Driver's Education

Emergency Situation If you are driving on a two-lane road in ideal weather and notice an oncoming vehicle cross the centerline and begin to drift into your lane, how would you handle the situation? Be specific.

''Honk horn and steer to the right, using the shoulder if necessary.'' ''Hit something soft, if you do not have open space.'' ''Side swipe if you are going to hit something to defect the blow.'' Do not steer to the left because the oncoming driver may recover and pull back into their lane.

Risk Awareness Fact Sheet Where do crashes occur for young drivers?

- 11% of young drivers' fatal crashes occur on gravel or non-paved roads. -51% of young driver fatal crashes occur on country roads. - 96% of all young driver fatal crashes occur on roadways with a speed limit of 55mph. - 75% of young driver fatal crashes occur on sections of roadways where no traffic devices are in effect.

Where do the majority of crashes occur for young drivers? Why are teen fatal crashes on county roads so high? What sections of roadway do you consider most dangerous in the areas where you drive? How can you reduce risk? Why are fatal crashes on interstate highways low for teens?

- 71% of young fatal crashes occur while driving a car on a standard straightaway. - You should listen to your parents' instructions. They are much more experienced than you and they will always have your best interests in mind.

As a passenger

- Avoid distracting or upsetting the driver - Discourage the driver from driving recklessly - Be a co-pilot. Help with directions - Keep the driver awake and pilot

Vehicle & Ownership of Maintenance In the event of a roadside breakdown, what items would you want to have in your vehicle?

- Cell Phone and charger - Flashlight - Blanket - Signaling devices (triangles, flares) - Jumper Cables -Abrasive material (sand, salt, kitty litter )

What do you believe the most common road and weather conditions are when young drivers are involved in fatal collisions?

- Common causes for fatal collisions among young drivers are hydroplaning, black ice, fog, heavy rain/snow, sharp curves, uncontrolled intersections and highway driving.

Vehicle & Ownership of Maintenance What are the safety procedures and steps for jump-starting a vehicle?

- DANGER! battery can explode if not jump-started correctly. - Do not have cables dangling nearing moving parts. - How did the battery drain? Were the lights on, was battery old etc. - Today there is a new way of jump-starting the car. You can purchase a portable jump-starter that eliminates the need for a second vehicle. - Follow the manufacturer's directions to use properly and safety.

How big a factor are distractions?

- Distracted driving will become the leading cause for fatal collisions. - When distracted, your driving is not on your driving task. - Your reaction time and decision-making is slowed.

Emergency Situation What should you do if you realize your brakes are not functioning?

- Don't Panic. Overreacting to this situation will only make it more dangerous. - Take your foot off the gas , and shift into neutral. - You must immediately identify whether you can proceed down the road without putting yourself or others around you in danger.. - If your path is not clear, you may have to intentionally use your surroundings to stop your vehicle. Look for rough terrain or inclines to slow you down. - if you must hit something, try to grind against a curb or guardrail to bring your vehicle to a stop. never make contact head on, if you can avoid it.

Distracted Driving What do you consider lethal or deadly to your age group?

- Drinking while under age - Driving while under age - Smoking - Use of fire arms - Gang violence - distracting the driver while being a passenger

When do the majority of crashes occur for young drivers? Why is the after-school time period most dangerous for teens and fatal crashes? Why is 9pm to midnight another dangerous time for teens? How can you reduce the risk?

- Drivers are increasingly fatigued and may fall asleep behind the wheel. -When driving at night, many drivers drive faster than what they can see. The headlights of other drivers may also blind you. - Novice drivers can reduce their risk by limiting the opportunity for themselves to be in these risky situations. - Proper planning can save you from many issues. Seek other modes of transportation.

Blood Alcohol Levels

- First drink effects coordination and judgement - Even with a BAC well below .08 a person's reaction time slows. - The risk of being in a crash begins to climb with a BCA between .04 and .05 and increases rapidly thereafter. - By the time a driver reaches a BAC of .06 he/she is likely to be involved in a fatal crash as a non-drinking driver.

Brandon's Story What factors contributed to Brandon's crash?

- He was drinking and driving - He decided it was okay to drive while drunk - He was being cautious of his actions of drinking and driving

Brandon's Story Identify at least three ways that Brandon's crash affected his life.

- His memory was affected - He suffered from being disabled completely - He had to learn all ways of life again

Road Rage What is Road Rage?

- Honking Horn - Frequently crossing center line - Speeding - Passing illegally - Tailgating - Cutting off other cars - Weaving in and out of lanes

Emergency Situation List the procedures you should follow if your vehicle experiences a tire blowout.

- If a tire blows out, grasp the steering wheel firmly and take your foot off the accelerator. - Stay off the brakes until your vehicle is under control. - Use your emergency flashes to warn other drivers. Use turn signal and get off the travel portion of the road as soon as possible. - Left front tire blowout, the car will veer to the left. This is the most dangerous because of oncoming traffic. - Right front tire blowout , the car will veer to the right, towards the shoulder.

Risk Awareness Fact Sheet What other factors contribute to young driver fatal crashes (gender safety belt usage, alcohol consumption)?

