your vehicle's high-beam headlights <<<<Fog Reflects Light: Whenever driving in fog you must drive at a speed that PERMITS YOU to stop within an area lighted by your headlights. As a rule, low beams are more "EFFICIENT" in fog because they "reflect LESS light back at the driver." <<<<<Driving in Fog: Persons involved in multi-vehicle crashes in fog often state that they had "driven through patches of light, drifting fog, and had continued to travel at the prevailing speed of traffic." Suddenly you may find it impossible to see and braking hard only to run into a stopped vehicle in the road ahead or to be rear-ended

The CORRECT response as soon as you become AWARE of DRIFTING FOG should be:

.reduce speed .make sure headlights are on low beam to reduce reflected glare (day or night) .turn on windshield wipers .turn on defroster or AC (air conditioner) to dissipate moisture on the windshield

Low Water Crossings

.results from prolonged heavy rainfall .Don't let "Low" fool you! These conditions are very dangerous, especially "flash flood conditions" "Turn Around, Don't Drown"

Hot Weather:

.switch to a motor oil with higher velocity-- MOTOR OIL plays an important role in KEEPING THE ENGINE COOL, so check oil level and condition. .heat can be as tough on vehicle batteries as the cold weather. batteries MORE THAN 2 YEARS OLD should be TESTED BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN to make sure they have starting power to handle the stress of extreme temperatures .Inspect antifreeze/coolant level and condition, to make sure the proper 50/50 mixture of WATER and COOLANT is present .if your car overheats, NEVER attempt to REMOVE the RADIATOR CAP until the engine has COOLED. coolant in the radiator is under pressure and the steam released when you remove the cap can cause severe burns .check brake fluid level and condition. it is ESSENTIAL to maintain PROPER LEVEL and FLUID FREE contaminants to ensure reliable hot-weather braking .check the performance of the A.C (air conditioning system). if needed, have it serviced by a qualified technician .other under-the-hood components such as belts and hoses are also stressed by extreme heat and should be regularly inspected. Be sure the vehicle engine is turned off before inspecting these items .since even the best maintained vehicles can break down, motorists should equip their vehicles with emergency kits containing the following items; container of water, flashlight with extra batteries, warning devices such as flares or reflective triangles, jumper cables and a first-aid kit .because temperatures inside parked cars can quickly reach dangerous levels, never leave children or animals unattended in a car--not even for a short period of time .when parked, use a sun shield to cover the windshield to minimize that build-up and to help protect the car's interior. cover the metal and plastic parts on seat belts and child safety seats to prevent burns .open the vehicle's doors and let the interior cool for a few minutes before entering

Be EXTRA careful during the first HALF HOUR (first 30 minutes) AFTER rain begins:

<<<<<grime and oil on the road surface will mix with water to make the road surface slippery

In wet roadway conditions......

<<<<be careful passing or being passed by TRUCKS as water from the roadway will spray from the truck's tires onto your vehicle, limiting your visibility

Check the water depth:

<<<<before you attempt to cross a roadway that is flooded, try to look for items that will help you estimate how deep the water is, such as, fence posts, fire hydrants, parked cars or other objects along the roadside.

However (in snow conditions):

<<<It is advisable to wear DARK CLOTHING to create a CONTRAST

Snow, ice, and extreme cold:

<<<can make driving treacherous .as temp. drops and the weather gets colder, an added strain is put on your engine, especially when it is started. --Battery will have less power; the engine is forced to work harder to reach normal operating temps. because engine oil, transm. fluid, and other lubricants all tend to be the thicker. **BEFORE winter arrives, have your car TUNED UP! .Check the level of antifreeze, the battery and your tire tread, or put on snow tires.

ACCELERATE GENTLY...

<<<if you accelerate too quickly, the drive wheels will spin and loose contact with the road .INCREASE YOUR FOLLOWING DISTANCE. Allow a much larger space between your cat and the vehicle ahead. Stay far enough behind other vehicles so you only have to brake when ABSOLUTLEY necessary

Before you start driving:

<<<remove snow and ice from your entire car, INCLUDING the roof, hood and rear of the vehicle .Be sure to clear all of your windows, side view mirrors, and front and rear lights of snow and ice so you can see and be able to communicate with other drivers .EQUIP YOUR CAR with all-weather snow tires or chains to INCREASE tire traction, prevent skidding and improve stopping distance

Desert Driving:

<<a combination of extrem. hot temps and isolation make desert regions a DANGEROUS place to drive especially during the summer months ----When attempting to drive across a desert region, remember that deserts are often a lot larger and hotter than you may realize and that this heat will affect the vehicle, occupants and the road condition.

