Driver Education Module 5 Basic Techniques & Maneuvers

Pre-start Technique

1. Car approach: After your vehicle pre-check, ensure that you have clearance around your vehicle, and look inside your vehicle as well. Pull out your mirror if it was retracted. 2. Entry: Unlock your door and get in the car, ensuring you are careful not to bump into any adjacent parked vehicles. 3. Adjustments: Sit in the seat and adjust it. Then adjust your mirrors. Then fasten your seat belt and make sure all other occupants are properly buckled. Make any audio or climate control adjustments. Conduct the 4 Prep Steps to Avoid Tech Distraction.

How to Parallel Park

1. Find a space that is at least one and a half car lengths long 2. Start 2ft from the forward car with your bumpers parallel with your wheels turned all the way to the right. 3. Starting backing up with your wheels fully turned until you can side the back car's front license plate from your side mirror. You are at a 45-degree angle. 4. Straighten your wheels and back up until your bumper is pat the bumper of the front car 5. Turn your wheels all the way to the left and back into the spot. 6. Put your car in park.

Optimal Driver Position

1. Hips level with knees 2. small gap between legs and knees 3. The wheel at least ten inches from chest 4. Head centered against the headrest 5. Make sure your seat is pulled far enough forward, so you can fully press the accelerator and the brake pedal, while still having a slight bend in the knee. 6. The backrest should be tilted back just slightly, so that when holding the wheel, your shoulders are still touching the seat and your elbows are comfortably bent. 7. Make the seat height as high as possible, and comfortable, so you have an unobstructed view from your seat. 8. Make sure your bottom is as close as possible to the backrest. 9. Adjust your seat belt so that it's firmly across your sternum.

Adjusting Driver's Side mirror

1. Look at side mirror from normal driving position 2. Adjust up or down to make the horizon level in the mirror 3. Lean towards mirror without straining 4. Adjust outwards until you can't see the side of your vehicle 5. Adjust inwards, stopping when the side of your vehicle becomes visible again

4 Steps to Avoid Tech Distraction

1. Set GPS if desired before you begin your trip. 2. Put your phone in a secured dashboard cradle and plug it in. 3. Make any radio, music, or climate control decisions before putting the car in gear. 4. Remember: if a call or text comes in while driving, resist until you finish your trip!

Adjusting Rear view Mirror

1. Sit in a comfortable driving position 2. Look into the mirror without moving your body 3. Adjust the mirror for the center to look straight back behind your vehicle

Adjusting Passenger Side Mirror

1. Sit in your comfortable driving position, turn to look at mirror 2. Adjust up or down to level the horizon in the mirror 3. Lean towards the mirror without straining 4. Adjust outwards until you can't see the side of your vehicle 5. Adjust inwards, stopping when the side of your vehicle becomes visible again

Scanning

15 seconds ahead of your vehicle 360° to include your rearview and side mirrors, and blind spots periodically

Left Turn Hand Signal

A left arm extended horizontally pointing to the left

Stop/Slow Down Hand Signal

A left arm pointing down, with the palm facing the vehicles behind

Right Turn Hand Signal

A left arm raised up at a 90-degree angle, elbow touching the windowsill

Curbside or Parallel Parking

Always park as far away from traffic as possible. You must not park more than 12 inches away from the curb. Always park on the right side of the roadway, unless it is a one-way street. Park parallel to the curb in the direction of traffic movement, with right-hand wheels parallel to and within 12 in. of the right.

windshield wipers

Clears the rain from the windshield so you can see through it.

IPDE

Identify Predict Decide Execute

charging system malfunction light

If you see this light and your car is already in motion, you may be able to continue driving safely, but it's still a good idea to stop and recharge your battery as soon as possible. If the charging system malfunction light is on and your car won't start, you'll need to recharge the battery.

Parking on Hills

If you're driving an automatic transmission: put the gear shift in Park. Manual transmission: shift to Reverse (downhill) or First (uphill). Then, always use your parking brake, whether you're parking on a hill or on flat ground. If there is a curb downhill, turn your wheels toward the curb. If there is a curb uphill, turn your wheels away from the curb. If there is no curb, turn your wheels to the right or away from the street.

