Sesh 22 Adjusting Speed / Road Conditions, + 23 Winter Driving

Road Conditions

Slow down before: sharp curves, when the roadway is slippery, or there is standing water on the road. Tires do not have as much traction on gravel or dirt roads as compared to asphalt or concrete. On gravel or dirt, slow down. It'll take longer to stop and it is much easier to skid.

Slippery Roads

Slow down in rain, snow, or sleet. These make the road slippery and the tires do not grip as well as compared to dry roads. Reduce your speed by about 10 mph during rain. On packed snow, cut your speed in half. On ice, slow to a crawl. If possible, just don't drive when the roads are icy. -shady spots can be icy on a cold, wet day. They freeze easily + dry out last. -Overpasses and bridges can have icy spots, even when other pavement isnt icy. It's b/c they dont have the earth beneath it as insulation. -W/ temp around freezing point, ice can become wet. It's more slippery than at colder temps. -If it rains on a hot day, pavement can become slippery. Heat causes oil in asphalt to come to the surface. It's slippery until the oil is washed off.

Adjusting Speed

The faster your vehicle is going, the more distance it will take to turn, slow, or stop.

Tires

The only contact your vehicle has with the road is through the tires. How good the tires grip the road depends on the type and condition of the tires, and the type and condition of the road surface. It is important that your tires be in good condition and have enough air in them. See your vehicle owner's manual for correct tire pressure.

Water on the Roadway

Tires have good traction on wet roads to about 35 mph. When the tires ride up on the water it's called "hydroplaning". In heavy rain, tires lose all traction with the road at about 50 mph. Wide tires or tires in poor condition will lose traction at much slower speeds. The best way to keep from hydroplaning is to slow down when the roads are wet. If you feel like your tires lost traction with the surface of the road, you should: -ease off the gas pedal -keep the wheels straight, only turn in emergency. if you do turn, do it slowly (or you might skid) -don't try to stop or turn until your tires are gripping the road again

Slow moving traffic

Watch for large trucks and small cars on steep grades or when they are entering traffic. They can lose speed on long or steep uphill climbs and it takes longer for them to get up to speed when they enter traffic. Farm tractors, animal drawn vehicles, road way maintenance vehicles usually drive 25 mph or less and have a SMV sign on the back. Bicyclists should have reflectors or lights on their bikes. Be especially watchful for bikes without those.

Entering Traffic

When you merge w/ traffic, try to enter at the same speed traffic is moving. High-speed road ways usually have ramps to give you time to build up your speed. use the ramp to reach the speed of other drivers before merging. Don't drive to the end of the ramp and stop or you won't have enough room to get to the speed of traffic. Drivers behind you wouldn't expect you to stop which could cause a rear-end collision. If you have to wait for space on the roadway, slow down on the ramp to have room to speed up before merging. You must yield to traffic already on the moving road way.

QUIZZ

https://gyazo.com/a22323e4d12ecb1fc35d817fbde11236 https://gyazo.com/1c17caf2ce541123c74a6e71347ada50

QUIZ

https://gyazo.com/df63e1f6cb6d3d345da5c69c3c65df60 https://gyazo.com/ea4955501236f581bd922dfce0d872cd

Trouble Spots

spots where traffic is heavy, you have limited room to move. You likely will have to drive with a reduced speed. -shopping centers, parking lots, downtown areas: busy areas w/ vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles. -rush hours: there is often heavy traffic w/ drivers in a hurry. -narrow bridges/tunnels: vehicles approaching are forced closer together. -toll plazas: vehicles are changing lanes + preparing to stop, and then speeding up again. the number of lanes could change both before and after the plaza. -schools, playgrounds, residential streets: these often have children present. Watch for children crossing the street, running, or riding into the street w/o looking. -railroad crossings: make sure no trains are coming and you have room to cross. Some are bumpy so you need to slow down to cross safely.

Adjusting to Traffic

-Crashes involving 2+ vehicles usually happens when drivers go faster or slower than other vehicles. -Keep pace with traffic. If you're driving faster than others, you need to keep passing others. Each time you pass, there is a greater chance of collision. -Going slower than other vehicles is just as dangerous as speeding. You can be ticketed for impeding traffic. It makes vehicles bunch up behind you and other traffic to pass. If vehicles line up behind you, pull over when you can do so safely and let them pass. Drive faster or use a road with slower speeds.

Winter Driving

-First is the worst. Go slow, increase following distance, and drive defensively -Go slow. Drive well below the speed limit. Posted limits are intended for summer months on dry pavement. Avoid sudden, sharp turns and use light braking. -Plan ahead, leave earlier than needed, and stay home if conditions are too bad. -Use your head, use your feet. Don't use cruise control on slippery roads. -Turn on your headlights. To prevent glare, don't use high beams during a night storm. -WEAR SEAT BELTS. -Give snow plows room. Slow down and give them at least 200 feet of distance behind them when the red or amber lights are on.

Curves

Going too fast in a curve makes it more difficult for the tires to grip the road and the vehicle will skid. Slow down before entering a curve because if you brake, your car will also skid.

Leaving Traffic

Keep up with the speed of traffic as long as you are on the main road. If the road you are traveling has exit ramps, don't slow down until you move to the exit ramp. When you turn from a high speed, two-lane road way, try not to slow down too early if you have traffic following you. Tap your brakes quickly but safely and reduce your speed.