Drivers ED Chapters 11 & 12
Illegal drugs
drugs which are against the law to purchase, possess and consume. These drugs impact your driving in ways similar to alcohol.
Physical effects of emotions:
Heartbeat increases Breathing quickens Digestion slows Palms sweat Feeling of exhaustion Physical stress
Emotions that affect driving:
Anger Anxiety Joy, happiness Fear Hate Grief Love
What percent of alcohol in the blood is illegal?
Answer: 1/10 of a percent or in same states .08 percent
How many crashes each year are caused by driver fatigue?
Answer: 100,000 crashes
How many hours of sleep should teens and young adults get each night?
Answer: 9 hours
What are the effects of alcohol on driving?
Answer: Ability to judge distance is reduced. Driver is more apt to take risks. Ability to process information is reduced. Slow to recognize what is happening. Can easily lose control of their vehicle.
How does alcohol affect your judgment?
Answer: Alcohol reduces the ability to judge distances.
What are some things you can do to prevent aggressive driving?
Answer: Be calm and careful, avoid aggressive driving, stay on the road safely, give yourself extra time
Passengers can help the driver maintain control while driving by taking actions to prevent aggressive driving or speeding.
Avoid distracting or upsetting the driver Discourage the driver from driving recklessly Do not encourage the driver to speed or drive in a reckless manner Praise the driver for doing a good job in a difficult situation
Are You at Risk?
Before you drive, consider whether you are: Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk) Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt Driving long distances without proper rest breaks Driving through the night, mid-afternoon or when you would normally be asleep Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines) Working more than 60 hours a week (increases your risk by 40%) Working more than one job, and your main job involves shift work Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road Flying, changing time zone?
1. The "rush-in" area (aggressive driving)
Constant rushing and lane jumping is your style. Others are just in your way. Get ahead. Ignore road signs and regulations. They are for other drivers. Driving with distraction, low alertness, inattention.
Fatigue warning signs:
Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking or heavy eyelids Yawning repeatedly or rubbing eyes Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs Trouble keeping head up Drifting from your lane, following too closely or hitting a shoulder rumble strip Feeling restless and irritable If you notice any signs of fatigue, stop driving and go to sleep for the night or take a 15 - 20 minute nap
Drowsy driving - who is most at risk?
Drivers who are: - Sleep deprived - Driving long distances without rest breaks - Driving through the night or at other times when they are normally asleep - Taking medicine that increases sleepiness - Driving alone - Driving on long, rural, boring roads - Frequent travelers, e.g. business travelers Drivers with undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders Young drivers Shift workers Commercial drivers
Divided attention
Driving is a task which requires constant but changing attention to traffic, roadway and weather conditions, passengers, gauges, etc.
Risks of drowsy driving
Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of traffic collisions. The NHTSA estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes year are the result of drowsy driving. According to the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America poll, more than one third (36 percent or 103 million people) admit to having actually fallen asleep at the wheel. Drivers may experience short bursts of sleep lasting only a few seconds or fall asleep for longer periods of time. Either way, the chance of a collision increases dramatically.
Distance judgment
Following too closely can cause problems.
Preventing drowsiness before a trip:
Get adequate sleep - adults need 8 to 9 hours to maintain alertness Prepare route carefully to identify total distance, stopping points and other logistic considerations Drive with a passenger Avoid medications that cause drowsiness
What are the consequences of drinking alcohol and driving?
Greater risk of being involved in a crash. Could have license suspended. Could be fined or sentenced to serve time in prison.
Stopping another person from driving drunk
If you are going to try to control the drinking of others, you must recognize that: You have a responsibility to prevent your friends from drinking to excess. You must be willing to brave the resistance of the drinker or others in the group.
Passengers and Emotions
In a vehicle, passengers can influence the way a driver thinks, feels and drives. When you are the driver, you need to take responsibility for the safety of your passengers Do not let peer pressure or group pressure allow you to take more risk Do not get into an argument or discussion with other passengers while driving, which may cause the driver to become upset
General effects of emotions:
Interfere with your ability to think Create mental distractions Create inattentiveness Can cause you to act out your emotions Increase risk taking Create a lack of concentration Interrupts ability to process information
Vigilance
Not remaining attentive to the driving task can cause a driver to follow too closely, drift into another lane, etc.
