Drivers Ed CUMULATIVE Part 1/2

SEE IT Step 1: Search

Scanning the Road

By Junior Kissi 2/3/2016

38 Hours Drivers Ed Chapter 8

SEE IT Step 2: Evaluate

Assessing the Road Situation

Recreation Signs The color brown is used on road signs that indicate that the driver is approaching recreational facilities such as a campsite or swimming pool. As depicted in this image, many of these signs resemble destination signs in design, but specifically guide drivers to areas of recreational or cultural interest.

Additionally, smaller brown signs with white symbols are used to indicate the presence of specific recreational amenities. These signs are generally used to guide traffic to individual facilities within a larger recreational area.

Make yourself visible. Activate your hazard flashers, tie a bright cloth to your antenna, and periodically turn on headlights and cabin lights at night. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Clear snow from your exhaust pipe regularly, and don't run the engine unless a window is opened slightly.

The NHTSA's FARS data show that in 2011, almost half (46%) of all fatal traffic collisions occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight. The most dangerous period of time was 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: more than 4,700 fatal traffic collisions occurred during these hours in 2011, over 25% more than the average number among all other times of day. These tragic fatalities occur even despite the fact that nighttime is entirely predictable—night never comes without warning.

When preparing to turn right or left at an intersection, remember that you must: -Scan the intersection and the area of the roadway you intend to enter for pedestrians, bicycles, and other vehicles. -Move to the proper position for making a turn and activate your turn signal at least 100 ft before you reach the intersection. -Proceed cautiously if your view is blocked.

Turning left can be especially difficult at multi-lane intersections because the driver will need to travel through several lanes of cross traffic to complete the turn. On some roads, a short lane reserved for traffic turning left will appear shortly before you reach the intersection. Designed to facilitate traffic flow, these lanes are known as left turn bays.

Two-Way Road to Two-Way Road When turning left from a two-way road to another two-way road, you should: *Make sure that the turn is legally permitted *Check the intersection, your mirrors, and your blind spots for other road users *Activate your left turn signal *Lightly press your brake and reduce your speed

*Advance to the center of the intersection *Double-check for other road users *Stop in the intersection with your tires pointed straight ahead until your path is clear of pedestrians and oncoming traffic

Finally, even though you can always control whether you choose to drive after drinking or doing drugs, you can't control what other people do. Be conscious of the possibility of drunk drivers on the road—even in the morning or afternoon. Learn how to recognize and avoid them.

Alcohol generally makes drivers sloppy and aggressive. Learn to recognize these common signs of drunk driving, and avoid drunk drivers to the fullest extent possible while driving safely. Poor lane position—swerving, weaving, drifting, or steadily driving too far to the left or right Tailgating Illegal maneuvers Sideswipes or near misses Speeding or driving too slow Jerky acceleration Failure to signal Slow response to traffic signals Driving with headlights off at nightq

As a novice driver, you may initially find it difficult to use your vision actively to scan the road. If you spend long periods in front of a television or a computer screen, you may be in the habit of using your eyes passively. When driving, however, you must constantly be looking around for potential problems. Train yourself to search for hazards actively. Eventually, you may find it unnecessary to consciously identify a specific target and come to focus your attention 12-20 seconds ahead of your position reflexively.

An organized visual search process is a way of systematically and efficiently scanning the driving environment for potentially risky situations. Do not remain focused on one particular distance as you drive. Don't always look 20 seconds ahead—or two feet ahead—or at the instrument panel. You need information from all these areas, and you need it in an organized way. Therefore, you should continuously shift your attention between three distinct searching ranges.

On residential roads, watch out for: -Hidden driveways -Speed bumps -Cars parked on both sides of the street -Line of sight restrictions caused by bushes, trees, signs, parked cars, or homes -Children crossing unexpectedly or playing on or near the roadway -Pedestrians walking dogs

As you drive on residential roads, you'll encounter a number of road users that may move or stop unexpectedly and which thus require you to drive with extra caution. These include: -Post office vehicles -Construction vehicles -Large commercial vehicles, including garbage trucks, maintenance trucks, and delivery trucks -Motor homes and RVs -Bicyclists, skaters, and skateboarders -Mopeds, motorized carts, and other small, relatively slow vehicles

On top of all this, a drug addiction makes having a source of income even more important. Addictions are expensive, and an addict will go to great trouble to support his or her drug habit. Once out of work, you will have to try to borrow money from friends and family, further alienating them. If you can't borrow money, you will have to steal it. Losing your job to a drug addiction begins a deadly spiral of increasing desperation for drugs and money.

As you've seen, there are numerous dangers associated with using alcohol or other drugs—dangers that most people ignore, often willfully, when they decide to drink or use drugs. These dangers are made worse when an impaired person decides to get behind the wheel. Remember, drunk driving collisions change lives forever, and never for the better.

Alcohol affects every organ in the body. As a depressant, it directly affects the central nervous system and the brain. It is absorbed by the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. It is metabolized by enzymes in the liver, but since the liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, the excess alcohol circulates throughout the body.

Because the brain is supplied with more blood than other organs, alcohol impairs brain function within minutes of consumption. The brain cells associated with memory, attention, sleep, coordination, and judgment are affected the most. Long-term alcohol use may damage the connection between nerve cells and cause irreversible brain damage, including memory loss and personality changes.

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive and severely harmful drug. Over time, continued use changes the way the brain works. Chronic users may experience restlessness, confusion, paranoia, insomnia, and depression. The body will also change the way it sends signals about things like pain and hunger. This causes chronic aches and itching, and a constant urge to eat.

Cocaine also damages the body's organs. Long-term consequences include: Damaged heart function, from irregular heartbeat to heart attack Damaged respiratory system with possible lung failure Deadly stroke and seizures Coughing up blood Destruction of cartilage separating the left and right nasal passages

Reasoning: You may jump to conclusions too fast, believing you're being rational but failing to consider vital information. For instance, you may decide that you can speed up and beat a red light, but without considering that you'll collide with traffic stopped just after the intersection. Anxiety and Aggression: Stimulants tend to heighten anxiety and aggression, making worse all of the judgmental deficiencies associated with these altered moods.

Common signs of driving under the influence of stimulants include: Risky behavior Tailgating Speeding, especially while turning Frequent passing and lane changes Jerky acceleration and steering Failure to signal Failure to follow traffic signals

A Changing Operating Space is an area where the situation is worsening. This generally describes places where a formerly open line of sight or path of travel is becoming closed. Changing conditions that can affect an operating space include speed limits, lane width, visibility, time of day, traffic flow, traffic controls, and roadway, environmental, and weather conditions. Each of these conditions will affect your speed, lane position, and approach to communication.

Consider how the following situations affect the areas around your car: ◦When a traffic light is red, the zones in front of your car are closed. ◦When an oncoming car or truck is approaching along the lane to your left, zone 2 is closed. ◦When a car is parked or a bicyclist is ahead of you on your right, zone 3 is closed. ◦When a vehicle is in your left or right blind spot, or passing you, zone 4 or 5 is closed, respectively When one area is closed or changing, review the others to determine which of your alternate routes are available.

Remember, additional penalties apply when an intoxicated driver is travelling with a passenger under 15, and when the driver injures or kills a person while driving drunk. The offenses of Intoxication Assault and Intoxication Manslaughter are serious crimes and involve significant penalties. The different penalties for DUI and DWI offenses in Texas are illustrated on the following slides.

DUI, 1st offense—Drivers under 21: Class C Misdemeanor Punishable with a fine of up to $500, 20 to 40 hours of community service, a 60-day license suspension, and 30 days of ineligibility for an occupational license DUI, 2nd offense—Drivers under 21: Class C Misdemeanor Punishable with a fine of up to $500, 40 to 60 hours of community service, a 120-day license suspension, and 90 days of ineligibility for an occupational license

Nicotine, one of the most widely used stimulants, is the chief mind-affecting substance in tobacco. In small doses it increases alertness, reduces anxiety, dulls pain, and raises blood pressure. With higher doses, however, it can cause increased anxiety, uncomfortable restlessness, and an inability to focus. Nicotine is highly addictive, and is particularly dangerous in combination with the other chemicals found in tobacco products such as cigarettes and chews.

Depressants slow down, reduce, or dull bodily functions. They can be used to relieve pain, reduce anxiety, lower heart rate and respiration, and induce sleep. Examples of depressants include: Alcohol Antihistamines Muscle relaxants Pain relievers Tranquilizers, such as Seconal and Xanax Opioids, such as heroin and OxyContin

For drivers between 17 and 21 years old, a third DUI offense is a Class B misdemeanor. The penalties include: *A jail term of up to 180 days *A fine of between $500 and $2,000 *Between 40 and 60 hours of community service *Mandatory attendance of an Alcohol Awareness Program *A suspension or denial of your drivers license for 180 days The penalties for this crime cannot be reduced or deferred and you will not be eligible to obtain an occupational license.

In 1997, Texas established a number of additional Zero Tolerance Laws that more strictly punish minors for committing any offense involving alcohol, including those that are not related to driving. Until you turn 21, you may not purchase, consume, or possess an alcoholic beverage. Under these laws, the penalties for simply being a Minor in Possession (MIP) of alcohol or drugs are similar to those for actually driving while impaired.

Alcohol can amplify your emotional distress, affecting your performance behind the wheel: Anger can cause you to see other drivers as your enemies, and can make you drive in ways that are designed to upset or offend others. Impatience can cause you to make unsafe decisions about lane changes, passing other vehicles, running red lights and stop signs, and many other things. Sadness can distract you from the road and delay your judgment and reaction time. Worry can also be very distracting, causing you to spend mental energy thinking about problems other than those in front of you.

In most normal situations, you can deal with strong emotions by sorting out your thoughts, determining what is bothering you, and choosing to ignore it to the best of your abilities. Any drug or any amount of alcohol has the potential to worsen any type of emotional distress.

Other tips for sharing the road with bicycles and motorcycles: ◦Be careful around large vehicles, as one may be blocking your view of a cyclist and his or her view of you. ◦Air turbulence affects cyclists when they pass cars just as it affects cars when they pass large trucks. Leave extra space around your car as you pass. ◦Cyclists have shorter braking distances, so leave extra following distance when driving behind one. ◦Always check for cyclists before you open the door of your car into the roadway.

In only 30% of motorcycle deaths is the motorcycle operator at fault: frequently, these collisions are due to another driver's failure to yield the right-of-way. Most collisions between cars and motorcycles occur because the driver didn't see the motorcyclist. ◦When changing lanes or entering a major thoroughfare, make a visual check for motorcycles. ◦Allow a four-second following distance for motorcycles. This will allow you time to avoid hitting the cyclist if he or she should fall. ◦When preparing to turn, check for motorcyclists and determine their speed. According to some estimates, 40% of motorcycle collisions happen at intersections, and two-thirds of these involve a vehicle turning left.

In fact, if you drink to avoid your problems, the situation and your own ability to cope with it will only deteriorate, and eventually you may reach the point where there seems to be no way out. Since alcohol will also impair your ability to evaluate risk, your desperation could cause you to do something incredibly dangerous and reckless. If you actually want things to get better, you must be willing to confront your problems directly.

It's equally foolish to drink to conform to social expectations and avoid feeling pressured by others. There will always be people who try to pressure others into dangerous activities like drinking, smoking, or driving too fast. Sometimes these people want others to act like them, and sometimes they simply want to force others into an uncomfortable situation.

If a pedestrian is walking on your side of a narrow, two-lane road and a truck is approaching from the opposite direction, slow down to let the truck pass and then move to the left to give the pedestrian extra room. ◦If there are parked cars to the right and oncoming cars to the left of your lane, remain centered in your lane so that you are not too close to either threat ◦If traffic is approaching on your left and there is a child riding a bike to your right, you should give the child extra room because he or she is more likely to move suddenly, even though it requires you to move closer to oncoming traffic.

Keep Going Your Almost There :) - Junior Kissi

Merge Area Immediately following the acceleration lane, the merge area is identified by a broken white line. It is in this area that you are allowed to change lanes to merge with expressway traffic. You may only attempt to merge over a broken white line. The triangular area between the acceleration lane and the roadway delineated by solid white lines is known as a Gore Area. Never drive in a gore area.

To merge with expressway traffic, you must identify a gap large enough for your car to fit into without conflict. In general, there must be a gap of at least four seconds between two cars for you to enter, as this will give you about two seconds in front of and behind your car once you enter the expressway. Remember that vehicles on the expressway have the right-of-way. Don't try to squeeze into a gap that is too small. Wait at the end of the merge area until there is a sufficient gap.

When it comes to smoking, the safest thing you can do is avoid it altogether. The more you smoke, the more likely it is that you'll have to deal with lung cancer, emphysema, or other potentially fatal health complications in the future. However, even if you choose to smoke, resolve never to light up when you're behind the wheel. If you have to smoke, wait until you reach your destination.

When drivers are in a hurry, they may decide to put off certain tasks they think they can complete behind the wheel. Frequently, drivers will wait until they're on the road to finish combing their hair or applying make-up because it's the activity they can most easily defer. Unfortunately, personal grooming is one of the most dangerous things you can do while driving. With your eyes on your mirror, your hand on a brush, and your attention on a stubborn cowlick, how will you be able to respond to a dangerous situation on the road?

To ensure your safety when turning: Check for traffic control devices prohibiting your maneuver Activate your signal at least 100 ft before you intend to turn Confirm that there's a gap large enough for you to complete the turn Stay in the same lane as you execute the turn Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists Exercise extra caution if your view is blocked

When driving near a place where a driver may turn, remain vigilant. Pay attention to others' turn signals, but do not assume that a vehicle with its turn signals activated will turn, or that a vehicle without its turn signals activated will not turn. If you encounter a driver making a turn, yield or adjust your position if doing so will help him or her complete the maneuver without conflict.

In some situations, you will want to increase the speed of your car very slowly so that it does not begin to move too fast for environmental conditions. You can achieve creeping acceleration by very gently placing your foot on the accelerator. In cars with a manual transmission, when the brake pedal is released and the accelerator is not depressed, the car will creep forward automatically.

When driving uphill, you'll have to increase pressure on the accelerator pedal in order to counter the force of gravity. It is generally best to climb hills in first or second gear.

When parking next to a curb on the right, the center hood ornament or the center of the hood works as a good reference point for determining the position of your right tire. When the line of the curb appears to intersect the center of the hood, your car's right tires will be positioned about 3-6 inches away from the curb.

When parking next to a curb on the left, the middle of the left half of your hood (about a foot from the edge of the left front fender) is a good reference point. This reference point can also be used to position your car on the left side of a lane. When the line of the curb appears to intersect the left front corner of the hood, your car's right tires will be positioned about 3-6 inches from the curb.

Individuals with permanent physical or mental disabilities may not possess the skills necessary to consistently drive in a safe manner. Conditions that lead to inadequate muscular strength, potential loss of muscle control, occasional lapses of consciousness, vision impairments, and an inability to sit still may preclude someone from obtaining a drivers license.

When you apply for your drivers license, you'll be asked to identify any permanent or ongoing physical or mental conditions which may interfere with your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Individuals with impairments must provide a statement from a physician indicating that they are physically and mentally capable of driving safely. If you have a permanent disability or medical condition that may affect your driving, consult your physician about whether or not you should drive. Be sure to identify any medical conditions you have when you apply for a license. If you obtain a license without providing this information, it may be revoked and you may face significant fines and other penalties.

remember

Whenever driving faster than is reasonable and prudent, you are speeding, regardless of what the posted speed limit is. Always reduce your speed for bad weather, lighting, roadway, or traffic conditions. A collision at 60 mph has four times the force as a collision at 30 mph. As a result, the probability of death, disfigurement, or debilitating injury doubles for every increase of 10 mph above 50 mph.

The amount of alcohol in a beverage is typically indicated by a measurement known as proof, which is twice the percent of alcohol in the drink. Different kinds of beverages contain different amounts of alcohol, and therefore have different effects on your body and driving ability. To help avoid confusion when talking about alcohol, the words "one drink" will be used to refer to any beverage containing 14 grams of pure alcohol (about 0.6 fluid ounces or 1.2 tablespoons).

With 0.6 oz of alcohol each, the following drinks each have enough alcohol to qualify as "one drink" and increase your BAC by the same amount: *One 12-ounce beer with an alcohol content of 5% *One 5-ounce glass of wine with an alcohol content of 12% *One 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor with an alcohol content of 40%

You must know how move to the side of the road when necessary. While you will frequently have to exit traffic to park, there are other situations where you may need to pull over to the side of the road: ◦An emergency vehicle is approaching. ◦You're being followed by a police car with flashing lights. ◦There's an immediate threat ahead of you that you can only avoid by pulling over. ◦A warning light on your instrument panel has lit up. ◦You're travelling slower than the speed limit and a line of cars behind you is waiting to pass.

You can pull over only if you're in the lane closest to the side of the road. Once you are in the proper lane, you should: ◦Identify a safe and legal position to stop or park ◦Check your mirrors and blind spots, as well as the road ahead, to make sure it's safe to move over ◦Activate the appropriate turn signal. If you must pass through an intersection before stopping, wait to begin signaling until you've entered the intersection

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Adopt an appropriate driving attitude in recognition of the significant risks associated with driving Recognize your responsibility to make the driving decisions least likely to endanger yourself and others on the road Understand and avoid the driving practices most likely to result in a collision Acknowledge the influence of inexperience on your driving ability so you can avoid common novice driver errors Realize that reducing risk is a lifelong process that requires you to constantly monitor your own driving habits

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Impaired drivers also put pedestrians and bicyclists at greater risk of death or serious injury. In 2011, there were 4,432 total pedestrian fatalities. Of these fatalities, 710 (16%) were caused by drivers with a .08% BAC or higher. Children under the age of 14 were the victims of 25 of these fatal impaired driving collisions with pedestrians. If you're driving impaired and you strike and kill a pedestrian, there's a 1-in-28 chance that you will be killing a child.

In 2011, there were 677 total bicyclist fatalities. In 251 (37%) of these fatalities, either the bicyclist, the driver, or both were under the influence of alcohol. In 210 (31%) of these fatalities, at least one of the vehicle operators had a BAC of .08% or higher.

In many circumstances, warning signs will include a second plate that indicates a safe speed for negotiating the upcoming turn or curve. The signs depicted in this image indicate that the driver should reduce his or her speed to 30 mph to drive safely through the indicated bends in the road.

In places where a road curves sharply, rectangular yellow signs with black chevrons indicating the direction of the curve may be posted to help guide drivers. Large arrow signs may also be posted to draw the driver's attention to a dangerous part of the curve.

SEE IT Step 3: Execute

Performing Maneuvers Safely

In 2000, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism released a study that estimated the annual economic costs of alcohol abuse. This study found that in 1998, alcohol abuse cost the United States approximately $185 billion. This study also showed that DUI collisions cost the U.S. over $15 billion in property damages alone. Keep in mind that this amount doesn't include the costs associated with injuries or deaths caused by the collisions. Additionally, the Office of National Drug Control Policy published a study in 2011 that estimated the annual cost of drug abuse in the United States. The study estimated that in 2007, drug abuse cost the nation over $193 billion.

These studies divided the costs of substance abuse into three categories: Health Care, including long-term care, hospitalizations, and research, prevention and treatment programs Lost Productivity due to work that couldn't be performed because of death, disability, or incarceration Other Social Costs, including property damage, criminal activity, and demands on the justice system As the charts indicate, lost productivity accounted for the majority of these costs.

-Pay attention to all signs, signals, and road markings: In addition to route and exit signs, you should also watch for indications that traffic lanes are merging, the speed limit is changing, or that a lane is reserved for certain drivers. -Signal your intentions: Be sure to flash the appropriate turn signal when changing lanes. Flash your brake lights when you notice traffic slowing ahead.

-Adjust your speed to weather conditions: Driving at high speeds when visibility or road traction is reduced by rain, snow, or fog is especially dangerous. Remember that posted speed limits are based on ideal conditions. -Avoid driving too slowly: If you are driving slowly relative to other vehicles, you should drive in the right lane so you don't impede other drivers. -Maintain a safe gap: A five-second gap is preferable on expressways. Increase the gap in front of your car if you are being tailgated and are unable to change lanes. -Don't count on other drivers to do the right thing: Defensive driving requires that you anticipate and avoid potential problems yourself.

As you approach a curve, try to identify its type so you can anticipate the maneuvers you'll have to perform and the hazards you may encounter: -Constant Radius Curves require drivers to maintain the same turning radius throughout the curve and are generally easier to see through. -Decreasing Radius Curves become tighter as the driver proceeds through the curve. -Increasing Radius Curves become less sharp as the driver proceeds through the curve.

-Blind Curves , conceal most of the road ahead from drivers. -Uphill Curves , require drivers to increase pressure on the accelerator pedal to maintain a constant speed as they proceed through the curve. -Downhill Curves , cause vehicles to pick up speed naturally as they proceed through the curve. -S-Curves curve , in one direction and then the other direction. -Banked Curves , are higher on one side of the roadway than the other.

City driving involves a diverse range of problems that can represent an immediate or a potential risk. -Road width, speed limits, and applicable traffic laws change frequently. -Intersections appear more frequently on certain streets, requiring you to slow, yield, or stop more often, and increasing the risk of a collision. -High volumes of traffic can result in uneven road surfaces while making it more difficult to perform road work.

-Vehicles must frequently cross multiple lanes of traffic when merging, turning, or exiting the road. -Vehicles may dart out of blind alleys. -The driver-side doors of parked cars may open suddenly and block your view of oncoming traffic. -Impatient drivers may compete with you for a lane or parking space. -Your progress may be impeded by stop-and-go or irregular traffic conditions.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Be physically and mentally prepared to perform the multitask operations required on the road Use space and time management techniques to prevent a collision when you have to look away from the road Recognize the physical skills needed for driving and staying off the road when you're impaired by disability, illness, or medication Understand the severe risks involved in operating a motor vehicle while you are drowsy or fatigued Employ strategies to avoid becoming fatigued behind the wheel and drive only when you're rested enough to do so safely

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Several NHTSA studies have estimated that drivers engage in potentially distracting secondary tasks approximately 30% of the time their cars are in motion. Distractions that can lead to a collision include: Using an electronic device like a phone Actively interacting with your friends Eating or drinking Grooming yourself

1. Any non-driving activity that a driver engages in while operating a motor vehicle is considered a driver distraction. No matter what it is, when you're doing something other than driving, you're distracted from your responsibilities as a driver and more likely to become involved in a collision. Distractions are typically classified as one of three distinct types: • Activities that cause you to take your eyes off the road are known as visual distractions. • Activities that cause you to take your hands off the wheel are known as manual distractions. • Activities that cause you to take your mind off of driving are known as cognitive distractions.

Avoid flooded areas and flowing water, even if they occur along a road. The road bed may be blocked, disfigured, or otherwise unsafe beneath the water. Don't park your vehicle near a stream or other body of water—flash floods can strike quickly and without notice. Increase your alertness at night, when flooding is less noticeable.

A more common problem than flooding, however, is traction loss. This can happen in wet or dry weather, can be caused in a number of ways, and can affect the front wheels, the rear wheels, or all wheels. When your wheels lose traction against the ground, the way they behave is often called skidding. This refers to a common form of traction loss in which the tire loses rolling friction against the ground and begins to slide, or skid, across its surface.

Each of the six areas around your car may be classified as open, closed, or changing. An Open Operating Space is one in which your driving is relatively unimpeded across large distances. In such conditions, there are no restrictions to your line of sight or path of travel. Typically, you'll see only wide, open spaces on the road ahead and be free to move forward or change lanes without problems.

A Closed Operating Space is one in which the driver's line of sight or path of travel is impeded. Road conditions in a closed operating space require that an alternative path of travel be identified.

When alcohol is combined with anxiety, it can be the start of a vicious circle. Stress and anxiety can lead to alcohol use, and alcohol can increase anxiety and depression. As a result, these drinkers tend to rely more heavily on alcohol and become less able to cope with life's problems.

A driver suffering from anxiety is more likely to drive in a distracted, worried way. Not only will alcohol increase the driver's sensitivity to these emotions, but it will also make the very act of driving much more difficult and stressful, exacerbating the problem further and putting everyone on the road at risk.

Road elevation can affect a vehicle's side-to-side balance. When going uphill, try to keep your car parallel with the slope of the hill so that its weight will be more equally distributed across all four tires. ◦When driving up a steep hill, maintain a steady speed by increasing pressure on the accelerator. This will keep the front of the vehicle from rising. ◦Apply pressure to the brakes or shift to a lower gear when driving downhill so that your car won't move too fast.

A vehicle can lose its balance or traction if you stop abruptly in a panic, press down too hard on the brakes, or speed excessively, especially on hills and curves. If you realize you are moving too quickly as you approach a curve, you should: ◦Brake before you get to the curve, then ease off of the brake as you enter the curve. ◦Press the brake gently if you continue to move too quickly through the curve. ◦Accelerate gently at the midpoint of the curve to stabilize your vehicle. Be especially cautious if the shoulder beside the curve is unpaved. If you end up driving onto the shoulder, the change in traction will make it more difficult to regain control of your car.

Green Arrow Signal In some places, arrow signals are used to guide traffic preparing to turn (usually, this is traffic turning left). When a green arrow signal is displayed, you may proceed to make a protected turn. This signal lets you know that all traffic that could cause a potential conflict is stopped by a red light, so you may proceed to turn without yielding to traffic coming from the opposite direction. However, traffic waiting to travel straight ahead may only proceed if a separate solid green signal is also displayed.

A yellow light is a signal to stop. It is hazardous to cross an intersection on a yellow light. Only proceed through the intersection if the signal turns yellow after you have passed the point of no return and you cannot safely stop your car before you reach the intersection. This includes situations where you might be hit by the vehicle following you if you stop your car too quickly.

When new motor oil is poured into your car, it is stored in an oil pan. The oil is sent to the engine by an oil pump. Eventually, it drains back into the oil pan, where it is mixed with the oil in the reservoir and recycled. Over time, engine oil breaks down and loses its protective properties. To ensure your car continues to operate correctly, motor oil should be drained and replaced regularly according to the schedule printed in your owner's manual. Only change the oil yourself if you know what you're doing and can dispose of the old oil safely. In general, its best to have a professional mechanic perform an oil change.

Another engine fluid that you should periodically check and maintain at safe levels is engine coolant, also known as antifreeze. The chemical properties of engine coolant allow it to absorb excess heat in the engine. Coolant also keeps the engine parts from freezing in cold weather. The friction of moving engine parts and the explosion of fuel in the engine cylinders creates more heat than the engine can convert into mechanical power. Extreme temperatures have the potential to cause catastrophic engine failure.

Most driving actions, including such basic tasks as signaling, changing gears, and checking gauges, mirrors, and blind spots, require Multitasking. When performing any one of these tasks, you must be able to divide your attention between your vehicle controls and your path of travel, the flow of traffic, roadway and weather conditions, the movements of other vehicles, and the actions of your passengers

As you drive, you must constantly pay attention to: How you're using the vehicle controls Where your vehicle is on the road and within your lane Whether you're staying within your path of travel Whether there are any obstructions to your line of sight How fast you're travelling Whether there are any pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, or animals on the road Whether there are traffic control devices on the road ahead What is going on behind and to the sides of your car Whether your headlights and turn signals are activated when they should be Whether another driver's actions may potentially endanger you

Underinflated tires wear down and blow out more quickly, and do a poorer job of transferring engine power and steering controls to the road. Overinflated tires are too stiff, reducing traction and making your ride harsher. Both types of improper inflation cause decreased handling and fuel economy in adverse conditions. Check your tire pressure regularly. Tires typically lose about 1 psi each month, and gain or lose about 1 psi for each 10° F change in temperature. Adjusting tire pressure is simple—most fuel service stations have inexpensive, self-service air pumps.

In addition, tires with worn tread—less than about 1/16th of an inch—will provide very poor handling and traction. They are unsafe and should be replaced immediately.

Many common antihistamines, including Benadryl, Dramamine, Zantac, and Clarinex, are also available without a prescription. These drugs are used to treat allergic reactions, such as runny nose, watery eyes, itching, and inflammation. Undesirable effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and depression. Antihistamines can dangerously affect the body's ability to process other chemicals, making them especially risky in combination with other drugs. A non-lethal dose of alcohol, for example, may become lethal while taking antihistamines.

Inhalants are chemicals that are often found in household products, the sale of which is typically unregulated. These chemicals emit toxic vapors that have effects much like depressants. Hallucination, loss of sensation, and unconsciousness are possible with short-term use. Long-term use can lead to permanent hearing loss, limb spasms, nervous system and brain damage, and bone marrow damage. Death from heart failure or suffocation is possible from an overdose of inhalants.

Many signs will use text in the place of a symbol. This sign has the same meaning as the sign shown in the previous slide.

No Passing Zone Ahead Pennant-shaped "No Passing Zone" signs are posted in advance of sections of the roadway where passing is not allowed. You must not attempt to pass another vehicle as long as you are driving in a no passing zone. These are the only traffic signs in the shape of a pennant.

Perform a more thorough maintenance check twice a year. Every six months you should assess: The air pressure in your spare tire The operations of your parking brake The hinges, latches, locks, and weather strips on your car's doors The drain holes in the body and doors designed to keep moisture from accumulating inside your car

Not every maintenance task that should be performed on your car is something you can do yourself. You should regularly have service procedures performed on components that are likely to wear out quickly or fail suddenly, such as: A professional oil change Oil filter replacement Tire rotation In the past, it was recommended that cars should be serviced by a trained mechanic at least twice a year, or every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but many modern cars can go longer without service. Consult your owner's manual to find out when you should take your car to a mechanic.

In addition to potential sources of distraction in your car, you can also be distracted by anything going on in the driving environment around you. This includes situations you must be aware of as a driver, including collisions, construction zones, and traffic control devices. If you become preoccupied with any one situation for too long, a reasonable amount of attention can quickly becoming a dangerous level of distraction. Only look at situations on the road for as long as is necessary to drive safely.

Resist the unseemly and dangerous practice of staring at the scene of a collision or other roadside drama even as you pass by it. Known as rubbernecking, this practice slows the flow of traffic and results in more collisions because it diverts drivers' attention from the road itself. As you scan the road, identify the site of any collision or other potentially hazardous situation in advance. Briefly glance at the hazard enough times to avoid it, but don't stare.

The chart on the next slide shows the frequency of each type of driver error. Which of the following do you think contributes the most to collisions? Recognition Decision Performance Non-performance

Serious Collision Many unsafe situations lead to serious collisions because one or more drivers acted carelessly. Even if you don't suffer injury or property damage personally, the financial and emotional burdens of being responsible for such a collision can remain with you for years, even your entire life. Remember, a collision can occur any time you drive carelessly, including the first.

To help you develop the observation skills and reflexes necessary to be a safe driver, you should frequently practice: Starting and stopping smoothly Maintaining control of the steering wheel while driving forward, turning, and backing up Using reference points to determine your car's position Identifying visual targets Checking your mirrors and blind spots Using evasive steering and braking techniqu

Serious consequences could result if you drive in a risky manner. The most obvious potential consequence of careless or reckless driving is damage to your car. While most collisions don't result in major injuries, any time you collide with another object, drive off the side of the road, or misuse the mechanisms in your car, significant damage can result.

To back up: ◦Make sure your right foot is on the brake pedal. ◦Shift the transmission to Reverse gear. ◦Release the parking brake. ◦Put your left hand on the steering wheel and your right hand on the passenger headrest. Look over your right shoulder through the rear window. Make sure it is safe to proceed.

Slowly lift your foot from the brake pedal. ◦Glance around your car as you begin to move backwards to make sure it is safe to proceed. ◦To maintain control of your car, back up no faster than five mph. When you take your foot from the brake pedal, the backwards roll of the vehicle may be sufficient to guide your car onto the road. Use the accelerator only if it is necessary.

Different drugs affect your judgment in different ways. These will be explained in more detail later. For now, consider a few basic scenarios: Alcohol and Other Depressants Depressants slow down your mental processes and physical coordination. This causes you to be far less capable of judging your current situation and responding to it. This loss of ability includes also the ability to understand your own current mental state. You will haphazardly try to accomplish one thing or another without considering your intoxication.

Stimulants A person taking stimulants may do so in an attempt to heighten focus and thought processes. However, focus will be more difficult to sustain, and thought processes will be less predictable and may go off course more easily. Anxiety and panic may develop and influence decision-making. In addition, muscle twitches, itching, and loss of physical coordination will make it more difficult to carry out decisions.

Stimulants speed up, increase, or heighten bodily functions. They commonly cause increased energy and alertness, increased heart rate and respiration, and loss of appetite. Examples of stimulants include: Nicotine Cocaine Ritalin Methamphetamine MDMA, or ecstasy Amphetamines, such as Adderall

Stimulants can cause bodily functions to move at a dangerously rapid pace. They can cause: Increased anxiety Overexcitement Inability to focus Poor coordination Tremors Increased heart rate and body temperature, sometimes causing death A false sense of well-being, even in dangerous or painful situations

To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by maintaining your vehicle's components, preventing losses in performance and reliability.

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As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Understand the extent and seriousness of the drunk driving problem Protect all potential victims of drunk driving, including pedestrians, police officers, and seniors, as well as your own passengers Be aware of, and combat, the alcohol-related risk factors affecting young drivers Motivate yourself to avoid the personal, social, legal, and financial consequences of drunk driving Use any means necessary to avoid driving after consuming alcohol or other drugs

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In the following slides, you'll learn more about reducing risk when faced with adverse weather and lighting conditions. Keep this information in mind while driving, and implement it at the first sign of worsening conditions.

rain is responsible for more fatal traffic collisions than any other adverse weather condition. The NHTSA's FARS data show that 6.9% of all fatal traffic collisions in 2011 occurred during rain. Rainfall has a serious impact on several aspects of the driving environment. Its presence in the air makes it more difficult for you to see, and you may also have difficulty hearing over the sound of rain drops striking your vehicle and the pavement.

One of the maneuvers that causes novice drivers the most difficulty is parallel parking. When you are parallel parking, you must perform several precise maneuvers in order to position your car in a safe and legal position. You must use parallel parking techniques whenever you are parking on a crowded roadside. These techniques will allow you to position your car in the space between two cars that are already parked.

Parallel parking requires both patience and practice. To parallel park in an open space between two vehicles on the right side of the road: ◦Make sure that the parking space is legal and large enough for the vehicle. The space should be about one and a half times as long as your car. ◦Flash your brake lights and signal your intention to park. ◦Check the traffic around you.

SEE IT in Practice

The Benefits of Thinking Ahead

One of the reasons that heroin is particularly dangerous is that it is usually taken by injection. While prolonged use greatly increases the chances of the following harmful effects, even a single insertion of a needle into your vein can be enough: Unclean needles can carry infectious diseases. Bacterial and fungal heart infections can develop, as well as HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases. The user's veins may begin to scar and ultimately collapse. The user may also develop sores at sites used for injection. Direct injection into the bloodstream increases the risk of overdose. The entire dose of the drug will reach the brain much faster than through inhalation, absorption, or oral ingestion.

'Cutting', or diluting the drug with a cheaper substance, is also a danger with heroin and some other drugs. Drug dealers cut drugs like heroin and cocaine with substances such as sugar and unscented baby powder in order to make more money. Cutting can be deadly for a number of reasons. For example, baby powder is often made out of talc, a mineral used to make certain types of chalk. Talc does not dissolve in the blood like heroin does. Instead, it stays whole, forming hard deposits in the organs it reaches. Deposits in the heart, brain, and other organs can lead to deadly problems including strokes. Cutting also causes differences in the potency of different batches of the drug. This makes it harder to know how much heroin you're putting into your body, which makes fatal overdose much more likely.

A study by the NHTSA further classified the common driver errors that contribute to collision into four major categories:

Recognition errors, which have to do with the drivers attentiveness to the road Decision errors, which have to do with the driver's evaluation of the driving situation Performance errors, like poor directional control and overcompensation Non-performance errors, like sleep or a heart attack

*For a minor's first non-driving alcohol-related offense, he or she will face a fine of up to $500, 8 to 12 hours of community service, and a 30-day license suspension or denial, and will be required to attend an alcohol awareness course. *For a minor's second non-driving alcohol-related offense, he or she will face a fine of up to $500, 20 to 40 hours of community service, and a 60-day license suspension or denial, and may have to attend an alcohol awareness course.

*If a minor is 17 or over and convicted of a third non-driving alcohol related offense, he or she will face a fine between $250 and $2000, 20 to 40 hours of community service, a 180-day license suspension or denial, and a jail term of up to 180 days. *If a minor is under 17 and convicted of a third non-driving alcohol related offense, he or she will be tried in juvenile court as a child in need of supervision or in criminal court as an adult depending on the circumstances. In addition to other penalties, he or she will face a 180-day license suspension or denial.

On most roadways, there is a double yellow line in the middle of the road. Your actions will always be governed by the line on your side of the road. *If there is one broken line and one solid line, passing is allowed for drivers beside the broken line and forbidden for drivers beside the solid line.

*If both lines are broken, traffic on either side of the line may cross the line to pass other traffic. *If both lines are solid, traffic in both directions is prohibited from crossing the line to pass. You may only cross a double solid yellow line if making a left turn or U-turn that is not prohibited by a posted traffic sign.

*If there is only one lane of traffic moving in your direction to the right of the yellow line, you must remain in the right lane except to pass another car or avoid an obstruction. *If there are two lanes of traffic in your direction to the right of the yellow line, you should drive in the right lane and use the left lane to pass, avoid hazards, and allow traffic to enter from the right.

*If there are three lanes of traffic in your direction to the right of the yellow line, you should use the right lane when exiting and driving below the speed limit and the left lane when passing. Be careful when entering the left lane as it may be restricted to certain vehicles (e.g. buses and carpools) or occupied by cars moving at a high speed.

*When you see a steady green down arrow displayed over a lane, you may drive in the lane. *When you see a steady yellow "X" over the lane you are driving in, you should prepare to leave the lane. *When you see a steady red "X" over a lane, you must not drive in the lane. If you are driving in a lane under a red "X", you must exit the lane as quickly and as safely as you possibly can.

*When a yellow "X" is flashing over a lane, it should be treated as a center left turn lane. *When a horizontal green or yellow arrow is flashing over a lane, you must exit the lane in the direction indicated. *Sometimes, additional information will be displayed on a digital sign posted with the lane use signals.

-Wider lanes and shoulders give drivers extra space to navigate. -Most expressways are divided by concrete or cable barriers so that cars can't cross the center of the roadway into oncoming traffic. -Guardrails are used on roadsides to keep drivers from driving off the roadway, especially in places like mountains where no shoulder is available.

-Bridges and bridge supports are constructed to support more weight and make it less likely that cars will drive over the side of the bridge. -Light poles, signs, trees, and other obstructions have been removed from the roadside, making it less dangerous to drive onto the side of the road. -Breakaway support posts ensure that traffic signs will not cause severe damage or injuries.

Poor Roadway Conditions Rural roads are designed for slower speeds. These roads are paved with different materials like concrete, asphalt, crushed stone, tar, or gravel. Some rural roads may not be paved at all: dirt roads are found in many rural areas. Each of these surfaces provides a different amount of traction, so your car's grip on the road might change. Rough roads, especially roads with potholes, will cause your vehicle to bounce as you proceed.

-Fresh tar is often used to patch rural roadways. -Proceed cautiously in such areas to avoid having tar or gravel thrown on your car. In some areas, mud or dirt from heavy trucks or other equipment may build up on the road surface. Drive cautiously in the rain as this surface can become extremely slick. -In icy conditions, sand or gravel will often be spread on roads to provide traction. When the ice melts, the residual material can reduce traction. -If you must drive through a pothole, brake before you reach the pothole and release the brake pedal before you enter it to maintain control of your car

In the past several lessons we have discussed how consuming alcohol and drugs will impair your ability to drive. To get behind the wheel, you must be: Completely sober so you can be confident that your ability to drive is unimpaired Alert and attentive enough to notice and respond to potential hazards on the road Able to use the physical skills required to drive safely without difficulty Mentally and emotionally capable of using good judgment and remaining calm and patient behind the wheel Aware of your responsibility to always reduce risk whenever you're operating a motor vehicle

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To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by minimizing stress and treating other road users with courtesy.

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Flashing Red Signal When a flashing red signal is displayed, proceed the same way that you would at a stop sign. Each car waiting at a flashing red signal must stop separately before entering the intersection and yield right-of-way to other drivers waiting at the intersection appropriately.

Red Arrow Signal When a red arrow signal is displayed, traffic planning to turn in the direction of the arrow must stop and may not proceed until the green arrow signal is displayed.

By Junior Kissi

2/4/2016

Fill each tire to the manufacturer's recommended pressure, which can usually be found inside the driver's side door jamb. The pressure indicated on your tires is the maximum pressure they can hold without bursting—disregard this number. Don't follow any rule of thumb related to this number, either. Your vehicle manufacturer has determined the pressure at which your tires are safest, provide the best traction and fuel economy, and wear the slowest. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation at all times, adjusting only for increases or decreases in seasonal temperature. Remember: a 10°F increase or decrease in outside air temperature will result in a 1 psi rise or drop in tire pressure.

A car door left ajar can swing open and strike another vehicle, let high wind and noise inside, or allow personal items to fall out. Worse, it can cause a severe loss of protection in a collision, increasing the likelihood of a fatality. An open trunk can eliminate rear visibility, making a number of maneuvers extremely dangerous. When the door open or trunk open warning light illuminates, pull over as soon as possible and make sure all doors are closed. If your warning light stays on, take your car to a mechanic when it's convenient.

All minors are prohibited from driving with any amount of alcohol in their system. If you are stopped by a peace officer and found to have a BAC greater than 0.00, you will be convicted of Driving Under the Influence as a minor. Everyone under 21 is considered a minor. Keep in mind that even some cough syrups have enough alcohol to increase your BAC above 0.00.

A first DUI offense is a Class C misdemeanor. The penalties include: *A fine of up to $500 *Between 20 and 40 hours of community service *A suspension or denial of your drivers license for 60 days *Mandatory attendance of an Alcohol Awareness Program You will not be eligible to obtain an occupational license for the first 30 days of your suspension.

Follow these steps to perform a rolling start: Turn the key to ON and shift into second gear. Press the clutch to the floor and hold it there. Let the car roll forward and gain speed. When the car reaches 5 to 10 mph, release the clutch suddenly. The engine should start. If it doesn't work the first time, press the clutch all the way in, then release it again suddenly. Once the engine starts, be prepared to press the clutch back in or shift gears to prevent the car from stalling.

A flat tire or a blowout—when your tire explodes—can occur because of a puncture, a defect, or improper inflation. Check tire pressure regularly and inspect your treads for embedded nails and screws. When you suffer a flat tire, grip the steering wheel firmly and steer straight ahead. Take your foot off the accelerator, but don't touch the brake pedal, either. Activate your hazard lights and guide your car to the shoulder. When you've reached a low enough speed to stay in control, you may apply the brakes. If one of your front tires goes flat, the car will pull to the side of the deflated tire. If a rear tire goes flat, the car will wobble and sway, and in some cases will also pull slightly to the side of the deflated tire.

As we'll discuss in much more detail later, Texas also has very important laws governing the operation of motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. For now, remember that you may be arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) if your BAC measures .08% or higher, or if you exhibit any signs of impairment. You can also be arrested and charged with a DWI if you're found with any amount of certain controlled substances in your system, or if you're under 21 and your BAC measures higher than .00%.

A law enforcement officer may ask the operator of a motor vehicle to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test to verify their BAC when they are suspected of driving while intoxicated. You may refuse to submit to such a test, but there will be serious legal consequences. According to Texas's Implied Consent Law, signing an application for a drivers license signifies that the applicant agrees to submit to these tests. Drivers who refuse testing will have their drivers license automatically suspended for no less than 180 days.

A wireless radio enables you to hear emergency and weather reports when your car's battery is dead. A battery-operated radio is useful only as long as its batteries are kept in good condition. A hand-charging radio is more reliable over long periods of time and in foul weather. A fire extinguisher can help prevent a minor collision from becoming much more devastating. A five-pound fire extinguisher takes up little space, but can save lives. A first aid kit is essential when a person needs help before paramedics can arrive. A pen and notepad will help you record important information in the event of a collision.

A map will help to prevent confusion, wrong turns, and wasted time. Bottled water and nonperishable food are useful to prevent both boredom and starvation. Duct tape can be used to patch up a broken muffler, bumper, window, or side mirror.

Under the Zero Tolerance Laws, it is illegal for minors to: *Purchase alcohol *Attempt to purchase alcohol, even when unsuccessful *Consume alcohol *Possess alcohol A minor actually holding an alcoholic beverage, as well as one simply in the presence of alcohol, can be convicted as a Minor in Possession

A minor can also be punished under the Zero Tolerance Laws for misrepresenting his or her age in order to acquire alcohol. There will be additional penalties, including a fine of up to $2000 and possible jail time, if this misrepresentation of age involves license fraud, such as: *Using a false name or information to obtain a license *Using another person's license *Using a cancelled or revoked license *Using or possessing a fake license *Possessing more than one license *Lending your license to someone else

Even a well-maintained vehicle will suffer occasional malfunctions. The information provided in this lesson will enable you to respond appropriately to many of the malfunctions you're most likely to encounter on the road. Most of the information in this lesson applies across all types of cars, but each car is different. Reading your vehicle owner's manual is essential to understanding your vehicle's warning lights, specifications, and operation.

A number of different conditions can cause the check engine light to illuminate, including problems with your engine's spark plugs, air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, and catalytic converter. Even a loose gas cap can trigger the check engine light. When the check engine light illuminates, drive to a mechanic as soon as possible—your engine could be on the verge of breaking down. Having it inspected immediately can save you from even greater expense and inconvenience in the near future.

In addition to lane markings, reflectors are often used on highways to help guide motorists. Yellow and white (clear) reflectors are often used along with painted road markings to designate the division between lanes. These reflectors are also raised so that you will be physically aware when you are crossing into another lane. In some places, lane markings may be entirely replaced by reflectors.

A painted curb generally indicates that parking beside the curb is restricted or prohibited. Curb markings will usually be accompanied by a posted sign that also identifies the parking restrictions in that space. The curb colors used to indicate most restrictions vary from place to place. A colored curb may indicate that an area is a loading zone, or that only certain vehicles are allowed to park in that spot. If you see a curb colored an unfamiliar color, look for posted signs that indicate the nature of the restriction before parking there.

Drivers can also increase the risk they face by failing to acknowledge situations that make it more dangerous for them to drive and make the appropriate driving decisions in response. For instance: A driver may fail to adjust his or her speed and drive cautiously at night or in wet or icy weather. A driver may get behind the wheel despite being emotionally or physically unsuited to drive (e.g. due to fatigue, anxiety, or intoxication). A driver may try to perform a task (like talking on a cell phone) that distracts his or her attention from the driving task. We'll consider these situations in more depth in upcoming lessons.

A particularly dangerous activity that's common among novice drivers is street racing. Street racing involves vehicles racing on deserted streets, generally in the middle of the night. Street racing is incredibly dangerous. Frequently, streets aren't as deserted as you think. At high speeds, having to make even small driving adjustments can cause you to lose control of your car. The risk just isn't worth it. Depending on your degree of involvement, you may face anywhere from 6 months to 20 years in jail, plus thousands of dollars in fines and a lengthy license suspension, for participating in a race, drag race, or other exhibition of speed or driver endurance.

The only situation in which you may lawfully disregard a posted traffic control device is when an authorized official is directing and controlling the flow of traffic and they specifically instruct you to. A person will generally be stationed to direct traffic only if his or her presence is required to ensure safety. Always obey an official directing traffic. People authorized to direct traffic include: *Police officers *Construction workers *Crossing guards

A peace officer will often be stationed to direct traffic in situations where his or her presence is required. For instance, if all traffic signals in an area have been shut down by a power outage or if there is a hazardous situation on the road, officers may be posted to coordinate the flow of traffic and minimize the risk of a collision. An officer directing traffic will typically be wearing an orange safety vest with reflective yellow-green stripes and will use a whistle or hand signals to communicate with drivers.

