Drivers Ed Full

Disqualifying Conditions

Cerebral palsy. Epilepsy. Paralysis. Mental incapacity. Insanity. The inability of the heart and vascular system to supply adequate blood to muscles and organs. Other conditions, including dementia, lapses of consciousness, vision conditions, and any other condition reported by a physician when he or she believes you can't drive safely due to the condition.

When Changing Lanes

Check For Blind Spots

Centripetal Force

Centripetal force is always directed toward the center of the circle. Without this force, an object will simply continue moving in straight-line motion.

How do eyes move

In rapid jerky movements, pause and then move to another part of the scene. Pauses are called fixations.

Economic and Health Impact of Cars

The creation of an industry that employs a significant number of people. The creation of new technologies and industries. A significant monetary cost in injury and property damage. An increase in air and water pollution.

Kinetic Energy and Impact

The greater a vehicle's kinetic energy, the greater the force of impact.

1970

The popularity of Japanese and German vehicles began to challenge the sale of US-manufactured cars

Anti-Lock Brakes

The purpose of anti-lock brakes is to prevent your wheels from locking during a quick stop so that your brakes can continue to absorb energy and you can maintain traction.

Tinted Windows

Tinted windows are allowed. However, they must meet standards as to the degree of tint. For example, it's illegal to tint your windows black.

Parking Downhill: Parking on a Hill

To prevent rolling when you park downhill, turn your front wheels into the curb or toward the side of the road. Set the parking brake.

Total Deafness

Total deafness is the inability to hear even the loudest of sounds.

Parking on a Sloping Driveway

When parking on a sloping driveway, turn the wheels so the car will not roll into the street if the brakes should fail.

Driving Downhill

When you drive downhill, the reverse is true. Gravity will cause you to go faster and increase your stopping distance. You may need to shift to a lower gear or smoothly apply your brakes to slow to a safe speed and control your vehicle.

Don't Drive When Under Emotional Tension

depressed, angry, or upset

Loss of Traction Can be Avoided By

driving more slowly and using your brakes properly.

The amount of stopping distance required will

increase with an increase of your kinetic energy.

Stationary:

Field of Vision of 180 degrees or more

60 MPH

Field of Vision reduced to 1/5

20 MPH

Field of Vision reduced to 2/3

40 MPH

Field of Vision reduced to 2/5

Defensive Driving

Finally, you must be able to see dangerous situations before they happen and respond quickly and effectively to prevent them. This is called "defensive driving." Disregarding defensive-driving techniques increases your risk of being involved in an accident.

Lubrication

Friction can be reduced through lubrication. Improper lubrication of your engine and transmission will cause excessive friction that can result in mechanical failure. You could be left stranded or lose control of your vehicle as a result.

Friction

Friction is a force caused by the contact of one surface on another. It results in the resistance of an object moving over a surface. For example, it's easier to move your hand over fine sandpaper than rough sandpaper because less friction is produced by the surface of the fine sandpaper

1885

German engineers Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler developed the first gasoline-fueled internal-combustion engine, modeled after earlier experiments with steam-powered vehicles.

Ways to keep from becoming fatigued while driving

Get a lot of rest before you start. Don't take any drugs that may make you drowsy, even the night before you begin your trip. Don't drive long hours. Set a common-sense limit of 300 to 400 miles a day. Try not to drive late at night. Take regular rest stops, even if you aren't tired. Have another person drive every hour or so. Stop for coffee or a soft drink every 100 miles or every 2 hours. Continually shift your eyes from one part of the road to another. Chew gum or listen to the radio. Roll down your window to get some fresh air.

Parking Uphill

If you're parking facing uphill next to a curb, turn your front wheels toward the middle of the road and allow the vehicle to roll back against the curb. If you're parking facing uphill and there is no curb, turn your wheels toward the side of the road.

Centrifugal Force

Centrifugal force is the tendency of objects to be pulled outward when rotating around a center.

Poor Peripheral Vision Can Result In:

A failure to react to a hazard coming from the left or right. A failure to see or obey a stop light suspended over an intersection. Weaving while negotiating a curve. Driving too close to parked cars.

Yield Sign

A yield sign means the cross traffic has the right of way. If the traffic is heavy, you must come to a full stop and wait until you can turn or merge safely into the traffic.

