Chapter 10: Special Driving Conditions

Railroad Crossing Signals

Flashing red lights, lowered crossing gates and/or a bell at a railroad crossing indicate that you must stop, at least 15 feet (5 m) from the tracks. Do not go across the tracks until the lights and bell have stopped and the crossing gates are completely up. Do not drive around or under a gate that is moving up or down. Yield when you see a crossbuck sign, which is a sign shaped like an "X" with "RAILROAD CROSSING" printed on it. If there are multiple train tracks, the sign will show the number of tracks.

Expressway Driving

"Expressway" means any divided highway where traffic moves in one direction on two or more lanes. You normally enter or exit the expressway on ramps (controlled-access). Examples or expressways are the New York State Thruway, major interstate routes and parkways.

Deer

- Be careful when you drive at dawn and dusk; this is when driver visibility is bad and the deer are most active. - The risk of deer-vehicle collisions increases when deer movements increase during breeding season in October, November and December. - Decrease speed when you approach deer near roadsides. Deer can "bolt" or change direction at the last minute. - If you see a deer go across the road, decrease speed and be careful. Deer travel in groups, expect other deer to follow. - Use emergency lights or flash your headlights to warn other drivers when deer are seen on or near the road. - Use caution on roadways marked with deer crossing signs. These signs are put in areas that have had a large number of deer-vehicle collisions.

If your front wheels skid

- Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral or push in the clutch, but do not try to immediately steer. - As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As traction returns, turn the wheel in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch and accelerate carefully.

If your rear wheels start to skid

- Turn the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go. If your rear wheels slide left, steer left. If they slide right, steer right. - If your rear wheels start to slide in the other direction as you recover, turn the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to turn the wheel left and right several times to get your vehicle completely controlled. - If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS), keep your foot with even pressure on the brake pedal. If your vehicle does not have ABS, pump the pedal carefully. Pump more rapidly only as your car slows down. If you brake hard with regular brakes, it will make the situation worse.

Railroad Crossing: Grade Crossings

A grade crossing is the point at which train tracks intersect with a roadway and is considered an intersection. As you approach a crossing, always expect a train. Trains can run on any track, at any time, from either direction. Never race a train to a crossing, never drive around lowered gates, and do not stop on tracks. When crossing tracks, always stay in your lane and in the same gear.

Driving Emergency: The Blowout

A thumping sound can be a warning that a blowout is about to occur. If you hear it, get safely off the road and check your tires. If a tire blows out, hold the steering wheel tight and slowly take your foot off the gas pedal. If your vehicle skids, handle it as you would on ice or snow. Do not use your brake until your vehicle is controlled. Leave the road when it is safe to do so.

Driving Emergencies: Going into Water

A vehicle will normally float for a while, and you should have time to remove yourself before it starts to sink. Release your seat belt and escape through a window. An open door would cause water to rush in and the car could turn over on top of you. If the vehicle sinks before you can remove yourself, get into the back seat. An air pocket can form there as the weight of the engine pulls the vehicle down front first. When the vehicle settles, take a breath and escape through a window. When you rise air pressure will build in your lungs. Let it out in small breaths through your nose or lips as you surface. Do not hold your breath tight or try to blow air out; just allow the air to escape in a natural way.

High Beams

Be considerate when you use your high beams. Your headlights must be on low beam when you are within 500 feet (150 m) of an oncoming vehicle or within 200 feet (60 m) of a vehicle ahead of you, even if the vehicle ahead is in a different lane. You should also dim your lights for pedestrians who approach you. Any fog or driving lights your vehicle has must be arranged, adjusted or operated to avoid dangerous glare to other drivers. If an approaching driver does not dim the headlights, flash your headlights to high beam for a second, then return to low beam. To help avoid the glare of approaching high beams, move your eyes to the right. Use the road edge as a guide until the approaching vehicle passes by.

To prevent skids on snow and ice

Brake early, carefully and gently. "Press" your brakes in slow, steady strokes. Allow the wheels to keep turning. If they begin to lock up, decrease pressure on the brake pedal. As your vehicle decreases speed, you can also shift into a lower gear.

What freezes first

Bridges, ramps, and overpasses

Driving Emergencies: Vehicle Approaching Head-On in your Lane

Decrease speed, pull over to the right and sound your horn to warn the other driver. Do not turn into the left lane. If you do, the other driver may suddenly recover and pull back into that lane, causing a head-on collision.

Driving Emergencies: Loss of a Wheel

Handle this as you would a blowout. A thump or noise in the wheel can be a warning sound. Leave the roadway and stop. Then check your vehicle or have it checked.

Driving Emergencies: Stuck Gas Pedal

Hook your shoe under the pedal and see if you can free it. If not, shift into neutral and use the brake to slow your vehicle and get off the road. Do not turn off the ignition if your vehicle has power steering or a steering wheel that has a column that locks, because if you do, you will lose your power steering or not have the ability to steer at all.

