DE Module 7

Allow two second following distance

Two seconds is the minimum recommended safe following distance in Florida. In hazardous conditions or bad weather, adjust the following distance as necessary.

If you can choose among three lanes on your side of the road, pick the middle lane for the smoothest driving.

Use the left lane to go faster, pass, or turn left. Use the right lane to drive slowly, enter, or turn off the road.

Brakes

Use threshold braking for conventional brakes also known as heel-and-toe method. Place the heel of your foot on the floor, so that the ball of your foot makes contact with the pedal. This will enable you to use your toes to make fine adjustments in pedal pressure and to pivot your foot smoothly between the brake and accelerator.

If your temperature gauge is rising and you are stopped in traffic, briefly put the car in park (P) and lightly step on the gas to help circulate coolant. If the temperature light goes on or if the gauge enters the red zone, immediately pull off the road, well away from traffic, and stop the engine.

Wait 20 minutes, start up the engine, and if the temperature light does not come on, proceed directly to the nearest garage. If at any time the gauge goes back into the red zone or the temperature light comes on, pull over immediately, turn off the engine, and repeat the process.

avoiding hazards

dentify all potential hazards early. Rate the hazards on the level of threat to your safety. Make predictions about what might happen or go wrong. Make adjustments in your speed and position to make sure you are safe. Have escape routes in mind before you are faced with a dangerous situation.

Brakes suddenly gave out

dentify all potential hazards early. Rate the hazards on the level of threat to your safety. Make predictions about what might happen or go wrong. Make adjustments in your speed and position to make sure you are safe. Have escape routes in mind before you are faced with a dangerous situation. You can still steer and swerve. Steer into bushes or something soft. Sound your horn and flash your lights to warn other drivers. When you no longer need to change direction, turn off the ignition.

Stopping distances increase on slippery and ice covered surfaces.

distances on slippery roads may be 2 to 10 times greater than on dry roads. Focus your attention as far ahead as possible—at least 20 to 30 seconds. Look out for hazards (other vehicles) in side or oncoming traffic. Other cars may lose traction on slippery surfaces and enter your lane.

If you need to attend to something important while driving,

first check the situation ahead, then check traffic by taking frequently, short looks. Also check your mirrors in between movements.

rear end collisions

happens when a vehicle is hit from the back. This type of collision usually occurs when the vehicle behind you is driving too close to your car. Avoid sudden moves and stops so that vehicles behind you have time to react. Keep pressing your brake pedal even after stopping. If you stop or turn unexpectedly and the car following hits you, it could be your fault.

long steep downgrade

keep a look out for large vehicles that can gather speed very quickly.

Dont weave

stay in one traffic lane as much as possible. Weaving in and out of lanes could anger other drivers on the road and create unsafe conditions.

Defensive drivings anticipate

the actions of other road users and are willing to adjust their own speed and position to prevent collisions

Defensive drivings also adjust

their driving practices to reflect changes in weather and road conditions. With practice, the IPDE process becomes a natural driving habit.

Safe drivers are full time drivers

they remain alert and keep their eyes on the road. They make the task of driving their number one priority. Taking your eyes off of the road even for a brief moment can cause you to veer into traffic or rear-end the car ahead of you.

Visualize space

u will be more aware of your surroundings, which includes other vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, work equipment, and you will be able to avoid hazards and obstacles by changing lanes or adjusting speed. Check ahead for traffic lights, stop signs, and posted speed limits and make adjustments accordingly. Think of a speed limit sign as a cue to look at your speedometer and adjust speed.

To avoid collisions

you need as much time as possible to react. Keep plenty of space between your car and all other objects. Stay in the middle of your lane. Make sure there is enough room ahead to stop or pass safely. The space between you and other vehicles gives you time to react in emergencies

keep a front cushion 2

When your vision is blocked by poor visibility on road (e.g., fog, heavy rain). When following or driving next to vehicles that block your view ahead (e.g. trucks, SUVs, buses). You need the extra room to see around the vehicle and to the sides. On slippery roads. If the car ahead slows or stops, you will need more distance to stop your car. When it rains or snows. Stopping distances increase on snowy and wet roads. When following motorcycles. If the motorcycle falls, you'll have to avoid hitting the rider. Motorcycles fall more often on wet or icy roads, bridge gratings, railroad tracks, and on gravel. When the speed increases and the traffic flow is fast. In such cases, you need a space of at least five seconds. When merging on an expressway.