When a person's body becomes accustomed to the presence of alcohol or drug in the bloodstream, his or her nervous system adapts to the drug's presence in an attempt to stabilize the body's functions. When the drug leaves the system too quickly or stays gone for too long, the user suffers from withdrawal. The symptoms of withdrawal depend on the person, the drug, and the way the drug was used. Often, the user will suffer effects opposite those of the drug itself—such as lethargy with stimulants, or overexcitement with depressants. Because the body has learned to counter the effects of the drug to adapt to its presence, when the drug is removed, the user feels the effects of the countering forces intensely.

A person suffering from withdrawal craves the withdrawn drug and often believes that he or she needs the drug to function normally. To some extent, this is the case: a person who has consistently kept a significant amount of alcohol in his or her bloodstream for a number of years may die if he or she stops drinking alcohol for too long.

A head-on collision occurs when a vehicle strikes another object directly in front of it. In this case, 100% of the vehicle's speed is directed towards the point of impact. Almost every collision is a head-on collision for one of the vehicles involved. In a head-on collision, occupants are thrown towards the front of the vehicle. As always, seat belts and air bags are extremely important safety measures. The front crumple zone also offers vital protection: it buckles on impact, increasing the duration over which stopping force is applied to the vehicle. This reduces the impulse felt by occupants, ultimately reducing injury.

A rear-end collision occurs when a vehicle is struck by another object from behind. In this case 100% of the vehicle's speed is directed away from the point of impact—the faster the impacted car is travelling, the less forceful will be the impact. In a rear-end collision, occupants are thrown towards the back of the vehicle. Whiplash, caused by the neck snapping forward and backwards, is a common injury in these collisions. The rear crumple zone offers important protection, but some vehicles, like many minivans, have no rear crumple zone.

A rear-end collision can push your vehicle forward. This is especially dangerous when you're waiting at a traffic light, STOP sign, or YIELD sign—you may be pushed into cross traffic. To avoid being rear-ended, check your mirrors often. Keep track of the vehicles behind you. Try to maintain a safe distance between the vehicle directly behind you, and brake early to give the driver advance warning when you slow down or stop. Signal before every lane change to avoid being struck from behind by a vehicle in the next lane. To avoid rear-ending another vehicle, maintain a safe following distance behind it. Look farther than just the vehicle in front of you, so that you can have advance warning before it slows down or stops.

A side-impact collision occurs when a vehicle is struck primarily on the side of the passenger compartment—on or near a side door. These collisions are particularly dangerous because crumple zones don't exist in these locations, and because the impact often occurs much closer to where the occupants are seated.

While 63% of all drivers involved in collisions were male, male drivers represented 74% of drivers in fatal crashes. 36% of drivers in fatal collisions had some amount of alcohol in their bodies. Fatal collisions were most likely between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., and least likely between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m.

A study by the NHTSA further classified the common driver errors that contribute to collision into four major categories: Recognition errors, which have to do with the drivers attentiveness to the road Decision errors, which have to do with the driver's evaluation of the driving situation Performance errors, like poor directional control and overcompensation Non-performance errors, like sleep or a heart attack

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that sobriety checkpoints in particular are an effective way to reduce the impact and prevalence of drunk driving. On average, areas in which sobriety checkpoints are implemented see about 20% fewer alcohol-related traffic collisions. The CDC also found that the results were similar for both short-term and long-term roadblock campaigns. This suggests that the effectiveness of roadblocks does not diminish over time.

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that sobriety checkpoints in particular are an effective way to reduce the impact and prevalence of drunk driving. On average, areas in which sobriety checkpoints are implemented see about 20% fewer alcohol-related traffic collisions. The CDC also found that the results were similar for both short-term and long-term roadblock campaigns. This suggests that the effectiveness of roadblocks does not diminish over time.

Truck drivers are higher off the road and have a better view of the road ahead, but you must not assume the driver will see you when you drive near a truck. The only view of the road to the sides of and behind the truck that the driver has is provided by two side mirrors, which are not sufficient for seeing most of the road. There are large blind spots along each side of large trucks. In addition, truck drivers can generally not see anything in their lane within 200 ft behind and 20 ft ahead of the truck.

A truck's blind spots are known as No Zones. They have this name because no car should drive in these spots any longer than necessary. Most collisions with large trucks involve a car that was driving in one of the truck's no zones.

At some entrances, timed entrance lights, or Ramp Meters, are used to control traffic flow by providing a gap between vehicles entering the expressway. Ramp meters usually have only two signals, red and green. Typically, only one car can enter on a green light, although a different limit, such as two cars per green light, may be posted. When you approach a ramp meter, come to a full stop and wait for the light to turn green. Never try to rush through a ramp meter.

Acceleration Lane The acceleration lane is the area of an expressway entrance that is used by drivers to speed up before merging with traffic. Pay attention to the speed of traffic on the expressway so you know how fast you should be driving. On shorter acceleration lanes, you'll need to accelerate more quickly to match the flow of traffic. Search for a gap as you approach and be prepared to adjust your speed.

In recent years, side impact collisions have accounted for an increasing share of all traffic fatalities. According to the IIHS: ◦Of traffic fatalities in 1981 that involved a car and another passenger vehicle, 61% resulted from front impact collisions and 31% resulted from side impact collisions ◦Of traffic fatalities in 2001 that involved a car and another passenger vehicle, 43% resulted from front impact collisions and 51% resulted from side impact collisions These shifts have been attributed to the efficacy of frontal air bags and the greater number of SUVs on the road, as SUVs tend to be more deadly when they collide with the side of another vehicle.

According to Texas law, all drivers are legally responsible for ensuring that any passenger under the age of 17 is properly restrained by a seat belt or the appropriate child safety seat. A child passenger safety seat is required for all children under 8 years old unless they are taller than 4' 9". When using a child passenger safety seat, the child must be fastened to the safety seat using attached straps, and the seat itself must be secured in the vehicle using the car safety belts. The back seat is the safest place for children, especially infants.

Keep in mind the following information whenever driving through a construction zone: -One or more lanes of traffic may be closed. Signs and a line of orange cones will indicate which lanes are closed. Never cross a line of cones. -A flashing arrow may also be used to tell you to move left or right. -Make lane changes in construction zones as early and as safely as possible. -Never stop or slow down to watch road work. Fines are doubled for violations committed in construction zones when workers are present or the traffic flow is regulated or restricted.

According to a study of 11,000 drivers conducted by Progressive Insurance in 2001: -23% of collisions occur within one mile of home -52% of collisions occur within five miles of home -69% of collisions occur within ten miles of home -83% of collisions occur within twenty miles of home This study suggests that only 17% of collisions occur more than 20 miles from home—meaning that a crash is significantly more likely to occur when you're only a mile from home than when you're over 20 miles away.

Memory, focus, and reasoning begin to decline with the first sip of alcohol—from the beginning, you'll have trouble determining your own level of impairment. At this stage, you're already capable of catastrophically dangerous lapses in judgment. Basic muscle control deteriorates next, affecting everything from your eyes and hands to your ability to breathe and stand on your feet. With a high enough dose, breathing stops, cutting off oxygen to the brain and heart—causing death.

According to the CDC, an average of 43,731 people each year died from acute alcohol-related causes between 2001 and 2005. Average yearly deaths include: Traffic collisions: 13,819 deaths Homicide: 7,787 deaths Suicide: 7,235 deaths Fall injuries: 5,532 deaths Non-alcohol poisoning: 5,416 deaths Fire injuries: 1,158 deaths Drowning: 868 deaths Alcohol poisoning: 370 deaths Hypothermia: 269 deaths Child maltreatment: 168 deaths Other acute causes: 1,109 deaths

Not surprisingly, microsleeps are especially dangerous when you're performing an activity that requires constant alertness like driving. Yet they're most likely to occur when you're fatigued and performing a task like driving that is continuous and repetitive. During a microsleep, a driver will not see a red light, notice that the road has curved, or realize that his or her car has crossed the median. If you're not even awake, how are you going to avoid a collision?

According to the NHTSA, collisions that involve fatigued drivers generally occur after midnight and involve: A high incidence of fatality and serious injury A single vehicle driving off the roadway Drivers travelling on high-speed roads where it's easier to "zone out" and a fast reaction time is crucial Drivers who fail to take corrective action in time Drivers who are alone in the car

Every driver is endangered by aggressive behavior. As the roads become more crowded and more people let their emotions get the best of them, more people are dying as the result of road rage. The exact number of collisions caused by aggressive driving is difficult to determine because it involves the disposition of the driver rather than a specific set of mistakes that can be measured. However, recent research suggests that aggressive driving is responsible for a significant number of fatalities.

According to the NHTSA, in 2011, 9,944 fatal crashes, over 30% of all fatal crashes, involved speeding, the most common aggressive driving behavior. A study conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) concerning collisions between 2003 and 2007 estimated that over 55% of fatal collisions involved one or more aggressive driving behaviors. This study also found that while 78% of drivers think that aggressive driving is a serious or very serious problem, many of the same drivers admitted to aggressive driving of their own. For instance, almost half these respondents admitted to speeding 15 mph over the limit within 30 days of the survey.

Other victims of drunk driving are even less able to defend themselves. Of the 9,878 drunk driving deaths in 2011, a total of 551 victims were age 65 or older. That's about 1 in 18 alcohol-impaired crash victims. The death of an elderly person is not less tragic because of his or her age. People over 65 often have large extended families including grandchildren. Many of their friendships and other relationships have lasted for several decades.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for children age 5 to 14 in 2011. Children age 14 and younger suffered 1,140 traffic fatalities nationwide in 2011. Drunk drivers caused 181 (16%) of these fatalities. That equates to one dead child every 48 hours. Among all drunk driving fatalities, there was a 1-in-55 chance that the victim was under 14 years old. What's worse, 91 children were being driven by the drunk who caused the crash. No parent should have to bury his or her child.

This important provision, now enacted in some form in all 50 states, establishes a .08% BAC as the per se limit for driving. "Per se" is Latin for "by itself." It is used in this case to mean that, regardless of any visible impairment or influence of alcohol and other drugs, a .08% BAC is, by itself, enough to constitute the offense of DWI. In fact, the arresting officer does not need to witness any driving at all. As a result of these laws, drunk drivers are significantly more likely to be convicted for their crimes.

According to the Texas Penal Code, a driver is considered legally intoxicated if he or she meets one of the following conditions: He or she does not have the normal use of mental or physical faculties because of the introduction of a controlled substance, a drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body. He or she has a BAC of .08% or higher. These standards apply both to DWI and public intoxication offenses.

Drivers impaired by alcohol have difficulty performing more than one task at a time. They will often forget to turn on or dim their headlights and tend to stare straight ahead because alcohol makes it more difficult for them to scan with their eyes. Whether a driver who's been drinking is looking straight ahead, attempting to drive in the dark, or sensing objects to the side, his or her visual abilities will be diminished.

Additionally, alcohol harms a person's vision. Central vision, peripheral vision, and night vision are all impaired by alcohol. This is especially dangerous considering that most people who have been drinking drive at night. Alcohol can also cause blurred or double vision, making it difficult or impossible to judge distances. The headlights of an oncoming car can dazzle a drunk driver because his or her pupils cannot adjust from darkness to light quickly.

Fortunately, new laws passed in 2005 made it more difficult for drug dealers to purchase many of the chemicals needed to manufacture methamphetamine. This helped to reverse Texas's trend of increasing abuse. However, while methamphetamine-related poison control center calls and drug treatment program admissions have decreased since 2005, deaths related to either methamphetamine or amphetamines have risen from 111 in 2008 to 248 in 2012. Methamphetamine use in Texas is a serious and growing public health concern.

Additionally, the abuse of certain synthetic drugs has become a major problem in Texas in recent years. Bath Salts are dangerous stimulants containing amphetamine-like chemicals such as mephedrone and MDPV. Designed to simulate the effects of meth and cocaine using legally-available chemicals, bath salts could be legally obtained until recently, when they were reclassified as controlled substances in Texas and throughout the U.S. Although they have not been thoroughly studied, bath salts are believed to be as dangerous as other deadly stimulants. Bath salts can cause rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, chest pains, agitation, hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. Between January and February of 2011, U.S. poison centers received over 250 calls related to bath salts.

Additionally, there is some evidence that cell phone use can limit your peripheral vision. One recent study concluded that: "Cell phone conversations tend to artificially constrict the peripheral awareness as measured by a visual field. This suggests that cell phone use while driving can decrease the perceptual visual field, making the driver less aware of the surroundings and more susceptible to accidents."

Additionally, there is some evidence that cell phone use can limit your peripheral vision. One recent study concluded that: "Cell phone conversations tend to artificially constrict the peripheral awareness as measured by a visual field. This suggests that cell phone use while driving can decrease the perceptual visual field, making the driver less aware of the surroundings and more susceptible to accidents."

Marijuana is a hallucinogen and the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. Marijuana users can become dependent upon the drug to feel good, deal with life, or handle stress. A user may need to ingest increasing quantities of the drug to achieve the same effects he or she experienced when first using it.

After consuming marijuana, drivers are more likely to react passively rather than defensively to a dangerous situation on the road. Moreover, marijuana can shorten a person's attention span and cause him or her to drive slowly, disrupting traffic flow. Marijuana also disrupts a user's sense of time and distance. As a result, drivers who have been using marijuana often have difficulty judging adequate passing, following, and stopping distances.

The gases produced in the internal combustion process must be expelled from the car. Otherwise, the engine may malfunction or carbon monoxide may build up within the vehicle. The exhaust system carries these gases away from the engine. Remember, carbon monoxide can be deadly. A small leak in your exhaust system can lead to a buildup in carbon monoxide, causing you and your passengers to become sick and impairing your ability to drive safely. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, have your exhaust system checked routinely.

After fuel is exploded within the engine cylinders, the gases it emits are sent through the exhaust system: The spent gases are released into an exhaust manifold that collects them into a single stream. The catalytic converter reduces the amount of pollutants in the exhaust. The muffler reduces the noise emitted in the combustion process. By law, all cars must have a muffler. The tailpipe vents the hot gases away from the vehicle.

To install a spare tire, first park your vehicle, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, and take the keys from the ignition. Park your vehicle on level ground in a place where you won't be in any danger while you replace your tire. Before you do anything else, check your vehicle owner's manual to find where your spare tire equipment is, and where the designated contact points for jacking up your vehicle are.

After reading your vehicle owner's manual, make preparations for the spare tire installation. Remove all equipment you'll need: tire iron, jack, and spare tire. Your jack may require, and include, a metal hand crank for its operation. Check your spare tire's air pressure right away. It may be flat itself, in which case you'll need to call a tow truck. It's a good idea to carry sturdy blocks in your trunk, and to place them on either side of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat to keep it from moving. Large rocks will work if you don't have anything. If the flat tire's wheel has a cover, remove it. If you have reflective warning signs, place them 100 ft in front of and behind your vehicle.

Tailgating, especially when done repeatedly or when combined with honking Blocking another vehicle attempting to change lanes or merge Honking excessively, often at road users who are driving safely Ignoring traffic control devices, including running red lights and stop signs, failing to obey turn lane markings, and changing lanes across solid lines

Aggressive drivers are more likely to ignore right-of-way rules that require them to yield to someone else. Rather than anticipating the need to stop and slowing gradually, these drivers would rather endanger others and force them to stop suddenly. Aggressive drivers are especially likely to disregard pedestrians and bicyclists since they know that vulnerable road users are more endangered by the threat of a collision and will have no choice but to get out of their way.

Consistent signaling habits: Failing to communicate is dangerous and inconsiderate. Always signal appropriately so that others know your intentions. ◦Proper vehicle maintenance: Keep your vehicle properly maintained and respond early to any indication of a problem to avoid a malfunction at a dangerous time

Aggressive driving and road rage are among the most dangerous behaviors on the road. When a driver loses his or her cool, he or she may fail to obey the rules of the road and begin aggravating others intentionally. This behavior can result in property damage, injury, and death. Road rage can have many causes. It can happen because of a bad mood, a frustrating situation on the road, or the effect that the experience of driving itself has on some people.

In addition, drivers often feel anonymous inside their cars, and thus empowered to act as they wish because nobody knows who they are. Inside the protection of their cars, these drivers may feel distinctly separate from others on the road. Even people who are usually mild-mannered may indulge their aggression when they're behind the wheel. Since most people on the road are strangers to each other, a driver may feel that his or her actions won't have significant consequences.

Aggressive driving typically occurs when a driver is occupied with negative thoughts, such as: "Why are these cars going so slow?" "All of these cars are trying to crowd me out!" "Ha! I'll speed up and show him!" "If everyone else is going to be rude, why should I be courteous?" "The car in front of me will speed up if I tailgate!" "We'll never make it in time!" If you find yourself thinking like this, remind yourself, "It's no use getting worked up over someone else's bad driving," or "Relax! I'll get there eventually."

Even at moderate levels of alcohol consumption, the corneas and lenses become less responsive, making your eyes unable to focus properly. Moreover, as their muscles lose their precision, your two eyes will find it difficult to focus on the same object, causing you to see double. Objects at all distances will appear blurry. You won't be able to read speed limits or distinguish between different lanes. Attempts to focus your vision are likely to be painful and ineffective, further distracting you from situations on the road.

Alcohol also affects the pupil's ability to expand and contract, making it unable to quickly or effectively respond to changes in brightness. When a drunk driver is exposed to sudden brightness, he or she may feel pain be temporarily blinded, and shut his or her eyes against the light. When the driver's field of vision becomes dim again, he or she may see only black for more time than normal.

The brain also suffers when other organs begin to deteriorate: A weakened heart and circulatory system can cause blockages in the bloodstream. When these blockages try to pass through the brain, they can cause a stroke. Effects of stroke include permanent brain damage and death. An overburdened liver will release more harmful substances into the bloodstream. If kidney function is impaired, these harmful substances will be even more prevalent. When these substances reach the brain, they can cause a condition known as hepatic encephalopathy, which can have harmful effects including depression, mood and coordination problems, personality changes, coma, and death.

Alcohol and Nutrition Compared with other things you may eat or drink, alcohol is particularly bad for your nutrition. Consider: One ounce of alcohol weighs roughly 23 grams. "One drink" contains about 0.6 ounces of alcohol. Each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories. Thus, the alcohol content in a standard drink contains almost 100 calories. Keep in mind that these calories are only those contributed by the alcohol itself. In any alcoholic beverage (especially beers, wine coolers, and sweet mixed drinks), there will be considerably more calories contributed by the non-alcoholic portion.

Moreover, alcohol lacks any of the other nutrients normally found in foods and drinks, such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. As a result, when you consume alcohol, the body gains no new material for rebuilding cell walls, generating new muscle tissue, or providing energy. Alcohol interferes with nutrition in other ways, too. According to a 2005 NIAAA report, alcohol abuse can trigger overeating and reduce feelings of fullness. The same report links binge drinking with higher levels of obesity.

Alcohol and Your Immune System There are a number of ways that alcohol damages your immune system. When your immune system is compromised, you are more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, and cancer. White blood cells, which are responsible for fighting diseases, are worse at destroying the cells they attack. So-called "natural killer" cells, a specialized form of white blood cell, suffer a reduced ability to destroy tumors. T-cells, another type of white blood cell, have difficulty developing. Either too many or two few cytokines, which tell bodily tissues how to respond to an infection, are produced. Too many cytokines can lead to tissue damage, while too few leave tissue especially vulnerable to infection.

These numbers are significant. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities, for example, are not a rare occurrence. Between 2001 and 2005, an average of 38 people were killed in such collisions every day—more than one fatality every hour. Alcohol kills on long timescales as well as short ones. In the four years studied, an average of 36,643 people died each year due to chronic causes including alcoholic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, alcohol dependence syndrome, hypertension, and cancer of the esophagus. Consider the information contained in this course before making the choice to drink. It may not be worth the price you pay.

Alcohol and other drugs severely damage your judgment. A number of mental faculties are necessary for good judgment, and they all decline when drugs are introduced into the bloodstream. A special danger of drug use is that you may not realize you are impaired. If you knew you were impaired, you would probably behave with more caution. But on drugs, you'll often believe your abilities have heightened, causing you to behave even more recklessly. This can be deadly.

Heart Damage Your heart is perhaps the most vital organ in your body. Like the engine in your car, your heart powers the system that allows all the other organs in your body to function properly. Your heart completes a single pumping cycle, or pulse, around 100,000 times every day, and must function well in order for the body to remain healthy. When your heart stops beating, your body is considered dead.

Alcohol damages your heart, and the rest of your circulatory system, in several ways. Alcohol causes direct damage to the heart by impairing its ability to contract and increasing the amount of fat that it absorbs. Swelling, elevated diastolic blood pressure, and congestive heart failure are all associated with heavy alcohol consumption. In addition, heavy drinking followed by strenuous exercise has proven fatal, even among relatively healthy young athletes.

The rates of absorption of alcohol and other drugs depend on many factors, including the method of administration. Injection provides a more immediate effect, because the drug enters directly into the bloodstream, while ingestion requires the drug to pass through the digestive system, delaying the effects. The same drugs may have different forms and may be used in different ways depending on the desired effect. The rates of elimination of drugs from the body vary from hours to days. Nicotine, for example, is eliminated very rapidly, while THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, leaves the body at a slow rate and can be detected for several days after inhalation.

Alcohol is a depressant. After entering your body, it makes its way into your bloodstream, eventually passing through your liver, kidneys, heart, brain, and other organs. Just like other depressants, alcohol causes your bodily functions to slow down and eventually stop. You can never perfectly predict the effects you'll experience after drinking alcohol on a given occasion, but remember that any kind of impairment is unsafe and unpredictable.

When you've been drinking, you won't have the cognitive skills to cope with your emotions adequately. You'll also feel worse, have a harder time focusing, grow impatient quickly, and take longer to notice dangerous situations. Together, these factors can cause you to feel your emotions intensely and it will be impossible for you to maintain a courteous and cautious attitude when you're on the road.

Alcohol is particularly like to heighten aggressive behavior. Many drivers, especially male drivers, have a tendency to view driving as a competitive activity and treat other drivers in an aggressive manner. Under the influence of alcohol, this attitude is amplified. A combination of aggression, loss of judgment, and lack of inhibitions is a recipe for disaster. It can cause a driver to race others, tailgate another vehicle, try to beat a train at a railroad crossing, or pass another vehicle at reckless speeds.

Alcohol and drug use can blind you to the causes of your stress. You may develop a warped understanding of your circumstances and place blame in the wrong places. As a result, you may try to relieve your stress in inappropriate and unsafe ways, or may fail to even realize how your behavior is being affected by stress. This is an especially dangerous attitude to have on the road. It could cause you to harass other drivers, disregard your own driving mistakes, or respond to a frustrating situation recklessly.

Alcohol prevents you from dealing with your emotional problems in healthy and effective ways. When you've been drinking, you're less likely to act rationally and consider what you're doing thoroughly. The more intoxicated you are, the less able you will be to control your emotions. Even if alcohol isn't the thing making you upset, you'll be more at the mercy of your emotions and less able to take advantage of your natural coping mechanisms when you drink.

Effects on Your Circulatory System The circulatory system causes blood to circulate throughout the body, transmitting oxygen, nutrients, water, and other vital chemicals to all of your organs. Your blood, heart, and blood vessels are the primary components of the circulatory system in your body. A healthy circulatory system is vital for preventing diseases, maintaining a consistent body temperature, and sustaining every part of your body. Alcohol suppresses the life-sustaining functions of the circulatory system.

Alcohol slows your heart rate, preventing your organs and tissues from getting the blood that they need. Alcohol decreases your blood pressure, making it more difficult for your circulatory system to move blood around your body. Alcohol damages your heart, reducing its ability to contract and increasing its absorption of fats.

Many medications have strict prohibitions against drinking alcohol while using them. Mixing alcohol with some medications can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, and a loss of coordination. Combined with other drugs, alcohol puts a person at risk of internal bleeding, heart problems, and breathing difficulties. In addition to these dangers, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication harmful or toxic. Even some herbal remedies can have harmful effects when combined with alcohol.

Alcohol use has consistently been shown to impair driving to such a degree that it substantially increases the risk that the driver will become involved in a fatal collision. As a result, the United States as a whole and Texas in particular have established strict laws with severe penalties in order to convince drivers never to get behind the wheel intoxicated. In every state in the country, the legal BAC limit is 0.08% for drivers over 21, while the legal limit for minors is consistently limited between 0.00% and 0.02%, depending on the state.

Two years later, another sweeping legislative event took place: with the passing of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984, all states were compelled to raise their minimum age for purchase and public possession of alcohol to 21 years. The minimum drinking age of 21 years was in fact recommended less than a year earlier by the 1982 Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving, which was in turn partly influenced by MADD.

Although the federal government did not technically have the authority to force states to adopt a minimum drinking age of 21 years, it was able to compel them by mandating a 10% decrease in annual federal highway funding for states not adopting the standard. The constitutionality of this legislative maneuver was challenged by the government of South Dakota, but upheld. Within four years, all 50 states had adopted a minimum drinking age of 21 years.

Long-term alcohol abuse can increase your tolerance, causing you to become less sensitive to intoxication. This can have both psychological effects, as the brain responds less to the same physical stimulus, as well as physiological effects, as the liver begins to metabolize alcohol more quickly. Tolerance makes a drug user need larger amounts of a drug to achieve the same effect. However, the user will still experience the medical consequences associated with higher doses. As a person consumes greater amounts of alcohol or a drug, he or she will face a greater risk of harm, overdose, and addiction, as well as growing monetary and social costs.

Alcohol use has dire long-term effects. The liver, stomach, pancreas, esophagus, heart, and brain each suffer when alcohol is repeatedly introduced to your body. Moreover, your immune system and reproductive system are affected by alcohol abuse. Chronic alcohol use can lead to liver failure, heart failure, stroke, and other medical conditions that can be fatal.

In the last unit, we discussed how alcohol can cause permanent harm to your body. It's important to realize that alcohol can just as permanently change your emotions, your personality, and your reasoning skills. When you consume alcohol, you may be surprised to find yourself doing things you never would have considered before. This can lead you to feel complex emotions like confusion, guilt, or shame. To avoid grappling with these emotions, you may drink more. Eventually, you may come to rely on alcohol just to cope with the basic stresses of life.

Alcohol use is a widespread phenomenon in the United States. In 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 52.1% of Americans age 12 or older reported that they were current alcohol users. In the same report, it was found that 31.0% of heavy drinkers 12 or older were also current users of illegal drugs, compared with only 4.2% of those who were not current alcohol users. This suggests that heavy drinkers are about nine times more likely than non-drinkers to abuse drugs as well.

Alcohol will not solve your problems. In general, the effects of drinking will be the opposite of what you intended. For instance, when you drink alcohol, your behavior won't be what anyone would describe as "cool." Your speech will be slurred, you'll be unable to form sentences, and you'll stumble, vomit, and pass out. Alcohol may make people laugh at you, pity you, or be disgusted by you—but it certainly won't make them admire you.

Alcohol won't make you forget your problems, either. You'll be more likely to dwell on sad thoughts when drinking, and you'll have more difficulty than normal thinking of ways to solve your problems. Alcohol can continue to cause depressive emotions even after you've finished drinking, and can even contribute to major depressive disorder.

While the liver breaks down and alters chemicals to make them less effective and easier to remove from the body, the kidneys perform more of a physical act of filtration. Blood passing through the kidneys is filtered of harmful or inessential materials, including broken-down drugs, which are then sent to the urinary system for excretion. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the kidneys perform their life-sustaining job of filtering and returning to the bloodstream about 200 quarts, or 50 gallons, of fluid every 24 hours. About two quarts are removed from the body in the form of urine, and about 198 quarts are recovered.

Along with removing drugs from the body, the kidneys also need to perform other very important functions including: Removing waste products from the body Balancing pH levels Releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure Producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones Controlling the production of red blood cells By overloading the liver and kidneys with extra work, drug users put their entire bodies in danger. We will discuss how alcohol and other drugs cause organ damage in detail later.

Finally, replace your tools. Pick up any blocks or warning signs you placed on the ground, and place them in your trunk with the jack, tire iron, and flat tire. At this point you can drive away, but keep in mind that you're using a spare tire. They don't last as long as proper tires, and they aren't fit for driving above 50 mph. Check your spare tire or vehicle owner's manual for top speed recommendations.

Although it's extremely rare, your accelerator pedal can become stuck in the down position, leading to uncontrolled acceleration. If this happens to you, don't panic. Activate your hazard lights and shift to neutral. If your transmission doesn't shift to neutral, try holding the gearshift in the neutral position. If this doesn't work, you may be able to force your transmission into neutral gear by shifting into Reverse—but be careful: while some vehicles are designed to shift into neutral when Reverse is selected while moving forward, other vehicles will suffer severe transmission damage. Your vehicle owner's manual may contain information on this topic. If you're driving a manual transmission vehicle, press the clutch all the way in and hold it there.

There are a number of other factors that can affect your BAC in complex ways. Many drugs interact with alcohol and your body's metabolism, causing you to absorb alcohol faster or slower than normal. Age, genetics, tolerance, fatigue, and strong emotional states, such as anger or depression, can also lead to different alcohol absorption rates. These are among the reasons that BAC provides a far better tool for measuring impairment than does the number of drinks consumed.

Although no indirect method is perfect, you don't need a breathalyzer to estimate your blood alcohol content. You will need to know the following variables: Weight: your weight, in pounds Alcohol: the amount of alcohol consumed, in ounces Time: the time since you began drinking, in hours .015%: the rate at which BAC decreases per hour 8 or 10: 8 if you are a male, 10 if you are a female

Always eat before you get on the road. Even if you're picking up food to go and have to eat on the run, never try to eat while operating your car. You won't starve if you have to wait a few more minutes to eat, but you can die in a car crash in a matter of seconds. Keep the food in the back seat or the trunk to prevent you from getting tempted on the road. If necessary, find a safe place to park where you can eat at your leisure.

Always eat before you get on the road. Even if you're picking up food to go and have to eat on the run, never try to eat while operating your car. You won't starve if you have to wait a few more minutes to eat, but you can die in a car crash in a matter of seconds. Keep the food in the back seat or the trunk to prevent you from getting tempted on the road. If necessary, find a safe place to park where you can eat at your leisure.

The following techniques to reduce risk will improve your driving in all kinds of environmental conditions: Follow all applicable traffic laws. Never drive faster than is safe. Be emotionally and mentally prepared for driving. Practice a healthy and safe lifestyle in general. Arm yourself with knowledge. When you begin driving and lack experience, knowledge is the best tool you have for reducing risk. Learn from cumulative observation and experience. There's no need to reinvent the wheel when driving: you can learn to drive safely by being attentive to your own actions and the actions of other drivers on the road. Communicate your intentions to other roadway users so that they won't be surprised by your actions.

Always go with the flow of traffic and maintain sufficient following distance. Always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, regardless of who's right. Always check your blind spots before changing lanes and turning. Always keep your eyes moving and scan the road 12 to 15 seconds ahead of you. Always have your headlights activated, even during the day. Always pay attention! Always buckle up! Always drive sober!q

When driving behind a truck, remain far enough back so that you have a clear view of the road ahead of the truck. Make sure you stay out of a truck's no zones: the driver may make a maneuver without ever realizing that you're there. If you cannot see one of the truck's side mirrors, you can be confident that the driver cannot see you.

Always leave extra distance in front of your car when following a large truck. Not only is this necessary to make sure you can see the road ahead and the driver can see you, but it also will ensure you have plenty of time to react in an emergency. If you drive too close to the back of truck: ◦Your car may be damaged and you may be injured by objects or debris falling from the truck or kicked up by the truck's tires. ◦The front of your car may slide under the back of the truck, causing the trailer of the truck to crash through your front window. Moreover, a truck stopped on an incline will often drift back slightly when it starts.

Once you're on the road, be sure to select a safe lane position. Remember that, in general, you should drive in the center of the lane (Lane Position 1) so that you'll have more options available to you if you need to make an evasive maneuver. Adjust your position when necessary to accommodate other road users or to prepare for a situation on the road ahead. As you drive, look down the road towards the position you'll be reaching in about 20 or 30 seconds. Watch for obvious hazards and identify an alternative path in case you need to avoid a sudden threat.

Always maintain a following distance of at least three seconds between you and any vehicle ahead of you. Increase your following distance in poor weather, lighting, or roadway conditions. You must maintain a sufficient following distance so that you'll be able to stop in time if the car in front of you has to stop abruptly, or if the car behind you approaches too quickly and you need someplace to go.

Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road If you turn into the wrong lane, enter a one-way street in the wrong direction, use an exit ramp to enter an expressway, or pass another vehicle unsafely, you could end up on the wrong side of the road. This mistake is frequently fatal because it can result in a head-on crash—the most dangerous of all collisions. While you may think it uncommon for someone to end up driving on the wrong side of the road, according to the NHTSA, 1,082 fatal collisions in 2011 involved a driver or motorcyclist doing just that! This means that one in every 27 fatal collisions involved a driver on the wrong side of the road, and that an average of three fatal collisions involving someone travelling the wrong way occurred every day.

Always maintain a following distance of at least three seconds between your car and the car ahead of you. Increase your following distance when: Following a large truck or motorcycle Driving at high speeds Driving in poor weather or roadway conditions Driving in an area where pedestrians or vehicles may enter the road Being followed too closely by another vehicle

When you tailgate, you make it much more likely that you'll be involved in a collision. If the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly, you won't be able to stop in time to avoid crashing into it. If the vehicle behind you rear-ends your car, you'll be slammed into the back of the vehicle in front of you. When you're close behind another vehicle, your view of the road ahead will be obstructed. You may increase the anxiety of the driver ahead of you, making it more likely he or she will drive recklessly. If you make a mistake, you won't have enough room to correct it in time.

Always maintain a following distance of at least three seconds between your car and the car ahead of you. Increase your following distance when: Following a large truck or motorcycle Driving at high speeds Driving in poor weather or roadway conditions Driving in an area where pedestrians or vehicles may enter the road Being followed too closely by another vehicle

A child will generally outgrow his or her safety seat by the time he or she turns four. These children should be positioned in the back seat of the car on a Booster Seat that will boost their height so that they can be safely secured by the vehicle's seat belts. Once a child reaches 8 years old or 4'9" tall, he or she no longer needs to be secured in a safety seat. However, the driver is still responsible for making sure that the child is properly secured by a seat belt.

Always make sure that all child passengers in your car are properly restrained. ◦As often as possible, you should make sure all child passengers ride in the back seat, as they are more likely to be injured by an active air bag if they are in the front seat. ◦Make sure a child under 8 or 4'9" is secured in the proper safety seat. Do not drive or ride with an infant in your lap—a safety seat is much more capable of protecting the infant in a collision ◦By Texas law, you are legally required to install a child safety seat according to the manufacturer's recommendation. Make sure that the seat is properly secured to your car using the seat's straps and your car's seat belts and safety latches. Click here for more information about child safety seat requirements in Texas.

When it comes to road safety, drivers age 15 to 20 are already at a disadvantage for a number of reasons. When alcohol or other drugs are brought into the picture, you can see that young drivers are more in a particularly dangerous position. A few statistics from the United States in 2011 will help illustrate the involvement of young drivers in fatal collisions. A total of 1,059 drivers age 15 to 20 were involved in a fatal collision while they had an illegal BAC of .01% or higher. Of these drivers, 640 (60%) were killed. If you're under 20, consume alcohol, and are involved in a fatal collision, there's a 3-in-5 chance that you'll be one of the fatalities.

Among young drivers involved in fatal crashes who had a BAC of .01% or higher, 57% were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. These drivers were more likely to be killed in the collision—of all drivers killed, 70% were not wearing a seat belt. Although 24% of all young drivers involved in fatal collisions had a BAC of .01% or higher, these drivers were split unevenly between males and females. Of all males involved, 28% had been drinking at the time of the collision—but only 16% of all females had been drinking.

If another driver insults you or treats you rudely, ignore it. The best thing you can do when you encounter an aggressive driver is to let him or her pass you. There's no reason to endanger yourself because another driver is acting recklessly. Avoiding aggressive drivers is rarely difficult: if you leave them alone, they'll drive away from you themselves. If you try to challenge them, however, you may become the object of their rage and they may continue to harass you for miles, even if it means going out of their way to do so.

An aggressive driver who feels challenged may follow you for miles, regardless of whether or not the challenge was actually intended. If this happens, do not drive home or to work, as you may be showing an emotionally unstable person how to find you in the future. You should: Stay calm Flash your lights and honk your horn to draw others' attention Drive to a safe spot such as a police station or a crowded location Stay in your car If an aggressive driver gets out of his or her car and approaches yours, don't get out of your car. Call the police or, if it is safe, drive away while the aggressive driver is unable to follow you.

For the rest of the 18th and most of the 19th century, most self-propelled vehicles were powered by steam or electricity. Finally, in 1885, German mechanical engineer Karl Benz designed and built the first practical automobile using the technology still most common today: the internal-combustion engine. On January 29, 1886, Benz received the first patent (DRP No. 37435) for his gas-fueled car.

Another German engineer, Gottlieb Daimler, was also working on a car, with an improved version of the internal-combustion engine, in 1885. By 1894, motor vehicles were common enough that the first Grand Prix race could be held. However, this auspicious event was soon followed by a tragic one: in 1896, the first traffic death occurred when Bridget Driscoll, a mother of two, was killed by a car when she stepped into the street. Upon her death, the coroner stated, "I trust that this sort of nonsense will never happen again."

When turning into or out of a driveway, you must follow the standard procedures for making a turn. Begin signaling at least 100 ft in advance. Yield to cross traffic before making a left turn into or out of a driveway.

As a driver, you'll occasionally realize that you need to turn your car around. For instance, you may accidentally drive past your destination, notice that the road ahead is closed, or discover that you are travelling in the wrong direction. In these situations, you may decide to perform a turnabout maneuver. Depending on the circumstances, you should perform a two-point turn, a three-point turn, or a U-turn. However, turnabouts always involve some risk and are prohibited in many places. The safest and easiest method for turning around is driving around the block.

Tap your horn to inform other drivers of your presence or to warn other drivers if they are driving unsafely. You may wish to tap your horn when: ◦A distracted driver fails to proceed within several seconds of the light turning green ◦A driver is travelling down the street in the wrong direction ◦A driver begins to enter an intersection you have already entered ◦You are unable to avoid driving in another car's blind spot and it is moving into your lane ◦You are approaching an intersection around a blind corner ◦You have lost control of your car and cannot stop it safely Never blare your horn or use it to indicate your anger at another driver. Other drivers will be much more responsive if you always communicate politely.

Another way that you can communicate with other drivers is by choosing the appropriate lane position for your vehicle. ◦Lane position 1 communicates that you do not plan to maneuver. ◦Lane position 2 communicates that you may be planning to turn left or that there is a hazard ahead. ◦Lane position 3 communicates that you may be planning to turn right or that there is a hazard ahead. ◦Lane positions 4 and 5 may communicate your intention to change lanes or the presence of a hazard in the road.

Memory: Hallucinogens can cause short-term and long-term memory loss. They can also introduce false memories and basic misunderstandings of real memories. Attention and focus: Attention and focus may be lost under the influence of hallucinogens, particularly dissociatives. Reasoning: Your ability to use reason may suffer greatly, even without counting memory loss and inattention.

Anxiety and panic: Hallucinogens can cause extreme levels of anxiety and panic, including feelings of paranoia. This can be the result either of runaway thought processes or of deeply frightening hallucinations. Aggression and depression: Both aggression and depression are possible effects of hallucinogens. In addition, both rapid short-term mood changes and drastic long-term mood changes are possible.

As we've mentioned previously, the penalties for Zero Tolerance offenses also apply to the crime of Driving Under the Influence as a Minor. Any driver under 21 who is found to have been driving with any detectable amount of alcohol in his or her system will face a fine of up to $500, up to 40 hours of community service (or 60 hours for subsequent offenses), and a license suspension of at least 60 days for a first offense, 120 days for a second offense, and 180 days for third and subsequent offenses.

Anyone caught committing a DUI offense will have his or her license suspended or revoked for some period of time, no matter what other penalties they receive. Additionally, if you're caught driving while your license in invalid, your vehicle will be impounded for at least 30 days. Research has shown that vehicle impoundment keeps drivers off the road when their license is suspended. For many, the threat of losing their car is enough to keep them from driving. By taking the vehicles of those who insist on driving while their license is suspended, these drivers are effectively prevented from getting back on the road.

All personal care tasks will distract your attention from the road: Shaving involves sustained use of at least one hand while looking at yourself in a mirror. You may drop your razor or cut yourself with a blade. Fixing your hair involves taking a hand from the wheel and moving it around your head in such a way that your view of the road will be limited. Brushing and flossing your teeth involves removing one or both hands from the steering wheel.

Applying make-up requires far more precision control or attention to detail than you can afford while driving. You may try switching between different cosmetics, and if you hit a bump while applying eyeliner or mascara, you could seriously injure your eye. Adjusting jewelry or a tie will divert your attention from the road. Adjusting your contact lenses requires extreme care. If you drop a contact lens while driving, you'll either have to search for your missing lens or drive with blurry vision in one eye, both of which are very dangerous.

Truck drivers are on the road for eight or more hours in a day. They tend to be under pressure to reach their destination by a certain time, so they are especially affected by traffic delays. They are more susceptible to fatigue and highway hypnosis. They tend to keep odd hours and drive at night to avoid driving during times when roadways are crowded. When sharing the road with a commercial truck, treat the driver with courtesy and leave extra space around the truck. No matter the time of day, the driver may have already been on the road for hours.

Approximately 4% of vehicles on the road in 2011 were large trucks. Because truck drivers spend so many hours on the road, large trucks accounted for 10% of all miles travelled by drivers on roads in the United States, and represented 8% of all vehicles involved in fatal collisions (3,608 in 2011). The number of nonfatal collisions that include large trucks is relatively low. However, because of the size of the truck (often over 80,000 pounds) collisions are frequently fatal for the vehicles that they hit.

Are you 16 to 20 years old? If so, then you are in one of the most vulnerable age groups. In 2011, drunk drivers killed 1,036 people age 16 to 20. More than 1 in 10 victims of fatal drunk driving collisions were in this age group. Importantly, ages 16 to 20 includes all people eligible for restricted and full privilege licenses in Texas, but under the legal drinking age.

Are you 16 to 20 years old? If so, then you are in one of the most vulnerable age groups. In 2011, drunk drivers killed 1,036 people age 16 to 20. More than 1 in 10 victims of fatal drunk driving collisions were in this age group. Importantly, ages 16 to 20 includes all people eligible for restricted and full privilege licenses in Texas, but under the legal drinking age.

Sometimes, peace officers will partially or completely block the flow of traffic temporarily to reduce congestion, help a stalled vehicle off the road, or remove a hazard, such as the wreckage from a collision, from the roadway. This is called a traffic break, and may be conducted by an officer weaving slowly back and forth across the lanes of a roadway. If there is a traffic break ahead, obey the officer's instructions or remain with traffic behind the officer until the break is ended.

Around schools, crossing guards with or without portable stop signs may be posted to direct traffic. Crossing guards may either be adults or students who will enter the street to stop traffic so that school children may cross the road safely. Generally, crossing guards will be wearing an orange safety vest with reflective yellow-green stripes. Always stop when you see a crossing guard in the roadway.

Have you ever heard the expression, "Living well is the best revenge"? Keep this in mind when dealing with an aggressive driver. If you feel insulted by another driver's actions, shrug it off. The best way to get back at aggressive drivers is to laugh at the futility of their behavior once they've passed you. Remind yourself that while they're still irritated by everything around them and at a higher risk of causing a collision, you're capable of relaxing and enjoying the experience of driving.

As a driver, you must avoid behaviors likely to anger others or provoke them to act aggressively. A careless or reckless mistake may cause a tense or stressed driver to lose control of his or her emotions. Remember, aggressive drivers are generally impatient, insistent on having their own way, and critical both of themselves and others. If you make a driving error, even accidentally, it's possible the other driver will try to pick a fight with you.

Without an appropriately attentive attitude, you won't be able to see a potential problem or dangerous situation in time to make legal and safe driving decisions. A driver with the right attitude is: ◦Knowledgeable about the law ◦Ready to yield right-of-way whenever it it necessary and proper to do so ◦Considerate of others, making room so another driver can enter the lane or waiting to let a pedestrian cross the street ◦Able to recognize the difference between proper and inappropriate behavior and choose to do the right thing ◦Able to use good judgment and make decisions rationally ◦Attentive to the driving task ◦Emotionally stable and not prone to overreaction ◦Patient and calm in stressful situations

As a driver, you must watch for potential hazards and changes in roadway conditions, sort and analyze this information, and execute the best action in response. If you can't see well enough to recognize dangerous situations promptly, you won't be able to react quickly enough to avoid a collision. In normal driving conditions, you'll need at least 400 ft to stop a car travelling 55 mph. Therefore, if you can't see 400 ft ahead of you when driving 55 mph, you may encounter an unexpected hazard you won't be able to avoid!

One-way Streets One-way streets are used most commonly in urban areas but can be found in residential and rural areas as well. Like divided two-way streets, one-way streets allow for a greater volume of traffic with less congestion and greater safety.

As you scan the road, you should identify whether cross streets are one- or two-way, especially if you're planning to turn. One-way streets are designated with: -ONE WAY signs posted on both sides of the street and at the intersection -White, rather than yellow, lane markings -Parked vehicles facing the same direction on both sides of the street Signs will also indicate when a one-way street is changing or coming to an end.

When you drink, your physical coordination will suffer in the following ways: Your sense of balance will diminish, making you feel as though you're falling even when you're not and causing you to overcompensate when trying to correct minor mistakes. You'll be less able to control your muscles, making it difficult to perform simple physical tasks even when you understand what you're trying to do. Your vision and bodily movements will become abnormally detached from your mental understanding of your immediate surroundings. As a consequence, you're likely to move your body in ineffective ways.

As a driver, your reaction time is extremely important. In many situations, the amount of time it takes you to react can mean the difference between life and death. Being able to react quickly isn't necessary only when you're trying to avoid a catastrophic hazard in the road. Passing a vehicle, stopping at a red light, even making a right turn at a four-way stop—in short, every driving situation—can become deadly if you take too long to react.

Alcohol doesn't just affect your health. It also affects your mood and personality in ways you can't anticipate. The psychological effects of alcohol and other drugs can be extremely debilitating. When you consume alcohol, you'll experience: Impaired judgment Poor concentration Impaired thinking and reasoning Compulsiveness Exaggerated feelings of anger, fear, and anxiety

As a minor, your organs and your body are not mature enough to fully handle the impacts of alcohol on your system. Moreover, you probably haven't had sufficient life experience to consume alcohol in a mature and responsible way and will be particularly susceptible to its psychological effects. Prohibitions against underage drinking are not arbitrary. They're designed to give you enough time to develop so you'll be physically and mentally prepared to handle alcohol when you start to drink.

However, while automobiles have changed American society in positive ways, they have also caused enduring problems. Cars have led to increased urban sprawl and air and water pollution, and continue to contribute to thousands of traffic deaths in the U.S. each year. Indeed, since 1965, when emissions regulations were introduced and seat belts became mandatory, automobile manufacturers have focused on innovations aimed at reducing the social costs of cars themselves.

As computer technologies become more advanced, advanced systems are becoming more deeply integrated into modern vehicles. Indeed, some researchers want to eliminate the dangers of human error, distraction, and intoxication by developing cars that can guide themselves. Whatever happens, cars are likely to remain central to American society. For many, they provide safe, efficient, and affordable access to opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

Poor Weather Conditions Adverse weather conditions make driving on rural highways (especially mountain highways) even more treacherous. Avoid travelling in foggy, snowy, or icy weather. If you're caught in a severe thunderstorm or extreme weather conditions, proceed with the utmost caution. If visibility is severely reduced, pull to the side of the road, stop, turn on your hazard lights, and wait for conditions to improve.

