Driving Improvement Course

A (RUA Defensive Driver)

"Act Correctly, In Time," to arrive at your destination safely.

U (RUA Defensive Driver)

"Understand the Defense" to avoid the hazard.

Improper Speed

#1 most unsafe driving behavior that contributes to collisions and violations is improper speed. Speeding was a factor in 30% of all collision deaths in a recent year. On average over 10,000 collision deaths a year involve speeding. Speeding includes driving too fast for conditions as well as driving in excess of a posted speed limit.

3 Unsafe Passes

1. Getting sideswiped 2. Getting run off the road 3. Getting hit head on

Preventable Collision

A collision in which the driver fails to do everything reasonable to avoid it.

Animals

At night use high-beam headlights to increase your vision and time to react, as long as you do so in a legal manner which does not blind oncoming motorists. - Sounding your car horn may also cause the animal to "run off the road."

Characteristics of Young (25 and under)

Better Senses, Mobility and Reaction time. Inexperience in driving.

DDC Collision Prevention Formula

Developed by National Safety Council as a three-step process to help drivers see hazards before they become dangerous situations.

Defensive Driving

Driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.

impaired driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or all other drugs

Replacing Wiper Blades

Every 4-6 months or if brittle/hardened

Vehicle Condition (U)

Every day before getting into your vehicle for the first time, do a pre-trip outside vehicle check.

Inside Vehicle Check (U)

Every time you get into your vehicle, make a pre-trip interior check.

Slow-Moving Vehicles

Farm equipment, horses, ATVs, Road construction Equipment

Following Too Closely

Following too closely can result in rear-end collisions. The reality of the situation is that physics plays an important part in how fast your vehicle stops, and driver conditions influence how fast you can respond.

Emotional/Mental Conditions

Giving in to these emotions can make you aggressive or cause you to tense up.

Sleep Duration & Deficits

If you are not getting enough sleep, or are not getting consistent hours of sleep per night, consider changing your sleeping habits. It only takes a second of nodding off to change your life forever.

Turning Improperly

Improper turns involve turning from the wrong lane, turning into the wrong lane, and making U-turns.

Mental/Cognitive Distractions

Inattention occurs when you are involved in secondary tasks. Even thinking about something else, such as work or school or a conversation with others, can take your mind off of driving.

Internal Crash (Stage 3)

Internal organs hit other organs or skeletal system

Air bags (U)

Make sure to wear seat belt, should be 12 to 15 inches of space from chest and steering wheel. 12 and under must always sit in the back.

Vision Hazard

Near or Far sightnedness, night blindness, and reduce depth perception.

Human Crash (Stage 2)

Occupants hit vehicle interior

Safety Belts

Protect, Control, Survive

R (RUA Defensive Driver)

Recognize the Hazard" that can cause a collision.

You find that you are becoming aggravated or choosing unsafe, aggressive behaviors, what three steps can you take to regain control?

Reflect, Reframe, Refocus

Slow-Moving Vehicles (U)

Slow down, Use the three-second minimum following distance (which will allow you to see around the vehicle). Pass if legal or safe, give vehicle plenty of space,

Reaction Distance

The distance the vehicle travels while you are moving your foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal. Reaction distance depends on your reaction time and the speed you are driving.

The Four Rs

To avoid head on collisions Step 1. Read the road. Step 2. Drive to the Right Step 3. Reduce Speed Step 4. Ride off the road

Vehicle Crash (Stage 1)

Vehicles strikes an object

Aggressive Driving

When other drivers are acting out behind the wheel, it is commonly referred to as aggressive driving. It is best to avoid aggravating the situation.

Stress (U)

You need a plan for gaining control when your emotions are affecting your driving.

Emergency Vehicles

Your best defense when you encounter an emergency vehicle is to cover the brake. After you have determined the location of the emergency vehicle, you can Move to the lane to your right or stop and stay till emergency vehicle has passed.

your attitudes

collision-risk factors

Stress (R)

dangerous to everyone's driving safety—your own safety and the safety of others around you. It comes from letting other matters—such as deadlines—take priority over your driving.

Driving Left-Of-Center

driving left-of-center means crossing the center line of the roadway. Vehicles cross the center line for many reasons, but this driver error has a potentially fatal outcome, a head-on collision.

Weather Conditions

hazards change very quickly, visibility, steering control, and traction are effected.

"What If?" strategy

one way to focus your attention on driving so that you can recognize a hazard and understand the defense against it.

to little light (u)

slow down, low beam, increase following distance

Perception Distance

the distance your vehicle travels from the moment the event occurs—such as the brake lights ahead come on—until you see it and become aware of the danger.

light (u)

use sun visors/sunglasses, slow down, keep windshield clean

Six Most Unsafe Driving Behaviors

• Improper speed • Violating right-of-way • Driving left of center • Turning improperly • Passing or overtaking improperly • Following too closely

Illness & Medication Hazard

• Slower response time • Inattention • Drowsiness

When Looking at Collisions, question this.

"What reasonable action should I have taken to avoid the collision or violation?"

School Buses

- Always slow down. - If the amber lights on the bus are flashing, be prepared; the bus is about to stop. - If the red lights are flashing and/or the stop arm is extended, the bus is stopped—therefore, you must stop. -Do not pass a school bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop arm.