Look both ways at an Intersection

You should look left, right, and left again just before entering the intersection. Look to the left first, since cars coming from the left are closer to you. Some drivers do not obey traffic signals. At an intersection, look left, right, and left again even if the other traffic has a red light or a stop sign. A drunk or reckless driver may not stop.

Always be alert

Your first line of defense from a deadly pile-up is your ABILITY TO PAY ATTENTION. You have to SEE IT to be able to AVOID IT.

defensive driving

a set of driving skills that allows you to defend yourself against possible collisions due to other drivers, weather, or road conditions.

IPDE-IDENTIFY, PREDICT, DECIDE, AND EXECUTE

a step-by-step reasoning process for safe vehicle operation which uses the principles of defensive driving and careful visual perception in traffic. an organized process of thinking and acting that you should always use when driving.

Once you identify a potential hazard and decided what to do,

act immediately. Don't "wait and see."

A little distraction..

allowing your eyes to stray from the road—can cause a big problem.

hilltops and curves

check ahead for hazards or problems (e.g. a stalled car) and adjust your speed and following distance. Check ahead for speed limit signs on hilltops and curves. Slow down when driving downhill and before entering a curve

Tailgating

"lose" the tailgater as soon as you can by changing lanes. If you cannot change lanes, slow down enough to encourage the tailgater to go around you. If this does not work, pull off the road when it is safe and let the tailgater pass.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW:

$10,000 Bodily Injury Liability to one person $20,000 Bodily Injury Liability to two or more persons $10,000 Property Damage Liability $30,000 combined single limits

Proper coverage

1) Buy your insurance policy from a company licensed to do business within the state. 2) Receive your Financial Responsibility Certificate from the Bureau of Financial Responsibility. You can do this by posting a satisfactory surety bond from a company licensed to do business in the state. 3) Receive a Financial Responsibility Certificate from the Bureau of Financial Responsibility after depositing the required amount of cash or securities. 4) Receive a Self Insurance Certificate from the Bureau of Financial Responsibility after showing proof of a net unencumbered capital.

If you are stopped at a traffic light or stop sign and another vehicle is approaching you from behind at a high rate of speed, do the following:

1. If possible, pull your vehicle forward in an effort to give the approaching vehicle more room to stop. 2. If the collision cannot be avoided, brace yourself between the steering wheel and the back of the seat and release your brake an instant before impact. This will help to lessen the impact.

potential head on collisions

1. Reduce your speed and flash your headlights in an effort to warn the other driver. Using your horn may also be effective. 2. Head for the shoulder of the road, even if you must hit a fence or drive through bushes. 3. If you cannot avoid the collision, try to maneuver your vehicle in such a way as to lessen the severity of impact. Always wear your seat belts. This is the best thing you can do to protect yourself from injury in the event of a collision.

A good driver always adjusts speed according to his or her own physical condition and the condition of the vehicle, ensuring complete control of the situation at all times.

1. Slow down when the road is wet (rain, snow, sleet). 2. Slow down when the road is crowded. 3. Slow down when your vision is limited. You should always be able to stop within the distance that you can see ahead of your car. In darkness or bad weather, do not drive beyond your range of vision.

Do not panic. To avoid a collisions

1. Stop 2. Turn (or steer away) 3. Speed up

Keep a space between yourself and parked cars. Watch for trouble when driving in lanes next to parked cars. Someone may step into the street from behind a car.

A car may start to pull out suddenly or it's doors can swing open. In a parking lot entrance, watch out for all approaching vehicles and pedestrians.

the Financial Responsibility Law requires drivers and owners of the vehicle to have bodily injury liability insurance at the time of the following cases:

A collision where you are at fault and somebody is injured. A license suspension for too many points on your driving record. A citation for driving under the influence, resulting in drivers license revocation. A revocation for habitual traffic offenses. A revocation for any serious offense as defined by DHSMV.