- Male drivers are 64% more likely to be in involved in fatal crashes - Female drivers are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes - In Michigan, 25% of all young drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking alcohol. - Additionally, the average is 40% of young drivers in fatal crashes that happened because people were drinking alcohol.

Distracted Driving What is Kelsey's Law?

- Mobile phones are banned for GDL 1 and 2 teen drivers - The law is limited in honor of Kelsey Raffaele , 17, of Sault Set. Marie, who died in a mobile phone-related automobile crash in 2010. - Under the state law, you are prohibited from initiating a call, answering a call, or listening to or engaging in verbal communication through a mobile phone. If ticketed, you could receive up to $295 in fines and costs.

Reducing Insurance Premiums

- No claims or moving violations for 3 years - Umbrella policy - you have more than one vehicle - Insured by the same insurance company or bundle car, house, boat etc. - Good grades - Complete driver education course

What type of vehicles are young drivers driving? What safety features does your vehicle have?

- On an average, most vehicles driven by teens are 10 years old. - Only 35% of teens are driving the types of cars that safety experts recommend for them (mid-sized or large cars). -Examples of safety features are: blind spot detectors, lane assist, back up cameras, air bags, park assist, ABS and ESP braking systems, etc.

Passengers and Emotions

- Passengers can influence the way a driver thinks, feels, and acts - You are the driver. You need to take control - and responsibility. - Do not let peer pressure make you take more risks - Do not get into arguments or heated discussions with other passengers - You may get upset - and that can affect your driving - Passengers can help maintain control by taking actions to prevent aggressive driving or speeding

Why do passengers increase risk? How do you reduce distractions while driving when you have a people in the car?

- Passengers often increase the risk by distracting the driver. - They may also upset the driver. - If the driver is not paying attention because they are talking and not looking at the road ahead, they may do something wring and dangerous. - Potential solutions would be letting your passenger know that, you, as the driver are the leader and must take control. You are responsible for yourself and your passengers. - Anticipate situations that produce strong emotions, and only drive when you are in control. - Try to eliminate distraction before driving.

Causes of fatigue

- Physical stress as a cause of fatigue - Mental Stress - Monotonous tasks - Lack of sleep

Why should Young Drivers be concerned about risks? Identify and explain possible errors of inexperience.

- Risks involved in driving can result in injury, death, property damage or vehicle damage. - We must learn how to manage driver risk in a way that can reduce chances for serious losses. - Since risk taking is part of the decision-making process, the probability of a collision depends on the degree of risk that a driver decided to accept.

Emergency Situation List the safety considerations and techniques you should use for avoiding a rear-end collision:

- Scan the road ahead. This will allow you to brake early and smoothly, thus avoiding sudden stops. - Rear-end collisions are often caused by tailgaters. - How do you detect a tailgater? Look in the rear view mirror - you should see bumper, tires and road. If you do not see these, they are tailgating. If someone is tailgating you, allow more distance in front of your vehicle. The reason is to give yourself more room to slow or stop. - If the tailgater persists, select a safe area to follow the tailgater to pass.

Emergency Situation What should you do in the event of a stuck accelerator pedal?

- Shift into neutral and use the brake to slow down. Put on your turn signal and select a safe spot to stop. - If your vehicle has a locking steering wheel or power steering, do NOT turn off the ignition. You will lose power steering, or lock the wheel, making it impossible to steer. - Once in a safe spot, turn off ignition. Check under pedal to see if an object is stuck under it, and remove it. If nothings there , call for road assistance. Do not drive the car.

Emergency Situation Describe the safety steps and considerations that you should be thinking about if your wheels drop off the side of a two lane rural lane.

- Stay off the road - Stay off the gas - Stay off the brake and let your vehicle slow gradually However, if there are obstructions or traffic in front of you, it may be safer to bring your vehicle to a complete stop. If you must pull back onto the roadway after you've slowed, signal, check for traffic behind you, and steer back onto the road.

Distracted Driving What were some of the choices that were made that lead to the crash that took Donovan's life?

- The passenger was distracting him

What other factors contribute to teen driver fatal crashes?

- They include vehicle malfunctions, fatigue, aggressive driving, alcohol and drug use, failure to adjust speed to traffic /weather conditions, improper visual search, and driving off the road.

Vehicle & Ownership of Maintenance What are the safety procedures and steps for changing a flat tire?

- You should practice in a safe and supervised situation to become familiar with changing a tire. - Turn on hazard lights. - If possible, pull off the traveled portions the roadway. - Use warning devices, such as triangles. - Consult your vehicle's owner's manual for proper wheel chocking, use of jack and tire replacement.

What are the safety procedures and steps for changing a flat tire?

- You should practice in a. safe and supervised situation to become familiar with changing a tire. - Turn on hazard lights - If possible, pull off the traveled portion of the roadway. - Use warning devices, such as triangles. - Consult your vehicle's owner's manual for proper wheel chocking , use of jack and tire replacement.

Risk Awareness Other Facts

1. 5 seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. The. traveling at 55mph , that is enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. 2. 50% of read-end crashes and 30% of all crashes can be prevented with an additional 1/2 second of reaction time. 3. Driving while multi-tasking may cause other drivers to, or the inability to recognize objects encountered on the driver's field of visions.