Be aware of any hill crest, wooded area, or large truck ahead of you blocking your line of sight. If you can't see around an obstruction, slow down and adjust your position if necessary. Reduce your speed when: -Unable to see oncoming traffic due to a hilltop, obstruction, or curve -Approaching a long line of oncoming vehicles -Meeting slow-moving vehicles -Driving at night

When driving in rural areas be alert and keep a lookout for herds of animals crossing the highway. Herds of livestock are frequently found on the highway in areas near farms. Stop and let them cross. Once they are gone, proceed with caution.

As discussed here, you must follow special rules when sharing the road with an emergency vehicle: ◦When being approached by an emergency vehicle with its lights flashing, sirens blaring, or both, you should immediately move to the right side of the road and stop until the vehicle has passed, even if it is approaching on the opposite side of the road. ◦When passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights, you must slow down and move or stay out of the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, if another lane is available. Interfering with the operations of an emergency vehicle isn't just illegal—for someone, it could mean the difference between life and death!

When starting your car this way, make sure to press the accelerator fully: if you pump it or press it only lightly, it will increase fuel supply, flooding your engine even further. If holding the accelerator down fails to help start your engine, wait 20 to 30 minutes for the fuel to evaporate. Then try to turn on your engine again, first normally, then by holding the accelerator down.

As discussed previously, your engine may also stall due to a depleted battery. If this happens, you may be able to revive your battery and engine with a jumpstart. If you have a newer battery that died because of a sudden increase in output, for example if you left a light on overnight, a jumpstart should return your battery to full working order. However, if you have an older battery that died because it's wearing out, a jumpstart will only enable you to drive for a short period of time until the battery dies again. Do not jumpstart a car with a corroded battery, and do not use a car with a corroded battery to jumpstart another car.

The rate at which the crankshaft in the engine is spinning is displayed on your vehicle's tachometer. In most modern cars, the engine performs best when it is rotating at 5,000 to 6,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). This is equivalent to 100 revolutions every second! Remember, if the needle on your tachometer is pointing to the red area, your engine is moving too fast. Reduce the pressure on your accelerator pedal before your engine explodes!

As more fuel is supplied to the engine, the crankshaft begins to rotate so rapidly that, if it were connected directly to a car's drive wheels, it would produce speeds too fast to drive safely in most situations. The transmission uses a series of gears to adjust the output speed of the engine so that your wheels will spin at the desired rate while peak engine performance is maintained. In a car with a manual transmission, the higher the gear the driver selects, the less the speed of the wheels will be reduced.

Also be careful not to be distracted by a sneeze. Although there's rarely anything you can do to prevent a sneeze, it's important to realize how distracting a sneeze can be. When you sneeze, you won't be able to see the road or control your car properly. Don't drive if you have a cold or allergy that's causing you to sneeze excessively. If you feel a sneeze coming on that you can't suppress, try to move to a safe road position or increase the space around your car to reduce the risk of a collision.

As we discussed earlier, even using the devices in your car can be dangerously distracting. Don't let yourself get into the habit of fiddling with knobs unconsciously: adjust these controls only when stopped. The stereo system in your car has the potential to be particularly distracting. While drivers will usually wait for a safe time to adjust the temperature or program the GPS, they tend to change radio stations or tracks whenever they feel like it.

Your brakes are your car's most essential safety feature. If other components stop working, you can still use your brakes to stop your car before something worse happens, but if your brakes fail, it will be more difficult for you to get off the road safely. To help avoid such situations, there are two independent braking systems installed in your car: The service brakes, which are activated by your brake pedal, are used to slow and stop your vehicle while driving. Although typically used to hold your car one place while stopped or parked, the parking brake (also called the emergency brake) can also be used to slow your vehicle in an emergency.

As we discussed in Unit 10, the service brakes work by pushing hydraulic fluid through the brake system, causing the brakes to apply enough pressure to each wheel to slow or stop its spinning. In modern cars, the front wheels are controlled by a different set of brakes than the rear wheels. Because the two systems function independently, the brakes controlling one set of wheels are more likely to continue working even when the other set fails.

To drive, you must have a combination of muscle strength, muscle flexibility, joint range, and coordination. Even a single physical problem can become a significant obstacle to driving safely. An ailment as common as back pain may make it difficult to remain in a safe driving posture for more than a few minutes and to focus completely on the driving task.

As we discussed in Unit 11, the physical abilities needed to drive safely include the sensory skills used to see and hear the roadway. Most importantly, good vision is necessary for scanning the road for hazards, determining distances, and discerning essential details. As a driver, you must be consistently alert and aware of everything going around you. If any of your senses are impaired, you may not be able to absorb all the necessary information about the driving environment.

Currently, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, the offense of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is reserved for impaired drivers under the age of 21. Because it is illegal for minors to drive with any amount of alcohol in their system, the presence of any detectable amount of alcohol in a young driver's body is enough to prove that he or she was "influenced" by alcohol. An officer's testimony that he or she could smell alcohol on the driver's breath is enough to obtain a DUI conviction.

As we discussed in the previous unit, Texas has progressive DUI and DWI laws that impose more significant charges on repeat offenders and on those who show an excessive degree of intoxication. In Texas, a driver with a BAC of .15% or higher can be charged as a high-BAC offender. In more serious cases, a minor can be charged with DWI, which involves more significant penalties.

When driving in snowy or icy conditions, slow down, increase following distance, and maneuver gently. The risk of losing traction is even greater than on wet roads, so drive even more slowly than you would in the rain. When you begin driving on snow or ice, test your brake response to check traction. As you drive, continue to pay close attention to the grip of your tires on the road. Drive particularly slowly through turns and near pedestrians.

Before starting your car, scrape any ice or snow off of all windows. Remove chunks and thick layers of snow from all surfaces to prevent them from falling off and striking another vehicle while you're driving. As soon as snow begins to fall, activate your windshield wipers and low-beam headlights.

Stress, anger, and other intense emotions can impact your physical state in ways that can be detrimental to your ability to drive safely. These include: Increasing your heart rate and respiration Slowing your metabolism and the process of digestion Producing adrenaline in anticipation of a conflict Increasing the presence of coagulants in your blood, causing your blood pressure to rise and restricting your circulation Inducing nausea, perspiration, and a feeling of exhaustion

As we discussed in the previous unit, physical impairments can distract you from driving and decrease your ability to control your car properly. Additionally, if you can't get your emotions under control, they can have a significant long-term effect on your health. Prolonged or repeated feelings of stress can lead to back and stomach pain, insomnia, weight fluctuations, heart palpitations, and a weakened immune system. Moreover, your decision-making ability will be impaired, making you more likely to act in a risky manner when you're on the road.

Alcohol impairs your mental faculties in a number of ways. For instance, it can affect: Attention: Your ability to concentrate, especially on multiple things at once, will be diminished. Memory: With a BAC as low as 0.03%, you will start to become unable to store and retain information. Emotions: As you become more intoxicated, you will lose control of your emotions. Aggression: You will become more prone to aggressive behavior, especially in competitive situations

As we've discussed, alcohol and other drugs do not affect everyone the same way. Indeed, depending on the situation and the kind of alcohol consumed, a single person may have wildly different responses to drinking at different times. However, there are some common effects associated with different kinds of alcohol and drug abuse: Alcohol and other depressants can make depression worse, causing feelings of melancholy or despair to deepen and last longer. Stimulants can cause erratic, overactive, and compulsive behavior without any consideration of the consequences. Various kinds of drugs are associated with extreme stress, insomnia, detachment, and fear.

To reduce the risk of a collision at an intersection: -Watch for potentially hazardous events on the roadway -Apply the SEE IT space management system to maintain an open line of sight and path of travel -Use proper communication methods to indicate your intentions to other road users -Follow applicable right-of-way laws

As you approach an intersection, determine as soon as possible whether the intersection is controlled so you can anticipate the behavior of other road users, identify the appropriate lane for passing, and be prepared to respond when you arrive. Look out for: -Flashing and non-flashing signal lights -Stop and yield signs -Signs controlling U-turns, left turns, and right turns -Signs directing traffic

Always strive for the following attitudes when you're on the road: Tolerance for other road users Forgiveness and a recognition that everyone makes mistakes A helpful and courteous attitude towards every driver A sense of humor It's no fun to drive when you're angry! By adopting a positive attitude, you'll make driving a happier, calmer, and safe experience for yourself, your passengers, and everyone else on the road.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Identify your own unsafe driving attitudes and replace them with cautious and courteous driving habits Understand the common sources of driver stress and minimize the influence of stress when you're behind the wheel Acknowledge the risks associated with aggressive driving and road rage and adopt strategies to remain calm while driving Recognize common aggressive driving behaviors and avoid actions likely to aggravate other drivers Treat other drivers with courtesy and understand even when they make mistakes or drive unsafely

The NOAA's active weather alerts website displays alerts such as tornado warnings, flash flood watches, and extreme fire danger alerts. You can learn about your region's specific susceptibility to flooding on the Flood Safety Education Project's website. If you are a resident of San Antonio, Austin, Waco, or Dallas, you're within a large area known as "flash flood alley." Please keep flood safety in mind, prepare yourself for the worst, and understand how to safely deal with flooding.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Prepare for adverse conditions by maintaining your vehicle, checking weather reports, and packing for emergencies Be attentive to changing driving conditions and adjust your driving accordingly Slow down and increase your following distance as soon as driving conditions worsen Realize how adverse conditions can affect traction and understand how to recover from skids Drive safely at night by adopting safe driving strategies and avoiding driving while fatigued

If you become dependent on alcohol, you'll begin to experience unpleasant or painful withdrawal symptoms if you go too long without drinking more. As a result, you may end up drinking in the morning, at work, in your car, or while supervising children. Your life will become oriented entirely around your next drink. If something prevents you from drinking, you'll lash out. Your thoughts will become occupied by your cravings, and the there will be no room for the unique thoughts that once defined you. All that will be left is another stereotypical alcoholic.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Recognize the ability of alcohol to so impair your reasoning abilities that you won't be able to judge your own fitness to drive Fulfill your responsibility to reduce risk by never getting behind the wheel when you've been drinking alcohol Realize that the psychological effects of alcohol can impair your ability to perform essential tasks including multitasking and space management Cope with your own negative emotions by dealing with them directly rather than attempting to address them with alcohol Understand the destructive effect of alcohol addiction on your psychology, personality, and ability to act responsibly

If you have to wait with your vehicle, stay inside unless it's unsafe. Keep yourself safe and comfortable, and remain buckled! In warm weather, roll down your windows and drink water. Don't run the air conditioning constantly, or you risk depleting your battery. For the same reason, in cold weather, only run the heater intermittently. Never sit for extended periods of time in a vehicle with the engine running unless your windows are at least partially rolled down. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and the first symptoms of poisoning may be simply falling asleep—followed eventually by death.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Respond calmly and appropriately when your vehicle malfunctions Review your vehicle owner's manual thoroughly so that you can better understand your vehicle Keep yourself and other road users safe by calling the fire department immediately if your vehicle catches fire Slow your malfunctioning car down as much as possible before entering the road's shoulder Pull over in a safe place, away from traffic, curves, and hills, when dealing with an emergency

In addition to the safety inspection, drivers in many Texas counties are required to have an emissions test performed annually. Gasoline-powered vehicles that are between 2 and 24 years old must receive an emissions test in the following counties: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, Williamson. Find out more about safety inspection and emissions test requirements on the Texas DPS website.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Understand the importance of regular motor oil changes to the proper functioning of the vehicle's engine Maintain the vehicle's electrical system, including the battery and alternator, as well as the lights and windshield wipers Avoid brake failure by watching and listening for signs of excessive brake wear Improve your vehicle's traction by selecting the best tires for your car and having them rotated regularly Prolong the life of your car by performing maintenance tasks, scheduling professional service, and remembering to have your car inspected

there are a number of resources available to help you avoid drinking. If you want advice for dealing with peer pressure, or if you think someone you know has a problem with alcohol, visit these websites for more information: 2 Young 2 Drink, a resource provided by the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission Prevention Resource Centers in Texas Other prevention resources for teens Alcoholics Anonymous Al-Anon Family Groups

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Understand the unacceptable costs of alcohol abuse on individuals and society at large Recognize the causes and tragic consequences of underage drinking Keep your license by abiding by your legal responsibilities under the Zero Tolerance Laws Protect your friends from the dangers of drunk driving by keeping them off the road and volunteering to be a designated driver Consume alcohol legally and responsibly and decline to drink whenever you have to drive

Hallucinogens are not necessarily more deadly than stimulants or depressants, but their use can result in some particularly dangerous situations. Drivers under the influence of hallucinogens may experience the following: Extremely high or erratic speed, or slowing down or stopping in the middle of an expressway Driving along a road or in a direction that does not exist—driving into opposing traffic, completely off the road, or into a wall Failure to respond to any driving conditions, including traffic signals, cross traffic, pedestrians, turns, and stopped cars Feelings of invulnerability, leading to extremely risky behavior or attempts to accomplish things that are impossible Decisions governed by anxiety, panic, or fear

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Understand the ways in which stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens impact your health and ability to drive Stay calm, focused, and coordinated by avoiding stimulants while driving Maintain alertness, coordination, and clarity by avoiding depressants while driving Remain in touch with reality and in control of your emotions by avoiding hallucinogens while driving Remember how dangerous prescription and over-the-counter medicines can be, particularly when combined with alcohol or other drugs

All drugs have the potential to disrupt your driving skills. For this reason, you can be arrested for DWI no matter what drug is causing your impairment. In this lesson, we'll explain how stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens damage your driving skills in different ways. First, we'll discuss two bodily functions that are vital to safe driving: vision and physical coordination.

As you've seen already, good vision and proper use of the eyes is essential to safe driving. Many drugs hamper your vision. Stimulants like nicotine, cocaine, and Ritalin often cause overactive eye movement, resulting in inadequate attention to individual elements in the driver's field of view. Depressants like alcohol, heroin, and muscle relaxants often cause the eye to become less responsive. This results in an inactive stare, which may cause the driver to miss very important information about his or her surroundings. Hallucinogens like marijuana, LSD, and Nyquil often cause hallucinations and inattentive eye movement. In addition to depriving the driver of important information, these drugs can cause the driver to respond to situations that don't actually exist.

In addition, when you abuse alcohol, you won't be able to enjoy or remember your experiences as well. Not only can excessive alcohol use make you sick and cause you to pass out, but you may black out. When you black out, you'll continue to walk, talk, and interact with other, but you won't be able to remember any of it. You could end up embarrassing yourself without even realizing it!

As your former interests and acquaintances disappear from your life, alcohol will take an increasingly central role in your day-to-day activities. You'll begin to spend more time around other drinkers, and most if not all of your recreational activities will become geared around alcohol consumption.

Always keep as much space as you can between your car and the vehicles around you. ◦On multi-lane streets, stay out of the lane next to the center line, if possible, so you'll have more room to maneuver if an oncoming car suddenly swerves towards you. ◦Don't drive in the blind spot of another driver. Either move ahead of the other vehicle or drop back.

As your speed increases, the challenges that you face as a driver also increase. At high speeds: ◦You must increase your following distance so you have enough time to react to events ahead of you. ◦It becomes harder to notice potential hazards because the environment is changing so quickly. ◦Your peripheral vision is reduced greatly ◦The distance you will travel while making a decision will increase.

Because there are no intersections on expressways, most maneuvers you'll perform will involve changing your lane position or moving between lanes. You may need to change lanes when: -Entering or exiting the expressway -Allowing a driver to enter your lane -Following large or slow-moving vehicles -Approaching an obstruction on the road ahead -Passing another vehicle

Avoid passing on an expressway when: -You're approaching a No Passing zone or a place where the road narrows, including a bridge, tunnel, or underpass -There's a long line of slow-moving or stopped vehicles ahead of you -The vehicle ahead of you has suddenly slowed for an unknown reason -There are obstructions to your line of sight

Don't get agitated when you're caught in traffic. Even though you may be frustrated by a delay, recognize that nothing you can do will get you to your destination sooner. Listen to music and take the opportunity to relax. If your plans are likely to be disrupted by a delay, leave earlier to give yourself extra time. Avoid behaviors likely to annoy others, such as pounding the horn, cutting into lanes of traffic, or failing to signal. While you don't have the power to prevent another driver from getting upset, you can always make yourself act courteously and respectfully.

Avoid speeding. Not only will it make it more difficult for you to respond and stop when necessary, but it will also make you less capable of observing what others are doing on the road. The faster you drive, the narrower your field of vision becomes. When you're not moving, your field of vision covers 180 degrees or more. Your field of vision is reduced to around 120 degrees at 20 mph, 75 degrees at 40 mph, and 35 degrees at 60 mph.

Tranquilizers include multiple classes of drugs. Benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Xanax, are used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and muscle spasms. Adverse effects include aggression and slowed breathing. Overdose risk greatly increases when taken with other depressants. Typically available by prescription, these drugs are particularly susceptible to abuse. They are typically prescribed to treat psychological and emotional symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia, as well as physical conditions including alcohol withdrawal and seizures.

Barbiturates, such as Seconal and Nembutal, are another type of tranquilizer. These drugs are used for sedation and anesthesia. Seconal and Nembutal in particular are sometimes used recreationally. Some barbiturates—including Nembutal—are also used for physician-assisted suicide and for execution by lethal injection.

Even after you adjust your mirrors, there will be significant blind spots on both sides of your car. These blind spots (shown in this image as white areas with red stripes) extend from the edges of your forward vision to the area of the roadway reflected in your mirrors. You will be unable to see other cars when they are driving in your blind spots.

Be attentive to your blind spots and the blind spots of other drivers. ◦Any time you want to change lanes or make a turn, glance back towards the blind spot obscuring the area where you want to move. ◦Avoid driving in another vehicle's blind spots. A driver who can't see you may begin a maneuver that could endanger you both.

Remember: Whenever driving faster than is reasonable and prudent, you are speeding, regardless of what the posted speed limit is. Always reduce your speed for bad weather, lighting, roadway, or traffic conditions. A collision at 60 mph has four times the force as a collision at 30 mph. As a result, the probability of death, disfigurement, or debilitating injury doubles for every increase of 10 mph above 50 mph.

Be aware of the different ways the drivers tend to disregard traffic control devices: Failing to stop at ("rolling through") a stop sign: You must always come to a complete stop. Even if you intend to yield, rolling through a stop sign can mislead and confuse other road users, causing them to react in an unsafe way. Disobeying a stoplight or a stop, yield, or wrong way sign: This puts you into another driver's path of travel at a time when he or she has the right of way, forcing him or her to take evasive action to avoid hitting you. Disobeying a construction sign: Detours, sudden merges, bright lights, and workers near the edge of the roadway all increase the chances of a collision in a construction zone.

Whenever you have to look away from the roadway (e.g. to look behind you or check your speedometer), scan the road ahead of you and to your sides before and after you take your eyes off the road. Adjust your driving for any potential hazards that may emerge while you are looking elsewhere, such as: Vehicles ahead that have slowed down suddenly Vehicles to your sides changing lanes or merging into your lane Motorcyclists riding in your lane trying to pass you Careless pedestrians that begin crossing your path in the middle of the block

Be especially watchful for vulnerable road users. Search for them constantly and have a plan of action to avoid a collision: If you see a bicyclist signaling his or her intention to turn left as you approach an intersection, slow down and let him or her go. If you wait to yield, you may be looking away from the roadway when the bicyclist passes your path, making a collision more likely. Whenever you look away from the driving scene to perform a driving task, search for pedestrians as soon as your gaze returns to the roadway.

Frequently, when you want to turn around, your best option will be making a U-turn. U-turns are generally preferable to three-point turns because they can be completed in a single movement without stopping. However, U-turns cannot be completed on narrow roads. Before making a U-turn, make sure the road is wide enough and that you can safely complete the maneuver without interference. If you are not sure whether you can make a U-turn safely, don't.

Because U-turns are risky maneuvers that require crossing multiple lanes of traffic, they are not legal everywhere. Typically, in cities, towns, and business districts, U-turns are only permitted at intersections. U-turns are never permitted on expressways. Never make a U-turn while driving on a hill or through a curve. You may not make a U-turn anywhere that a "No U-turn" or "No Left Turn" sign is posted. Prohibitions concerning U-turns vary from place to place, so make sure you check your local laws to find out where U-turns are permitted in your area.

While most personal tasks you might perform behind the wheel involve some degree of visual or manual distraction, if you think you're only in danger when your hands are off the wheel or your eyes are off the road, think again. Indeed, even when you're maintaining a safe driving posture and performing visual search strategies properly you may be completely oblivious to what's going on around you. If you let your mind wander, you may end up looking all around you without seeing a thing.

Because it doesn't involve any physical distraction, daydreaming can be especially dangerous behind the wheel. While most distractions can actively be avoided, when you're lost in thought, it may be some time before you realize that you've stopped paying attention to the driving task. If you find yourself zoning out, try jogging your attention by changing the radio station or opening the window. Make sure you don't let yourself get distracted by thinking about your plans or personal problems, a homework assignment, a funny incident, or anything else while driving.

Take a less congested route home. Drive at a reduced speed and increase your following distance so you'll have more time to respond. Listen to music or talk to passengers, if you can do so without becoming distracted. Even simple activities like chewing gum or talking to yourself can help you remain alert. Don't drive if you aren't feeling well!

Because of the monotony of driving, fatigue is especially likely to affect people who drive for long stretches of time. If you're planning on making a long trip, do everything you can to ensure you remain alert and attentive behind the wheel. Get a lot of rest before you begin your trip. Start your trip early in the day so you don't have to drive during times you'd normally be asleep. Avoid taking long drives at night.

Because you must be physically and mentally fit to drive, the physical effects of intoxication can significantly impair your driving abilities. For instance: When your vision is impaired, you may ignore traffic signals, follow too closely, or not notice cross traffic approaching. When you can't react quickly, you may make wide turns, start and stop abruptly, swerve across the road. When your concentration and judgment are impaired, you may forget to turn your lights on, turn your turn signals off, maintain a safe speed, or drive in the center of your lane. When your breathing is impaired or you're feeling nauseous, you may be distracted from the driving task and be unable to control your car properly.

Because of the ways alcohol affects your vision, your ability to notice and respond to other vehicles and developing traffic situations is significantly impaired when you drink. For instance, intoxicated drivers can find it difficult to scan the road because their eyes are less able to move in their sockets. As a result, they're more likely to stare straight ahead without checking their mirrors, causing them to ignore surrounding lanes, passing traffic, and objects in their peripheral vision.

The brain and the mind also suffer greatly from prolonged use of alcohol or drugs. In addition to other personality changes and mental impairments that alcoholism causes, heavy drinkers and drug users are also prone to dependence and addiction. These conditions can easily ruin a person's life.

Because people are generally aware that addiction leads to great suffering, few would consciously choose to become an addict. Yet some people think that because they're aware of these risks, they can simply will themselves to avoid addiction by controlling their use. This reasoning is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how addiction and dependence work. Addiction and dependence are physiological processes that occur naturally as a person's body becomes accustomed to alcohol or a drug. Gradually, his or her body and mind are changed and eventually, he or she becomes a totally different person—an addict. Once a person is addicted, his or her cravings will outweigh the desire to avoid suffering and make it difficult for him or her to think about his or her actions rationally.

Because some activities are carried out more frequently and for longer periods than others, the riskiest actions are not always responsible for the most collisions. For instance, while spending a minute dialing a phone was found to be more dangerous than spending a minute talking on the phone, both activities resulted in approximately the same number of collisions since drivers spent significantly more time talking than they did dialing. Accordingly, the NHTSA has concluded that no single distraction can be definitively identified as the most dangerous. Any time you're not 100% focused on the driving task, you're at an elevated risk of a collision.

Because some activities are carried out more frequently and for longer periods than others, the riskiest actions are not always responsible for the most collisions. For instance, while spending a minute dialing a phone was found to be more dangerous than spending a minute talking on the phone, both activities resulted in approximately the same number of collisions since drivers spent significantly more time talking than they did dialing. Accordingly, the NHTSA has concluded that no single distraction can be definitively identified as the most dangerous. Any time you're not 100% focused on the driving task, you're at an elevated risk of a collision.

How tired you feel at any given time will be influenced both by sleep homeostasis and by your circadian rhythms. Homeostasis will make you feel more sleepy the longer you're awake, while circadian rhythms will make you feel most awake during daylight hours. Under normal circumstances, the combination of these two processes cause will cause you to feel sleepiest at night.

Because the urge to sleep is the product of natural physiological processes, there's nothing you can do to force yourself to stay awake when you begin to get tired. It's dangerous to try to drive when your body wants to sleep. The more tired you are, the more likely you'll begin to experience the symptoms of fatigue behind the wheel, especially since driving itself can be tiring.

Phone calls. Chatting. Eating and drinking. Combing your hair. Your car is not the right place for these activities. The only thing you should be doing when you're behind the wheel is driving.

Because we're so used to doing many things at once in our everyday lives, it can be easy to think that we're naturally wired to multitask. For instance, you may find it normal to study, check your email, listen to music, and eat a snack all at the same time. Indeed, multitasking is considered a valued skill throughout our culture, especially since people often feel like they don't have enough time for everything they'd like to. If it's so easy for us to do several things at once at other times, how bad can it be to do so while driving?

Vomiting while drunk can be extremely dangerous. For one thing, most of what's expelled through vomiting is water, which the body needs to perform many of its vital functions. Vomiting excessively without replacing the body's lost water can lead to fatal dehydration. Moreover, even if you pass out, your body may still feel the need to vomit. People who are unconscious or who lack the muscular control to help themselves can draw vomit into their lungs, causing them to asphyxiate—to suffocate or drown.

Becoming dangerously sick after drinking alcohol is known as alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning occurs when you consume more alcohol than your body can safely metabolize. Alcohol poisoning is a particular problem among minors because they have less understanding of their own tolerance for alcohol and have especially poor drinking habits: approximately 90% of alcohol consumed by people under 21 is in the form of binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as heavy alcohol consumption that occurs intermittently. Men who consume five or more drinks and a row, and women who consume four or more drinks in a row, are considered to be binge drinking, especially if this drinking occurs in the span of two hours or less.

If gentle acceleration isn't enough, increase throttle gradually. Sharp acceleration will cause your tires to lose traction against the snow. You may be able to move slightly forward, but fail to break free. If this happens, there are a few things you can do to help: Roll as far forward as possible in low gear, then shift into Reverse gear, and slowly accelerate backwards as far as you can. Shift into forward gear again, repeating this process and 'rocking' your vehicle back and forth until you break free. Place dirt, rocks, tree branches, or boards underneath your drive wheels. This makes it easier for your wheels to gain traction. Turn the steering wheel in different directions—some angles may give your wheels better traction, depending on the contours of the ground beneath them.

Becoming stranded in deep snow can be deadly. You'll have better chances of staying alive and being rescued if you: Stay inside your vehicle. You'll be warmer and have a much better chance of being located. Keep warm. Cover your head to conserve body heat, and perform some physical exercise regularly. Don't consume any alcohol—it lowers your body temperature. Run your car's heater for 15 minutes every hour, and use all available materials to increase insulation.

Gas is drawn from the fuel tank by an attached fuel pump that delivers enough fuel to the engine to keep it working properly. The fuel pump is also responsible for maintaining pressure in the fuel line and making sure that the fuel doesn't evaporate or boil.

Before fuel can be delivered to the engine, it must be mixed with air so that it will combust when ignited by the sparkplug. In order to achieve ideal fuel efficiency, the amount of fuel sent into the cylinders of the engine must be precisely controlled. In most older cars, this process is performed by a carburetor. The carburetor is a tube-shaped device that opens up when the accelerator pedal is depressed. As air flows through the carburetor, a vacuum is created that pulls fuel into the air stream and sends this mixture into the engine.

You should make a right turn from the right lane of the road you are leaving into the right lane of the road you are entering. These turns are generally the easiest to make as they require the driver to pass through no additional lanes of traffic. You should be driving in the center of the right lane for at least 200 ft before you begin your right turn, and you must signal your turn at least 100 ft in advance.

Before making a right turn, you should: *Make sure that the turn is legally permitted *Check the intersection, your mirrors, and your blind spots for other road users *Activate your right turn signal *Lightly press your brake and reduce your speed *Double-check for other road users *Move to the right of your lane

Bicyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic and as close to the right edge of the road as possible. Bicyclists should ride in a straight line and be especially careful when cars are parked on the right side of the road. On one-way roads, bicyclists may ride near the left edge of the road. In general, bicyclists travelling along the right edge of the lane should share the lane with a car when it can be done so safely.

Bicyclists may leave the edge of the roadway and use a full lane of traffic when: ◦Overtaking and passing a vehicle moving in the same direction ◦Avoiding unsafe roadway conditions such as pedestrians, potholes, debris, or stopped or moving vehicles ◦Riding on a roadway with lanes too narrow to be shared safely ◦Preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a driveway When making a left turn, bicyclists should use the same path as a driver would use.

To make a right turn: *Make sure that the front of your car has passed the curve in the curb *Check the area of the road where you are planning to turn *Remove your foot from the brake *Enter the intersection slowly and steer your car around the corner *As you turn, stay as close as possible to the right edge of the road *Position yourself in the right lane *Straighten your steering wheel and accelerate gently until you reach normal speed *Check your mirrors *Deactivate your turn signal if it is still activated

Bicyclists will often ride along the right side of the road, and on some roadways, the rightmost lane will be reserved for bicyclists. If the lane is reserved for bicyclists, it will be marked. Always check for bicyclists before making a right turn. If you're turning right from a road with a bicycle lane, enter the bike lane no more than 200 ft from the turn. Check to make sure that the lane is not currently being used by a bicyclist whose riding might be interrupted by your maneuver.

Crossbuck Signs A Crossbuck sign consists of pair of crossed rectangular signs depicting the words "Railroad Crossing". These special regulatory signs are posted at railroad crossings to indicate that drivers must proceed with caution only after checking for oncoming trains.

Black and white regulatory signs typically use words or symbols with an obvious meaning to communicate their intention to drivers. Even if you encounter a regulatory sign you are unfamiliar with, you should be able to determine its meaning if you are familiar with the principles discussed in this section. The most important thing to remember about regulatory signs is that you must obey them. Take a look at more regulatory signs by clicking here.

After alcohol is consumed, it's absorbed into the bloodstream and circulated around the body. At any given time after consuming alcohol, a person's BAC depends on a number of factors. Weight affects BAC because of differences in body fluid levels. Heavier bodies contain more fluids than lighter bodies, so the same amount of alcohol will produce a lower concentration in heavier people.

Body fat contains far less water than muscle tissue, bones, and many other tissues. All other factors being equal, a person with higher body fat percentage will absorb alcohol faster. Gender also influences BAC. Women's bodies tend to contain proportionally less water than men's bodies, causing their BAC to increase more than men's after consuming the same amount of alcohol.

Before discussing collision types and collision avoidance, it will be helpful for you to recall the physics of car crashes. You don't need to calculate anything, but if you have an intuitive understanding of the basic relationships in play during a collision, it will be easier for you to make decisions that positively affect the outcome.

Both you and your car have momentum, and a tendency to maintain it, called inertia. When the car strikes an object, your body will keep moving until something stops it. If you're wearing your seat belt, it holds on to your body, stopping you at the same rate as the car. But if you're not wearing your seat belt, something else will have to stop your body. This means crashing into the dashboard, the windshield, maybe even the pavement after exiting the windshield—and any of these impacts can be deadly.

When driving through a desert, wear sunglasses, drink plenty of water, and make frequent stops. Pay attention to how you feel, keeping the possibility of heatstroke, dehydration, and exhaustion in mind. If you stop your car in hot weather, roll your windows down—their glass turns the inside of your vehicle into a greenhouse, raising temperatures dramatically.

Bright light can be completely blinding, and can strike at any moment: A curve in the road brings the sun into view, blinding you. A passing car reflects sunlight directly into your eyes. An oncoming driver has his or her high-beams on in the rain, forcing you to narrow your eyes. You emerge from a dim tunnel into bright daylight, and your eyes take a few painful seconds to adjust.

Drug use and abuse can be extremely damaging to the human body. Most people already know they may suffer the following consequences of drug abuse, but many people disregard them: Addiction and dependence Suffering or causing injury or death Criminal convictions and loss of license Financial losses Insurance rate increase Loss of career opportunity Personal costs Bad grades Unhealthy weight gain or weight loss

But why? The answer is complicated and not fully understood, but we can point to a number of factors that increase the prevalence of drug abuse. One of these factors is confusion regarding the line between safe and unsafe drug use. Almost every single person takes some form of drug every day, from coffee and tobacco to alcohol, pain relievers, and cough syrup. For almost any mental or physiological problem, a drug exists that is claimed to solve it. Not everyone is informed and patient enough to know how to safely use medicines and other drugs. In addition, many people take the legality of certain drugs to mean that all drugs must be safe to use. The reality, however, is that every drug can be deadly.

The success of the Ford company and its main competitor, General Motors (which became the world's largest automobile manufacturer) would not have been possible if there had not been concurrent improvements to the nation's roads. In the 1890s, a system of roads began to be built primarily for wagons, coaches, and bicycles. As cars grew in popularity, the U.S. Congress began to pass a series of Federal Aid Road Acts to fund road improvements in the states. By the 1950s, these acts had provided for the creation of a national Highway Transportation System.

By 1930, most of the technologies still used in cars today had been invented, including the electric ignition, multi-valve engines, steering wheels, four-wheel drive, drum brakes, and transmission systems. American manufacturers dominated the automobile industry until the 1970s, when they began to be challenged by the growing sales of Japanese and German cars. Today, while China has become the world's leading producer of automobiles, American manufacturers remain on the cutting edge of automotive innovation.

Even the best drivers can experience an equipment failure or other emergency while driving. If you have to make an emergency stop on the expressway: -Warn drivers behind you by tapping the brake pedal. -Turn on your hazard lights as soon as possible. -Look in your rearview mirror before applying the brakes. -Move to the shoulder of the road as quickly and safely as possible. Avoid the shoulder by the center divider, if possible. -Once you're on the shoulder, come to a full stop. Remember that it is extremely dangerous to stop or back up on the expressway itself.

By Junior Kissi 2/07/2016

Protect your car by making sure you properly turn off the engine. A variety of systems are used to ensure that a car is shut down and the steering wheel is locked when you remove your key: ◦Transmission park system: shift the transmission to park, turn the key to LOCK, and remove it. ◦Two-hand button system: press the button below the steering column, then turn the key to LOCK and remove it ◦Lever system: press the lever near the ignition switch, turn the key to LOCK, and remove it. ◦One-hand button system: press the button near the ignition switch, turn the key to LOCK, and remove it. ◦Push-in system: turn the key to OFF, then push it in, turn it to LOCK, and remove it. ◦Turn-and-remove system: turn the key to LOCK and remove it.

By Junior Kissi 2/3/2016

Never assume that others will signal their intentions properly or notice your attempts to communicate. ◦A distracted driver or pedestrian who has improperly entered a shared part of the roadway may suddenly honk or shout to catch your attention. ◦Even though a car's turn signal may be activated, the driver won't necessarily turn as expected. ◦Making eye contact is not always a guarantee that you understand each other's intentions. ◦Some people may misuse hand signals. These actions may cause problems on the road unless you are prepared and have enough space and time to react safely. Remember to respond courteously.

By Junior Kissi 2/4/2016

To decrease the effects of high altitudes: -Drink two to three times more fluid than usual (water and juices are best). -Avoid alcohol and minimize the amount of caffeine you consume. -Decrease your salt intake. -Take frequent small meal breaks, favoring foods that are high in carbohydrates, low in fat, and low in protein.

By Junior Kissi 7/02/2016

When parking on the side of the road, you must park parallel to the curb and within 18 inches of it, unless signs or road markings indicate otherwise.

By choosing a parking spot wisely, you can make sure not only that your car and other drivers are safe while you are away, but also that you will have an easy time leaving the parking space when you need to. When parking, you should look for spaces that are: *Well-lit *Near the exit of the parking area *Easy to enter and leave *Easy to find when you return (parking near a distinctive feature or landmark is a good way to remember the location of your car) *Not so close to other cars that you and the other drivers will have difficulty opening a door or maneuvering safely *Not near an obstruction that will block your view when leaving the space

Always keep your eyes moving. In addition to the near and far visual ranges in front of you, you must also remember to scan your mirrors, your blind spots, and the areas to the side of your car continually. This will let you know if a vehicle is tailgating you or approaching too quickly.

By developing and continually performing a comprehensive search pattern, you can make sure that you give equal attention to the different areas of the roadway. An example of a scanning pattern you might use: ◦Look to the target area range 20-30 seconds ahead of you. ◦Search the operating zones in the secondary range. ◦Scan nearby driveways and intersections for potential conflicts. ◦Check your rearview mirror. ◦Evaluate the immediate range in front of your car. ◦Check your side mirrors and blind spots ◦Check the secondary and immediate ranges again. ◦Check your rearview mirror again. ◦Check your instrument panel and gauges. Keep in mind that your attention should never be focused on any one area for more than a second.

Remember, while your license is provisional, you may not drive unsupervised at night. *During Phase One of the GDL program, you must complete at least 10 hours of night driving while supervised by a parent or guardian. *During Phase Two, you may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. except to attend work or a school-related activity, or in an emergency.

By law, you must drive with your headlights on from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, or any time you cannot see people or other vehicles clearly from a distance of 1000 ft. Don't wait until it gets too dark! If it's getting harder to see, you should activate your headlights: you'll see more of the road and make it easier for others to see you. Avoid looking directly at another car's headlights. The glare could cause temporary blindness, leaving you vulnerable to hazards on the road.

Drivers of all ages expose themselves to risk when operating a vehicle. Because of their inexperience, however, teenage drivers face an even bigger set of risks. Young drivers are: More willing to take risks Less aware of the consequences of their actions More likely to think a situation is less dangerous than it is Less able to respond to traffic hazards quickly More likely to drive recklessly due to peer pressure

By necessity, young drivers don't have the behind-the-wheel experience necessary to understand the dynamics associated with driving a motor vehicle. This lack of experience and knowledge can result in poor decision-making and create dangerous situations on the road. Because they don't have much firsthand experience driving at night, in inclement weather, on hills or curves, and through intersections and rural environments, young drivers frequently don't realize why such situations are so dangerous.

By practicing space management, you will be able to anticipate dangerous situations and safely manage them when they are unavoidable. With SEE IT, you will be prepared to handle dangers on the road by: ◦Searching the road for potential risks and identifying the relative danger associated with each ◦Evaluating the options available to you and deciding how you should maneuver in response ◦Executing the speed and position adjustments that will allow you to proceed as safely as possible

By remembering to perform a few simple tasks, such as watching the roadway for changes, adjusting the speed and position of your vehicle to gain more control over your road space, and communicating effectively with other roadway users, you can avoid many risky situations and eliminate the need to take last-minute evasive actions. To be a safe driver, you must actively seek out information about the future, factoring in both your own intended path of travel and all the possible actions of your fellow drivers.

-Large vehicles can block your vision -The effect of being distracted (e.g., by disabled vehicles or billboards) is amplified -Wind and other weather conditions become more dangerous -Wet surfaces can result in hydroplaning -The frequency of entrance and exit ramps in cities can pose hazards

Careful observation of signs, signals, and roadway markings is critical when traffic is moving at high speeds. -Speed limit signs and laws are easy to understand, yet speeding violations represent a disproportionately large percentage of total citations. Watch for minimum speed limit signs, as driving too slowly can be especially dangerous on an expressway. -Green guide signs indicate route directions and distances to specified destinations. Within a mile of an exit, three signs will be posted so drivers wishing to exit will have enough time to prepare. -Mile markers help you keep track of the distance travelled and identify when you're nearing your destination.

The United States has been fundamentally transformed by the coming of cars. Many cultural shifts have been made possible by the automobile, including: Increased mobility of the US population Accelerated development of remote areas Major population growth in urban areas and the explosion of suburbs Increased access to goods and services, and to better education and health care The replacement of brick streets with asphalt roads

Cars occupy a special place in the American imagination. Cars have long been linked with status, power, and physical and social freedom. Because of these associations, they have exerted a strong pull on young people since the 1950s. Moreover, the automobile industry has also been a powerful force driving the American economy. Countless people work for automobile manufacturers directly, or for the industry indirectly by developing new technologies, producing individual parts, repairing existing cars, and even producing laws to govern automobile use.

You should always use your right foot to operate the accelerator pedal as well as the brake pedal. This will prevent you from trying to push down on both pedals at the same time, which could cause permanent damage to your car. As you drive, keep the heel of your right foot on the floor of the car and apply pressure to the appropriate pedal with the ball of your foot and your toes. This technique will allow you to switch rapidly between pedals and give you finer control over the amount of pressure you apply

Cars with a standard transmission have a clutch pedal located to the left of the brake pedal. Apply pressure to the clutch pedal with your left foot to disengage the engine from the transmission so you can shift gears. On most cars with a standard transmission, you must fully depress the clutch pedal to start the engine.

In urban and residential areas, you'll encounter several types of lanes and roadways designed to facilitate traffic flow that are governed by special rules and which must be used with caution. These include: -Center left turn lanes -One-way streets -Traffic circles -Reversible lanes

Center Left Turn Lane Sometimes, the lane in the middle of the roadway will be marked on both sides by a broken yellow line inside a solid yellow line. These lanes are designated for making left turns only, and may be used by drivers travelling in either direction. These lanes are known as Center Left Turn Lanes, and may be referred to on signs as Two-Way Turn Lanes. They are typically marked with pairs of turn arrows pointing in both directions.

In addition, remember that special requirements apply when sharing the road with a school bus. Most importantly, you must stop at least 20 ft from a school bus that is letting passengers on or off or preparing to do so. Review the rules for sharing the road with school buses here. Always watch for children when driving near a school bus.

Certain rules apply to all trucks carrying cargo or pulling a trailer, regardless of whether it is a commercial truck or standard passenger truck. ◦Vehicles may only tow a trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer when it is attached by an approved safety chain. ◦The drawbar, chain, rope, or cable used to attach a trailer to a vehicle must not be longer than 15 ft. ◦When one of these connections is used, a white flag that is 12 inches square or larger must be mounted on the trailer.

The human eye is poorly suited to night vision, suffering impairments in depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision. Judging speed and distance based on visual information is also more difficult in the dark. In addition, features of the driving environment are more difficult to discern. You'll have trouble seeing the contours of the road, lane lines, barriers, traffic signs, obstacles on the road, pedestrians, and other vehicles. Even headlights, necessary in dim or dark conditions, can be blinding and disorienting.

Changes in traffic and lighting conditions also play an important role in altering levels of danger at night. The presence of fewer drivers, pedestrians, and sometimes police may make you feel like you no longer need to follow all the rules of the road. Despite this apparent increase in safety, more than half of all fatal traffic collisions occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. In addition, the darkness of night, and even the dimness of dusk and dawn, all can greatly reduce your ability to properly see the road and its users.

Sometimes the situation is more complicated. For instance, after your car's right wheels have driven off the road, you may realize that there is an obstruction like a pole, traffic sign, or guardrail ahead of you on the shoulder. These circumstances require you to make your off-road recovery quickly. In the limited time available to you, you won't be able to slow down or look for an ideal spot to re-enter the roadway.

Check traffic and signal. If you don't think you will have enough room in time, use your horn to let other drivers know that you're coming. Sharply steer left while gripping the steering wheel firmly. The moment your right front wheel touches the edge of the road, counter-steer right. Your success (and survival) in such a critical situation depends on you remaining in control of the steering.

Children under 20 lbs should be placed in an Infant Car Bed or Rear-Facing Infant Seat securely fastened in the back of the car according to the manufacturer's directions. Infants in a rear-facing seat should never be placed in front of an active air bag. While it is sometimes hard for parents to leave their children in the back seat facing the rear of the car, when checking on a child a driver must use his or her rearview mirror rather than turn around. Drivers put themselves and their children at risk whenever they look away from the road

Children between 20 lbs and 40 lbs should be placed in a Toddler Seat placed in the back of the vehicle. These forward-facing restraints are designed to make sure a child's body is safely secured and protected in the event of a collision. Parents should converse with children in these seats without taking their eyes off the road and pull over and park for more direct interactions. While toddlers tend to demand more attention from their parents, as they mature they will become more accustomed to riding in the back seat.

Entering an Expressway When entering an expressway, yield to vehicles already on it. Activate your turn signal to indicate your intention to merge. This traffic will be moving more rapidly than you. When there is a clear space, speed up to enter the expressway and merge with traffic.

Choose your lane on the expressway according to how fast you wish to travel: *Drive in the right lane only if you plan to drive at the minimum speed limit or slower than the flow of traffic. *Generally, you should only use this lane when you are joining or exiting expressway traffic. If you wish to go faster, drive in the center or left lanes.

When you apply for your drivers license, you'll be asked to identify any permanent or ongoing physical or mental conditions which may interfere with your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Individuals with impairments must provide a statement from a physician indicating that they are physically and mentally capable of driving safely. If you have a permanent disability or medical condition that may affect your driving, consult your physician about whether or not you should drive. Be sure to identify any medical conditions you have when you apply for a license. If you obtain a license without providing this information, it may be revoked and you may face significant fines and other penalties.

Chronic health conditions that may prevent an individual from obtaining a drivers license include: Cerebral palsy Epilepsy Paralysis Dementia Acute diabetes Heart problems Respiratory problems Vascular problems that cause inadequate blood flow Any condition reported by a physician that makes a person unfit to drive

Your body begins to accumulate a need to sleep from the moment you wake up. Over the course of the day, your body's wakefulness decreases and your need for sleep increases, eventually reaching the point where it becomes difficult to stay awake. If you don't get enough sleep in one night to make up for the sleep debt you built up over the course of the previous day, that debt will continue to accumulate. As your sleep debt grows, you'll find it harder to think, maintain a positive attitude, and stay awake throughout the day. You will continue to be affected until you make up for your lost sleep.

Circadian Rhythms Over the course of a 24-hour period, people naturally experience fluctuations in their body temperature, hormone levels, and sleepiness, among other things. The timing of these fluctuations is governed by the body's circadian rhythms. Your circadian rhythms cause the normal ebb and flow of wakefulness and sleepiness you experience every day. While the exact time that you'll feel tired varies, in general, you'll feel most inclined to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m., and between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's 2010 World Drug Report, North America ranks above all other regions in annual cocaine use prevalence. The report found that 2% of people in North America age 15 to 64 had used cocaine at least once in the past year. A schedule II drug, cocaine is deadly and illegal. With the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, the penalties for possession of cocaine now include a mandatory five-year minimum prison sentence for the possession of 28 grams of crack cocaine. In addition, there is a mandatory five-year minimum prison sentence for the possession of 500 grams of powder cocaine. Possession of greater amounts carries larger mandatory minimum prison sentences.

Cocaine comes from the coca plant and is known by names such as 'crack,' 'coke,' and 'blow.' It is most commonly snorted in the form of a powder, but is also sometimes rubbed on the gums, smoked, or injected. The short-term effects of cocaine include increased alertness, body temperature, heart rate, and talkativeness. They may also advance to twitching, tremors, irritability, panic, seizure, stroke, heart attack, coma, and death.

Numerous chemicals not intended for human consumption can be abused as inhalants. Solvents: paint thinners, lighter fluid, felt-tip marker fluid, and glue Aerosols: spray paints, hair sprays, and computer cleaning sprays Gases: butane, propane, ether, and whipped cream spray bottle gases Nitrites: amyl nitrite and nitrous oxide Inhaling one of these drugs can kill you in a matter of minutes.