Stopping Distance Facts

- Perception distance - Reaction distance - Braking distance

Avoid Improper Speed

-Allow enough time to reach your destination. Don't rush; if you are running late, pull over to a safe area and call ahead. -know speed limit -check speedometer

Ten Habits of Defensive Driving:

-Always wear your safety belt in any vehicle - Evaluate driving conditions—yours, your vehicle's, and the conditions around you -avoid impaired driving - use what if - avoid distractions - maintain emotional control - avoid fatigue - maintain proper following distance - plan for hazardous situation - consider other drivers

Anti-Lock Brakes

-Are designed to prevent wheels from locking in a hard-braking or emergency-braking situation -Help maintain control and keep a vehicle moving in a straight line rather than skidding or spinning as with non-ABS brakes

Managing Distractions WHILE Driving

-Do not do several tasks, such as reading, writing notes, drinking a beverage, or having an intense conversation while driving. -Do not reach down or behind your seat, pick up items from the floor, open the glove compartment, or clean the inside windows while driving.

Improper Speed Examples

-Exceeding Speed Limit -Driving too fast for existing conditions -Driving too slowly

Trains

-Expect a train at any time -NEVER drive around lowered gates. -NEVER stop on railroad tracks. Get out of your vehicle if it stalls on the tracks. -NEVER try to beat a train; it is traveling much faster than it appears to be, and takes much longer to stop

Pedestrians

-Give pedestrians a human dimension. You can't predict what they will do. Slow down! -yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks. -Never wave pedestrians across the street. In heavy traffic areas, other drivers might not see you waving the pedestrians across and could hit them. -Watch for children in residential areas, school zones, and playgrounds, especially on school days, holidays, or during the summer.

Determine The Safest Driving Speed

-Know the speed limit. -Assess the driving conditions.

Driving Around Larger Vehicles

-Let larger vehicles merge. -Do not cut them off -Slow down or change lanes if it is safe and clear to do so. -Expect the wind from the larger vehicle to vibrate or push your vehicle away from the larger vehicle.

Managing Distractions BEFORE Driving

-Make adjustments to vehicle controls -know where your going -Leave an outgoing message -Enter information into your GPS -Turn phone off or silent

Reasonable Actions

-Making safe and legal driving decisions -Creating a safe, stress-free personal driving space in and around your vehicle -Driving to your destination safely, without a ticket or a collision, and without affecting the safety of other drivers on the road -Practicing common sense, courtesy, and cooperation -Recognizing the risks of hazardous driving behaviors and conditions For example, show down, yield right of way, or use sound of horn

Animals (U)

-Never attempt to go to the left, into the oncoming traffic lane. This causes the potential for a head-on crash with the other traffic. -Make no sudden steering wheel moves that would cause the vehicle to swerve. - Move to the right side of your lane.

Bicyclists

-Pay extra attention when a bicyclist is present. -Be courteous to bicyclists. -Make sure the bicyclist knows you are there to avoid surprises and collisions.

Three Second Rule

-Watch for the vehicle ahead to pass a fixed object such as a signpost, billboard, or underpass. -As the vehicle's rear bumper passes the object, start counting: "One thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three." -Your vehicle should not pass the fixed object until after you have finished counting. If it does, you are following too closely.

Anger (U)

Avoid aggravating the situation

Fatigue & Drowsiness Hazard

Caused by heavy traffic, bad weather, long stretch, vehicle is too warm. monotonous roads or highways

Hearing Hazard

Difficulty hearing emergency sirens, traffic sounds, and vehicle sounds.

Mobility Hazard

Difficulty in checking blind spots and around vehicle and maneuvering vehicle. Example: sore neck.

Physical Conditions

Each of these conditions can become hazards that contribute to collisions. • Mobility • Hearing • Vision • Illness or medication use • Fatigue or drowsiness • Age

Prescription Drugs

Even if not illegal, be careful. It can interfere with the ability to drive, and those drugs often have a warning on the label and people should pay attention to those.

Replacing Tires

Every 6 months or every 5000 - 7000 miles, also don't forget spares

Characteristics of Mature (55 and older)

Experienced driver but Diminished senses, limited mobility, and slower reaction time.

Anger (R)

It grows out of some other emotion, such as -Disappointment -Suspicion -Price Once you identify that main emotion, you can work to control your anger.

Motorcycles

Limited side vision than other vehicles, cooperate with motorcyclists, common sense, courtesy, use what if, safe following distance.

Vehicle Condition (R)

Owners manual containers suggested maintenance schedules and other info to keep vehicle in good condition

Traffic Mix

Part of what makes traffic conditions difficult is the variety of vehicles on the road. While you can control your vehicle's condition, you cannot control the mix of traffic you encounter on the road.

Passing Improperly

Some drivers choose risky behaviors when passing or overtaking another vehicle.

Alcohol Impairment

Take responsibility for yourself—if you are drinking, do not drive or allow family if they drink

Stopping Distances

The higher the speed, the longer it takes to stop!

tailgate

pressures driver on front, usually caused by drivers being irritated buy slow drivers in front, can cause rear end collision.

Work Zones

road conditions we frequently encounter in our everyday driving. They pose hazards because so much is happening. In work zones, always expect the unexpected.

Distracted Driving

take our attention away from driving. They also increase the risk of a collision. visual-take eyes of road mental-takes mind off driving physical-takes hands of wheel

Braking Distance

the distance your vehicle travels from the time you apply the brake until your vehicle stops.