When to increase following distance

In bad weather, at night, and behind and motorcycles. The purpose of a longer following distance is to ultimately give you more time and distance to react to a sudden braking or unexpected hazard while driving. Also, remember that a space cushion should include the sides of your vehicle too. Always position your vehicle to make sure you have an out in the event of an emergency, where you need to maneuver right or left. This means checking your blind spots regularly, and always before changing lanes, turning, passing, or merging.

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

Most modern cars come equipped with this, which prevents the wheels from locking up during braking. When the wheels lock, they scrape against the ground instead of rolling, giving you less control and making it take longer to stop. The key point to remember is that if you slam the brakes too hard without ABS, your vehicle may skid.

Where You Can't Park

On crosswalks, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, intersections, bridges, overpasses, in tunnels, in front of driveways, by yellow painted curbs, by NO PARKING zones, on a disabled parking spot if you don't have a disabled parking permit, On the roadway side of another parked vehicle (double parking), On highway pavement not marked for parking Do not park within: 15 ft of a fire hydrant, 20 ft of an intersection, 20 ft of the entrance to a fire, ambulance, or rescue station, 30 ft of a rural mailbox on a state highway (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), 30 ft of any flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic signal, or 50 ft of a railroad crossing

Coming to a stop

Once you're where you need to be, brake, put the car in park, put on the parking brake, and turn off the engine. Take the key out of the ignition, ensure all lights are off and valuables are out of view. Unfasten your seat belt, exit, and lock the car.

Seat belts

Restrain the wearer from crashing into the vehicle frame during a sudden change in momentum and brings them to halt more slowly, increasing the impact time and thus reducing the reluctant force.

engine temperature warning light

Shows the temperature of the engine coolant and whether the engine is overheating.

Are you following four seconds behind?

Simply look for a stationary object, such as a tree, lamppost, or even a stripe on the road that the vehicle in front of you passes by. Then immediately start counting the seconds it takes for you to reach that object. If you reach that object before you count to four seconds, then you are not maintaining an adequate four-second following distance and should slow down your vehicle!

navigation controls

Some cars will have a touch screen with a navigation system. These will vary by manufacturer, but make sure that you use one that does not ask for feedback while driving, or that you turn that feature off.

back-up camera

Some modern vehicles include a camera on the rear end of your vehicle as an additional aid for when the driver is backing up. A screen is usually located in the middle of the front cabin that displays the camera feed.

Defogger/Defroster

Sometimes the temperature plus humidity combination means precipitation buildup on the inside of your windows or windshield. If you're in an older car, turn up the fan, turn up the temp, and turn off the recirculation.

Hand Signals

Sometimes you must drive for a short time despite having a broken signal or taillights, or you encounter another driver that has broken signal lights. In these situations, all drivers should be able to use and recognize hand signaling.

6 Seconds

Space Cushion in bad weather or at night

Parking Lots and Garages

Speed limit 10mph. Busy and distracted pedestrians, including small children, may be anywhere. Two parking space configurations you'll see in lots or garages: straight-in and angle parking (leave you a safer out if you're able to pull through facing out) and back in (make sure you practice your backing skills with an instructor to get confident in that skill first). It is best to face out when parked so it is easier to avoid collisions when leaving.

Space Cushion

The four-second following distance rule. This is the minimum legal following distance in Florida.

Hand Position

The ideal position for your hands to grip the steering wheel is at the 9 and 3 o'clock position. In short, imagine your steering wheel as a clock, and note where 9 and 3 o'clock are. This position will maximize precision and handling and will be less likely to get in the way of the airbag, should it deploy.

Gear selector lever

The lever that allows the driver to shift the transmission and select a gear.