Combining drugs can be extremely dangerous. For example, taking one dose each of two different depressants can have a much higher risk of death than taking two doses of just one depressant. Drugs can interact in other ways, too. One drug may increase blood flow, causing another drug to be delivered to the brain faster than expected. Or, one drug may slow down the liver's ability to break down another drug, causing it to stay in the bloodstream longer.

As we discussed in the last unit, Complex Risk Environments are places where traffic flow and volume can be heavy and unpredictable. Because of the need to deal with so many other road users, drivers can have a difficult time determining right-of-way and can be easily distracted by the amount of activity on the road. Because of the added difficulties associated with these driving environments, it's especially important that you drive defensively by paying attention to the roadway and anticipating potential driving risks.

Complex risk environments include intersections, multi-lane roads, and major expressways where speeds of up to 75 mph are permitted. In these environments, there is a constant need to monitor and communicate and deal with other road users and to split your attention between different driving tasks and the activity on the roadway. Even small driving errors can have large consequences, as any obstruction or interruption can affect dozens of drivers.

For the most part, driving makes use of mental skills rather than physical skills. Indeed, because many vehicles use power steering or power brakes that respond to gentler physical input, it can be easy to forget that driving can be a physically demanding activity. As you gain driving experience, you'll come to have a better sense of the physical capabilities needed to operate a motor vehicle. If you ever feel as though you're not in the condition to handle the physical demands of driving, stay off the road.

Consider some of the physical skills that a driver must possess. Drivers must be: Able to hold their bodies upright and maintain control of the steering wheel Strong enough to apply force to the steering wheel or brakes rapidly to make evasive maneuvers Capable of sitting in the same position for an extended period Limber enough to enter and exit the car, move their necks from side to side, and manipulate the driver controls Free from ailments that may potentially distract them from the driving task

Many factors in our culture conspire to create the impression that people are admirable because they drink, rather than that people are admirable because they're conscientious, responsible, and able to stand up to peer pressure. As a result, you may find it hard to refuse a drink even when you know you should.

Consider some social factors that influence people's opinions of drinking: Movies and advertisements portray alcohol as a vital part of a fun and fantastic lifestyle, while rarely depicting the vomiting, the hangovers, the liver disease, and the consequences of drunk driving that inevitably result from drinking. Drinking may be so common among your friends and family that you feel that drinking is a normal part of life—even if you recognize that those closest to you act more aggressively, more irresponsibly, or more unsafely when they drink. Some people think it's cool to break the rules, even when breaking the rules involves doing something that's obviously harmful and self-destructive.

Once you have these variables, you can calculate the following equation on the back of a napkin: % BAC = ((Alcohol × (8 or 10)) / Weight) - (.015 × Time) Or: Multiply the amount of alcohol consumed by 8 if you are male, and 10 if you are female. Divide this number by your weight: this is your BAC without accounting for metabolism. Next, multiply .015 by the amount of time that has elapsed since your first drink, and subtract this number from the previous. The result is an estimate of your BAC without taking other factors into account.

Consider the following example: beginning at 10:00 p.m., a 120 lb female consumes three standard drinks. 3 × .6 ounces = 1.8 ounces of alcohol consumed Based on her weight and gender, she reaches a peak of .15% BAC. (1.8 ounces × 10) / 120 lbs = .15% BAC At 2:00 a.m., she is stopped by a police officer as she drives home. Over the four hours since she began drinking, she has eliminated .06% BAC. .015% × 4 hours = .06% BAC eliminated The police measures her BAC at .09%, above the legal limit. She's still grossly intoxicated, and is arrested for DUI. .015% - .06% = .09% BAC

Because the SEE IT system relies so heavily on your ability to see the road clearly, you won't be able to manage space effectively when your vision is impaired by alcohol. Every decision you make, including the decision to get behind the wheel, will be based on what you can see, or think you can see, on the road. Yet many of the ways that alcohol affects your vision can be difficult to recognize and you may not even realize that your perceptions are distorted. If you've been drinking, you should assume that your vision has been impaired, no matter how well you think you can see.

Consider the ways that alcohol affects your ability to see the road: The muscles in your eyes control the shape of the lenses to allow you to shift your focus between near and distant objects rapidly. Under the influence of alcohol, these muscles are relaxed, affecting how clearly you can see things and making it more difficult for you to focus on objects, especially at higher speeds. Though they are normally coordinated by the brain, the muscles of each eye work independently. When this muscle coordination is disrupted by alcohol, each eye may be directed at different focal points, resulting in double vision.

To safely share the road with light rail vehicles: ◦Be aware of the routes on which light rail vehicles operate. Maintain a safe distance from an LRV if it shares a street with vehicular traffic. ◦Never attempt to "beat" an LRV to an intersection or make a turn in front of an oncoming LRV. ◦Look both directions for approaching LRVs before you cross LRV tracks. ◦Do not drive, stop, park, or walk on LRV tracks except in designated areas when it is safe.

Construction vehicles are generally large, loud, and slow. The drivers of construction vehicles may have difficulty maneuvering and their vehicles will have significant blind spots. Drivers of these vehicles may not hear other traffic due to the noise produced by their vehicle. Leave extra space around construction vehicles. When driving in work zones, don't stop or maneuver abruptly, because you may be driving in front of a construction vehicle that would find it difficult to respond quickly. You may be instructed to stop suddenly or maneuver abruptly by construction personnel. You are required to follow their instructions.

Police officers, construction workers, and others who must sometimes work near traffic are at a special risk from drunk drivers. Alcohol impairment makes each of the following cases more likely and more fatal: Police offers often have to pull over another vehicle for possible traffic offenses. While walking between vehicles on the side of the road, officers are unprotected and are often struck by other drivers.

Construction workers often must spend several hours a day working on the side of the road. Warning signs are intended to prevent injuries to construction workers, but these warnings are not always seen or heeded. Crossing guards, on-street traffic police, and paramedics also spend time on the roadway as a part of their job. All such workers are at a greater risk of being struck by a vehicle.

Generally speaking, any substance that affects your body's normal functions after being absorbed into your system is considered a drug. Many drugs are used to improve a person's health (these include prescription and over-the-counter drugs), and some are relatively harmless in moderate doses (such as caffeine). However, a number of drugs, mostly illicit, are dangerous and can cause permanent harm to a person's mind and body. And even legal drugs can be dangerous when consumed improperly or to excess.

Consuming too much of any drug can be fatal. Each drug has a minimum dosage (under which there will be no effects), an effective dosage (which will provide the greatest benefit), and a lethal dosage (which is the amount that must be consumed to be fatal). With habitual use, people can become accustomed to a drug and require a higher dose to achieve the same effect, leading them to consume increasingly unhealthy amounts. In addition, the effects of different drugs consumed in combination can amplify their effects in unpredictable ways.

U.S. Routes are indicated with either a white shield-shaped sign or a white shield symbol on a square black background. Unlike interstates, which can only be entered and exited at designated access areas, U.S. routes intersect with other roads and are controlled by road signs and traffic signals.

County routes and other local highways will be indicated with other designs. For instance, blue pentagons with yellow text are used to mark county routes, while brown trapezoids with white text are used to mark forest routes. As depicted in this image, Texas farm roads are indicated with the route number inside a white silhouette of Texas on a black sign.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has identified six things all drivers need to do in order to safely share the road with others, known as the Keys to Safe Driving: ◦Good vision: A driver must be able to clearly see what is happening on the road and identify situations or other users likely to increase risk. Always drive with corrective lenses if you need them to see clearly. ◦Physical fitness: You must be physically and mentally capable of operating your vehicle and performing evasive maneuvers when necessary.

Courtesy: Courtesy is contagious (and so is recklessness)! By driving respectfully, you improve your own safety and set a good example for others. ◦Respect for traffic laws: By consistently following traffic laws, you will drive properly and others will be able to anticipate your actions.

Learn to drive defensively. Defensive Driving is a driving strategy that ensures you'll be prepared to respond to any dangerous or unexpected situation on the road. When playing defense in football, your goal is to prevent the other team from scoring any points. When driving defensively, your goal is to prevent other drivers (and dangerous road and weather conditions) from putting you in a dangerous situation.

Defensive drivers: ◦Take responsibility for their own safety ◦Understand that they have a considerable amount of power when it comes to avoiding collisions ◦Scan the road constantly to spot potential hazards ◦Act immediately upon noticing a potential threat ◦Remain aware of activity in front of, behind, and to the sides of their cars ◦Avoid driving while fatigued, emotionally distressed, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol

When a driver is involved in a collision where someone dies or is seriously injured, the law requires that a blood test is administered by authorized medical personnel—even if the driver refuses. The arresting officer may use reasonable force to enable the test to be administered in such a case. Blood may be drawn if the person is unconscious and cannot refuse a test. The results can be legally used as evidence.

DUI and DWI penalties will be covered in more depth in a later section, but for now, understand the scope of the penalties: Fines range from $500 to $10,000. Community service of up to 60 hours may be required. Your drivers license may be suspended for up to two years, and you may have to wait an additional 120 days before becoming eligible to apply for an occupational license. You may face a prison term of up to 10 years. These legal penalties should discourage you from driving with alcohol in your bloodstream. However, they aren't the only penalties a drunk driver will be subject to. Employers, schools, family members, and insurance companies may also punish you for driving under the influence.

DWI, 1st offense: Class B Misdemeanor Punishable with a fine of up to $2,000, a jail sentence between 72 hours and 180 days, and a 90- to 365-day license suspension DWI, 2nd offense: Class A Misdemeanor Punishable with a fine of up to $4,000, a jail sentence between 30 days and 1 year, and a 180-day to 2-year license suspension DWI, 3rd offense: 3rd Degree Felony Punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail sentence between 2 and 10 years, and a 180-day to 2-year license suspension A driver's fourth and all subsequent DUI offenses will be punished at this level.

DWI—With child passenger under age 15: State Jail Felony Punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail sentence between 180 days and 2 years, and possible license suspension Intoxication Assault: 3rd Degree Felony Punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail sentence between 2 and 10 years, and a 90-day to one-year license suspension Intoxication Manslaughter: 2nd Degree Felony Punishable with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail sentence between 2 and 20 years, and a 180-day to 2-year license suspension

As you scan the road and observe the actions of others, watch for drivers acting aggressively and likely to endanger you. If you don't pay attention, you won't be able to protect yourself. Remember, any driver you see committing two or more violations likely to result in a collision, or one violation that requires an immediate defensive action from another driver, is an aggressive driver and should be avoided. Resist the temptation to react to these drivers.

Dangerous driving behaviors that are indicative of aggressive drivers include: Speeding, especially when traffic is slowed Weaving between lanes or changing lanes frequently Suddenly accelerating, braking, or changing lanes, especially when passing another vehicle Failing to signal when turning or changing lanes

Drivers experiencing road rage may: Intentionally hit or appear to hit another vehicle with their own Open a car door to cause an approaching bicyclist to crash into it Exit their vehicle in traffic to threaten another driver Pull close to or cut off another driver Speed up when someone tries to pass Deliberately brake suddenly Tailgate another car These behaviors aren't just dangerous—they're also criminal!

Depending on the disposition of the driver, road rage can take a number of different forms. For example, a driver may: Become verbally abusive, yelling, honking, gesturing, and swearing at others Explode with anger, chasing, blocking, or cutting off another vehicle Quietly seethe or complain to him or herself while rushing or weaving around another driver

emory: Many depressants will reduce your short-term and long-term memory. Attention and focus: Inattention and lack of focus are two of the deadliest aspects of depressant intoxication. Driving safely requires persistent attention and steady focus. Reasoning: Thought processes and reasoning will be much slower under the influence of depressants.

Depression: Depression and sadness are possible effects of many depressants, and these changes in mood can be very dangerous to the driver. Apathy: Depressants can cause apathy, a feeling of detachment from and disinterest in the real world—both the user's life in general and his or her immediate surroundings. A driver high on opium might not quite understand why he or she should even try to avoid hitting a tree at 90 mph. Sleep: Depressants put the user to sleep. Brain and bodily functions slow down as dose increases, eventually causing unconsciousness. Ultimately, after unconsciousness comes death.

The drunk driving reforms you're now familiar with are not just hopeful or theoretical advances. Especially in combination with changing public opinion and awareness of drunk driving, these reforms have had significant, measurable impacts on the prevalence of drunk driving in the United States and Texas. In the United States in 1982, the year the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving was established, 26,173 Americans died in alcohol-related traffic collisions. By 2011, alcohol-related traffic fatalities had decreased by 62%.

Despite a growing population and growing numbers of licensed drivers, the number of people who died in alcohol-related traffic collisions in 2011 was 16,295 fewer than died in 1982. These 9,878 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2011 accounted for 31% of all traffic fatalities, which shows that drunk driving remains a huge public health problem. However, this still represents a severe reduction in the prevalence of drunk driving: in 1982, the proportion of traffic fatalities that were alcohol-related was 60%—twice today's numbers. Between the beginning of grassroots organization against drunk driving and 1986, there was also a significant reduction in the proportion of traffic fatalities that were alcohol-related—from 57% in 1982 to 43% in 1986.

As previously mentioned, alcohol is a sedative, a depressant, and a tranquilizer. However, because the earliest effects of alcohol consumption include poor judgment and decreased inhibition, many drinkers of alcohol perceive that they've been energized or stimulated. Don't be fooled by these effects. Alcohol saps your energy, blocks the free flow of thoughts, and degrades your ability to control your own muscles. Any stimulation felt is illusory, caused by a failure to properly understand the current state of your faculties.

Despite its availability and legality, alcohol is incredibly dangerous. According to the NHTSA, at least one driver registered a BAC of .08% or higher in 40% of all fatal traffic collisions in Texas in 2011. Alcohol also presents a problem outside of the automotive world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 2001 and 2005, an average of 80,374 lives were lost every year due to excessive alcohol use. That's one dead person every six and a half minutes. While 13,819 of these yearly deaths were due to traffic collisions, 66,555 (83%) were due to other acute causes, such as suicide and homicide, or chronic causes, such as liver disease.

Expressways have many advantages, including: -The capacity to carry larger volumes of traffic -The ability to expedite travel -The absence of cross traffic -The use of a barrier to separate opposing lanes of traffic -The fact that pedestrians and bicyclists are prohibited -The use of design elements that help drivers anticipate upcoming conditions and avoid collisions with objects on the roadside

Despite the advantages of expressways, high-speed driving poses complex risks that you need to be aware of: -Braking distances are longer -Your field of vision is narrowed -Highway hypnosis and velocitation often occur -Two vehicles may attempt to move into the same lane simultaneously -Vehicles may drive in a pack or cluster -Speeding may leave you with insufficient following distance

Although drivers of all ages are involved in alcohol-impaired crashes, young drivers are involved at disproportionately high rates. According to the NHTSA, drivers under age 21 accounted for roughly 6% of the population of licensed drivers in 2011. These drivers were highly overrepresented among drivers with a .08% BAC or higher at the time of a fatal collision. Drivers under age 21 accounted for 20% of all alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal collisions. This is more than three times their presence among the overall driving population. In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation reports that in 2011, drivers under age 21 accounted for around 9% of all alcohol-related crashes and nearly 10% of all such crashes that resulted in a fatality.

Despite the fact that drivers age 15 to 20 aren't legally permitted to consume alcohol, they're more likely than any other age group to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of a fatal collision. In addition, traffic collisions of all types are already the leading cause of death among persons age 15 to 20, a fact reported by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. Clearly, both traffic collisions in general, and alcohol-impaired driving in particular, present an immense threat to the health of young people in the United States.

On some highways, mile posts are used to help drivers determine their exact location on the road. These will be posted every mile from the start of the highway. Mile posts can help drivers determine their distance from their destination or identify their location in the event of a breakdown or other emergency.

Destination Signs Green horizontal signs with white text or symbols are posted above and on the sides of highways to direct drivers to their destination. Generally, these signs will list the names and distances to upcoming exits. Junctions with other highways will be indicated with an image of a route sign. Often exits will be numbered so that drivers can identify them immediately. These signs may also indicate specific lanes that must be used to exit the highway.

Cloverleaf Interchange A cloverleaf interchange allows traffic to flow between two crossing expressways without having to stop or turn. It consists of eight ramps (four are looped and four are curved). The ramps require drivers to slow down to a safe speed. Reflector poles posted on the ramps help drivers navigate through the curves.

Diamond Interchange A diamond interchange is used to connect a major expressway with a secondary road with less traffic. Traffic signal lights on the secondary road are often used to control access to the entrance and exit ramps. A typical diamond interchange uses four directional ramps for entering and exiting.

Stimulants A person taking stimulants may do so in an attempt to heighten focus and thought processes. However, focus will be more difficult to sustain, and thought processes will be less predictable and may go off course more easily. Anxiety and panic may develop and influence decision-making. In addition, muscle twitches, itching, and loss of physical coordination will make it more difficult to carry out decisions.

Different drugs affect your judgment in different ways. These will be explained in more detail later. For now, consider a few basic scenarios: Alcohol and Other Depressants Depressants slow down your mental processes and physical coordination. This causes you to be far less capable of judging your current situation and responding to it. This loss of ability includes also the ability to understand your own current mental state. You will haphazardly try to accomplish one thing or another without considering your intoxication.

Traffic volume, personal and professional stress, immature driving attitudes, and the normalization of disrespectful behavior in society have all contributed to making aggressive and violent behavior more common on the road. Remember, emotions can be contagious. The unfortunate fact is, as more drivers act aggressively, others begin to see such behavior as normal and necessary to compete with others on the road.

Different people are provoked by different things. For instance, some people are more likely to drive aggressively in certain conditions (such as rainy weather or at night). Others may overreact when another driver acts in a careless way. While some people are more likely to drive aggressively than others, anyone can become an aggressive driver in the right circumstances. Always remember to monitor your mood: you may become irritated gradually and not realize that you're driving aggressively until it gets you into trouble!

When driving on a two-way road (with only one lane of traffic moving in each direction), you will generally only be able to pass by temporarily entering the left side of the roadway, where traffic is oncoming. Never attempt to pass on the left side of the road if: *Posted signs indicate you are in a "No Passing Zone" The dividing yellow line on your side of the road is solid *Oncoming traffic is too close for you to complete the maneuver safely

Do not pass when you are within 100 ft of an intersection or railroad crossing. Pass only after you and the other driver have cleared the intersection. Avoid passing near curves, hills, bridges, tunnels, overpasses, or other obstructions that limit your view of the road or the amount of space available to pass.

You'll encounter many interesting as you drive that may capture your attention and make you forget to focus on the driving task. Don't become preoccupied looking at: Billboards: While some advertisements may make you think, they won't tell you anything that will help you prevent a collision. Exotic cars: Only pay attention to other cars to the extent necessary to drive safely. Animals: Unless their presence poses a threat to you, don't concern yourself with the activity of animals. Interesting buildings, landmarks, or events: Anything worth your attention is worth taking the time to stop for. People: Even when you're behind the wheel, it's not polite to stare at others.

Don't let yourself get distracted when driving in an unfamiliar place. Use only brief glances to look for a street address. Avoid slowing down until you're nearing your destination. If you miss an address the first time, you'll only need to make a few extra turns to get back to the right place, but if you miss a hazard because you're staring at the side of the road, you won't have a second chance to avoid a collision!

From the moment you begin consuming alcohol, it has a particularly acute effect on your brain. Because a significant amount of blood is pumped through the brain, it is especially affected by alcohol when you have a high BAC. Moreover, because of the high concentration of neurons in the brain, it is extremely sensitive to chemicals like alcohol that affect the central nervous system. Alcohol causes neurons to have more difficulty sending signals, meaning that your mental activity will be greatly diminished by intoxication.

Drinking affects your mental abilities and muscular reactions, making you slow and clumsy: First, your higher learning center will be affected, causing a loss of memory, focus, reason, and judgment. Next, your muscle control will deteriorate as your reflexes and coordination are disrupted. With enough alcohol, your brain will become unable to send signals strong enough to control your vital organs, resulting in your death.

Other Physical Effects Alcohol has a number of other short-term effects on your body: Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach, increasing acidity and potentially causing vomiting. Alcohol impairs the livers ability to filter waste and other toxins while it is processing alcohol, making you more susceptible to illness and disease. Alcohol can cause intense headaches and hangovers that leave you feeling achy, nauseous, and worn out for a day or more.

Drinking too much alcohol will make you sick and cause you to vomit. While vomiting will cause you to expel what you just drank, helping to prevent further intoxication, the alcohol that caused you to be sick in the first place will still be in your bloodstream and waiting to be absorbed into you intestines. Even after you've vomited, the only way to recover from the effects of alcohol is to wait.

On many downhill roadways where trucks' brake systems are put under the most stress, special escape ramps have been built to help prevent serious collisions in the event of brake failure. Most often found on long mountain roads in rural areas and short, steep hills in more developed areas, these ramps consist of steep, gravel- or sand-covered lanes designed to absorb the energy of a runaway truck so it can safely slow down or stop without its brakes. Never park on a runaway ramp or ramp entrance. Not only is this illegal, it is inviting disaster.

Drive with extra caution when driving close to trucks marked with diamond-shaped placards like the ones depicted. These placards indicate that a truck is carrying a dangerous load and they show the nature of the hazardous material being transported. All vehicles displaying these placards must stop before crossing railroad tracks. Make sure you leave plenty of space around a truck marked with hazardous material placards.

Impeding a driver's path is one of the surest ways to aggravate him or her: Don't drive more slowly than cars behind you. Even if you're driving 60 mph in a 60 mph zone, other drivers seeking to travel faster may build up behind you. Move to the side to let others pass, or speed up if it is safe and legal to do so. Don't speed up, slow down, or slam your brakes to prevent someone from passing or entering your lane. Don't slow down immediately after passing another car.

Drivers tend to be especially irritated when others fail to obey traffic control devices, even if they aren't personally endangered by the violation. Don't run red lights or rush through yellow lights. Always come to a full stop at a STOP sign. Don't turn in places where turning is not permitted. Stay inside the lines: don't pass others by crossing double solid yellow lines or change lanes across a solid white lineDon't cut into another driver's lane. Always signal your intentions to change lanes and only move over when it's safe. Don't wait at a green light if it's safe to proceed. However, if there's someone in the intersection or crosswalk, don't proceed even if drivers behind you are honking at you. Don't wait to turn right at a red light if it's safe and legal to turn. Don't stop in the middle of the roadway to talk to a pedestrian or other road user or to ask for directions.

Drunk driving has a devastating social impact. Even if you've never known someone who was killed by a drunk driver, every victim has friends, family, and other community members who care about them. What if a friend of yours died in a drunk driving collision today? How would you feel hearing the news? Would you speak about him or her at the funeral? Would you try to console his or her family? How would you feel hanging out with your other friends, permanently short one member?

Drunk driving fatalities are particularly devastating to families. Think about your own family: do you consider anyone expendable? Even when family tensions are high, the finality of death makes relatives forgive each other. The death of one family member will leave a permanent, painful scar in the memory of all surviving members.

DriversEd.com 24x7 Customer Service Live Chat Feedback Help 1-888-651-AUTO Exit Course Texas 32-Hour Drivers Education Course MODULE: Unit 15: Reducing Risk as a Driver TOPIC: Driving Plan SECTION: Reduce Risk as a Way of Life As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Adopt an appropriate driving attitude in recognition of the significant risks associated with driving Recognize your responsibility to make the driving decisions least likely to endanger yourself and others on the road Understand and avoid the driving practices most likely to result in a collision Acknowledge the influence of inexperience on your driving ability so you can avoid common novice driver errors Realize that reducing risk is a lifelong process that requires you to constantly monitor your own driving habits

DriversEd.com 24x7 Customer Service Live Chat Feedback Help 1-888-651-AUTO Exit Course Texas 32-Hour Drivers Education Course MODULE: Unit 15: Reducing Risk as a Driver TOPIC: Driving Plan SECTION: Reduce Risk as a Way of Life As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Adopt an appropriate driving attitude in recognition of the significant risks associated with driving Recognize your responsibility to make the driving decisions least likely to endanger yourself and others on the road Understand and avoid the driving practices most likely to result in a collision Acknowledge the influence of inexperience on your driving ability so you can avoid common novice driver errors Realize that reducing risk is a lifelong process that requires you to constantly monitor your own driving habits

Not all roads in the highway transportation system are the same. Think about the kinds of roads people drive on: Local roads, including urban and suburban streets, alleys, and farm roads, that are usually relatively narrow, restricted to low speeds, and used to travel to and from homes Arterials, such as avenues, county roads, and highways, that connect local roads together, allowing a greater volume of traffic to travel between different neighborhoods and communities Freeways and expressways, which allow rapid travel between different cities, and which can only be accessed through controlled-access ramps rather than intersections

Driving environments are classified as controlled, low, moderate, or complex risk environments according to such factors as: -The volume of traffic -The number of lanes -The presence of intersections and traffic control devices -The quantity of obstructions and distractions -The design of the road -Abrupt changes in the amount of space available for driving

It's not hard to figure out why drivers can become so angered by another driver's mistakes: traffic violations force them into a situation where they have to act quickly to avoid a collision. When you endanger another driver, don't be surprised if he or she tries to retaliate with aggressive behavior. Remember that other drivers are actual people who may become deeply upset if they feel that their lives are in danger.

Driving in an inattentive or overly intrusive way can also increase other drivers' anxiety. If you're driving in a way that's not immediately dangerous but which makes others overly aware of your presence, they may become more tense and more likely to lash out. An ideal driver is one that other road users are unlikely to notice for more than a moment. If you're not focusing enough on your own driving, or deliberately calling attention to yourself, you may find yourself the subject of unwanted attention.

It's impossible to eat or drink without taking at least one hand off the wheel. Moreover, if you try to eat a food that requires a utensil, there will be no way for you to steer your car safely. You may try to make it easier for yourself by steering with your elbows or by placing your food in your lap, but these strategies will only reduce your control and distract your attention further. Not only does the driver's seat make a poor dining room, but if you try to eat while you're in it, it won't be a good place to control your car, either!

Driving is difficult enough. Unwrapping food, screwing and unscrewing bottle caps, balancing your drink so it doesn't spill, leaning and reaching for food, wiping your mouth, holding a sandwich together, and switching between foods will only make things harder. Moreover, if you try to eat while driving, you may end up gulping down your food. To enjoy your meal, you must be able to focus on the flavors and textures in your mouth, not what's happening on the road ahead. What's the point of risking your life for a meal you won't even be able to savor?

Driving off the Road *Your car's tires may drive off the pavement if you have to move over to avoid a bad driver or dangerous situation or if you lose control of your car temporarily. If you drive off the pavement: *Don't slam the brakes. Slow your car by taking your foot off the accelerator. Slow down and carefully drive back onto the pavement after checking for traffic. Steering sharply back onto the roadway may cause your car to flip over or spin out of control.

Driving on a Steep Hill Drive in a low gear when driving on a hill so you can prevent your vehicle from moving too fast for you to control it. Keep your foot over the brake pedal so you can slow it down more if necessary. This technique is known as cover braking, and it is useful whenever you may need to brake suddenly. It is illegal to coast down a hill by putting your car in neutral or taking it out of gear.

In 2011, there were 9,878 fatalities in alcohol-impaired* traffic collisions. These accounted for 31% of all traffic fatalities nationwide. The same year, Texas suffered 1,213 alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities—40% of its total. That's 439 more fatalities than the next-highest state, California, which has a larger population than Texas. In the ten years from 2002 to 2011, the United States saw 122,265 people die in alcohol-impaired traffic collisions. * "Alcohol-impaired" means that at least one driver registered a BAC of .08% or more.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs is extremely dangerous. Judgment, vision, hearing, attention, and memory are all greatly impaired. Alcohol and other drugs also damage your physical coordination. You may have trouble standing upright, let alone making fine movements to steer a 3,000-lb vehicle. Next, we'll explain in detail the laws governing impaired driving, the consequences of impaired driving collisions, and how to stay safe from impaired drivers on the road.

Finally, young drivers often subject themselves to more distractions than other drivers. These include cell phones, music, friends, and even mental distractions such as anxiety. Distractions take your hands off the steering wheel, your eyes off the road, and your mind off the driving task. Avoid all distractions not necessary to the driving task. Listen to music only at a level that allows you to hear the noises of the road, and urge your passengers to help you maintain a calm driving environment. Set mental distractions aside, and don't drive if you can't focus. Above all, never use your cell phone while driving.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs will have severe consequences for you personally. While impaired, you are much more likely to wreck your car and die. If you wreck and survive, you may have to live with brain damage or paralysis for the rest of your life. In addition, you may have to live with the guilt of having killed another human being.

A passenger can distract you by: Yelling or talking loudly, drowning out road noise and increasing your level of anxiety Arguing with you, bringing up a personal problem, or trying to deal with an emotional matter, diverting your attention from driving Eating while you're hungry, making it hard for you to concentrate Pointing out something on the side of the road that would require you to take your eyes off the roadway Partially hanging out the window or yelling at people outside your car Unexpectedly adjusting your stereo or other vehicle controls Second guessing your decisions or offering commentary on your driving

Driving with passengers is especially dangerous for teens. Studies have shown that the greater number of similarly-aged passengers in a car, the more likely a collision is to occur. Indeed, the NHTSA has suggested that passengers only substantially increase the risk of a collision for drivers under 18. Remember, you may not drive with more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member until you turn 18 or have held your provisional Texas drivers license for at least 12 months without a violation, whichever comes first.

Drug Administration: Inhalation Another method of drug administration is inhalation. When a person inhales a drug, smoke or vapors of the substance are drawn into the lungs. The drug's chemicals are then absorbed into the bloodstream through the pulmonary alveoli. Along with the effect of the drug itself, inhalation can cause life-threatening damage to the respiratory system. Those who inhale drugs like marijuana and tobacco risk developing throat and lung cancer, in addition to reducing their ability to receive oxygen from the air they breathe.

Drug Administration: Absorption The last method of drug administration we will discuss is direct absorption. Methods include: Intranasal: through mucous membranes in the nose Oral: through the lining of the mouth Rectal: through the lining of the rectum and large intestine Transdermal: through the skin

Drug Administration: Ingestion Many drugs are ingested through the mouth. Drugs taken by ingestion include liquids like coffee, beer, and cough syrup, as well as solids like Tylenol pills, ecstasy pills, and peyote buttons. When you swallow a drug, it immediately begins to be absorbed through the lining of your mouth. The drug's chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream starting in the stomach, but continuing into the intestines. Once in your bloodstream, the chemicals are carried throughout your body to your organs.

Drug Administration: Injection Some drugs are taken by injection, bypassing the digestive system and entering the bloodstream directly. These drugs include heroin, morphine, and methamphetamine. Injection is especially dangerous: not only will veins collapse after repeated puncturing, but even a single injection can transmit devastating diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. In addition, the increased potency of drugs entering the bloodstream directly greatly increases the chances of a lethal overdose.

Cocaine, PCP, tobacco snuff, chewing tobacco, and many other drugs can be administered through direct absorption. The principle danger of direct absorption is cancer of the affected region, but there are specific dangers related to each method. Oral and transdermal absorption can result in a strong discoloration of the teeth and skin, while the specific dangers of intranasal absorption, or snorting, include destruction of the nasal septum—the cartilage that separates the left and right nostrils—and permanent loss of sense of smell. Finally, rectal absorption can cause increased risk of overdose, since the large intestine is much more efficient than the stomach at pulling chemicals into the bloodstream.

Drugs are removed from the body in a similar manner to the expulsion of food and drink—the liver and kidneys filter drugs out of the bloodstream and convert them to inactive chemicals, while the skin, lungs, and digestive system excrete them through sweat, exhaled breath, and other means. The liver metabolizes, or breaks down, complex molecules into simpler parts and allows them to be carried out of the body as waste. The chemicals found in drugs are more complicated and rare than what the liver is used to processing—the nutrients found in food. As a result, the liver has to repeat its process multiple times before the drug fully leaves the body. As long as any molecules of the drug remain in the bloodstream, they are carried to the body's brain and other organs and act on them.

Rates of alcohol elimination vary depending on an individual's physiology and drinking patterns. Inexperienced drinkers usually have lower rates of alcohol elimination than moderate drinkers, while heavy drinkers have the highest rates. Factors influencing the rate of elimination also include tolerance, rate of consumption, and gender. At an elimination rate of .015% BAC per hour: It takes 3.3 hours to eliminate .05% BAC. It takes 5.3 hours to eliminate .08% BAC. It takes 6.7 hours to eliminate .10% BAC. It takes 10 hours to eliminate .15% BAC.

Drugs can enter the body in several ways, each of which has important differences in absorption rate and side effects. Methods of administration include: Ingestion, or oral administration Injection into muscle or the bloodstream Inhalation into the lungs Absorption—direct absorption through the skin, nasal cavity, lining of the mouth or rectum, or eyes

There are two different types of brakes used in service brake systems: disc brakes and drum brakes. Both types of brakes rely on friction to slow the spinning of the wheels by converting the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle into heat. For a long time, vehicles used drum brakes alone. However, in the 1970s, discs brakes were introduced and soon became standard on the front wheels of all cars, where most of the stopping power is needed. Drum brakes are still used on the rear wheels of most cars, although more and more cars are using disc brakes on the rear wheels as well.

Drum brakes consist of a brake drum that rotates along with the wheel. Inside of each brake drum, there are a set of brake shoes. When the brake pedal is pressed, the brake shoes press against the inside wall of the brake drum, slowing the spinning of the wheel. Drum brakes tend to be less effective in situations that subject the brakes to high stress because the heat created by the action of the brakes tends to be trapped inside the brake drum. Once the brakes are saturated with heat, they become unable to slow the car any further.

Many drivers consider aggressive driving to be the most serious safety issue they face on the road. AAA has suggested that 40% of people think aggressive driving is the most dangerous behavior on the road, while only 33% think that driving under the influence is the most dangerous. The majority of aggressive drivers are male and between 18 and 26 years old. Aggressive drivers involved in collisions are frequently experiencing personal problems at the time of the crash.

Due to the risks associated with aggressive driving, anyone caught driving in an aggressive way can have their driving privilege suspended or revoked for a long time. Depending on the severity of the offense, aggressive drivers may also face large fines and other penalties. Drivers who commit road rage on another motor vehicle, a bicyclist, or a pedestrian are guilty of criminal assault and may receive an extended jail sentence.

Accelerating and stopping take significantly longer for truck drivers. To get up to highway speeds, truck drivers have to shift through as many as 15 gears. To stop, truck drivers must use air brakes that take longer to engage. A tractor-trailer may take 400 ft to stop—longer than the length of a football field. Never act in a way that would force a truck driver to make evasive maneuvers. If you cut off a truck to reach an exit or turn or try to beat a truck to a construction zone, the driver may not be able to stop in time.

Due to their weight, large vehicles move slower when travelling uphill and faster when travelling downhill. Drive cautiously when a truck is following you as you travel downhill. The truck's brakes may overheat, making the driver unable to slow down. If the truck seems to be approaching rapidly or if you see white smoke billowing from the truck, move out of the truck's way and allow it to pass.

The same rules that apply to cell phones and portable electronic devices apply to laptops, computers, and any other gadget that would divert your attention from the road ahead. As cell phones become more like computers, they represent an even greater potential for distraction. The road is the wrong place for playing games, checking the internet, or finishing your homework on a phone or computer. If you have to look up an address or some other information, pull over first!

Even devices in your car can be dangerously distracting. These include: Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) systems, which should be set before you start your engine so you don't have to move your eyes or hands while you're driving Vehicle devices, including temperature controls, seat and mirror adjustments, and the dashboard display, which should be used only when your car is not in motion In-car video players, which should be visible and audible only to your passengers To use these devices, you'll have to divert your hands, your eyes, or your mind from driving.

Each of the following can influence how you drive: A parent may tend to get frustrated on the road, take his or her aggression out on other drivers, or fail to devote his or her attention to the driving task. Your peers may drive recklessly, show off to their friends, or simply have immature driving habits. Depictions of driving in the media may make risky driving behaviors look less dangerous than they really are and promote a desire to look "cool" while driving. As a result of these influences, you may already feel that certain behaviors are normal and proper, even if you've been taught otherwise. You must learn to counter these influences and adopt an appropriate driving attitude.q

During your behind-the-wheel lessons, practice commentary driving with your instructor by discussing what you see, what you're thinking, and what you're planning to do as you drive. A professional instructor can identify any dangerous attitudes or poor habits you have and help you develop safe ones to replace them. If you rely solely on your parents and peers to teach you to drive, you may pick up some of their bad habits without even realizing it. While practice is important, if you're not careful it can just as easily reinforce bad habits as good ones!

Whenever you think there's a chance that you may need to brake soon, take your foot off the accelerator and place it over the brake pedal, without pressing down on the pedal. Known as Cover Braking, this technique will allow you to bring your vehicle to a stop or return to cruising speed with equal ease, depending on how the situation unfolds. It also mentally prepares you to brake if necessary, so your reaction time will be reduced.

EXTRA INFO : Covering the Brake Covering the brake involves taking your right foot off the accelerator and holding it over the brake pedal. Your foot should hover over the pedal and not rest on it in any way. This technique provides a smooth transition from acceleration to braking and is effective for slowing in shortened stopping distances.

Drugs in different schedules carry different consequences when a person is charged with their manufacture, possession, or sale. They are also subject to different levels of scrutiny and control in the medical and manufacturing sectors. For example, pharmacies in Texas are required to transmit prescription information to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). This enables the DPS to more quickly identify inappropriate dispensing or accumulation of drugs. Finally, note that although alcohol and tobacco are not placed in any of the five schedules, they are still highly addictive and deadly when used chronically or abused.

Earlier, we discussed the effects of stimulants. Recall that stimulants speed up, increase, or heighten bodily functions. This class of drugs includes nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines. Common side effects include anxiety, overexcitement, inability to focus, poor coordination, shaking, and a false sense of well-being. In the following slides, we'll provide more detail on the use and abuse of a few important stimulants: cocaine, nicotine, and methamphetamine.

Effects on Your Judgment One of the first and most dangerous effects of alcohol is a decline in judgment and ability to reason. It is extremely important to remember that alcohol gives you bad judgment. Even if alcohol had no other harmful effects, you'd still be incredibly endangered by impaired judgment. It will make you capable of doing things that you'd recognize as stupid and dangerous if you hadn't been drinking. Even worse, it will make you unable to judge just how drunk you really are!

Effects on Your Memory and Alertness Alcohol will also decrease how well you can evaluate and understand your current situation. This occurs as the result of three different ways that alcohol affects your brain: Alcohol disrupts your memory, causing you to forget where you are, where you're going, what you were talking about, why you're doing something, and much more. Alcohol distracts you from the present, causing you to think about unimportant things that are unrelated to your current situation. Alcohol makes you less alert, reducing your ability to perceive and think ahead. You'll think less often and less critically about both the short-term and long-term implications of your actions and the events going on around you.

Pancreas Damage The pancreas is primarily responsible for managing blood sugar levels and for aiding digestion in the small intestine. According to a report from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol damages your pancreas by causing it to release some of its digestive enzymes internally, rather than in the small intestine, and by exposing it to abnormally high levels of the toxic byproducts of the breakdown of alcohol. Because of these effects, the pancreas can become inflamed, causing a condition known as pancreatitis. Those with pancreatitis may suffer from nausea, vomiting, improper digestion, and severe abdominal pain. They may also experience complications such as diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and death.

Esophagus Damage When you consume alcohol, it must pass through the esophagus, which connects the mouth to the stomach. As a component of the digestive tract, the esophagus is susceptible to toxic effects both immediately, when it initially comes into contact with alcohol, and later on, when it receives blood suffused with alcohol's metabolic byproducts. A metabolic byproduct known as acetaldehyde can cause particularly severe damage. Acetaldehyde interrupts gene sequences within individual cells, promoting excessive cell growth and increasing the likelihood that genes will mutate and that those mutations will be replicated. As a result, alcohol damages your esophagus—and your mouth, pharynx, larynx, stomach, and intestines—and increases the chances that a fatal cancer will develop.

Isopropyl alcohol is commonly encountered as rubbing alcohol. Its main uses are as a disinfectant and as a solvent for cleaning electronic devices. Isopropyl alcohol is less toxic than methanol, but a 12-ounce can of it would contain more than enough to kill an adult.

Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in beer, wine, whiskey, and other alcoholic beverages. It is produced by the fermentation of sugar, which typically comes from grapes, barley, wheat, corn, or other fruits or grains. Ethanol is used as a disinfectant, a solvent, a fuel for motor vehicles, and an ingredient in the production of other chemicals. It is toxic to humans, and lethal in high doses. Just like isopropyl alcohol, a single 12-ounce can of pure ethanol—equivalent to 20 cans of beer—contains more than enough to kill an adult. When combined with other drugs, ethanol can be lethal even in low doses. The term "alcohol" is typically used to refer to beverages containing ethanol.

Evading Cars that Change Lanes Suddenly If a car suddenly enters your lane from the left or right, either with an abrupt maneuver or without signaling, or both, remove your foot from the accelerator immediately. If you must brake, do so gradually so the car behind you has enough time to respond. Even if the gap in front of your car is large enough for the other car to enter, you'll need to reduce your speed until there is a safe distance between you and the car that has entered your lane.

Evading Cars at Intersections Sometimes, cross traffic may enter an intersection you're already in and pose a hazard to you, as in the image on this slide. Since intersections are so complex, there are several different ways to handle hazards that may occur there.

If you must stop quickly, use threshold braking. Threshold braking will improve the traction in your car's front wheels, allowing you to stop more abruptly and maneuver more sharply if you need to to avoid an obstacle. Apply as much pressure to the brake pedal as you can without causing your wheels to lock. In cars with antilock brakes, simply pressing the brake pedal as hard as you can should provide you with enough traction to stop or maneuver your car quickly.

Evading Cars that Stop Suddenly If the car in front of you stops suddenly, you should use threshold braking or steer into your escape route if there isn't enough space in front of your car. Keep your hands on the steering wheel while you brake. Consider the position of the car behind you when responding to a driver stopping suddenly. Try to avoid forcing others to perform evasive maneuvers. Use your escape route if the driver behind you is following closely, as he or she may not be able to brake in time if you stop abruptly.

If you're already in the other car's path of travel, speed up to remove yourself from their path until you reach the other side of the intersection. ◦If you have not yet begun to cross the other car's path of travel, brake and turn your steering wheel in the direction the other car is moving. This will help them respond properly to you, and if you do get into a collision, it will be less severe if you and the other car are moving in the same direction.

Evading Parked Cars and Pedestrians ◦Watch out for people exiting cars parked on the side of the road and pedestrians walking on the road to enter their cars. If you see a car pulling into traffic, slow down. ◦Never speed up to avoid a pedestrian. If a pedestrian begins to cross your path of travel, stop your car or maneuver it away from the pedestrian, even if they are jaywalking or doing something dangerous.

Although you may consider these laws to be particularly severe, remember that they exist for two important reasons: to minimize the harm to others caused by underage drinkers, and to protect these drinkers from the consequences of their own irresponsible actions. Never forget that immaturity and alcohol use can both contribute to a deadly lack of judgment. While it's easy to convince yourself that one drink won't do you any harm, you'll find it almost impossible to reverse the consequences if you're wrong. If your future means anything to you, you'll wait until you turn 21 to drink and always act responsibly when you decide to consume alcohol.

Even if you avoid ruining your health by drinking, you may not be able to manage the social and legal consequences of your bad behavior. Alcohol and drug convictions are taken very seriously by employers, educational institutions, insurance companies, certification boards, and the courts. If you're convicted of an alcohol or drug offense, you may be: Fired from your job Expelled from or denied entrance to a school, college, or university Required to pay higher insurance premiums Ineligible for certification as a doctor or lawyer Subject to increased fines and jail time for other convictions

Remember, alcohol also affects your: Night vision: Alcohol decreases how well the eyes can control the amount of light entering them, impairing glare resistance and recovery and the ability to discern low-contrast objects. Peripheral vision: The more you drink, the more impaired your peripheral vision becomes, making you less likely to notice situations to your sides. Color distinction: Alcohol can make it difficult to distinguish between colors, potentially confusing you and causing you to miss important warnings.

Even if you could see clearly, you'd still be unable to complete the other steps of the SEE IT system. For one thing, it can be difficult to determine where "search" ends and "evaluate" begins. Both steps require mental fitness as well as visual acuity. Since alcohol affects the brain's ability to sort information, identify risks, and make predictions, drunk drivers can scan the road without understanding what they're seeing, make multiple observations without recognizing how they fit together, and pursue a course of action without consciously making a decision.

Have Fun Another way to avoid driving drunk is to avoid drinking. You'll have more fun that way—you'll be yourself. Drinking will slur your speech, impair your coordination, and give you embarrassingly bad memory. Vomiting, passing out, and generally being unable to carry on a conversation aren't fun—or cool. When you're out with friends or even strangers, you'll have more fun by just being yourself. If you're drunk, that will be impossible.

Even if you make the smart decision not to drink and drive, your friends may have other ideas. In 2011, a total of 6,507 drivers with a BAC of 0.08% or more died behind the wheel of a car. If each of them had been with friends who cared enough and were aware enough to stop them from driving, none of them would have died. If your friends choose to drink, don't judge them or make them feel bad. Nevertheless, even if it's difficult or awkward, don't let your friends drive drunk. There's a good chance you'll be saving their lives.

Even if you don't hold the health and well-being of others in high regard, you should understand that you're hurting yourself by driving drunk. It's important to realize that 2/3 of the people who die in drunk driving collisions are the drunks driving the vehicle! Even if you're lucky enough to survive, you're likely to be arrested. In 2012, almost 600 Texas drivers under 18 were arrested for driving under the influence. Most of those arrested are convicted, and must contend with fines, jail time, community service, license revocation, and worse.

Even if you're smart enough not to get behind the wheel when you drink, you should realize that there are a number of other significant costs associated with underage drinking. These risky behaviors have considerable costs for society, including: Risky sexual activity: $5.2 billion Property crimes: $5.1 billion Fetal alcohol syndrome: $1.3 million (in medical costs and reduced productivity) Alcohol poisoning and psychosis: $657 million Alcohol abuse treatment: $2.6 billion

The maneuvers you'll have to perform as a driver will require you to multitask concurrently (doing several tasks at once) or sequentially (interrupting and resuming tasks performed one at a time). In many situations, you'll have to multitask in both ways at the same time.

Even in ideal conditions, most driving situations will require you to perform more than one action at once. For instance: While you guide the steering wheel, you must also control the pedals and look ahead. Sometimes you'll have to activate your headlights or turn signals while you're performing another action. When driving on a hill or curve, you may have to change gears while adjusting your speed and maintaining control of the steering wheel. If conditions aren't ideal, you may also have to pay extra attention to other drivers, consider the condition of road, and adjust your position to improve visibility. With so many things to consider, how is it possible to multitask successfully?

You probably already know that the term "drug" includes both legal, readily-available medications such as aspirin, and illegal, restricted substances such as heroin. You probably also know that an overdose of either of these drugs can be fatal. But did you know that even caffeine and nicotine can be fatal in large doses? It's scary, but true: the chief psychoactive, or mind-affecting, ingredients in coffee and tobacco are lethal in large doses. In fact, the amount of nicotine contained in a single pack of cigarettes is enough to kill an adult when consumed quickly enough.

Every drug is different, but it's possible to organize all drugs into three distinct types: stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. Not every drug fits perfectly into a single category, but most drugs do fit very well into a single category. Understanding the differences between these categories of drugs will help you understand exactly how each can be helpful or dangerous to your health.

Recreational vehicles (RVs) include motor homes, trailers, and boat carriers, all of which tend to have increased weight and decreased maneuverability. Use the same caution around RVs as you would around large trucks and other large vehicles. Leave a following distance of at least six seconds between your vehicle and an RV. Because of their design, RVs are especially vulnerable to heavy winds. In windy weather, avoid driving to the side of an RV: strong winds may push the RV out of its lane and into yours.