Never let a friend or relative drive if they have been drinking. If they have been drinking:
Take his/her keys away Arrange for a driver who has not been drinking Call a cab Have him/her stay overnight, if possible
What should you do if a friend or relative has been drinking?
Take their keys away. Arrange for a designated driver. Call a cab. Have him/her stay overnight.
Anger is the basis for rage
The irrational actions of others create anger. There is potential for rage if a driver feels they have been violated or their safety has been threatened.
Elimination of Alcohol
There is no way to get all the alcohol or other drugs out of the circulatory system to become sober quickly. Coffee, fresh air, cold showers or eating will not help to remove the alcohol or other drug combination from the circulatory system. Time is the only medically-proven method to remove alcohol or other drug combinations from the system. It can take 1 ½ hours or longer for the body to eliminate one drink from the system. The best advice is not to drive a vehicle of any kind if alcohol or other drugs are consumed. Impairment starts with the first drink.
Formula for road rage:
This formula comes into play when we look at how our society has normalized disrespectful and hostile behavior. When these elements are added to our roadways that contain more cars, less space and more driver interactions, the result is a social normalization of behaviors that are more aggressive and violent in nature.
Loss of tracking ability
This is the ability to maintain the vehicle in a given line.
Impaired motor skills
a driver's eye, hand, and foot coordination is impaired by alcohol.
Sweat
about 2 percent of alcohol is eliminated by sweating
Agree on a designated driver
choose a person in advance who will be the designated driver and will not drink or be sure a sober person drives home.
Quiet aggression:
complaining, rushing, competing, resisting by not letting others in (aggressive driving)
Epic aggression:
cutting off, blocking, chasing, physically fighting, shooting (road rage)
Food
food can slow the rate at which the alcohol is absorbed, but the alcohol consumed gets into the blood eventually
Find a ride
get a ride from a sober friend, call a taxi, or use public transportation.
Night vision
humans have limited night sight at best, and alcohol reduces this ability further. In addition, alcohol reduces the control of light entering the eye. This is important, since drivers must adapt from the situation of no oncoming light to that of headlights shining in their eyes.
Call someone for a ride
if you cannot drive, call a friend, parent, spouse or relative
Do something else
involve friends in activities other than drinking - dancing games, board games, video games, outside activities, etc.
Alcohol elimination
removing all the alcohol out of the circulatory system to become sober.
Coordination
rivers must coordinate hand, eye and foot movements to operate a motor vehicle successfully. Loss of such ability greatly handicaps performance.
Time spent drinking
the faster a drinker consumes alcohol, the more quickly BAC will reach its peak
Verbal aggression:
yelling, cussing, gesturing, honking, insulting (aggressive driving)
Ineffective actions:
"Toughing it out" Playing the radio loudly Driving at a faster or slower speed Chewing gum Opening the windows
Fatigue
Physical or mental weariness that can be caused by strain, repetitive tasks, illness or lack of sleep
Over-the-counter medications
those drugs that can be purchased legally without a prescription.
Over-the-Counter Medications
those that can be purchased legally without a prescription. Always read the label carefully, especially if intending to drive. Some medications may cause drowsiness or impair driving ability. If you are not sure it is safe to take the drug and drive, ask your doctor or pharmacist about any side effects.
What should you do if someone tries to drive drunk?
Answer: Do whatever you can to not let him/her drive. Get group of friends to stop them. Grab the keys. Have someone who has not been drinking drive.
What is the best way of hanging on to the driver's license?
Answer: Drive with someone who isn't going to drink, a designated driver
List some of the consequences of aggressive driving discussed in the video.
Answer: Motor vehicle crash leading to death or injury, jail sentence, fines
3. The "violence" area (road rage)
Carrying a weapon, just in case. Deliberately bumping or ramming another vehicle. Trying to run a car off the road to punish. Getting out of the car, beating or battering someone. Trying to run someone down. Shooting at another car. Thoughts of killing someone.