Ways to Reduce CO2 Emissions

AVOID RAPID STARTS AND STOPS: Rapid acceleration and braking consumes excess fuel. Avoid this whenever possible. KEEP ON ROLLING: It takes more energy to move a stopped vehicle than to keep a vehicle moving. Maintaining a constant speed in your everyday commute increases fuel economy. USE YOUR AIR-CONDITIONING AT HIGH SPEEDS: When driving at speeds lower than 40 miles per hour (mph), roll down your windows to cool off instead of cranking up the AC. However, at higher speeds, lowered windows cause aerodynamic drag, increasing fuel consumption. Therefore, you should roll up your windows and use air-conditioning when traveling faster than 40 mph. CRUISE CONTROL IS YOUR FRIEND: Cruise control helps you maintain a steady speed and can result in fuel savings of around 7 percent, average. DON'T IDLE: When your car is idling, it's traveling at 0 mph - the worst possible! If you're going nowhere and simply sitting and waiting, turn your car off. DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE TO WARM IT UP: Today's cars don't actually need to warm up before they're driven. Unlike older models, today's vehicles need only about 30 seconds for the oil to circulate through the engine - even on the coldest mornings! Your vehicle will warm up faster when you're driving rather than when it's idling. KEEP YOUR CAR COOL: The inside of the car heats up quickly in the summer. Instead of getting in and blasting your air-conditioning, let the hot air out by opening your door and windows. Park your car in the shade, and use a heat reflector or window shade to protect the car from the sun's hot rays. OBEY YOUR "CHECK-ENGINE" LIGHT: Take your car in for service when the check-engine light comes on. The check-engine light generally means there's a malfunction in the vehicle. This malfunction can increase your car's fuel consumption. REMOVE EXCESS WEIGHT: Clean out your car. The more items adding weight to your car, the more you pay in fuel costs. Unless you need it, take it out! NAVIGATE: Plan your trip. If you know your route, you won't waste gas by getting lost and going the wrong way.

As you increase your driving speed, both your body and your vehicle acquire kinetic energy that eventually must be

Absorbed by your brakes, engine-compression forces, or other friction in a controlled stop. Absorbed by your body, your vehicle's body, and the objects you hit if you're involved in a crash.

Some traits are very undesirable in drivers. Some dangerous traits while driving include the following:

Aggressiveness. Egotism. Emotional instability. Inattentiveness Exhibitionism. Irresponsibility.

Good eye habits

Aim high and look ahead, not down. Keep your eyes moving. Search the whole scene, not just part of it. Check the rear view mirrors to see ahead and behind you.

Compensation for Subnormal Vision

Bad eyesight: Wear glasses or contact lenses. Poor depth perception: Use extra caution in judging the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles and approaching objects. Poor peripheral vision: Frequently turn your head to increase your field of vision. Poor glare resistance and recovery: Use a sun visor, wear sunglasses, and avoid looking into the headlights of oncoming cars. Color blindness: Learn the general shapes and patterns of signs and rely on the position of signal lights rather than their color.

Banked Roadways

Banked roadways help in overcoming the centrifugal force that pulls your car away from the direction in which you want to turn

Older Drivers

Be understanding of the needs of older drivers. Do not cut them off, become angry, or otherwise try to get back at them for their driving behavior.

Stopping Power

Because friction is increased by the weight of your vehicle, a fully loaded truck has more stopping power than an empty one, as it's heavier. The additional weight helps to stop the vehicle by producing more friction between the tires and the road surface.

Poor night vision can result in:

Being unable to react to hazards in front of your vehicle in a timely manner. Tailgating. Failing to steer in the proper direction when necessary to avoid low-contrast road features such as the edges of the roadway.

Distractions that can lead to accidents include the following:

Boisterous or inappropriate behavior by your passengers. Peer pressure to drive too fast or show off. Animals in the car. Small children in the car. Grooming while driving. Reading while driving. Emotional instability. Radio, tape/CD players, pagers, and cell phones.

Braking and Energy

Braking to a stop converts kinetic energy into heat energy in your brakes through friction. If you and your vehicle are involved in a collision, the kinetic energy is still converted into heat through friction, but not in your brakes.

Misjudging Natural Forces

By misjudging natural forces, you might lose control while making a turn or lose traction on wet pavement and be unable to stop.

The friction that the clutch creates when released can:

Cause a loss of traction if released improperly (peeling out). Slow your vehicle by engaging a lower gear. Allow the vehicle to move regularly.