Even though SUVs are popular as passenger vehicles due to their comfortable size and the extra visibility they provide their occupants, they still must be treated with extra caution. Like all larger vehicles, they can be harder to handle and especially deadly in a collision with a smaller, lower vehicle. Consider that a standard SUV can weigh over 7,000 lbs, whereas the average small car weighs no more than 3,000 lbs. Because of this added weight, SUVs also tend to have poor gas mileage.

When a truck with an open bed is transporting cargo or loose materials such as dirt, sand, gravel, wood chips, or recyclables, the cargo compartment must be covered (by a tarp, etc.) and completely enclosed by walls or panels alone or by side panels and the back of the truck and the tailgate. Any holes, cracks, or openings through which material might escape must be covered. Material spilling or falling from a vehicle can create hazards for other drivers and increase the chances of a collision. All cargo must be kept inside the vehicle.

Even though trains travel along tracks reserved exclusively for their use, you must exercise caution when approaching and crossing over railroad tracks. A train travelling at 55 mph will need more than a mile to stop, so you must be prepared to stop at a railroad crossing and yield the right-of-way whenever a train is passing. Remember, school buses, buses with passengers, and trucks transporting hazardous cargo must always stop at railroad crossings. When approaching a railroad crossing behind one of these vehicles, you must be prepared to stop.

Even if you do want to get rid of your addiction, you may find yourself unable to do so. Many addicts who try to quit drinking or using drugs may succeed for a short period, only to eventually become overwhelmed by renewed cravings. Soon, they'll start using again—often suddenly and without being able to explain their actions. It's this impulsive, inexplicable behavior that frequently causes friends and family to abandon addicts. When addicts can't be reached through moral, social, and logical persuasion, there seems to be no hope.

Eventually, your life as an alcohol or drug abuser may drive away everyone who cares about you. The long term consequences of substance abuse, like ill health, unemployment, poverty, and legal trouble, will make people want to stay away from you. In addition, you will care less and less about the people in your life, and more and more about your next fix. When your friends and family start abandoning you, you may not even care enough to ask them to stay.

If you steer too sharply for your momentum, excessive centripetal force will pull you too far into the curve. In the inside lane of a curve, this will pull you off the road. In the outside lane, this will pull you across the centerline and into oncoming traffic. What's more common is an excess of centrifugal force. If you drive too fast considering your weight and angle of steering, excessive centrifugal force will pull you into a straighter line, failing to turn enough. In the inside lane of a curve, this will pull you across the centerline and into oncoming traffic. In the outside lane of a curve, this will pull you off the road.

Every collision is different, but the specific way a collision occurs has a drastic effect on its consequences. Generally, for example, head-on collisions differ from side-impact collisions in very important ways. It's important that you understand the basic effects of each type of collision so that you can assess a potential or immediate crash risk and respond appropriately.

Trumpet Interchange A trumpet interchange is a T-intersection where an expressway comes to an end at an intersection. Trumpet interchanges allow traffic to transition smoothly between a secondary, two-way street and the major roadway while keeping the flows of traffic separate.

Frontage Road Interchange A frontage road is a secondary road that runs parallel to an expressway to allow dense flows of city traffic to mix efficiently with traffic on the expressway. At these interchanges, it's easy for a driver to get back on the expressway, in the same direction or the opposite direction, soon after exiting it.

Every week, you should also check your tire pressure and look for any signs of tire wear or damage. Check each tire for heavy or uneven tread wear, cracks, or debris stuck in the treads. Making sure your tires are properly inflated is one of the easiest things you can do to increase their longevity and improve your car's gas mileage. Keep a tire gauge in your car to check your tire pressure. If your tires need to be inflated, you can usually find an air pump for that purpose at a local gas station if you don't have one of your own.

Every month or two, take a look under your hood during your weekly maintenance check. While you should leave most under-the-hood tasks to a professional, it's your responsibility to monitor: The level of motor oil on the dipstick Transmission fluid levels Brake fluid levels Coolant levels Windshield washer fluid levels Battery connections The tension and condition of the drive belts The condition of the air and oil filters Consult your owner's manual to find out how to perform these maintenance checks.

When you identify a poor driving habit, you must determine the best way to correct that behavior and continuously practice the right way to drive until it becomes automatic. Proper driving techniques will only become second nature if you practice them repeatedly. Remember that as you become used to driving, even good driving habits can deteriorate. As you gain experience, continue to monitor your driving attitude and correct any unsafe habits you begin to develop.

Every person is an emotional being. Our emotions influence every thought we have and every action we perform. Indeed, if you try to suppress them, you'll find yourself more affected by your emotions than ever! Driving under the influence of intense emotions can have severe consequences. Anger, fear, anxiety, depression, discouragement, sorrow, and even excitement have the potential to make you an unsafe driver.

Get ready before you get in the car. Make sure you change your clothes, comb your hair, and finish eating before you begin to drive. If you're not prepared for an exam, don't try to cram while you're driving: a bad grade can teach you to plan ahead next time, but you won't be able to learn anything if you're dead. Even if you're waiting for a call so you can finish making plans, once you enter your car you need to set everything aside. If something is so urgent that it requires an immediate answer, pull over so you can devote your full attention to responding.

Every time you drive, you'll probably encounter some potential distraction, like an insect in your car, bright glare from the sun, or an unexpected event near the road. Make sure you're prepared to manage these distractions when they occur. As you become a more experienced driver, you'll begin to perform most driving tasks reflexively. If you don't develop an appropriately attentive attitude now, you'll only become more susceptible to distraction in the future.

To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning: Never leave a car running in a closed garage, as the exhaust can build up quickly while the car is running. Leave a front window open slightly, even in cold weather, to allow fresh air to circulate in your car. If you open a rear window, you may draw exhaust back into your car. If you're stuck in traffic with other vehicles, leave your air vents closed so their exhaust doesn't enter your car.

Everyone gets tired, even when they have other things to do. Sometimes, you'll struggle to finish what you're working on, even when you can hardly stay awake. Because we're so used to being tired, many people don't expect fatigue to have a significant effect on how well they drive. This assumption is potentially fatal! Fatigue can affect your vision, judgment, and reaction time, making it much more likely you'll be involved in a collision.

Be especially careful when driving in places where children may be present. Children are especially likely to be distracted from what's going on around them. Watch carefully for children on cell phones crossing the street. These children look both ways 20% less often and take 20% longer to cross. Children on cell phones are up to 43% more likely to be hit by a vehicle.

Exercise caution in complex risk environments. In high-speed traffic, limited visibility, and adverse weather conditions, you must be even more watchful for people not paying attention. Expect drivers to become distracted in urban areas or other places where there's a lot of activity going on. When you see a distracted person, slow down and give him or her some space. Consider how much you have to lose if you try to claim the right-of-way from someone who may not even notice you approaching.

Safe Expressway Driving When other drivers wish to enter the expressway, adjust your speed to let them enter the flow of traffic.

Exiting an Expressway When you are preparing to exit an expressway, begin changing lanes as soon as possible to make sure you are in the proper lane when you reach your exit. If there is a lot of traffic on the road, give yourself extra time to cross the expressway. Begin slowing your car as soon as you enter the exit lane. By the time you have exited from the expressway, you should be driving at the proper speed for the roadway you are entering.

All of your vehicle's components are important to safe operation, but some are affected more than others by adverse conditions. External lights are another example of this. Dirty or age-worn lenses on headlights, turn signals, and taillights can make your vehicle's lights nearly impossible to see in darkness or bad weather. Keep them free of dirt, and have them replaced if the lenses obscure your lights even when clean.

Extreme temperatures can negatively affect your vehicle's fluids, rubber components, engine, starter motor, and battery. Make sure these components are kept in good condition. Many types of bad weather conditions also require the use of windshield wipers and wiper fluid. Replace worn wipers and check your wiper fluid reservoir regularly to ensure you can always see clearly through your windshield. Finally, keep your windshield clean, both inside and out. Dirty glass reflects light, obscuring your view when sunlight or other bright light shines through it.

Be aware of the different ways the drivers tend to disregard traffic control devices:

Failing to stop at ("rolling through") a stop sign: You must always come to a complete stop. Even if you intend to yield, rolling through a stop sign can mislead and confuse other road users, causing them to react in an unsafe way. Disobeying a stoplight or a stop, yield, or wrong way sign: This puts you into another driver's path of travel at a time when he or she has the right of way, forcing him or her to take evasive action to avoid hitting you. Disobeying a construction sign: Detours, sudden merges, bright lights, and workers near the edge of the roadway all increase the chances of a collision in a construction zone.

Minor Collision or Traffic Ticket Other times, the negative consequences of your unsafe actions will be limited. You may cause a collision with relatively insignificant damages, may narrowly avoid causing a collision, or may be stopped by a peace officer before you get into a collision. You should treat these occurrences as learning experiences so you can avoid similarly dangerous behavior in the future.

False Confidence Finally, your unsafe behavior may seem to have no ramifications at all. When this happens, it may be natural for you to feel that your risks have no consequences, that such actions are safe, or even that you're an especially gifted driver. In fact, every time you avoid significant consequences when driving unsafely, you should consider yourself extremely lucky. In the future, the same actions could have serious consequences!

Fatigue is defined as a physical and mental state that occurs following a period of activity and is characterized by a lower capacity for work and concentration, as well as reduced efficiency. Mental or physical work, emotional stress, and lack of sleep can all result in fatigue.

Fatigue can be caused by: Insufficient sleep Lengthy periods of physical work or mental strain (including studying) The monotony of driving for an extended period Stress, including the stress of driving in heavy traffic or adverse weather conditions Illness or medication Overeating Sun glare or an overheated car Disruption of natural sleep cycles

Certain medical conditions associated with sleeping problems, such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy, put drivers at a high risk of fatigue at all hours of the day. Sleep apnea interrupts a person's breathing during sleep, waking them and making it difficult for them to experience deep sleep. People with narcolepsy are less likely to sleep soundly through the night and more likely to fall asleep suddenly during the day. If you constantly feel tired or have a hard time staying awake during the day, consult a physician to determine whether you have one of these disorders and if it is safe for you to drive.

Fatigue has a number of physical and mental effects that will impair your ability to drive safely, including: Blurred or unfocused vision Sore or tired eyes Sore or tired muscles Aches and pain at the back of the head Joint stiffness Swelling in the hands and feet

Other laborers that are especially susceptible to fatigue are shift workers with nontraditional or late night work schedules. People returning home after working the night shift are particularly likely to be fatigued while driving. Studies show that night shift workers tend to get less sleep than day shift workers and are more affected by disruptions to their circadian rhythms. Approximately 20% of men and 15% of women have jobs that require them to work evening, night, split, or irregular shifts.

Fatigue is especially severe among hospital workers like nurses and residents. Frequently, these workers have to work 12-hour shifts and alternate between day and night shifts, making it impossible for them to develop consistent sleep schedules. According to one study, about 95% of nurses working 12-hour night shifts reported being involved in a collision or having a near miss when driving home from work.

You can recognize an impaired driver by the following common behaviors: Driving too fast or too slow Sudden, sharp steering, acceleration, or braking Poor vehicle positioning, including driving on the curb, straddling lane lines, weaving between lanes, crossing into opposing lanes, or driving onto the shoulder Stopping in the wrong place or at the wrong time Signaling incorrectly, or failing to signal Driving with headlights off in darkness or dim light

Fatigued drivers are more difficult to recognize, but a few signs will reveal them: Drifting across lane lines, then suddenly steering back in Gradually slowing down, then suddenly speeding up Late response to green lights, red lights, and STOP signs Bent or nodding head If you see a fatigued or impaired driver, pull over and call the police.

Additionally, when you're fatigued: Your perceptual abilities are impaired Your reaction time is slower Your ability to judge speed and distance is reduced You're more susceptible to highway hypnosis You're more likely to be distracted by yawning or physical discomfort You're more likely to be irritable and to overreact to minor frustrations

Fatigued drivers are more likely to experience a Microsleep. Microsleep events are brief, unintentional episodes of sleep that last between a fraction of a second and several seconds. During a microsleep, you may stare blankly, your head may nod and snap back, and your eyes may close for prolonged periods (longer than a blink). Microsleeps can be especially dangerous because most people don't notice when they experience one. A fatigued person may realize that he or she can't remember what happened during the last few seconds, but dismiss the lapse as nothing more than a moment of "spacing out."

Alcohol doesn't make you forget your problems, either. You're more likely to dwell on sad thoughts when drinking, and you'll have more difficulty than normal thinking of ways to actually solve your problems. The depressing effects of alcohol persist even when you're done drinking, and can contribute to major depressive disorder. Eventually, there may seem to be no way out at all. Don't doom yourself by making this mistake—don't think for a second that drinking will make you forget your problems.

Finally, drinking alcohol to escape social pressures against nondrinkers is also a harmful mistake. Some people will always pressure you if you're around them—pressure you to drink, to smoke, to drive too fast, or to do any number of other dangerous things. Giving in to one type of pressure will not help you escape these people. Instead, it will make them pressure you more. Once you show that you are impressionable, people will know that they can influence you. People engaging in dangerous or illegal activity want company, so that their life choices appear more "normal". Don't give in to peer pressure—you'll only expose yourself to increasingly forceful and dangerous influences.

If you can't find a safe way to get home, then don't go home—stay where you are. Whether you're at a friend's house or a stranger's, just find a couch and go to sleep. If you're not at a house, find a motel. If all else fails, keep in mind that even a park bench or a bus stop will be safer than a car driven by a drunk. It's nice to wake up at home in the morning, but anything is better than not waking up at all. If you can't find a safe way home, just stay where you are.

Finally, even if you haven't had anything to drink, don't get into a car if the driver has been drinking. The life you save may be your own: in the United States in 2011, 1,612 people were killed while being driven by a drunk driver. That number represents about a quarter of all people killed in drunk driving collisions. If you care about your life, don't ride with a drunk driver. If you care about your friend's life, do everything you can to keep him or her from driving. Friends don't let friends drive drunk.

Texas's 911 Lifeline Law gives protection to persons under 21 for providing help to victims of alcohol poisoning. Under this law, if a person under 21 calls 911 because he or she believes another person may be experiencing alcohol poisoning, the caller can't be charged for possessing or consuming alcohol in connection with the event. To receive this protection, the caller must wait for and cooperate with law enforcement and emergency crews. Only the first person to call 911 in each case is eligible.

Finally, insurance companies also enforce their own penalties on people who choose to drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. On top of the court penalties and other fees you'll already have to pay, the price of insurance greatly increases with a DUI or DWI conviction on your driving record. Your insurance policy may even be cancelled at the end of its term because of the conviction, especially if you're currently in a dispreferred health class.

For more extremely snowy or icy situations, driving safely requires the installation of snow chains. Attach one set to each of your vehicle's drive wheels, and to all four wheels when conditions are bad enough. Snow chains must be matched to your tire's diameter and tread width. They won't work if they're loose, and they'll break if you drive too far on dry pavement. Snow chains aren't for driving at full speed on snow and ice. Drive slowly and with extra caution when conditions call for snow chains.

Finally, remember: conditions may become so severe that it's not safe to drive. If you can't see farther than the distance it would take you to stop your vehicle, find a safe place to wait for conditions to clear. If snow, ice, or other conditions make controlling your vehicle too difficult, pull over.

If you have difficulty seeing lane lines or other aspects of the road surface, drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you. As long as it doesn't hit anything, you won't, either. Be careful when following this advice—you still need to pay attention to the road surface and to traffic around you. Conditions may change by the time your vehicle reaches the same location.

Finally, keep in mind that conditions can sometimes be so severe that driving at all is unsafe. If you can't see past the assured, clear stopping distance ahead of your vehicle, pull over and wait until conditions clear.

Cold temperatures also affect your vehicle's fuel, engine and other system hoses, and battery. If your vehicle isn't well maintained, you may suffer an unexpected breakdown when the temperature drops. Remember to keep your windows free of fog by turning on the defroster, turning off air recirculation, turning up fan speeds, and adjusting air temperature.

Finally, keep in mind that snow and ice don't just make it more difficult for you to drive—everyone else on the road is susceptible to these conditions in the same way. Watch out for other drivers losing control, taking longer to come to a stop, and having difficulty seeing the road or even your vehicle. Drive cautiously to avoid being struck by another driver.

Pay attention to the road at all times. You must avoid many different sources of distraction, including music, passengers, food, and collisions on the roadway. Noticing hazards at the last second won't help you avoid them—you must actively search the driving environment for potential and imminent conditions. Never speed or drive aggressively. Always drive at a speed appropriate for current driving conditions, never more than the posted speed limit. Be courteous to other drivers and obey the law at all times. Maintaining a safe following distance is extremely important to your ability to recognize, understand, and safely react to changing road conditions.

Finally, pay attention to other drivers. Never make any assumptions concerning another driver's intentions, sobriety, alertness, or respect for the law. Treat every road situation as new and unpredictable. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Over time you'll encounter a great number of drivers on the road, so expect them to make mistakes, and have an escape plan for when they do. Make a habit of thinking ahead and you'll find there's a lot you can do to prepare for possible and imminent changes in the driving environment.

Mud, puddles, and even wet leaves also present a serious threat to your ability to control your vehicle. Puddles can affect a single wheel at a time, causing your vehicle to swerve. They may also hide large potholes. Mud and wet leaves can cause a sudden loss of traction. Mud is particularly dangerous because it may stick to your tires and splash onto your headlights or windshield, reducing their effectiveness.

Finally, remember that in any adverse weather condition, other road users are faced with the same conditions as you. When you have difficulty seeing and your tires suffer reduced traction, other drivers experience the same issues.

An illuminated oil pressure light indicates that your engine's oil pressure is too low or too high. Both can cause serious damage to numerous engine components. When the oil pressure light illuminates, pull over onto level ground and turn off your engine. You may not be able to get an accurate oil depth reading on an incline. Wait a few minutes for the oil to settle, then check your dipstick.

First, locate your dipstick. Most use a metal or plastic ring, often yellow, as a grip. Carefully remove the implement from its shaft, then wipe it clean with a cloth or tissue. Insert the dipstick back into its shaft, and push it down to the starting position. Wait a few seconds, then remove it again. Look near the bottom of the dipstick: if the top of the oil level appears beneath the lower mark, add one quart of oil to your engine. If oil levels are too high, or if they're normal but the oil pressure light stays on, call a mechanic. The oil on your dipstick should appear smooth, glossy, and somewhat transparent. If you see dirt, sludge, brown bubbles, or a crusty brown residue, your oil needs to be changed entirely.

Freeway Metering Lights In some places, traffic entering a freeway or expressway is controlled by metering lights. These lights are posted at the end of an expressway entrance lane to limit the number of cars merging with expressway traffic at any one time. At most metering lights, only one car is allowed to proceed each time the green signal is displayed.

Flashing Signals *Flashing signals are used to warn drivers about upcoming situations on the road. *Flashing red lights are often posted to warn drivers of an upcoming railroad crossing. *Flashing yellow lights are used to warn drivers to proceed cautiously through a pedestrian crossing or school or construction zone.

Brake Failure It can be especially scary when your brakes fail, because it may seem impossible to bring your car to a stop. Don't panic! Take your foot off the accelerator and shift to a lower gear to slow your car down. Use your parking brake to stop your car, but don't engage it completely as you may lock your brakes and enter a skid.

Flat Tire or Blowout The loss of a tire while driving is a relatively common occurrence. You can decrease the risk of a tire blowout by making sure your tires are properly inflated when you drive. When you lose a tire, don't slam the brakes. Take your foot off the accelerator and press the brakes gently while steering towards a safe place to stop.

These safe driving practices will help you avoid emergencies, but they can't completely prevent them. Driving in rainy weather increases the probability of a number of different emergencies, including skidding, hydroplaning, and floods.

Floods are a serious issue, and we'll devote more time to this special situation in a later section. For now, consider the National Weather Service's advice: Turn Around, Don't Drown®. This phrase is also the name of a campaign to provide drivers with safety tips and early warning of floods. The National Weather Service recommends that you follow these rules to stay safe against flooding: Monitor a news or radio source, such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio, for weather conditions. Move to higher ground when flooding occurs.

If you feel tired on the road, it's best to pull over and take a nap. If this is impossible, or if for any other reason you continue driving, you can help avoid a fatal collision if you: Sit up straight. If you lean forward, you'll have less control over your car and be more likely to fall asleep. Keep your eyes moving and check your mirrors frequently. Avoid overheating your car, even in the winter. Slow down and increase following distance so you'll have more time to react. Hum a song, chew a stick of gum, or have light conversation with passengers. Engaging your mind, but without distracting yourself from the road, can help you maintain awareness. Buckle your seat belt.

Fog can easily make driving extremely unsafe. When you encounter fog, be prepared to pull over. Fog can be unsettling and confusing to you as a driver. You may not be able to see past 100 ft, or even past 10 ft in the worst fog. The absence of sky, road, and environment can be extremely disorienting. Your windshield and rear and side windows may become foggy. Remember to turn the defroster on, recirculation off, fan speed up, and temperature down to quickly restore visibility.

Dehydration, a reduction in bodily water, also causes an increased alcohol absorption rate. Carbonation, as in beer, champagne, and mixers such as soda or energy drinks, may also cause higher BAC measurements. The gas suspended in these drinks increases pressure inside the stomach, raising the absorption rate.

Food contained in the stomach while digesting alcoholic beverages does not absorb or neutralize alcohol. However, it may initially coat the stomach lining and slow absorption to a small degree. This affects only the stomach, and not the intestines, where the majority of the body's alcohol absorption occurs. Rate of consumption also has an important effect on your level of impairment. One standard drink of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as one standard drink of vodka, but if you consume the vodka in a single shot, your BAC will rise much more sharply than if you consume the beer over 15 minutes.

When driving, your eyes must be focused on the road ahead. As long as your vision remains focused on a point ahead of you, you won't have to refocus your eyes significantly when you use your mirror to see behind your car. To look at your own reflection, however, you must refocus your vision on a much closer object. Accordingly, when you look back to the road, it will take time before you can focus on anything adequately enough to notice a hazard on the road.

For all tasks not directly related to driving, use a mirror at home. Remember, your rear and side view mirrors were designed to help you see the areas behind and to the sides of your car, not to help you finish getting ready when you go out. Additionally, grooming is an activity that lends itself to frustration if you don't have the time and patience to do it properly. If you care about the results, you'll never attempt to groom yourself behind the wheel.

A second DUI offense is a Class C misdemeanor. The penalties include: *A fine of up to $500 Between 40 and 60 hours of community service *A suspension or denial of your drivers license for 120 days *Mandatory attendance of an Alcohol Awareness Program You will not be eligible to obtain an occupational license for the first 90 days of your suspension.

For drivers under 17 years old, a third DUI offense is also a Class C misdemeanor. The penalties are mostly the same as those for a second offense: a fine of up to $500, between 40 and 60 hours of community service, mandatory attendance of an Alcohol Awareness Program, and a license suspension. However, for this offense, your license may remain suspended or denied until you turn 19. Moreover, your case may be transferred to Juvenile Court as Delinquent Conduct.

If you're following another vehicle to your destination, make sure you don't fixate only on that car's bumper while ignoring the rest of the roadway. You may face different hazards than the other driver, and may fail to notice a problem if your attention is too narrowly focused. If you need to confer with the driver in the other car, pull over. Don't try to talk with them while you're both on the roadway.

For the most part, distracted driving is so easy to avoid that it is troubling how frequently it is the cause of fatal collisions. To remain consistently focused on the road, you must simply choose to ignore any potential source of distraction. If there is a situation you need to attend to urgently, pull over so you can give it the attention it deserves. When you drop something, hear a phone ring, or have to deal with a crying child, you might feel a reflexive or even panicked urge to respond without thinking about the situation. Take a deep breath, assess the situation, and, if necessary, get off the road to deal with the problem.

At lower doses, marijuana can cause the user to feel detached from his or her current situation. Memory loss, panic, depression, drowsiness, a loss of physical coordination, and an altered perception of time are common side effects. At higher doses, all of these effects will be heightened. In addition, the user may experience visual or auditory hallucinations. However, partially because of the large number of chemical compounds in marijuana, and partially because of differences in how many of these chemicals behave from one person to another, the effects the drug has on users can be highly variable.

For this reason, it is not even safe to assume that the experience a person has with the drug on one occasion will be quite similar to his or her experience on another occasion. Many people consider marijuana a depressant and would prefer it to be officially classified as such in order to make medicinal marijuana legalization efforts more defensible. However, partly because of its strong hallucinogenic effects, and partly because of the strength of the federal government's restrictions against the possession and sale of the drug, it is still generally classified as a hallucinogen.

Many of these driver errors are heavily influenced by certain factors: Intoxication and fatigue cause inattention, poor vision, bad judgment, lack of coordination, and possible loss of consciousness Distraction causes inattention, rushed decisions, and hesitant actions Speed gives you less time to see objects on the road, less information before making a decision, and less control when executing a maneuver Aggression causes distraction, bad judgment, and poor coordination Intoxication, fatigue, distraction, speed, and aggression are some of the most influential factors leading to fatal collisions.

Fortunately, it's not difficult to prevent a lot of these errors before they have a chance to occur. By consciously making better choices and practicing safe behavior behind the wheel, you can keep yourself in the best position to avoid collisions on the road. Remember never to drive if you're even slightly impaired due to alcohol, drugs, or fatigue. Impairment quickly destroys your ability to determine how impaired you are, then makes you prone to recognition, decision, performance, and non-performance errors.

Staying in control means making sure that basic driver controls—steering, acceleration, and braking—remain in agreement with the road itself. To maintain this agreement, driver input is communicated to the road surface through your vehicle's tires. It follows that maintaining healthy tires is of utmost importance when driving in adverse conditions.

Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do to prepare yourself. The first of these is something you should already be doing: keeping your vehicle properly maintained. Adverse conditions place more strain on your vehicle's engine, tires, and other components. Keeping these components in good condition will help you stay in control of your vehicle when the going gets rough.

By wisely using your knowledge of how centripetal and centrifugal forces affect your driving, you can become a better and safer driver. ◦Use your brake to slow down before you enter a curve. ◦Avoid braking on a curve. Braking when you are in a curve may cause your vehicle to skid, especially if you brake hard while turning sharply. ◦Shift to a low gear before entering a curve. ◦When rounding a curve, bicyclists and motorcyclists should lean towards the inside of the curve to keep their balance.

Friction is the resistance to movement between two surfaces in contact. Whenever two surfaces are in contact and one or both of them attempts to move across the other, friction is generated. The reason a bowling ball rolls so smoothly down the lane is because the lane has been waxed to reduce friction. On the other hand, athletic shoes are designed to increase friction between your feet and the ground so you can propel yourself better and stop more easily.

After you've been drinking, you may want to get home, or visit a restaurant, or drive your friends around. You may even feel the need to drive somewhere because of the consequences if miss your curfew or disappoint your friends. Yet none of these reasons are worth risking your life. Ask yourself, which is worse: Getting punished by your parents, or dying in a wreck? Having to explain to your date that you were drinking, or killing a stranger with a car? Upsetting your friends, or killing them? The choice is clear. Don't drink and drive.

Get a Ride Home One of the most effective ways to ensure that nobody in your group drives drunk is to choose a designated driver. It is the designated driver's responsibility to have not even one sip of alcohol, and to drive everyone home safely. When choosing a designated driver, be sure it's someone you trust to act responsibly and not take advantage of the situation. A designated driver must protect his or her passengers from themselves and others, and must protect others from them.

Parking Because it involves dealing with pedestrians, drivers entering or exiting the road, and other road users, searching for a safe place to park can be stressful. When there are few parking spots available, you may feel increasingly frustrated the longer it takes to find a place to park. Stress isn't going to make more parking spots appear. Getting upset over situations you have no control over will only make you less able to drive safely.

Getting Lost Becoming disoriented can be especially stressful for drivers. When you're lost, each decision you make can make the problem even worse, increasing your stress as you get farther and farther away from a place you're familiar with. You may stop paying attention to other drivers or how you're controlling your own vehicle as you try to identify a way back to a known road. When you're planning to drive in an unfamiliar area, plan your trip ahead of time. Always keep maps in your car so you can find your way back when you get lost.

In order to be prepared for any potential legal issues in the future, following a collision you should always get the names and addresses of everyone present at the collision scene, including all drivers and witnesses. If possible, make a sketch or take a photo of the collision scene. You should record as many facts related to the collision as possible, such as the time, date, location, weather, and driving conditions, as well as the name of the hospital where the injured are taken and the badge number of the police officer at the scene.

Give accurate facts to the police when they arrive. When speaking to the police following a collision, you should never attribute fault to the other driver or yourself. Do not leave the scene until all relevant information has been shared with all parties involved. Seek medical attention promptly. You may have been injured in a way that is not immediately apparent. Contact a mechanic about any necessary repairs. For insurance purposes, you are generally required to get two estimates concerning the cost of repairs. Mechanics must report any vehicle that arrives at their shop showing evidence of a collision. Notify your insurance agent as soon as possible. Your insurance company may refuse to pay your claim if you do not contact them within the time specified in your policy.

City driving situations in which you should use cover braking include: -While passing parked cars -In a traffic build-up -When many brake lights are activated ahead of you -When the traffic signal is about to change from green to red (If you can see the crosswalk signal facing you flashing, the green signal is about to end.)

Heavy traffic conditions often lend themselves to a situation known as Gridlock. Gridlock occurs when vehicles get stuck in the middle of an intersection because the roadway on the other side is already completely occupied. Don't enter an intersection unless there is enough space on the other side for you to clear it completely. If you're caught in an intersection, you may obstruct the passage of vehicles and pedestrians attempting to enter the intersection from another direction.

One of the principal forces that affects your car is Gravity. The theory of gravitation was formulated by a 17th century scientist named Sir Isaac Newton. Reportedly, he was inspired by apples falling from a tree, which caused him to wonder why apples always fell towards the center of the earth rather than sideways or upwards. Gravity affects the balance of your car and influences your speed when travelling uphill or downhill.

Gravity is a force that attracts any two objects to one another. The strength of this force depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between the objects. The more mass two objects have, or the closer two objects are, the stronger the force of gravity between them will be. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter that makes up an object. An object's mass is a product of its volume (how much space the object takes up) and its density (how tightly matter is packed in the object). In practical terms, an object's mass is very similar to its weight.

Drivers may be warned of specific hazards on the roadway by signs covered with yellow reflectors or by vertical rectangle markers covered with black and yellow stripes. Remember, even if you don't recognize a particular warning sign, if you see a diamond shape or the color yellow, you should drive with extra caution on the upcoming roadway. Take a look at more warning signs by clicking here.

Guide signs are intended to provide information to drivers about their current location and about upcoming locations and junctions on the road. They may identify interesting routes, roadside services, and nearby rivers, parks, and historical sites. These signs do not require drivers to take any particular action. Instead, they are intended to provide drivers with useful information to help direct them to their destination.

Strong winds can push a vehicle out of its lane—or off the road. Your vehicle will be less stable, and you'll have less control over it. Vehicles that are light, long, or tall are particularly vulnerable to strong winds. Some effects of strong winds may not less obvious at first. Wind can blow leaves and other objects through the air, reducing visibility, and can blow objects onto the road, causing hazards. It may even be difficult to hear over strong winds.

Gusts of wind may strike suddenly as you pass large trucks, leave forests, ridges, or plateaus, or exit from an underpass or tunnel. Pay attention to the connection between your car and the ground, and watch for swaying trees or airborne objects. When driving in strong winds, slow down and increase following distance. Drive in the center of your lane, and grip the steering wheel firmly to keep control over your position.

Hallucinogens Finally, a person under the influence of hallucinogens can have wildly reduced or altered judgment. First, he or she may suffer some of the same depressing or stimulating effects of other drugs. But beyond that, more complex intellectual effects may come into play. The user may feel as if he or she is experiencing time in a new way, or may feel a detachment from their personal identity and situation. These may occur to such an extent that the person feels that time has stopped. Worse yet, a person under the influence of hallucinogens may experience sights, sounds, and other sensations that have no real-world cause.

Hallucinogens Finally, a person under the influence of hallucinogens can have wildly reduced or altered judgment. First, he or she may suffer some of the same depressing or stimulating effects of other drugs. But beyond that, more complex intellectual effects may come into play. The user may feel as if he or she is experiencing time in a new way, or may feel a detachment from their personal identity and situation. These may occur to such an extent that the person feels that time has stopped. Worse yet, a person under the influence of hallucinogens may experience sights, sounds, and other sensations that have no real-world cause.

While many pain relievers are available without a prescription, some are not. Opium and its related chemicals are particularly dangerous, and their availability is tightly controlled. An overdose of any type of pain reliever can be fatal. Aspirin, Tylenol, and Advil are used to combat pain, fever, and inflammation. Excessive use can cause liver damage. Morphine and codeine, which are the chief mind-affecting chemicals in opium, are used to relieve pain. They are highly effective, but that effectiveness comes with increased risks of addiction and overdose. Other effects include itching, nausea, slowed breathing, depression, and constipation. Heroin, hydrocodone, and methadone are derivatives of opium, and have generally the same effects. These include increased risks of addiction and overdose.

Hallucinogens alter perceptive and emotional faculties. They can cause hallucinations, delusions, mood swings, loss of sense of time and self, and other intellectual distortions. Examples of hallucinogens include: Cannabis, or marijuana Psilocybe, or "magic" mushrooms LSD Salvia divinorum Mescaline, found in the Peyote cactus Dissociatives, such as phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine

Generally, the effects of many depressants on the driving task are similar to those of alcohol. Here are some ways in which other depressants differ from alcohol: Antihistamines are often more likely to produce dizziness and confusion before significant loss of physical coordination. Many pain relievers cause poor pupil function more quickly. Tranquilizers used to treat anxiety, like Valium and Xanax, tend to have stronger effects of detachment or aggression. Tranquilizers used to sedate the body, like Seconal and Nembutal, tend to cause a more severe loss of muscle control.

Hallucinogens are extremely dangerous to the driver's judgment. They can cause anxiety, depression, fear, panic, impaired memory, delusions, and hallucinations. All of these can increase the time it takes for the driver of a motor vehicle to react to conditions on the road. In addition, the common effect of detachment from reality is especially dangerous, and can make the driver fail to react at all.

Control Device Ahead Some warning signs are used to prepare drivers for a regulatory sign or a traffic signal on the road ahead. These signs are most likely to be posted in places where the device itself may be concealed from approaching drivers by curve or other obstruction in the road. These signs are designed to make sure drivers have enough time to adjust their driving. This sign indicates that the driver is approaching a stop sign.

Hazardous Road Ahead Warning signs are also used to tell drivers about upcoming hazards related to changes in the surface of the road. These signs typically refer to situations that decrease traction or have the potential to deflect the vehicle from its intended path. Slow down in anticipation of these situations. This sign indicates that there is a bump in the road that could jolt the vehicle and its passengers if handled at too high a speed.

Heavy Traffic or Bad Weather Any time you have more decisions to make and more hazards to deal with, you're likely to feel more stressed. As a result, road work and bad weather, traffic, and road conditions can be very stressful, especially if you're in a hurry. In these situations, always remember that there's nothing you can do to change the situation. If possible, use an alternate route with better conditions. If not, just try to concentrate on the road and drive in a safe and courteous manner.

Heavy Traffic or Bad Weather Any time you have more decisions to make and more hazards to deal with, you're likely to feel more stressed. As a result, road work and bad weather, traffic, and road conditions can be very stressful, especially if you're in a hurry. In these situations, always remember that there's nothing you can do to change the situation. If possible, use an alternate route with better conditions. If not, just try to concentrate on the road and drive in a safe and courteous manner.

When you think a friend is too drunk to drive, it's your responsibility to convince him or her, patiently but firmly, not to get behind the wheel. Try to persuade your friend that someone else should drive or offer to call him or her a cab. Tell your friend that he or she would be doing you a favor by letting you help him or her get home safely. Try to convince your friend to give you his or her keys as soon as you think he or she might be drinking too much. As he or she becomes drunker, your friend might become more hostile and less likely to listen to reason.

Help make sure your friends get home safely by offering to be a designated driver ahead of time. As a designated driver, you must: Remember not to drink any alcohol Know who you're responsible for before anyone starts drinking Know where to bring each passenger and who to call in case of an emergency Communicate your rules for passengers before anyone starts drinking Make sure you don't offer to drive more people than can safely fit in your car Make sure that no one else has access to a vehicle. Don't let anyone else handle your keys. Reach an agreement about gas money, food, and possible cleaning costs with your passengers before they start drinking

Heroin, hydrocodone, and methadone are derivatives of opium, and have generally the same effects as morphine and codeine, which are the chief mind-affecting chemicals in opium. These drugs are used primarily for pain relief and anesthesia. They are highly effective, but that effectiveness comes with increased risks of addiction and overdose. Other effects include itching, nausea, slowed breathing, depression, and constipation.

Heroin is an extremely dangerous drug. At lower doses, heroin causes itching, nausea, slowed breathing, and depression. At higher doses, the risk of fatal overdose increases greatly. Vomiting, loss of physical coordination, further slowed breathing, and severe itching and depression are all possible. Long-term use of heroin can lead to kidney disease and dysfunction, liver disease, infections in the lungs, and chronic constipation.q

Additionally, driving on rural roads tends to be more deadly because: -Vehicle occupants on rural roads are less likely to wear seat belts -Drivers on rural roads tend to use less precise steering motions, making a rollover more likely -Many areas of the roadway are unpaved or poorly lit -There are fewer signs and traffic signals coordinating traffic flow -The lack of public transportation means that there will be more unskilled drivers on the road -Since hospital and trauma centers are farther away, people injured in a crash are less likely to survive

Hidden Farm Driveways and Side Roads Rural drivers may be inattentive as they enter a highway because they don't expect to encounter cross traffic. While side roads in rural areas can sometimes be seen clearly from a distance due to the lack of obstructions, don't count on noticing drivers about to enter the roadway, especially in hilly areas or areas with crops or dense vegetation. Scan the road ahead for places where cars may appear suddenly. Always reduce your speed if your visibility is limited.

When taking a long trip: Don't take any medicines that make you drowsy, even on the night before you start your trip. Only drive for a reasonable distance (300 to 400 miles) or a reasonable amount of time (no more than 8 hours) in a single day. Take frequent breaks, even if you're not tired. Get out of the car and stretch. Maintain your energy levels by stopping for light meals, snacks, or beverages. Travel with another person so you can change drivers at regular intervals.

Highway rest stops are designed to provide drivers with a place to sleep so that fatigue-related collisions can be avoided. Look for a well-lit area where you can safely stop. Activate your parking lights and lock your doors. Make sure you turn off the engine and open the window slightly to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. After you've rested or napped, walk around your car to wake yourself up before getting back on the road.

Most cars respond immediately to a driver's commands, yet behind these smooth operations are many complex components that have been carefully designed to work together in an efficient and apparently seamless way. While learning how these parts work together may seem challenging, understanding automobile systems will help you appreciate the importance of maintaining every part of your car. Moreover, a solid grasp of how your car works can make you a more confident and conscientious driver.

Historically, cars have been built around rigid ladder-like frames, usually made out of steel, designed to handle a great amount of stress and keep the car's components in alignment. The body-on-frame approach allows manufacturers to make changes to the bodywork and interior while keeping the chassis unchanged. While frames were found universally in older automobiles, today many cars use lighter and more crash-resistant unibody designs that do not need a frame. Frames are now used mostly in truck and bus construction.

It can be helpful to understand how sleep is regulated in your body and why your body experiences different levels of sleepiness and alertness throughout the day. Sleep is regulated by two body systems: Sleep Homeostasis and Circadian Rhythms.

Homeostasis The body employs a process known as homeostasis to maintain steady levels of blood pressure, body temperature, and acid-base balance throughout the day. Homeostasis also governs our need for sleep, requiring that we get approximately 8 hours of sleep for every 16 hours of wakefulness. Sleep homeostasis is the reason we feel more tired the longer we're awake.

Drunk driving continues to be a huge problem in the United States and in Texas. State laws exist to punish you for making the mistake of getting behind the wheel while impaired. The first laws against drunk driving were adopted in New York in 1910, but for the next 44 years, police officers had to rely on visual signs to determine intoxication. Only with the invention of the breathalyzer, in 1954, did police officers have a portable and non-invasive way to accurately and numerically measure blood alcohol content (BAC). Since then, chemical tests measuring the percent of alcohol in a person's bloodstream have been an important aspect of drunk driving law enforcement.

However, even with the advent of the breathalyzer, weak laws and a lack of research led many governmental and regulatory agencies to accept long-standing BAC limits as high as 0.15%. These limits proved ineffective due to the extent of impairment possible below this level of intoxication. Drunk driving continued to account for the majority of traffic fatalities—in 1982, 60% of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related.

When the words "DON'T WALK" or a hand symbol are illuminated in orange, pedestrians facing the pedestrian signal may not cross the street. Remain on the sidewalk until the signal indicates that you may walk.

Once the WALK signal has been illuminated for a little while, it may start flashing or change to a flashing DON'T WALK signal to indicate that the time for crossing is coming to an end. Pedestrians should exit the crosswalk as soon as possible. Do not begin crossing the street if a flashing DON'T WALK signal is displayed. Many pedestrian signals use numeric countdown lights to let pedestrians know how much time they have left to cross the street. In some places, audio signals are also used to help blind pedestrians.

Listening to the stereo while driving is not necessarily dangerous. Indeed, it can have many benefits, including: Lessening the monotony of driving with pleasant music and engaging programming Providing access to important news, including updates on weather and traffic conditions Keeping the driver's mind engaged so that his or her senses do not become dulled or fatigued

However, operating a stereo or music system can turn out to be more complicated—and dangerous—than it looks. Using a stereo or music player requires making a number of adjustments with controls that are small and difficult to manipulate while your car's in motion. Moreover, you may end up using them for more time than you intended if you can't find a song you like or the playlist you're looking for. One of the safest strategies you can adopt for listening to the stereo in your car is to accept what you're listening to. Who knows, you may even discover a new favorite song!

Teenagers are especially likely to feel the desire to ignore safe driving strategies and act recklessly to impress other teenage passengers—even when no one asks them to. When you give in to peer pressure, you endanger yourself and your friends. Never visit with friends in other vehicles or let your passengers interact with people outside your car. You could become dangerously distracted or irritate other drivers if you try talking to someone in another vehicle.

If a passenger is distracting you, you must feel comfortable telling him or her to stop, even if you know that he or she will give you a hard time for doing so. If a passenger wishes to have an emotional discussion, ask him or her to wait until you're done driving. If he or she is insistent, pull over before having the conversation. If a passenger continues to be a nuisance even after you have asked him or her to stop, you must decide whether to pull over and ask him or her to get out of the car.

According to the Good Samaritan law: A person who in good faith administers emergency care is not liable in civil damages for an act performed during the emergency unless the act is willfully or wantonly negligent. You should provide any emergency care you are capable of providing. You will not be held responsible for any damages that accidentally result from your care unless you expect payment, are aware that injury will result from your treatment, or are found responsible for the collision.

If anyone is injured or killed, you must call the police immediately. You and any other drivers involved in a collision must share certain information with the police and each other, including: Your names Your addresses Your drivers license numbers Your license plate numbers The names and addresses of your insurance companies—if you only get the company name, you can get the rest of the information by calling 1-800-252-3439 You should also note the names and addresses of any passengers involved in the collision, as well as where they were sitting and the extent of their injuries.

You are legally required to determine who was involved in the crash and whether anyone involved has been harmed, and provide assistance to anyone who's been injured. However, you should provide medical aid only if you know what you're doing. Improper medical care will often make the situation much worse. In most cases, assistance will consist of calling for an ambulance or paramedics. Be sure that you identify the place of the collision clearly and precisely when you call 911. If the injury is not severe, you may offer to transport the injured party to medical care yourself.

If it is safe and you are competent to do so, you should attempt to provide medical aid to anyone who is seriously injured. Even basic medical care provided in the first few minutes after an injury can mean the difference between life and death. Help anyone who is not already walking and talking. Firmly apply thick cloth pads or bandages to bleeding wounds. These pads should be as clean as possible. Begin artificial respiration at once on anyone who appears not to be breathing, if you are certified to do so. If you have completed a certified first-aid course, you may also attempt to treat severe bleeding or shock. Do not move an injured person unless they are in a burning vehicle or in other imminent danger—it may make their injuries much worse.

Do not get into a vehicle unless the driver has had nothing at all to drink. If no completely sober driver is available, call your friends and family members until you reach someone who can come pick you up. Even if they're upset, remember that they'd be much more upset if you killed yourself driving drunk. Whenever you can, call a friend to drive you home safely.

If nobody you call can give you a ride, call a cab. Not only can it save your life, but it will be less expensive than paying for a DUI—and cab seats are much more comfortable than jail cells. Don't risk your life to save a few bucks. Just call a cab. It will safely and quickly deliver you to your home.

Tranquilizers, also called antianxiety agents, treat both the psychological and the physiological symptoms of anxiety, among other things. They are used to treat depression, anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms. Many tranquilizers are highly addictive. Harmful effects of tranquilizers include slowed breathing, reduced heart rate, and coma. Personality changes, such as increased aggression and irritability, are possible. Because of their high potential for abuse, most tranquilizers are available only by prescription. All tranquilizers have a serious potential for addiction and withdrawal. They can be fatal with overdose or in combination with other drugs

If prescribed benzodiazepines by a doctor, you should only ever take the prescribed dosage. Because these drugs have similar effects to illegal depressants and narcotics, you should only drive after taking benzodiazapines if your doctor, and the warnings on the bottle, indicate that you can drive safely while using the medication. Remember, if you feel too impaired to drive safely, don't drive!

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency! If you or your friends are drinking, watch out for anyone who: Is unconscious or semiconscious Doesn't respond to pinching Exhibits slow or irregular breathing Has a slow heart rate Has bluish, pale, cold, or clammy skin Vomits while passed out If someone seems to be suffering from alcohol poisoning, they could die if they don't get help. Call 911, even if only some of these symptoms are present.

If someone seems to be suffering from alcohol poisoning, try to keep them conscious or, if they've passed out, wake them up. If someone won't wake up, don't panic! Call 911 for help. Keep them on their side Perform CPR if their pulse is less than 40 beats per minute or their breathing is less than 8 breaths per minute. Don't try to help by feeding them food or coffee, making them vomit, giving them a cold shower, or letting them "sleep it off." Remember, under the 911 lifeline law, a person under 21 who calls 911 to report potential alcohol poisoning cannot be charged by the police for possessing or consuming alcohol. This immunity only applies to the first person to call for medical assistance.

The area of the dashboard behind the steering wheel is known as the instrument panel. The instrument panel includes several gauges that allow you to monitor your car's condition and resource usage. These gauges include: ◦The speedometer ◦The fuel gauge ◦The odometer ◦The trip odometer ◦The tachometer ◦The temperature gauge

If the temperature gauge indicates overheating, do not drive. Turn off the engine and call for service or check and replace the coolant in the radiator. Wait for the engine to cool down before removing the radiator cap. If the radiator cap is opened while the engine is hot, boiling coolant can burst out and cause severe burns to anyone standing too close.

Lost Productivity due to work that couldn't be performed because of death, disability, or incarceration Other Social Costs, including property damage, criminal activity, and demands on the justice system As the charts indicate, lost productivity accounted for the majority of these costs.

If the trends governing the increase in the costs of alcohol and drug abuse have remained consistent, by 2009 they would have totaled over half a trillion dollars! That averages to a cost of over $1600 for every man, woman, and child living in the United States! While some of these expenses are borne by the abusers themselves, federal, state, and local governments are significantly taxed by the costs of abuse. Moreover, society loses out on a considerable amount of potential when anyone, especially a young person, is killed or permanently disabled in a DUI collision. When you drink and drive, everyone pays the price!