2. The "total aggression" area (aggressive driving)
Constantly ridiculing and criticizing other drivers to self or passengers. Closing gap to deny entry into lane. Giving the "look" to show disapproval. Speeding past another car, revving engine. Prevent others from passing you. Tailgating to pressure a driver to go faster or get out of your way. Fantasizing physical violence. Honking, yelling through the window. Making visible insulting gestures.
Physical effects of emotions: 1
Interfere with your ability to think Create mental distractions Create inattentiveness Can cause you to act out your emotions Increase risk taking Create a lack of concentration Interrupts ability to process information
Controlling emotions:
Understand one's emotional makeup Identify situations that cause emotional stress Expect other drivers to make mistakes Understand that emotions are contagious Direct emotions toward actions, not individuals Delay driving when upset If upset, ask someone else to drive
"Total aggression" area
a degree of aggressive driving in which the driver constantly ridicules and criticizes other drivers to self or passengers, closes a gap to deny entry into lane, gives a "look" to show disapproval, speeds past another car, tailgates, fantasizes about physical violence, honks, yells or makes visible insulting gestures
"Rush-in" area
a degree of aggressive driving in which the driver rushes constantly, lane jumps, believes others are in their way, ignores road signs and regulations, and drives with distraction
Color distinction
a driver gets much information from different colors in the traffic scene. Red is used on three types of signs: stop, yield, or some prohibition of action. If alcohol is impeding a driver's ability to determine accurately the color of a sign or traffic light, problems in information processing will occur.
Body weight
a heavier person will have a lower BAC because the person has more body fluids with which the alcohol will mix.
Size of drink
a larger drink will contain more alcohol and result in a higher BAC than a smaller drink
Implied consent law
a law that requires a driver charged with being under the influence to take a chemical test that measures the amount of alcohol in the blood.
Intoxication
a physiological state that occurs when a person has a high level of alcohol in his/her blood. The legal blood alcohol concentration is determined by state law.
Quiet aggression
a type of aggressive driving in which the driver complains, rushes, competes or resists with another driver
Epic aggression
a type of aggressive driving in which the driver cuts off, blocks, chases, fights, or shoots another driver
Verbal aggression
a type of aggressive driving in which the driver yells, cusses, stares, honks or insults another driver
Illegal Drugs
against the law to purchase, possess and consume illegal drugs, impacts your driving and can affect your reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness in ways similar to alcohol.
Gender
alcohol affects females more than males. The effects tend to be stronger and last longer.
Slowed response time
alcohol slows a driver's ability to process information and respond to critical driving tasks.
Greater Risk Taking after Drinking
Based on what has been identified, drivers must evaluate what others will do and what they should do. The brain must process the information identified and make accurate evaluations. It is often difficult to determine where "search" stops and "evaluation" starts. Both involve the brain and thinking process and experimentation has shown that levels of alcohol as low as .03 reduces these abilities. One aspect of this process is the willingness of a driver to take risks. Alcohol tends to produce more aggressive behavior and, thus, poor decisions. It is possible for a driver to search and evaluate correctly, yet fail to execute properly. While alcohol affects thinking and judgment first, it also affects muscular actions, whether in the eyes or arms and legs. After drinking, drivers tend to lose fine muscle control. This is often shown by failure to maintain their vehicles in a straight line (weaving). When they brake, they brake too hard or not enough. When they steer, they may steer too much or fail to return the wheel properly.
Double vision
although humans have two eyes, each eye must work in conjunction with the other. Alcohol impairs this coordination and may produce a double image. Some drivers close one eye to cope with this, but this greatly affects the next two areas—distance judgment and side vision.