Two types of vision

Central and Peripheral

Environmental Conditions

Conditions outside your vehicle, such as heavy traffic, bad weather, and road work can cause you to become stressed, especially if you're in a hurry. Accept that there is usually very little you can do to alleviate these situations. If you find yourself in such a situation and notice that you're becoming stressed, get off the road and make a phone call to inform someone that you're going to be late.

Safe driving requires the following:

Courtesy to others. An understanding of the laws and rules of the road. The ability to quickly apply good judgment to situations. The ability to recognize situations that could rapidly develop into hazards. Responsibility for your own actions.

The attitudes essential to good driving include the following:

Courtesy. Consideration for others. Alertness. Using good judgment. Acting responsibly. Foresight.

To keep a vehicle in a turn without allowing centrifugal force to pull the car out, you should do the following:

Decelerate before the curve. Brake gently and gradually while turning. Downshift (if your car has manual transmission).

Friction wears out your brakes and clutch. If used improperly, excessive wear to the brake pads and clutch can occur. To avoid this:

Don't "ride" your brakes. Don't drive with your clutch partially engaged (depressed). Use lower gears to slow your vehicle on downhill grades (downshift).

As a driver, you should know that children have a much narrower field of vision than adults.

Don't assume children can see you approaching. Instead, slow down and be ready to stop.

Aggression

Don't be aggressive toward other drivers when you're on the road. Be patient when other drivers make mistakes and avoid getting frustrated by giving yourself extra time to get to your destination.

Causes of Behavioral Variables

Emotional tension. Environmental conditions. Hereditary behaviors. Physical body conditions. The amount of training and practice you've had.

Collision Responsibility

Everyone is responsible for avoiding collisions. Even if a collision is caused by someone else doing something wrong, you can be found responsible if you could have done something to avoid the collision.

Gravity and Kinetic Energy

Gravity decreases your kinetic energy when driving uphill and increases it when driving downhill. Therefore, the force of gravity will make it easier to stop your car if you're going uphill but more difficult to stop your car if you're going downhill.

Gravity

Gravity is the force that pulls all objects toward the center of the earth. Gravity affects your speed when you drive uphill and downhill. Traction relates to gravity in that it is the result of friction between the road and your tires caused by the weight of the car (the pull of gravity). Traction is a vital component of driving because you need traction to steer.

Natural forces that act on your vehicle include the following:

Gravity. Inertia. Momentum. Kinetic energy. Potential energy. Friction. Centrifugal force.

Crush Zones

I-beam construction in the vehicle's frame and doors provides greater rigidity and more protection against the force of impact. Crush zones are areas of the vehicle designed to absorb the force of impact by collapsing to protect passengers.

Visual Steps of Reacting to a Problem

Identifying: The transmission of a visual image is sent to your brain. Predicting: The image is compared to past scenarios or learned rules. Deciding: A decision to take an action is made. Executing: Your nervous system sends commands to your hands and feet to turn the steering wheel, apply brakes, accelerate or decelerate, use the horn, etc.

What to do when another driver makes you angry

If another driver does something to make you angry, take a few deep breaths, and avoid reacting in an aggressive manner. Remember that people sometimes make mistakes (including you), then forget about it. Distracting passengers, loud music, and doing other things while driving can cause you to drive unsafely. Driving is a complex task that requires your full attention.

How to deal with an angry driver

If you find yourself in a situation with an aggressive driver, avoid making eye contact. To some people, eye contact is the same as a challenge. If someone is determined to act out his or her frustrations, even a friendly smile can be misinterpreted. Give the angry driver plenty of space. If you make a driving error (even accidentally), it's possible that the other driver may try to pick a fight with you. Put as much distance between your vehicle and the other car as you can, even by changing routes, if necessary.

Brakes: Parking on a Hill

If you have a manual transmission, always set your parking brake and leave the vehicle in gear. If you have an automatic transmission, always use the "Park" position.

The kinetic energy of your body when it is in motion, of loose objects in the car, and of the car itself all increase with weight and the square of your speed so that

If you increase your speed from 10 mph to 20 mph, you're dealing with 4 times the amount of kinetic energy. If you increase you speed from 10 mph to 50 mph, you're dealing with 25 times the amount of kinetic energy.

Parking on a Highway During an Emergency

If you must stop on a highway, park completely off the pavement, leaving enough space for other vehicles to pass freely. Your car should be visible 200 feet in each direction.

Parking Downhill

If you're parking facing downhill, turn your front wheels toward the curb or side of the road.

