Drivers ED

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT

All these lights are different types of "check engine" lights. If there is a problem with your engine, a version of this light will turn on. You should get your vehicle checked by a mechanic as soon as possible. There is something seriously wrong when this light goes on.

WHAT IS MANUAL TRANSMISSION?

As you've learned, you need to put the car into the DRIVE gear and press the gas pedal in order to move forward. Cars that work this way are what we call "automatic transmission vehicles" because the transmission automatically works with the engine as you press the gas pedal. In the United States, most modern cars have an automatic transmission. But some older cars have a "manual transmission." Manual transmission vehicles need the DRIVER to help the transmission work with the engine. Manual transmissions are sometimes called "stick shifts" or "standard" transmissions. Drivers of manual transmission vehicles need to plan their maneuvers farther in advance because they need to shift gears to adapt to changing road conditions.

uninsured motorist coverage

In a perfect situation, the other driver's insurance would cover the damages of the crash if it was their fault. But if they don't have insurance, you might be stuck with the responsibility of paying for some of the damages - even though it wasn't your fault! In Wisconsin, you're required to have uninsured motorist insurance of $25,000 for injuries per person and $50,000 for total injuries per accident.

WITHOUT ABS BRAKES

If you're driving a vehicle that doesn't have ABS brakes, you can imitate the effect of ABS brakes by pumping the brake pedal up and down. This imitates the pulsing ABS brakes. Apply pressure and release, over and over, until you have stopped. It's very important to know if the vehicle you're driving has ABS brakes or not because if you slam on your brakes without ABS, you will cause the car to skid! Have you ever heard someone say "Whoa, pump the brakes?" Well, this is where the term comes from!

BROKEN SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT

If you're ever driving in very bad weather and this light DOESN'T come on, it might mean that your traction control system isn't working, and you might want to consider taking it to a mechanic. However, you probably shouldn't be driving in bad weather anyway! Unless you absolutely have to, it's always better to stay home until driving conditions become safer. This is the very best traction control system!

ODOMETER

The little box below the speedometer is the odometer. It can be a digital screen or a mechanical dial. The numbers next to the "O-D-O" show how many miles the car has traveled since it was made. In this case, the car has traveled a total of 998,665 miles. That's a lot of miles! But that's just for a fun picture. Usually, cars start to die after a few hundred thousand. If you're car is experiencing lots of technical problems, and the odometer reads a few hundred thousand miles, it might be time to look for a new car.

TEENS DRIVING WITH TEEN PASSENGERS

The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of newly licensed teen drivers. This risk increases with the number of teen passengers.

SPEEDOMETER

This is a speedometer. It's located on your dashboard directly in front of you as the driver. The big numbers represent miles, and the small inner circle numbers represent kilometers, in case you want to measure that way. If you press the gas pedal, the red needle will move to the number of miles per hour that the car is driving at that moment.

Getting a permit

Your FIRST proof of identity must be your social security card. Your SECOND proof can either be your original birth certificate OR your valid passport.

TEMPERATURE GAUGE

Your temperature gauge tells you how hot your vehicle's engine is. When you start your car, especially in the winter, the needle will be at the very bottom where it says C for Cold. But as the engine works for a little while, the needle will go up and arrive somewhere in the middle - not too hot or too cold.

1886

birthdate of car

Selden patent

everyone making cars must pay him.

dodge car

fifth

Voltzwagon

first people didn't't like it that they did

At night with probationary license

if it's between the hours of midnight and 5 am, and you are under 18 years old, you are driving to and from a recreational activity, and it's during the first 9 months of your probationary license, you MUST have an adult who is at least 21 years old and has held their license for at least 2 years sitting in the passenger seat next to you.

IID

ignition interlock device

drunk driving

in 2014 17% of accidents were drunk 16-20 year olds. illegal to drive if BAC is .08% or higher. Men more likely by 7,574 to 1,671. In 2014 209 kids 14 and under lost their live because of drunk driver. 30% of 21-24 year olds are a part of these accidents. 9% of drunk accidents happen during the day and 34% happen at night. 16% during the week 29% during the weekend. In 2014 1 drunk driving death happened every 53 minutes in US.

Driving is a privilege.

in 2017 40,000 people were killed.

Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler

internal combustion engine

OWI

operating while intoxicated

Charles Duryea

produced the first marketable automobile in US. sep. 20 1893 it was showed and two yours later he and his brother started company.

WEATHER AFFECTS DRIVING

According to the Federal Highway Administration's Road Weather Management Program research: "On average, there are over 5,760,000 vehicle crashes each year. Approximately 22% of these crashes - nearly 1,259,000 - are weather related." Also, "the vast majority of most weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement and during rainfall."

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND STATISTICS

According to the Wisconsin DOT: It's a fact: crossing a railroad is risky. A train and motor vehicle crash occurs about every 3 hours in the United States. As a motorist, you're 20 times more likely to die in a crash with a train than with other motor vehicles. An average of two fatalities occur each day because of a train hitting another vehicle or pedestrian. In the course of a year, that's more people than die in all airplane crashes in the country.

STEP 5: PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE

After all injuries are taken care of, you need to make sure no other crashes are going to happen as a result of your crash possibly blocking other traffic. If any vehicles are blocking traffic or in the middle of a street, and they CAN be moved (they are not totaled), move them out of the way - onto a shoulder or side street if possible. Turn all vehicles off. Do NOT stand around near the roadway. Stay as far away from the roadway as possible. Use cones or flares on the roadway if possible to warn other drivers to be cautious.

STEP 3: AID THE OTHERS

After you and and your passengers are taken care of, get out of your car and ask if the other driver is okay. This is why it's a good idea to have first aid materials in your car in an emergency kit. If there are minor cuts or bumps, you can take care of them right away. However, If you think someone has suffered a head or neck injury, or if you think there are any broken bones, DO NOT move them! CALL 911! Only move an injured person if there's danger of a fire or another crash close by.

ford cars

15 million cars built 1908-1926. soon made one thousand a day. first

Statistics

15-24-year-olds represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males ($19 billion) and 28% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females ($7 billion). The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, 16-19-year-old drivers are nearly three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than drivers 20 years old and older.

How old must you be to get your regular license?

18

SAFETY CONCERNS

3-point turns can be dangerous. To perform this maneuver, your vehicle will be across the road and possibly blocking traffic. You're also at a higher risk of driving off the road. Keep your foot on the brake as much as you can - just like when you do a reversing maneuver - and go SLOWLY! Only use the gas pedal if you absolutely have to. Change gears BEFORE you turn the steering wheel. This will prevent you from going the wrong direction by mistake. Check for traffic around you every time you change gears so you don't hit anyone or anything. Don't worry if other drivers honk their horn at you during this maneuver. If you try to hurry, you could drive off the road.

AFTER THE TURN

After you make a turn, double check that your turn signal is off. If it stays on, others might think you plan on turning again. Remember, many cars have signals that automatically turn off when you complete a turn, but if your car doesn't do this, you'll have to cancel it yourself by bringing the directional control lever to its default position. Also, wait until after your turn is complete before making any lane changes.

DASHBOARD CHECK

After you turn the ignition to the ON position, check the gauges and warning lights on your dashboard. As was mentioned in a past lesson, all your dashboard lights will briefly come on when you start your car, but you should only worry about the lights that STAY on. Concerning your gauges, ask these questions: Is my gas gauge telling me I need more fuel? Is my temperature or tachometer gauge telling me my engine is overworking? Is my odometer telling me I need an oil change?

DRIVING AS YOU AGE

Aging effects everyone differently. After living for 40, 50, or 60 years, some people gradually lose sight or hearing, or you might have illnesses that require medication that can effect driving. Eventually, our reaction time decreases, and decision-making can be damaged. One day, you may be required by law to turn in your license if your body has significantly deteriorated. It is important to get your vision and hearing checked yearly, especially as you get older. Vision and hearing are key factors for driving. Take good care of yourself as you get older so you can drive for a long time. When you begin driving and you notice a senior citizen on the road, be courteous. Understand that they are facing different challenges as they age, and these same challenges will soon be faced by your grandparents, your parents and eventually you! Show respect to senior drivers. Don't tailgate, cut them off, or honk at them unnecessarily. Treat them the same way you would like to be treated. And actually, that rule goes for any driver you meet on the road!

ICE ON BRIDGE

Bridges and overpasses are always more slippery than other places in icy and snowy conditions. They will be the first places to freeze and the last places to melt - even if other roads are fine. These warning signs are often placed before bridges to remind you to be careful while crossing them in bad weather.

BROWN = RECREATION

Brown signs indicate activity locations that might interest you, such as camping sites parks historical areas hiking trails picnic areas fishing and swimming areas unique restaurants If you find you need a good rest along your drive, you might find these spots helpful for unwinding. These brown signs might have words, or they might have a picture.

PROBATIONARY LICENSE POINTS

But here's the really bad news: A speeding ticket worth 3 points is only worth 3 points for someone who holds a REGULAR driver's license. But if you hold a probationary license, those points will be DOUBLED on your record after the first offense. It doesn't matter how old you are or how long you've had your probationary license or your permit. You will have the potential of losing your driving privilege at a much faster rate than someone who has a regular driver's license. Let's say you have your probationary license and get your very first ticket. You will get those same 3 points like everyone else (as an example). But if you do something else that gets you a second ticket...let's say that ticket is worth 2 points for a regular license holder...YOU will be given 4 points! If you get 6 points within a 12 month period, you will receive a warning letter. If you get at least 12 points within a 12 month period, your driving privileges will be suspended or revoked. With the double-points system, you will reach 12 points much sooner!

BICYCLISTS

By law, you must give 3 feet of space when passing bicyclists. This means that you might have to move closer to the left side of your lane to give them the room they need. Be aware of children on bicycles since they may be learning how to ride a bike and may have difficulty controlling their ride.

WHEN TO USE A TURN SIGNAL

By law, you must signal 100 feet before your intended turn. That's about 3 seconds before your turn. One exception to this 100-foot rule is if there are streets, driveways, or entrances between you and where you want to turn. Wait until you have passed them to signal as best as you can. Another exception to this 100-foot rule is if you need to pass through another intersection before turning. If this is the case, wait until you have cleared the first intersection before you signal.

HOV LANES: METERED RAMPS

Certain vehicles can use the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on the ramp to bypass ramp meters. HOV lanes are for any vehicle with two or more people inside. Some HOV lanes are designed for motorcycles, buses, and emergency vehicles. If you're traveling alone, you can be ticketed for using the HOV lane. Whoever uses the HOV lane must always obey normal traffic rules and regulations.

PRACTICE

DO NOT practice parallel parking around real cars. You are a new driver and mistakes can happen. Use garbage bins or cones until you feel comfortable and confident. Bumping into a car would be expensive, while cones and bins are cheaper and less likely to be permanently damaged. Make sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal the whole time. This will keep your speed down. Parallel parking often frustrates drivers, but the key is to move slowly and deliberately.

WHEN NOT TO USE A TURN SIGNAL

DO NOT signal too early! This would tell other drivers you plan to turn sooner than you actually want. DO NOT signal too late! This would tell other drivers you plan to turn later than you actually want. Both will confuse other drivers. Also, if another car is about to enter the street you're on from a street between you and where you plan to turn, WAIT until you have passed them to signal. If you signal earlier, the other driver may think you will turn before you reach them, and they could pull out in front of you.

PARKED CARS

Depending on how wide the road is, if there are parked cars on your right and oncoming traffic on your left, you might be able to just slow down and move a little bit to the left to avoid hitting the parked cars...even with oncoming traffic. However, if the road is very narrow, you might have to stop completely and let the oncoming traffic pass before moving to the left to get through. You must remain alert in this situation. If you can, try communicating with the other driver to let them know you're going to let them through first.

STEP 9: EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS

Depending on the severity of the crash, you may need eye witness reports. Get the names and phone numbers of any willing eye witnesses who actually saw what happened! Don't just grab people who happened to be nearby. If you called the police for a report of your crash, the police officers may collect witness reports themselves. at the scene for you.

BROKEN SIGNALS

Do you remember what happens if your directionals don't work? It's kind of like needing a flashlight to find a flashlight: you need to drive to the mechanic's shop to get your signals fixed, but you need your signals to drive to the mechanic's shop! Remember, there are standard hand signals drivers can use while driving with broken signals. You should not choose to use these hand signals instead of your directionals, but in this situation with broken signals, you need to know what to do in order to remain safe while driving.

THE PROBLEM WITH DOUBLE STACKING

Double stacking is NOT SAFE! If you pull up next to the vehicle already there on his RIGHT, you will block his view of oncoming traffic. If you pull up on his LEFT, you will block cars coming from the opposite direction. If you both drive onto the highway together, you could side-swipe each other. Although many people double-stack, it's very dangerous. In some states, you can even be ticketed. Just wait for the car ahead of you to leave. Note: You ARE ALLOWED to wait with another car in the median if you're going in the OPPOSITE direction of the car already there. That is NOT double stacking. That's exactly what the median is made for.

SKATEBOARDERS, ROLLERBLADERS AND SCOOTERS

Drivers are likely to come across road users on personal recreational vehicles like skateboards, roller blades or roller skates. Some major cities even have motorized personal scooters that pedestrians can rent to zip around town. It's important to be aware that these types of vulnerable road users can hide in your vehicle's blind spots or seemingly appear out of nowhere from behind a parked car or building. Always drive defensively, anticipating what other road users might do whenever possible.

DANGERS OF DAWN AND DUSK

Driving at dawn and dusk can be difficult. Wild animals are most active at these times. Be alert while driving in high deer population areas. If you're driving directly into the sunrise or sunset, you may get extreme sun glare even with sunglasses or sun visors. Drivers may be sleepy at dawn and dusk as well, so be prepared for distracted or angry drivers.

DANGERS OF NIGHT DRIVING

Driving at night limits your visibility. Some road signs may be hard to see, and it will also become harder to see pedestrians, animals, and other roadway hazards. Remember, by law, you must have your low beams on from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Don't ever "overdrive" your headlights. Overdriving your headlights means that you are going so fast that you can't stop inside the area your lights are shining. If you can't see far enough ahead to stop in time for an emergency, slow down.

DRIVING IN WINDY CONDITIONS

Driving in windy conditions can be stressful. You can feel the force of the wind on your vehicle, and it will be hard to keep your vehicle driving straight. It's very important that you keep both hands on the wheel to maintain control at ALL times, but it's ESPECIALLY important to do in windy conditions. Some areas of the country are more windy than others. Even if you don't live in a windy part of the country, you need to be prepared in case you ever travel through a windy place.

ONLY TWO WAYS

See the arrow marking in the center lane? This kind of ONLY arrow gives you two options. You may either go straight or make a left turn. You may NOT go in any direction unless there's an arrow telling you that direction is OK. In this picture, the car in the center lane may NOT go right. Sometimes, you'll see an ONLY-two-ways arrow show you that you can either go straight or right (not left). In other instances, you can only go right or left (not straight).

SHOULDERS

The "shoulder" of the road is the portion of pavement on the RIGHT side of your main driving lane. Sometimes, you'll have a solid white line to show you where the shoulder begins. Other times, there is no white line. In that case, the shoulder of the road begins where the pavement begins to slope downward toward the right and becomes jagged. Never drive regularly on the shoulder of the road even if it's wide enough for your vehicle.

WIDOT DISTRACTED DRIVING TIPS

In 2014, 22,194 vehicles crashed relating to distracted driving in Wisconsin, or 1 in 4 vehicles. Here are some tips from the WiDOT to avoid distractions while driving: Commit to driving safely and distraction-free NO MATTER WHAT. Turn off your phone or download an app to prevent incoming and outgoing messages, calls, and notifications while driving. Get passengers to help you avoid distractions. Speak up as a passenger if you see distracted driving. Pull over safely if you must address a distraction. Eat, groom, and organize before or after your drive. Hold each other accountable for keeping focus on driving.

Males

In 2016, the motor vehicle death rate for 16-19-year-old male drivers and passengers was two times more than for female drivers. Males between 15 and 20 years old who were involved in fatal crashes in 2016, 32% were speeding at the time of the crash, and 21% had been drinking

RED AND ORANGE

In SOME vehicles, red lights mean immediate danger, and orange lights mean the issue is important but not critical. Remember to consult your vehicle's owner manual to learn about all the safety features and warnings your car has. When you first start your car, many of the dashboard warning lights will turn on for a second or two. Don't freak out! Your car isn't having a meltdown. This just shows you that the lights are working. Only worry about the lights that STAY on.

WISCONSIN SPEED LIMITS

In Wisconsin, the following speed limits generally apply: 65-70 mph on freeways 55 mph on other freeways and all highways 35 mph in outlying parts of cities and villages 25 mph on residential and business streets 15 mph in school zones when children are present Some highways will have MINIMUM speed limits as well. Also, racing is NEVER allowed on public roads.

FOLLOWING DISTANCE: 4 SECONDS

In Wisconsin, vehicles must maintain at least 4 seconds of following distance. As you are traveling on a freeway, pick an object up ahead. When the car in front of you passes it, begin counting to 4: "One-thousand, two-thousand, three-thousand, four-thousand." If your vehicle passes the point you chose sooner than four-thousand, that means the vehicle in front of you is not 4 seconds ahead.

MULTI-LANE ROADS

In a city, you'll probably be on a road with more than one lane going in the same direction. This is called a multi-lane road. When traveling on multi-lane roads, you'll be going faster than you normally would in neighborhoods and on side streets. The MOST IMPORTANT THING you can do as you go faster is to scan the road constantly. Look side to side as well as 10-15 seconds ahead. Yes, it's important to keep both hands on the wheel and obey traffic laws, but LOOKING AHEAD is something that will particularly effect you as you go faster.

THE CLUTCH PEDAL

In a manual transmission car, there's a third pedal called a clutch. It's always next to the brake pedal. Remember how you always need to press the brake pedal in an automatic car before changing gears to Drive or Park or something? In a manual car, you always need to push the clutch pedal before changing gears to 1, 2, 3, and so on. With manual transmission, you need to change gears WHILE you're driving. That means that since you'll already be pressing the gas pedal with your right foot, you will need to use your LEFT foot to press the clutch pedal to change gears.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Transportation

In charge before USDT Najeeb Halaby, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency in 1965, was the one who first suggested to President Lyndon B. Johnson that affairs pertaining to transportation should be promoted to a cabinet-level position. Administration responsibilities, including budgeting, include the following categories: highway and traffic railroad maritime pipelines and hazardous materials motor carrier traffic public transit

THE SITUATION

In most cases, if there's a hazard on your LEFT, it will be oncoming traffic. There's rarely a case where it will be something else. In most cases, if there's a hazard on your RIGHT, it will be some sort of pedestrian - whether it's a pedestrian on a bike, a bicycle rider, or people walking down the street. However, the hazard could also be a parked car on the right or some other immovable object.

STREET NAMES

In neighborhoods and cities, you'll see lots of these little green road name signs. They will usually be placed at intersections to show you what the road names are for both intersecting streets. In some places, however, these street signs are actually black and white or blue and white. But for the most part, they are going to be green.

PASSING PEDESTRIANS

In neighborhoods, you will often see adults and children walking, running, or playing alongside the street. If they're on the sidewalk, keep an eye on them as you approach them to make sure they don't step into the street. If they're walking in the road, be sure to pass with at least 3 feet of space between you, and be sure you can see clearly in front of you.

3-WAY INTERSECTIONS

In some cases, you might come upon a 3-way stop. Your stop sign will either say "3-way," or you will only see three total stop signs at the intersection including yours. If there is any road without a stop sign, they have the right-of-way and can go without stopping. You must FIRST yield to them. After that road is clear, you must yield to whoever got to their stop sign first. If you got there at nearly the same time, the person on the right goes first.

HOW LOWER GEARS WORK

In the Drive gear, the engine revolutions will change depending on how much pressure you apply to the gas pedal, leveling out at 3 or 4 - or, 3,000-4,000 RPM - on the tachometer gauge. But when you put your car in the 2nd gear, your engine will be forced to remain at the low 2,000 RPM no matter how hard you push the gas pedal. If you put the car in the 1st gear, your engine will be forced to stay at 1,000 RPM.

WINTER

In the winter, it's a good idea to start your vehicle and let it run with the heat on for a few minutes before taking off, even if you don't plan on using the heat while you drive. This gives the engine a chance to warm up and get ready for work - kind of like eating breakfast in the morning. Make sure to check your owner's manual for specifics about your car's temperature control system.

ONLY RIGHT OR LEFT

In this picture, cars in the left-most lane can only turn left. Cars in the right-most lane can only turn right as indicated by the ONLY arrows. If you need to go in a different direction and realize you made a mistake in one of these ONLY lanes, simply make your turn and work your way back another way.

ROUNDABOUTS

Instead of creating a cross, sometimes roads will intersect by circling each other. This is called a roundabout. When using a roundabout, you must yield to traffic already in the roundabout and choose the correct lane for the exit you want. Don't enter until there is a safe gap in traffic. For RIGHT turns, stay in the right lane or other lanes marked for right turns. For going STRAIGHT, stay in the right, left, or the correct lane marked for your exit. For LEFT turns, stay in the left lane or other lanes marked as a left turn lane. Signal to indicate where you plan to exit the roundabout. And remember: STAY IN THE LANE YOU CHOOSE!

PREPARING FOR THE TRIP

Is your vehicle in good shape? If so... Do you have enough time for the trip? If something happens along the way that delays you, will that impact your work or school schedule? Have a back-up route option in case your vehicle fails, your original route is blocked, or your sleeping arrangement plans do not happen. Pack only what you need. Extra weight can weigh down your car and decrease your gas mileage. Always be prepared for an emergency.

STEP 3: BRAKE PEDAL

Lift your foot off the brake pedal to start reversing, but YOU MUST KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE YOU'RE BACKING UP! You should never back up faster than a SLOW WALKING PACE. This speed lets you have better reaction time in case someone walks or drives behind you. The ONLY exception to the "brake pedal rule" is if you're reversing uphill. Then you might have to press the gas pedal GENTLY and GRADUALLY to help you get up the hill. But you will STILL be going SLOWLY! There is NEVER an exception to reversing at a SLOW WALKING PACE

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (parallel parking)

Look ahead to find a spot you want to parallel park in. Make sure your chosen spot is at least 1 1/2 car lengths long. Otherwise you won't fit! Always signal as you approach your chosen spot. Stop your car IN YOUR DRIVING LANE once you get right next to the car in front of the spot you want to park in. This means that you'll be blocking traffic behind you for a few minutes, so it's critical that you signal your intentions and take things slowly. Check ALL of your blind spots before you start reversing into the spot - even your left blind spot. The front end of your car will swing to the left as you back up, and you don't want to hit a passing car or bicyclist that you didn't see.

MYTH #1: SEAT BELTS TRAP YOU

MYTH: Seat belts hinder your ability to escape a vehicle if there is ever a crash. FACT: Situations such as car fires or cars sinking into deep water are extremely rare. The chances of you being saved from getting knocked out or ejected are greatly reduced if you are wearing a seat belt. They far outweigh the chances of getting into a crash where you become trapped. It only takes a second to unbuckle a seat belt if you ever have to escape quickly.

WHITE LINES

Multiple lanes of travel in the same direction are separated by WHITE LINE markings. You will find white lane markings on the freeways, multi lane roads, and one-way streets. Dashed white lines between lanes of traffic mean you may cross the lines to pass or change lanes if it's safe. A solid white line between lanes of traffic means you should stay in your lane.

NEVER REVERSE!

NEVER reverse on the freeway to get back to your exit! This is extremely dangerous. The only time you should EVER reverse on a freeway is when a police officer tell you to do so. You also can't make a U-turn on the freeway. You might notice gaps in the median that separates traffic traveling in opposite directions and be tempted to use them for a U-turn, but these gaps are only for emergency vehicles. It's illegal for you to use these gaps for any reason.

STRAIGHT REVERSE

A "straight reverse" is when you back up alongside a curb for a length of time. You'll have to perform this maneuver on your road test. Hold the wheel properly with your left hand on 12 and your right hand on 3 or behind the passenger seat. Sit up and turn yourself to look straight out the back window. Slowly release the brake pedal to let your car roll back in reverse. Do a quick glance in the side mirror about every 4 seconds to check your distance away from the curb. Adjust your steering wheel in case you see the car getting closer or farther away from the side of the road.

STEADY YELLOW ARROWS

A SOLID yellow arrow is the same as a regular yellow light, except you may only continue in the direction of the arrow. If you have already begun your turn or are too close to the intersection to slow down and stop safely, you should continue with your turn.

T-INTERSECTIONS

A T-intersection is an intersection that has two roads connecting in a T-shape. You'll find both controlled and uncontrolled T-Intersections. If the intersection is uncontrolled, It's helpful to remember that the top of the T (the through street) always has the right-of-way. The bottom of the T (the intersecting street) must yield until traffic from the through street has cleared. If the intersection is controlled, you must obey traffic signs. In a controlled T-intersection, the intersecting street will usually have a stop or yield sign. Obey the posted signs, and only proceed after stopping or yielding fully.