Driving Emergencies: Fire

If you see smoke come from under the hood, pull off the road and park your vehicle. Turn off the ignition. Get away from the car and call the fire department. It is dangerous to try to fight the fire yourself.

Driving Emergencies: Brake Failure

If your brake pedal suddenly goes to the floor, try pumping it to increase pressure. If that does not help, use your emergency or parking brake - but use it gently. If you shift to a lower gear, it will help your vehicle decrease speed.

Driving Emergencies: Headlight Failure

If your headlights suddenly go out, try your emergency lights, parking lights and directional signals. These may continue to work and can give you enough light to leave the roadway safely. If your headlights begin to dim, drive to a service station or pull off the road and go for help.

Driving Emergencies: Blocked Vision

If your hood opens suddenly or your vision through the windshield becomes blocked by some other object or wipers that have failed, you can open the side window so you can see. Turn on your emergency lights and carefully pull your vehicle off the road and park it.

Driving Emergencies: Steering Failure

If your vehicle suddenly will not respond when you steer, slowly take your foot off the gas pedal, turn on your emergency lights and keep your foot off the brake pedal while it is safe to do so. The balance of the vehicle will allow it to continue going straight, but a sudden change in speed could send it out of control. As the vehicle decreases speed, you can brake very carefully to bring it to a stop.

Driving Emergencies: Running off the Pavement

If your wheels move off the pavement, do not pull the steering wheel back. Ease your foot off the gas pedal and brake gently. When your vehicle has decreased speed, check for traffic behind you, then turn carefully back onto the pavement.

Hydroplaning

In heavy rain, your tires can begin to ride on the water that is on top of the road pavement. This is called "hydroplaning" and can cause complete loss of traction and control of steering. Hydroplaning normally occurs at higher speeds, but it also can occur if your tires are tread worn or not inflated properly. When there is heavy rain, it always makes sense to drive more slowly. If your vehicle begins to lose traction, decrease your speed even more. Good tires with deep tread help to prevent hydroplaning.

Tires

Make sure your vehicle has good snow tires. Put them on the vehicle before the first storm. Never combine radial and non-radial tires on the same vehicle. Tires with metal studs can be used in New York State only from October 16 through April 30.

Railroad Crossing Warning Sing

OLOR: Yellow with black letters "RR" and "X" symbol. MEANING: There is a railroad crossing ahead. Use caution, and be prepared to stop. If you are following a bus or truck approaching a railroad crossing, be careful. Most buses and some trucks must stop at railroad crossings.

Pavement Markings

Sometimes, grade crossings do not have flashing red light signals or gates. Pavement markings will often show you that a grade crossing is ahead. Stay behind the stop line while waiting for a train to pass.

Entering the Expressway

Unless there is a STOP or YIELD sign or traffic light on the entrance ramp, use the ramp to accelerate to expressway speed and blend with traffic. Signal, then look over your shoulder for traffic already on the expressway. If necessary, slow down to safely merge into traffic. If the entrance lane is too short to allow acceleration to expressway speed, the safest method to enter is to stop and wait for a large space in traffic. Then enter the expressway and accelerate quickly. To avoid conflicts with other entrance lane traffic, stop when necessary and merge into expressway traffic as soon as possible.

Stalling on Railroad Tracks

What should you do if you stall on the tracks, for any reason? 1. GET OUT! (That includes EVERYONE in the car, children, babies, an elderly passenger, etc.) 2. Get away from the tracks, even if you do not see a train. 3. Locate the Emergency Notification System sign and call the number provided, telling them about the stalled vehicle. Run toward the general direction the train is coming from. If a train is approaching, run toward the train but away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle. If you run "down the track," in the same direction as the train, you can be hit with debris when the train hits your vehicle.

Healights

Your headlights cover about 350 feet ahead. It is important that you drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely within that distance. This is called "driving within the range" of your headlights. The law requires you to use your headlights from one-half hour after the sun sets to one-half hour before the sun rises, when visibility is less than 1,000 feet (300 m) and when you use your windshield wipers to clear rain, snow or sleet. Turn your headlights on at dawn, dusk and in fog. Even when headlights do not help you see in low-light periods, they make it easier for other drivers and pedestrians to see your vehicle. Do not use parking lights or daytime lights as a replacement. Headlights do a better job. If an oncoming driver flashes headlights at you during a period of low visibility, it means your vehicle was difficult to see and you should turn on your headlights. Rain, fog or snow make it harder to see through your windshield, and difficult for other drivers to see you. New York State law requires you to turn on your headlights when the weather conditions require the use of windshield wipers to clear rain, snow, sleet or fog. "Daytime lights" do not qualify as headlights.