To perform a turnabout safely, make sure that: ◦There are no posted traffic signs prohibiting the maneuver ◦The road is clear of road users that could interfere with the maneuver ◦You have enough space and time to complete the maneuver safely ◦You can see the road at least 500 ft in each direction ◦You are not driving on a one-way road Never perform a turnabout on a hill or curve, as your view will be obstructed.

If there is an available driveway (or alley) on either side of the road, you can turn around by making a two-point turn. You can complete a two-point turn on your side of the road by backing into a driveway on your right, or on the opposite side of the road by driving forward into a driveway on your left.

When making a U-turn while driving along a roadway: ◦Stop close to the right edge of the roadway. Activate your left turn signal. ◦Check the road ahead as well as your mirrors and blind spots. ◦Drive forward slowly, turning the steering wheel rapidly to the left with the hand-over-hand technique. ◦Position your car in the right-hand lane travelling in the opposite direction. ◦Straighten your wheels and return to cruising speed. Practice making a U-turn in a safe place so you know how much space you will need to complete the maneuver. Keep in mind that every car needs a different amount of space

If there is enough space on the side of the road for you to park without having to carefully position your car between two other vehicles, then you can park using the procedure to pull over discussed earlier in this unit. ◦Check your mirrors and blind spots. ◦Activate your turn signal. ◦Flash your brake lights and begin to reduce your speed. ◦Steer toward the curb. ◦Depress the brake pedal fully. ◦Deactivate your turn signal. ◦Engage the parking brake.

Until you turn 21, you are prohibited from consuming, possessing, or purchasing alcohol, and from being publically intoxicated. In addition, you may not falsely claim to be 21 or older, or present any document indicating that you are over 21, to a person selling alcohol. Laws preventing minors from consuming alcohol and drugs exist for your safety and the safety of others. The consequences of driving while impaired could be with you for your entire life. Before you take that drink, ask yourself if it's worth having to deal with driving restrictions, medical problems, and increased insurance rates ten or more years from now.

If you are convicted of any alcohol-related offense while you are under 21, you will receive sanctions including the suspension or revocation of your license or driving privilege, regardless of whether the offense was committed while driving.

Green Traffic Lights At a green light, you may proceed straight ahead or make a right or left turn unless the turn is prohibited by another signal or sign or it is unsafe to enter.Green Traffic Lights At a green light, you may proceed straight ahead or make a right or left turn unless the turn is prohibited by another signal or sign or it is unsafe to enter.

If you are facing a green arrow signal and preparing to turn in the direction of the arrow, proceed cautiously into the intersection before making the turn. Do not proceed on a green arrow if you are planning to proceed straight ahead.

Drunk driving carries serious legal consequences. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, nearly 1.3 million people were arrested for driving under the influence in 2012. That makes up more than 10% of the total number of arrests made that year. In Texas alone, over 85,000 people were arrested for DUI or DWI in 2012. Of these, 592 (7%) were under 18 years old at the time.

If you are lucky enough to survive the wreck you cause by driving drunk, your troubles are far from over. The penalties for DUI and DWI convictions alone are severe. The penalties for DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, however, are far worse. If convicted of manslaughter or homicide, you will be fined up to $10,000 and imprisoned for up to 15 years. If you also leave the scene of the crime, you may be imprisoned for up to 30 years. If you were convicted and sent to prison at age 18, you would remain in jail until age 48.

Under Texas law, intoxication is defined as: *Not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body; or *Having a BAC of 0.08 or higher To convict you of an intoxication-related offense, only one of the above violations must be proved.

If you are stopped for drunk driving, the police officer who stopped you will testify at your trial about whether, in his or her judgment, you were in possession of your faculties. The officer will describe the actions that caused him or her to pull you over and the results of any field sobriety test he or she conducted. Your BAC level will be determined by a chemical breath or blood test conducted at the scene or at a police station following your arrest.

The imaginary line drawn between your eyes and the object they are viewing is referred to as the Line of Sight (LOS). When driving, your line of sight should generally be directed at your selected visual target. Keep your line of sight clear as much as possible. This line can be blocked by a curve, the crest of a hill, a wooded area, a building, a large truck, etc

If you can't see around an obstruction, slow down until you can reestablish your line of sight. Be ready to respond to restrictions to your line of sight or path of travel. ◦When approaching a curve or the crest of a hill, search into it or over it. ◦If the path you're on is ending, adjust your driving appropriately. ◦Slow down when you see a red traffic signal or traffic stopped ahead of you. ◦Select a lane position that allows you to avoid hazards on the road. ◦Always travel at a speed appropriate for environmental conditions.

When you go out with friends as a designated driver, you should identify yourself as such to your servers. At many eating and drinking establishments, the servers will remember not to provide you with alcohol and may offer you complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. Designated drivers must possess a valid license and should be at least 21 years old so they can accompany their friends when they go out to drink legally. If you choose to be a designated driver, you must take your responsibility not to drink that much more seriously.

If you choose to be a designated driver, don't expect your task to be problem-free. Dealing with a car full of drunks is more than enough for one person to handle even if other factors don't come into play. You may have to clean your vehicle at the end of the night. You should be prepared to deliver a drunk person to his or her parents safely and responsibly, even if they're upset to be woken up in the middle of the night, or to find their child intoxicated.

As we've discussed, in Texas, underage drinking is governed by Zero Tolerance laws. Under these laws, it is illegal for you to possess or consume alcohol or to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in your system. Until you turn 21, you may not: Purchase or attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage: You can be charged for trying to buy alcohol even if no money changes hands. Possess an alcoholic beverage: You can be found guilty of possession just for being in the vicinity of alcohol. Consume an alcoholic beverage: Drinking alcohol is illegal no matter how you acquired the drink. Be intoxicated in public: You will face penalties for being intoxicated in a public place.

If you commit any alcohol-related offense as a minor, you are guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. If found guilty, you could: Have to pay a fine of up to $500 Be required to perform 8 to 12 hours of community service Be required to attend an Alcohol Awareness course Lose your license for 30 days or more Face more penalties from your parents, school, and insurance company If you are convicted of subsequent offenses, you will face additional penalties including up to 40 hours of community service, a fine of up to $2,000, a lengthier license suspension, and even possible jail

Drunk drivers can be identified by certain characteristic behaviors that are apparent to other drivers and police officers, even while the driver him or herself remains unaware of them. Exercise extreme caution if you see a driver: *Driving the wrong speed, either faster than conditions allow or unnecessarily slowly *Making haphazard speed adjustments *Driving over the curb, changing into the wrong lane, weaving, or straddling two lanes *Changing lanes frequently and unnecessarily *Driving over the centerline or crossing a double yellow line *Stopping short of, overshooting, or running a STOP *sign, or stopping at a green light or in the middle of the road *Failing to signal or signaling deceptively *Driving at night with no lights or failing to dim high-beams

If you decide to consume alcohol, the only safe and responsible driving practice is not to drive. Stay where you are, take a taxi, or call someone to pick you up. If you're going to be drinking, choose a designated driver or make alternate transportation arrangements ahead of time. It is always a mistake to be in a car being driven by someone with a tolerance for any amount of alcohol—even if that driver happens to be you. Driving under the influence of alcohol, even once, can end in a tragic event for your family and yet another unnecessary statistic.

Many drivers have an immature attitude or lack appropriate values and boundaries. Such drivers may be compulsive and competitive and will frequently make decisions without considering them fully. Because these drivers are less able to regulate their mood and may not understand how to deal with others courteously, they can be driven to unchecked anger by the stresses of the road.

If you have a disposition that makes you more likely to drive aggressively, it's essential that you recognize this fact and take any necessary actions to avoid putting others at risk. Of course, not all personality traits can be changed and not all dispositions that could lead to aggressive driving are necessarily bad in all situations. A responsible driving attitude simply requires that you don't let your emotions make your decisions for you when you're behind the wheel. If you don't think you can do that, you shouldn't drive.

To park your car: ◦If you are parked on an incline, turn your wheels away from or towards the curb as appropriate. ◦Set the parking brake. ◦Shift the transmission to Park (in a car with a standard transmission, leave the transmission in 1st or Reverse). ◦Turn off the engine and set the ignition to Start. ◦Take your foot off the brake pedal. ◦Close any open windows and turn off all accessories and lights. ◦Turn the ignition switch to Lock and remove the key. After you leave your car, make sure all your doors are locked

If you have children or transport child passengers, you are responsible for making sure that you secure your car in such a way that they are not endangered. Keep your parked car locked at all times and keep your keys away from children. ◦Make sure you never leave a child unattended in a car. Even in a short time, a child may panic, become overheated, or even suffocate. ◦Before closing a door, make sure children's hands and feet are clear of the door and door hinges. ◦Activate the child safety locks in the rear doors and make sure they are functional. Explain to your children the dangers of playing around cars or near the roadway.

If you hit a parked vehicle or another form of property, try to find the owner. If you cannot find the owner, leave a note with your name, address, and phone number under the windshield, as well as a description of the circumstances of the collision. Report the collision without delay to the police. You should follow this same procedure if your car rolls away and hits another vehicle after you have parked it.

If you kill or injure an animal, pull over to the side of the road and stop. Try to find the owner. If you cannot find the owner, call the Humane Society or the police. Do not try to move an injured animal, but never leave an injured animal to die—it is inhumane and cruel.

If you lose steering control, don't panic. Take your foot off the accelerator, and don't brake. Braking may cause your vehicle to steer left or right unpredictably. Activate your hazard lights, and honk or flash your high-beams to warn other drivers. When you've slowed down to 10 to 15 mph, brake gently and come to a stop. Call a tow truck and stay in your vehicle. Only exit your vehicle if you're sure that it's safe to do so.

If you lose power steering, you can still control your vehicle, but it will require much more force. This effect is more noticeable at lower speeds, but is more dangerous at higher speeds. Either way, the best thing to do is to activate your hazard lights, grip the steering wheel, and steer firmly to the side of the road. Pull over and turn off your engine. If power steering is lost due to the engine stalling or otherwise turning off, you'll also lose power braking. Both problems can usually be solved by restarting the engine. If this fails to return your vehicle to normal operation, call a mechanic.

The force of any collision is dependent not only on the energy of your car, but also on the energy of the car or object you collide with. Remember, Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Consider: ◦If you hit a stationary punching bag, the force of your fist will be much greater than the force of the bag and the bag will swing away. ◦After the bag has swung away, the chain attached to the bag will pull it back in the direction of your fist. If you hit it again as it swings towards you, it will have a greater amount of force due to its greater kinetic energy. ◦If you hit a brick wall, the force of the stationary wall will be much greater than the force of your fist and the energy will be directed back into your fist, injuring your hand.

If you realize that a collision with another vehicle or a stationary object is immediate and unavoidable, you can minimize the force of impact by: ◦Decreasing your speed or steering your car in a way that gives you more time to slow before hitting the object ◦Directing your car towards objects more able to absorb the force of impact, such as bushes or sand barrels on expressways, instead of concrete barriers or other vehicles ◦Driving your car towards surfaces such as snow or soft dirt that can cushion the impact ◦Diverting your car so it collides with another car or object from the side rather than head-on to lessen the severity of the impact

After shifting into neutral, try kicking the accelerator pedal from the side. If that doesn't work, use your foot to pull up on the pedal from underneath. Honk and flash your high-beams to warn other drivers. In some vehicles, simply applying your brakes may bring you to a stop. If pressing the brake pedal fails to stop the vehicle, let go of it: holding on while the car accelerates can burn the brakes out, making them unusable. Do not turn the engine off. This will turn off power steering and power braking, making your vehicle even more difficult to control.

If you regain enough control, steer smoothly off the road and park in a safe place. Call a tow truck—don't drive again until the pedal is repaired. If you can't slow down or regain control, reduce the severity of your impact by hitting something soft, light, or broad. If you must collide with a moving object, a vehicle travelling in the same direction as you will provide a much softer impact than a vehicle travelling the opposite direction.

It's important to remember that any minor who consumes, possesses, or attempts to purchase alcohol is a criminal. If you commit an alcohol- or drug-related crime, you will face severe legal consequences, including a prolonged term in prison. If you're sent to prison, your education may be delayed, you may find it harder to get a job, and you may even lose the right to vote. You may be separated from everyone important to you for years, and by the time you see them again, it may be too late to revive your relationships.

If you think no one really gets arrested for alcohol- and drug-related offenses, think again! According to the FBI, 12.2 million people were arrested in 2012. Of these, 3.8 million, or about 31%, were arrested for a crime that involved alcohol or drugs: 1.28 million were arrested for a drunk driving offense. 1.55 million were arrested for a drug abuse violation. 441,000 were arrested for a liquor law violation. 511,000 were arrested for public drunkenness.

Have your keys in your hand as you approach your car. ◦If you're parked in a lot, approach your car from the rear to check the back of the vehicle and see if any pedestrians or objects are nearby. ◦If you're parked curbside, approach the driver's door from the front so you can scan the road behind your car and wait to open your door if there are oncoming vehicles, bicyclists, etc.

In the ideal driving position: ◦Your view of the road should not be obstructed by the hood of the car. ◦Your left foot should rest on the dead pedal. ◦Your right foot should be positioned on the floor between the accelerator and brake pedals ◦Your head restraint should be positioned at the top of your ears ◦Your seat belt should be properly fastened

You may be tempted to have a drink so others won't give you a hard time. Yet giving into one type of pressure will not help you escape from people who want to influence your behavior. Once you've demonstrated that you're impressionable, others will recognize that they can manipulate you and make you do things even if you don't want to. Every time you give in, it will become harder for you to stand up for yourself in the future.

If you want people to respect you, know your own mind. By understanding your own desires and motivations, you can prevent yourself from doing something that you feel uneasy or concerned about. Don't let others actively or passively bully you into drinking. Only by standing up to people who try to pressure you will they come to understand that you're fine without they're approval and their attempts to influence you have no power. Eventually others will leave you alone—or even admire you for your convictions.

Moreover, a record of reckless driving can cause your insurance rates to increase. If you are found at-fault for a collision, you may face higher insurance rates for at least three years. If you're found to have caused a collision while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, your rates could go up even more, or your policy may be cancelled altogether. If this happens, you won't be able to drive until you obtain a new insurance policy.

If you're convicted of a major traffic violation or are found responsible for a collision that caused significant property damage, injury, or death, you may be dealing with the consequences of a single bad decision for years. Indeed, you may find your life permanently altered as a result of a careless moment behind the wheel.

Your license may be suspended or revoked automatically for certain traffic violations, such as reckless driving or a hit-and-run. Moreover, a judge may order your license to be revoked or suspended if you are convicted of: Speeding and reckless driving Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Failing to stop as required at a railroad crossing Fleeing a law enforcement officer A license suspension may be the least of the punishments you receive for these crimes. You may also receive heavy fines and a significant prison sentence. In addition to these other penalties, drivers under 25 who are cited for a moving violation may be required to attend a four-hour driver safety course.

If you're convicted of a major traffic violation or are found responsible for a collision that caused significant property damage, injury, or death, you may be dealing with the consequences of a single bad decision for years. Indeed, you may find your life permanently altered as a result of a careless moment behind the wheel.

Abusing or becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs is also a good way to lose your job. The illegal activity, poor hygiene, personality changes, and apathy towards social interactions that causes addicts to alienate their friends and family also makes them into particularly unreliable employees. If you show up to work late, unkempt, fatigued, or unable to pay attention due to your substance abuse problems, it will be hard for you to maintain your job for very long.

If you're dealing with addiction, you may be fired for doing your job poorly, upsetting customers, not getting along with your coworkers, or simply for acting strangely. If, like many employers, your job performs drug tests on its employees, you will lose your job when you inevitably test positive for drugs. Finally, it should go without saying that you can be fired immediately if you're caught drinking or using, buying, or selling illegal drugs while you're at work.

When driving, watch out for the following warning signs that you're too tired to drive safely: You have trouble keeping your eyes open You have difficulty maintaining a constant speed You're having a hard time remaining upright and keeping your head up Your vehicle keeps driving over rumble strips or raised lane dividers Your thoughts are disconnected or you're unable to remember the last few minutes

If you're fatigued you should: Maintain an upright driving posture. Avoid leaning forward, as you'll be more likely to fall asleep and have less control of your car in this position. Keep your eyes moving so you'll remain alert. Check your mirrors frequently. Open your windows to let fresh air in. Avoid overheating your car, even in the winter. Wear your seat belt.

Your temporary anonymity won't protect you if you cause a collision. You'll be forced to reveal your name, license number, and insurance policy number to the police and the other driver, and you'll be fully accountable for any damage or injury you cause. If you value your anonymity, calm down and avoid unsafe actions when you're behind the wheel. You may end up with more publicity than you bargained for if you cause a collision: your name may appear in your local newspaper's crime blotter, or even among its obituaries.

If you're feeling stressed or angry before driving: Try taking a walk while breathing deeply. Talk to a friend or family member to help you work out your emotions or at least take your mind off them. Close your eyes, count backwards from ten, and think about the things in life you'd miss if you were seriously injured or killed in a collision. If you can't calm down, don't drive. It's never worth risking your life.

Epileptics can generally obtain a standard class C license if they are on medication and have gone without any seizures for one year. Deformities and loss of limbs can be corrected for with prosthetic devices and special vehicle controls which allow people with disabilities to drive as safely as anyone else. Drivers with musculoskeletal disabilities may be able to operate vehicles equipped with special equipment. People who have a difficult time seeing to the sides due to neck or back problems or partial blindness can have larger mirrors installed on the sides of their cars to improve their view of the road.

If you're issued a restricted drivers license, you must only drive when the conditions specified by the restriction are met, even if you personally believe you can drive safely without doing so. Your license will be revoked if you operate a motor vehicle contrary to any restrictions listed on your license. If your medical condition changes, either for the better or for the worse, you should apply for a license that reflects your current health status. Otherwise, you may be driving illegally without knowing it!

There are too many different drugs to list or count, but they can be grouped into three useful categories: stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. While we will consider each of these kinds of drugs in more depth soon, it's easy to remember the basic differences between these categories: Stimulants speed you up. Depressants slow you down. Hallucinogens alter your thought and perception.

In addition to these categories, you may have heard the term "narcotics" before. This term is generally used to describe all drugs that relieve pain, dull the senses, and induce sleep. This includes opioids, barbiturates, and pain relievers. When used in reference to crimes and law enforcement, "narcotics" generally means "controlled substances." These include heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD, and methamphetamine.

Any time your car gets damaged in a collision, you should have it looked at by a professional mechanic, even if the damage seems minor. Damage to one part of your car may cause a malfunction somewhere else when you're least expecting it. The typical cost to repair damage incurred in a collision can range from under $1,000 for minor dents to $10,000 or more if a major component has to be replaced. According to the Insurance Research Council, in 2012, the average insurance claim for vehicles damaged in a collision was $2,950.

If you're lucky, the only thing that will be damaged in a collision is your car. Unfortunately, many drivers are injured or killed as the result of their own or another driver's careless behavior behind the wheel. Some of the consequences you may have to face if you're injured in a car crash include: Physical pain and suffering Significant disfigurement Temporary or permanent disability leaving you unable to attend school or work Missed school or work during your recovery time Inability to participate in social functions Costly medical expenses Higher insurance rates Long-term health complications

Even if your insurance policy covers the cost of repairs, your insurance rates will rise and your car may be out of commission for weeks, especially if parts need to be replaced. Just think: if you're careless at the wrong time, you could be carless for a long time.

If you're lucky, the only thing that will be damaged in a collision is your car. Unfortunately, many drivers are injured or killed as the result of their own or another driver's careless behavior behind the wheel. Some of the consequences you may have to face if you're injured in a car crash include: Physical pain and suffering Significant disfigurement Temporary or permanent disability leaving you unable to attend school or work Missed school or work during your recovery time Inability to participate in social functions Costly medical expenses Higher insurance rates Long-term health complications

On the following slides you'll see a few good options for getting home safely after drinking. However, there's only one surefire way to bring your chances of causing a drunk driving collision to zero, and it's not complicated: don't drink and drive. That's the simplest, easiest, and surest way to avoid drunk driving. If you have even a sip of alcohol, don't drive. If you are going to drive, do not have even a sip of alcohol.

If you're out with friends and anyone plans to drink, be sure to choose a designated driver before anyone starts drinking. The designated driver's duty is to get everyone home safely. This means he or she can't have a single sip of alcohol. If you're drinking alone, don't bring a car. Always choose a designated driver. It's one of the safest and surest ways to avoid drunk driving deaths.

If you're overly emotional, you won't be able to perceive or react to changes within the driving environment. To drive safely, you must be: Emotionally stable and unlikely to overreact Able to make complex, split-second decisions in response to road conditions and traffic Considerate of others Able to recognize and perform the most appropriate action Able to use good judgment Attentive to the driving task Patient and calm in stressful driving conditions

If you're overly emotional, you won't be able to perceive or react to changes within the driving environment. To drive safely, you must be: Emotionally stable and unlikely to overreact Able to make complex, split-second decisions in response to road conditions and traffic Considerate of others Able to recognize and perform the most appropriate action Able to use good judgment Attentive to the driving task Patient and calm in stressful driving conditions

If your choice to drink is motivated by the reasons we've just discussed, you'll be making a decision that's truly motivated by no real reason at all. While drinking is something that responsible adults can enjoy in moderation for its own sake, no reasonable person has ever thought that alcohol is a good way to solve a problem.

If you're willing to drink for foolish reasons, you're probably not responsible enough to drive. You may deal with complicated situations on the road by driving recklessly, taking shortcuts, ignoring other road users, and disregarding the potential risks of your actions. Ultimately, you may end up solving all your problems in the worst way possible: if you're killed in a collision, you'll never have to worry about anything again.

The low fuel warning light typically comes on when your vehicle has less than one or two gallons of fuel left—check your vehicle owner's manual for information on your own model. You can avoid this warning entirely by refueling before your tank becomes this empty. Many people refill their tanks when they're one quarter full—find what works best for you. When the low fuel warning light illuminates, find a service station as soon as possible. Accelerate slowly and coast as much as possible to conserve fuel.

If your engine becomes overheated, it may stall—it may slow down and stop running. Factors that can cause your engine to overheat include: Driving in excessive heat Driving uphill Towing or carrying a heavy load Repeated stopping and starting Low coolant levels Broken radiator hose, fan belt, or water pump

When choosing where to pull over, find a place that minimizes the hazard your vehicle presents to others on the road. Try to stop as far over on the side of the shoulder as possible. Don't stop near curves or hills—they may hide your vehicle from traffic in one direction or both. If drivers can't see your vehicle for at least 100 ft from both directions, place warning devices at that distance.

If your engine has stalled and you're driving a manual transmission vehicle, try to come to a stop in a place where it will be easier to perform a rolling start. A long, clear downhill stretch will work best. When you've found an appropriate location, pull off the road, come safely to a stop, and park your vehicle. Remember to set the parking brake even in emergency situations. Turn your engine off and take your keys from the ignition.

When your vehicle's right wheels drop off the pavement, the most important thing to remember is: do not panic. Using the off-road recovery technique described in the following slides, you can and will recover from this situation.

It is dangerous to let panic control your actions. For instance, you may immediately steer sharply left to get back to the road as soon as you drive off it. As a result, your vehicle will be thrust into the roadway, cross the center line, and roll over on the other side of the road. Many fatal one-car crashes have been caused by panic-steering instead of allowing the car to slow down.

If your engine temperature remains abnormally high or seems more erratic than usual, you may have a leak in your radiator or your coolant may need to be replaced. Breakdowns, collisions, and costly repairs can be avoided by keeping your cooling system in good working order. This involves regularly checking under your car for coolant leaks, maintaining the proper amount of coolant, and changing it according to the recommendations of your vehicle's manufacturer.

If your engine temperature remains abnormally high or seems more erratic than usual, you may have a leak in your radiator or your coolant may need to be replaced. Breakdowns, collisions, and costly repairs can be avoided by keeping your cooling system in good working order. This involves regularly checking under your car for coolant leaks, maintaining the proper amount of coolant, and changing it according to the recommendations of your vehicle's manufacturer.

On some newer vehicles, indicators will monitor and display air pressure in tires and the car's Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Traction System (ETS). Other cars have an instrument panel which will include a control center that shows an outline of the vehicle. When a system is malfunctioning, a light will activate in the appropriate place so you can immediately see where the problem is.

If your front driver or passenger seat belts are unfastened, the red safety belt indicator light will activate and the dashboard will chime for a minute or so after you start your car. ◦You may also see a light indicating that a door has been left open when the vehicle is in gear.

Your headlights serve two extremely important functions: allowing you to see the road more clearly, and making your vehicle more visible to other drivers. It's not safe to drive without headlights if driving conditions call for them. If your headlights darken while activated, or if they fail to activate, flip all headlight switches repeatedly. If this doesn't work, slow down and pull over. Check your battery warning light—malfunctioning headlights may indicate a dying battery. To prevent further depletion, turn off all unnecessary electronic devices.

If your hood opens while you're driving, don't panic. Take your foot off the accelerator, activate your hazard lights, and try to find a way to see the road. Slouch down and look through the gap at the bottom of your hood, if possible. If you can, try looking around your hood. Pull over to the side of the road. If your trunk opens, activate your hazard lights and carefully pull over to the side of the road. Be particularly careful when changing lanes—you'll only be able to use your side view mirrors. After pulling over, close your hood or trunk tightly and test it by pulling on it. Don't drive again unless your hood and trunk are securely latched.

Much like rain, winter weather increases the probability of traction loss. Recovering from a skid on snow or ice works much the same as a skid on wet pavement, but it can be far more difficult. Skids on snow or ice happen more easily, are less predictable, and are more severe. Because of the increased probability of traction loss, you must keep in mind that the actions of other drivers are less predictable. Go much more slowly and give other drivers much more space in order to avoid being involved in a collision.

If your vehicle becomes stuck in deep snow, keep calm. Before attempting to free your vehicle, find your exhaust pipe and clear snow away from the area around it. A blocked or smothered exhaust pipe can cause a deadly buildup of carbon monoxide inside your vehicle. To free your vehicle from the snow, point your front wheels straight ahead, shift into a lower gear—2nd in a manual transmission, or D2 in an automatic—and press the accelerator very gently. Press too hard and your wheels will spin freely against the snow without gaining traction.

Most vehicle fires start in the engine compartment. If you see smoke or flames coming from under your hood, pull over immediately. Vehicle fires are particularly dangerous, typically involving burning fuel, oil, electronics, plastic, and numerous other materials. The combustion of these materials produces extremely toxic fumes.

If your vehicle begins to catch fire, quickly pull over in an area clear of plants and other flammable materials. Avoid service stations and other businesses. Unless you're properly equipped to fight the flames, all occupants should move at least 100 ft away from the vehicle. Call the fire department immediately. If you have a chemical fire extinguisher and the fire is very small, it may be a good idea to attempt to put it out. Cover your hands with gloves or rags, and keep your face low and away from the heat of the flames. If you can't quickly extinguish the fire, stop trying. Leave the hood down and move away from the vehicle.

Single-vehicle collisions occur when a single vehicle strikes an immobile object, usually off the road. Maintain control of your vehicle and, above all, stay in your lane. Unless debris or another hazard blocks your path, you will not suffer a single-vehicle collision if you stay in your lane. Unfit drivers are often at fault in their own single-vehicle collisions. Consider the typical collision suffered by drowsy drivers: a single vehicle leaves the road and collides with a stationary object at a high speed, while the driver makes no attempt to avoid the object. These collisions are extremely deadly and are easily avoided by those fit to drive.

If your vehicle falls into deep water and begins sinking, leave it behind and concentrate on your safety and the safety of the other occupants. If your car enters water deep enough to sink in, immediately roll down all windows. This will help it fill with water, which is actually a good thing. If your vehicle becomes submerged with its windows rolled up, the pressure of the water on your doors may be too great to allow you to open them. If you open your windows late, the rush of water may make breathing and escaping more difficult. Unbuckle yourself, breathe in as much air as you can hold, and exit the vehicle.

Slow down as you approach an intersection, even when the light is green. After entering the intersection cautiously, you can return to normal cruising speed. Pay attention to the signal as you approach the intersection. This will give you more time to judge how long the light has been green and whether it is likely to change before you enter the intersection.

Immediately after the traffic signal changes from red to green, it is known as a fresh green signal. Make sure you yield to vehicles already in the intersection when the signal is fresh. A traffic signal that has been green for a while is known as a stale green signal. In this situation, be prepared to stop as you approach the intersection: the light may turn yellow at any moment.

Improper Turns Other traffic is often endangered when you fail to turn properly: When turning left, you must cross two different streams of opposing traffic, including vehicles approaching from your left and vehicles coming towards you. If you attempt to cut corners or fail to yield in the intersection when necessary, you could collide with another car. When turning right, you may encounter a conflict, especially if you turn right on a red light. Watch out for pedestrians in the crosswalk and be sure to avoid making a wide right turn. Be especially cautious when performing a U-turn because you must cross at least two lanes of opposing traffic and you may confuse other drivers. Make sure the maneuver is permitted before you begin.

Improper Lane Use and Passing Passing, changing lanes, and merging are particularly dangerous because they involve multiple cars making complex maneuvers that rely less on established rules and more on driver discretion. When passing another vehicle or changing lanes, it's up to you to determine when it's safe and where and how to make the maneuver. No sign or lane marking will tell you where to drive in order to pass safely.

Additionally, under the Zero Tolerance laws, it's illegal for you to misrepresent your age to buy alcohol, whether you use a fake ID or simply state that you are over 21 when asked. Moreover, if you use a drivers license in an illegal way, you will face additional penalties including a fine of up to $2,000, a license suspension for up to a year, and a jail term of 72 hours to 180 days.

Improper use of a drivers license includes: Displaying or possessing a license knowing it is false, cancelled, revoked, suspended, or altered Lending a drivers license or ID to someone else Representing another person's license or ID as your own Failing to surrender a cancelled, suspended, or revoked license Having more than one valid license Using false information to obtain a license

When people die or permanently ruin their lives due to alcohol abuse, they don't just rob the world of themselves now—they also destroy all the years of contributions to the world that they would have made had they lived. Accordingly, the CDC reports that annual deaths due to excessive alcohol use cause a loss of over 2.5 million potential years of life. Even if each victim of alcohol use contributed only $4,000 to the domestic product annually, these deaths would represent a loss of over $10 billion.

In 2000, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism released a study that estimated the annual economic costs of alcohol abuse. This study found that in 1998, alcohol abuse cost the United States approximately $185 billion. This study also showed that DUI collisions cost the U.S. over $15 billion in property damages alone. Keep in mind that this amount doesn't include the costs associated with injuries or deaths caused by the collisions. Additionally, the Office of National Drug Control Policy published a study in 2011 that estimated the annual cost of drug abuse in the United States. The study estimated that in 2007, drug abuse cost the nation over $193 billion.

If you refuse to submit to a chemical test when requested by an officer, the officer can immediately order your license to be suspended. All drivers will receive a 180-day suspension for a first offense of refusing to submit to a chemical test, and a two-year suspension if their license has been previously suspended for an ALR or DWI offense. Drivers operating a vehicle with an instruction permit or provisional license may face an even longer suspension or denial of their driving privileges.

In 2011, 1,913 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were involved in a fatal collision had been drinking at the time of the crash. However, it is important to remember that drunk drivers are not the only people killed in alcohol-related collisions, and in many circumstances, the driver will survive while a passenger, a pedestrian, or another driver is killed. Indeed, over 250 of those killed in a collision involving alcohol were under the age of 16! Keep in mind that if you choose to drive drunk while transporting friends, your friends could pay for your mistake with their lives.

Alcohol can destroy lives before they even begin. Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs when a woman uses alcohol during her pregnancy. The child of a woman who drinks during pregnancy is likely to be born with permanent physical or mental disabilities, or both. In the most severe cases of fetal alcohol syndrome, the child will likely be born with abnormal facial features, growth problems, problems in the central nervous system, and memory, attention, and communications deficiencies—if the child is born at all. Frequently, alcohol use during pregnancy results in the death of the fetus. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during a pregnancy. According to some estimates, as many as five children in every 1,000 are born with some disability or medical problem due to their mother's alcohol use during pregnancy.

In 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that almost 60 million Americans had been binge drinking within the 30 days of the survey. These binge drinkers account for almost half of the 135.5 million Americans who consider themselves current drinkers. Remember, binge drinking can be incredibly dangerous. If you think you're not a problem drinker just because you only drink when you're out with friends, think again: many people who start as social drinkers end up becoming problem drinkers.

Roads with increased traffic flow and volume are classified as Moderate Risk Environments. Urban, suburban, and rural areas with speed limits up to 50 mph are considered moderate-risk environments. Timely recognition of both potential and immediate risks is vital in these more fast-paced environments. The importance of scanning the road, selecting a proper lane, moderating your speed, remaining alert, and paying attention to right-of-way rules becomes greater.

In Complex Risk Environments, traffic flow and volume can be heavy and unpredictable, your path of travel and line of sight are likely to be obstructed, right-of-way can be difficult to determine, and distractions are numerous. These environments, where the impacts of driver error tend to be more severe, include: -Major highways and expressways where speeds of up to 75 mph are permitted -Intersections in urban, suburban, and rural areas

The most well-known American manufacturers of steam-driven automobiles were the Stanley brothers of Massachusetts. They produced their Stanley Steamers from 1897 until after World War I. Within a few years, however, American manufacturers would begin to mass produce cars with internal-combustion engines. These men included Henry Ford, who founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903, proclaiming, "I will build a car for the great multitude."

In October 1908, Henry Ford made good on his promise, introducing the Model T at a price of $950. By 1927, the year it was discontinued in favor of other models, the price had reached as low as $280, a single car could be assembled in 93 minutes, and over 15 million Model Ts had been sold in the United States alone. The Model T heralded the beginning of the motor age. By the 1920s, the automobile had evolved from a novelty used mostly by the well-to-do to an essential form of transportation for the ordinary citizen.

Throughout Texas, a yellow curb indicates a no parking zone. You may not park beside a yellow curb.

In Texas, you are also prohibited from parking beside a red curb. Areas with red curbs are designated fire lanes.

Remember, alcohol is a poison and it has toxic effects on your body as well as your mind. What could be more foolish than becoming so dependent on a toxic substance that your body comes to rely on it to function properly? As a person becomes more emotionally dependent on something so obviously destructive to his or her health, he or she must begin to rationalize the addiction or simply choose not to think at all. As his or her ability to reason deteriorates, the drinker becomes more susceptible to the influence of extreme emotions.

In Unit 17, we discussed how different forms of stress can affect your performance as a driver. For example: Increased nervousness and anxiety can make you worry excessively, drive too slowly, or attempt to avoid dangers that don't exist. Depression and general distraction can make you miss turns and exits, forget to check blind spots or signal, or fail to observe the situation on the road. Irritability can cause the driver to overreact to minor delays and mistakes, leading to aggressive and reckless driving.

While many railroad crossings use signals and crossing gates to warn drivers and keep them off the tracks when a train is approaching, most crossings only use advanced warning signs. As a result, an inattentive driver might enter a crossing without first checking to make sure that no trains are approaching, especially if he or she frequently travels the same route. Remain attentive as you approach a railroad crossing and stop at least 15 ft from the tracks whenever a train is approaching. Review more rules for safely interacting with trains here.

In a number of major cities in Texas, you will encounter special tracks designated for the use of light rail vehicles (LRVs) such as trams, trolleys, streetcars, and cable cars. Although light rail vehicles have the exclusive use of these tracks, they must share intersections with other traffic and often must obey traffic signals. Exercise caution when driving near light rail tracks. Light rail trains are generally quiet, so you may not notice their approach unless you're watching for activity on the tracks.

There is a wide variety of construction signs due to the variety of situations in which they may be used. Other than the color orange, many construction signs are identical to regulatory or warning signs. However, unlike these other signs, construction signs are temporary and will be removed when the work is complete. This sign indicates that there is road work ahead.

In addition to orange signs, a number of other devices are used in construction zones to channel traffic, including: *Orange cones, tubes, and drums marked with white stripes to indicate areas of the road where driving is forbidden *Flashing arrow panels that can direct traffic during day and night and quickly be adjusted as work progresses *Barricades and panels that are sometimes marked with diagonal white and orange stripes pointing to a potential hazard

To minimize the effects of glare: ◦Use your car's sun visors ◦Adjust the angle of your rearview mirror with the tab at the bottom ◦Wear sun glasses or other dark lenses during the sunset or other times when the sun is especially bright ◦Avoid looking directly at the headlights of oncoming cars ◦Keep your windshield and windows clean

In addition to the physical impairments that can permanently limit your vision, there are a number of temporary causes of impaired vision that can affect your driving ability, including: ◦Fatigue ◦Smoking ◦Alcohol and drug use ◦Illnesses, even minor ones like allergies and colds You must act responsibly if your visual capacities are impaired. Never get behind the wheel if you know you are having any difficulty seeing.

Because of the harsh penalties associated with Zero Tolerance laws, some teens might be afraid to contact the authorities for help if they're drinking with friends and someone gets sick. To ensure that teens will get medical assistance for a friend who has consumed a toxic amount of alcohol, Texas has established the 911 Lifeline Law. Under this law, if someone seems to be suffering from alcohol poisoning, you can call 911 without worrying about legal punishments: the first person to call for medical assistance will not be charged for consuming or possessing alcohol as long as he or she remains on the scene until aid arrives and consistently cooperates with law enforcement.

In addition to the risks of injury and death associated with alcohol abuse and drunk driving, you may also face a financial disaster if you are caught driving while intoxicated. A person charged with a drunk driving offense should expect to pay: *Fines of up to $10,000 *Legal fees *The cost of any court-mandated alcohol education courses *The cost of an Ignition Interlock Device *Increased insurance rates *License reinstatement fees This is in addition to the potential income lost by being unable to drive. All together, a drunk driving conviction may cost you up to $20,000. However, compared with the alternatives—including death, medical care, and car repairs—the conviction may still be the least costly outcome.

At the far left of the area beneath the steering column, there is usually a raised foot rest where you should place your left foot while you drive. With your foot on this dead pedal, you'll have better posture while driving and be better able to brace yourself when turning or braking abruptly.

In addition to the service brake, all cars are equipped with a second braking system known as the parking brake. The parking brake is attached to a hydraulic system that works on the back wheels independently of the service brakes. In general, you should only use the parking brake to keep your car in place when parking. However, if your service brakes fail you can use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. Keep in mind that your stopping distance will be longer because the parking brake works only on the back wheels.

When you notice that there is less traction between your tires and the roadway, slow down! Exercise caution as you decrease your speed. If you brake too quickly, you could lose control of your vehicle and start to skid. Lift your foot from the accelerator and shift the transmission to a lower gear, if possible.

In addition to traction, another force that affects your car's tires is Rolling Resistance. As they roll, your tires will change shape due to the force of your car's weight on them. This causes them to experience repeated cycles of deformation (being flexed out of shape) and recovery (returning to the proper shape). During this process, some of the energy produced by the engine and transferred to the wheels is converted to heat and radiated away or dissipated. The more the tire deforms, the more it must recover, and therefore the more resistance is generated.

It's illegal for drivers or passengers to have an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle. Even if the car is parked or you aren't the one driving, you'll face a fine of up to $500 simply for being in possession of an alcoholic beverage with a broken seal or with some contents removed. However, this law does not apply to passengers in a vehicle for hire (like a limo, taxi, or bus) or in the living quarters of a motor home, or alcoholic beverages locked in the glove compartment, the trunk, or another secure area.

In addition, significant legal penalties are associated with: Furnishing alcohol to a minor: An adult who sells alcohol to or purchases an alcoholic beverage for a minor is guilty of a Zero Tolerance offense. He or she can be punished by a fine of up to $4,000 and a jail term of up to a one year. Drug convictions: In addition to the other penalties you may face, your license can be suspended for up to six months if you are convicted of violating the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

For instance, consider how a license suspension alone could change your quality of life. Not only will your social opportunities and job options be more limited, but it may be harder to get to school and you will face major inconveniences whenever you need to go someplace. Think about all the ways that you think having a drivers license will improve your life. Now imagine not being able to do any of them.

In addition, the opportunities available to you may be limited for years due to the financial obligations you must meet as the result of a collision, even if no one else is injured. For instance, even if you just carelessly collide with a parked car, you may have to pay: The cost to repair or replace the car you crashed into The cost to repair or replace your own car Any fines, penalties, and court costs Increases to your insurance premium The costs of missed work time These costs can quickly add up far beyond what your insurance policy is able to cover. How would your plans for your life change if you needed to pay hundreds of dollars a month for years to make up for one mistake?

Moreover, alcohol use diminishes the ability to distinguish individual objects if they are dimly lit, even when you only drink a little. This will make driving at night, or in rainy or foggy weather conditions, much more dangerous. The effects of alcohol on the driver's ability to distinguish contrast are powerful. This is one of the main reasons that drunk drivers contribute so heavily to the number of crashes that occur at night. The unfortunate fact is, people tend to drink at the very times when they're most endangered by the negative effects of intoxication.

In addition, when you've been drinking: Your peripheral vision will be decreases, giving you tunnel vision and making it harder for you to notice what's going on around you. Your depth perception will be impaired, making it impossible for you to judge distances and maintain a safe space around your car. As we've discussed, vision is the sense drivers rely on most when driving. Being able to see is as important to driving safely as having functioning brakes. You wouldn't get on the road if your brakes couldn't stop your car, so why would you drive when you can't properly see what you're doing?

A driver whose license is suspended for a DWI offense may apply for a special license that will allow them to continue to drive as long as they install and continue to use an ignition interlock device (IID) in their car. The IID must be approved by the state of Texas and remain installed for the entire duration of the suspension period. The driver will generally be required to pay the cost of installing the device. An IID is a mechanism installed in a vehicle's ignition system that a driver must breathe into when starting the car and periodically during vehicle operation. This device can measure a driver's blood alcohol content and prevent the engine from running if he or she has a BAC over a certain limit.

In certain situations, the court may allow a driver whose license has been suspended for a DWI offense to obtain an Occupational, or Essential Needs, License if he or she can demonstrate an essential need to use a car (e.g. for work or school or to transport a family member). These licenses allow drivers to operate their vehicles only for certain purposes or under certain conditions, and do not require the driver to install an IID. Drivers convicted of multiple or serious DWI offenses are generally not eligible for an Occupational License.

Have a friend help you figure how much of the pavement around your car will be concealed from you when you're behind the wheel. ◦Sit in the driver's seat with the engine off. ◦Ask your friend to stand close to the bumper, facing you, and then slowly walk backwards. ◦When you can see his or her feet, wave and have him or her place a cone in that spot. ◦Repeat this procedure all around the car, looking behind you in the same way you would if you were driving. When cones have been placed around your car, you'll be able to see how much of the road is hidden from you when you're driving.

In certain situations, you may have to adjust your lane position to give other roadway users more space. Changing lanes or moving over within the same lane to accommodate other vehicles is known as compromising your lane position. Generally, you will have to compromise your lane position when another driver is changing lanes, preparing to turn, responding to a hazard, or exhibiting unsafe behavior on the road.

With a car, you can get to school, work, off-campus activities and sporting events, friends' houses, the library, and anywhere else you want to go with ease. While it's natural to want to fit as much into a day as you can, sometimes you'll have to choose between doing something else or getting home before you're too tired to drive. Plan your schedule to avoid driving at night. If you're too tired to drive, stay at a friend's house or get someone who's more alert to give you a ride.

In general, drivers are more likely to experience fatigue when they're: Sleep deprived Driving long distances without breaks Driving when they're normally asleep Driving on long, rural roads without much variation Driving alone Frequent travelers Because all these factors tend to apply to commercial truck drivers, fatigue is one of the biggest safety issues that affects truckers. 00:15

At many intersections, the traffic signals will include a push button to allow pedestrians to indicate that they are waiting to cross. If one of these buttons is posted where you are waiting to cross, you should press this button. In general, these buttons are not designed to cause an immediate change in the traffic signal. Instead, they may decrease the amount of time before the signal changes or increase the amount of time pedestrians have to cross. Sometimes, a WALK signal will not be displayed unless this button is pressed.

In some places, certain lanes of traffic will be designated as reversible to accommodate the fact that the flow of traffic tends to be significantly heavier in one direction at some times of the day and heavier in the other direction at others. Special signal lights are posted over these lanes to indicate to drivers whether they may or may not drive in the lane.

There are certain right-of-way rules you must follow whenever you are changing lanes or merging with other traffic. Like dealing with intersections, merging can be dangerous because it involves multiple drivers wishing to use the same area of the road. The most important thing you should remember about changing lanes is that whenever you want to change lanes you must yield to traffic already in that lane.

In general, when two vehicles wish to occupy the same space on a roadway, the vehicle on the right should yield to the vehicle on the left. In lane change situations, this is because the vehicle moving from the faster lane should have the right-of-way, and because cars moving across the roadway from the left may need to get to an exit on the right side of the roadway. We will discuss procedures for safe lane changes more in later lessons.

Before passing, you must ask yourself whether making the maneuver is safe, legal, and necessary. You should never pass when: ◦Your visibility is limited, making it impossible to judge whether you have enough room to pass safely ◦You are approaching or driving on a hill, curve, or bridge or in a tunnel ◦Road or weather conditions would make it difficult to maneuver or stop rapidly in an emergency ◦Other vehicles are approaching in the lane of traffic you intend to use to pass ◦The car ahead of you is planning to turn, change lanes, or stop ◦You are driving in a no passing zone

In general, you should only pass: ◦At a speed more than 10 mph faster than the car you're passing ◦On the left. You may pass on the right only on one-way or multi-lane roads or when the car ahead of you is slowing, stopping, or preparing to turn left. ◦When you can overtake the car ahead of you and return to your lane before an approaching car comes within 200 ft of you

It's essential that you evaluate the situation before executing a maneuver. While your first impulse may be to act first and think later, this will often only make matters worse. As a defensive driver, you should never be completely surprised by another driver's actions. By planning ahead, you should be able to respond safely even in an emergency situation.

In many situations, stopping will not be the safest maneuver. Steer away from the hazard if possible, even if it requires you to drive off the roadway temporarily, as this is safer than hitting another vehicle. ◦Sometimes the best way to avoid a collision is to speed up. If a vehicle is about to hit you from the side or the rear, you should speed up to avoid or minimize the collision. This will work best if you have left a large gap in front of your vehicle.

In many places in the state, a blue curb indicates that the space may be used only for handicapped parking. Cars must have a special placard or license plate in order to park in these spaces. Blue placards are issued to drivers with permanent disabilities, while red placards are issued to drivers with temporary disabilities. They may be used by handicapped drivers or by vehicles used to transport disabled people who are unable to drive.

In most lots, some parking spots will be reserved for vehicles with a handicapped license plate or placard. These spots are indicated with pavement markings and signs depicting a blue wheelchair symbol as well as a posted sign. Certain spaces will be designated for blue placard holders only.

On the right of the steering column, the ignition switch has several positions for activating the car's engine and electrical systems. ◦Lock is the only position that lets you insert or remove your key. The transmission must be in park to set the ignition to the lock position. The steering wheel will be locked and most electrical systems will be deactivated. ◦In the Off position, the steering wheel is unlocked but most electrical systems are still deactivated.

In the Acc (accessories) position, you can use most electrical accessories, such as your radio and lights. ◦In the On position, all electrical systems are operative including your indicator lights and gauges, which can be checked for malfunctions. ◦You must turn your key to the Start position to activate the engine.

If your engine stalls or is turned off, you will lose power steering and power brakes. Compensate for this by turning the steering wheel and pressing the brake pedal gently but much more strongly than usual. Gently pull the emergency brake if necessary. When your engine stalls, shift into neutral. Let your vehicle coast to a stop—braking hard can cause you to lose control. While coasting, try turning the ignition switch and restarting your engine. If this fails, pull over and turn the engine off.