EMERGENCY SWERVE

The best thing to do, especially if oncoming traffic swerves into your lane within a block or less, is to swerve RIGHT. Some people think they should swerve left, but this is extremely dangerous. If the other driver realizes what's happening at the last minute, they may try to swerve back into their lane, or there could be a vehicle behind them that you would now be heading towards. The safest thing to do is to swerve right, going off the road if necessary.

CENTER OF GRAVITY

The center of gravity is the point at which the vehicle's weight is evenly dispersed and all sides are in balance. When a vehicle makes a turn, the center of gravity shifts. This is why you feel like you're pushed to one side when you turn in a car. It's also why you feel like you're being jerked forward when you brake hard, as we've discussed. The speed of your turn and the size of your vehicle determine the severity of the center of gravity shift. Always turn slowly and pay attention to the gravity shift to determine if you should slow down even more.

PARKING LIGHTS

The second switch on your steering wheel controls the lighting system - your parking lights, your head lights (or low beams), and your brights (your high beams). The knob at the end of this switch turns just like your windshield wiper switch. If you turn it once away from you, your parking lights turn on. Use these lights if you're sitting in a parking lot or alongside a neighborhood curb with your car running so people know there's someone in the vehicle.

SPEED HUMPS

The second traffic calming device is called a SPEED HUMP. Speed humps are less abrupt versions of speed bumps. Humps are wider, and it feels like you're going over a little hill. But it's still a raised section of pavement, rubber, or metal and can hurt your vehicle if you drive too quickly over it. Again, you will often see a sign warning you that a speed hump is approaching, and the hump itself will have white or yellow warning marks on them to show you exactly where it is.

LOSS OF VISION: HEADLIGHT FAILURE

The second type of forward vision loss is headlight failure. Until you're able to fix broken headlights: Don't drive at night! If your headlights fail while driving, first make sure your dimmer switch is turned up. (Check where this is in your owner's manual). Try the headlight switch a few times to make sure nothing got stuck. Then try turning on all of your lighting system options. Use any lights you have to guide your way to the side of the road. Leave your hazard lights on so other cars see you. Call for help. One working headlight isn't enough! Both must work to drive legally.

liability insurance

The state requires your liability car insurance to meet the following minimum limits: $10,000 for property damage $25,000 for the injury or death of one person $50,000 for the injury or death of more than one person

PERMIT TEST PREPARATION

The test has two parts. THE KNOWLEDGE TEST will test your understanding of road rules and give you driving scenarios where you need to choose the best answer about what to do in that situation. It has 50 multiple choice questions. You must get 80% correct to pass (40 out of 50 questions correct). THE SIGN TEST will test your knowledge of what road signs mean. It has 15 multiple choice questions. You must get 80% correct to pass (12 out of 15 questions correct). These tests will use the information you learned from this course and your motorist handbook.

TRANSMISSION OVERVIEW

The transmission selector is usually set to P for Park as the default. Below it, you have an R for Reverse, an N for Neutral, and a D for Drive. We will cover these gears in a later lesson. Remember, apply your brakes whenever you plan to shift gears, or you can ruin your transmission.

WRITTEN and VISION tests

The written test comes in two parts: the "knowledge" portion and the "signs" portion. The knowledge portion measures your knowledge of traffic laws and regulations, and the signs portion tests your understanding of road signs. You must get a score of at least 80% to pass. The vision test will make sure you can see well enough to drive safely. You must have at least 20/40 vision in at least one eye to be allowed to drive. This test is always done at the DMV.

DO NOT ENTER/WRONG WAY

There will be "Do Not Enter" or "Wrong Way" signs posted if you're about to enter a one-way street the wrong way. You'll see this sign at road openings to prevent you from going in the wrong direction or crossing divided roadways. Many business owners also use DO NOT ENTER signs to regulate the flow of traffic in their parking lots. Never turn onto a road that has one of these signs facing you.

METER SENSORS

There will be a white stop line by the meter, just like those you see at regular stop signs, and there will usually be a "stop here on red" sign with an arrow indicating where. If a ramp meter is active, it will remain red UNTIL a car's front tires trigger its pavement sensors to change to green. It will NOT change from red to green on a set timer like regular traffic signals. This means that you need to pull up to the white stop line completely to trigger the sensors. To keep traffic on the ramp from backing up onto local streets, sensors in the pavement will detect if a long line of vehicles is forming on the ramp. The sensor will trigger a computer to speed up the green light. This will shorten the wait time at the ramp meter. Cameras installed on the ramps help to monitor the traffic flow and to assist emergency personnel in responding to a crash if necessary.

YELLOW SIGNS

There will often be signs along a straight stretch of road warning you of the road shape ahead, such as sharp curves or lane changes. They will show you a birds-eye view of the road shape. These signs will ALWAYS be yellow, and they will usually be a diamond shape. Whenever you're driving, and you notice a yellow sign approaching, be prepared to slow down or stop, and adjust your driving to match the conditions ahead.

TRAFFIC CIRCLES

These cement or rubber circles are set in places to help slow down traffic. Vehicles will have to slow down to navigate around them. Traffic circles are often found at intersections, but occasionally also in the middle of a straight road. Sometimes, people call roundabouts "traffic circles," but you know that roundabouts are intersecting roadways that form a circle. That's much different than this little traffic calming device.

MARKERS

These green or blue reference markers along the freeway show you how many miles you are away from the state's southern or western border, or the southern or western end of the road. The numbers will increase or decrease depending on the direction you're going. They might also include the route you're on. Reference markers are for emergency response efficiency. If you tell 911 what marker you're closest to, they can find you more quickly.

T-INTERSECTION WARNING SIGNS

These signs warn you that a T-intersection is coming up. If you're on the intersecting road (the bottom of the T in the first picture), and the intersection is CONTROLLED, then you'll have to stop or yield (depending on the sign) and check for traffic before proceeding. If it's UNCONTROLLED, you must always yield to traffic on the through street before proceeding. If you're on the through-street (the top of the T in the first picture), then you most likely will have the right-of-way whether it's a controlled or uncontrolled intersection, but be prepared to slow down in case a car comes out from the intersecting road.

DIVIDED HIGHWAY BEGINS

This sign warns you that the two-way traffic will soon be separated by a physical median. The arrows show the road, while the cut-off oval represents the approaching median. That's important information, as you'll need to be safely in your lane to avoid colliding with the median or other vehicles.

HAZARD LIGHTS

This triangle button on your dashboard indicates your hazard lights. If you ever have trouble on the road and need to pull over, press this button to warn other drivers to be careful around you and give you space. This button will cause your turn signal lights to flash together over and over. It's the universal symbol for vehicle distress. Press the button again to turn the hazard lights off.

Henry Ford

United States manufacturer of automobiles who pioneered mass production (1863-1947). 1863-1947. American businessman, founder of Ford Motor Company, father of modern assembly lines, and inventor credited with 161 patents.

CHANGING LANES AND PASSING

You will need to be prepared for traffic to change lanes around you, or you may need to make lane changes yourself. Never exceed the speed limit when changing lanes or passing, and don't speed up to prevent someone from passing you. Avoid driving in someone's blind spot, and always adjust your speed to the road, weather, and traffic conditions.

world war

automobile companies made one fifth of world material.

Improperly inflated tires can cause what problems?

bad gas mileage and increased stopping distance

United States Department of Transportation

federal cabinet of the United States Government that deals strictly with matters pertaining to transportation. It was established in October 1966 by a congressional act and began to operate fully by April 1967. "serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible, and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future." has 80 billion dollar yearly budget.

chrysler car

fourth

Where can you find the proper air pressure amount for your vehicle?

in your vehicle's manual or on the inside of the vehicle door

BLOCKED VIEW

We already talked about STOP SIGNS, YIELD SIGNS, and types of INTERSECTIONS. You should already know how to navigate them. Now let's pretend you're approaching a stop sign. Remember, the first thing you need to do is figure out if it's a TWO-WAY or FOUR-WAY stop (or some other type of stop.) But wait a minute: You've reached the stop sign, and you look to your left and right to check for traffic...and you realize something: Your VIEW IS BLOCKED!

KEEP YOUR CAR CLEAN

We already talked about how objects rolling around in your car can become hazards, but even leaving the outside of your car dirty can become a problem. If you wash the outside of your vehicle regularly, you can prevent erosion and rust, which can cause permanent damage. If you want to use an automatic car wash, simply follow the car wash directions - whether the machines tell you to STOP, GO, or put your car in NEUTRAL. If you want to use a manual car wash, the next video will explain how to use one.

GREEN = GUIDE

We briefly mentioned in a previous lesson that GREEN signs means GUIDE signs. Whenever you see a GREEN sign, it is a sign guiding you to your destination. You've seen these overhanging green freeway signs, haven't you? In this picture, the left sign is telling you that if you continue straight on the freeway, you will reach US Highway Route "North 51" and State Route "West 29," as well as be heading toward Wausau and Chippewa Falls. The right sign is telling you that if you take this exit #187, you will reach State Route "East 29" and heading toward Weston and Green Bay.

Durant motors or general motors

second

decals

stickers that you use to decorate your car. do not clutter your windshield.

Seatbelts

teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2016, at least 48% of teens ages 16-19 years old were not wearing their seat belt at the time of a crash. 6% survival rate if no seatbelt and you are ejected from the car.

What does the PSI number on the tire stand for?

the maximum tire pressure amount

TRANSMISSION: P, R, N, D

the transmission selector is set to P for Park as the default. Below it, you have an R for Reverse, an N for Neutral, and a D for Drive. Drive is the gear you will use most often, so you'll probably be pushing the transmission sector from the Park position to the Drive position most times, skipping the R and the N. But let's go in order.

p. sloan

third I believe

MISSING AN EXIT

What happens if you miss your exit on the freeway? Some drivers miss their exit when they're distracted or unfamiliar with the area. Other drivers miss their exit because traffic is heavy, so the driver can't prepare for their exit in time. Whatever the reason might be, you need to work your way back to your intended exit. Fixing this is easy! All you have to do is take the exit immediately following, re-enter the freeway in the direction you just came, and take the exit you originally intended to take.

MOVE-OVER LAW REQUIREMENTS

What happens if you see an active emergency vehicle pulled over up ahead on your side of the road? Move into the lane NOT NEAREST to the stopped vehicle; it doesn't have to be the FARTHEST lane from the vehicle, just not the one closest to it. If you can't move over safely, SLOW DOWN Do not move back into your lane until you have safely passed the vehicle. This is known as the MOVE-OVER LAW.

ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN YOUR LANE

What happens if you see oncoming traffic headed toward you in your lane? If the vehicle is farther away, you can honk your horn or flash your lights, but this might not help. Why? The driver could have fallen asleep, could be distracted, or perhaps they're having a medical emergency. They won't be able to respond to horns or lights if they're not paying attention for any of these reasons.

TACHOMETER

What is a tachometer gauge? "Tacho" comes from the Greek word meaning "speed." Technically, the speedometer could have been named a tachometer, but the tachometer measures a different speed than what the speedometer does. Instead of measuring how fast the vehicle is going, or how many miles per hour it's traveling, it measures how many revolutions the engine is taking per minute.

Graduated Driver Licensing laws

Graduated licensing has reduced teen crashes by 20-40% on average.

CHECKING TEMPERATURE

If you ever see your car's temperature needle in the red, or if the temperature warning light comes on as you're driving, your engine is overheating. Pull over immediately and shut your engine off! It's a serious problem, and get it checked by a mechanic right away. If the needle never moves past the C, or cold range, you should also get your vehicle checked as soon as you can.

NEWLY LICENSED TEENS

Crash risk is particularly high during the first few months of receiving a driver's license.

D FOR DRIVE

Drive is the gear you will use to move the vehicle forward. When you release your foot off the brake in this gear, the car will slowly start to roll forward. Press the accelerator pedal to pick up speed. Don't forget to apply your brakes whenever you plan to shift gears, or you can ruin your transmission.

With any insurance plan, the "deductible" is the amount you need to pay before the insurance plan will cover the rest.

For example, if you have a $100 deductible with your collision insurance plan, you will only have to pay $100 worth of damages on your vehicle. Your insurance will take care of the rest.

ABS BRAKES

Most newer cars have an Anti-lock Braking system, or ABS for short, that keeps the car from skidding if you ever have to slam your brakes. You will know if you have ABS a yellow light displaying "ABS" or "anti lock" on your dashboard. If you ever have to stop quickly to avoid danger, apply firm and continuous pressure on the brake pedal until you stop. You will feel a pulsing sensation through the pedal against your foot once the ABS brakes are activated.

MOVE-OVER LAW VEHICLES

Move over to the right side of your lane as far as possible if you can't go into the right lane.

Your tires lose how much air pressure a month?

1-2 pounds of pressure every month

Ransom Olds

along with Ford, adapted the gasoline engine and developed infant automotive industry, "Oldsmobile"

STACK INTERCHANGES

"Stack interchanges" are multiple road layers that stack high over each other. They're usually found near downtown areas. This happens when multiple freeways meet in a general area. These are often the most efficient interchanges because signals are unnecessary to keep traffic flow moving. You can change directions or get onto a different freeway by following posted signs.

You can renew your license up to ___ before it expires.

1 year

FLASHING RED LIGHT

A flashing red traffic light means you must come to a complete stop just like you would do at a stop sign. This light will not turn green. Flashing red lights are either at TWO-WAY or FOUR-WAY stops, just like stop signs would indicate. Check to see if cross traffic has RED or YELLOW blinking lights. If they have red lights, it's a FOUR-WAY stop. If they have yellow lights, it's a TWO-WAY stop. Cross traffic will keep moving. These lights are usually placed at very dangerous intersections. The intersection likely had stop signs when it was first made, but over time, the flashing red light was implemented after many injuries or fatalities. Be extra careful at these intersections.

YIELDING TO A DRIVER

A great communication method is MAKING EYE CONTACT. Look at the driver. Can you see their face? In the daytime, you should be able to. Do they see you? If you've made eye contact in this situation, you should wave them on so they know you're yielding to them. They should go, and once they've cleared the intersection, you can be on your way! At night, instead of making eye contact, you can "wave them on" by flashing your headlights once. They should get the same message that way!

FLASHING SOLID YELLOW LIGHT

A solid flashing yellow traffic light means slow down, check for cross traffic, and proceed with caution. You don't need to stop at a flashing yellow light. It WILL NOT change to red or green in this case. Check to see what kind of light cross traffic has. If they have red flashing lights, they must stop and yield to you like at a two-way stop. If they have yellow blinking lights, you must yield to whoever reaches the intersection first...kind of like an uncontrolled intersection or a controlled intersection with yield signs.

BLOWOUTS

A tire blowout occurs when your tire suddenly loses air pressure while driving. This tire blowout can be caused by poor tire maintenance, potholes, or other objects in the roadway. Basically, a blowout is a flat tire that happens suddenly while driving. You might not notice a flat right away if the air is slowly leaking, but you will definitely notice a blowout! Try to prevent tire blowouts by keeping up on tire maintenance and avoiding objects in the roadways. Watch this next video to see what to do if a tire blowout happens.

HOSPITAL

A very important blue sign to recognize is the square H. H always stands for Hospital. You will see blue H's with arrows telling you which direction to go to find a hospital in case of an emergency. These signs are not only on freeways. You will see them in city, residential, and sometimes even rural areas, guiding you as quickly as possible to get help.

AABC Driving school

AABC Driving School was established in 1971 by Elmer Plache in both Green Bay and Racine. Tom LaPlante joined the company in 1987 after recovering from a motorcycle accident caused by a drunk driver. Tom knows first hand about the effects of drinking and driving and the life changing results it can have. Elmer Plache sold the business to Tom's father Howard LaPlante in 1989, and Tom became the general manager. In 1999, Howard sold his interest in the business to Tom, who is now the current owner and has been the driving force behind the ongoing success of AABC Driving School.

AMISH COMMUNITIES

According to Rabar's Almanac and Amish Studies, the Amish community across the United States and Canada totals over 300,000 people. There are over 16,200 Amish in Wisconsin across 14 counties. You need to be aware of and watch out for Amish people in rural areas. Many Amish communities use a horse and buggy to travel. They also often use this orange triangular "slow moving vehicle" sign on the back of their buggies, but Wisconsin State Law doesn't require them to do so.

Alcohol

Alcohol is responsible for 40% of vehicle collision fatalities. Alcohol affects everyone a bit differently based on size and age, but it generally reaches your brain within 20 to 40 minutes. The first things alcohol affects are your judgement and skill. It then goes on to impair other critical functions: recall ability (the ability to remember the skills you need) reflexes (how smoothly you can react to a situation) reaction time (the length of time you take to execute a course of action after recognizing a hazard) vision alertness An alcoholic "drink" is 1.5 oz of liquor, 12 oz of beer, or 5 oz of wine. An 80 proof liquor is 40% alcohol by volume.

EXIT RAMP SIGNS

All these warning signs indicate that the exit ramp is extremely curved and that you should travel the ramp at the posted speed to keep control of your vehicle. The curved arrow will be different shapes depending on the shape of the exit ramp, in the same way different straight-road warning signs have different curved arrows depending on the road shape. Remember those? If the exit ramp is very sharp, you might see yellow flashing lights or additional Chevron arrows. You might also see signs such as these posted for very long entrance ramps until you reach the straight acceleration lane portion.

RIGHT-OF-WAY?

Although pedestrians should use marked crosswalks whenever possible, it's NOT illegal for them to cross the street without one. Because of this, you should look for pedestrians at ANY corner you pass, in ANY road, at ANY time! If you are the pedestrian, however, try your best to use a crosswalk. It does make the driver's job much easier when you do. The next video will show you the dangers of pedestrians crossing the street without a crosswalk and what both drivers and pedestrians should remember as they go on their way.

SPEED

Although there is no standard speed limit for making turns, we recommend that you keep your turn speed at no more than 10 miles per hour for proper control. As you gain experience, your turn speed will improve naturally. If you have to stop first before turning, such as at a stop sign or red light, gently accelerate as you begin your turn. If you're turning while in motion, such as on a yield sign or green light, you may need to brake gently as you approach, then gently accelerate through your turn.

FLAT-FOOTING

Always PIVOT your foot between pedals. Don't lift your entire foot up and move it. This will cause "flat-footing." Flat-footing is when you press the pedal with the entire sole or ball of your foot - or in other words, the "flat part" of your foot. If you flat-foot, you won't have smooth starts and stops. Everything will be choppy because you won't be able to control your foot pressure very well. Make sure that your heel is planted in a comfortable position so that you can easily operate both pedals. If you ever have to stop quickly, you want to get your foot to the brake pedal as quick as possible with the least amount of effort.

WHAT DO INTERSECTIONS LOOK LIKE?

An intersection can be CONTROLLED (with signs or signals) or UNCONTROLLED (without signs or signals). Let's talk about controlled intersections first. If the intersection is controlled, the SIGNS and SIGNALS force traffic from one road to let cars from the other road continue. When you stop at a stop sign or a stop light, you must recognize that you are always stopping at an intersection - even if you're just planning to go straight.

BLIND INTERSECTIONS

An intersection where it's hard to see down the street is called a BLIND INTERSECTION. There can be trees, mailboxes, cars parked in driveways, bushes, or lots of other stuff on the side of the road in neighborhoods. Children and adults may step out from behind any of these obstructions, at any time, in front of your car.

TAILGATING

As we've already mentioned, if you're being tailgated on a multi-lane road and you're going the posted speed limit, your best option is simply to change lanes. This person may be an aggressive driver or just not paying enough attention to maintain the proper following distance. NEVER slam your brakes with a tailgater behind you! The next video will show you the dangers of tailgating and slamming the brakes.

YELLOW LIGHT

As you know, a steady yellow traffic light means the traffic light is about to change to red. When you see a yellow light, you must stop if it's safe to do so - that is, if you're not going to have to slam on your brakes in order to stop. If you're in the intersection when the yellow light comes on, or you're within a few feet of it, don't stop. Just continue through the intersection.

PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSES

Another type of bus on the road is a public transit bus. A public transit bus can operate within city limits, from city to city, or even from state to state. Some buses are used for tours, and still others are for international travel. There are many public transit buses in the city. Many people depend on public transit to get where they need to go, so it's important that we make the bus driver's job safer and easier to execute. You will usually see bus lanes on the right side of a city road if there is a bus stop nearby. You may not drive in these bus lanes unless it is temporarily in preparation for making a right turn. if you're traveling behind a city bus and there's a bus lane, they may suddenly pull into the bus lane to pick up passengers near an approaching bus stop. Or, if there is no designated bus lane, the right-most lane will serve as a bus lane if the bus needs to pick up passengers. Be prepared for the bus to stop in either of these situations. You ARE allowed to pass a stopped public transit bus on the left. This is different than with a school bus. You can change lanes to the left and go around a stopped city bus...as long as you're going STRAIGHT! It's ILLEGAL in Wisconsin to pass and then make a right turn in front of a city bus. You will usually see bumper stickers on most buses reminding you of this law. If you need to make a right turn, but there is a stopped city bus, you can either stop and wait for the bus to leave, or go straight and navigate back. Always watch out for pedestrians coming off or going on the city bus as well as people running across the street trying to catch the bus. They might not be paying attention since they're too worried about catching their ride.

PROHIBITIONS

Any sign with a red circle and slash over it means you're not allowed to do whatever is in the circle. As an example, this first sign means you may not make a left turn. It might be placed at the end of a one-way street, or it might be showing you a forbidden maneuver. For example, you might not be allowed to make a left turn to enter a certain street, but you may enter that street using a different maneuver, such as doing a right turn coming from the opposite direction. As another example, the second sign prohibits U-turns. A U-turn is a left turn that lasts until you're facing the opposite direction.

EMERGENCY BUDGET

Anything can happen while driving. Plan an emergency fund in case you need your car towed or repairs made when you are on the road. It's a good idea to have a credit card for these emergencies. Some emergencies that might cost you money include any of these things: a trip to a hospital or doctor's office prescription medication car crash repair or towing expenses last minute lodging changes running out of food or water or food going bad ripping or damaging clothes or shoes needing new clothes upon arrival because of unforeseen weather conditions

CYCLISTS

As a review, let's go over sharing the road with bicyclists. Remember to give bicyclists extra space when passing them, and never cut them off. Also, be sure to dim your headlights at night when approaching them. Don't park in a designated bike lane, and check for bicyclists before you open your driver side door when you park on a legal curb. Before making ANY maneuvers in cities and neighborhood where there might be bicyclists...we bet you can guess! SIGNAL CHECK YOUR REAR VIEW MIRRORS CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS TWICE

DRIVING AROUND MOPEDS

As a vehicle driver, you need to be responsible for your own actions while driving around mopeds and scooters. Scan the roads for anything reflective. Moped riders might wear reflective clothing for extra visibility. Make sure your headlights are on at night, dusk, dawn, and in bad visibility situations. Keep extra space between you and the moped or scooter rider. Keep even more space in slippery road conditions. Eliminate distractions while you're driving. Before ANY maneuver around a moped, SIGNAL CHECK YOUR REAR VIEW MIRRORS CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS TWICE

SIGN VANDALISM

As we close this lesson, we must stress the severity of tampering with road signs. It might seem like a funny thing to do at the time, but defacing, altering, destroying, or stealing a road sign is a serious crime and can be punished with fines or prison. Traffic signs exist for driver safety. Without them, there will be serious confusion that can result in injury and death. The next video will show you the seriousness of sign vandalism and also what you can do if you ever see a damaged or missing sign.

MERGE LANE

As you should remember from a previous lesson, the straight arrow shows the main road and the smaller black line shows the direction where another road will intersect. In this case, it represents an entrance ramp intersecting with the freeway. This sign will be placed at the merging area to show you how to enter the freeway safely.

TRAFFIC CALMING

As you're driving through this neighborhood, you hit a HUGE bump - not just any old pothole, but a major jolt! What was that? It was a "traffic calming device." Traffic calming devices are placed where there might be people who frequently speed, or perhaps it's a very busy neighborhood road. There are always signs warning you that a traffic calming device is approaching so that you don't damage your vehicle by going over it too fast. There are three main types of traffic calming devices

ONLY ARROWS

As you're driving, you'll notice other markings on the road aside from painted lines. The first ones we'll cover are what we call ONLY arrows, or "lane use control signs." ONLY arrows are thick, white arrows showing where your vehicle is allowed to drive when it's in that lane. They'll tell you that you can only continue straight, only make a right turn, or only make a left turn. It all depends on the lane you're in. Generally speaking, to turn RIGHT, be in the FAR RIGHT lane, to turn LEFT, be in the far LEFT lane, and to go STRAIGHT, be in a CENTER lane.