Breath
approximately 8 percent of alcohol is eliminated by breathing
Rest is the key:
It is usually not a good idea to sleep in a vehicle at the side of the road, but there may be times when it is safer than continuing to drive. If you must stop along the side of the road: Find a populated, lighted area Stop where security is present or make sure you are as far off the highway as possible Open windows slightly, but not enough to allow entry from outside Lock all doors and turn off the engine Turn on parking lights and turn off other electrical equipment After you rest, if safe, get out of the vehicle and walk a few minutes before driving, sleeping for more than 20 minutes can make you groggy for at least 5 minutes after awakening
Reduce your stress
Leave plenty of time Drive the posted speed limit Minimize distractions: take out glasses, put purse/briefcase, phone away Don't drive when angry, upset or overly tired Alter your schedule to avoid peak drive times Monitor your physical / emotional condition. Loosen your grip on the wheel. Sit back. Know where you are going - keep directions out. Know alternate routes. Relax and concentrate on driving Be polite
Causes of fatigue
Physical strain (hard work) Mental strain (stress) Monotonous tasks (long driving trips) Illness Lack of sleep Sun glare Overeating Riding in a warm passenger compartment
Maintaining alertness while driving:
Protect yourself from glare and eyestrain with sunglasses Avoid heavy foods Be aware of down time during the day Have another person ride with you, and take turns driving Take periodic breaks - about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips Stop driving and get some rest or take a nap Consume caffeine - can increase awareness for a few hours, but do not drink too much. It will eventually wear off. Do not rely on caffeine to prevent fatigue.
Perception
This involves giving meaning to human senses of vision, hearing, etc. Unless a driver accurately understands what he/she sees, it is impossible to react appropriately. Both amphetamines and cocaine can cause perceptual problems.
Vision
Vision is the key to information gathering and processing and safe driving. Visual impairments make it difficult to search, evaluate and execute appropriately.
Prescription Medications
must have a written note from a doctor to obtain these medications, includes antidepressants, pain reducers, sleep aids, sedatives. Check the label on the prescription and packaging before you take a drug for warnings about its effect. They can hinder your driving ability by reducing your level of alertness or ability to perform complex tasks. If you are not sure if it safe to take the drug and drive, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Aggressive driving
occurs when a driver operates a vehicle in a pushy or bold manner, without regard for others safety
Aggressive driving
occurs when a driver operates a vehicle in a pushy or bold manner, without regard for others safety. Examples of aggressive driving include: Exceeding the speed limit Following too closely Failing to obey traffic controls Making improper turns and maneuvers
Road rage
occurs when a driver uses the vehicle or some other weapon to threaten or cause harm to another roadway user in response to a traffic incident with the intent to harm others
Road rage
occurs when a driver uses the vehicle or some other weapon to threaten or cause harm to another roadway user in response to a traffic incident with the intent to harm others. Road rage is an escalation of emotions generally ignited by aggressive driving behaviors. Examples of road rage include: Throwing objects at a vehicle Yelling at a specific roadway user Attempting to ram another vehicle
Side vision
sometimes called peripheral vision, this ability is critical to the driving task. A person's central vision is very narrow and a driver must be able to take in a number of things to each side of his/her path of travel. Speed also reduces side vision.
Plan to stay overnight
stay at someone's home so no one has to drive.
Stay home
the best way to avoid having to drive home is not to leave home in the first place.
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
the concentration of alcohol in a person's bloodstream.
Eye focus
the human eye has the ability to change focus rapidly from objects close to the viewer to objects far away. Alcohol delays this process; thus, a driver may experience difficulty, especially at higher speeds.
Oxidation
the majority of alcohol (90 percent) is removed by the liver
Alcohol content
the more alcohol content in a drink, the higher the BAC will rise
Searching
the prime sense humans use in driving is vision. Even low levels of alcohol (.03) have been found to reduce this ability. Alcohol affects vision in a number of ways. This is particularly important since about ninety percent of what a driver "identifies" is by use of his or her eyes. The prime reason for visual problems after use of alcohol is lessened muscular control. Alcohol relaxes the fine muscles of the eye that focus and control eye movement.
Visual acuity
this is sharpness of vision. Alcohol may make images blur for the driver and thus impair the ability to identify properly what is in the traffic scene.