Communication with other drivers

It is important that you know how to establish two-way communication with other drivers. This could be a nod, a flash of the lights, a hand signal, a tap on the horn, or yielding to allow another driver to proceed. Sound your horn when necessary to avoid collisions. Don't honk at others. A gentle tap on the horn is enough to catch the attention of a pedestrian or another driver.

The decision

Once you have evaluated the situation and made a decision, executing it involves figuring out how much braking or acceleration you need, what lane position to take, and whether there is a need to communicate (signal, horn, tap on the brake, etc.) in establishing and maintaining a safe space.

Space is the key

Always remember that the safest position in traffic is the place where the fewest vehicles surround you. Space is the key, and your objective is to always surround yourself with as much space as possible.

Decide

Determine what action to take, and when and where to take it.

Turning quickly

Do not apply the brake while you are turning. It's very easy to lock your wheels while turning. If that happens, you may skid out of control. Do not turn any more than needed to clear whatever is in your way. The sharper the turn, the greater the chances of a skid or rollover. Be prepared to "counter-steer," that is, to turn the wheel back in the other direction, once you've passed the obstacle.

To help avoid skidding on slippery surfaces, you should::

Drive slowly and stay farther behind the vehicle ahead. Slow down as you approach curves and intersections. Avoid fast turns. Avoid quick stops. "Pump" the brakes to slow or stop. (Antilock brakes should not be pumped.) Shift to low gear before going down a steep hill.

Have an Escape route

Driving safely requires an awareness of all available driving options and a willingness to use them. Keep in mind at all times that driving is, substantially, a decision making process. In many ways, the decisions that are made are about space management. Safe driving is constantly avoiding dangerous situations.

The faster the speed, the less control you have of your car. Rather than just looking at the legal posted speed limit, you should consider what could affect the safe operation of your car.

EXAMPLE: Should you drive 35 mph (the posted speed limit) on a curve down an icy mountain road? Many new drivers do not slow down to safe speeds for each road. That is one reason why new drivers have more "out-of-control" collisions than experienced drivers.

In Florida, there are two insurance laws: 1. The Financial Responsibility Law 2. The No-Fault Law

Every driver who purchases insurance in Florida is issued an insurance ID card. You must have this card with you every time you drive in Florida. Forging or making a false statement about car insurance is a second degree misdemeanor.

guidelines to help adjust speed

Go 5 to 10 mph slower on a wet road. Cut your speed in half on packed snow. Slow to a crawl on ice.

Expect other drivers to make mistakes

Have an escape plan in mind, so if another driver makes a mistake, you will be prepared to defend yourself.

Establish a space ahead and behind

Always have an escape route. Do this by establishing a safe space around your vehicle. This means that you should always be aware of any secondary spaces or gaps in the adjacent lanes that could be used as an escape route.

navigation system can be a distraction

Always designate a front-seat passenger to serve as a "co-pilot," and keep your eyes on the road rather than fumbling with maps or navigation systems yourself. If you are driving alone, map out destinations in advance.

No fault law

According to the No-Fault law, an owner of any vehicle with more than four wheels that has been in Florida for at least 90 days during the past year must buy an insurance policy for the state of Florida. The policy must have a minimum coverage amount of $10,000 for personal injury protection and $10,000 for property damage liability. The exceptions to this rule are owners of taxis and limousines.

Execute

Act by maneuvering the car to avoid hazards.

avoid rear end collisions

Always signal when you change direction. Signal even when you don't see any cars around. A car you don't see might hit you. Signal early for turns, stops or lane changes. Always signal before pulling next to (or away from) the curb. Even though you signal, do not assume that the space you wish to occupy is clear. Look in your mirrors and over your shoulder to check your blind spot before making a lane change.

Predict

Anticipate when and where possible hazards may occur.

Stopping quickly emergency break

Apply the brakes as hard as you can without locking them. The vehicle can go into a skid if you brake too hard. If the brakes lock-up, you will feel the vehicle start to skid. Quickly let up on the brake pedal. As soon as the vehicle stops skidding, push down on the brake pedal again. Keep doing this until the vehicle has stopped. In case of brake failure, pump the brake pedal quickly. After three or four pumps, you will know if the brakes are going to hold. This action may build up enough brake pressure to steer the vehicle off the highway and stop safely.