Night SPEED LIMIT:

>>>Driving at 55-65 MPH on a freeway in adverse conditions with low visibility is a DANGER to everyone and may lead to an officer to charge you with DANGEROUS DRIVING ( EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT!!!) .As soon as visibility of traction is reduced, the law requires that your "speed should be adapted to conditions" .On roadways where visibility is reduced, night speed limits may be posted to help alert drivers to potential dangers .Whenever you are driving on a roadway at night and you have difficulty seeing, SLOW DOWN, adjust your speed even if it is BELOW THE POSTED LIMIT

Overdriving your headlights

>>>occurs when the vehicle's speed is GREATER than the STOPPING DISTANCE lighted by the headlights. .To determine whether you are overdriving your headlights, select an object the moment the headlights pick it up, and count off SIX SECONDS. If you have passed it, you are driving too fast .The posted speed limits are calculated for daylight driving and are often TOO FAST FOR NIGHTTIME CONDITIONS. .Dirty headlights and improper headlight alignment will also add to this problem.

Novice drivers...(mistakes)

>>often overdrive their headlights mistakenly believing that "as long as they drive the posted speed limit they will be able to determine the size, speed, and distance of objects"

DO NOT USE _________ ON SLIPPERY ROADWAYS!

Cruise control

If the water comes up to the bottom of the vehicle....

DO NOT PROCEED!!

Sand Storms and Dust Storms:

Dust Storm or Sand Storm warning= "visibility of 1/2 mile or less due to blowing dust or sand, and wind speeds 30 miles an hour or more. .takes suddenly in form of an advancing wall of dust and debris that can be miles and several thousands of feet high .Both strike with little warning, making driving conditions hazardous. .blinding, choking dust can quickly reduce visibility, causing crashes that may involve chain collisions, creating massive pile ups. .Storms usually last a few minutes, but the actions a motorist takes during the storm may signif. impact his/her life

Facts about WATER:

Flowing water is very DECEPTIVE; difficult to tell exactly how deep the water is before you enter the stream. --Although vehicles are heavy and stable on dry ground, they can become very "buoyant" and float easily in as little as a foot of water. ---Your vehicle can be swept away BEFORE you realize you are in trouble. --Remember, before becoming stranded, those drivers ALL THOUGHT the water was SHALLOW ENOUGH for them to make it across

Braking distances at 20 mph with conventional tires on different pavement conditions:

Glare Ice= 150 feet Packed Snow= 60 feet Wet= 25 feet Dry= 20 feet

Nearly _____ of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle related. <<<In severe rainstorms, watch for flooding at highways, dips, bridges, and low areas>>>>

HALF(!)

Visibility Limitations in Bad Weather:

Major challengers for drivers: (a)loss of traction (b) reduced visibility

Effects of Heat

ON vehicle occupants: --SAMENESS OF SCENERY can lull a driver into a trance-like state---creating a FALSE SENSE of security. --Glare from intense sunlight can reduce vision <<<<<To counter these effects: .Wear UV ray reducing sunglasses to minimize the effects of glare .Make frequent stops and change driver often .Carry an adequate supply of water ON the vehicle .Extended desert driving requires frequent vehicle service .Battery fluids should be checked daily if you do not have a sealed battery .Radiator fluid levels should be checked at every fuel stop. (NEVER remove a hot radiator-cap--steam and hot fluids can SERIOUSLY BURN YOU!) .Check tire pressure regularly (pressure in the tires will increase you as you drive--never reduce the tire pressure LOWER than the manufacturer's RECOMMENDED pressure).

Hydroplanning:

One of the dangers of driving in heavy rain is the vehicle's tires may LOSE ALL CONTACT WITH THE ROAD'S SURFACE .Water control can be COMPRESSED .Tires push water ahead until, at a certain speed, a tongue of water is formed in front of the contact area. When this occurs, the tires are LIFTED and ride on a layer of rolling molecules of water. This is called "Hydroplanning"

Some of the most common problems from driving through water is having your vehicle _______ of a stalled engine or hitting a hidden pothole that damages your vehicle. ----If at all possible, avoid driving in deep water

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Leading cause of death during winter storms is _______

TRANSPORTATION CRASHES --experienced and novice drivers alike can find their skills tested by cold temps. brought by winter cond. ---extem. cold temps, winter storms and gusting winds do not happen WITHOUT ANY WARNING! Weather forecasts on TV and radio will OFTEN warn you WELL IN ADVANCE of the approaching conditions. --Knowing when and where a storm will hit does not mean it is safe to drive --winter storms are UNPREDICTABLE, with many unexpected hazards such as slippery and icy roads, white-out conditions resulting in little or no visibility for the driver. Any or all of these conditions can catch even the most experienced driver off-guard.