Risk Awareness Fact Sheet Why should drivers be concerned with Risk Taking?

1. Approximately 1 out of 11 sixteen-year old drivers will have a serous crash before their 17th birthday. 2. 1 out of 8 drivers will be involved in a rash in their first three years of driving. 3. When is the risk of a crash the highest for young teens? First 6 months. 4. The biggest reasons for a crash are improper visual search & inexperience. 5. Due to the lack of experience, the largest category that leads to crashes is speeding. 6. The number of teens in a car increases the risk of fatal crashes over 100% with three or more passengers in the car.

Risk Awareness Fact Sheet

1. Distractions cause young drivers to concentrate on things other than driving. 2. Cell phone use impairs a drivers ability to handle driving tasks, similar to a driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.08. 3. Cell phone use increases the risk of crash by 4x Texting increases the risk of crash by 8x 4. Brain power associated with driving decreases by 40% when a driver listens to someone talk or listens to the radio. Distraction: any activity that distracts a driver to take their eyes off the road , their mind off the driving task, or their hands off the steering wheel.

Emotions What physical effects do emotions have on driving?

1. Heartbeat increases 2. Feelings of exhaustion 3. Physical/ mental stress Control emotions 1. Understand your emotional make-up 2. Expect other drivers to make mistakes 3. Delay driving when upset 4. Are you tired?

Steps if you are Pulled Over

1. Slow Down , tap brakes, to let the officer know you will be skipping 2. Stay in your car 3. Keep both hands on the steering wheel 4. Do not exit the vehicle unless asked to do so 5. Comply with the officer's request (license, registration, insurance) 6. Ask permission to reach into the glovebox, visor, under the seat

Risk Awareness Fact Sheet Why should drivers be concerned with risk taking?

7. In fatal crashes involving novice drivers, the majority of those killed are passengers 8. For every 2 miles driven, the average driver makes 200 observations, 40 decisions, and 1 mistake 9. Once every 500 miles, one of these decisions leads to a near-collision. 10. 1 out of 6 teen drivers are involved in injury, properly damage and fatal crashes. 11. What age if your brain fully developed? 25 years old

OWI vs DUI

DUI - driving under the influence OWI - operating while intoxicated

Risk Awareness Fact Sheet

In fatal crashes involving young drivers, 41% of the vehicles driving are 10 years old or older. Teenage vehicles owners are likely to drive: - More miles - Take more traffic violations - Receive more traffic violations - Are involved in more crashes than those who do not own a vehicle

Drinking and Driving Facts

Is Alcohol digested or absorbed? - Absorbed Which organ of the body if affected first by alcohol - brain or liver? - Brain Each drink adds ow much to your BAC level? - 0.02 to 0.03 What is the first skill lost by a driver under the influence of alcohol? - Judgement

Why is texting one of the most dangerous distractions?

It's because Texting involves three different types of detractions simultaneously Visual: Taking your eyes off the road Manual: Tasking your hands off the wheel Cognitive: Taking your mind off driving

Risk Awareness

Possible errors include: Tailgating at a high rate of speed. Such high risks are unnecessary and foolish because serious loss always outweighs the chance for small gain. - Speeding: The driver is in a hurry and is more apt to pass with little margin of safety and cuts off another driver. - Improper visual skills: When beginning drivers observe a danger, it maybe too late to respond properly. They may concentrate on one danger and fail to perceive another. - Lane changing and merging: Not all beginning drivers are able to judge speed and space. Many forget to look before moving into another space.

Risk Awareness Fact Sheet Why should drivers be concerned with risk taking?

Reasons for driver errors are: - Distractions/ Lack of attention - physical mental or combination of both - Not able to multi-task - Poor decision making - Failure to identify, be aware of, predict, decide, execute actions - Failure to adjust speed and space

Emotions

Strong Emotions - You are distracted - Decision making is reduced Name different types of emotions that can affect your driving - Anger - Fear - Joy - Grief

Road Rage What are the degrees of aggression for Road Rage?

Three degrees of aggression: 1. Rush in : Start out calm - Ability to control stress and emotions 2. Total aggression: rush of anger ''get even'' attitude - Ridicule & criticize other drivers out loud in car. Deny entry or room on the room on the road 3. Violence: Desire to harm others - ''road rage'' What to avoid escalating a potential road rage situation? - Do not take it personally. Move out of the way when safe. - Do not let the situation escalate. Do not challenge the other driver.

Risk Awareness Other Facts

What is rubber-necking? Looking at a crash after you pass it. The best time to address distractions is before you drive. You identify a driver ahead as distracted. What should you do? Increase our following distance.

Drowsy Driving/ Who is Most At Risk/ Are You At Risk?

Who is Most At Risk? - Sleep Deprived - Driving long distances without a break - Taking medications - Driving at night when normally asleep - Driving alone Are You At Risk? - Sleep deprived - Insomnia - Poor quality of sleep - Work long days/ working more than one job - Changing time zones - Driving alone on long trips