In case your vehicle begins to skid, do the following:

Avoid using the brakes if possible. If you are in danger of hitting something, pump the brakes gently. Steer the vehicle into the direction of the skid. This will help straighten the vehicle and help you gain control. Steer the vehicle back towards the direction you intend to move in.

Tires brake out

Avoid using the brakes. Focus your steering to avoid hazards. Attempt to slow the car gradually. Once the car is under your control, brake softly. As you slow down, pull the car off the road.

Consistently being aware of what is going on in the space around you and ready to make adjustments based on that awareness, is critical to defensive driving.

By maintaining a good visual lead, you'll be able to manage space well, know a good driving situation from a poor one, and make changes to improve it.

Engine dies

Move to the side of the road as safely as possible. The steering wheel may take more force to turn than normal. Stop the car. You may have to push the brake pedal hard if your car has power brakes. Restart the engine and proceed with caution

Choosing correct lane position

Choose the lane best suited for both the legal requirements of the road and destination. Make a lane change early and be in the correct lane for your turns. Anticipate lane blockages by looking one-and-a-half blocks ahead and select the lane that allows movement with the least conflict. Last minute lane changes could result in a collision with the car ahead.

lok to the side at

Cross streets, side streets, and alleys Crosswalks and railroad crossings Expressway entrances Driveways, shopping center entrances, etc

Every intersection where streets with sidewalks meet at a right angle has a crosswalk, even if there are no painted lines.

Crosswalks are often marked with white lines. Yellow crosswalk lines may be painted at school crossings. Before turning a corner, watch for people who are about to cross the street.

Avoid distractions and if you really need to look away, pick a safe time to do it.

For example, wait until you can bring your car to a complete stop at a traffic light or stop sign before touching the stereo or your navigation system.

Reporting collisions

If the accident results in property damage, injury, or death, you are required to report it. Make sure to call your local law enforcement agency, Florida Highway Patrol, or county sheriff's office.

The DHSMV will be notified of the actions you take with your insurance policy. This includes renewal, cancellation, or the expiration of coverage.

If you do not maintain the proper insurance coverage, you will be expected to surrender your license plates. Law enforcement officers have the right to seize your plates at any time if your license and plates have been suspended for 30 days or more due to this type of violation. If at any time your license and/or plates are suspended for non-compliance with the No-fault law, you will be expected to show proof of insurance and pay a $150 fee before reinstatement. The fee increases to $250 for a second incident occurring within three years and $500 for a third within three years.

If you are involved in any sort of collision, it is essential for you to stop. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Exchange information with anyone else involved in a collision. You are required to give your name, address, and vehicle registration number. You must also show your drivers license. Do not block traffic. Move your car out of the way and make sure it doesn't pose a threat to anyone else on the road. Call a tow truck if you are not able to move the vehicle yourself.

If you hit an unattended vehicle or object and cause damage, you must attempt to find the owner. If you can't locate the owner, leave a note with your name, address, and plate number.

Safety experts estimate that a driver makes nearly 200 decisions for every mile of driving.

If you look down for just two seconds to choose a CD or adjust the air conditioning, you will have traveled 176 ft blindly. That's more than half the length of a football field. If the vehicle moves into a high-risk situation while you are distracted, you lose precious seconds for recognizing the situation and making an emergency maneuver.

in order to turn quickly

Keep both hands on the steering wheel. In order to turn quickly, you must have a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands.

I-Identify

Locate potential hazards in the driving environment.

Keep your eyes moving

Look near and far, and always anticipate trouble or potential hazards. Look over and around the vehicle ahead. Do not just look at the back of the vehicle ahead of you.

