Drivers Ed Part 7

Width of Car

6 feet

Backing Up

Check behind the car before you get in. Children are hard to see from the driver's seat. Put left hand at top of the steering wheel. Place your foot on brake and shift to reverse. Release parking brake. Place your right hand on the back of the seat and look over right shoulder through the rear window.

Pass on the left side. Passing on the right is allowed only under the following conditions:

If another vehicle is making or about to make a left turn and there is sufficient pavement width for both vehicles When traveling on a multi-lane highway carrying two or more lanes of traffic in the same direction

Side Reference Points

When parking next to a curb on the left, the point on your hood about a foot from the edge of the left front fender is a good reference point. When the car is 3-6 inches away from the curb line to the left, the driver will see the line intersect the reference point on the hood. This reference point is also used for establishing lane position 2 or making left turns. car is 3 feet from the right curb when the curb appears to intersect the middle of the right half of the hood. You would use this method when preparing to turn right, to back into a parallel parking space, or for lane position 1. Turning right or pulling forward into angled parking space- place your car 6 feet from the right, use reference point that is marked by the line appearing to go across the right headlight.

Passing Prohibited

Within 100 ft of a railroad crossing Within 100 ft of a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel On a hill or curve where it is not possible to see oncoming vehicles which might be close enough to be a hazard Within 100 ft of an intersection On the shoulder of the road When a school bus is stopped to load or unload passengers

Hand-over-hand

involves using one hand to move the steering wheel around and down—while the other hand crosses over to pull the steering wheel even further down. This method is better for slow, wide turns. To make a right turn using this method, push the steering wheel around with your left hand, cross your right hand over your left, and grasp the top of the steering wheel to keep turning. To straighten out, just reverse your movements.

See Rear of Vehicle

look back, at the curb or line, it seems to align with the middle of the left rear window. It also seems to go across the right passenger window when you are tu To place your car 3 feet from a rear curb or line use reference point that is marked by the line appearing to go across the rear of the right passenger window. You would use this method when backing up around a corner.

Hand-to-hand method

olves both hands moving in an up and down motion on the side of the steering wheel. This works best for sharp turns. To make a right turn, pull the wheel down with your right hand while moving your left hand down to take the lead. Then, push the wheel up with your left hand as the right hand slides up. Continue this pattern until the turn is completed.

Reference Points

parts of the outside or inside of the vehicle, as viewed from the driver's seat, that relate to some areas of the roadway which allow the driver to estimate position on the roadway

Standard Reference Points

points that allow for a vehicle placement on a roadway which are typical for most drivers

Steering

positions for your hands are 9 and 3 o'clock or 8 and 4 o'clock.

Width of lane

12 feet

Getting Ready to Drive

It is recommended to enter a vehicle from the curb when it's parked on the street. ake sure the windshield and windows are clean. Clear ice, frost, or dew from the windows. Adjust the seat so you have a good view of the road and can reach all the pedals and controls. It is recommended that you sit 10 inches away from a dashboard in air-bag-equipped cars. Adjust the rearview and side view mirrors. check fuel level and warning lights. Adjust the volume on the vehicle stereo system. Make sure you can hear normal traffic sounds. Also, adjust all the ventilation controls (e.g., vents, air conditioner) to provide fresh air and maintain a comfortable temperature during the drive. Turn on headlights, turn signal, and windshield wipers if necessary. Look and listen for traffic before moving.

Parallel Parking

Make sure that the parking space is legal and large enough for the vehicle. Check the traffic around you. Signal your intention to show that you are preparing to park. Be 2ft away from car you want to be from When your front door passes the back bumper of the car ahead of the parking, quickly straighten your wheels and continue to back up into the space moving diagonally. op close to the car behind you. Switch to the "Drive," turn your wheels sharply to the right and move toward the center of the parking space. When parked on a two-way roadway, your vehicle must be within 12 inches of the curb or as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder. On a one-way roadway, a vehicle can be parked parallel to the right or left curb or edge of the roadway, in the direction of traffic movement.

PERPENDICULAR AND ANGLE PARKING

Position your vehicle well away from the space. Signal your intention. Slowly drive forward until the side mirror is even with the first line of the space. Turn left or right as needed to align the vehicle in the center of the space. Drive forward to the front of the parking space and stop. Position the vehicle well away from the empty space. Signal your intention. Slowly drive forward until the front of your vehicle reaches the near side of the parking space. Now, turn left or right as needed to align the vehicle in the center of the space. Drive forward to the front of the parking space and stop. When exiting both of these parking situations, look over your shoulder for cross traffic before moving your car. If the way is clear, back up until your front bumper is even with the rear bumper of the vehicle next to you. Finally, turn your wheels sharply in the direction you want the rear of the car to go with the wheels straight.

Entering a Roadway

Start from maintaining pressure on the brake. This holds the car in place until you are ready to proceed. Select the proper gear—(D)rive or (R)everse. Check for traffic in rearview and side mirrors. Before moving, you need to make sure that all front, rear, and side views are clear of traffic and pedestrians. Give the proper signal. Your signal shows that you are preparing to move as well as the direction of your intended movement. Release the parking brake. Your foot should still be firmly pressing on the service brake as you release the parking brake. Recheck all mirrors for traffic. It's essential to know what is going on around your car before taking your foot off the brake. Look where you intend to go. Visually target the space before you move into it. Take your foot off of the brake and move it to the accelerator. As soon as you take your foot off of the brake your car will be in motion, so be prepared. Gradually apply pressure to the accelerator. Increase the pressure gently to accelerate smoothly. Be aware that road design and surface affect the amount of pressure needed to accelerate.