In older engines with carburetors, and sometimes in newer engines with fuel injection technology, the engine can become flooded with fuel. Normally, each piston only needs a momentary burst of fuel mixed with air. When the engine floods with fuel, it will typically stall, and can suffer serious damage. If the engine turns over without difficulty but fails to ignite when you turn the key all the way, it's probably flooded. You can start a flooded engine by turning the key all the way and holding it there while you press the accelerator all the way to the floor and hold it. Both cars with carburetors and those with fuel injection are designed to cut off fuel supply when the throttle is held wide open in this way. Your pistons will be flushed with air, allowing the fuel-air mixture to return to an appropriate level.

Direct your car in the direction you wish it to go by turning the steering wheel in that direction. Two aspects of steering are directional control, which consists of the slight steering movements required to keep a car centered in its lane, and cornering, which consists of steering the vehicle around a turn without an excessive amount of leaning.

In order to maintain control of your car's movements, keep your hands at opposite sides of the steering wheel at all times. Imagine that the steering wheel is a clock: either your right hand should be at 3:00 and your left hand at 9:00, or your right hand should be at 4:00 and your left hand at 8:00. These are balanced positions. When holding the steering wheel, your elbows should be slightly bent with your upper arms resting near your rib cage: you will have more control over your car and be safer if the air bag deploys.

Gasoline is the most important fluid in your car. Be sure to choose gasoline appropriate for your car. Generally, you should refill your gas before your tank gets less than a quarter full. Never "top off" your tank when refilling the gas in your car: all you'll do is waste fuel. When you are done refueling, make sure the cap on the gas tank is completely secured.

In order to make sure you remember to perform maintenance tasks, you should develop a fixed routine for checking your car and schedule regular visits with a professional mechanic. It's a good idea to set a specific time each week to check the condition of your car. Don't try to check your car when you're feeling rushed or if you've just finished driving, as its components may be too hot to assess accurately.

To turn right with the hand-to-hand method: ◦Turn the wheel towards the right until your left hand approaches 12:00 and your right hand approaches 6:00. ◦With your left hand holding the wheel firmly, slide your right hand back up to 3:00 or 4:00. ◦Keep turning the wheel towards the right with your right hand while you slide your left hand down to 8:00 or 9:00. ◦Continue until the turn is complete. Reverse this process to return to a straight path or when turning left.

In situations where you need to make a sharp turn, maneuver in an area with limited road space or restricted lines of sight, or change positions quickly when travelling at a slow speed, you should use the technique known as hand-over-hand steering. However, this technique should be used sparingly as it is less precise and your arms will be less protected. To use this technique effectively, you must move your hand (and the steering wheel) more quickly as you begin the maneuver and more slowly when returning the wheel back to the standard position. In tight situations, you may have to repeat the maneuver several times to complete a turn. The next slide will describe the process to turn right using the hand-over-hand method

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Recognize how manual, visual, and cognitive inattention can affect your driving performance Stay away from your cell phone while driving to avoid the temptation to talk or text Perform tasks that could distract your attention like eating, grooming, and smoking at appropriate times rather than on the road Understand and minimize the influence of potential distractions in and outside of your car Respect other road users by maintaining an attentive attitude while anticipating mental lapses in others

In the past several lessons we have discussed a number of potentially risky situations that you will face as a driver. When you are behind the wheel, you must be able to: Anticipate the specific risks associated with different driving environments and adjust your driving appropriately for current conditions Understand the need to avoid risky driving behaviors like speeding, violating right-of-way, and tailgating Maintain a sufficient level of fitness to drive safely, including by never driving when you're dangerously fatigued Minimize the influence of emotions on your driving and take care not to drive aggressively Develop a strategy to eliminate potential sources of distraction and prepare for distracting situations on the road

Because alcohol is a depressant of the central nervous system, it tends to make your bodily functions slow down when you consume it. As you increase the amount of a depressant you consume, your bodily functions will continue to slow down—until they stop completely! Your heart and breathing will stop if you drink too much alcohol. Even if you're with friends, they may not notice if your breathing stops while you're passed out, especially if they're also impaired by alcohol at the time. By the time they sober up, you could be dead.

In this unit, we'll discuss how alcohol harms your physical faculties, including: Your nervous system Your heart rate and blood pressure Your respiration Your vision Your mental skills Your motor skills Your reaction time

If you arrive at a red light and you intend to turn, first yield to all traffic and pedestrians using the intersection. Once the intersection is free of traffic that might interfere with your movement, you may: *Turn right (unless a "No Right on Red" sign is posted) *Turn left if both roads are one-way and it is possible to make a left turn

Inactive Traffic Lights At any traffic signal that is inoperative, each driver must stop before proceeding. The same right-of-way rules that would apply at a stop sign apply when a traffic signal at an intersection is inactive.

Some drivers incorrectly believe that it's safe to talk while driving as long as they use a hands-free cell phone. However: When you're having a conversation, you may direct your gaze at objects without being aware of what you're seeing, regardless of what technology you're using. The sound and connection quality of speaker phones can be poor, requiring you to devote more attention to making yourself clear and interpreting the person on the other end. Because drivers think they're safer with a hands-free device, they're more likely to ignore the effects of distraction.

Indeed, researchers have suggested that drivers are at a higher risk of a collision not only when they're on the phone, but also in the few minutes after they've ended the conversation. This suggests that the act of talking is less responsible for distracting drivers than is the driver's mental preoccupation with the content of the conversation. In other words, if you talk on a cell phone, you'll be distracted from driving even if you think you're paying attention to the road.

In addition, the opportunities available to you may be limited for years due to the financial obligations you must meet as the result of a collision, even if no one else is injured. For instance, even if you just carelessly collide with a parked car, you may have to pay: The cost to repair or replace the car you crashed into The cost to repair or replace your own car Any fines, penalties, and court costs Increases to your insurance premium The costs of missed work time These costs can quickly add up far beyond what your insurance policy is able to cover. How would your plans for your life change if you needed to pay hundreds of dollars a month for years to make up for one mistake?

Indeed, the consequences may be even worse. If you permanently disable someone in a collision, you may be required to provide for his or her medical care, possibly for the rest of his or her life. With the wrong mistake, you could end up in jail. You may even end up dead.

The principle of Inertia—the tendency of a body in motion to stay in motion and a body at rest to stay at rest—applies to your vehicle and everything inside it. ◦When stopped, your car will not start unless you engage the engine or it is pushed by another car. ◦When moving, your car will keep moving until another force slows it down or stops it. A driver can apply this force by depressing the brake, or this force can come from an external source such as the surface of the road, a fixed object (such as a telephone pole), or another vehicle.

Inertia explains why a collision can be so severe for vehicle occupants. When a car travelling at 60 mph stops suddenly, its occupants will keep moving forward at 60 mph until another force stops them. Ideally, this force will be provided by seat belts, air bags, and head restraints. If these restraints aren't used properly, a person's body will continue moving until it hits the steering wheel or dashboard. It may even be launched through the window and continue moving until it collides with an object outside the car.

Positive Ways to Cope As a teenager, the problems you face may seem insurmountable and it may feel as though you'll never be able to overcome them. The truth is, most problems are temporary, and all you need to solve them is a little more experience, perspective, and maturity. Dealing with your problems in an intelligent and healthy way won't just improve your life and make you less likely to use alcohol as a crutch, it will also make it easier for you to focus on and enjoy the act of driving.

Instead of drinking, follow these simple strategies to help you cope with your problems: If you're burdened by sad, anxious, or pessimistic thoughts, talk about them with a friend, family member, or other person that you trust. Another person can offer you sympathy and understanding, and may have a perspective on your problem that you haven't considered. If you don't feel comfortable talking about your problems, try writing about them. Putting your troubles into words can help you think about them more clearly. If you're feeling overwhelmed by strong emotions, cry if you have to. It's better to relieve the tension you're feeling in private rather than taking it out on others when you're on the road.

It is important to understand all of the different ways that drivers can bring a car to a stop: *Parking is when the driver shuts off the car's engine with the ignition switch and exits the car. *Standing is when the driver idles in one place with the engine running while he or she remains behind the wheel. *Stopping is when the driver temporarily brings the car to a stop using the brakes to avoid a hazard or to comply with the law or a posted traffic control device. *Stopping temporarily can be done legally in many places where parking and standing are illegal.

It is illegal to stop, stand, or park in the following situations and places: *On a sidewalk, crosswalk, or intersection *On railroad tracks, a bridge, or an overpass *Within a tunnel *On either side of the street near a street excavation or obstruction *Wherever prohibited by a sign

Your car should drive without difficulty at first, but when battery charge becomes too low, it may stall and suffer damage. If the battery warning light illuminates when certain electronic components are active and turns off when they're deactivated, your battery is still running low. Have it inspected as soon as possible. If your engine won't turn on and the battery warning light remains illuminated, you may need a jumpstart to recharge your battery. We'll discuss this process in detail in a later section.

Internal combustion engines rely on exploding fuel to produce power for your vehicle's wheels. One byproduct of this process is a large amount of heat, which is normally dissipated with the help of an engine coolant. If the coolant fails to keep up with the heat produced by the engine, a number of components may suffer damage. When the engine temperature gauge or light indicates excessive heat, pull over, turn off your engine, and raise the hood. Park in the shade if possible.

While your central vision provides detailed information about the objects you look at directly, your Peripheral Vision (or side vision) lets you see objects and movements outside of your direct line of vision. Peripheral vision is the work of light-sensitive rod cells outside the center of the retina. Although your central vision is much more distinct, your peripheral vision increases your entire field of vision significantly. While the range of your central vision is only about 3°, the range of your peripheral vision is 180° or more.

It can be difficult to notice when your peripheral vision is impaired, but it is very important that you do so. As a result of poor peripheral vision, you might: ◦Fail to react to a vehicle approaching dangerously from the left or right ◦Fail to notice a stop light suspended over an intersection ◦Weave between lanes while driving through a curve ◦Drive too close to parked cars Never rely entirely on your peripheral vision when driving. Routinely check your mirrors and turn your head to look towards your blind spots.

Having certain tools on hand can make the difference between safely handling an emergency and being unable to prevent it from turning into a disaster. Because of this, storage space is a very valuable resource to a safe driver. By making use of the space in your trunk, you can prepare yourself for success in a number of different emergency situations.

It can be extremely helpful to carry the following items in your car: Jumper cables can bring a dead battery back to life. Being able to drive your car and use its radio, headlights, heater, and air conditioning is very important both day-to-day and in emergency situations. Road flares can help prevent a single collision from turning into a pile-up. Set up road flares to warn approaching drivers of a hazard.

These are among the many reasons that alcohol is a particularly harmful drug. It's not impossible to drink responsibly, but it is very easy to drink in a way that results in falling off a ladder, dying from alcohol poisoning, causing a fatal collision, or causing severe liver damage later in life. Take alcohol seriously. Don't underestimate its capacity to cause harm.

It's difficult to objectively measure impairment due to alcohol. As you'll soon see: Two drinks of the same size may contain different amounts of alcohol. Two people consuming the same amount of alcohol may absorb different amounts into their bloodstream. Two people with the same amount of alcohol in their bloodstream may experience different levels of impairment. The bottom line is that it's typically not possible to predict the exact effects that a person will experience after drinking alcohol on a particular occasion. You should never assume that you know how impaired you are, or will be, after drinking.

Don't even consider interacting with electronic devices while you're driving. Driving requires 100% of your attention: there's simply no time to be looking at anything other than the road around you. When you have to look at your GPS screen or another system display as you drive, be sure to look away from the road only briefly. Remember, any time a task requires your attention for more than half a second, you should continue switching your focus between the task and the road until the task is completed.

It's not only digital technology that's dangerous. You may find it hard to believe, but some drivers attempt to operate their cars while reading a newspaper or a book. Some even attempt to use their phones to find an address with one hand while writing down directions with the other. In cases like this, it's no mystery why collisions happen: no one is driving the car! Reading and writing will distract you from driving, regardless of whether the technology you're using is as modern as a smart phone or as traditional as a pen and paper.

Even though SUVs are popular as passenger vehicles due to their comfortable size and the extra visibility they provide their occupants, they still must be treated with extra caution. Like all larger vehicles, they can be harder to handle and especially deadly in a collision with a smaller, lower vehicle. Consider that a standard SUV can weigh over 7,000 lbs, whereas the average small car weighs no more than 3,000 lbs. Because of this added weight, SUVs also tend to have poor gas mileage.

Just as it is important for you to exercise caution when sharing the road with large vehicles with the capacity to demolish your vehicle and cause you serious injury or death in a collision, it is also necessary that you drive carefully around vulnerable road users that are less protected from the force of a collision than you are. Vulnerable road users include riders of motorcycles, bicycles, and motor scooters, as well as pedestrians. Anyone using the roads without the protection of a vehicle they can occupy is considered a vulnerable road user.

Merge Ahead This sign is used to indicate places where two separate traffic flows are about to merge into a single lane. These signs may be posted on an expressway to warn drivers of an upcoming on-ramp. When you see a merge sign, be prepared for vehicles entering the flow of traffic from the side.

Lane Ends Ahead This warning sign will be posted to indicate that the right lane of traffic is about to end and that all traffic must proceed along the continuing lane or lanes. If you are driving in a lane that is ending, be sure you exit the lane as quickly as can be accomplished safely.

To drive through a curve: -Apply firm pressure to the brakes as you approach the curve and gradually decrease pressure until you reach the center of the curve—braking sharply once you're in the curve is unsafe -Begin to accelerate gently once you have travelled about halfway through the curve, or when the road ahead becomes visible -Avoid speeding, braking, or steering suddenly or excessively, as this may cause traction loss and lead to a collision

Just as you must account for the effects of centripetal and centrifugal force when driving through a curve, when travelling over a hill you must consider the effects of gravity on your car. -When driving uphill, the force of gravity is working against you and you may need to increase pressure on the accelerator pedal or shift to a lower gear to maintain your speed. -When driving downhill, the force of gravity will cause you to go faster and increase your stopping distance. You may need to apply the brakes or shift to a lower gear.

Make Yourself Predictable Always signal before any maneuver. Make sure your signal is deactivated when the maneuver is complete. Drive steadily in the center of your lane except when there is a specific need for you to adjust your speed or position. Brake early and gradually, rather than abruptly and at the last minute.

Keep Yourself Away from Danger Always perform maneuvers in a way that allows you to avoid dangerous situations as much as possible. ◦If you must enter another lane to perform a maneuver, wait for the road to become clear or for another driver to yield the right-of-way. ◦If another driver is acting erratically, slow down and wait to perform the maneuver until he or she has cleared the roadway.

Always search the road ahead, and look behind you, and to your sides, any time you are: ◦Changing lanes ◦Entering or exiting an expressway from an onramp or exit ramp ◦Making abrupt changes in your speed ◦Entering the roadway from the curb or shoulder ◦Backing up ◦Driving down a long or steep hill ◦Turning ◦Stopping

Keep in mind that to execute a maneuver, there must be a sufficient gap in traffic for you to perform it. You will need: ◦A four second gap to change lanes ◦A seven second gap to cross an intersection on a four-lane road ◦An eight second gap to merge ◦An eight second gap in traffic coming from the left to turn right ◦A nine second gap to the right and a seven second gap to the left to turn left ◦A 20-30 second gap to perform a three-point turn When stopped in traffic or at an intersection, wait two seconds before moving your vehicle to make sure that it's safe to proceed.

Mushrooms, or magic mushrooms, come from the genus Psilocybe. Their effects are also similar to those of LSD, with possibly increased risks of abnormal or dangerous behavior. Additionally, the use of Salvia Divinorum can cause hallucinatory experiences. These drugs are all prohibited in the state of Texas. Marijuana, from the Cannabis plant, is also a prototypical hallucinogen. We'll discuss its effects in more detail in the following section.

Ketamine, a prescription medicine also used recreationally, has effects similar to those of PCP. It is less potent and its effects wear off more quickly. Dextromethorphan is an active ingredient in Robitussin, NyQuil, Dimetapp, and Vicks. It also has similar effects to those of PCP, but is less potent.

Every stationary object possesses a certain amount of unused energy depending on its form and position. This is known as Potential Energy. For instance, a car parked on top an incline has the potential to start rolling down the hill if its brakes fail, whereas a car parked on a flat street does not. Therefore, the car on top of the hill has more potential energy. It generally takes a greater amount of effort to keep objects with more potential energy in place.

Kinetic Energy is the energy an object possesses because of its motion. If the brakes of a car parked on top of a hill fail, the car's potential energy will be converted to kinetic energy. Kinetic energy increases with speed and determines how easily something can be stopped. When you stop, any kinetic energy your car has acquired must be absorbed by your brakes or other sources of friction. If you stop suddenly, your car's kinetic energy won't be absorbed gradually by the brakes or by friction. Instead, that energy will be absorbed by your body, your vehicle's body, and any objects you collide with.

Hallucinogens can be divided into two distinct groups: dissociatives and the prototypical hallucinogens. Those drugs most often referred to as "hallucinogens"—what we call here the prototypical hallucinogens—are taken primarily for their hallucinogenic properties. Their effects tend to last for several hours even with small doses.

LSD, or acid, is derived from a fungus that grows on grains such as rye. It is typically used for its ability to cause delusions, hallucinations, and an altered sense of time and self. LSD increases body temperature and heart rate, and causes loss of appetite, sweating, sleeplessness, and shaking. Peyote is a cactus containing mescaline, a chemical with effects similar to those of LSD, but with different types of hallucinations.

Traffic Direction Signs Some black and white regulatory signs indicate the direction that traffic must move. Such signs let drivers know that they must drive on the indicated side of the road to facilitate the flow of traffic. This sign indicates that the driver is approaching an obstruction or median in the roadway and must keep to the right in order to avoid it.

Lane Use Signs Some regulatory signs indicate what traffic is allowed to use a lane. When driving in a lane regulated by one of these signs, a driver must obey the stated restrictions or travel in the direction shown. The pictured sign indicates that traffic in the left lane may only turn left at the upcoming intersection, while traffic in the right lane may either turn left or proceed straight ahead. Other lane use signs may indicate a center left turn lane, a lane where passing is prohibited, or a lane that is coming to an end.

Evading Hazards in Bad Weather Remember that in bad weather, both visibility and traction are likely to be reduced. As a result, you'll be less able to see everything going on around you and you will not be able to stop or maneuver your car quickly. Reduce your speed, give yourself extra room, and brake gently at any indication of danger. You won't be able to perform the same evasive actions when the road is slippery, so be sure not to brake abruptly or steer sharply.

Last one , your close to the end :) - Junior Kissi

Controlled Risk Environments are places like empty parking lots where a driver can safely operate his or her car without potential conflicts with other drivers. These environments are ideal for a new driver to practice operating a car without worrying about typical roadway hazards. Nevertheless, even in these environments, drivers can be endangered by their own unsafe actions, such as accelerating too fast, braking suddenly, or backing up at an unsafe speed.

Lightly-travelled, two-lane roads in the city or in rural or suburban areas are generally considered to be Low Risk Environments. In these areas, the speed limit is usually restricted to 35 mph or less and there are fewer right-of-way conflicts. Typically, traffic volume will be low and your line of sight and path of travel will be open in these environments, so you'll have more time to identify risks. Remember to drive at a suitable speed for current conditions and watch out for obstructions like delivery trucks, children, parked cars, trees, and buildings.

Cocaine is one of the most commonly abused illegal stimulants. Its short-term consequences include: *A euphoric experience that peaks after 15 to 40 minutes and fades quickly *A sense of well-being that includes alertness, painlessness, and confidence *Physical symptoms such as dry mouth, blurred vision, sweating, loss of appetite, and rapid heart rate *Lapses of attention and coordination that make it difficult to operate a vehicle safely

Like alcohol, other depressants slow the functions of the central nervous system. Small doses can produce a feeling of calmness and cause muscles to relax. Larger doses, however, impair judgment, reflexes, and speech. Also known as downers, these drugs generally cause a user to feel sleepy, which is obviously not safe for driving. Some depressants include: *Barbiturates *Tranquilizers *Opiates (including morphine, codeine, and heroin) *Some antihistamines

Lung Damage Not even your lungs are safe from the effects of alcohol! Alcohol damages your lungs and their ability to maintain themselves. The lungs of a chronic alcohol user are more susceptible to such dangerous conditions as pneumonia, collapsed lung, and acute respiratory distress disorder.

Like your heart, your brain is extremely important to your survival and incredibly vulnerable to the long-term effects of chronic alcohol consumption. Alcohol damages your brain, both by physically affecting brain tissue directly and through its chemical interactions with neurons. Alcohol causes brain cells to shrink, reducing brain mass and enlarging internal cavities. Some areas of the brain may develop holes or abnormal growths, impairing brain functions including motor coordination, sleep, mood, learning, and memory.

Before you get on the road, choose a radio station, CD, or playlist that you like. Make changes only when your car is stopped. If you're driving with a passenger, you can delegate responsibility for the stereo system to him or her. However, don't get into an argument about what you want to listen to. In cars that include stereo controls on the steering wheel, you should use these buttons exclusively to make adjustments while driving.

Listening to the stereo can also impair your ability to hear what's happening on the road. Music can muffle or completely drown out road noise that you need to hear to evaluate the situation on the road. Set the volume before you begin to drive. Keep the volume at a moderate setting so you won't need to make adjustments if a loud song or commercial comes on. Before shutting your car down, make sure the volume remains low so it won't overwhelm you the next time you start your car.

Anticipate lane blockages and select the lane with the fewest conflicts. A visual lead of one and a half blocks (20 to 30 seconds ahead) will help you identify the best lane to travel in. Look ahead to identify lane blockages well in advance so that you'll have enough time to make a lane change if necessary. If there's no gap to make a lane change, ask for permission by using your turn signal and making eye contact with another driver. Drivers are more likely to cooperate if you treat them courteously.

Look for stoppages that could cause you to be stuck in an intersection. As you scan the road ahead, look for other cars' brake lights to determine if vehicles ahead of you are stopped. Don't enter an intersection unless you're sure there's enough room for you on the other side. If the light is green as you approach the intersection, be prepared for it to change soon. If the light is red, observe the volume of cross traffic flowing through the intersection so you can predict how long it will take for the intersection to clear.

As you maintain an adequate following distance with the car ahead of you, also pay attention to how closely the car to your rear is following you. Most rear-end collisions are caused by drivers following too closely. Following too closely is known as Tailgating. If someone is tailgating you, drive cautiously. First, increase the distance between you and the car ahead of you so you have more room to stop safely in an emergency.

Lose the tailgater as soon as you can by changing lanes, to allow them to pass you easily. ◦If you cannot change lanes, slow down enough to encourage the tailgater to pass you. ◦If the tailgater continues to follow you closely, pull off the road when it is safe to do so and allow the tailgater to pass. Before slowing down or stopping, tap your brake lightly a few times to warn the tailgater. Don't antagonize a driver tailgating you, as he or she may be agitated or aggressive.

Make sure your tires have enough traction. The primary factors affecting the amount of traction between your tires and the road are: ◦The weight of your vehicle ◦Whether your tires are properly inflated ◦The material of the road ◦The condition of the road Remember, traction decreases as the speed of your tires increases. At a certain point, your wheels can spin so fast that they can overcome the force of friction, causing your car to skid.

Loss of traction in your car's front tires results in understeering. Frequently, front wheel traction loss occurs when trying to turn or steer on a curve or when driving on a slick roadway. Because of the traction loss, the car may continue straight ahead regardless of how far you turn the steering wheel. In fact, if you turn the steering wheel too sharply, your car will slide along the smooth sidewalls of your front tires rather than your treads and it will be impossible to steer

When responding to front wheel traction loss: ◦Look in the direction you want to go. ◦Gently turn your steering wheel in the direction you want to go. Until the car regains traction, make only small steering adjustments. ◦Ease your foot from the brake or accelerator pedal so that your car's weight will be more balanced. Jab the brake to shift some weight forward towards the front wheels. ◦Once you have regained some traction, your car will become more responsive to steering input. When your treads grab the road, your car will lurch slightly and then start moving in the desired direction.

Loss of traction in your car's rear tires results in oversteering. When your back tires have less traction, your front wheels will exert a greater influence on your car's directions than they normally would. As a result, your car will be pulled excessively in the direction you turn the wheel. With less traction in the rear, the back of the car may even begin to rotate, causing the car to spin around.

It's always preferable to attend to a situation before it becomes a problem. For instance, by regularly changing the oil in your car, you can prevent severe engine damage later on. Any time that a component in your car seems to be acting unusually or a warning light on your instrument panel remains active, you should have a professional check your car. While going to a mechanic may be inconvenient, acting now may allow you to correct a problem before it becomes expensive or dangerous.

Maintaining your car starts by making sure that your car is clean and well-fueled whenever you get on the road. Keep your car clean inside and out. When your car is clean, dirt is less likely to be sucked into the engine compartment and you will be better able to see the road. However, if you wash your own car, don't waste water and be sure you use cleansers that are safe and appropriate for the task.

When other drivers get agitated, you must respond by remaining as calm as possible. As long as you're able to think clearly, you'll remain in control of the situation. Give an aggressive driver plenty of space. Don't attempt to engage the other driver's attention or signal to him or her in any way, unless it's essential for your safety. To someone overwhelmed by anger, even a friendly smile can be misinterpreted.

Make every attempt to get out of the way of an obviously aggressive or dangerous driver. Put enough distance between yourself and the aggressive driver to ensure your safety, even if it means changing routes to do so. Avoid making eye contact. To an already negative driver, eye contact can be interpreted as a challenge. Don't try to correct the other driver's behavior or teach him or her a lesson by honking, speeding up, tailgating, etc. Interfering with aggressive drivers will probably not bring them to their senses. It's much more likely to anger them further.

If you realize as you approach an intersection that you're driving in the wrong lane or at an unsafe speed for making a turn, don't attempt to change lanes suddenly or make the turn from your position. Continue down the road, turn at the next available intersection using proper procedures, and circle back to your original route. If you were planning to turn left, you can make three right turns beginning at the next intersection to get back to the roadway you intended to enter.

Make sure you begin and end your turn in the proper lanes. Using the proper lanes ensures that you will have to pass through fewer lanes of traffic, making the road safer for yourself and for other drivers. Often, road markings and posted regulatory signs will indicate lanes where turning is restricted or required. Pay attention to these traffic control devices to make sure you know where turns are permitted and where turns are prohibited.

Remember that you must activate your headlights any time between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise. You must also activate your headlights whenever you're unable to see people or vehicles clearly from 1,000 ft. More than that, it's a good idea to activate your headlights whenever you have any difficulty seeing the road because of darkness. Use your high-beams when the road is dark enough and the air is clear, but not within 500 ft of an oncoming vehicle or 300 ft of a vehicle you're driving behind.

Make sure your headlights are aligned properly. Misaligned bulbs can shine into other drivers' eyes and fail to illuminate the road ahead of you. Low-beams should illuminate the road surface 100 to 150 ft ahead, and above the road 300 to 500 ft ahead. If you can't see past your low-beams, the highest safe speed is 40 to 45 mph. High-beams should illuminate the road surface 300 to 350 ft ahead, and above the road 500 to 1,800 ft ahead. If you can't see past your high-beams, the highest safe speed is 55 to 60 mph. Above these speeds, you're overdriving your headlights—creating an area ahead of your vehicle that is not illuminated and which you would enter before coming to a complete stop in an emergency braking situation.

Activate your right turn signal. ◦Shift the transmission to reverse. ◦Check both sides of the road for oncoming traffic. ◦Back up slowly, turning the steering wheel rapidly to the right. This will cause you to back up. Your arc will point first towards your original lane, then backwards in your target lane. ◦As the back of your car approaches the curb, turn the steering wheel rapidly to the left. Stop before your wheels hit the curb.

Make sure your right turn signal is activated. ◦Shift the transmission to the appropriate forward gear. ◦Double-check for traffic. ◦Drive forward towards the right until you are in the correct lane of traffic for moving forward. ◦Center your car in the lane and return to cruising speed.

Once the engine starts, let it run. Disconnect the cables in reverse order: black cable from ground source, black cable from good battery, red cable from good battery, red cable from dead battery. Close both hoods. Keep the engine running for 20 to 30 minutes with electronic devices off. This lets the battery acquire enough charge to start the engine again after being turned off. If your battery was in good condition before losing its charge, your car's behavior should be back to normal.

Manual transmission vehicles with stalled engines sometimes can be restarted using momentum. Rolling downhill or being pushed at 5 to 10 mph, the power of the turning wheels can be directed into the engine, causing it to start. This won't work if the battery is completely dead. To perform a rolling start, you'll need a clear downhill stretch of road or a few friends willing to push your vehicle along flat ground. Never attempt a rolling start without a person in the driver's seat at all times, controlling the brakes and steering wheel.

The more you become dependent on alcohol, the more you'll feel the need to justify your actions not just to others, but also to yourself. You'll begin to rationalize your actions by coming up with detailed excuses for why your behavior is acceptable. Keep in mind that when you rationalize something, you are simply telling yourself "rational lies."

Many alcohol abusers deny that they even have a problem at all. Many drinkers use denial as a defense mechanism to prevent themselves from realizing just how intolerable and unsustainable their dependence on alcohol really is and just how much it is costing them. Until they admit that they have a problem, rationalizers and drinkers in denial are generally unable to take control of their own behavior and get better.

Almost all adults who have been killed by air bags were either sitting too close to the wheel or were driving without their seat belt fastened. However, the majority of air-bag-related deaths 191—out of 296—involved children, who can be suffocated by an air bag. If your car has an air bag on the passenger side of the car, either in the door or on the dash: ◦It is dangerous to allow children 12 and under to ride in the front seat. Air bags are designed for passengers older than 12. ◦Never place a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat. The force of the air bag will critically harm the child. Always make sure all minor passengers are properly belted. Many air bag deaths have involved children who were not wearing a seat belt.

Many cars include a switch to deactivate the passenger air bag. Deactivate the passenger air bag when: ◦An infant under one year old or a child between one and twelve must ride in the front because there is no rear seat, the rear seat is too small for a child safety seat or is occupied by younger children, or the child has a medical condition that makes it necessary ◦A passenger has a medical condition that makes them more susceptible to harm from the air bag

Your ability to drive can be just as limited by a temporary impairment as by a permanent physical disability. The difference is that while people with permanent disabilities are legally required to meet certain conditions to operate a vehicle, temporarily impaired individuals are personally responsible for determining whether or not they're fit to drive. If you're feeling sick or using medication that may affect your driving, the best thing you can do is rest and focus on getting better. If there's a chance your driving will be impaired, stay off the road.

Many illnesses can impair the processes that send visual and auditory information to the brain as well as the brain's ability to act on that information. You may have difficulty concentrating, your reflexes and reaction times may be lengthened, and you may become so drowsy that you fall asleep at the wheel. Even a cold can be deadly! If you cough or sneeze at the wrong time, you may temporarily lose control of your car at a dangerous moment.

Another law requires the mandatory revocation, suspension, or delay of eligibility for a drivers license of a minor found guilty of certain alcohol, drug, or tobacco offenses. The penalties include a fine of up to $500, community service of up to 40 hours, and a driver's license suspension lasting from 30 to 180 days. Note that we are not yet talking about driving under the influence. Even simple possession of an alcoholic beverage may cost you your license, not to mention other serious legal consequences.

Many of Texas's counties have special laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages. In Texas's 22 "dry counties", no sales of alcoholic beverages are legal. In 46 "wet counties", all alcoholic beverage sales are legal. If your county is one of the 186 counties not listed on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's website, review local laws to find out what types of alcoholic beverage sales are legal where you live.

Dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in over-the-counter cough medicines like Robitussin and NyQuil, has effects similar to those of PCP. Taking the recommended dose can cause drowsiness and loss of focus, while taking more than the recommended dose can cause hallucinations, violent behavior, and seizures. Dextromethorphan abuse often causes feelings of strength, power, and invulnerability. This makes you aggressive and foolish, and can cause you to engage in extremely risky—often deadly—behavior. Finally, like many other over-the-counter drugs, dextromethorphan is much more dangerous when taken with alcohol. Drowsiness increases, and less of each drug is needed for a fatal overdose.

Many pain relievers are available without a prescription. The pain relievers Aspirin, Tylenol, and Advil are used to relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation. Harmful effects of pain relievers include oversensitivity to light, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, liver damage, thinning of the blood, and deterioration of the stomach lining. An overdose of any pain reliever can be fatal.

But why is drinking such a problem among teens in the United States? Some teens drink because they want to seem "cool". Some drink because they want to forget about their problems. Others drink to avoid social pressures against nondrinkers. Teens drink for many reasons, but they are often misguided or pressured into drinking. Before you put any alcohol in your body, understand that you always have a choice. Nobody can force you to drink—you're the only one in control of that.

Many people drink for the wrong reasons, or drink based on a misunderstanding of the drug. Alcohol will not solve your problems. It will only make matters worse. Alcohol will not make you seem "cool" to anyone. It will cause slurred speech, an inability to form sentences, stumbling, vomiting, and unconsciousness. Alcohol may make people laugh at you, pity you, or be disgusted by you—but it will certainly not make them think you're cool.

A particularly dangerous activity that's common among novice drivers is street racing. Street racing involves vehicles racing on deserted streets, generally in the middle of the night. Street racing is incredibly dangerous. Frequently, streets aren't as deserted as you think. At high speeds, having to make even small driving adjustments can cause you to lose control of your car. The risk just isn't worth it. Depending on your degree of involvement, you may face anywhere from 6 months to 20 years in jail, plus thousands of dollars in fines and a lengthy license suspension, for participating in a race, drag race, or other exhibition of speed or driver endurance.

Many teens believe that collisions will only happen to other people and that they are safe drivers because they haven't yet experienced a severe collision. This is a dangerous attitude! A driver who avoids the consequences of his or her reckless attitude is simply lucky. Eventually, that luck will run out.

Marijuana comes from the Cannabis plant, which has been used by humans for thousands of years but has only recently begun to be cultivated with startlingly higher potency. Marijuana's most abundant psychoactive chemical is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. It is important to note that over 400 other chemicals can be found in the plant, making its effects widely variable.

Marijuana is primarily inhaled as smoke, but it can also be eaten after being infused in food. Inhalation takes the drug to the brain in a matter of seconds, while ingestion delays the effects for half an hour or more. Since there are so many different chemical compounds in marijuana, the body takes longer than normal to metabolize it completely. Many metabolic byproducts are created and stored in body fat, then slowly excreted. This allows THC levels to be measured after as many as five days after administration in light smokers—and much longer in moderate and heavy smokers.q

Hallucinogens can greatly disturb the mind and dangerously disrupt vital organ functions. Possible effects include: Anxiety, depression, fear, and panic Impaired memory and loss of coordination Nausea, vomiting, and sweating Lethally increased heart rate and body temperature A false sense of well-being Delusions, hallucinations, and psychosis To a greater extent than other drugs, the effects of hallucinogens depend on the specific personality and mental state of the user. For this reason, their effects vary widely from person to person.

Marijuana is the most widely used hallucinogen in the United States. It is primarily used for its ability to cause hallucinations, a false sense of well-being, and an altered sense of time and self. It is also used to relieve pain and to increase appetite. Disorientation is one of the most important harmful effects of marijuana. It makes the user unable to understand and react adequately to his or her current situation. Other harmful effects include impaired memory, fear, panic, psychosis, increased heart rate, and loss of coordination.

` A number of other hallucinogens can be classified as dissociatives. Dissociatives have a weaker version of many of the effects of the prototypical hallucinogens. In addition, they have stronger effects of dulled senses, loss of sense of self, and sedation. Phencyclidine, or PCP, causes anxiety, delusions, hallucinations, and feelings of detachment. It also causes feelings of strength, power, and invulnerability. It is addictive and can cause violent behavior, vomiting, constipation, seizures, and coma.

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, arrests for possession of marijuana numbered above 69,000 in Texas in 2011. Marijuana is primarily used for its ability to cause hallucinations, a false sense of well-being, and an altered sense of time and self. It is also used to relieve pain and to increase appetite.

Alcohol's effect on judgment can make even basic driving tasks difficult, even among experienced road users: a BAC as low as 0.02% can adversely affect the judgment of bus drivers trying to guide a bus through a narrow passage. Young, less experienced drivers are particularly affected by a loss of reasoning skills. Because their self-imposed restraints are less developed, it can be easy for an intoxicated young driver to lose his or her inhibitions and drive in an extremely reckless way.

Memory Alcohol damages your ability to store and retain information, even with a BAC as low as 0.03%. Not only will your short-term awareness of the road around you be affected, but your ability to consider the situation in the context of your long-term driving experience will also be weakened. If you can't remember what you've seen and what you're doing, you may forget where you're going, forget what lane you're supposed to be in, forget what street you just passed, or forget that you're in the middle of a turn.

Sense of speed, sense of distance, and depth perception: Stimulants often cause you to make extremely risky decisions based on perceived speeds and distances. You may think you can drive 110 mph and be in control of the car, but you'll be dead wrong. Vision: You may scan the road too much, paying insufficient attention to what you see.

Memory: If you're not too distracted to remember things correctly, you may have trouble determining what is relevant, and remember too many things to be able to function properly. Attention and focus: Overexcitement and a high volume of thought can destroy your ability to pay attention to your surroundings or focus on any particular thing.

It's a big problem in Texas and the rest of the United States: according to a 2013 report from the University of Texas, the drug accounted for 10% of all admissions to drug treatment programs in Texas in 2012.

Methamphetamine abuse is also associated with the use of additional dangerous drugs. The University of Texas reports that clients entering treatment for methamphetamine use also reported secondary problems with marijuana (29%), alcohol (17%), and cocaine (8%). Overall, 67% of clients reported at least one secondary substance abuse problem. One drug particularly linked with methamphetamine use was GHB: in 2010, of all clients in treatment who had a problem with GHB use, more than half (57%) reported that their primary drug problem was with methamphetamine.

Although tobacco use can cause many different types of cancer, the principle cause of death from chronic tobacco use is lung cancer. Tobacco causes lung cancer due to a number of reasons: Nicotine weakens the immune system's ability to fight cancerous growths. The smoke inhaled from a cigarette contains over 60 known carcinogens, or cancer-causing chemicals. Some of these chemicals have been purposefully added to the cigarette, often to give it a particular flavor. In addition, smoking a single cigarette means drawing about ten 2.5-ounce doses of tobacco smoke into the lungs. Many smokers consume far more than this every day. This exposes the lungs to carcinogens over and over again, day in and day out.

Methamphetamine is a synthetic drug that is also known as 'speed,' 'ice,' 'crank,' and 'meth' or 'crystal meth.' It is usually smoked or injected, but is also snorted. The immediate effects are very similar to those of cocaine. They range from increased activity, talkativeness, and increased heart rate to severely increased body temperature, convulsions, and death. The body has more difficulty removing methamphetamine from the bloodstream than it does cocaine. This allows the drug to stay in the body much longer, continuing to produce its effects.

a bad mood can make even people who are normally calm and cautious drive aggressively: No matter what its cause, anger is one of the most dangerous emotions to feel on the road. If it becomes focused on another driver, anger can quickly turn into road rage. Stress can be distracting and cause you to overreact to small problems. When confronted with additional stressful situations on the road, you may snap. If you're feeling rushed and impatient, you may feel that you don't have time for courtesy, especially if the roads are congested. You may take dangerous shortcuts that won't actually save you much time, endangering others in the process. Remember, a bad mood is only temporary, but if you let it affect the way you drive, the consequences won't be!

Moreover, some built-in parts of the driving task itself can lead some people to act aggressively on the road. For instance, on crowded roads, more cars have to compete for less space. As more drivers interact, the possibility of encountering an aggressive driver increases, especially as tension and impatience grow. Some people may become increasingly irritable the more they feel closed in by other cars.

When multiple drugs are in a person's bloodstream at the same time, their effects can combine in one of three different ways. In additive combination, both drugs affect the user as normal, with all effects of each drug being felt. In antagonistic, or subtractive combination, the effects of one drug cancel or diminish the effects of another. In synergistic, or multiplicative combination, the effects of both drugs together are greater, faster, or more complex than the effects of each drug added together.

Mixing any two or more drugs can be dangerous, but alcohol in particular has an especially wide range of interactions with other drugs. In addition to increased risk of overdose, these include: Antihistamines: heightened drowsiness and dizziness Benzodiazepines: slowed breathing, loss of coordination, heightened drowsiness and dizziness Pain relievers, especially Tylenol: ulcers, stomach bleeding, increased heart rate, fatal liver problems Antidepressants: increased depression, heightened drowsiness and dizziness Opioids: reduced heart rate, slowed breathing, heightened drowsiness and dizziness

The five steps of the Smith system are: ◦Aim high in steering: Scan the road 12-15 seconds ahead of your vehicle. ◦Keep your eyes moving: Conduct an orderly visual search pattern to look for possible hazards on critical areas of the road. ◦Get the big picture: Be aware of everything around your vehicle and ahead of you on the roadway that may affect your driving. ◦Make sure others see you: Use your horn and lights, as well as hand signals and eye contact, to communicate with other road users. ◦Leave yourself an out: Prepare yourself for potential mistakes that you or others on the road may make by making sure that you always have a way to escape from your current path of travel.

More recently, the SEE IT process has been developed as a defensive driving system because of how easily its steps can be remembered. SEE IT is a step-by-step system for managing space on the road. By following this three-step system, you'll be able to remain in control of the zones around your vehicle and prepared to react when sudden problems occur.

On average, 43,731 people died each year due to an acute or accidental cause related to excessive alcohol use. These include: 7,787 alcohol-related homicides 7,266 alcohol-related suicides: The CDC reports that these accounted for over 23% of all suicides between 2001 and 2005. 13,819 traffic fatalities: Alcohol-related traffic fatalities accounted for 33.5% of all traffic deaths between 2001 and 2005.

Moreover, an average of 36,643 people died each year from a chronic disease that could be attributed to excessive drinking. These include: 12,219 deaths from alcoholic liver disease 7,055 deaths from cirrhosis 3,857 deaths due to alcohol dependence syndrome In addition, the CDC reports that alcohol accounts for over 2.7 million physician office visits and over 1.2 million emergency room admissions each year.

For instance, consider how a license suspension alone could change your quality of life. Not only will your social opportunities and job options be more limited, but it may be harder to get to school and you will face major inconveniences whenever you need to go someplace. Think about all the ways that you think having a drivers license will improve your life. Now imagine not being able to do any of them.

Moreover, if you're involved in a collision, you may be injured in such a way that can no longer perform common activities to the extent you were before. You may have trouble attending school or performing your job, and you may be left with residual pain for the rest of your life. You and your parents may also have to deal with long term medical expenses

Experience: A person with less experience will be less able to deal with being impaired and less likely to realize when he or she is too drunk to drive. Fatigue: Alcohol acts much more quickly on a person who's physically or mentally tired. Medications: When combined with prescription or over-the-counter drugs, alcohol can have amplified or unpredictable effects. Illness: If your immune system is already compromised, drinking alcohol can be especially dangerous Psychology: Alcohol can have severe effects on a person suffering from depression or other psychological problems.

Moreover, the way a person responds to alcohol is influenced by his or her degree of psychological tolerance. As we've discussed, over time, a person who drinks regularly will need to consume greater amounts of alcohol to achieve the same effects. These drinkers can develop psychological mechanisms to mask the effects of heavy alcohol use. They may avoid activities that might reveal their impairment or learn to recognize and compensate for alcohol's effects on their emotions. Conversely, they may begin to drink more to express emotions that they suppress in everyday life.

Everyone knows that smoking can kill you by damaging your lungs and other vital organs, including your brain, heart, and spine. Yet it's important to realize that smoking can also cause your death by distracting you behind the wheel. When you smoke, one of your hands will be constantly occupied with your cigarette, making it impossible for you to maintain control of your steering wheel with both hands.

Moreover, tobacco is a drug that can influence your mental state and physical abilities. The chief psychoactive ingredient in tobacco is nicotine, a central nervous system stimulant that can cause shaking, restlessness, and compulsive movement. It can also lead to nervousness, anxiety, and distractibility. Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide. If your windows are closed, the combination of carbon monoxide from your cigarette and your car's exhaust could cause you to become dangerously unfocused or fatigued.

The total financial cost of a DWI conviction differs from case to case, but it will always be high: Up to $5,000 in increased insurance rates Up to $10,000 in fines As much as $1,500 or more in attorney's fees $500 or more in court fees, license reinstatement fees, substance abuse assessment and treatment fees, alcohol awareness course fees, etc. For a grand total of $17,000—not counting any medical expenses or the cost of a new car.

Moreover, your drunk driving collision will cost the city, county, and state a great deal of money. This money will have to come from taxpayers. Sources of these costs include: Costs of fatalities, including a life of lost productivity Costs of injuries and medical care Costs of insurance Costs of public service announcements Legal Costs (Courts can't be used for other things) Travel Delay Property Damage Law Enforcement Ultimately, in a very real sense, everybody in Texas will have to pay for your mistake.

Your owner's manual will also tell you when to have a comprehensive tune-up performed. In general, tune-ups should be performed every year or so, though the amount of time between tune-ups can vary significantly for modern cars due to advances in vehicle technology. For instance, drivers used to be encouraged to get annual tune-ups was because spark plugs needed to be replaced frequently. However, cars manufactured today typically need their spark plugs replaced only once every 100,000 miles.

Moreover, your mechanic will typically check the following systems every 30,000 miles: The exhaust system The fuel filter The engine valves The drive belts The automatic transmission system The ignition system, including the spark plugs (unless they are designed to last 60,000 miles or more) The battery

The Zero Tolerance Laws concerning possessing and consuming alcohol do not apply to people under 21 when they are in the visible presence of a parent, guardian, or spouse over the age of 21. As long as your drinking is supervised by one of these people, you will not be charged for a Zero Tolerance offence.

Moreover: While you're under 21, your parent, guardian, or spouse is legally allowed to furnish you with alcohol as long as he or she remains present when you consume the drink. If you're drinking with friends, you won't be charged for a Zero Tolerance offense if you have to call 911 to report an incident of alcohol poisoning, as long as you are the first to call and you remain on the scene until paramedics arrive.

In recent years, there has been an increasing awareness that drugs impair drivers and that the dangers they pose must be seriously addressed. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), drugs can alter a person's perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time, and other faculties required to drive safely. Overall, marijuana is the illegal drug most frequently detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. Other drugs implicated in unsafe driving include benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, and amphetamines. Even low doses of legal drugs with beneficial effects can dangerously impair a driver. If you are using any kind of medication, check with your doctor to make sure that it is safe to drive while using it.

Most drugs are available over-the-counter, by prescription, or from a black market. Many drugs are classified as stimulants or depressants. Stimulants, also known as uppers, can artificially elevate a person's mood, increase his or her energy and alertness, and foster feelings of well-being. Some common stimulants are: *Amphetamines *Cocaine *Caffeine *Pep pills *Diet pills

The connection between a car's engine and wheels is controlled by the transmission system. Every transmission system has several gears which control how fast the vehicle's wheels turn. In lower gears, the speed your car can travel at is limited but you will have more engine power for tasks like travelling up an incline or transporting a heavy load. You should apply pressure to the accelerator pedal lightly except when you need extra power.

Most modern cars use an automatic transmission that will automatically select the appropriate gear for how fast you're driving. Automatic transmissions are generally controlled by a selector lever located between the driver's and passenger's seats. To select a gear, depress the lock button and move the lever to the desired position. In some cars, you must also depress the brake pedal to shift gears.

Steering affects a vehicle's side-to-side balance. A vehicle's weight will shift to the left or right side depending on its speed and the amount of steering input. This movement to the left or right is known as Roll. Steering to the right will cause a vehicle to roll to the left, while steering to the left will cause a vehicle to roll to the right. This may be the easiest balance shift to feel with your kinasthetic sense. As you turn left, you will feel yourself lean toward the right.