ONLY ARROW REVIEW

As you've already learned, these only arrow signs tell you where you're allowed to turn in any given lane. They are VERTICAL because they are telling you what you MUST do in these lanes. You DO have options about which lane you choose...which is why the vertical signs are divided within a bigger horizontal sign...but in general, horizontal signs give you choices while vertical signs do not.

ADDED LANE

At the merging area, there will usually be one of two signs posted. This first sign looks familiar, doesn't it? It's an ADDED LANE sign we learned in a previous lesson. These signs appear in cities and on freeways. Just as in city driving, it means that another lane is being added next to the existing ones. If you're merging onto the freeway, and you see this sign at the merging area, you won't have to merge left. You'll have your own lane. However, you may need to merge later on.

BEING PASSED

BEFORE PASSING... When you're considering passing a vehicle, ask yourself if you actually NEED to pass. If the person ahead of you isn't speeding and they don't seem distracted, you're probably just being impatient. Remember, you can't get away with speeding just because you're passing someone. If another vehicle is passing you, follow these steps: Allow the person some extra room ahead by gently letting off of the gas. Don't speed up as a vehicle is trying to pass. If you notice many cars are passing you, either move to the far right lane, speed up, or exit the freeway. If you decide that you DO need to pass a vehicle, here are some things to remember as a review from our Rural Area passing chapter: Always pass on the left. Check your target area. Check your rear-view mirror, signal, and check your blind spot. Check your target area and then your blind spot again. Move the steering wheel gently toward the direction you plan to go. Once you have passed the vehicle, look in your rear view mirror for both headlights of the vehicle you passed to appear. Once you see their lights, signal, then check your rear-view mirror, blind spot, target area, and your blind spot again. Gently return to your original lane.

COURTESY

Be a courteous driver by always practicing safe and defensive driving techniques, even if it's not strictly "the law." What do we mean by this? Sometimes, following the law isn't enough. Be prudent in your decisions. This means that you should always think ahead concerning the possible consequences of your decisions. You might have the right-of-way at a four-way stop, for example, but someone else might not have realized it, and they might go ahead of you. Don't get angry about this or insist on cutting them off because you had the right-of-way. Just LET IT GO! If you learn how to share the road with others, you will have a safe driving future.

DANGERS OF DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE

Be especially careful on WARM winter days when ice and snow starts to melt. Whatever the sun hits first is what will melt first. That means that ice and snow melts from the top down - from the part that is closest to the sun (the top ice and snow layer) down to the part that is farthest from the sun (the bottom ice and snow layer). The part that melts first will turn into water, and that water will be sitting on top of ice and snow that hasn't melted yet. This makes a VERY slippery surface to drive on! If you notice that the temperature is above freezing (32 degrees) on a winter day or that the sun is very strong, be extra cautious.

BLIND SPOTS

Before we move on to the next lesson, we need to talk about the importance of CHECKING BLIND SPOTS. A "blind spot" is an area that is located to the left and right rear corner of your vehicle. Your blind spot is the area you cannot see when using your mirrors alone. A car, bicycle, or even pedestrian can be easily lost in the blind spot. Many side-swipe collisions occur when drivers forget to check their blind spot or don't check it properly - especially during turns and lane changes.

ECO-FRIENDLY

Before you get onto the road, here are some things you can do to prepare for a more eco-friendly commute: Keep tires properly inflated. Properly inflated tires are safer, last longer, and can improve your gas mileage by more than 3%. Select motor oil with "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol. Keep your engine properly tuned. Replace a faulty oxygen sensor. Check and replace air filters regularly. If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas mileage whenever possible. Whenever you can, take a road trip by using public transportation, or car pools. If it's a shorter trip, see when you can use a bike or even walk to your destination.

BLACK AND WHITE

Black and white regulatory signs are usually rectangles that are either vertical or horizontal. Vertical regulatory signs usually provide rules about what you should and should not do concerning traffic flow. Horizontal regulatory signs usually give directions or information about traffic flow that may or may not affect you as a driver.

BLUE = SERVICES

Blue signs tell you what roadside services are coming up. Sometimes, it will be a large blue sign with small pictures showing you gas, lodging, and food options, or it might be its own sign telling you of a single service coming up like a rest stop or visitor's center. They will tell you how to get to each of these services. It's a great solution to hunger or tiredness!

CHILDREN

Children are less aware of their surroundings, so be especially prepared to slow down or brake whenever you're driving in a neighborhood. In a residential area, you might see a warning sign telling you to slow down because of the possibility of children playing near the road. Be mindful of these signs. There's also a unique "deaf child area" sign such as the one pictured. This sign is often placed in the neighborhood where a deaf child lives. The child won't be able to hear traffic, so this is an additional precaution to be alert for that child's safety.

CHOOSING THE CORRECT LANE

Choosing the correct lane can help you have a smooth and safe experience while driving on the freeway. The far left lane is known as the "passing" or "fast" lane. Only use this lane when you need to pass another vehicle. The far right lane is known as the "slow" lane. You should use this lane when you're entering or exiting the freeway. You should always choose to drive in the middle lanes when you're driving on the freeway if you're not exiting anytime soon.

ROUNDABOUT SIGN

Cities will often have roundabouts just like neighborhoods. This helps regulate traffic flow at busy places, making it safer to navigate. Whenever there is a roundabout coming up, you'll see a roundabout warning sign like this one. Roundabouts are a relatively new road design, and some older drivers might not know how to navigate them very well. Be patient with confused drivers, and make sure you understand how to navigate them well yourself: Right turns: stay in the right lane or lane marked as a right turn lane. Straight: stay in the right or left lane or the correct lane marked for going straight. Left turns: stay in the left lane or the lane marked as a left turn lane.

STAY IN YOUR LANE

Crossing as few lanes as possible means you must STAY IN THE LANE YOU START IN! Let's say you're making a left turn, and there are two left turn only lanes. You're in the left turn lane that is closest to the left. As you make the turn, you must STAY WITHIN THE WHITE DOTTED LINES on the pavement. Those lines are safely guiding you to the correct lane on the new road.

Crossing guards

Crossing guards have a dangerous job to do. If drivers ignore the guard's directions, and the guard gets hit, they are likely going to get hurt or even killed! It's important that you pay attention to the road so you don't hit a crossing guard. Always do everything you can to make their job as safe as possible.

CROSSWALKS

Crosswalks mark the area where pedestrians are allowed cross the roadway. Crosswalks can be at intersections or in the middle of the block. You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians who are in or are about to enter a crosswalk. Crosswalks may be vertical lines as in the first picture, or they may be two thin horizontal lines like the second picture, or a variation of either.

SLOWING DOWN

DO NOT SLOW DOWN ON A FREEWAY ACCELERATION LANE! This is such a common and yet deadly problem! Drivers who are entering the freeway behind you are not expecting a vehicle to be going slow or be stopped at the end of the entrance ramp. Slowing down unnecessarily at the end of an entrance ramp is dangerous. You should never enter the freeway traveling slower than the traffic already traveling on the freeway.

DO NOT COMPROMISE

DO NOT agree with the driver to let a "fender bender" slide. A simple crash or collision with little to no damage is called a "fender bender." Sometimes, if there's a fender bender such as two cars bumping each other in a parking lot, you and the other driver might be tempted to be nice and tell each other not to worry about it. You both leave without collecting information from each other. No matter who was at fault, and no matter how much damage was done, exchange information anyway - at least names and phone numbers. If you collect information even for little things, the other driver can't mention the fender bender later to authorities and blame you for "fleeing the scene of a crash." Whether or not it was your fault, you can get in trouble for this if the other driver decides to make a big deal later on. And if you didn't exchange information, there's no proof that you actually DID stay after the crash took place! You might be wondering something: "If we both leave the fender bender scene without collecting each other's information, how will the other driver be able to find me again?" The answer is simple: by taking down your license plate number at the scene of the crash! The other driver can easily scribble your license plate number down on a piece of scrap paper, or they can snap a picture of it while you're busy getting back into your vehicle. Unfortunately, it's not a good idea to trust someone's good will in a crash situation. ALWAYS take down the other driver's information to prove that you didn't flee the crash...ESPECIALLY if the fender bender wasn't your fault.

DANGERS (ice)

Driving on ice or through sleet can be dangerous...especially because of black ice. "Black ice" is a thin, invisible layer of ice that forms on the roadways. It might just look like wet ground, which is dangerous anyway, but black ice is much more slippery. If you can avoid it, don't drive during icy conditions, or you might find yourself skidding. Skidding happens when drivers don't slow down early enough or when they make sudden movements. Avoid braking, steering, or turning suddenly so you can avoid skidding! If you find yourself skidding, take your foot off the brake and accelerator, turn into the skid instead of over-steering, and keep a visual target of where you want to go.

TAKE A SECOND LOOK

Due to their size, motorcycles may be difficult to see, and motorists tend to underestimate their speed. A vehicle driver should look for motorcycles in traffic ALL THE TIME. Drivers involved in crashes often report not seeing the motorcycle or seeing it too late. More than 50% of all motorcycle crashes occur at intersections. The most common situation occurs when an oncoming automobile makes a left turn in front of a motorcycle and the motorcycle hits the side of the car. A vehicle driver should watch for motorcycles before turning and yield the right-of-way.

probationary license

During the day (5am to midnight), you'll be able to drive alone and travel anywhere you want. You can also ride with any of your family members. For the first 9 months with your probationary license, if you're under 18 years old, there are some restrictions regarding passengers who aren't related to you. You will only be allowed to travel with up to ONE passenger who is under 21 years old if they aren't related to you. You will only be allowed to travel with up to ONE passenger who is age 21 or older who is sitting in the back seat.

ONE CAR AT A TIME

Each lane on the ramp has its own separate traffic signal. The traffic signals will alternate between green and red, with no yellow light between the two. These are usually timed to allow ONLY ONE VEHICLE TO PASS THROUGH PER GREEN LIGHT. You should NOT try to squeeze through with someone else during one change to green. If you disobey a ramp signal, you can be ticketed.

EMERGENCY RESPONDERS

Emergency responders are authorized personnel for handling emergency situations, including police officers (police cars) fire fighters (fire trucks) medics (ambulances) When you call 911, the operator will connect you to the emergency responder that can help you best. Be sure to answer any questions that the operator asks so that they can assist you as quickly as possible. Depending on the crash situation, there could be multiple responders arriving at the scene. When firefighters, law enforcement, or emergency medical technicians respond to an accident or emergency, they need to be given enough space to operate. If you hear an emergency vehicle approaching and you haven't yet moved your vehicle (if you were able to move it and should have moved it), pull over as soon as possible. Follow any directions the emergency responders give you while you're at the scene.

IF THERE'S NO LINE...

Every intersection is technically a crosswalk. If there is no marked stop line, stop before entering the marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. If there is no marked stop line OR marked crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection, but at a point where you have a clear view of approaching traffic.

STEP 10: INSURANCE

Finally, after everything else is done, call your insurance company to report the car crash. Insurance companies really appreciate it when you call at the scene. This helps them get prepared to serve you quickly and efficiently.

HOW TO PULL OVER

Find a safe place to pull over. (Don't rush or compromise, and look FAR ahead for this spot!) Check your rear-view mirrors. (Never begin slowing down before this step.) Signal RIGHT to warn drivers behind you of your intentions. Check your right blind spot to make sure bicycles, mopeds, or motorcycles aren't there. Slow down gradually as you approach the side of the road (5-10 mph is a good new-driver speed.) Do NOT stop your vehicle until it's parallel to and within 12 inches of the edge of the road. Use your side mirrors to help placement. Stop the car.

FIRST STEP

First, COVER THE BRAKE. Covering the brake means that you pivot your foot to the brake pedal, but you don't actually press it yet. This is your preparation for stopping. Once you remove your foot from the gas pedal, the vehicle will begin to slow down since it's not being given any more fuel. Allow the car to slow down naturally like this once you're about half a block from the stop sign. Then as you get closer to the stop sign, start to press the brake pedal slowly and easily. This means that you should NOT wait until you're right at the stop sign to press the brake pedal! That's exactly what makes a rough stop.

EXITING THE FREEWAY

Freeway exits have two parts: The deceleration lane: Move into this lane when you want to exit. The end of the ramp: This is where you will encounter a yield sign, stop sign, or a traffic signal. When exiting: Prepare for your exit in advance - at least a mile ahead if possible. Signal, check your rear-view mirror, and check your blind spot twice. Gradually move into the deceleration lane and shut your signal off. Prepare for a yield sign, stop sign, or traffic signal at the end of the ramp.

FILLING UP

Gas is one of the most essential things needed to give your car life. Without gas, your vehicle can't move. It's a good habit to refill on gas when it reads a quarter of a tank. Don't wait until it reaches E or until your gas light comes on! If the light or gauge ever stop working properly, it might tell you that you have more gas than you really do. Your gas can freeze on very cold nights as well if you leave too little in the tank. Be on the safe side, and get gas before it becomes a problem.

Gottlieb Daimler

German engineer and automobile manufacturer who produced the first high-speed internal combustion engine (1834-1900)

Karl Benz

German engineer that developed the first car powered by an internal combustion engine

DO NOT FREAK OUT

Giving in to anger, fear, or other negative feelings will make it difficult for you to maintain good judgment concerning what you have to do at the scene of the crash like we just talked about. Do NOT swear, yell, hit anything, or hysterically cry. After the initial crash, and you're sitting there in the driver's seat wondering what just happened, you're probably going to be confused and shaken up. Before doing anything, remember to REMAIN CALM. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and collect your thoughts. Then go about checking for injuries and damages. Never tell the other driver you're sorry for anything! If you apologize, this implies that you're guilty and could be used later against you even if it wasn't your fault. It's understandable that you're sorry the crash happened no matter who was at fault, but that might not work in a court of law. You're NOT there to figure out who's right and who's wrong. If you try to do this, it can make things difficult for police, insurance agents, and possible lawyers later. You might also find yourself saying something that can hurt your defense if you're innocent. If the other driver asks you to sign a document assigning fault for the collision, DO NOT SIGN! They do NOT have the legal right to ask you to sign anything. Don't give in even if they yell at you or threaten you. Don't sign even if they tell you it's the law. Tell them that you'd rather have a police officer or your parent look at it first. Only sign things that you get from a police offer DIRECTLY. DO NOT use social media to talk about or post pictures of the incident. All of the online posts you make are reachable even if you delete them, and they may be used later against you in a court of law. Even after everything has been taken care of legally, you should NOT post about it! Decisions can be revoked depending on the stipulations of the settlement. This one girl learned the hard way after a single facebook post cost her father an $80,000 settlement loss!

TIRES IN WORKING ORDER (and other parts)

Glance at your tires as you approach your car. If any of them are flat, don't drive until you can put more air in the flat tire. If you need to drive on a spare, don't exceed 35 miles an hour, and go straight to a mechanic's shop to get a new tire. Check your tire direction. The way your front tires are pointed is the way your vehicle will move when you start driving. If there are any obstructions near your tires such as rocks, fallen sticks, or toys, remove them to prevent damage when you move. When you're approaching your vehicle, check all of the glass surfaces. Are there any cracks or damage to windows or mirrors? Are your windows clear of snow and debris? Are your windows clean inside and out? Fix any damage to your vehicle as soon as possible.

STEP 4: MIRROR ADJUSTMENT

Glance in your right mirror every four seconds or so to make sure you're still in line with the curb. DO NOT rely on your mirrors to back up! Depth perception is often warped when looking in a mirror. Always look out the back window to see what's behind you. Don't steer your steering wheel erratically or unnecessarily. If you find that you're not in line with the curb when you check your mirror, gradually steer the wheel with a slight motion in the direction that will fix your position.

SLOWER DRIVING

Going much slower than other vehicles can be just as bad as speeding because you become a dangerous road obstruction. You can be ticketed for impeding traffic. It makes vehicles bunch up behind you and causes other traffic to pass you unnecessarily. If you find that vehicles are lined up behind you on a single-lane road, pull over safely to let them pass. If you're on a multi-lane road and going slowly, keep as far right as possible. (You should do that anyway unless you need to pass!) But if you find that cars are constantly passing you or tailgating you, you should either drive faster to reach the maximum speed limit or use a road with a slower speed limit

COMMUNICATION SITUATION

Good communication among road users is very important. It helps everyone know what the other person is going to do - especially in situations where right-of-way rules might not be clear. Let's create an example situation: You and another driver arrive at a 4-way stop intersection at the same time. You know the person on the right goes first. In this case, that's the other driver. So you wait for them to go, like you should. But for some reason, they think YOU got there first fair and square, and they're waiting for YOU to go! You both could be waiting there all day!

GREEN = GUIDE

Green signs guide you to your destination by telling you road names and numbers and how far away they are. They are often horizontal rectangles because as we've learned, horizontal rectangles give us traffic flow information that we can choose to use if we need it. We will go into more detail about green signs in upcoming lessons when we start talking about longer road trips. But let's talk about one main green sign you'll see in cities and neighborhoods.

EXIT WARNINGS

Green signs will also be posted leading up to exits - first a 2 mile warning, then a mile warning, then a half mile warning. Sometimes there will be a 1 1/2 mile, 3/4 mile, or 1/4 mile warning instead or in addition to the other warnings. If you keep an eye on these "exit coming up" signs, you can prepare well in advance.

HOV LANE: ON THE HIGHWAY

HOV lanes aren't just special acceleration lanes. You'll also see HOV lanes on the freeway sometimes. See the white diamonds on the road in this picture? During certain times of the day (or all the time on certain roads), this HOV lane can be used by vehicles that have at least one passenger and the driver. There are also white signs in the cement median that tell you what time these HOV lane assignments are in effect. When the HOV lane assignment is not in effect, this lane functions as the "fast lane/far left lane" that could be used by vehicles with just the driver inside. These lanes are usually found in bigger cities, and the HOV lane assignments are usually in effect in the morning and afternoon rush hours.

DANGERS (hail)

Hail typically happens in thunderstorms, but it can occur at any time of year. Hail can go from being the size of small pellets to the size of a large softball in a matter of seconds! These chunks of ice can cause damage to your car or injuries if you're caught outside. DO NOT DRIVE IN HAIL. If you're already driving and it begins to hail, pull over as soon as possible.

TECHNIQUES

Hand technique through a turn is important. Imagine the steering wheel is the face of a clock. While driving straight, you should have your hands at the 9 and 3 . You have two technique options for turning: hand-over-hand (which most people prefer) side-by-side NEVER UNDERHAND THE WHEEL OR USE ONLY ONE HAND TO TURN IT! That is dangerous because you can easily lose control. The following video will show you how to do both hand techniques.

STATE AND INTERSTATE ROUTES (look at folder)

Here are a few new signs you will see on the freeway. The first picture shows you three signs. The two blue signs with red banners are Interstate Route signs, which represent multi lane limited access roads that run across state lines. The middle white badge-shaped sign between the interstate route signs is a US Highway sign, which depicts multi lane roads with easy access that can also run across state lines. Sometimes, interstates and US Highways overlap with each other at a certain point like in this case, but in most cases, these signs stand on their own. The second picture shows two state route signs. State route signs are often black and white squares like this, but some states have their own unique signs that are different colors and shapes. But in any case, these signs always tell you that you're on a route that travels across the state.

ADDED LANE

Here is another sign that might be ORANGE or YELLOW depending on the situation: "added lane." The sign will be orange if there is a new lane TEMPORARILY until construction is over. The sign will be YELLOW if there is a PERMANENT new lane based on the shape of the road.

LANE END

Here's another familiar sign! This sign warns that a lane is about to end and that you need to merge left. This sign is often accompanied by white arrow markings painted on the road showing you that you need to move over. As always, signal, check your mirrors, and check your blind spot before changing lanes.

DISTRACTION

Highway hypnosis can also be the result of extreme distraction. Maybe you start thinking about a conversation you had the other day, or you are planning what you're going to do when you arrive at your destination. If your mind wanders, you might still be processing enough information to keep the car on the road and obey traffic laws, but you will NOT be able to react to new or unexpected information, such as road warning signs or if a deer darts into the road. You're too busy concentrating on the "white lines" on the road to think about anything else. That's why it's also called "white line fever."

WHAT IS HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS?

Highway hypnosis, also known as "white line fever," is a state of mind where you're driving along but later can't remember it. This is often a result of extreme fatigue. It can happen when you've been driving long distances and are tired. You hear the hum of the tires, the rumbling of the engine, and the wind rushing by the car...and it makes you drowsy with the repetition. To prevent and fight against highway hypnosis, always keep your eyes moving, and stop every so often to stretch even if you don't feel tired. Always make sure you start your trip well-rested!

HOW TO HILL PARK

Hill parking is a maneuver you may have to perform on your road test. Regardless of whether you're on a hill, on a flat surface, or you have a physical curb or not, the first two steps are the same: Park the vehicle. Activate the parking brake. If you park UPHILL WITH A PHYSICAL CURB on the right side of the road, turn your wheels AWAY from the curb toward the LEFT. If you're parked on the right in any other situation (downhill with or without a physical curb, or uphill without a physical curb), turn your wheels TOWARD the curb to the RIGHT.

10-HOUR REFRESHER COURSE

If NO behind-the-wheel sessions are taken for 13 months after the last day of driver's ed, you MUST take a 10-hour refresher course, which will cost a fee. This is regardless of whether or not you have gotten your permit. You have probably realized by now that your parents need to know certain things to help you get your license. Please be open and clear with them concerning what they need to do. If you or your parents are ever confused about what to do, check your driving school's website, or give a call. We are here to help!

DIVIDED HIGHWAY ENDS

If a median is about to end, there will be a warning sign indicating that you should be prepared for traffic to flow closer together very soon. Be careful not to run into oncoming traffic as the lanes come closer together.

BLINDING LIGHTS

If an oncoming vehicle fails to dim their high beams, and it is difficult for you to see because of it, slow down, and keep your eyes on the white shoulder line to keep your vehicle in control. Remember from an earlier lesson that if a vehicle is behind you and has their lights shining in your rear view mirror, you can push the black flap at the bottom of the mirror. This lets you see what's behind you without the bright reflection.

PREVENT SKIDDING

If skidding happens to you, DO NOT PANIC! Slow down, and ease off the brakes and gas. Steer in the direction you want to go, and avoid sharp or sudden movements to balance your vehicle again. As soon as the vehicle starts to straighten out, turn your steering wheel back the other way. In most cases, skidding causes the REAR tires to skid, which lets you maintain steering control. But in a FRONT wheel skid, you won't be able to steer the vehicle, so make sure to take your foot off the pedals!

SWERVING

If someone comes to a sudden stop in front of you while you're driving, or if a crash happens in front of you, you might need to swerve out of the way to avoid hitting another vehicle. Remember, never swerve into oncoming traffic! If you MUST swerve, swerve off the road, and aim for side impacts whenever possible. You should never weave in and out of traffic or weave within your lane either (unless you're avoiding debris in lane positions #4 or #5). It might seem like fun, but you're more likely to crash and hurt others or yourself when you choose to drive recklessly. SWERVING IS NOT A GAME! IT IS ALWAYS YOUR LAST RESORT!

THE SOLUTION: PART 2

If the hazard on your right is NOT traveling in the same direction as you are going, such as children playing on the side of the road or a pedestrian walking toward you instead of away from you, you will have to hug the left side of the road even if there's oncoming traffic. Since this can be dangerous, you must SLOW DOWN A LOT to maintain control of your vehicle and navigate more easily past both hazards! Never try to hurry by hazards that you can't separate.

THE SOLUTION: PART 1

If the pedestrian is traveling in the same direction as you are, such as a bicyclist or someone taking a walk down the street, you should always SLOW DOWN, and REMAIN BEHIND THEM until the oncoming traffic has passed by. Then, once there is no more oncoming traffic, you can safely move over to the left and pass the pedestrian with plenty of space.

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE: YELLOW

If the sign is yellow and showing you a permanent solution, it means only one thing: The road is always like this. If you ever travel this road again, you know exactly what to expect and can prepare for it in advance without surprises. Both YELLOW and ORANGE signs are very helpful in warning you what's up ahead.

"BE AWARE OF CHILDREN"

If there are warning signs posted near a school, they will not simply be yellow like any other warning sign. They are going to be what we call "fluorescent yellow" or "safety green." See the two signs pictured here? One is just a regular old yellow warning sign. The other is a fluorescent yellow/safety green warning sign. Can you see the difference? Safety green was chosen to draw your attention to the fact that you must be aware of CHILDREN.

ABS REMINDER

If there is ever an emergency and you need to stop quickly, you HAVE to stop the car as quickly as possible even if it won't be smooth. Remember, you will have to use a different braking technique to stop quickly depending on if you have ABS brakes or not. If you DO have ABS brakes, press the brake pedal and hold it there with constant pressure. You'll feel that pulsing sensation in the bottom of your foot when the ABS brakes are activated. This will keep the wheels from locking up. If you do NOT have ABS brakes, pump the brakes to imitate the ABS effect until you're out of danger.