What can increase alertness for a few hours, but drivers should not rely on it for long periods of time?
Answer: caffeine (coffee)
What is the difference between aggressive driving and road rage?
Answer: Aggressive driving occurs when a driver operates a vehicle in a bold or pushy manner by exceeding the speed limit, following too closely or failing to obey traffic controls and road rage occurs when a driver uses the vehicle as a weapon or threatens another driver.
What is the formula for road rage?
Answer: Cultural norms of disrespect, condoning hostility, more cars, less space and more interactions.
What can you do to prevent drowsiness before a trip?
Answer: Get adequate sleep, prepare route carefully, drive with a passenger, avoid medications that cause drowsiness
What should you do when confronted by an aggressive driver?
Answer: Get out of their way, don't respond, don't engage, ignore gestures, be tolerant and forgiving, be polite and courteous, do not get out of the vehicle, and drive away from the area.
Name two effects of fatigue?
Answer: Impairs reaction time, judgment and vision, impairs your senses and abilities, may not see objects clearly or in a timely manner, may miss critical information, takes longer to process information or make decisions
What are two general effects of emotions?
Answer: See list on page 12-23.
Self-imposed anxieties and dangerous reactions/maneuvers
Anyone can enter a driving situation with varying amounts of anxiety which can negatively influence driving behavior. The idea is to recognize these thoughts and not allow them to influence their driving. Examples include: "I am going to be late if I don't hurry up." "Why are these cars going so slow?" "We will never make it." "If only I had gone a little faster I could have made it." "Oh no. Red light!"
Highway hypnosis
a mental state in which a person can drive a vehicle great distances, responding to external events with no recollection of having consciously done so
Fatigue
physical or mental weariness that can be caused by strain, repetitive tasks, illness or lack of sleep
Judgment
- Accurate decisions are based on a driver's ability to assess and judge a given driving situation. Poor judgments often result in collisions.
How many drinks in the body does it take to affect driving?
Answer: One drink
How many accidents nationwide involve some type of aggressive driving?
Answer: One-half
Nature of the Alcohol-Related Traffic Crash Problem
In the U.S., one person dies every half hour and one person is injured every two minutes, because someone was drinking and driving. Friends of the people killed were affected by sadness and grief. Experience is the most dangerous way to learn about the effects of alcohol. Over 10,800 people are killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes each year. These alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities accounted for 32 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States. All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico by law created a threshold making it illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. Of the 10,800 people who died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, 7,281 (67%) were drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher. The remaining fatalities consisted of 2,891 (27%) motor vehicle occupants and 667 (6%) non-occupants.
Common Signs of the Drinking Driver
Turns in a wide radius Straddles center or lane marker Almost strikes an object Weaves Drives on shoulder of roadway Swerves Slow speed Stops for no apparent reason Follows too closely Drifts Tire on center or lane line Brakes erratically Drives into opposing or crossing traffic Signals inconsistently Responds slowly to traffic signals Illegal or abrupt turns Rapid acceleration and/or deceleration Drives at night with lights off Fails to dim high beam headlights
Prescription medications
those drugs that require a medical prescription from a doctor before they can be obtained. These include antidepressants, pain reducers, sleep aids, sedatives.
Consequences of using alcohol or other drugs and driving
Consequences of high risk decisions are sometimes not known by the driver or passenger until after the collision happens to them. Twenty-four percent of 15 to 20-year old drivers involved in fatal crashes were drinking. Drivers age 21-24 have the highest percentage of alcohol use involved in fatal crashes. Drivers age 25-44 have the second highest number of alcohol-related fatal crashes. Young people who drink and drive have a greater chance of being in a crash than older drivers because alcohol usually affects young people more and young people have little experience in both drinking and driving. The greater the blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the greater the risk of being involved in a fatal crash. BAC is the concentration of alcohol in a person's bloodstream. Young drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 with a BAC of .02 to .05 percent (one to two drinks) are at least seven times more likely to be killed in a crash than a sober driver of any age. If you are arrested for drinking and driving, the penalties are severe. Your driver's license may be suspended, you may be fined or you may have to serve a prison term.