Braking

The pedal to the left of the accelerator is the brake. Again, gentle and progressive application of pressure is key! All stops should be gradual and controlled, apart from emergency braking.

hazard lights

The red triangle. This button makes all your signal lights blink repeatedly to indicate that something is wrong with your car. Use this after you've parked somewhere, or if you're stuck in the middle of the road, but the latter only as a last resort, as hazards should not be used while driving, only while pulled over.

audio controls

These controls govern the radio, sound, and Bluetooth systems. In older cars they might even contain slots for cassette tapes or CDs. The radio controls let you select your channel, frequency between AM and FM, and volume. You should also be aware that if you're driving in poor weather, there will often be updates on road closings on certain FM stations.

parking brake

This feature, which could be a lever or a pedal, keeps the car motionless when it is parked. It's especially important to use the parking brake when you park on a slope.

headlight lever

This turns on your headlights. Depending on your vehicle, this may be a push or turn of the lever, or a button on the dashboard, or something else. Check your vehicle owner's manual for details on operating your vehicle's controls.

Driving Forward

To move forward in an automatic transmission vehicle, shift to Drive. In a manual transmission vehicle, shift to First. Just by doing this, your vehicle will start inching forward unless you press on the brakes. If you want to move faster, you can accelerate your speed by applying pressure to the accelerator pedal.

Driver Fitness Check

Walk around your vehicle. During this mini-tour, you should keep an eye out for proper tire inflation, cleanliness of windows and mirrors, functioning indicator lights and headlights, and anything out of the ordinary that may impact your drive.

Vehicle Check

Walk around your vehicle. During this mini-tour, you should keep an eye out for proper tire inflation, cleanliness of windows and mirrors, functioning indicator lights and headlights, and anything out of the ordinary that may impact your drive.

Starting your vehicle

With the parking brake engaged, put your foot on the brake pedal. Make sure the car is in Park before you start the engine.

climate controls

allow you to set your desired temperature, the strength of the fan, and which vents will be activated. Sometimes your defogger and defroster will be included in these controls.

Cruise control

allows a driver to select and travel at a set speed and works at speeds above 25 mph and should not be used on slippery surfaces. You still need to steer and brake.

Accelerator

also called the gas pedal, the accelerator is the far-right pedal in a car. The purpose of the accelerator is to increase your car's speed

push pull method

also known as the hand-to-hand method, and is safer to use as it does not expose your hands to the airbag's deployment area. Your hands do not cross the 12 and 6 o'clock positions—instead, your hands feed the steering wheel from one side to the other, pushing and pulling together so that the wheel never leaves your hands

Squeeze Braking

also known as threshold braking, comes into play. This is a technique where you squeeze the brakes until just before they lock, then release pressure before squeezing again. (Slamming the brakes will make you skid) ABS performs threshold braking automatically. If your vehicle has ABS, hold the brake pedal down firmly, even if it vibrates.

Pedal Control

always use your right foot for both the brake and the accelerator. This acts as a safety mechanism to prevent you from pressing the wrong one! If you have a manual transmission car, the clutch will be on the left of the brake. Pedal control is all about the positioning of the feet, as well as the amount of force you use.

Angle Parking Spaces

are easier to maneuver due to their 45-degree angle, but a good driver always gauges the viability of an open space and whether it will be a good fit for their car. These angle parking lots are alternate one way, and sometimes have designated "compact" spaces.

tire pressure warning light

carefully pull over as soon as you safely can. Inspect your tires for a flat, and check the tire pressure in all four tires. If none of your wheels are flat, it's probably safe to drive to a gas station or other location where you can refill the air in your tires.

tilt steering wheel

helps adjust the steering wheel through an arc in an up and down motion. Some tilt wheels are also capable of shifting to the side. The main purpose is to allow the driver to adjust the wheel's specific axis to suit their preferences.

light bulb failure light

inspect your vehicle's light bulbs before you drive again. Replace any malfunctioning bulbs with new ones.

windshield wiper fluid warning

it's safe to continue driving. Refill your windshield wiper fluid at your earliest convenience. It could be dangerous to drive without windshield wiper fluid: if a sudden spill makes it hard to see out your windshield, you may not be able to regain visibility without wiper fluid.