HABITUAL OFFENDERS

If you are convicted of 4 or more major traffic violations or 12 or more minor violations within 5 years, the DMV will declare you a "habitual offender." You can find out more about what a habitual offender is on www.wisconsindmv.gov. But basically, your driving privilege will be revoked for a period of 5 years. All these things increase the cost of your insurance like crazy! So the bottom line is, DON'T GET A TICKET! But if you do, be careful to follow the rules a bit more closely so you don't run the risk of losing your privilege to drive.

SLOWING DOWN

If you are merely slowing down and not planning to turn, stick your arm out the window with your palm facing behind, as shown. Many times, your signal light is the same as your brake light, so if your signals are out, your brake lights will also be out.

PULL TOWARD THE CENTER

If you are the FIRST car in the left turn lane, and traffic is NOT clear for you to complete your left turn, you must prepare for your turn by pulling your car passed the white stop line and a few feet toward the center of the intersection. However, do NOT go right into the middle of the intersection! You can get hit more easily that way. Keep your wheel pointed straight as you wait for traffic to clear. If someone hits you from behind, and your wheel is turned toward the left, you can get pushed into oncoming traffic. If you're the second car waiting to turn left, wait BEHIND the stop line until it's your turn to move forward.

STEADY GREEN AND FLASHING YELLOW ARROW

If you are turning left, a steady green light and a flashing yellow arrow mean the same thing to you: YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC! You may NOT proceed with your turn until traffic is clear. Obviously, a steady green light also allows you to go straight if that's your choice. But a flashing yellow arrow means that your ONLY choice is to turn in the direction of the arrow (which is usually always left).

RESTRICTIONS

If you are under 16 and have your permit, only immediate family members can ride along in the back seat with you. If you are over 16, you are allowed to have one other person other than a family member in the back seat; that person must be over 25 years old and have at least 2 years driving experience with a license. Check the motorist's handbook for permit restriction details or visit the WiDOT website.

ACCELERATOR MALFUNCTIONS: WON'T GO DOWN

If you can't push your gas pedal down, DO NOT PANIC! There's probably something blocking the pedal. Pull over to the side of the road when it's safe to do so. Remove the obstruction blocking the pedal from going down, which is usually a floor mat or garbage of some kind like a water bottle. Prevent this problem from happening again by keeping your car clean and free of clutter!

WINTER DRIVING TIPS

If you can't stay home, here are a few more winter driving tips to keep you safe on the road: Keep your vehicle in peak operating condition. Have an emergency kit. Delay trips when snow is very heavy. If you must drive, let someone know your route and destination. Keep your gas tank at least half full. Don't use cruise control. Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Keep a slow speed. Increase your following distance. Drive cautiously. Stay alert.

NAVIGATING STOP SIGNS

If you come to a TWO WAY STOP, it means that TWO WAYS need to stop. Traffic on the road crossing the one you're on DOES NOT STOP DRIVING in this case! They have the right-of-way. You must come to a complete stop at the sign, look left, right, across, and left again to make sure the way is clear, and only continue when the crossroad is empty. If you come to a FOUR or ALL-WAY STOP, it means that cars coming from ALL directions need to stop. No one has the absolute right-of-way. The person who arrives at their stop sign first gets to go first. If you arrive at nearly the same time, the person on the right goes first.

IF YOU CAN'T SEE: CONTROLLED

If you come upon a CONTROLLED BLIND INTERSECTION, and you discover it's a TWO-WAY stop, that means traffic from the cross street won't stop for you. You MUST make sure traffic from the cross street is clear! You must FIRST stop at the stop line like you've already learned about, even if you can't see clearly down the street from that position. (If there is no stop line, stop before the stop sign.) Once you've stopped at the stop line, slowly inch forward by letting your car roll with your foot on the brake - just a little tiny bit at a time. While you're doing this, lean forward in the driver seat to look down the street LEFT, RIGHT, ACROSS, and LEFT, just like we already learned about. If the way is clear, you may proceed.

"FLOATING"

If you drift into another turn lane as you're making your turn, it's called "floating." If a collision happens because of this, you can get a ticket. In some states, it's illegal whether you cause a collision or not. Follow the rules of the road by staying in your lane

WHAT IS IT? (turning around)

If you ever miss a turn in a neighborhood, most people might try to make a U-turn to go back (a left turn that continues until you're facing the opposite direction). However, if the road isn't big enough, you might need to make a 3-point-turn. The 3-point turn or turnabout, also called a Y-turn, K-turn, or broken U-turn, is a dangerous maneuver that can have serious consequences if not properly executed. If you miss your turn in a city and can't make a U-turn, it might be safer to circle around the block. But sometimes, you can perform a 3-point turn/turnabout on a vacant side street to get to your destination faster.

CARS BEHIND YOU

If you find that there's a long line of cars bunching up behind you because you're going so slowly, you have one of two choices: Speed up to match the speed limit if you're not already going the speed limit and if weather conditions are good. Pull over to let the cars behind you go by.

FOLLOWING DISTANCE: NAVIGATING

If you find you don't have enough following distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you, increase the space between you by easing off the gas to slow down a little bit. At 60 mph, it may take three times as long for a car to stop as it would at 30 mph! Always slow down even more when the roads are wet or when there's limited visibility. If someone is tailgating you, they're obviously not paying attention to the proper following distance. Remember that your best option on a multi-lane road in this situation is to change lanes.

peer pressure

a feeling that you should do something because that is what your friends want. You are more likely to crass with friends in the car.

U-TURNS

If you find yourself traveling in the wrong direction, or perhaps you forgot something and need to turn around, you will probably need to make a U-turn. Remember a U-turn is a left turn that continues until you're facing the opposite direction. U-turns in rural areas can be dangerous depending on where you make the turn. Be sure you don't make a U-turn within 500 feet of a curve, rise, or hill crest. These are illegal place to make a U-turn. Be sure you have plenty of visibility in both directions before completing a U-turn.

IN ALL CASES...

If you get into a confusing situation where you're told to move forward even when you were really supposed to be the one yielding, you must remember one thing: YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING TRAFFIC! Don't rely on the waving driver to check that it's safe for you to go. You only have the right-of-way over that single driver. If you get into a crash because you didn't check for other traffic, even if someone waved for you to go, YOU will be at fault - not anyone else! NEVER depend on someone else to check your safety. Always take that responsibility upon yourself.

STOPPING AND GOING

If you have a stop sign or signal before your turn, you must come to a complete stop before making the turn. If you do NOT have a stop sign or signal... As you approach the turn, SLOW DOWN. Get to about 10 mph or less before you start making the physical turn. When you're about 3/4 done with your turn, gradually accelerate to get back up to speed. Think of turning at an intersection the same way as turning at a large curve in the road. Always slow down BEFORE you have to turn the wheel.

DON'T STOP!

If you have a yield sign, you should NOT STOP unless there are actually cars present crossing your pathway. You should only SLOW DOWN as you check for traffic. If the way is clear, you may continue through the intersection. If the way is not clear, you must stop until the car has passed. If you stop with a yield sign when you're not supposed to, it could cause a rear-end collision with any cars behind you - especially when yield signs are used in other places on the road such as freeways, which we'll learn about later. Get into the habit of ONLY slowing down for yield signs UNLESS there is danger.

R FOR REVERSE

If you move the selector from P to R, the vehicle will slowly roll backwards if you take your foot off the brake. Whenever you put your car in the reverse gear, white lights on your vehicle's bumper will turn on automatically to warn people that you are backing up. You should always reverse your vehicle at a SLOW WALKING PACE. Keep your foot on the brake pedal and slowly allow the car to roll back. Don't press on the gas to reverse the car. You can easily lose control of the vehicle if you back up too quickly.

BRAKE PEDAL

If you parked facing downhill and are getting ready to leave, keep in mind that your vehicle will begin moving forward much faster than normal as soon as you lift your foot off the brake. Release the brake pedal slowly to maintain control. If you're facing uphill, your vehicle may not move at all when you lift your foot off the brake pedal, or the car will start rolling backwards instead. Be prepared to press the gas pedal GENTLY in this situation.

HIGH BEAMS

If you push the entire lighting control stick away from you, the high beams will turn on. You can tell that the high beams are working when you see the blue BRIGHTS dashboard light turn on. When visibility is very bad such as on a rural street, you can use your high beams. Never use your brights in fog or rain because it will create a reflection that makes your visibility even worse.

Crashes

If you see a collision or crash on the side of the road, don't "rubberneck." "Rubbernecking" is when a driver turns to look at the scene of a crash as they drive by. Their neck twists in the direction of the crash so they can see better as if their neck were made of rubber. Taking your eyes of the road is always dangerous.. Don't let your curiosity get the better of you. Simply focus on driving. Rubbernecking usually causes traffic congestion because everyone is slowing down just a little bit for a better view, but rubbernecking can also cause a brand new collision since traffic flow becomes unpredictable. What do you call it when two or more cars collide? An accident? A collision? A crash? Many people say they got into a car ACCIDENT when it was really a COLLISION or a CRASH. ACCIDENTS can't be prevented. They occur when something goes wrong even when all the rules were followed and the driver was paying attention. COLLISIONS happen when two cars hit each other, and CRASHES happen when a car hits a stationary object such as a tree. Usually, collisions and crashes are the result of driver error. You should always try to minimize the effect of a collision or a crash. If you will inevitably get into a collision or crash... Aim the vehicle for a side impact. Head-on collisions are far more dangerous than side swipes or other impact areas, because the force of impact is worse. The jolt from movement to non-movement is more abrupt and harsh. Avoid hitting solid things such as trees, poles, parked cars, and buildings, when possible. Aim for things that are softer such as bushes. DO NOT STEER LEFT! It may lead you into oncoming traffic.

BLIND PEDESTRIANS

If you see someone who has a white cane or guide dog, this person is likely blind or has very poor vision. When these pedestrians uses a crosswalk in front of you, you must always give these pedestrians at least 10 feet of space to ensure a safe crossing. Make it a habit to give ALL pedestrians plenty of room when they cross the street in front of you. If you're ever rear-ended by a distracted driver, that extra room will help prevent you from being pushed into the pedestrians using the crosswalk.

LOW BEAMS

If you turn the switch a second time, your low beams turn on. These are the lights you'll use when you drive at night or in low visibility. At night, dawn, and dusk, you must use headlights to help you see and help others see you. You must also use headlights when it's raining, snowing, sleeting, or foggy - even if it's daytime. NEVER use your parking lights in place of your headlights! If your headlights aren't working, get them fixed right away!

RETURNING STRAIGHT: SIDE-TO-SIDE STEERING RIGHT TURN

If you use side-to-side steering to return the wheel, and were making a RIGHT turn... Grip the wheel with your RIGHT hand, and bring your right hand to the 6 position. At the same time, your LEFT hand will slide down to the 6 position to meet your right hand. Once your hands meet, grab the wheel with your LEFT hand and bring the wheel down until your hand is at the 9 position. At the same time, let your RIGHT hand slide up the wheel to the 3 position.

DRIVE-THRU TIPS

If you use the drive-thru window on your trip, here are a few things you should know: Drive SLOWLY, especially if there are cars in the line with you. When you stop at the window, DO NOT become distracted, or you might lift your foot off the brake pedal by mistake! Make sure you leave enough room between yourself and the drive-thru windows and monitors so that you don't hit any curbs or scratch the side of the car. Don't pull up with too much room between you and the window, or you won't be able to reach your food when they hand it to you!

RETURNING STRAIGHT: SIDE-TO-SIDE STEERING LEFT TURNS

If you were making a LEFT turn, reverse the steps: Grip the wheel with your LEFT hand, and bring your right hand to the 6 position. At the same time, your left hand will slide down to the 6 position to meet your right hand. Once your hands meet, grab the wheel with your RIGHT hand and bring the wheel down until your hand is at the 3 position. At the same time, let your LEFT hand slide up the wheel to the 9 position. Your driving instructor will be able to show you the best way to turn the wheel once you start practicing. Never let go of the wheel or use only your fingers or palm to turn.

THE SOLUTION: MOVING

If you're approaching a green light, you should cover the brake as you go through the intersection, glancing to your left and right before you enter and as you go through. Don't slow down by pressing on your brake pedal. Your light is green, and you have the right-of-way. But as a defensive driver, you should always be prepared for something not going right. If you see cars aren't stopping in cross traffic and they're about to cut in front of you, you can stop a lot more quickly if you already have your foot prepared to hit the brake pedal.

"RAMP METERED WHEN FLASHING"

If you're coming up to a metered ramp, you'll see a sign with lights that says "ramp metered when flashing." If the lights aren't flashing, that means the meter up ahead is deactivated. You may proceed as normal. If the yellow lights ARE flashing, treat it as a "stop sign ahead" sign. You WILL be stopping soon! If there are multiple lanes on the ramp when the sign is activated, do NOT change lanes until you have passed the meter.

THE TWO-SIDED ARROW

If you're coming up to the intersecting point of a T-intersection from the bottom of the T, you might see this rectangular double-sided arrow sign in front of you. This sign is emphasizing that there's traffic coming from both sides and that you can't go straight. You must make either a right or left turn once there is no traffic

OVERHEATED ENGINE FAILURE

If you're driving and notice your temperature gauge rising towards the red (Hot), your engine is overheating. Shut the AC off and turn on the HEAT. This brings heat from the engine into the car. If your temperature gauge needle begins to go down, you can continue driving, but get the gauge checked by a mechanic as soon as you can. If your temperature gauge needle keeps rising even after you turned on the heat, pull over safely, park, and shut the car. Get out of the car and open the car hood for about 15-30 minutes to let the engine cool down. Check your coolant and add some if necessary. Get your vehicle checked by a mechanic!

PASSING

If you're driving faster than other traffic, you'll have to keep passing others. Each time you pass someone, there's a greater chance for a crash. It's better to slow down and keep pace with other traffic, even if traffic is going under the speed limit. Also remember, don't speed! Speeding only saves mere minutes for each driving hour.

ONLY STRAIGHT

If you're in a lane with an ONLY STRAIGHT arrow, you may not turn left or right. Notice that these lanes are separated by a solid white line. Traffic is going in the same direction, but you may not pass other cars or cross the line. If you find that you're in the straight lane and need to make a turn, don't try changing lanes at the last minute! Continue straight and turn later on, making your way back to where you need to go.

EMERGENCY VEHICLES: INTERSECTIONS AND ROUNDABOUTS

If you're in the middle of an intersection or roundabout, and you hear those sirens or see those flashing lights coming, do NOT stop in the middle of the intersection. Clear the intersection and then safely pull over as far to the right as possible. If you're traveling on the OPPOSITE side of a DIVIDEDroadway from an active emergency vehicle, you do NOT need to pull over or stop. If you're on the SAME side of the divided roadway from the emergency vehicle, you MUST yield the right-of-way just like you would do on an undivided roadway.

T-INTERSECTION TRACKS

If you're on the bottom of the T (the intersecting street) and approaching an intersection, you'll see this first type of intersection sign if there are tracks on the through-road. It warns you to be prepared for a train if you're planning to turn right. You will see the second type of sign if you cross tracks before reaching the through-road. This warns you to cross the tracks completely as you're waiting for cross traffic to clear. Don't ever stop on the tracks as you wait to turn onto the road!

TRACKS ON DIVIDED HIGHWAY

If you're on the intersecting road, and you're approaching a divided highway sign that looks like this, it means there are train tracks ahead. If you're making a right turn, the tracks won't affect you. But if you need to make a left turn or go straight, you can only proceed if you can cross the tracks completely and safely. Be extra careful since there are also vehicles you'll have to watch out for.

IF YOU CAN'T SEE: UNCONTROLLED

If your view is blocked at an UNCONTROLLED BLIND INTERSECTION, you need to approach the intersection slowly enough to stop if necessary. You might actually have to stop anyway to get a good view up and down the street before proceeding. Uncontrolled intersections can be very dangerous if you or other road users aren't paying attention. Other vehicles might catch you by surprise if you're not focused. You might also need to stop at a blind intersection with yield signs in order to take the time to get a good view of the street.

FORWARD

If you're parked in a driveway with the FRONT of your vehicle pointed toward the road, you must treat things the same way you would treat any other intersection. Slowly release your foot from the brake pedal to allow the car to roll forward. Stop the first time before crossing the sidewalk. Check both ways for bicyclists and pedestrians. Everyone on the sidewalk has the right-of-way over you. Stop a second time once the nose of your car reaches the road. Check for traffic, and signal in the direction you want to go. Slowly accelerate as you make your turn out of the driveway (hand-over hand or side-to-side). Accelerate as you straighten out the wheel.

DEER WARNING SIGNS

If you're traveling on a road that has a high deer population, you might see this yellow "deer crossing" warning sign. Deer won't necessarily be inclined to cross the road RIGHT where the sign is, but you should be alert for a number of miles for deer possibly crossing the road or jumping out unexpectedly. Other animal warning signs might have pictures of ducks, elk, bears, moose, and cows, depending on the area of the state or country you're driving through. Hitting a large animal can be dangerous. They can seriously damage a car or hurt the driver and passengers in a collision. Your reaction to hitting a deer may be the difference between a serious crash and nothing at all. It all comes down to how much time you have to react and the distance between your vehicle and the deer. If you're paying attention and scanning the road side to side and well ahead, you might see the deer before it becomes a problem When you see a deer approaching the road or you realize a deer is in the road: Check your rear view mirror for another car behind you. If there are vehicles directly behind you or within close sight, you should NOT slam on your brakes. This could cause a chain reaction of crashes. If you do have plenty of room behind you or no vehicles at all, gently apply the brakes while holding your wheel straight. Hopefully the deer will continue crossing without collision. However, if you're too close or cannot brake because of cars behind you, you should hit the deer. If you hit the deer, now what? Make sure your vehicle is still safe to drive. If not, get assistance. If your vehicle can be moved, get it off the road so it doesn't block traffic or cause a crash. Record the time, place, and other circumstances of the incident for insurance and accident reporting purposes. Never swerve to avoid hitting an animal. If you swerve right, you may find yourself going off road or into an adjoining traffic lane. If you swerve left, you may find yourself heading into oncoming traffic. The safest thing to do is gently brake and hit the deer. You're entitled to keep the deer you hit. If you don't want it, the next motorist on the scene is entitled to it. But before you can take the deer, law enforcement needs to issue a tag for it. Contact the sheriff's office or local police department to obtain a tag. If you don't want to take the deer, notify a local law enforcement agency of the location where the deer was hit (especially if it's not dead). Don't worry, hunters! If you're issued a tag for a deer you hit, you can still receive your tag for hunting season.

MV3001 FORM

If you're under 18 years old, you'll also have to complete a form called the MV3001 form at the same time you bring your identity documents (step number 3). This form proves that you're enrolled in a state-approved behind-the-wheel training program. So obviously, you actually need to be enrolled in a state-approved behind-the-wheel program before you can even get this form! Make sure you find a good driving school before you decide to get your permit so that the school can give you this form. A state-approved driver's ed program includes 30 hours of classroom material, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training, and 6 hours of observation. Finally, your parent or guardian must also sign this form.

TAILGATING SOLUTIONS

If you've already tried slowing down and moving to the right to encourage a tailgater to pass, and they still aren't passing, follow the steps below: Increase the following distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you if there is one. This way, once the vehicle passes, it will have enough room to return to the original lane. Reduce your speed to encourage the driver to pass. Move to the far right lane when on a multi-lane road. As a LAST RESORT, find a place to pull over completely to allow them to pass. NEVER SLAM YOUR BRAKES!

ACCELERATOR MALFUNCTIONS: WON'T COME UP

If your accelerator won't come up and is stuck to the floor: Remain calm! Remember, panicking will make the situation worse. Apply gradual, continuous pressure to the brake to stop your vehicle. DO NOT pump the brakes! DO NOT TURN YOUR ENGINE OFF! Once you have stopped, call for help to get your car fixed right away!

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES AND REINSTATEMENTS

If your license is suspended or revoked, check with the DMVto see if you qualify for an occupational license. This lets you to drive up to 12 hours a day and up to 60 hours a week, to and from work or school, so you are not left stranded. However, if you are habitual offender, you can't get an occupational license for the first two years of that five-year punishment. An occupational license is NOT FOR PERSONAL REASONS! You can get your occupational license privileges taken away if you use it for anything other than work or school. If you are eligible for an occupational license, you will need to provide proof of financial responsibility, either by filling out an SR22 insurance certificate, or showing the DMV that you have other ways to cover any damages that might happen from a crash in the future. If you had your license revoked, you can reinstate it after the revocation period is over, you've paid the reinstatement fee, and you provide proof of identity and proof of financial responsibility to the DMV. A suspended license can be reinstated at the end of the suspension period and after a reinstatement fee is paid.

BROKEN SIGNALS

If your signals don't work, get them fixed as soon as possible. Until you get them fixed, you'll have to use hand signals instead so that other road users know what you're going to do. Whenever you slow down, hold your driver's side arm down out the window. If your turn signals don't work, your brake lights probably don't work either. Hold your hand out straight to turn LEFT. Hold your arm up to turn RIGHT. You must also use hand signals if your regular signals can't be seen by other vehicles...even if the signals ARE working.

FLAT TIRES

If your tires are worn, incorrectly inflated, or damaged, they need to be replaced. Flat tires are tires that have slowly leaked out air pressure. They can happen at any time unexpectedly, but they are usually preventable. They're often caused by a tire puncture, which could result from driving over glass, sharp objects, or other debris in the road. Even though flat tires can be avoidable, sometimes it's hard to see something such as a small gray nail on the road as you're driving. Mistakes can happen.

TURN SIGNAL FAILURE

If your turn signals or brake lights stop working, get them fixed by a mechanic as soon as possible. But in the meantime, remember that you need to use hand signals until you get those lights fixed: When slowing down, put your arm out the window facing down. When making a right turn, put your arm up When making a left turn, put your arm out straight. You always have to slow down before making a turn. Signal that you're slowing down first. Then once you begin slowing down, signal for your turn.

STEPPING OUT OF THE CAR

It's not out of the ordinary for an officer to ask a driver to step out of their vehicle during a traffic stop. When a police officer asks you to step out of the car, it's in your best interest to comply to the request. However, especially as an underage driver, you might feel nervous to step out of your vehicle - perhaps the officer isn't wearing a uniform that you recognize, or perhaps it's nighttime and you're in a rural area by yourself. It isn't illegal to stay in your car even if you're asked to come out, but if you do that, it might make the officer suspicious. There are a few different possible solutions to this dilemma that your parents can help clarify for you. Make sure you speak to them about some safe options.

CONTROLLED AND UNCONTROLLED

It's pretty easy to navigate a CONTROLLED railroad track. Just wait for the lights and sirens to stop and for the barricade arm to come up. But what about an UNCONTROLLED railroad track? (tracks without lights or barricade arms)? Yes, they DO exist! Slow down. Turn off the radio and climate controls to hear any train whistles better. Open the window if necessary. If a train is coming, stop with plenty of space away from the tracks - one or two car lengths is a good approximation. Wait for the train to clear. Then check for a second train before going forward. For controlled AND uncontrolled tracks, don't cross if you can't fully make it across without stopping. If there are TWO sets of tracks, make sure that before you cross, the train is well down the track so you can see that both sets of tracks are clear.

KEEPING PACE WITH TRAFFIC

Just like driving in the city, you should try to keep pace with the flow of traffic to ensure safety while traveling on the freeway. Driving significantly slower than the flow of traffic can be especially dangerous on the freeway. If you're causing traffic to back up, you can do one of three things: Speed up to match the traffic flow. Move into the far right lane to allow traffic to pass. Exit the freeway and take another route. But remember that keeping pace with the flow of traffic is NOT a valid excuse for speeding! Going over the speed limit is always illegal and may result in a speeding ticket.

MULTI TURN LANES

Just like there might be two or three lanes traveling in the same direction going straight, there might be multiple lanes turning right or left. You will usually see the only arrow painted on the pavement to mark these lanes. The driving rule for turn lanes is simply: CROSS AS FEW LANES AS POSSIBLE WHEN MAKING A TURN. Let's explain what that means.

STEP 7: TAKE PICTURES

Keep a disposable camera in your car to take photos of the scene that no one can edit. If you only have a phone or regular camera, that will be better than nothing. Take LOTS of photos! If you're not sure you took enough, take more. Take pictures of the street, your car, the other person's car, and any injuries or property damages.

LETTING OTHERS MERGE

Keep space for cars entering the freeway you're on. If you're traveling in the far right lane and you notice vehicles merging from the entrance ramp, move to the left lane if it's safe. This gives the merging vehicles a larger gap. If there's too much traffic or it's unsafe to move over, stay in your lane and maintain your speed. Do NOT slow down on the freeway to let other cars in!