Don't Park At:

In a location that blocks traffic. In an intersection. On a marked or unmarked crosswalk. On a sidewalk. On the wrong side of the street. Wherever you see the no parking symbol.

Friction is

Increased by the weight of your vehicle. Decreased if tires are overinflated or worn smooth. Increased if tires are underinflated. Affected by materials used to construct the road. Affected by road-surface conditions, including factors due to weather.

Sociological and Economic Changes Brought on by Cars

Increased mobility of the US population. Accelerated development of remote areas, which otherwise would not have been accessible. The ability to live farther from places of work (suburbia and beyond). Increased access to goods and services. Urban sprawl. Reduced extended-family and multi-generational households. Increased access to better education and health care.

To hear best when driving

Keep the volume of your vehicle's audio system low. If you can't hear the sirens from the ambulance coming your way, you have a problem. If possible, keep at least one window open so you can better hear outside noises. Don't wear a headset or earplugs that cover both ears while driving. Only law-enforcement officials and drivers of certain special vehicles are allowed to do this.

Ensuring Good Visibility

Keep your windows clean, clear away objects inside the vehicle, and make sure you don't have anything hanging from your rear-view mirror

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy a body possesses because it's in motion. For example, the potential energy of a book on a table is converted to kinetic energy (motion) when it falls. A book lying flat on the floor doesn't have this same potential or kinetic energy.

Factors that Determine the Force of Impact

Kinetic energy, or the speed and weight of the vehicle and its occupants. The characteristics of a vehicle, including its body rigidity and crush zones.

Courtesy Guidelines

Large vehicles like trucks can't speed up or slow down as easily as smaller vehicles like cars. Larger vehicles like trucks have many blind spots; that means some drivers can't see you as easily as you can see them. Motorcycles might occupy less space on the road than cars, but they're entitled to use the road just like everyone else. Cyclists and pedestrians have rights, too. Some drivers on the road may be older, new to the area, or simply lost. Let the other driver have the right of way. If someone is tailgating you, move to the next lane. You can show courtesy by letting drivers pull in front of you when they want to merge into heavy traffic or your lane. You can also show courtesy by using your indicator lights when turning and your horn or emergency flashers to make other drivers aware of an upcoming hazard or your presence.

Poor glare resistance and recovery can result in being blinded by glare and

Missing curves in the road. Striking unobserved pedestrians. Crashing into the rear of a slow-moving, stalled, or stopped vehicle.

Inertia

Objects that are moving tend to continue moving, while objects that aren't moving tend to remain at rest unless they're acted upon by some other force. This is called the law of inertia and it applies to driving. For example, when you're waiting for a green light on flat pavement at an intersection, your vehicle won't move unless you engage the engine or are otherwise pushed.

Where should drivers focus their vision

On the intended path of travel

Partial Deafness

Partial deafness is the inability to hear softer sounds or sounds of particular frequencies.

Potential Energy

Potential energy is the energy that an object possesses because of its position or form. A book on a table has the "potential" energy to fall to the floor, whereas a book that is already on the floor doesn't have this potential energy.

Cars With Blind Spots

Remember that large vehicles such as trucks have more extensive blind spots than smaller vehicles.

Avoid:

Rubbernecking (slowing down to look at accidents or other situations). Tailgating (following too closely). Unnecessary lane changes (weaving in and out of traffic lanes). Inattention (e.g., eating, grooming, talking on cellular phone, reading, etc.).

Skidding

Skidding happens when the friction of your brakes is stronger than the friction between your tires and the road; this causes you to lose traction. The kinetic energy of your vehicle can't be converted into friction in your brakes (heat energy) when your brakes are locked, because they're in a locked-wheel skid. If the components of your brakes become too hot, they can't release any additional heat and will fail to absorb any more kinetic energy (such as when traveling down a steep hill and using your brakes often).

Things that reduce your field of vision:

Speed

If you're being followed by an angry driver

Stay calm. As long as you think clearly, you'll be in control of the situation. Flash your lights and sound your horn long enough to attract attention to you and the person following you. Drive to a safe spot such as a police station and sound your horn and flash your lights. Don't leave this safe location until you're sure your follower is gone.

Things that can get in the way of your visual field

Stickers, signs, and other objects on your windows can get in the way of your visual field.

Poor Depth Perception Can Result In:

Stopping too far before limit lines or inside intersections. Taking turns too widely or too tightly. Inability to maintain a constant speed. Inability to follow other vehicles at a safe distance.