Speed Control Options

Maintain your speed Slow down your speed Increase your speed Apply the brake Travel at a speed based upon the speed limit and environmental conditions. If you determine that a zone is closing to your front, always reduce speed. Avoid using any unnecessary acceleration into a closed zone. When you see a red light or stopped traffic, reduce speed until you arrive at an open zone. When your ability to see others (who may enter your path) is reduced, lower speed. Use speed limit signs as a cue to check the speedometer and other vehicle gauges. Select the best lane for the legal requirements of the road and destination. Select a lane position that provides the best separation from potential problems.

Stopping quickly

Most new vehicles have ABS (Antilock Braking Systems). Be sure to read the vehicle owner's manual on how to use the ABS. The ABS system will allow you to stop without skidding.

Don't make assumptions about another driver's intentions.

Never assume that other drivers are sober, alert, or will follow the rules of the road at all times.

Tips for defensive driving

Plan for the unexpected Control your speed Be prepared to react to other drivers Don't expect that everyone is a defensive driver Manage time and space Be aware of special road and weather conditions Be alert and avoid distractions (e.g., cell phone use, eating)

Stopping wth ABD

Press on the brake pedal as hard as you can and maintain the pressure. You might feel the brake pedal pushing back when the ABS is working. DO NOT let up on the brake pedal. The ABS system will only work with the brake pedal pushed down firmly. NEVER PUMP ANTILOCK BRAKES.

Accelration gets stuck

Shift to neutral. Apply the brakes. Keep your eyes on the road. Look for a way out. Warn other drivers by blinking and flashing your emergency lights. Try to drive the car safely off the road. Turn off the ignition when you no longer need to change direction.

Rear lights

Replace any burned out bulbs immediately. If your brake lights are not working, the driver behind you will not know if you are stopping or slowing down and might run into your car.

rear view and side view

Safe driving requires you to know the traffic conditions behind your car as well as to the sides. By checking the mirrors you will be able to judge the following distances of other vehicles on the road and spot tailgaters.

The driver of the green car, while driving in the left lane of a two-lane road, sees a vehicle stopped on the right shoulder, partially blocking the far right lane. The blue car is attempting to pass the green car. What should the driver of the green car do to clear the scene safely?

Slow down and stay alert to the surroundings.

Hood pulls up

Slow down. Try to look under the hood to see. If you can't, put your head out the window and use the centerline or the lane marking as a guide. Turn on the emergency flashers and safely pull off the road as soon as possible

Speed up

Sometimes it is necessary to speed up to avoid a collision. This may happen when another vehicle is about to hit you from the side or behind and you have room at the front of your vehicle to get out of danger. Be sure to slow down once the danger has passed. Remember to always keep at least a two-second (or greater) space cushion between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.

IPDE can help you avoid collisions and become a defensive driver.

Take a moment to think through the IPDE process and how you may use it while driving. Defensive driving is the art of protecting yourself and others from dangerous and unexpected changes in the driving environment.

blind spots

The driver cannot see vehicles in these blind spots when looking only in the mirrors. The driver must turn his or her head in order to see a car in one of these blind spots. Drive through another driver's blind spot as quickly as you can or drop back.

Headlights

Try the dimmer switch. This will often put them on again. Try the headlight switch a few times. If that doesn't work, put on the parking lights, hazard lights, or turn signals. If none of these work, pull off the road as quickly as possible and leave the hazard lights on.

Traffic accès on express

Traffic access on expressways is controlled. This means that you can enter or leave the expressway only at entrances and exits, which are called interchanges. Negotiating these interchanges requires cooperation and communication. The car exiting has the right-of-way unless there is a safety threat.

Keep a front cushion

When a tailgater is crowding you, allow extra room between your car and the car ahead. Then, if you need to slow down, do so gradually after checking your mirrors. You will be able to avoid braking suddenly and being hit from behind.

You must always yield to children playing in the street or nearby.

You are responsible for driving with extreme caution when children are present. Slow down near schools, playgrounds, and residential areas. The cost of hitting a child is very high—in dollars, grief, and guilt.

An automobile skids when its tires lose their grip on the road surface.

You can avoid a skid altogether if you simply slow down when road and weather conditions are poor.

going to slow

You can be cited for driving too slowly and blocking the flow of traffic. NOTE: When the posted speed limit is 70 mph, the minimum speed limit is 50 mph.