"Violence" area
a degree of aggressive driving in which the driver carries a weapon, just in case, deliberately bumps or rams another vehicle, tries to run a car off the road, gets out of the car and hits someone, tries to run someone done, shoots at another car or thoughts of killing someone
Dangerous maneuvering includes:
"All of these cars are trying to squeeze in!" "I have a lead foot!" "Ha! I will speed up and show him a lesson!" "Everyone else is speeding!" "Let's tailgate this car in front of me." "He's driving too slowly!"
Mixing alcohol and drugs
A driver should never drink alcohol while taking other drugs. These drugs could multiply the effects of alcohol or have additional effects of their own. These effects not only reduce the driver's ability to operate a vehicle, but could cause serious health problems, even death. The key factor to remember is that any change a drug produces may also cause a lessening of driving ability. Drugs should never be mixed with alcohol because of a possible synergistic effect (chemical reaction between two or more drugs that may produce a reaction greater than either drug alone).
Mood
A driver's mood may cause him/her to take unnecessary risks or be so lethargic as to fail to act correctly in a dangerous situation.
What are some ways to reduce stress when driving?
Answer: Leave plenty of time, drive the posted speed limit, minimize distractions, don't drive when angry, alter your schedule to avoid peak drive times, monitor your physical / emotion condition, know where you are going, relax and concentrate on driving, be polite
What type of drugs other than alcohol can affect your driving ability?
Answer: Over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, illegal drugs.
Name two causes of fatigue?
Answer: Physical strain (hard work), mental strain (stress), monotonous tasks (long driving trips), illness, lack of sleep, sun glare, overeating, riding in a warm passenger compartment.
Why should drugs never be mixed with alcohol?
Answer: Produces a reaction greater than either drug alone.
What should a driver do if they notice any sign of fatigue while driving?
Answer: Pull off the road at a safe location, take a 15-20 minute nap
Describe some situations discussed in the video that led to aggressive driving?
Answer: Retaliating against another driver who did something wrong or made the driver mad (driver threw eggs at another vehicle as a prank), mother trying to get to the pharmacy for daughters ear infection and pulled-over for speeding, driver becomes impatient because driver in front of them is going the speed limit, but used to driving over the speed limit that they have to get around them
What is the only proven method to remove alcohol or other drugs from the system?
Answer: Time
Who is portrayed as being sleep deprived in the video?
Answer: Young people
What is the limit of alcohol in the blood for people under age 21 in most states?
Answer: zero
Distance judgment
a driver must be able to determine how far objects are from his or her path of travel. This is complicated by movement of other objects. Alcohol reduces the ability to judge distance accurately.
Responding to Aggressive Driving and Road Rage Dealing with anger:
Just like all other driving skills, containing or managing your anger on the roadway requires training and thought prior to engaging in the driving task. One should realize that responding to another driver's negative behavior can lead to a dangerous situation. Keep in mind, that everyone makes errors in their driving. To deal with anger: Get out of their way Don't respond - do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your path of travel Don't engage - avoid eye contact, which can sometimes anger an aggressive driver Ignore gestures and name calling - refuse to return them Be tolerant and forgiving - the other driver may be having a bad day and looking for a way to vent anger Be polite and courteous - your behavior may help reduce other drivers anger Do not get out of your vehicle Drive away from the area, if possible, drive to a public space, not home - report serious road rage
Don't trigger aggression in others
Keep a safe following distance from the car ahead. You will need the room if something unexpected happens. Don't cut off other drivers Leave plenty of room when merging Give others the space they need to merge safely. Don't "close the gap." Keep right except to pass Move right to let others pass Always use your turn signals before changing lanes Avoid gestures that might anger another driver Use your horn sparingly Do not park across multiple parking spaces or touch adjacent vehicles while parking or entering or exiting the vehicle When using high-beam headlights, return to using low-beam headlights as soon as you detect an oncoming vehicle