FOLLOWING THROUGH AND RETURNING

Keep your eyes moving with your turn. Look where your vehicle is going, and begin to accelerate to the posted speed about 80% into your turn. To return the wheel back to its original straight position, keep your hands on the wheel, and guide the steering wheel back into its original place by using "hand-over-hand" steering or "side-to-side" steering. If you use hand-over-hand steering to return the wheel, you'll basically be turning the wheel in the opposite way used to make the turn. Just make sure you don't over-steer in this situation!

SEMI TRUCKS

Large trucks such as semis cannot accelerate, stop, or change direction as quickly as smaller vehicles can. When driving near large trucks or semis, give them extra room to move on the road, including at roundabouts. Large trucks sometimes make wide right turns and will swing left before making their turn. Do not attempt to pass them on the right. IF YOU CANNOT SEE INTO THEIR SIDE MIRRORS, THEY CANNOT SEE YOU! As always, before making a maneuver around a semi truck... SIGNAL CHECK YOUR REAR VIEW MIRRORS CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS TWICE

LARGE VEHICLES

Larger vehicles such as snow plows, recreational vehicles, maintenance, or construction vehicles typically have a difficult time seeing to the rear of their vehicle. If you're driving near ANY large vehicle, especially behind them, be sure you give more cushion space than you would give to a regular vehicle. Typically, if you cannot see into their side mirrors, they cannot see you. (Remember the music video?) Before making any maneuver around a large vehicle...can you finish the list? SIGNAL CHECK YOUR REAR VIEW MIRRORS CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS TWICE

LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT

Leave a space cushion on all sides of your vehicle. You want to have a way to get out of an emergency situation. This means you should leave at least a 4 second following distance (more if the vehicle behind is too close or are driving in bad weather - we'll go over this more in a future lesson) and do not drive along side of other vehicles. You need to have room to be able to speed up, swerve, turn, or stop/slow down.

RURAL TAILGATING

Let's imagine that you're driving on a two-lane rural road where there's no area to allow the tailgater to pass. Even though you tried slowing down a bit and moving to the right side of the road, they won't pass and STILL won't stop tailgating! At this point, you can assume that the driver behind you doesn't realize they're tailgating you. What should you do?

WINDOWS: PART 1

Let's pretend a police officer stops you. You pull over, have your identification ready, place your hands on the wheel, and wait for the officer to approach. It's a good recommendation to roll your window about halfway open at most. That way, it's open enough for clear communication and to pass documentation back and forth, but it's also closed enough to keep a respectful distance between the officer and the driver. The officer will usually greet you and then tell you the reason you've been pulled over first, and then they will probably ask for your documentation. While the officer is talking to you, you should be polite and respectful, but you're not legally required to answer questions you're not comfortable answering or give personal information about yourself. You should talk to your parents about different things that would be safe or unsafe to talk about at a traffic stop.

CHECKING YOUR STOP SIGN

Let's pretend you are arriving at a four-way stop, and you see another car arriving at the stop sign across from you. You both arrive at the intersection at the same time and stop. Neither one of you is on the "right side" of the other. Who goes first? You can both go at the SAME TIME if both cars are going straight, both cars are turning right, both cars are turning left, or one car is going straight and the other car is turning right. If one car is going straight and the other car is turning left, the car that is turning left must yield to the car going straight.

THE SITUATION

Let's pretend you're stopped at a red light waiting for the light to turn green. The first two seconds after the light turns green is the most dangerous time at an intersection. If a driver isn't paying attention or is in a hurry, they might try getting through the intersection before their light turns red...and they might not time it right. They'll go through the intersection on a red light while yours is green. If you start moving forward IMMEDIATELY after your light turns green, that driver might crash into you!

JUMPING THE LINE

Let's pretend you're watching someone pull into a parking spot. Then because the spot ahead of them is empty, and there's no physical barrier between the spots, the car pulls forward over the line to park in the next row. Now, they're facing out toward the aisle. If the front of the car is facing out when parked, it's easier to leave the spot later. So this isn't a bad plan necessarily. However, your skills as a driver will NOT improve if you always take this short cut. When you're a seasoned driver, you can jump the line if you want, but for now, practice pulling in and out correctly.

DOUBLE STACKING

Let's say you come up to a divided highway, and traffic coming from the left is clear. You want to drive to the highway divide to wait for traffic to clear there, but there is a car waiting there already, going in the same direction as you. Can you drive up to wait there with the other car? NO! THIS IS CALLED "DOUBLE STACKING."

MYTH #2: SLOW SPEEDS AND SHORT DISTANCES

MYTH: You don't need to wear your seat belt going short distances. FACT: 20% of traffic deaths happen on roads where the posted speed limit is less than 45 mph, which is usually the speed you remain when traveling short distances. At a slow speed of 25 mph, the force of a head-on crash is the same as pedaling a bicycle full speed into a brick wall, or driving off a 3-story building onto the sidewalk. No one can 'brace' oneself for that. Your seat belt will help brace and protect you both at high speeds and low speeds.

STEP 1: WHEEL POSITION

Make sure you use one of the following hand positions when reversing: left hand on 12 and right hand on 3 on the wheel left hand on 12 and right hand behind the passenger seat Either one of these positions makes it easier for you to look out the back window while reversing.

LANE POSITION IN NEIGHBORHOODS

Many neighborhood roads will NOT have lane markings! The road will simply be blank pavement. You shouldn't drive in the center of the pavement because you won't allow room for an oncoming vehicle to pass. You need to imagine painted lines to keep your car on your side of the road. Picture an imaginary line down the center of the pavement, and stay on the right side of that line. Don't be tempted to weave or drive on the wrong side of the road even if the road is very wide.

CRASHES IN RURAL AREAS

Many states have uncontrolled rural intersections. These intersections are especially dangerous because you may not see the intersection approaching if you're not paying attention or if there are crops or hills blocking your view. The following video gives you a closer look on how to prepare for uncontrolled rural intersections.

"ONLY ARROW" MARKS

Many times, rural roads don't have road line markings. Just like in our neighborhood driving section, you'll have to imagine an invisible line separating the two sides of traffic. Always keep to your side of the road on the right. If there are no road markings, sometimes road markings might appear briefly at intersections to indicate lanes going straight and lanes that are intended for turns. There might not be corresponding posted signs, but pay close attention to the road as you come toward an intersection to make sure you are in the lane you want to be in.

"BRAIN DEATH" VERSUS "DEATH"

Medically and legally speaking, "brain dead" is used to describe people with as little as zero brain activity all the way up to 80% brain activity. If there is any brain activity left at all, the patient is technically in a coma. Because of this, there are many accounts of "brain dead" people waking up and leading healthy, normal lives. There are many medical websites and video documentaries explaining what "brain death" means in more detail, but there are too many points to mention in this drivers ed course overview. The following scene from Princess Bride sums the risks up rather well...

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

Most states have I-Passes or EZ-Passes as their form of electronic tolling. Some states have their own versions. If you don't have cash to pay a toll, and you don't have an electronic pass sticker, you need to find another route. Obviously you can't get away with passing through a cash toll booth with no money since there is always a toll employee there, but you can't get away with passing through an electronic toll booth without a sticker either!

STEP 4: WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY

NEVER say "I didn't see you!" - this implies guilt and can complicate things legally later. "I'm sorry!" - this also implies guilt and can complicate things legally later. ALWAYS say "Are you OK?" or "Is everyone OK?" "Can I help you?" or "Can I do anything for you?" Encouraging things, especially if the other driver is very upset or nervous, such as "It'll be all right" or "Help will be here soon, don't worry." After everything is taken care of, tell them you're glad everyone is all right, or even something like "I'm so glad help got here so quickly!"

WHY WE DO ONE HALF FIRST

Navigating a divided highway one half at a time is so you don't have to worry about timing things just right for both sides of the road to be clear. When you become a more experienced driver, you can wait until traffic is clear from BOTH sides so you can drive fully across without stopping. Driving across in one motion helps prevent other people from "double stacking" behind you.

ONLY SIGNS

Near the lanes with ONLY arrows, you'll often find a corresponding road sign that shows the layout of the road ahead. ONLY signs show you what direction you can go in each lane from a birds-eye view. These signs function the same way as intersection warning signs that show you a birds-eye view of the road ahead. ONLY signs will always be white with black lettering and arrows. If it's raining or dark outside, you might see these signs better than the road markings. You'll also see the signs from farther away, which allows you to prepare sooner.

SAFETY TECH

No matter how careful you are, sometimes things still happen. As you transition from child to adult, you or your parents might be a little nervous about the possibility of car jacking. Fortunately, with today's technology, there are computerized safety devices and apps that can help during a crisis, whether it be a car malfunction, a health emergency, or criminal activity while driving. The technology notifies others that you're in trouble and need help. Talk to your parents about your particular concerns to see if a safety device or app might be a good idea for you.

GAS FORMULA PART 2

Now for the second part of the formula: Let's find out the cost of gas for your trip... Let's pretend you're taking a 500-mile round-trip. Divide your round-trip miles (500) by how many miles one gallon of gas can get you (20). The result in this case is 25. You will need 25 gallons of gas to complete this trip. If gas is $2.50 per gallon, simply multiply 2.50 by 25 (the amount of gallons you need). The answer is $62.50. So the final tally is that you will spend $62.50 for gas to and from your destination. Keep in mind that the final number is just a very close estimate. The exact amount can change depending on gas price changes, road conditions, and terrain.

CONSTRUCTION INTRODUCTION

ORANGE always means CONSTRUCTION. You should always SLOW DOWN and look out for road construction workers and equipment when you see the color orange. This picture is a common sign you will see to alert you that construction workers are ahead. You might also see a sign that simply says "road work ahead" or "construction workers ahead." This sign shows you that two single lanes from separate places will soon continue side-by-side as two parallel lanes running in the same direction. This sign is meant to keep you from becoming surprised or nervous when a car suddenly appears next to you. It also warns you not to try merging into the other lane. You'll be fine where you are as long as there's no LANE ENDS warning ahead. This is a LANE ENDS sign. See that the left line is merging into the right line? That indicates that the left traffic lane is about to merge into the right one. This is because a construction crew is working on the left lane ahead, so you won't be able to drive in it. You might see the reverse of this sign: a right lane merging into a left lane. Or, instead of graphics, you may see text that reads "Right Lane Ends" or "Left Lane Ends." Be prepared to change lanes accordingly. You might also see large flashing arrows telling you what direction you need to go through the construction zone. Don't wait until you are right near the arrow to make your changes. Make them as early as you safely can. The arrow is there to warn you well in advance in case there is heavy traffic. By the time you reach the arrow, it will be more difficult to change direction, and the likelihood of crashing increases. This sign prohibits you from traveling on that route. Do NOT go around the cones or signs! It's for the safety of you, your vehicle, and the construction workers. Find another route, or follow the orange detour signs to get where you need to go. As of October 2016, it's now illegal to talk on a handheld mobile device while driving in a Wisconsin road construction zone, whether you have a permit, probationary license, OR a regular license. Remember: Orange cones - put down the phones! Just like in the case of a school zone traffic guard, you might also see what we call a construction flagger in construction zones. Flaggers are there because of a unique situation in the construction work, just like in the case of a school traffic guard. Flaggers regulate traffic so that drivers and construction workers remain safe while the road work is going on. This sign warns you that a flagger might be up ahead. Always obey their directions even if the traffic signals or signs tell you to do something else.

SHARED CENTER LANE SIGN

Often, you will see a sign posted to indicate that the center lane is for turning only. See the arrows going in opposite directions? This matches the road markings that you will see on the pavement.

WHAT IS HYDROPLANING?

On a normal drive, your tires ride on the road's surface. But when it rains, sometimes the water on the road lifts the tires, causing the car to ride on the water's surface. This is called hydroplaning. It can be very dangerous because you can't control your vehicle's direction. To avoid hydroplaning ahead of time, keep your tires properly inflated, and drive more slowly than normal during wet weather. Bald tires can cause hydroplaning even at low speeds, so make sure you maintain good tires. If you find yourself hydroplaning, don't slam the brakes or make any sudden changes in direction or speed. Ease off the accelerator and keep the wheel straight until you gain traction.

PAVEMENT LINES

On paved roads, there are lines along the side of the road and between lanes to help you navigate the roadways. You should stay between these markings. A solid white line indicates the right edge of the road. A solid or dashed yellow line indicates the left edge of traffic lanes going in your direction. If you ever find yourself with yellow to your right and white to your left, you are going the WRONG WAY! Lines separating traffic moving in opposite directions are YELLOW.

FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION SIGNS

On the freeway, in addition to the construction signs you're already familiar with such as traffic pattern changes and road blocks, you might see exit signs with special construction arrows or detour signs pasted over what was there originally. You might also see "Exit Closed" or "Ramp Closed" pasted over an exit sign. Pay attention to these changes so you stay on track, or find another route. Don't rely on your GPS. If your GPS is old or hasn't had recent updates, it might not recognize these route changes. This is where a paper map can come in handy!

SPEEDING

On the freeway, you're required to travel at or just below the posted speed limit. The highest speed limit in Wisconsin is 70 mph. Freeways usually have this speed limit, but watch for signs to confirm. Remember that going too far below the speed limit can be just as dangerous as speeding! Match the speed of traffic flow until you reach an exit ramp.

TRIP BUTTON

On the odometer in most vehicles, there is a "trip meter." This button lets you track how many miles you've driven on a particular trip. Let's say you are driving somewhere new, and the directions say to travel 4 miles before making a certain turn. Press the trip button, which will bring "0" up on the odometer. This is the trip screen. It will change to 1, then 2, etc, as you travel the miles. This will help you not miss the turn. To clear your trip screen, hold the button down. Press the button as normal to return to the odometer screen. This is a great tool for new drivers since you aren't allowed to use a GPS for a while!

THE PROBATIONARY LICENSE

Once you pass your driving test with the DMV, you have reached the second part of the three-part Graduated Driver's License system: the probationary license. It's the first license issued to new drivers, no matter how old they are. It's valid for 2 years from your next birthday after you get the license. For example, if your 16th birthday is Jan 1st, 2017, and you received your probationary driver license anytime between Jan-Dec, 2017; you will be eligible for your regular driver license 2 years after your next birthday (01/01/2020). You can renew your probationary license no sooner than 90 days before expiration. This is a very important step in the GDL system, and it is very highly-monitored. During the first 9 months of your probationary license, you will have restrictions on who can ride with you while you are driving if you are under 18. They will be fewer restrictions than when you had your permit, but don't abuse these new privileges just because you were given a little more freedom! From 5am to midnight: You can drive alone and travel anywhere. Any number of immediate family members, including a legal guardian, can also ride with you (just like when you had your permit). There are new people who can join you: a qualified driving instructor who is 19 years old or older just as a regular passenger, another person who is 21 years old or older, and then one additional person, no criteria. That means now, you have three new types of people you can drive around during the day. Between midnight and 5am: You can drive by yourself ONLY if you are driving to and from work, school, or home. You can have any of the passengers that are allowed during the day. If you are driving to and from recreational activities: You can't drive alone. You need to have a parent or guardian sitting in the passenger seat, OR someone else in the passenger seat IF they have a regular license, 2 years of driving experience, and are 21+ or are a driving instructor or spouse 19+. You can have immediate family members and one additional person with you in the back seat. If you violate any of these restrictions, or if you commit any traffic violations or have your license suspended or revoked for any reason, these restrictions will be extended. How you handle yourself in this stage can make or break your entire future depending on how safe and responsible you choose to behave.

CAR JACK PREVENTION

Once you receive your license, you will have a new level of independence. Unfortunately, carjacking and robberies can happen anywhere and at any time, and if you are alone, it can be even more dangerous. But there are some tips to help keep you safe. Don't look for your keys while you stand outside your car. You're distracted this way, and you become an easy target for a car jacker. Have your car key ready in your hand before walking to your vehicle, and get in the car quickly. When you get in the car, immediately lock your car door before starting your seat adjustments or turning the car on. When you leave your car, lock your doors right away. Don't text while going to and from your vehicle. During the day, don't talk on your phone so you can pay attention to what's going on. However, you should talk (not text) while going to and from your car at night. This discourages car jackers since the person on the phone would become a witness. You can even pretend to talk on the phone at night to keep up this impression. If possible, park in well-lit areas at night.

SECOND STEP

Once you're about two or three car lengths away from your stopping point, do the SECOND step: Let the car CRAWL FORWARD SLOWLY. In other words, you could probably stop the car just fine right now if you had to do that. You're technically going slow enough. But it will not be smooth. Allow yourself extra room to "crawl" - or in other words, roll VERY slowly - toward your stopping point. This way, by the time you actually reach the spot you want to stop, you're basically stopped already.

AFTER THE TICKET

Once you're issued your traffic violation ticket, the officer will explain the ticket to you and tell you that you're free to go. Don't argue with the officer about the ticket even if you don't think you should have gotten it. The place to argue about the citation is in court, not on the side of the road. And this might be the hardest part of all, but once you're issued your ticket, it's good to say "thank you" to the officer. Yes, it might feel weird to do that. But this shows that you appreciate the officer doing their job.

REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT (OR DRIVEWAY): PART 2

Once you're out of the parking spot or driveway, turn the car in the direction you want the BACK of the car to face, and continue to reverse while turning the car. (Keep checking your blind spots!) Once you're facing the road, stop, put the car in drive, and turn the wheel in the direction you want to go. Make sure it's safe, then go! Always signal your intentions.

ONE-WAY STREETS

One-way streets can be in neighborhoods, but they are very common in cities, especially in downtown areas. These streets help manage a large amount of traffic. They are also commonly used to navigate alleyways. Be aware of one-way signs while driving in the city. If you want to make a turn, make sure that you're going in the right direction. Watch for vehicles that may enter a one-way street the wrong way! This commonly happens if the driver is not paying attention. Also, these signs tell you if you can make a left turn on red. Remember, you can turn left on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

OVERVIEW

Orange indicate upcoming road work. Road work is a situation that was planned ahead of time. Pink signs indicate an EMERGENCY situation that was unexpected.

STEADY GREEN ARROW

Out of the steady green light, the steady green arrow, and the flashing yellow arrow, you ONLY have the right-of-way to turn left if you have a STEADY GREEN ARROW. If you have a steady green arrow, you can ONLY turn in the direction of the arrow. If the arrow is pointing left, you have the right-of-way to turn left. As always, you should first check cross traffic just to make sure everyone is following the rules by remaining stopped to let you go through. If you see a steady green arrow WITH a solid green light or even a solid red light, you still have the right-of-way to turn because of the arrow.

ODD EXITS

Overhead signs can also show you the shape of the freeway for odd exits. This first picture shows you that in one mile, the main freeway will continue straight, while exit 138 B to State Route 30 toward Madison will be a left exit, and exit 138 A to Interstate Route 94 East toward Milwaukee will be a right exit. The second picture shows that the entire freeway will fork; if you bear right, you will continue on the freeway you're on, while if you bear left, you will be taking exit 4 toward Interstate 195 east toward New Bedford.

PHYSICAL DISTRACTIONS

Physical distractions are things that take your eyes off the road and your hands off the steering wheel. These include anything from the following list: eating grooming changing the radio station adjusting temperature controls digging through a bag or purse drinking a beverage opening beverages or snacks texting or using your phone

EXAMPLES OF PINK SIGNS

Pink signs might be used to warn drivers of any of the following unexpected and unplanned situations: A car crash scene is up ahead. The road is flooded ahead. Power lines are damaged ahead. If any of these situations require you to take a detour, the detour signs will also be pink. If there is unexpected maintenance work due to a storm or some other unforeseen event, pink signs are usually going to be used. This is why people confuse pink signs with construction signs. You might see "maintenance ahead" on an orange or a pink sign, but the orange sign means the maintenance was PLANNED, and the pink sign means it was UNPLANNED.

ROUTES

Planning your route ahead of time no matter how long your road trip is will save you time, money, and frustration. If you do this, you may discover there are construction projects along your route that you want to avoid. Checking the internet for live traffic right before you leave can show you current traffic times, and you can note any delays. Planning your stops for food, gas, and rests along the way will help you not run out of gas. Stops are also important to stretch your legs and give yourself and passengers a break from the vehicle.

APPROACHING A RAILROAD CROSSING

Railroad and highway officials do a whole lot to warn people of the dangers of railroad-highway grade crossings through signs, lights, whistles, and even safety campaigns. By understanding and obeying the railroad warning devices and following a few common sense rules, you can eliminate the chances of being injured or killed in a train-and-vehicle crash. One basic rule is always certain: YOU ALWAYS NEED TO LOOK BOTH WAYS - even if you don't see any lights or hear any sirens - and LOOK TWICE for a train! Never try to go around the railroad crossing arms when they're down. Don't go across the tracks until the arms are up AND the lights and bells have stopped.

DANGERS

Reduced visibility is one of the biggest dangers when driving in fog. Here are some tips for driving in fog: Slow down. Turn off cruise control. Increase following distance. Turn on low beam headlights, or fog lights if you have them. Brake early when approaching a stop to warn drivers behind you in time. Pull over if the fog is too dense.

LANE POSITION REVIEW

Remember the five lane positions: center (lane position #1) hugging the left and right of the lane (lane position #2 and #3) straddling the left and right lines (lane position #4 and #5) Remember, you should always try to keep your vehicle in the center of your lane - lane position #1. However, there are instances where you will need to move to the left or right side of your lane.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION SELECTOR

Remember the transmission selector - with Drive, Reverse, and so on? This picture is what a manual car's transmission selector looks like. At the beginning of your drive, when you first press the gas pedal, you need to push this transmission selector to 1 for first gear. Then, as the car starts to pick up speed, you need to push the selector to 2 for second gear, then to the 3, and so on. Once you're at your final speed, your selector should be at the highest gear. The R is for Reverse and is only used when you need to go backwards.

DO NOT ENTER AND WRONG WAY REVIEW

Remember these signs? The red DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY signs prohibit you from entering a road.

TRACKS ARE INTERSECTIONS! Help

Remember we talked about intersections being roads that meet? Think of railroad crossings as a type of intersection where the train ALWAYS has the right-of-way! The previous videos already went over a few of the warning signs you will see that tell you railroad tracks are coming up ahead. But there are a few more that you might see that can help you prepare, and these particular signs take into full consideration the fact that TRACKS ARE ROADS and RAILROAD CROSSINGS are INTERSECTIONS.

SKIDDING SIGN

Remember when we learned about the "skid light" on your dashboard that warns you that your anti-slide feature has kicked in? This is a SLIPPERY WHEN WET sign. On a road that is more likely to become slippery in bad weather conditions, you might see this skid sign. It looks just like the light on your dashboard. If you see this sign in bad weather, slow down to prevent skidding.

YELLOW MEANS WARNING

Remember, YELLOW signs ALWAYS indicate a warning, and MOST yellow signs are a diamond-shape. If you notice yellow approaching you, be prepared! Things like lanes merging, curve ahead, or upcoming traffic controls will have signs that are yellow and diamond-shaped. If you are driving and see one of these signs, be aware that something is changing about the road or there is a potentially dangerous situation ahead.

BLIND PEDESTRIANS

Remember, if you notice a pedestrian who is carrying a white cane or who has a service or seeing-eye dog, this pedestrian is likely blind or has very poor vision. These pedestrians ALWAYS have the right-of-way. Stop at least 10 feet away from the blind pedestrian to give them extra room to cross safely. Never honk your horn at these pedestrians! Your horn is to be used specifically for avoiding a crash. Blind pedestrians rely primarily on their senses of HEARING and TOUCH to help them get across the road safely. If you create an odd situation for either of these two You might throw their sense of hearing off by honking your horn. A horn is specifically designed to alert someone of danger - NOT to tell someone you're impatient! If you use your horn on a blind pedestrian, they might think there's danger nearby, and they might get scared and deviate from the crosswalk. NEVER use your horn when a blind pedestrian is crossing the road! You might throw their sense of touch off by stopping in the crosswalk. If they feel the heat of the car or the car itself because it's in the crosswalk, they might think they are getting too close to the stop line...which is where you're supposed to be. They will think they're walking outside of the crosswalk and try "correcting" themselves, and they might go too far out into the intersection. Always stop your car behind the white stop line.

THE RED SLASH: REVIEW

Remember, the a red slash prohibits you from doing the action in the circle. As a review, here is a "No U-Turn" sign in the first picture. It shows a picture of a U-turn within the red slash. Another common prohibition sign for motorists is the "no parking" sign shown in the second picture. It's the letter P within the red circle and slash.

THE NO-ZONE

Remember, there is what we call a NO-ZONE - or a very large blind spot - around semi trucks. Driving in a semi's No-Zone' is very dangerous because they can't see you at all when you're there. This NO-ZONE is 20 feet in front, 200 feet behind, and along the sides of the truck. Stay out of the NO-ZONE whenever possible.

"ONE WAY"

Remember, this black-and-white regulatory sign indicates that the road is only intended for traffic going in the direction indicated. It's HORIZONTAL because you aren't required to go down that road. It's simply giving you information about a particular road.