Driving In Heavy Fog:

Thick fog, and in some situations heavy smoke, produces dangerous driving conditions. The HEAVIER the fog, the more RESTRICTED your field of vision will be. Visibility is reduced to the point that driving safely is impossible

Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, "___________" You will NOT know the depth of the water nor will you know the condition of the road under the water

Turn Around Don't Drown

Hot Temperatures:

Vehicles are designed to operate in a large variety of temperatures, from very hot hot to extremely cold---but it does NOT mean problems will not arise .Hot or cold temperatures place special demands on a vehicle's tires; radiator coolant; hoses; connections; and drive belts .To help deal with hot and cold temperatures, vehicles are equipped with a cooling system for hot temperatures and a heating system for cold. But in extreme conditions, engine problems may occur;

MAINTAIN AN OPEN LOS AND POT

Visibility will be REDUCED in blosing snow or on snow covered roads. Use extra effort to watch for ice, especially on BRIDGES (*BRIDGES freeze BEFORE the other road surfaces) and in shaded areas GIVE YOURSELF ROOM TO STOP: when approaching signs, signals and intersections. You can easily get involved in a conflict if your vehicle begins to slide because of packed snow or ice. Slow down before stopping to turning, and apply the brakes gently

Note (sunglasses):

You should NEVER attempt to compensate for headlight glare by wearing sunglasses. At night, or in other low light conditions the use of such glasses will further REDUCE visual acuity.

Keep the following emergency gear at all times:

cell phone flashlight jumper cables sand or kitty litter (for traction) ice scraper, snow brush, and small shovel blankets warning devices (e.g flares, reflectors)

ADVERSE WEATHER AND REDUCED VISIBILITY CONDITIONS:

cmv

Visibility

deals with limitations placed on gathering and processing information when driving at night due to factors of reduced illumination and the ability of the eyes to adjust to glare.

Visibility:

depends on ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS BEYOND the control of the vehicle operator. .While many of these conditions limit visibility, additional traction and vehicle control problems are associated with (a) rain, and (b) snow in gusting or continuous high wind conditions. .In contrast, fog and smoke settles over the roadway in a VIRTUAL BLANKET, limiting light distance

Rain-spattered windows make it especially _______ to see other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas:

difficult

Doing too much on a hot day, spending time in the sun, or staying to long in an overheated vehicle can cause ________

heat-related illnesses ---To avoid developing these illnesses, drink a lot of water, learn the symptoms of heat disorders and overexposure to the sun, and be ready to administer first-aid treatments

Our eyes adjust very quickly to _____ but very slowly to _______

light; darkness --When our eyes are struck by powerful lights from oncoming cars, they adjust reasonably quickly to this light change. ----But when there is a LIMITED source, our eyes are much slower to adjust to these darker conditions

During threatening weather.....

listen to commercial radio or television or NOAA Weather Radio for dust and/or sand storm warnings

SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUR SPEED!

on snow-covered or icy roads. --Execute all maneuvers slowly and smoothly to avoid disrupting vehicle balance and causing your tires to skid. --Whenever you feel the drive wheels start to slip, IMMEDIATELY EASE OFF OF ON THE GAS PEDAL until traction returns

Driving in Heavy Rain will _______ your ability to "see" and "be seen" by other motorists

reduce

Turn your headlights on anytime you have difficulty seeing other vehicles. If you have trouble seeing them....

they are probably having trouble seeing you

At twilight, when the sun begins to fade......

turn your headlights ON to make your vehicle visible to others. --Texas law requires you to "use your headlights from one-half our after sunrise and when you cannot see clearly for at least 1,000 feet such as during inclement weather, such as rain, fog, or snow" ---(SOME STATES require you to use your headlights whenever you use your windshield wipers)

Some drivers' eyes are _______ to adjust to darkness. These drivers should _______ drive at night

unable; not --NO CORRECTIVE LENSES EXIST to help the driver's eyes compensate for low-light

Before beginning ANY trip, know the current ______ and _____

weather forecast; road conditions

Low Beam Headlights:

when driving in CITIES and TOWNS (except on streets where there is no lighting) switch to low-beams. ----Whenever you are within 500 feet of oncoming traffic, switch to low beams to avoid blinding the other driver. --When following another vehicle, use low beams whenever you are 300 FEET of the vehicle ahead.