Identify

observe and see what is happening around you constantly. The most important aspect of IPDE is hazard identification because potential hazards take priority when driving.

low fuel warning light

pull over at the nearest gas station and refill your tank. Don't take any chances: running out of fuel can be an embarrassing experience.

Airbag

safety bag that deploys when your vehicle detects a sudden and unexpected increase or decrease in momentum

Backing Up

shift to Reverse. In this gear, your car only goes backward. You can accelerate your backing by applying pressure to the accelerator pedal as well, but in most cases, releasing pressure off the brake pedal is fast enough to safely reverse your vehicle.

low beam headlight indicator

tells you that your low beam headlights are on. If you see this light, make sure they're on intentionally.

Fuel gauge

this tells you your current fuel level

Speedometer

this tells you your current speed in miles per hour

Temperature gauge

this tells you your engine's current temperature

oil pressure warning light

warns you when the oil is not circulating at the proper pressure

instrument panel

where the gauges and warning lights for a vehicle will be grouped together

Execute

you must be capable of carrying out, or executing, that action. For example, if you did not know how to safely change lanes, you wouldn't be able to safely avoid a hazard

Predict

you must predict whether the identified situation or hazard will affect you, especially given your current course and speed. This includes other drivers, any changes in the roadway, even the weather

Hand Over Hand Steering

you reach over your other hand in the opposite direction of the wheel's turning to keep up the steering momentum.

brake warning light

your brake fluid pressure could be critically low. Carefully pull over as soon as you safely can. You may need to pump the brake to build up fluid pressure in order to brake . Call a mechanic before you drive again.

Odometer

this tells you how far this car has traveled in its lifetime

Gear indicator

this tells you the current gear your vehicle is in

Putting the car in motion

Keep your foot on the brake pedal. Shift into Drive, First, or Reverse, then release the parking brake. Look around your vehicle, and when it's safe to do so, release the brake pedal and put the car in motion.

Decide

This is when you choose a course of action. An "out" would be any options to avoid a collision in the space around your car. If there are two lanes available for instance, your out would be to quickly change lanes if you have a clearing in either direction.

check engine light

This light indicates there is a problem with the engine. If it comes on, pull over to a safe spot and turn off the engine. Have a mechanic inspect your car as soon as possible.

glow plug warning light

it's probably safe to continue driving until you reach your destination, but check your vehicle owner's manual before you take another trip.

ABS warning light

it's safe to continue driving, but keep in mind that your ABS system may not be working properly. Be prepared to use threshold braking when you need to stop in a hurry. Take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible.

Cover Braking

keeping your foot over the brake pedal, so you have a faster reaction time in situations where you may need to react to unexpected circumstances, such as a crowded parking lot or heavy traffic flow.

seat belt warning light

make sure all occupants are properly buckled. If you can't make sure of this without taking your attention away from the road, pull over first.

turn signal indicator

tells you the direction you have signaled to turn

Clutch

the left-most pedal, the clutch pedal is found in manual transmission cars. It allows the driver to have more control over the engine's connection with the wheels. Automatic transmission vehicles do not have a clutch pedal.

airbag indicator light

there may be a malfunction in your airbag systems. The vehicle will probably drive without trouble, but in the event of a crash, your airbags may not deploy. This could be fatal. Take your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible when this light comes on.

turn signal lever

this lever is located on the left side of the steering column. Move the lever up to signal a right turn and down to signal a left turn.

Tachometer

this measures the working speed of your engine (not the speed of your vehicle). It is typically measured in revolutions per minute (rpm)

Brake

this pedal is found to the left of the accelerator and is used to engage the brakes of your car

Forward collision warning system (FCW)

this system uses cameras, radar, or lasers (or a combination) to scan the road ahead, and alert the driver of a potential collision by detecting if an object's distance is closing in too quickly. More advanced systems include side-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, which drastically reduces the speed of impact, or ideally comes to a complete stop before a forward collision occurs.