GRADUAL ACCELERATION AND SPEED

Remember, when you press the gas pedal, you should accelerate GRADUALLY. Pressing the gas pedal hard and accelerating quickly is not only dangerous, but it's also a big waste of gas! However, there's a difference between GRADUAL acceleration and HESITANT acceleration. Accelerating GRADUALLY means you have made a decision in your mind to go somewhere, and you intend to make your car do it carefully. Accelerating HESITANTLY means you aren't sure if you should be pressing the gas pedal. You should always have a definite YES or NO in your mind so you don't become a road hazard.

MIRRORS

Remember, you have blind spots! It's important that you glance over your shoulder as well to see whether or not a car is hovering in one of your blind spots. You still need to look over your shoulder physically to check your blind spot regardless of whether or not your car has blind spot detectors.

DO NOT DRIVE ON A FLAT!

Remember, you should always do an outside vehicle check before you drive off to spot any tire issues before it becomes a problem. But if you forget and then realize along the way, or if your wheel runs over something like a nail or piece of metal that punctures it, here is what you should do: Pull over as soon as you realize you have a problem. Change your tire, or call road side assistance. Do not change a tire in a dangerous area such as near a hill, curve, or when traffic is dense. The next video will teach you how to change a tire.

REAR VIEW MIRROR CHECK: GENERALLY

Remember, your rear-view mirror allows you to see traffic behind you. It's a good defensive driving habit to check your rear view mirror every 6-8 seconds to see who is behind you and how close they are. You don't ever want to catch the drivers behind you by surprise by doing anything quickly or erratically. Always give them as much clear and advance warning as you can. If you're driving at night and lights from the car behind you are causing a lot of glare in your rear view mirror, pull the tab on the bottom of the mirror. This changes the angle, reducing the amount of glare that is directed into your eyes.

METERED RAMPS

Right before you arrive at the merge area, you might see a type of traffic light right in the middle of the acceleration lane! These traffic lights are known as "ramp meters." During regular day and night hours, ramp meters are deactivated, and you can proceed as normal. But during rush hours or busier times, ramp meters will be activated. Their purpose is to space the number of vehicles merging with traffic already on the freeway in an even manner. This helps to reduce congestion and the stop-and-go traffic flow at freeway entrance points.

ROAD SHAPES AND INTERSECTIONS

Rural areas and places with two-lane roads will have more signs warning of upcoming road shape such as curves than any other location. These roads often have the most dangerous curves, and many times, the roads are narrow. You will also see many warning signs for upcoming intersections, and these intersections can be hard to see on their own, so pay close attention to these warnings.

STEP 2: STOP - ARE YOU OK?

STOP YOUR CAR! DO NOT flee the scene of an accident. It's ILLEGAL to flee the scene of a crash, even a minor one! Instead, turn your car off and activate your hazard lights. REMAIN there until everything is taken care of. Make sure YOU aren't hurt. You can't help anyone else if you're hurt. Make sure your PASSENGERS aren't hurt. You're responsible for them. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately.

SIGN SHAPES

School signs are often either DIAMOND (4-sided) or PENTAGON (5-sided) shapes. The first picture is an example of a pentagon-shaped sign. It shows a mother crossing the street with her child. It's a common school crossing sign. Sometimes, right at the crosswalk, you'll see an additional sign for extra caution placed right in the crosswalk telling you to stop or yield, such as this second sign. Always watch out for children in these areas.

TEMPERATURE SPEED

See the red arrow pointing to the knob in the middle? This knob controls how fast the air shoots out of the vents. The higher the number, the faster the air comes out of the vent. There is also a little button in the center of this particular control. When you push it, heat will come from the back windshield to clear frost off your back window. This is called the rear defrost. Most cars have a rear defrost, but it may not be a button like this on your temperature control system. Check your owner's manual for your car's details.

LANE DIRECTION

See these two signs pictured here? One is orange, and one is yellow. But it has the same message: "right lane ends: merge left." When a sign is ORANGE, it is a TEMPORARY situation due to ROAD CONSTRUCTION. In this "lane ends" case, construction workers are probably working on the right lane, so you must move over to avoid hitting them. When they are done working, they will probably open the lane up for traffic to use. When a sign is YELLOW, you already know that it's a WARNING sign. But you should also realize that it's showing you a PERMANENT situation you must be aware of. If you see a YELLOW "lane ends" sign for example, it means that you must ALWAYS merge left when using this road because that is the way the road shape is.

SHARED CENTER LANE

Shared center lanes are reserved for making left turns by vehicles traveling in BOTH directions. On the pavement, left turn arrows for traffic in one direction alternate with left turn arrows for traffic coming from the other direction. These lanes are marked on each side by solid yellow and dashed yellow lines.

SHARED CENTER LANE DANGERS

Shared center lanes help keep the flow of traffic moving when other vehicles need to make a left turn. But then can be VERY dangerous if people aren't paying attention! Since traffic from BOTH directions can use this lane, you can actually have a head-on collision with someone if you're not careful. You should use this lane when you're planning to make a left turn within the next 200 feet. Don't use the lane as another travel lane for going straight or for passing someone.

THE FRICTION POINT

Shifting in a car with a manual transmission means you'll have to press the clutch pedal before you make a gear change. To switch gears, you'll need to locate the FRICTION POINT. At a certain point while pressing the pedal, you will feel a vibration in the pedal and will see the RPM decrease slightly. This is the friction point where the clutch disc and the flywheel make first contact. The car may also start to creep forward. When you come to this point, don't release the clutch pedal any more. Once you're past the friction point, you can safely switch gears.

HOW TO DO A 3-POINT TURN

Signal right, check your right blind spot, and pull over to the right curb. Turn your wheel all the way to the left. Check your rear-view mirror, signal, check your left blind spot to make sure there is no oncoming traffic, and drive until your front bumper is nearly touching the left curb. Shift gears to REVERSE and signal RIGHT. Turn your wheel all the way to the right, check for oncoming traffic, and back up until you have enough space in front of you to turn left again. Stop, shift into DRIVE, check for traffic—to your left along your intended path and to your right to be aware of someone coming from behind you—and go on your way!

COLORS AND SHAPES

Signs can be recognized by their COLOR and their SHAPE. When you're driving, you might notice a sign far ahead on the road, but you probably won't be able to read exactly what it says until you're a closer. If you can tell what color or what shape it is ahead of time, you can narrow down the possibilities of what the sign is about to tell you, and you will be better prepared for what to do or what to watch out for based on the sign SHAPE or COLOR category.

INTRODUCTION TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Since we're talking about straight maneuvers and the basics of beginning to drive, let's talk a little bit about traffic lights. We will cover traffic lights in MUCH more detail later when we talk about intersections and other aspects of being on the road. But for now, we're going to give you a sneak peek of what's coming! You should already know this from watching your parents drive and being aware of the road yourself, but traffic lights tell you when and where you can STOP and GO.

STEP 2: GET INTO POSITION

Sit up STRAIGHT, and turn your WHOLE BODY - not just your head - to get a clear view out the back window. Don't just turn your neck. You won't get a clear view of what's behind you, and you can strain your neck.

RIGHT TURNS

So now that you understand what intersections are and the basic rules for navigating them, let's go back to actually making a turn. To make a RIGHT turn at any intersection: Move into the travel lane farthest to the right, and get closer to the right side of the road. If you're making a right turn on a multi-lane road, you must turn from the travel lane that is closest to the right curb or right edge of the roadway. Make sure to check for traffic and pedestrians coming from both of these places: the cross street from your left the opposite side of the road you're on where vehicles may be making a left turn

RURAL AREAS

So what are "rural areas?" They lay outside of cites or towns. They have small populations mostly made up of farm land. They typically do not have much street lighting or road markings. They can be paved, dirt, or gravel, and each surface impacts your stopping distance. You'll have the best traction on paved roads, so slow down and increase your following distance on dirt or gravel roads. The road width may also change suddenly. Stay focused while driving and pay attention to these changes. Rural roads also have varying speed limits - anywhere from 35-55 mph - and the speed limits can change often.

SEPARATING HAZARDS

So you already understand that if there's danger or debris on your right, you should move to your left, and if there's danger or debris on your left, you should move to your right. But what if there's danger or there are obstructions on BOTH sides - such as a bicycle rider on your right and oncoming traffic on your left? In this situation, you need to "separate the hazards." Separating hazards means that you deal with ONE hazard at a time, separately, so you don't get overwhelmed or make a wrong decision.

A STOPPED BUS

So you're driving through a neighborhood, and there is a school bus ahead of you. The bus is pulled over to the side of the road with flashing red lights. RED flashing lights mean that the bus is about to load or unload children. Usually, there's also a stop arm extended along with these flashing red lights. If there are RED flashing lights, the law requires that you STOP for that bus AT LEAST 20 FEET AWAY. This gives plenty of safe space for the children coming off or going on the bus. You must stop for a school bus if it's in one of three places: when it's stopped ahead of you on the same side of the road when it's stopped and facing you on the opposite of an UNDIVIDED roadway when it's stopped at any intersection where you are also stopped See the bus in this picture? It's stopped on an UNDIVIDED roadway. In this case, you would have to stop for the bus if you're coming from the opposite direction. If there's a physical median between you and the school bus on the opposite side of the road - a divided roadway - you don't actually have to stop for the bus. You should still be cautious and cover the brake as you go by in case something happens, but the law allows you to continue on your way. This bus is stopped at an intersection. If you come to the same intersection from one of the other intersecting roads, you must stop for the bus - even if the intersection is uncontrolled. Whenever you must stop for a bus with its red flashing lights - whether it's ahead of you, at an intersection, or on the other side of an undivided roadway - you may not go until the red lights have stopped flashing AND the stop arm has retracted. You may NOT go if the lights have stopped flashing but the stop arm is still out, and you may not go if the stop arm is retracted but the lights are still flashing. Wait for BOTH to be done. Whether you're in a neighborhood or in a city, the laws about school buses don't change. You must STILL stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus with its red lights flashing or with its stop arm extended in any of the following situations: when it's on the same side of the road as you when it's on the opposite side of an undivided roadway when it's at the same intersection as you In a city, you will usually not come across a school bus stopped at an intersection because city intersections are much busier than neighborhood intersections. But if you do come across this situation, you must remain stopped until the red lights are off and the stop arm is retracted...even if you have a green light. In some states, the center turn lane is recognized as a "physical barrier." This means that if you're on the opposite side of a highway with a center turn lane, you can continue on your way as if it were a physical median. However, that is NOT the case in Wisconsin! If there is no physical barrier such as cement, grass, or metal, you MUST STILL STOP for a bus if you are on the opposite side of the road. Be mindful of this possible difference when you travel to other states.

STEP 1: STAY CALM

So, you get into a crash. Everything is fast and confusing. Now what? After the initial crash, don't just jump out of the car. Take a deep breath, and collect your thoughts first. Don't yell or swear at anyone! This is a difficult situation that doesn't have to be made worse by a lack of self-control. If the other driver is freaking out at you, let it go. Don't defend yourself or blame anyone. Hold your tongue no matter how hard it feels. Don't argue with police officers or insurance agents.

SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE

Sudden Engine Failure is when your vehicle completely loses power. When this happens, your car won't come to an abrupt stop, but you'll feel that the gas pedal isn't giving any power to the car to move forward. You'll feel your car slowing down. If you experience a sudden engine failure, it could be caused by having run out of gas, your battery dying, or engine problems.

WHAT IS A DRAWBRIDGE?

Some bridges are built with metal centers. If you've ever traveled across a bridge in an area by a lake, across rivers, or near a beach, you might have noticed these kinds of bridges. These bridges are called "drawbridges." If a large boat ever needs to travel under the bridge, the metal center of the bridge will lift up to make room for the boat to pass underneath. You will know if you're approaching a drawbridge if you see what appears to be stop arms for a railroad crossing. These are used to prevent vehicles from trying to drive over the drawbridge as it rises. There may also be warning lights posted near the drawbridge. When you drive over a drawbridge, you will also feel the terrain underneath you change from pavement or blacktop to metal. These drawbridges can be just as dangerous as railroad crossings if you ignore the warnings. However, we see fewer accidents here than at railroad crossings. Most drivers won't try to move around a drawbridge's closing arms because the road is usually rising up. It would be the same as attempting to drive up a moving wall! Always stop before the stop arm or where a sign may direct you, such as 'stop here on red' with an arrow, or stop line. As a pedestrian, if you see the drawbridge lights or stop arms being activated, never try to hurry across.

FOG LIGHTS

Some cars have special fog lights you can use instead of the regular low beams. Fog lights pierce through the mist better and let you see farther than low beams can. You should check your owner's manual to see if your car has fog lights. Again, NEVER use high beams in fog. The fog will reflect the light back to you and make it even harder to see. Always slow down in fog no matter what traffic around you is doing. If you can't see what's coming, you won't be able to react properly to anything coming your way.

BRAKE PEDAL WITH LOWER GEARS

Some transmission systems are actually located on the side of the steering wheel instead of between the driver and passenger seats, so make sure to consult your vehicle owner's manual for details about how your car works. You should never make it a habit to change your regular gears unless you FIRST apply the brake, but your lower gears CAN be changed without applying the brake. If you're going up a hill, and you realize you need more power, you can quickly shift to a lower gear to give you the power. But don't use your lower gears unless it's absolutely necessary because changing gears while driving is still very rough on your transmission.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE

Sometimes, the stop sign will have a small sign underneath that says "two way" or "four way." But if there's no little sign telling you that, you need to figure out which one it is. How can you tell? If you come to a stop sign, you need to check what other directions also have stop signs to determine if it's a two-way stop or a four-way stop. If it's a two-way stop, you'll only see another stop sign facing the traffic coming from the opposite direction. In this case, there are only TWO WAYS - you and them - that have stop signs. If it's a four-way stop, you'll see that ALL directions will have stop signs facing them.

CHEVRON SIGN

Sometimes, you might see Chevron Arrow signs (also known as "Chevron Alignment Signs") posted along the bend of a road curve. These arrow show you exactly where the curve begins and ends. They especially help during poor weather and night conditions. This sign isn't diamond-shaped, but it's still yellow and indicates a warning.

CURVE AHEAD WITH SIDE ROAD

Sometimes, you might see a curve sign with another black line projecting from the side of the curving arrow. This sign is warning you that in addition to slowing down for the curving road conditions, you should beware of traffic entering in front of you from a side road. You might see curve arrows with more than one side road line if there is more than one road meeting into the curve.

STEERING FAILURE: POWER FAILURE

Steering failure is another possible emergency that can happen while driving. The most common form of steering failure is POWER STEERING FAILURE. This may be caused by low power steering fluid or something other mechanical reason. Loss of power steering will make it VERY hard to turn the steering wheel. Watch the following video to see what to do in the event of power steering failure.

STEP 8: EXCHANGE INFORMATION

Take a picture of the other driver's license to get their name, address, and driver's license number Take a picture of their insurance card to get their insurance carrier, policy number, contact information, and coverage information. Exchange your phone numbers. Exchange names and phone numbers of all passengers involved, if any. If possible, avoid writing things down. You don't want to realize too late that your handwriting was too bad to read clearly.

HANDLING HAZARDS

Tall crops can keep you from seeing an intersection or oncoming traffic. Be alert and take an extra glance near tall crop intersections, and proceed only when you can see it is clear. Yield the right-of-way to livestock on or along the highway. Be courteous and aware of horseback riders and horse-drawn carriages. Slow down and keep a safe distance while passing to avoid scaring the horses. Farm machinery operators may have difficulty seeing or hearing traffic, and machinery may not have brake lights or turn signals. Use caution and patience.

STATISTICS

Texting while driving increases the likelihood of a crash by 23 times, is equal to driving after drinking four beers, and causes 1.6 million crashes per year. THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF DEATH FOR TEEN DRIVERS IS VEHICLE CRASHES! And 1 in 4 traffic crashes involve the use of a cell phone. Don't be a statistic. Your phone is not worth your life or someone else's.

REGULATORY RED

That last video might have been a lot thrown at you at once, but let's break it down into bite-sized pieces. There are a few types of signs. Let's go over the first category here: REGULATORY signs regulate the flow of traffic. There are two types of regulatory signs: RED regulatory signs, which mean "prohibition" or "danger," and black-and-white regulatory signs, which tells you how traffic should flow.

CLOVERLEAF INTERCHANGES

The "cloverleaf" or "leaf interchange" occurs when two freeways intersect. You may travel in either direction on one freeway or the other by using large loops that connect both of the freeways.

AIM HIGH

The 5 keys driving strategy is an organized method designed to help drivers develop good seeing habits. There are five parts to this strategy. First, AIM HIGH. Pick a target down the center of your driving path about 10-15 seconds ahead. This will allow you to spot potential troubles before getting to them, and it will give you time to react. Aiming high will also help you steer straighter with less weaving. (This will be demonstrated on your first driving lesson). Scan the area around you side-to-side (house-to-house wide) and 10-15 seconds ahead. Be aware of object and conditions that could affect you or be affected by you - like people on the sidewalks, someone backing out of a driveway, construction, and so on. Check your mirrors every 6-8 seconds. Remember to check the rear view mirror anytime you're going to brake or slow down.

SEARCHES

The Constitution allows an officer to search your vehicle if they have a lawful reason (probable cause) to do so, including but not limited to... ...the officer sees alcohol or illegal substances in your vehicle. ...the officer sees a weapon in your vehicle. The officer is also required to give you a reason why they want to search your vehicle, including what they plan to find and take away. If they don't give you a reason for the search, you're allowed to ask for one. The Constitution also allows you to refuse permission for an unreasonable search, but if you refuse permission, the police are allowed to search anyway if they have probable cause to do so. Talk to your parents about this situation and how you can protect your rights and remain safe, while at the same time making it easier for the officer to do their lawful duties.

PARTS OF AN ENTRANCE RAMP

The Entry Point: This is where you check the flow of traffic and adjust your speed. Acceleration Lane: Use this lane to accelerate into the flow of traffic. Merging Area: Use this space at the end of the ramp to merge or blend with traffic. The first part of the entrance ramp (the "entry point") is the spot where you make your turn as you prepare to enter the freeway. When you approach the entrance ramp, you must slow down just like you would do making any other turn. Once you turn onto the ramp, you need to start picking up speed to safely merge onto the freeway. Use your turn signal as you get on the entrance ramp. If you're making a RIGHT turn onto the ramp, use your RIGHT turn signal. If you're making a LEFT turn onto the ramp, use your LEFT turn signal.

GDL

The GDL program is the process of getting your driver's license through education and practice. Research suggests that comprehensive GDL programs are responsible for reducing collisions resulting in injury by 38% and collisions resulting in fatalities by 40% among 16-year-old drivers.

N FOR NEUTRAL

The Neutral gear disconnects the transmission from the tires so you can manually move the vehicle where you need. The car won't go anywhere when you press the gas pedal in neutral. Most often, you use the neutral gear in automatic car washes, when you're getting towed, or if you need to be rolled to a gas station if you run out of gas...but you should NOT run out of gas if you regularly fill up before it falls below a quarter of a tank!

THIRD STEP

The THIRD step is to STOP COMPLETELY before the white stop line or stop sign. (We will learn more about these markings and signs later.) When you stop, you should stay stopped for at least 2 full seconds to give yourself enough time to check for traffic. Once you stop completely, you should count 'one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand' and check for traffic LEFT, RIGHT, ACROSS, and LEFT AGAIN. Here's a good way to measure the time: When you look LEFT and RIGHT, you should count "ONE-one THOU-sand. When you looks ACROSS and LEFT AGAIN, you should count "TWO-one THOU-sand." If you always perform this three-step stop, you will always have enough time and good control to respond to any hazards along the way.

HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRESS

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WiDOT), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the National Safety Council, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - along with many others - work around the clock to figure out new ways to improve our roads, vehicles, and traffic laws. About every 2 years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation releases a "Strategic Highway Safety Plan" that outlines their plan for these improvements. This plan can be found on the WisDOT website by searching "Highway Safety Plan." These organizations are dedicated to make sure everyone can travel in the safest manner possible.

NO PASSING ZONES

This sign warns you that double yellow lines begin, meaning you may not pass another car from this point until the double yellow pavement lines end.

DURING THE TEST

The examiner will give you instructions with plenty of time in advance before asking you to perform special maneuvers or make turns. You should drive at all times as if other traffic is present, including checking blind spots. If you do not understand the instruction the examiner gives you, be sure to let them know! The examiner will be writing notes on your driving performance. However, don't let that distract you; focus on your driving and not what the examiner is doing. After you have completed the road test and have parked the vehicle, the examiner will discuss the results with you. The examiner will provide an explanation of any driving errors you may have made and how to correct them. You should take notes of these mistakes for future driving safety. Don't worry too much about the test. They won't try to trick you.

THE MERGING AREA

The final part of the ramp (the "merging area") is where you merge into freeway traffic. Shut off your turn signal once you've entered the freeway safely. Entrance ramp users must yield the right-of-way to those already on the freeway, but braking on the ramp is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! You will become a serious hazard to cars behind you on the ramp and to those on the freeway because they're going very fast and expect you to follow suit. NEVER brake or slow down to check for freeway traffic! Check for traffic AS you're moving!

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

The final thing to know about vehicle adjustments is the temperature control system. The temperature control system is usually located in the center console area. You don't have to use these controls while you're driving, but if you plan to use them, you should adjust them before starting to drive. That way, you won't become distracted. There are usually three knobs on the temperature control system. The one pictured here controls how hot or how cold the air comes out of the vents. Red is for hot, and blue is for cold.

SPEED BUMPS

The first kind of traffic calming device is called a SPEED BUMP. A speed bump is a curved raised section of pavement, rubber, or metal designed to keep the flow of traffic slow. If you go over a speed bump too quickly, you can damage your vehicle's wheels or suspension. You will often see a "speed bump" warning sign such as the one pictured, either before the bump or pointing directly at the bump to show you where it is. The bump is also often painted yellow or white to make it more visible.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The first known driver training program in the United States was established in 1916. In the first National Conference on Driver Education, held in 1949, safety was not mentioned directly in the objectives. At the 5th National Conference on Driver Education held in 1973, the stated purpose of driving education was "to develop safer and more efficient highway users who understand the essential components of the highway transportation system in a manner that will enhance the effectiveness of such components." in a 1994 report to Congress, NHTSA defined driver education as follows: "Driver education is a training program of organized learning and practice designed to provide the basic knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to drive safely, and to provide the advanced knowledge and skills needed for safe driving performance under special circumstances."

CROSSROADS INTERSECTION

The first picture here shows a "crossroads" intersection. The roads meet at a point that creates a cross shape. The second picture shows a "crossroad intersection ahead" warning sign. If you're approaching this kind of intersection, you'll often see this yellow sign before you get there. See - the shapes match! If this intersection is controlled using stop signs, there will usually either be TWO stop signs, called a TWO WAY STOP, or FOUR stop signs, called a FOUR WAY STOP or ALL WAY STOP.

MOVE-OVER LAW VEHICLES

The following is a list of vehicles you have to move over for: law enforcement fire trucks ambulances tow trucks road machinery highway construction vehicles maintenance vehicles public utility telecommunication carriers cooperative association vehicles

LOWER GEARS

The last gears of the transmission selector are the least used gears of all. The numbers and letters below the D stand for the lower gears. You might use these gears while going up a steep incline or while pulling a heavy camper or trailer.

LOSS OF VISION: SPLASHED WINDSHIELD

The last type of forward loss of vision loss is from a splashed windshield. This may happen near snow plows, during thunder storms, passing under bridges or overpasses, or in construction zones. Be prepared to use your windshield wipers if this happens, and make sure you always have windshield washer fluid.

SIGNALS

The left steering column control switch also controls your directionals (commonly known as turn signals). Push the entire switch up to activate your right turn signal. Push it down to activate your left turn signal. A green flashing arrow on the dashboard, usually combined with a clicking or beeping sound, indicates that your directionals are on. Turn signals illuminate the front and rear corner of the vehicle on the side you are indicating your intention to turn toward. Directionals are usually amber or yellow in color, but occasionally red, orange or white directionals will be found on cars. Many turn signals shut off automatically, but if yours don't do this, make sure you turn the signals off once you're done turning.

THE DECISION

The more dangerous hazard will usually be what's on your right if it's a pedestrian. These people aren't protected by anything, so if you hit them, there's a much higher likelihood that you will badly injure or even kill them. So you should always move to the LEFT to avoid hitting these pedestrians. But remember the problem? - what if there is oncoming traffic? If you move to the left, you could get into a head-on collision!

BAC

The most accurate way that police can test your alcohol level is by measuring your Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC, with a breathalyzer. (Sometimes, this measurement is simply called a person's AC, or Alcohol Concentration, without the "B" part.) If you blow into the breathalyzer, it will show how much BAC you have in your system. Most states, including Wisconsin, have a legal limit of 0.08% BAC for drivers over age 21. If you're under age 21, you can be convicted of OWI with even just a small amount of alcohol in your system. This is known as the Zero Tolerance Law.