Green Wave

Traffic Lights are often synchronized so that a motorist driving at a specific speed will pass through a series of green lights without stopping. Engineers optimize the traffic light timing to reduce congestion and improve traffic slowly. A steady speed often can help drivers avoid red lights, therefore keeping the car moving more efficiently.

Parking on an Incline

When you leave a vehicle parked on an incline, gravity pulls your vehicle downhill. To keep your vehicle from rolling away, leave your vehicle in a low gear or in "Park" if it has an automatic transmission. You should always engage your parking brake and may need to block your wheels by placing an object in front of or behind the tires. In case your parking brake fails, always turn the front wheels of your vehicle so that the vehicle won't roll into the traffic lane.

Parking Uphill: Parking on a Hill

When you park uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb. Let your vehicle roll back a few inches until the rear of the front wheel gently touches the curb. Set the parking brake.

Turning and Centrifugal Force

When you turn, your car is subject to centrifugal force that pulls it away from the direction you want to turn and into a straight line. Traction is necessary to keep from you from losing control of your car during a turn.

Driving Uphill

When you're driving uphill, the force of gravity is working against you to slow you down, and you may need to accelerate or shift to a lower gear to maintain your speed.

Effect of Potential Energy on Driving

When you're parked on a hill, gravity causes your car to have potential energy. This energy can be converted to kinetic energy (motion) if the vehicle breaks loose and rolls down the hill. There is also potential energy built up in the components of your car's suspension system that can cause you to swerve when coming out of a turn.

Effect of Inertia on Driving

While driving, inertia keeps your vehicle moving unless the vehicle is acted upon by something, such as your brakes, the road surface, a fixed object (such as a tree), or another vehicle. Inertia also causes your body and loose objects in the car to keep moving forward if your vehicle comes to a sudden stop.

Effect of Roads and Tires

Worn or overinflated tires will decrease the friction between your tires and the road surface, reducing the traction needed to Start smoothly. Stop quickly. Pull out of a turn or curve without losing control. Road surface changes due to ice, rain, snow, oil and diesel fuel buildup, or sand and dirt will reduce the friction and traction of your tires and could result in you losing control of your vehicle.

Inertia in Crashes

You may be injured because of the inertia and momentum of loose objects in your car which can fly through the air during a sudden stop. When you're stopped and hit from behind, your head tends to stay in place due to inertia while the rest of your body is pushed forward by the seat. This causes whiplash. Properly adjusting your headrest can reduce injury due to whiplash.

Your physical condition is important for safe driving.

You need to be able to see and hear well enough to detect potential hazards and handle emergency situations. You can see things most clearly directly ahead, while things to each side (your peripheral vision) are less distinct. Frequent scanning and visual searching can compensate for the limited visibility of your peripheral vision. No matter how good your peripheral vision, there will still be areas to the sides and behind your vehicle that can't be seen. Always check your blind spots! Keep your windows clean, and clear away any objects that may obstruct your vision. You greatly increase your chances of being in a collision if you're tired or fatigued. You can do simple things to avoid fatigue, such as getting lots of rest before a long trip, avoiding medications that make you drowsy, taking frequent breaks even if you aren't sleepy, chewing gum, listening to the radio, or rolling down your window to get some fresh air. Vision, hearing, and reaction time deteriorate as a natural part of the aging process. Be understanding of the needs of older drivers; don't cut them off or become angry with them for their driving behavior.

To drive well at night

You need to have good night vision and be able to see low contrast objects

Adjustments before Driving

You should adjust the mirrors on your vehicle before driving. First, adjust the seat so that you have good visibility, and then adjust your mirrors.

Windshield Wipers

You're required to keep your windshield wipers in good operating condition and use them whenever necessary.

Hearing

Your hearing can warn you of danger such as the presence of vehicles in your blind spots. It allows you to respond to honking horns, emergency vehicle sirens, and railroad crossing bells. Your hearing can also alert you to issues in your vehicle, such as impending engine or other mechanical failure.

Improving Fuel Economy with Oil

Your vehicle's engine was designed to use a certain oil quality and viscosity. According to the US EPA, you can improve your fuel economy by 1-2% by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Make sure you change the oil regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendation, because degraded motor oil will degrade fuel economy.

Peripheral vision is more sensitive to

light and movement

kinetic energy of your moving vehicle determines

your ability to stop the car