RIGHT-OF-WAY

The number one rule for navigating intersections is simple: WHO HAS THE RIGHT-OF-WAY? The driver who has the right-of-way is the person who has the legal permission, or right, to continue driving along the road - or along "their way." Signs and signals tell you who has the right-of-way, so it's extremely important to obey them. Many crashes happen because someone didn't yield the right-of-way to someone else.

WINDOWS PART 2

The officer might ask you to open your window all the way if you don't have it open. They might do this for a number of reasons, including if the officer has trouble hearing you or wants to get a better look at your face to see if it matches your permit or license. You shouldn't feel nervous about this request, but if you are, you are allowed to let the officer know that you're nervous and that you'd prefer to keep the window the way it is. But if the officer still wants you to open your window all the way, there's no reason to be frustrated. You should do what the officer says. Talk to your parents about some possible options in this situation.

TWO-WAY TRAFFIC

The purpose of the TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AHEAD sign is to warn drivers traveling on a one-way street or highway that they are approaching a roadway section where two-way traffic is in operation. Be aware that you'll have oncoming traffic in the lanes opposite you on roads where these signs are placed.

TEMPERATURE AREA

The red arrow is now pointing to the temperature knob that controls WHERE the air comes out in your vehicle. There are arrows on the controls that point in the direction the air will blow when you adjust the control that way. You can have the air come from the front windshield, the floors, the vents, or a combination of two. You should start to practice adjusting your controls from the passenger seat now so that if you're ever driving alone and need to adjust the temperature along the way, you can do it while keeping your eyes on the road.

Regular license

The regular license is valid for 8 years, and it usually expires on your birthday.

RAIN

The roads are most slippery when it first starts to rain. There's oil, dirt, and other chemicals on the roadway that all float to the top layer of moisture on the road when it first rains. These substances won't wash away immediately, and that causes the roads to become slick. You should slow down to compensate for this situation. Remember, if your wipers are on, your headlights should also be on. This helps other drivers see you. Avoid driving in the event of a flash flood warning. Wet brakes are less efficient than dry brakes!

REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT (OR DRIVEWAY): PART 1

The rules for pulling out of a parking spot are the same as the rules for pulling out of a driveway: Put your vehicle in REVERSE. Hold the wheel at 9 and 3 as normal (this is different than straight reverse!) Release pressure from the brake pedal to let the car roll backwards. Look out the back window over your RIGHT shoulder, then your LEFT shoulder, then your RIGHT shoulder - back and forth - to check your blind spots as you back up (this is different than straight reverse!)

STEERING FAILURE: TOTAL FAILURE

The second form of steering failure is TOTAL STEERING FAILURE. This is extremely rare and probably caused by a factory defect or severely damaged vehicle. If this happens, you won't be able to turn the steering wheel AT ALL. Try shifting to a lower gear to slow your vehicle down. Turn on your hazard lights, honk, flash your head lights - do anything to warn drivers that you don't have control of your vehicle.

THE ACCELERATION LANE

The second part of the ramp (the "acceleration lane") is the stretch of road from the entry point to the merge area. Use this stretch of road to SPEED UP to match the flow of traffic already on the freeway. Shut off your right turn signal and signal LEFT (usually) to warn freeway traffic that you are coming. Use your left side mirror and look over your shoulder to find a safe gap in freeway traffic as you approach. You should be traveling close to highway speeds by the time you reach the third part of the ramp.

TIPS FOR DRIVING IN VARYING WEATHER CONDITIONS

There are specific rules for driving in specific bad weather conditions, but there are three main principles that apply to ALL less-than-perfect weather conditions: Slow down (especially in slippery conditions). Increase your following distance (give yourself more time to react). Use your low beam headlights (high beams may cause glare off of rain, fog, or even ice). By following these three steps, you can greatly reduce your risk of a crash, and you will be more prepared for an emergency.

LOSS OF VISION: HOOD OPENINGS

There are three types of forward vision failure: hood openings, headlight failure, and a splashed windshield. Hood openings while driving are the rarest, but if the hood ever does open while you're driving, you should look through the small gap that will be created where your dashboard meets the windshield. Pull over immediately and re-latch the hood. Usually if the hood flies open, it's because the hood was not properly shut the last time it was opened. But another reason may be because of recent damage to the vehicle that bumped the hood open just a little bit.

PEDALS AND TRANSMISSION

There are two pedals by your feet. The one on the right is your ACCELERATOR. This is what you press to increase and maintain speed. The other one is your BRAKE. You will use your brake pedal when you want to slow down or stop. Pressure should be applied GRADUALLY to both pedals...unless it's an emergency where you need to avoid danger. You will also use the brake pedal whenever you want to change gears using your transmission system. The transmission selector picks the command to give to your car. While applying the brake, grab the stick handle to move the transmission selector to the gear you want.

VEHICLE FIRE

There are two types of vehicle fires that can happen: engine compartment fires, which occur under the hood passenger compartment fires, which occur in the vehicle or trunk and are usually more common due to passengers smoking If you smell smoke, see flames, or suspect a fire in your vehicle, pull over immediately! Get OUT of your vehicle, stay as far back from your car as you can, and call 911! Don't stay near a burning car. There are lots of liquids in your car that can catch on fire quickly and cause the fire to spread faster than you expect.

BATTERY LIGHT

There are warning lights on your dashboard that will notify you of vehicle problems. Your temperature and fuel lights are two of them. But there are many more lights that stand on their own apart from gauges. Here, we will cover your BATTERY light and OIL light. Pictured here is your battery light. Your battery is one of the most essential life-giving elements to your vehicle, along with gas. If your battery light ever comes on, there is something very wrong with your car. Without your battery, your car won't work. Get it check by a mechanic as soon as possible.

AVOID POTHOLES

There is little you can do other than a routine maintenance check to prevent some of the serious problems that can happen on the road, but there are a few preventative actions you can take to avoid many minor inconveniences. One of these preventative actions is to avoid driving through potholes whenever you can. Potholes are dips in the road where pavement has eroded or been damaged, and they can cause tire failure. Large potholes can even cause damage to the underside of your vehicle and your vehicle suspension. If you can't avoid driving through a pothole, slow down before you go over it.

FUNERAL PROCESSIONS

There is one more special situation that you'll have to keep an eye out for while driving, and that is a funeral procession. Cars in a funeral procession will have their headlights on to warn others that they are part of the procession and are led by a hearse or police car. Only the FIRST vehicle in a funeral procession needs to obey traffic signs and signals. This means that the rest of the procession might go through red lights and stop signs. If the light turns red BEFORE the first vehicle gets to the intersection, the first vehicle must stop, so everyone in the procession will stop as well. But if the light is green when the first vehicle goes through and then turns red before the entire procession goes through, the procession can just keep going. However, funeral processions must always yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles. DO NOT cut into or interfere with a funeral procession! Funeral procession laws are in place as society's way of showing respect to the departed and the family and friends of the departed. When cars yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession, it's like saying "Don't worry about anything at all - not even traffic laws. Take the time to grieve." The funeral procession law certainly can be dangerous if drivers are distracted. But if we all pay attention a little more and are aware of our surroundings, we can work together to continue showing this sign of respect and sympathy.

TRAFFIC GUARDS

There is one thing you must know about school zones and bus stops NONE OF THE SIGNS OR ROAD MARKINGS MATTER if there's a crossing guard! You MUST obey the crossing guard's directions no matter what - even if the guard is telling you to go through lights, stop signs, yield signs, or flashing yellow or red lights. The traffic guard is there because of a unique situation in which the signs or road markings on the road might not be as efficient at that time of day. Slow down and be extra careful when driving around a traffic guard.

HIDDEN DRIVEWAY

There might also be things blocking clear visibility of a driveway, which if you recall is a type of uncontrolled intersection. This might make it hard to see a car backing out of a driveway. Always be prepared for a vehicle to shoot out from a driveway in front of you. Sometimes, if a driveway is especially dangerous, there might be a yellow diamond warning sign such as the one pictured. However, don't assume that there's no hidden driveway just because there's no sign!

SCHOOL ZONES

These zones have certain traffic signs and laws that help protect the children, teachers and employees who are arriving or leaving school every day and who are often in or near the road.This first sign is a "school zone crossing sign." This sign may be found at intersections or in the middle of the block if there's a crosswalk near a school. The second sign is a "school zone" picture. See that there are no crosswalk lines? This sign is placed in general school zone areas and warns you to be careful of children crossing anywhere in the vicinity. This sign warns you that you're approaching a school zone. If this sign is FLASHING, you MUST slow down to the speed limit posted on the flashing sign. If it's not flashing, you may drive at the regular posted speed limit. No matter what the sign says, always be prepared to slow down or stop just in case. In Wisconsin, the speed limit for a school zone is 15 mph when children are present. Before you reach a school zone, you will see one or both of these warnings before you see an actual school zone crossing sign or speed limit sign pop up. As you can see, one warning is painted on the pavement, just like lane markings. The other warning is a sign that simply tells you what to prepare for. This sign will be posted once you have passed the school zone. You may proceed according to the regular posted speed limit that was in the previous zone until or unless you see a new speed limit sign. Don't continue at the very slow school zone speeds once you have passed the school zone. You can become a road hazard to other vehicles.

T-INTERSECTION TRACKS ON SIDE

This T-Intersection sign shows that there's a set of tracks crossing over the intersecting road. If you're on the through-street, you don't have to worry about those tracks, since they're running parallel to you. But if you plan to make a turn onto that intersecting road, this sign is very important to you. Turn slowly, and make sure to stop, check for train traffic, and don't proceed until it's safe and legal. Then, cross the tracks COMPLETELY!

INCLINES

This first sign warns you of an upcoming hill and is prevalent in rural areas. Rural roads can go up or down quite steeply sometimes, and traveling too fast going down, or too slow going up, can cause problems. Pay attention to whether or not the sign is warning you of a downhill or uphill grade. This second sign indicates a steep decline ahead. The percentage mark tells you how much of an angle the hill will create. The bigger the percentage, the steeper the hill. You must be prepared to decrease your speed as you descend a hill, either by using the brakes or by using a lower gear. The choice you make depends largely on the vehicle you are driving.

HORSEBACK RIDERS AND TRACTORS

This first sign warns you that riders on horseback frequently use this road. The second sign warns you that tractors often ride along this roadway. Scan far ahead for signs of pedestrians on horseback or using a tractor. There might also be pedestrian crossing signs and bicyclist signs. Give these road users plenty of space, at least 3 feet when possible, when you pass them.

EXIT SIGNS

This green sign shows you where there is an exit ramp. See that it's green with white letters? Remember, every green sign you will ever see are GUIDE SIGNS. They will help guide your route to different places. In the "road trip" lesson, we'll go over all green guide signs as well as other signs pertinent to reaching a destination.

SIGNAL AHEAD

This is a "Signal Ahead" sign. Remember the "Stop Ahead" sign from earlier? This sign warns you that a signal is coming up. It's especially helpful at night or in bad weather when it's hard to see. Always be on the lookout for a signal if you see this sign.

CURVING ROAD CONDITIONS

This is a "curving road conditions" sign. It shows you that the road ahead is very winding. You might see a speed limit posted underneath a curve sign. This tells you what the safest speed is for navigating the curve. It's a good idea to slow down to these speed limits when they are there. If there is no posted speed, it's a good rule of thumb to slow down to about 35 mph before reaching the curve. You will see many variations of these curve signs depending on the particular road shape ahead of you. Be alert!

LEFT TURN LANE

This is a "left turn lane" sign. It's VERTICAL because those in this lane may only turn left. Many times, the turn lane will be marked with "only" arrows or signs, but sometimes, this sign is all you have. The turn lane will be separated from the regular lanes either by a dotted white line or a physical barrier. Remember also that a center turn lane will have signs or road markings to indicate its usage.

KEEP RIGHT

This is a KEEP RIGHT sign and will be put in places where you need to make sure to keep to the right. Even if there's a diamond-shaped median warning sign, there's also often this "KEEP RIGHT" sign posted right where a median physically starts for further navigation help. You could also see a backwards version of this sign telling you to keep left for whatever reason. Make sure to stay on the side that the arrow is indicating, and double check by using the lane markings of yellow and white lines to help you.

YIELD SIGNS

This is a YIELD SIGN. It's an upside-down red and white triangle. This sign tells you that you must slow down and YIELD to any cars who have the right-of-way. Sometimes, intersections will be controlled by two YIELD SIGNS instead of two STOP SIGNS. If you're driving along, and you come upon an intersection with a yield sign facing you, you must slow down and yield to traffic on the cross street in front of you.

SPEED LIMIT

This is a speed limit sign. It's VERTICAL because it's telling you what you MUST do to maintain safe and legal traffic flow. You may not go faster than the miles per hour it allows.

TACHOMETER MEASUREMENTS

This is a tachometer. Each number on the gauge represents revolutions in thousands. For example, the 2 doesn't mean two rotations per minute, it means 2 thousand rotations per minute. Glance at your tachometer every once in a while as you drive. On a normal trip, the needle will stay anywhere under the 4. Sometimes it might a bit higher, but only briefly. If it ever stays in the red, your engine is overworking. If it overworks for too long, it can actually explode! Get it fixed by a mechanic as soon as possible if you see your engine overworking.

OBJECT MARKER

This is an Object Marker. This sign is usually placed against something that you might run into if you're not careful. In other words, it "marks an objects." As you can see in this picture, the Object Marker is posted against the beginning of a railing. At night or in poor weather conditions, it might be hard to see the edge of the road, and a driver could possibly run into the railing. This sign helps to prevent that from happening.

OIL LIGHT

This is your oil light. If this ever comes on, your car is in big trouble. You can easily prevent the oil light from going on by CHECKING and CHANGING your oil regularly. A good rule of thumb is to CHECK your oil level every time you fill up for gas, especially as your car gets older. Having the oil changed every six months or 5,000 miles is a good rule, but check with a mechanic or your car's manual to be sure. Having your oil changed regularly is the easiest and cheapest way to prolong the life of your car's engine.

SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT

This is your slip indicator light. It's a picture of the back view of a car with tire skid marks behind it. Your car has a traction control system that kicks in when you drive on slippery road conditions, such as in rain, ice, or snow. If you're driving in bad weather, and your car's traction control system kicks in to help you maintain control of your vehicle, this light will blink to warn you that the traction system is working. It's a good thing that the system is working, but this light is warning you to be extra careful.

LARGE ARROW

This large arrow is placed where there is a sharp or sudden curve in the road. A large arrow sign means something a bit different than a chevron sign. Chevron signs are placed along the edge of a road curve that bends more gradually, while a large arrow is placed right before single sharp curve. When you navigate the large arrow curve, it might be so sharp that you feel as if you are actually taking a right or left turn. Always slow down before reaching this curve so you can maintain control of the car.

DOORS AJAR

This light is called the "doors ajar" light. It looks like the top view of a car with its doors open. If this light ever comes on while you're driving, it means one of your doors isn't fully closed. Pull over and check by opening your car's doors, then shut them forcefully to make sure they close all the way. This light will turn off once the door that was open is shut properly.

CURVE AHEAD

This sign shows that the road curves ahead. When you see this sign, you must slow down BEFORE you get to the curve to maintain control of your vehicle. Don't wait until you've reached the curve to slow down. Prepare ahead of time.

DIAGONAL TRACKS

This sign shows you that the set of railroad tracks coming up is crossing your road in a diagonal shape. It may be more difficult to navigate these tracks in spite of crossbucks or railroad warning signs. Often, diagonal tracks don't have stopping arms because of the shape of the road. Stop before approaching the tracks. LOOK both ways FAR down the tracks LISTEN for a train whistle Proceed over the tracks Clear the tracks COMPLETELY; do NOT cross if there's a stopped car in front of you!

DIVIDED HIGHWAY

This sign tells you that you're coming up to a divided highway. Each arrow represents one side of the highway and which direction the traffic is flowing. The connecting line in the middle shows the road you're on. It's horizontal because it shows you how traffic will flow up ahead, but it doesn't tell you that you MUST go straight or make a turn. You have choices. There is usually a stop sign or traffic signal here, but regardless, stop and look both ways before crossing.

SINGLE-LANE ROADS

This sign tells you that you're coming up to a narrow bridge. In this case, one vehicle must stop and let another vehicle pass. Sometimes, rural roads can only allow one vehicle to pass the other. Who yields? If the road is level, usually the driver with more visibility behind them must yield to the driver in front, backing up to a wider road area to allow both vehicles to pass each other. If the two vehicles meet on a hill, the driver facing downhill must yield to the driver facing uphill. Drivers have more control of a vehicle reversing uphill rather than downhill because of the force of gravity.

COMPARE: PEDESTRIAN SIGN

This sign warns you of a pedestrian crossing ahead. If it's YELLOW, it's probably going to be in a neighborhood or city near any old intersection. If it's SAFETY GREEN, it's probably going to be near a school or other unexpected crossing area, and you should be prepared for people crossing the street with their children...or children crossing the street alone.

STOP SIGN AHEAD

This sign warns you that a stop sign is coming up ahead. Sometimes, it might be hard to see a stop sign at night or in bad weather, or it might be hidden around a curve and seem to appear suddenly. This sign is an extra effort to warn you to watch out for the stop sign.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOT

To check your blind spot, you should take a quick glance over your shoulder through your back left or right side window for vehicles or bicycles. If you're changing lanes, turning, or pulling over or away from the side of the curb, check the blind spot in the direction you are traveling. For example, if you're preparing to pull away from a curb and signaling left, you would check your left blind spot. This should be a quick glance. Don't stare during this blind spot check. Your attention should immediately return to the road ahead.

GRADUAL DECELERATION AND STOPS

To decelerate gradually, there is an easy 3-step process to ensure that you make a smooth stop every time. The steps are COVER, CRAWL, and STOP: COVER the brake. CRAWL toward the stopping point. STOP the car fully. Let's go over these three steps in detail.

GAS FORMULA PART 1

To determine how many miles to the gallon your car gets, follow these steps: Fill your gas tank to the FULL line. Set your trip meter to zero. (Remember what the trip meter is?) Drive around until your gas tank is almost empty. When you go to fill up gas again, refill the tank COMPLETELY and record how many gallons it took to get filled. Let's pretend it took 15 gallons. See how many miles your trip meter says at the time of this fill-up. Let's pretend it says you drove 300 miles between fill-ups. Divide 300 by 15. The answer is 20. Your car gets 20 miles per gallon.

MAINTAINING LANE POSITION

To maintain your center lane position, you should look farther down the road as if you're walking or biking down a street. Many new drivers tend to focus their attention on the road directly in front of their vehicle instead of getting the big picture. It's better to look ahead than directly in front of your vehicle - not only to maintain lane position, but to assist in detecting hazards in advance. A good driver always knows what's happening in front of, behind, and on either side of them.

THE SOLUTION: RED TO GREEN

To prevent this, if you're stopped at a red light and it turns green, always check LEFT, RIGHT, and ACROSS briefly before moving forward...just like at any other intersection. Make sure that cars in the cross traffic lanes are stopped or clearly slowing down to stop, and make sure that there are no cars still in the intersection. This should be a brief glance as an extra precaution. Don't waste too much time - after all, you DO have a green light and are expected to move! Drivers behind you will get angry if you don't move forward after a moment or two.

TOLL BOOTHS

Toll booths are used to help fund construction and maintenance projects of frequently traveled freeways. What to do if you encounter a toll booth: Be prepared to slow down or stop. Look for a green light to indicate an open lane. If you have an electronic pass, such as an I-Pass or EZ-Pass, you may use the designated lane. Otherwise, use the 'Cash' lane, and pay the noted fee. If you can't pay the fee, most tolls allow up to one week for you to pay the fee before you'll be issued a ticket.

WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

Traffic lights are RED, YELLOW, and GREEN in top-to-bottom order. RED means STOP - it's not safe to proceed yet! We learned that a stop sign is also red, so that should be easy to remember. YELLOW means SLOW DOWN - it's about to change to red! Remember when we talked about yellow signs? Yellow signs are WARNING you of something coming up that you need to be careful of. That's pretty much the same as what a yellow light means. It's warning you that something is coming up, which in this case would be a red light. GREEN means GO - it's safe to proceed, with caution.

PREDICT THE UNPREDICTABLE

Try to predict what's going to happen or what can happen. We can't be mind readers, but going through possible scenarios can help you respond quickly and more effectively if the worst does happen. These are some questions you might ask depending on the situation: "What should I do if someone doesn't stop when they're supposed to?" "The car driving in front of me seems distracted and is weaving back and forth within their lane. What should I do if they go off the road?" "I'm about to pass children who are playing in their front yard. What should I do if they run into the street?"

MERGING PARTICULARS

Turn onto the entrance ramp. Accelerate to get up to the speed of traffic already on the freeway. Signal (usually left), check your side mirror, AND look over your shoulder to find a gap in the traffic already on the freeway. Continue accelerating to the speed of traffic, check your side mirror, and look over your shoulder. Once you reach the merging area, you should also be reaching the gap in traffic you picked. Merge into traffic by turning the steering wheel slightly. YIELD to traffic already on the freeway!

PASSING ZONES

Two solid yellow lines between lanes of traffic means neither side can pass...(unless you have to turn into another street or driveway.) Dashed yellow lines mean you may pass, but you must watch for oncoming traffic. When there is both a solid and a dashed yellow line between opposing lanes of traffic, you may not pass if the solid yellow line is on your side. If the dashed line is on your side, you may pass if there is no oncoming traffic.

Teens

Underestimate situations and speed and leave less room between cars.

MAKE SURE OTHERS SEE YOU

Use your lights, eye contact and horn to communicate with other cars, pedestrians, cyclists, etc. Let others know well in advance what you're planning to do (like signaling 100 ft or 3-4 seconds before a turn, which we will cover in more detail later on). Like Key #4, stay out of other vehicles' blind spots (drive where they can see you). Turn your headlights on when it starts to get dark, when driving in bad weather, or when you have trouble seeing others that don't have their lights on.

SIGNALING

Using your directionals (or turn signals) gives other drivers time to react to what you're doing. You should use your turn signals before you change lanes, when you make a right or left turn, when you merge into traffic, or when parking. Signal every time you change direction, including before passing another vehicle. Signal even when you don't see anyone else around. It's easy to miss seeing someone who needs to know what you are doing, and it's harder to build the habit later.

VEERING OFF THE ROAD

Veering off the road is usually because of one of two things: drowsiness (always get plenty of rest before driving!) distraction (keep your eyes on the road) But sometimes mistakes happen. What should you do if you find yourself veering off the road? Don't panic! Grip the steering wheel firmly. Balance your vehicle half on the road and half on the shoulder (essentially, you're stabilizing your vehicle). Then use your merging techniques to rejoin traffic. If you veered off the road because you were distracted, collect your thoughts and focus on driving. If you veered off the road because you were drowsy, it's not a good idea to rejoin traffic, or you might veer off again later. Pull over safely to rest, or call someone to pick you up and drive you home. Remember, don't ever turn your wheel sharply to avoid going off the road, or you risk running into the opposite lane. If you DO accidentally turn too sharply, try stabilizing the vehicle by counter-steering smoothly away from the other lane. Always avoid sudden or quick movements when possible. Emergency swerving is ALWAYS YOUR LAST RESORT.

RED MEANS DANGER

We already learned about two red PROHIBITION signs: STOP and YIELD. A STOP sign prohibits you from moving forward until you stop and check for traffic. It's ALWAYS an octagon shape. A YIELD sign prohibits you from taking the right-of-way until the road is clear. It's ALWAYS an upside-down triangle. If you ever notice the shape before the color, or if the color on a sign is faded, you will automatically know what the sign means based on the shape.

WARMING YOUR CAR CLEAN OFF YOUR CAR ICE SCRAPING

We mentioned briefly in a past lesson that it's a good idea to let your car warm up for a little while before driving on a very cold day. Not only is it good for your vehicle, but it's a lot easier to drive when YOU are warm! If you're sitting in the driver's seat shivering as you go down the road, you may not be alert, or you might not be able to control the steering wheel easily with your cold hands. However, do NOT warm up your vehicle in a closed garage. This can lead to carbon monoxide buildup, which can be deadly. If your car is in a garage, open the garage door before warming your car up. If you know it's going to snow overnight, prepare by parking your car in a garage. If you don't have a garage or forget to use it, you'll have to clear the snow and ice off your car before you can drive the next day. Clear snow off of ALL windows, lights, and mirrors so you can maintain clear visibility while driving. Clear snow off your ROOF. It can fly off and hit other cars driving around you, affecting their visibility. Clear snow off your LICENSE PLATES. These must be visible to law enforcement at all times. Clear snow off your EXHAUST PIPE to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. The easiest way to clear SNOW off your car is to use a snow brush. But you won't be able to brush ICE off your windows and mirrors because ice sticks to things. You will have to scrape the ice off with an ice scraper. Make sure to keep both an ice scraper AND a snow brush with you IN YOUR CAR. Yes - keep them in your car, NOT just in the garage or at home to use in the morning before you leave for the day. What if it snows in the afternoon while you're out? You will want to have the brush and ice scraper with you in that case.

UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS

We talked about CONTROLLED intersections. Now let's talk about UNCONTROLLED intersections. Uncontrolled intersections are intersections with no signs or signals to tell you who goes first. If you're approaching an intersection and can't see any signs or signals, then it's uncontrolled. When you approach an uncontrolled intersection, you should do the following: Cover your brakes and allow your vehicle to slow down gradually. If there are cars behind you, you don't want to stop quickly. Reduce your speed so that you can safely see up and down the intersection before crossing it. If it's clear of traffic, you don't have to stop. Just proceed slowly. This is kind of like a controlled intersection with yield signs.

DOUBLE LANE ARROW

We will go over a few more signs that warn you of upcoming road patterns as you're driving. Remember, warning signs are always YELLOW. A right turning lane will often be marked with "only" arrows as we've discussed, but sometimes, those lanes will also branch off of the main road, with a physical barrier between the turning lane and the lane that is continuing straight. These arrows are placed on the barrier to show drivers that the road divides and continues in two separate places. It helps drivers keep from accidentally running into the physical barrier.

ALCOHOL CONVICTIONS: OVER 21

We've already talked about what will happen for your first OWI conviction over age 21. For your second conviction, you can face up to $1,100 in fines, up to 6 months in jail, and up to 18 months license revocation. A third offense can earn you up to $2,000 in fines, up to a year in jail, and up to 3 years license revocation.

SEAT BELTS

Wearing a seat belt is the easiest thing you can do to prevent serious injury or death, and yet so many people choose not to use their seat belt. It only takes a few seconds to buckle up, and it could save your life.

LEFT TURNS

When making a left turn, stick your arm out the window straight out as you slow down, as pictured. Return your hand to the wheel when you begin making the actual physical turn.

PASSING TO THE LEFT

When passing another vehicle on the left on a rural road (with one lane in each direction), follow these steps: Check for oncoming traffic. If it's clear, use your turn signal to show intent to pass. Complete the pass with plenty of space from an oncoming vehicle. Remember that the law requires you to USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL to let traffic know you plan to change lanes and pass.

BRAKING PROBLEMS

When stopping at a stop sign, many drivers will make one of two very common mistakes: Drivers will COVER and CRAWL, but they won't actually STOP completely. Instead, they do a "rolling stop." A rolling stop is when you just slow down at a stop sign instead of coming to a stop. You "roll" right through. This is an easy way to get a ticket. Drivers will COVER and STOP, but they won't CRAWL. Instead, they just hit the brakes hard when they are right at the stop sign. Not only does this make a very rough stop, but it will put wear and tear on your brakes. It will also be easier to skid that way in bad weather. You should always do all three steps: COVER, CRAWL, and STOP.

NAVIGATING A DIVIDED HIGHWAY

When you come to a divided highway, traffic will be coming from the left first. As a new driver, you should wait for that traffic to clear first, then drive across to the intersection divide in the center and wait there for traffic to clear from the right on that highway. Make sure the back of your car isn't sticking out in the highway behind you when you do this. You might have to angle your car in the divide to be safe.

STRENGTH OVER SPEED

When you force your engine to stay at a low RPM, it means that instead of your engine power being put toward speed, it will be put toward strength. You might not be able to go very fast in lower gears, but you'll be able to tell that your car doesn't 'drag' as much as it would if you stayed in the regular drive gear.

LANE POSITIONS: STRADDLE RIGHT AND LEFT (4, 5)

When you need to avoid debris on the right side of your lane such as a branch, rock, or blown-out tire, you should straddle the LEFT LINE. You can only use this lane position if there is no oncoming traffic in the left lane! Do not continuously drive in this position. When you need to avoid debris on the left side of your lane, you should straddle the RIGHT SHOULDER LINE, if there is one, or when you go onto the shoulder of the road. Again, do not continuously drive in this position. These two straddling positions are known as Lane Positions 4 or 5, depending on your driving school.

PRACTICE AT HOME

When you practice at home, it must ALWAYS be with a parent or guardian in the PASSENGER SEAT with you - not in the back. You can never drive alone! Your parent or guardian must hold a regular driver's license and have at least 2 years of driving experience. You may also drive with your spouse who meets those same requirements, but they must be at least 19 years old. If your parent or guardian gives written consent, you can practice with another adult unrelated to you as long as they're in the front seat and they are over 21 years old. Remember, you CANNOT practice driving on public roads without your permit, but once you have it, PRACTICE LOTS! 15-20 minutes every day is the best way to go. It's best if you practice for 1-2 hours before your first session and 5 hours between each session, with a few extra hours after your last session. Your behind-the-wheel instructed sessions will include everything from special maneuvers to city driving to drills. Always bring your permit with you, and wear closed-toed shoes to every session!

PULLING AWAY

When you're about to pull away from a curb, CHECK YOUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR, SIGNAL LEFT and then check your BLIND SPOT for any oncoming traffic. It's easy to check your mirrors and think you're good to go, but you should NEVER rely on your mirrors...and you should know that by now! If there's traffic coming, be patient and let them go by. You should keep your signal on so that other drivers know what you're planning to do, but don't actually move until it's safe.

THE POINT OF NO RETURN

When you're approaching a stale green light, you need to decide where your "point of no return" is - or in other words, where the closest place is that you would stop for that light if it turned yellow. The point of no return is different depending on the speed you're going. One of the reasons it's important to follow the speed limit is so that your judgment in this case is much clearer. LOOK and PLAN ahead so you know exactly what to do no matter what happens!

DRIVING AROUND AMISH VEHICLES

Whenever you see a horse and buggy on the road, you should prepare to slow down. These are considered slow moving vehicles and will be traveling at or below 25 mph. If you must pass an Amish buggy, only do so when it's safe and you have plenty of visibility. Pass slowly so as to not startle the horse or horses drawing the carriage.

GOING STRAIGHT

Whenever you stop at a traffic light, you must always stop at the stop line - the same as when you stop at a stop sign. Don't stop over the stop line or in the crosswalk. The stop lines are painted in a specific place to maintain everyone's safety. Remember to use gradual deceleration EARLY so that you can maintain perfect stopping control.

REVIEW: SCHOOL SPEED LIMITS

Whenever you're coming upon a speed limit sign near a school, you'll see a fluorescent yellow or safety green bar across the top of the sign. This should bring your attention to the fact that the speed is designed to keep children safe as you go through. There are also often flashing yellow lights on the signs. They will be activated during school hours. You must always follow the speed limit on these signs and pay attention to the times of day it applies. Once you're out of the school area, you should follow the regular speed limit signs that are posted on the road.

5STOP LINES

Whenever you're required to stop because of a sign or signal, you must stop before the front of your vehicle reaches the stop line. A stop line is a thick horizontal white line painted across the street. Stop signs and stop lines SHOULD be even with each other. But many times, the stop line comes first, and the stop sign is placed a few feet farther ahead. Always stop before the white line FIRST. Stop signs and stop lines work together to tell you not to move forward anymore until it's legal and safe.

WHEN DO YOU STOP?

Whenever you're required to stop on the roadway, you will either see a STOP SIGN or a RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. We will go over lights in a future lesson. But for now, let's learn to recognize this red stop sign. It's a command to STOP THE CAR completely until its safe and legal to go. This sign should already be very familiar to you. It's a red octagon-shaped sign with white letters.

PARKING BRAKE

Whenever your car is in park, and especially on hills, you will also want to use your parking brake, located either in your center console or as a pedal by your feet. Pull the brake lever up all the way to activate the brake. To release the brake, push the little button at the top and lower the lever down. If your parking brake is activated, you will see this red BRAKE light come on. If you release your brake, check to make sure this light is off before driving away. Driving with the parking brake on can ruin the brake.

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE: ORANGE

Whether the sign is ORANGE or YELLOW, you will be doing the same exact maneuver. So why is it important to recognize whether the sign is a TEMPORARY or PERMANENT guide to you? If the sign is orange and showing you a temporary situation, it means two things: It wasn't this way before. It won't be this way forever. Changes can be made at ANY TIME when you travel down this road, so you must always be alert. Don't ever assume you know what's coming up!

AT ALL INTERSECTIONS

Whether you're stopping at an intersection or just yielding and slowing down, the rule for checking traffic remains the same: "LOOK LEFT, RIGHT, ACROSS, THEN LEFT AGAIN." Get into the habit of checking traffic to the left, then to the right, then across from you, then to your left again before going through or turning at an intersection. If there are cars approaching close to your left, right, or across from you, and they don't have signs or signals, you must wait until they have gone by before you can go.

HOW TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT

Whether you're turning RIGHT or LEFT into a parking spot, the procedures are similar. To pull RIGHT into a parking space, you would drive to the LEFT of the lane you're in so you have plenty of space to make a RIGHT turn into your right parking spot. To pull LEFT into a parking space, you would drive to the RIGHT of the lane you're in so you have plenty of space to make a LEFT turn into your left parking spot. Drive slowly, and always signal your intentions. Also, make sure to check for traffic, pedestrians, and children around you as you move.

LANE POSITIONS CENTER, LEFT, RIGHT (1, 2, 3)

While driving straight, try to remain in the CENTER of your lane. This is known as "lane position #1." You need to move to the LEFT side of your lane when you're preparing to turn left or when you're passing a parked vehicle or bicycle to give them extra room. This is known as either lane position 2 or lane position 3, depending on your driving school. You need to move to the RIGHT side of your lane when you plan to turn right, are avoiding a road obstruction, or when there is a large oncoming vehicle such as a snowplow. This is known as either lane position 2 or lane position 3, depending on your driving school.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING: GREEN LIGHT

While driving through a neighborhood, you'll come upon traffic lights quite often. You already know the basics about traffic lights from when we learned about intersections turns. Now, let's get more detailed regarding the DEFENSIVE DRIVING habits that you just learned about. We learned that a green light means that legally you can GO! It means that cross traffic has a red light. But as a defensive driver, you need to try predicting a possible situation: "What if someone doesn't stop for their red light?"

RISKS FOR THE RECIPIENT

While organ transplant does have a high success rate for such an advanced scientific discovery, there are many risks that the recipient faces. While the risks are certainly better than dying without the organ, it's important to realize that as a donor, your organs aren't guaranteed to find a new home in a patient or even remain there if they do find a new home. Watch the following video to learn more, and keep the information in mind when making your decision to become an organ donor.

RURAL WORK ZONES

Work zones in rural areas are particularly dangerous for a few reasons. You may encounter gravel or paved roads that may change from narrow two-way roads to high speed highways that cut through town. Crops can make intersections hard to see. Speed limits may be higher or even change frequently along a road. You must follow the same rules in a rural work zone as you would anywhere else. Slow down and obey any construction signs, flaggers, or other workers. Increase your following distance, and be prepared to slow down or stop suddenly.

A STALE GREEN LIGHT

Yellow lights always come after green lights. So when you're approaching a green light, you should consider whether it's a STALE or FRESH green light. A "stale" green light is a light that has been green for a while. These lights could change to yellow at any second. A "fresh" green light is one that JUST turned green in the last few seconds, so it won't turn yellow for a little while.

STEP 6: FILE A REPORT

You MUST file a report with the police at the scene of the crash if anything happens from the following list: if anyone DIES because of the crash if anyone is INJURED because of the crash that is serious enough to bring them to the hospital if any PROPERTY is damaged because of the crash and it will take $1000 or more to fix it ("property" includes "items" - not just land - such as cars or buildings!) As a new driver, it might be hard to determine if injuries or property damage equals $1000 or more. If you're not sure, call the police anyway. They can help you assess the situation.

PEDESTRIANS YIELDING TO YOU

You already know that if you see a pedestrian on the side of the road, and it looks like they might cross the street, you should always stop and yield the right-of-way. However, once you've stopped, the pedestrian might tell you to keep going anyway by waving you on. You did the right thing by stopping. But if they tell you to go, you may go. For some reason, they're not ready to cross the street yet.

GOING TO THE DMV: IDENTIFICATION

You also will need two proofs of identification to get your permit from the DMV: your social security number or card your original birth certificate, OR a valid passport. You can find more information about identification at the WiDOT website. If you need a new original copy of your social security card, birth certificate, or passport, you should start the process NOW.

PEDESTRIANS

You can also make eye contact with pedestrians who are about to cross the street in front of you. If you stop before the white line, and you see pedestrians waiting to cross the street, make eye contact with them if you can to let them know you see them and are yielding the right-of-way. They will feel much safer now that they know you aren't going to try moving forward. Again, at night, you can flash your headlights once for the same effect. If they aren't looking at you, be extra careful around them. They aren't paying as close attention to their surroundings are they should.

FIRST-TIME OWI OFFENSES

You can be arrested and subjected to criminal penalties if you're found guilty of OWI. For a first offense, you may face one or all of the following: up to 6 months in jail up to $300 in fines up to $435 in surcharges (yearly penalty payments) 6-9 months of license suspension If you're under 21 and are driving with ANY amount of BAC, you will be fined $200 and have your license suspended for 3 months. If you have over 0.08% BAC and are under 21, you may face the same penalties as someone over 21. OWI convictions could remain on your record for life.

LEFT TURN ON RED

You can turn LEFT on a red light if both of the following points are true: You are turning FROM a one-way street ONTO a one-way street. A one-way street is a road where traffic is only allowed to go in ONE direction. It's usually marked by a sign like the one pictured, and the road only has white lines painted - no yellow ones. You won't find many of these streets in neighborhoods, so we will go over them in more detail when we get to city driving. You come to a complete stop FIRST before proceeding - just like when you plan to make a right turn at a red light.

RIGHT TURN ON RED

You can turn RIGHT on a red light IF the following two points are true: There's no sign saying "No turn on red" such as the one pictured. If you see this sign, you must wait until the light turns green before making your right turn. If there's no sign, you must still FIRST come to a complete stop and make sure there's no traffic coming from the left and no pedestrians or bicyclists crossing your path. If you roll through the red light while turning, you can get a ticket - just like you can get a ticket by rolling through a stop sign without stopping.

GOING TO THE DMV: 60 DAYS AND PARENTS

You have 60 days from the date on the MV3001 form to get your permit from the DMV. After that, the form expires, and you'll need to get a new one from your school. Once you get your permit, you can now drive on public roads with your parent or guardian! You have 60 days to schedule your first behind-the-wheel session with your driving school, or your permit could be deactivated. A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN MUST ACCOMPANY YOU TO THE DMV WHEN YOU GET YOUR PERMIT. Visit wisconsindot.gov for information on getting your parent's signature notarized in the rare case you would need to go to the DMV with someone else.

DISABLED ACCESS

You may NOT PARK... in a "disabled access" parking spot. This sign is a "disabled access" sign. There's extra room on the pavement near these parking spots for getting out of the vehicle with a wheelchair or other accommodations for people with disabilities. You're not allowed to use these designated parking spots unless you suffer from a disability and have a handicap sign displayed.

CONSTRUCTION

You may NOT PARK... in a construction zone if you will be blocking traffic.

EXTRA

You may NOT PARK... in front of a K-8 school from 7:30am-4:30pm on school days, or as posted, on the wrong side of the street (opposing traffic),or on the road side of a parked vehicle (double parking)

CURBS

You may NOT PARK... in front of a painted curb, more than one foot away from a legal curb, or if you're blocking the area of the curb removed or lowered for access to the sidewalk.

DRIVEWAYS

You may NOT PARK... in front of or within 4 feet of a driveway, alley, or private road.

CROSSWALKS AND INTERSECTIONS

You may NOT PARK... in or within 15 feet of a crosswalk or intersection.

BRIDGES AND TUNNELS

You may NOT PARK... on a bridge/overpass or in a tunnel/underpass.

RAILROADS

You may NOT PARK... on or within 25 feet of a railroad crossing. Obviously, if you park on a railroad track, your car could get hit by a train that comes. But it's also dangerous to park too close. If you park too close to the tracks, you can block the view of other road users from seeing a train coming!

FIRE HYDRANTS

You may NOT PARK... within 10 feet of a fire hydrant. If there's ever a fire, and your vehicle is blocking access to the hydrant, fire fighters will have no reservations about breaking your windows to get through!

FIRE STATION

You may NOT PARK... within 15 ft of a fire station driveway on the same side of the street or directly across from the entrance.

PASSING PROHIBITIONS

You may NOT pass on the left if you are within 100 feet of any of the following places: an intersection a railroad crossing a bridge or tunnel You also can't pass if you're near a curve or hill where your view of oncoming traffic is obstructed. Passing on the RIGHT is allowed ONLY when the vehicle being passed is about to make a left turn and the lane is wide enough for two or more vehicles to travel in the same direction.

RULES OF THE PARKING LOT

You may ONLY drive down the designated parking lot lanes BETWEEN spots - NOT ACROSS rows of spots, even if there's lots of space! You may ONLY drive down parking lot lanes in the direction of the painted arrows (some lanes are one ways!) If there are no painted arrows with STRAIGHT parking spots, it's a two-way lane. Drive at least 3 feet away from parked cars. Drive slowly, and watch for reversing vehicles and running children. If all parking spots are angled in the same direction, it's a ONE WAY lane in the direction WITH the diagonal flow.

6 AND 6

You may not drive in parking lots or on public roads without your permit! This includes behind-the-wheel sessions and at home! You are breaking the law if you don't have your permit and you are driving around! Once you get your permit, you may start scheduling your driving sessions with your driving school. The State of Wisconsin requires that you complete 6 hours of driving time and 6 hours of observation under an instructor's guidance, and also 20 hours of day practice driving time and 10 hours of night practice time at home over a minimum of 6 months before you can get your license.

RIGHT TURNS

You will have to stick your arm out the driver's side window when conducting these hand signals. When planning to make a right turn, put your arm out the window pointing up as you slow down to your turn, as shown. Make sure to return your hand to the wheel once you begin making the actual turn. You should never attempt to turn the wheel with one hand.

DRIVING IN SUN GLARE

You might not think about sunny weather as being a "bad weather condition," but it can actually be dangerous while driving. Depending on the time of day and the angle the sun is shining, sun can cause glares against your windshield that make it difficult to see clearly, and that makes it impossible to drive safely. How can you prepare to drive on sunny day? Keep all glass surfaces clean inside and outside. Wear sunglasses. Use your sun visor as needed. Sun glare can affect you year round, but it's worse when there's snow on the ground because snow causes bright reflections. Be prepared.

A CONFUSED DRIVER

You might wave to the other driver to go, but then that other driver might wave YOU on instead (or flash their lights) because they're confused and trying to be nice. Remember, in this situation, we said that they think that YOU have the right-of-way. Don't get into a waving argument or headlight argument just to insist that they go first. You may go as long as you've both established what's happening. It's not illegal to take the right-of-way in this situation. It's more important that you both know what the other driver is doing.

LEFT TURNS

You must always be aware about who has the right-of-way while turning left. Move to the left side of your lane to turn. If you're turning at an intersection with stop signs, you can only turn left when it's your turn and there is no traffic. If you're turning at a traffic signal, there are specific rules about how to do it that we will cover later.

PREPARING YOUR VEHICLE

You must always prepare your vehicle before a road trip. Check your spare tire. Be sure it's properly inflated and that you know where your jack and lug wrenches are in case there are tire issues along the way. Check your tire pressure and tread depth. Check fluid levels under the hood - windshield washer fluid, coolant, and oil. Bring your vehicle into a mechanic shop for a tune-up if you haven't done that in a while. Take out whatever is unnecessary from your trunk or vehicle. Fill up on gas!

Driving practice

You must complete 30 hours of practice driving time with a parent, guardian, or spouse, and 10 of those hours must be done at night. The parent, guardian, or spouse sitting next to you must be at least 19 years old and must have had their regular license for at least 2 years.

insurance

You must have proof of insurance in your car at all times. Driving without insurance can get you into legal trouble.

GOING TO THE DMV: MV3001

You must take an MV3001 form to the DMV that proves you have finished a state-approved classroom education and are enrolled in a state-approved behind-the-wheel course. If you signed up for COMPLETE online with us, you already enrolled in behind-the-wheel! If you signed up for Online Only, call us to upgrade your package. We will provide the MV3001 to you and endorse it with a signature. Please do not go the DMV until we have sent you your form. When you complete the final test at the end of this chapter, we will automatically be notified to get your forms ready.

REAR VIEW MIRROR CHECK: STOPPING

You should also check your rear view mirror briefly to see who's behind you before you start slowing down to prepare to stop. If there's someone very close to you, you don't want to hit your brakes suddenly. They might hit you in that case. If there's someone very close behind you, and you know you must slow down or stop, tap your brakes once or twice LIGHTLY before you start slowing down officially. This will flash your brake lights and hopefully grab the attention of the driver behind you so that they know you're about to slow down or stop. Never slam your brakes if there's someone behind you unless it's an absolute emergency...such as you're about to hit a child.

RURAL DRIVING HAZARDS

You should be aware of special hazards in rural areas. These may include slow moving tractors horse-driven wagons or carriages people on horseback farm machinery exiting fields or on the roadway wide machinery debris on the road livestock on or crossing the highway. There are over 15,000 annual collisions involving farm equipment and 90 fatalities each year from farm equipment crashes. Most could be prevented if we all shared the road with each other properly.

"WE TURN AT INTERSECTIONS"

You will ALWAYS make ANY turn at what we call "intersections." Intersections are places where different roads join or "intersect" with each other. Cars from each road will be going different directions, so in order to merge together smoothly, traffic needs to obey the rules about who goes first. Even driveways are types of intersections because the driveway intersects with the main road.

THE POINT SYSTEM

Your driver record has zero points until you are convicted of violating certain traffic laws. For every conviction, you are given demerit points, and those point become part of your driving record. If you ever get 6 demerit points within a 12 month period, you will receive a warning letter about your driving record. If you get 12 demerit points within a 12 month period, your driving privilege will be suspended or revoked. Let's say you're given a ticket for speeding in January. Just as an example, let's pretend you would get 3 points for that violation. A few months go by, and you get another ticket for something else. This time, you get 2 points (as an example). And then something else happens, and you get another ticket for another 3 points! (You should have paid attention in driver's ed!) Now you have 8 points. You will receive a warning letter about your driving conduct. If you get four more points before December, you will have your license taken away.

FUEL GAUGE

Your fuel gauge tells you how much gas your vehicle has. E stands for "empty," and F stands for "full." When you fill your car with gas, the needle will rise to the F. As you drive, your needle will gradually fall to show how much gas you still have. When the needle almost reaches E, the low fuel light will illuminate on the dashboard. The little triangle next to your fuel gauge tells you which side of your vehicle the fuel filler cap is on. That way, you'll know where to pull up to a pump at the gas station.

HOW TO KEEP THE LICENSE

Your regular license is valid for up to 8 years, and it is up to you to keep it for that long. Drive safely at all times. You can lose your driving privileges for convictions including drunk or drugged driving refusing an alcohol test when a police officer asks you leaving a crash without identifying yourself if you were involved not reporting a crash to the DMV giving false information when applying for your license not paying the damages owed from a crash You can also lose your license for trying to change the information on your physical license not showing up to the DMV if they require you to come in for a re-examination killing someone in a car crash committing a felony using a car using someone else's license letting someone else use yours

GOOD FOOT CONTROL

Your right foot should rest comfortably on the brake pedal with your heel planted. When you want to accelerate, pivot your foot, keeping your heel planted, so you can touch the gas pedal with your toes. You should be able to maintain a consistent speed by maintaining pressure. If you notice the speed going higher than you want it to be, simply release some of that pressure on the pedal, and your vehicle will slow down. It may take more pressure to maintain speed going up a hill because just like riding a bike, you will need more energy.

synergistic effect

Your slowed reaction time CANNOT be countered by drinking "stimulants," such as energy drinks, coffee, or other things that make your nervous system work faster. On the contrary, mixing drugs or other substances with alcohol can produce a "synergistic effect," which is very dangerous. A synergistic effect is what happens when two substances start working in combination. Instead of canceling each other out, BOTH substances will go to work in your system and cause a complete mess in your body and brain. This ultimately limits your ability to handle a vehicle safely.

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER

Your vehicle has various gauges to help you know what is going on inside your vehicle and about the status of your vehicle. A speedometer lets you know how fast your vehicle is going. An odometer tells you how many miles your vehicle has driven up until this point. 'Odo' comes from the Greek word meaning 'path,' and 'meter' comes from the Greek word meaning 'measure'. So an odometer measures the 'path' your vehicle has taken, and a speedometer 'measures' the 'speed' your vehicle is going - how fast or how slow.