Most of the time, weight will be transferred in multiple directions at the same time. By understanding how these forces interact, you will be better able to maneuver your car safely. ◦If you apply your brakes while travelling through a curve at a high speed, the resulting weight transfer to the front wheel opposite the direction of the turn may produce severe traction loss. You may skid badly. ◦By applying your brakes close to the point where they will lock up before you begin a turn or enter a curve, the weight transfer to your front wheels will give you better traction when you begin the maneuver.

To exit a parallel parking space: ◦After you have activated your car, shift the transmission to Reverse and back up as far as you can without hitting the car behind you. ◦Turn the steering wheel sharply to the left. ◦Shift the transmission to Drive (or First Gear). ◦Activate your turn signal. ◦Check the road ahead of you and your mirrors and blind spots. Make sure your right fender is far enough out that you can clear the car in front of you ◦Slowly accelerate out of the parking space. Straighten your wheels and center your vehicle in the lane once you have exited the space.

Most parking lots and garages are divided into perpendicular parking spaces. These spaces allow cars to be arranged safely and efficiently and make it as easy to maneuver in and out of the spaces as possible. When parking in a perpendicular space, you will generally have to back up into the space and drive forward out of it, or drive forward into the space and back up out of it.

A person who can see normally without corrective lenses is said to have 20/20 vision, which means that he or she can read a letter 3/8" high from 20 ft away. A person with substandard vision must be closer to an object to perceive the same amount of detail. For instance, a person with 20/40 vision will be able to perceive the same amount of detail from 20 ft away that a person with 20/20 vision could perceive from 40 ft away

Most people with vision problems are less able to see objects in the distance. These individuals, whose vision can range from 20/40 to 20/200 or more, are nearsighted. However, there are also farsighted people who can see objects at a distance clearly but are less able to focus on things nearby. While driving, you must be able to perceive objects right in front of you—like the gauges on your instrument panel—as precisely as you can perceive objects at a distance—like a blind pedestrian in the roadway. Therefore, if you have any vision problems, you must drive only while wearing glasses or contact lenses that correct the problem.

To improve your safety as a pedestrian, you should: ◦Wear light or reflective clothing to make yourself more visible when walking at night ◦Avoid distractions such as cell phones, music, eating and drinking, and conversation with others ◦Avoid entering the roadway when intoxicated According to the NHTSA, almost 40% of pedestrians killed in a collision had been consuming alcohol when the collision occured.

Most places where animals are likely to enter the roadway will be marked with warning signs. In areas where animals cross frequently, slow down and leave as much space around your car. Search the sides of the road for signs of animals. Know when animals tend to be more active. Many animals are most active around dusk and dawn. Be especially watchful for animals in fair weather periods before storms.

Pay attention to the quality of the road surface. On some well-traveled but poorly kept roads, ruts will form in the average location of vehicle tracks. These may fill with water, contributing greatly to traction loss.

Most roads have a positive cross slope—they're highest in the center and slope downwards toward the edges. Because of this, standing water will usually be more shallow near the center of the road, but deeper near the edge of the road. Keep this in mind when judging water depth.

Get in the habit of performing these maintenance checks at the same time even though some fluids will only rarely need to be refilled. You're more likely to forget to check something if you have a different schedule for performing each maintenance task. When fluids in your car need to be replenished, you can take your car to a professional or perform the task yourself. If you decide to do the job yourself, be sure you choose a product that will work in your car and follow the procedure recommended in your owner's manual.

Most vehicle fluids are available in many varieties. Don't mix fluids with different chemical compositions, as they could interact in unpredictable ways and damage your car's components. Even though they may be more expensive, you can save money in the long run by investing in high-quality fluids that will protect your engine better. Keep extra motor oil and vehicle fluids around so that you are prepared if you find that your car is running low.

But what are the factors that put young drivers at a particular disadvantage? To begin with, many young drivers lack driving experience. As a result, they encounter more situations in which they're unsure what the best course of action is. Making the right decision takes longer, and fine control of the vehicle comes less easily. To help overcome any lack of experience you may have, you must first recognize that you have a deficit. Take your training seriously, and treat every driving experience as a lesson to be learned.

Most young drivers also lack experience in the consumption of alcohol and other drugs. This can make them worse both at predicting future impairment and assessing current impairment. Any amount of impairment makes you unequipped to safely drive a motor vehicle, whether you've suffered a decline in muscle control and vision, or a decline in judgment alone. The solution to this problem is applicable to drivers of all ages. Never combine driving with alcohol or other drugs, period. If you're going to drive, don't drink. If you're going to drink, find a designated driver or take a taxi.

The Highway Be aware of how the shape and surface of the road may affect your driving. ◦Look for objects on and around the roadway that could distract other drivers or potentially cause a collision. Debris such as tires, garbage, or other items can appear suddenly. If there is a problem, find another path. ◦Look to the sides of your vehicle at intersections, crosswalks, driveways, and other places where you may need to maneuver or where other road users may enter the roadway suddenly.

Motor Vehicles Driving safely requires anticipating the actions of other vehicles, each of which handles and reacts to roadway conditions differently. Moreover, each and every vehicle is controlled by a person with his or her own thoughts, concerns, and motivations who may act unexpectedly. Note the kinds of vehicles on the road and observe the actions of other drivers for potentially dangerous behaviors. Adjust your speed and position in accordance with the limitations of the kinds of vehicles on the road.

Motor Vehicles: Large and Small ◦Large trucks and buses travel more slowly, make wider turns, take much longer to stop, and have larger blind spots. Leave extra space around any large truck and avoid driving in its "no-zones." ◦Watch out for motorcycles, as they may pass, change lanes, or stop more suddenly than other vehicles. They are more likely to be concealed in your blind spot as you drive than large vehicles are. Look for them and listen for them

Motor Vehicles ◦Avoid driving in a pack or side-by-side with other vehicles. Someone may crowd your lane or try to enter the lane position where you are driving. ◦Pay attention to the brake lights of the vehicles you're following so you can start braking early when traffic begins to slow or stop. Tap your brake pedal several times before stopping to warn drivers behind you. ◦Watch for vehicles crossing lanes without activating their turn signals and give them extra space when driving nearby.

Maintain a safe space. Remember that the key to driving safely is maintaining the greatest amount of space around your vehicle wherever you drive. This will allow you to see more of the road in front of you and will also ensure that you can react quickly to dangers in your environment and stop safely if necessary.

Move with the flow of traffic. Try to maintain the same speed as the vehicles around you. If you travel too fast or too slow, you'll encroach on other drivers' operating space and force them to adjust their position. Never tailgate or drive in another driver's blind spots. Avoid driving in bunches or packs so that you have a place to escape to in an emergency.

Choose a lane position that allows you to interact with other drivers safely. As much as possible, you should drive in the center of your lane and obey the legal speed limit. If other drivers are travelling faster than the speed limit, slow down and drive in the right-hand lane. Always leave a safe amount of space around your car: if you are too close to other vehicles, they may not be able to see you or perform an evasive maneuver when necessary.

Moving side to side—or moving laterally—within a lane or between lanes is one of the basic tasks you'll have to perform constantly as a driver. You may need to change lanes or adjust your lane position to: ◦Select the appropriate lane on a multi-lane roadway ◦Prepare to turn ◦Pass or overtake another vehicle ◦Avoid a hazard or obstacle ◦Merge with high-speed traffic ◦Pull away from or over to the side of the road ◦Exit a lane that is ending

As we've discussed, even the most basic maneuvers you'll have to perform as a driver, such as turning and passing, require you to perform several tasks (such as signaling, watching for cross traffic, adjusting your speed and lane position, and steering) all at the same time. Actions you must take as a driver that involve performing several operations at once are known as multitask performances. To drive safely, responsibly, and legally, you must be able to execute multitask performances properly. Learn to divide your attention safely between your path of travel, the condition of the roadway and your car, your gauges, passengers, and blind spots, other road users, and more.

Multitasking is especially difficult for new drivers because all the tasks that they must perform and switch between are equally unfamiliar to them. Since it takes a new driver longer to perform just one action, performing several tasks in rapid succession can lead to confusion and frustration. Moreover, new drivers have not yet learned to spot potential threats on the road as quickly as experienced drivers can. Therefore, they have less time to evaluate, plan, and respond to those threats.

Shoulder belts are usually integrated with the lap belt and should be strapped across your shoulder. Properly wearing the shoulder belt lessens the chance that you or your passenger will get thrown into the dashboard, through the windshield, or out an open door. Make sure you adjust your seat belt properly. A shoulder belt should not be twisted or too tight or too loose—you should be able to put your fist between the belt and your chest. You may need to use a booster seat if the seat belt rubs against your neck when fastened.

Myth #1: Short Trips Some drivers rationalize that seat belts are unnecessary during short trips or trips at slow speeds. In fact, most collisions occur at speeds less than 40 mph and half of all fatal collisions occur within 25 miles of home. Fatalities involving non-belted occupants of cars have been recorded at speeds as low as 11 mph, which is basically the speed you drive in a parking lot. No matter where you're going, buckle up.

Myth #2: Fire and Water Some drivers don't wear their belts for fear that, if their car were to become submerged in water or catch fire in a collision, they might be trapped in the vehicle. Not only are these situations rare, but even if your vehicle was on fire or submerged, a fastened seat belt would help save your life, keep you alert, and preserve your ability to function. As long as you remain conscious, it will take less than a second to unfasten your seat belt if you need to escape

Myth #3: Thrown to Safety Some drivers think that by not wearing a seat belt, they will be "thrown to safety" in the event of a collision. In reality, the chances of your getting killed are much greater if you are thrown from your car. The force of a collision could be great enough to fling your body as much as 150 ft through the air. If you aren't thrown clear of the car, you could just as easily be dragged, scraping along the ground, or end up being crushed by your own car.

Center Left Turn Lanes Many roads are designed to have two lanes of traffic on each side and a center left turn lane in the middle. A center left turn lane will be indicated by double yellow lines on each side of the lane. On both sides, a solid line will be on the outside and a broken line on the inside. Driving is prohibited in this lane. This lane may only be used to turn left or enter or exit a driveway. However, this lane can be used by drivers on both sides of the road.

Near intersections, thicker solid white lines may be used to protect drivers preparing to turn. Drivers may not cross a thick solid white line to enter a turn lane. These lines prevent drivers from attempting to enter a turn lane at the last minute, making the road more dangerous for other drivers. If you are planning to make a turn, always enter the appropriate lane for turning well before you reach the intersection.

Organ Damage The circulation of alcohol throughout the bloodstream carries it to every organ, endangering their ability to function properly. Some organs are more susceptible than others to the toxic effects of alcohol. The kidneys and liver, for instance, process alcohol directly, drawing it in and filtering it from the blood. Every organ is affected differently. As a result, while some effects (such as liver damage) are more common, there are many ways your body can be destroyed by alcohol abuse.

Nervous System Damage In addition, changes in the balance of chemicals in the nervous system can devastate your health and your ability to interact with other people. These changes include tolerance to, dependence on, and addiction to alcohol. In addition, prolonged alcohol abuse can cause a loss of intellectual capacity, personality changes, memory loss, and many other harmful effects.

Activate your turn signals at least 100 ft before you reach the place where you intend to turn. Before beginning to turn, reduce your speed to below 10 mph.

Never decide to make a turn at the last minute. You must remain aware of the road ahead of you and anticipate the need to turn well before you reach the intersection. If you're planning to travel in an unfamiliar area, plan your trip in advance so you won't have to make the decision to turn suddenly.

Drive in the center of your lane, and make sure to signal early so that your actions don't surprise other drivers. When driving near snow plows, give them extra room. The width of their plow may be difficult to determine. If you must pass a snow plow, do so only when you're sure it's safe, and only very carefully.

Never drive on ice if you can avoid it—you'll have almost no control over your vehicle's movement. Note that the road surface will be colder where buildings, trees, or other objects cast a shadow. Ice is more likely to form in these areas, and to remain icy even when other parts of the road have melted. Bridges and expressway overpasses will also freeze more quickly than other parts of the road. When it's cold out, slow down before driving over raised roadways.

Sir Isaac Newton also introduced three Laws of Motion that explain how and why objects move (or don't move) as they do. Like gravitation, these three laws have significant effects on the ways your car behaves. Make sure you understand these principles. Together, they will help you understand the various concepts discussed throughout the rest of this unit.

Newton's First Law: Inertia Newton's First Law states: An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. An object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. This law expresses the principle of inertia. Inertia affects the most basic operations of your car, including starting and stopping.

Hurricanes, regular rains, and the severe storms that often accompany tornadoes, can all cause flooding. Flooding is a big problem in Texas: according to the Flood Safety Education Project, Texas leads the nation in deaths caused by flooding, and most of these deaths are vehicle-related. Roads aren't made to be submerged in water, and your vehicle isn't made to drive through it. When faced with flooding, stay out of the water. It's more important to find high ground than to go home—your best bet is to wait until conditions become stable, then find a safe way home.

Never drive through water unless you're sure that it's less than one foot deep and not moving quickly. Partially-submerged objects can help you gauge water depth, but gradient and irregularities in the road surface make water deeper or shallower in some places than in others. Remember that the center of the road will usually be its highest point. Obey all warning signs. If a warning sign tells you to turn around, do so. Do not underestimate the power of standing or rushing water. Don't park near streams or rivers during rain or flooding.

Before prescribing a medication, a doctor will consider not only if it can improve a particular patient's health, but also whether the patient is likely to experience dangerous side effects. When your doctor prescribes a medication, ask him or her if it will impair your ability to drive. Always follow the instructions and know the effects of any drug you use.

Never drive while using a medication with potential side effects that could reduce your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. In addition to prescription medications, many over-the-counter drugs can also impair your ability to drive. These include decongestants, antihistamines, cough syrups, pain relievers, acid reducers, sleeping aids, and even mouthwashes. Some medicines even include enough alcohol to raise your BAC above the legal limit for minors!

To be a safe driver, you must be able to assess your condition dispassionately and avoid driving when you're not fit to do so. When you're not physically or mentally able to be a good driver, the best way to show your respect for others is to stay away from the road. No matter how urgent your need to drive is, don't get behind the wheel if your ability to control your car is impaired in any way.

Never let your desire to drive cloud your good judgment. When you drive, a small error is all that it takes to bring about serious injury or senseless tragedy. Always remember that a car is a deadly machine that should not be operated except by someone wholly competent to do so. If you have any doubts about whether you should get on the road, don't! Call a cab, catch a bus, get a friend to give you a ride, or just stay home.

When driving behind a truck at night, always use your low-beams. When reflected by the truck's mirrors, bright headlights can blind the driver or cause glare that may obscure his or her view of other vehicles on the road.

Never linger alongside a truck when passing. You should pass a large truck on the left side. Make sure you'll have enough time to pass before leaving your lane: a large truck will take three to five seconds longer to pass than a car. Blink your headlights to let the driver know you are planning to pass. If the driver flashes his or her lights at you after you have passed, it is an indication that you have cleared the truck and may return to your lane.

Newton's Second Law: F = ma Newton's Second Law states: Force (F) is equal to mass (m) multiplied by acceleration (a). This principle indicates that the force an object possesses is influenced both by its weight and its speed. As a result, driving faster and driving a heavier vehicle will both increase the severity of an impact. If two cars collide head on, the force of impact will involve the mass of both cars and the rate at which they approached each other.

Newton's Third Law: Action and Reaction Newton's Third Law states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The basic significance of this principle is that a force never acts on a single object alone, but always involves an interaction between a pair of objects. For instance, the force necessary to propel your car is generated when your spinning tires and the solid pavement push against each other.

To jumpstart a car, you need a car with a dead battery, a car with a healthy battery, and a set of jumper cables. First, park the vehicles near each other and turn them off. Their engine compartments need to be close enough for the cables to reach, but the vehicles must not make physical contact with each other.

Next, open both hoods and attach the jumper cables. One cable, usually red, is for positive current, while the other, usually black, is for negative current. You must connect the cables in this exact order: Red cable to positive terminal on dead battery Red cable to positive terminal on good battery Black cable to negative terminal on good battery Black cable to grounded surface in engine compartment of car with dead battery

Once you've pulled over and turned off your vehicle, your first priority is the safety of all vehicle occupants, then the safety of passing road users. If you or any of your passengers are harmed, administer first aid or call an ambulance. Move away from your vehicle if it's on fire, and make sure your vehicle presents as little hazard as possible to passing drivers. Next, tend to your emergency, whether it's a flat tire, an overheated engine, or an open hood.

Next, you may need to place a phone call. Use your cell phone if you have one, or a call box if it's near and safe to walk to. If you've been in a collision, call the police. If your vehicle catches fire, but it is not the result of a collision, and there are no injuries, call the fire department immediately. If your car breaks down without injuries, a collision, or a fire, you may need to call your insurance company, a tow truck, or another automobile rescue service.

Moderate doses of cocaine can make drivers reckless, jittery, and compulsive. At higher doses, cocaine causes shaking, irritability, loss of focus, and panic. Higher doses can also cause seizure, stroke, heart attack, coma, and death. As the effects of cocaine wear off, the driver may become drowsy, inattentive, or depressed. Crashes involving drivers with cocaine in their bloodstream often involve the driver speeding, losing control, or turning in front of other vehicles.

Nicotine is the chief mind-affecting substance in tobacco leaves. The World Health Organization reports that consuming tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide—over one billion people consume nicotine regularly, causing nearly six million deaths each year. Tobacco is most commonly smoked, but is also sometimes snorted, in snuff form, or absorbed in the mouth, in chew form. In small doses it increases alertness, reduces anxiety, dulls pain, and raises blood pressure. With higher doses, however, it can cause increased anxiety, uncomfortable restlessness, and an inability to focus. In combination with the other chemicals found in tobacco products such as cigarettes and chews, nicotine is highly addictive.

It is illegal to stand or park in the following situations and places: *In front of a driveway *Within 15 ft of an intersection without a marked crosswalk *Within 20 ft of a crosswalk *Within 30 ft of a stop sign, traffic signal, or flashing traffic beacon *Within 50 ft of a railroad crossing You may stop in these places, but not stand or park there.

No Standing or Parking *Within 15 ft of a fire hydrant *Within 20 ft of a fire station driveway, or within 75 ft of the fire station on the opposite sidewalk *Within 300 ft of a fire with fire vehicles present *In a place that blocks the fire exit or emergency exit of a building *Within 500 ft of a collision with a police officer present

Most drivers have a "Do as I say, not as I do" attitude towards aggressive driving. As we discussed earlier, while most drivers consider aggressive driving to be serious problem, many continue to demonstrate aggressive behaviors when they drive. Everyone on the road has the responsibility to avoid driving aggressively. Not only does it endanger other drivers directly, but it also increases the chances that other drivers will act even more aggressively in response.

No matter how genial a disposition you normally have, the pressures of driving can easily turn you into an aggressive driver without you even realizing it! The extreme emotions that cause a driver to act aggressively also tend to blind the driver to the fact that he or she is acting out of character. When your emotions are in the driver's seat, it's easy to forget everything you've learned about driving safely!

There are several reasons that young drinkers are especially at risk of becoming dependent on alcohol. For one thing, as a minor, your organs aren't fully formed, making them more susceptible to alcohol's effects. If your organs mature in the presence of alcohol, you'll be much more likely to develop tolerance for alcohol sooner and continue to rely on it to function normally. Moreover, if you develop the habit of dealing with your problems by drinking while you're young, you'll never develop healthy ways to cope. As a result, you're more likely to deal with adult problems (with your marriage, your job, your money, etc.) with alcohol as well.

No matter what you're planning on doing with your life, if you become dependent on alcohol you could see all your dreams drowned by your addiction. If you begin to abuse alcohol: You'll become less interested in extra-curricular activities that used to mean a great deal to you You'll be much more likely to engage in the dangerous practice of binge drinking Your grades may decline steeply and rapidly Your relationships with your friends and family will suffer You'll begin to experience problems with the authorities at your school (for truancy and other violations) and in your community (for illegal possession or use of alcohol)

Peace officers have been killed during routine traffic stops. As a result, the officer may approach your car cautiously and be especially concerned by unexpected movements. For a safe traffic stop: ◦Stay in your car with your seat belt fastened and your hands on the top of your steering wheel ◦Tell the officer where your license, registration, and proof of insurance are before you reach for them ◦Remain in your car unless requested by the officer ◦Always act in a courteous and polite manner ◦Instruct your passengers to be cooperative and to keep their hands in a visible place Once the officer has indicated that you may go, remember to signal and follow the proper procedure when returning to the roadway.

No one expects to get into a collision when they get on the road, yet hundreds of collisions happen every day. The chances are good that eventually you'll be involved in a collision, too. If you're involved in a collision, don't panic. While shock and anxiety are natural responses, you must remain calm until the immediate situation has been resolved. You could make the situation worse if you are not able to think clearly. Moreover, you may be less prepared to complete the tasks you are legally required to perform in a collision.

When compared with fatality and fatal collision rates on urban roads, rural roads have: -More fatalities overall -More speeding fatalities during the day -More fatal crashes during the day -More unrestrained occupant fatalities -More fatalities in rollover crashes -More drivers who die at the scene of the crash

On rural roads, it's easy to start thinking that you're driving more slowly than you actually are due to a condition known as Velocitation. Velocitation occurs because the experience of driving on an open roadway for an extended period can harm a driver's ability to judge his or her own speed. When this occurs, you may begin to drive too fast without realizing it. To avoid velocitation on highways and expressways, check your speedometer regularly.

Teenagers tend to be especially susceptible to fatigue for several reasons: While adults generally need an average of 8 to 8.5 hours of sleep a night, children and teenagers can need as much as 9.5 hours of sleep a night. During adolescence, people experience changes in their circadian rhythms that make them feel alert at night even when they're fatigued. Young people are less aware of the effects of fatigue on their bodies and more likely think they can force themselves to stay awake long enough to reach their destination.

Not only are teens naturally more susceptible to fatigue, but they also tend to have an exhausting lifestyle. Due to school schedules, teens tend to rise early and stay busy at school for a minimum of 8 to 10 hours, especially if they're involved in extracurricular activities. When you factor in homework, part-time jobs, and socializing, and remember that teens are inexperienced drivers, it's easy to understand why so many are involved in fatigue-related collisions

Changes in noise level, abnormal amounts of fumes, and rattling sounds coming from underneath your car can signal problems with your exhaust system. If your exhaust system seems to be acting erratically, have it checked for leaks and loose connections. In most cases, it is illegal to make modifications to your exhaust system or to install a bypass device to increase the noise level of your vehicle. If you make exhaust modifications, your vehicle may not pass inspection.

Now that you better understand the systems that provide power to your vehicle, it's time to consider the steering system that allows you to control the direction that it moves. The steering system consists of the various components that connect the steering wheel to the front wheels of the car. Together, these components allow you to change where your car is going by pointing the front wheels in the direction that you indicate with the steering wheel.

Next, jack up your vehicle and remove the flat tire. Place the jack in the location recommended by your vehicle owner's manual, or indicated on the underside of the body. Jack up the vehicle to take weight off the tire, but stop before the tire leaves the ground. Using the tire iron, loosen each lug nut, but don't remove them yet. Finish jacking up your vehicle, leaving the tire about two inches above the ground. Remove all lug nuts in a five-pointed star pattern and place them where they won't roll away. Remove the flat tire and place it where it won't roll away. Don't leave your tire on the road—this is littering, and can result in a heavy fine.

Now you can install the spare tire and return your vehicle to the ground. Grasp the spare tire on the outside and place it on the wheel's hub. Put the lug nuts back on with the tapered ends facing in, and tighten them a few turns. Lower the car back down until the wheel is just touching the ground. Tighten all lug nuts as much as possible, in a five-point star pattern. Finish lowering the car. Remove the jack. Make sure all lug nuts are secure.

Finally, remember that excessive braking and steering can cause your vehicle to lose balance. If you brake hard and steer sharply to one side, your vehicle may roll over towards the opposite side. Such a complete loss of control can have devastating consequences. You must keep all four wheels on the ground and maintain good traction with the road in order to successfully handle your vehicle in an emergency.

Occasionally the right wheels of your car will drive off of the paved roadway inadvertently as the result of a temporary loss of control or the need to avoid an immediate hazard. While the shoulder will sometimes even and in good condition, in many situations, the shoulder will be lower than the roadway and unpaved. Upon rolling off the roadway, the front wheel of your car may suddenly drop down, which can disrupt the distribution of weight and balance in your vehicle. Moreover, the unstable surfaces of the unpaved area make traction unreliable. Generally, you will have to respond immediately to avoid more significant risks. However, attempting to re-enter the roadway by braking hard or turning sharply can cause your vehicle to move across the road into oncoming traffic and roll over.

When you're drinking with a group, you should also watch for signs of alcohol poisoning among your friends. Signs of alcohol poisoning include unconsciousness, vomiting, slow or irregular breathing, slow heart rate, and low body temperature. If you think a friend is suffering from alcohol poisoning, call 911. Don't panic! Keep your friend on his or her side and, if you're qualified to do so, perform CPR if his or her pulse or breathing is abnormally low. Stay with your friend until medical assistance arrives.

Occasionally, you may end up in a car with a driver who's had a drink or two and may or may not be too impaired to drive. Watch for these signs that the driver is impaired: Gripping the steering wheel tightly Slouching in the seat Driving with open windows in cold weather Sticking his or her head out the window Driving with his or her face too close to the windshield Not turning his or her head to scan Talking or playing music at a high volume If you think the driver is too impaired to continue driving, calmly try to convince him or her to pull over and let you drive or call a cab. Don't be too aggressive: you may end up distracting the driver more!

Driving while intoxicated is a national problem, but its impact is felt with extra strength in Texas. According to the NHTSA, in 2011, Texas had the highest number of fatalities in collisions involving a driver with a BAC of .01% or higher. In Texas, 1,397 people were killed in a collision involving a driver with some degree of intoxication. In comparison, in California, the state with the next highest number of fatalities, only 886 people were killed. This means that almost 60% more people were killed in drunk driving crashes in Texas than were in California, despite the fact that the state has only 2/3 the population that California does.

Of the 1,397 people killed in a drunk driving collision, 62% were drivers with a BAC over .01%. This means that in Texas, over 500 non-drivers were killed by drunk drivers in 2011. All of these deaths were preventable. In every case, if the drunk driver had simply chosen not to get into the driver's seat, there would have been no collision and no deaths. And deaths aren't the only serious result of drunk driving collisions: the NHTSA estimates that over 250,000 people are injured in alcohol-related traffic collisions each year.

One of the emotions that affects drivers most is stress. Stress is a feeling of agitation or anxiety that typically occurs when a person feels overwhelmed by the demands placed on him or her. Driving is considered a stressful activity because it frequently requires you to notice, remember, and formulate responses to multiple situations at the same time. If you're already stressed when you get behind the wheel, you may not be able to respond safely to the additional stresses of driving.

Often, stress can motivate you to act or improve how well you perform essential tasks. For instance, stress may make you study harder for an exam or sharpen your concentration when you're competing in a sporting event. Nevertheless, too much stress can affect your mood, your concentration, and your judgment. If you let yourself become stressed while driving, you may react inappropriately and cause a collision

This sign indicates that the driver should be prepared for a steep dip in the road.

Often, two warning signs will be combined to provide more information to the driver. This sign indicates that the driver is approaching a curving road that is slippery when wet.

Intersection Ahead An upcoming junction between two roadways may be indicated with a warning sign like the one depicted. The symbol on the sign will resemble the configuration of the intersection. The image shown here represents a standard four-way intersection. A wider line may indicate that one of the roadways is more heavily travelled. When you see a sign indicating that you are approaching an intersection, be prepared to slow down and yield to cross traffic.

On a sign indicating an intersection ahead, a "T" shape is used where a road intersects with a side road that is coming to an end. This kind of intersection requires the driver on the road that is coming to an end to yield to traffic on the main road.

The three-second following distance is recommended when driving at average speeds in ideal roadway conditions. You should establish a longer following distance when: ◦A vehicle is tailgating you ◦Something is blocking your vision ◦You're following a motorcycle or a large vehicle such as a truck or bus ◦The road is wet or icy or otherwise offers little traction ◦You're driving in bad weather ◦You are driving at high speeds

On dry surfaces, a 3-second following distance provides drivers travelling at any speed enough time to steer away from and around a problem area. Moreover: ◦A driver travelling under 35 mph can reliably brake within a 3-second following distance. ◦A driver travelling under 45 mph can reliably brake within a 4-second following distance. ◦A driver travelling under 65 mph can reliably brake within a 5-second following distance. Keep in mind that most tires aren't designed to be able to steer out of problem areas at speeds above 75 mph.

Find a clean, unpainted metal surface, such as the engine block or a bolt head, to ground the black cable. Do not attach this cable to the negative terminal on the dead battery—it may cause an explosion. Make sure the cables aren't touching any fans, belts, or other components that will move when the engine starts.

Once the cables are in place, start the engine on the car with the good battery. Let it run for a few minutes to charge the dead battery, then start the engine on the car with the dead battery. If the engine doesn't start right away, hold the ignition switch all the way to ignition for a few seconds, but no more than five seconds—this may damage the ignition. Try this a few times. If the engine doesn't start, let the car with the good battery run for another five minutes, then try again. If you still have no success, detach all cables in reverse order, then reattach them, trying to get a better connection between their metal teeth and the metal on the battery terminals. Then try to start the engine.

Impaired driving deaths are not a private matter, either. They often end up in the news, or announced at school or work. What's more, if you die on the road, there are a number of people who are forced to handle your corpse. Police arriving on the scene of the crash will have to look at your body and make a preliminary decision about whether it's possible for you to be resuscitated. Paramedics and firefighters who arrive later will have to remove your body from the wreckage—including picking up any severed body parts. If you're not dead yet, you'll be taken to a hospital trauma center, where doctors and nurses will work as hard as they can to save your life.

Once you're dead, a coroner or medical examiner will study your corpse to determine cause of death and test for the presence of alcohol and other drugs. Your dead body will be stored in a morgue and handled by morgue attendants when a family member comes to identify it. A mortician will then clean and dress your body, unless it has been too severely dismembered or disfigured. Finally, there will be a funeral. If your face is still recognizable or can be reconstructed, there may be an open casket. Friends, family, and funeral workers will be present to see your corpse or your coffin. Before getting behind the wheel when you're impaired, think about how many members of your community will have to see your corpse when you die in a wreck.

If you must drive a distance before pulling over, turn air recirculation off, air temperature up to high, and air speed up to high. This will help remove heat from the engine. If your vehicle has a belt-driven radiator fan, you can help cool the engine by shifting to neutral and pressing the accelerator lightly. Most front-wheel drive vehicles do not have belt-driven radiator fans, but many rear-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles do.

Once you've pulled over, wait for the engine to cool. Next, check your coolant reservoir, which can typically be found above the radiator. Add coolant if necessary. Water will work as a last resort, but should not be relied on as a long-term solution. Never unscrew your radiator or coolant reservoir cap before letting the engine cool down. You may be sprayed with boiling coolant.

Depressants can slow the body's functions down until they shut off. Short-term effects include: Drowsiness and lethargy Paralysis and loss of sensation Poor coordination Slowed digestion Lethally reduced heart rate and respiration A false sense of well-being

One highly prevalent category of depressants is pain relievers, or painkillers. Pain relievers reduce or eliminate feelings of pain. They often also reduce fever and inflammation. Harmful effects of pain relievers include oversensitivity to light, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, liver damage, thinning of the blood, and deterioration of the stomach lining. As with other drugs, an overdose of pain relievers carries serious risk of death.

In other words, you can be charged with DWI if you have any drug in your system and are functioning at anything other than normal capacity. In this case, "any drug" includes legal and illegal drugs, prescription and over the counter drugs, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, etc. However, because of the "per se" limit, the results of a chemical test are also sufficient for demonstrating a driver's intoxication. This limit was determined based on the fact that all drivers are particularly likely to be impaired at this level.

One important consequence of the per se limit is that it allows wider use of sobriety checkpoints. Sobriety checkpoints are publicized roadblocks dedicated to finding drunk drivers and taking them off the road. Police officers assess the condition of drivers and perform breath tests to determine intoxication. As long as a law enforcement agency operates a sobriety checkpoint according to certain rules, it has the support of the Supreme Court to randomly check drivers for impairment. These rules include that decisions must generally be made by a supervisor rather than by individual police officers, and that the selection of drivers for testing must be random.

To facilitate the flow of traffic, you must communicate with other road users and understand the legal and proper way to perform vehicle maneuvers like passing, turning, and parking. Not only will you demonstrate that you are a respectful and responsible driver by doing so, but you will also improve your own experience as a driver.

One of the biggest obstacles to achieving a perfectly smooth traffic flow is the fact that each driver acts independently, and there will always be drivers who act in ways that other drivers don't expect. This is why communication is so important to achieving safe and efficient traffic flow: without communication, drivers can't anticipate each other's actions and they inevitably end up endangering one another.

To deal with the need to multitask while driving, your rule of thumb should be to never give any task more time and attention than needed. As you drive, be sure to avoid staring for too long in one place. For instance, while you must look behind you before changing lanes, the longer you keep looking behind you, the more likely it is that you'll get distracted from the task at hand and become involved in a collision.

One of the most important aspects of multitasking is time management. Always think about how long it will take to perform a task and give yourself a comfortable amount of time to complete it. As long as you manage your time successfully, you should never have to look away from the roadway for more than a half second at a time. By managing your space effectively as well (e.g. by adjusting your position or reducing your speed), you should always have enough of a buffer around your car to make a collision extremely unlikely in the half second you're looking away from the roadway. Never look away from the roadway for more than a half second. If a task requires more time, continue to switch your attention between the task and your path of travel until the task is finished.

Speed Limit Signs The speed limit of a certain area of the roadway may be indicated with a speed limit sign. A large number on the speed limit sign will indicate the maximum speed that traffic may travel over that part of the roadway in ideal conditions. In some places, a minimum speed limit may be posted if traffic moving too slowly poses a risk to other drivers.

Parking Signs Parking signs are generally smaller than other regulatory signs, and they often indicate more specific restrictions. Information concerning days and times when parking and stopping is permitted or restricted will be indicated on these signs. A parking sign with red text will generally indicate times when parking or stopping is prohibited in the area where it is posted.

If the trends governing the increase in the costs of alcohol and drug abuse have remained consistent, by 2009 they would have totaled over half a trillion dollars! That averages to a cost of over $1600 for every man, woman, and child living in the United States! While some of these expenses are borne by the abusers themselves, federal, state, and local governments are significantly taxed by the costs of abuse. Moreover, society loses out on a considerable amount of potential when anyone, especially a young person, is killed or permanently disabled in a DUI collision. When you drink and drive, everyone pays the price!

One of the most serious problems related to alcohol use is underage drinking. People under 21 years old are especially at risk of becoming binge drinkers and damaging their own development. Traffic collisions, accidental injury and illness, intentional illness and other crime, the need for rehabilitation programs, and suicide are all increased significantly by the problem of underage drinking.

Liver Damage The liver has many functions. It breaks down both nutritious and poisonous chemicals into substances the body is better able to manage. This process, which also occurs in other organs, is known as metabolism. In addition, the liver stores some nutrients, such as sugar, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, the liver produces substances that fight infections, help blood clotting, and maintain health in general.

One of the poisons the liver must break down is alcohol. Around 80% of all alcohol ingested orally will be broken down by the liver. With chronic abuse, alcohol damages your liver severely. Because it must perform extra work to break down and filter alcohol out of the bloodstream, it is unable to get rid the byproducts of alcohol metabolism quickly. This extra work also prevents it from properly processing more common substances like fats and proteins.

In 1999, a study of 16-year-old drivers conducted in California and Maryland found that the top errors made by novice drivers are: Failing to maintain a visual lead or attend to the path of travel Driving at least 5 mph too fast for current conditions Entering a curve at too high a speed Failing to pay attention at an intersection Failing to respond adequately to hazardous circumstances Failing to notice action on the side of the roadway Failing to yield the right-of-way Following too closely Being distracted 45% of collisions involved an improper visual search combined with an inappropriate decision (like entering a curve too fast), while only 3.3% of collisions involved a willfully dangerous action.

One reason that young drivers tend to be disproportionately involved in collisions is because they want show off to impress their friends by demonstrating their skills or their fearlessness. When combined with the liberating experience of driving for the first time, this impulse can be deadly. Driving is not a game or a performance! Don't show off by speeding, peeling out, playing chicken, or ignoring the rules of the road. Dying for such a silly reason wouldn't just be tragic—it would be stupid!

One-Way Road to Two-Way Road When turning on to a two-way road from a one-way road, make sure you are driving in the left-most lane of the one-way road by the time you're 200 ft from the intersection. Once you have passed the crosswalk and entered the intersection, you should follow the same procedure as when making the turn from a two-way road.

One-Way Road to One-Way Road The procedure for turning left from one one-way road to another is the same as the procedure for making a right turn, replacing each movement to the right with the equivalent movement to the left.

Improper Lane Use and Passing Passing, changing lanes, and merging are particularly dangerous because they involve multiple cars making complex maneuvers that rely less on established rules and more on driver discretion. When passing another vehicle or changing lanes, it's up to you to determine when it's safe and where and how to make the maneuver. No sign or lane marking will tell you where to drive in order to pass safely.

Only by having a good understanding of your vehicle's capabilities and a thorough awareness of the position and movement of vehicles around you will you be able to pass, change lanes, or merge safely. Whenever you're entering another lane of traffic, you must adjust your speed to match the flow of traffic in that lane. Make sure the gap you enter is large enough for you to have a safe space in front of and behind your car once you've entered the new lane.

Roadside Service Signs Blue signs are used to indicate upcoming roadside services. Found mostly on stretches of highway where services are available infrequently or are not easily accessible from the side of the road, these signs indicate that a rest area, dining area, gas station, hotel, hospital, or other service the driver may wish to stop for is nearby. They may also indicate the distance to the next service area so drivers can decide if they should stop before proceeding. Take a look at more guide signs here.

Orange construction signs are posted in areas where construction or maintenance work occurring on or near the roadway requires drivers to slow down and proceed with caution. You must adjust your driving and look out for workers in the road whenever you see a construction sign. Traffic fines are doubled for violations that occur in construction zones when workers are present.

A study of drivers 16 to 19 years old determined how different BAC levels increase the driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision. The results suggest that: A BAC of 0.015% to 0.049% increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 2.5 times. A BAC of 0.05% to 0.079% increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 9 times. A BAC of 0.08% to 0.099% increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 40 times. A BAC of 0.10% to 0.149% increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 90 times. A BAC of 0.15% or greater increases a young driver's risk of dying in a single vehicle collision 420 times.

Organ Damage The circulation of alcohol throughout the bloodstream carries it to every organ, endangering their ability to function properly. Some organs are more susceptible than others to the toxic effects of alcohol. The kidneys and liver, for instance, process alcohol directly, drawing it in and filtering it from the blood. Every organ is affected differently. As a result, while some effects (such as liver damage) are more common, there are many ways your body can be destroyed by alcohol abuse.

In a side-impact collision, the force of impact is transferred immediately and directly to the passenger compartment. Doors and windows will crush and be pushed towards the occupants as the occupants are thrown towards the point of impact. These collisions occur most often in intersections and parking lots, and are usually caused by a blatant disregard for right-of-way. Always obey the rules of right-of-way.

Other important types of collisions and emergencies include rollovers, which often occur when vehicles leave the road. Rollovers produce forces that very easily eject unbuckled occupants. They are one of the deadliest types of collisions. SUVs and other vehicles with a high center of gravity are more susceptible to rollovers.

In general, you should avoid blocking or impeding traffic in any way unless you'd have to perform an unsafe or illegal action to allow others to proceed. Even if you're not in a hurry, you should always proceed in a timely manner so that drivers behind you don't become frustrated and tempted to break the law. Remember to drive in the rightmost lane if you're travelling slower than the flow of traffic. Never drive slowly in the left lane.

Other road users are also likely to become annoyed or angered by: Speeding more than 10 mph over the limit Cruising in a lane designated for passing Failing to activate or deactivate your turn signal when appropriate Failing to yield the right-of-way Tailgating Weaving between lanes Taking up more than one parking space Double parking

Because driving on an expressway can be boring, it can cause drowsiness and a reduced awareness of the road. This is known as highway hypnosis. It can lead you to underestimate or ignore potential risks. To avoid highway hypnosis: *Avoid driving more than eight hours on any day. *Stop driving at least once every two hours or once every one hundred miles of driving. Get out of your car and clear your head. *Scan the road continuously rather than focus on a fixed spot on the road.

Other things you must keep in mind about expressway driving: *Drivers frequently pass and change lanes on expressways. Don't linger in another driver's blind spot as he or she may begin a maneuver without seeing you. *Keep the window open to let fresh air in if weather conditions permit. Warm, stale air can cause drowsiness and discomfort. *At higher speeds, using a wireless communication device is especially dangerous and likely deadly.

While you may think that it kills brain cells, what alcohol actually damages are the ends of the neurons, or dendrites. With damaged dendrites, neurons are less able to communicate information across the brain and through the body. Over time, memory problems, confusion, lack of coordination, and amnesia can develop. Alcohol can also change how neurons work without causing actual physical damage the brain. Even these changes can lead to altered behavior and cause a number of psychotic disorders, including paranoia, hallucinations, and major depression.

Over time, the brain adapts to the continued presence of alcohol in the blood. To compensate for the effects of alcohol on the organs, the brain adjusts how they operate so that they'll perform their functions more normally when alcohol is present. As a result of this new equilibrium, however, when alcohol is removed from the system, the user suffers from withdrawal. Withdrawal causes the brain to function abnormally. Trembling is a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal, while anger, confusion, fear, hallucinations, hypertension, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, seizures, and even death are possible.

Many drugs are available "over the counter," or without a prescription. They are available without a prescription because they are more widely useful than prescription drugs, and because their potential for harm and abuse is relatively lower. Drugs available over the counter include antihistamines, cough syrups, pain relievers, acid reducers, and sleeping aids, among others. Over-the-counter drugs are not always safe, and they will impair your body and mind. You'll be just as dead after an overdose of Benadryl as you will after an overdose of heroin.

Over-the-counter medications are especially dangerous when taken in large doses or in combination with other drugs. However, they can still be dangerous when taken alone and in the recommended dose. Many medications, such as antihistamines, cough syrups, sleeping aids, and pain relievers, can cause drowsiness. This reaction depends on the user's particular body chemistry, and can be severe in some users. Before taking any over-the-counter medicine, read the label in its entirety. Always comply with every direction given on the label, but don't trust that this will keep you completely safe. Understand the medicines you use, and never risk harmful effects by combining drugs or operating heavy machinery, such as a car.

It's important to remember that when a doctor prescribes a medicine to someone, the doctor decides that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. This decision is based on a professional medical consideration of the complexities of the drug and the patient's medical condition. Before prescribing anything, a doctor considers the patient's health, their personal and family medical history, and their current drug use. When a drug prescribed to one person is taken by another, the doctor's assessment no longer applies, and the drug may be very unsafe. Even an attempt to use another person's prescription at its intended dosage can have fatal consequences.

Oxycodone, for example, is prescribed in some cases to treat severe pain. At lower doses it causes memory loss, fatigue, dizziness, headache, anxiety, itching, and pupil constriction. At higher doses, oxycodone causes slowed or stopped breathing, lowered heart rate, and low blood pressure, which may lead to unconsciousness and death. Additionally, oxycodone can cause blood to stop flowing in particular areas of the circulatory system. When this happens in the heart, it is almost always fatal. When it happens elsewhere in the body, it can cause loss of muscle control, organ failure, and gangrene.

The extreme left lane of an expressway is for faster traffic, and the right lane is for slower traffic: -Use the right lane for driving more slowly or if you're planning to leave the expressway after a short time. -----Due to their speed limitations, large vehicles are more likely to drive in lanes on the right. -Use the center and left lanes for passing and driving at high speeds. In general, the fastest traffic will be in the leftmost lane of the expressway.

Pay attention to the actions of other drivers around you and move into another lane if you can reduce the risk of a collision by doing so. -If another vehicle is following closely behind you, move to your right, into a slower lane. -If another driver is trying to merge into your lane, move into another lane to give him or her more space, if possible.

Most modern vehicles are manufactured with a power steering mechanism. Without power steering, the driver has to exert considerable force to turn the steering wheel. This is especially true in large vehicles, as increased vehicle weight and length make steering more difficult. In vehicles with power steering, a hydraulic piston or electrical motor provides most of the energy needed to move the wheels, allowing any driver to steer the car with relatively little effort.

Pay attention to the condition of your steering system. If your wheels don't respond properly when you steer, or if you have difficulty steering even when your tires are properly inflated, there may be a problem. Steering problems may cause your car to shimmy, wobble, shake, or pull to one side unexpectedly, and to produce squealing sounds when you turn. Not only is it costly to repair a broken steering system, but if the steering wheel stops working while you're driving your car, you may not be able to avoid a collision.

Parking signs with green text are used to indicate parking zones where parking is restricted to a certain amount of time (e.g. two hours) during certain hours or days or at all times. They are also used to indicate parking spots that may only be used by a specific kind of road user, such as a handicapped driver.

Pedestrian Signs Regulations that pedestrians are required to obey are also indicated on regulatory signs. These generally specify where crossing is permitted or forbidden or provide guidance for using traffic signals.

Never expect everyone on the road to be paying attention. Even the most diligent drivers can be distracted occasionally. When you see someone being blatantly irresponsible (e.g. by eating, grooming, or texting behind the wheel), your focus should be on keeping yourself safe by increasing the distance between yourself and the other driver. It's not your job to teach someone else a lesson.

People who are likely to be distracted on or near the road include: Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians Delivery persons looking for an address Construction workers Tourists, particularly at complicated intersections Drivers looking at a map or for a house number

Some personality traits naturally predispose a person to drive aggressively. A common personality trait among aggressive drivers is egotism—a feeling that no one else matters as much as oneself. Egotistical people generally act as though rules don't apply to them. An egotistical driver is more likely to speed and drive in an unsafe way, and is less likely to yield the right-of-way, make room for merging vehicles, or let other drivers pass.

People who feel contempt or hostility for other people are also more likely to drive aggressively. These negative feelings can be directed in many different ways: at other drivers in general, at drivers of another race, culture, or gender, at older drivers, or at some other arbitrary group of drivers. A driver's hostility may also be directed at society in general. For instance, some drivers may fail to obey traffic signs and road rules because of their attitude towards the law.

Children Child passengers can become restless easily, especially on long trips. Children can get anxious being stuck alone in the back of the car and may demand that you pay attention to them, as they won't understand your responsibilities as a driver. Don't turn around to communicate with or discipline a child while driving. If a child insists on attention, pull over to the side of the road. Keep books, games, or other activities in your car to help children fend off boredom.

Pets Pets can also be especially distracting, especially if they're not restrained in a pet carrier or portable kennel. A roaming pet can block your view of the road, jump on your lap, rest under your feet, or otherwise distract or physically hamper you. Moreover, the experience of riding in a car can be very stressful for some animals and they may start making loud noises of distress. Only drive with a pet except when absolutely necessary, and make sure the pet is safely restrained before you begin to drive.

If you search the road ahead of you effectively, you'll usually only have to make small adjustments that can be performed within your lane. Nevertheless, you'll sometimes need to execute a maneuver that requires you to enter another lane of traffic. When changing lanes, turning, or pulling over to the side of the road, you should plan ahead, make yourself predictable, keep yourself away from danger, and avoid others rather than forcing them to avoid you.

Plan Ahead Effective space management involves preparing for a maneuver in advance so you can find a safe opportunity to perform the maneuver. If you have to perform the maneuver at the last minute, you're more likely to do so unsafely and to disrupt the driving of others. Whenever possible, plan your trip in advance so you can anticipate where you'll need to maneuver and avoid searching for street signs and guide signs.

Some drugs are only available for purchase when prescribed by a doctor for a specific use. These drugs are helpful in treating the injury or illness, but have a relatively high potential for harm or abuse. The conditions they treat are often more rare than conditions treated by over-the-counter drugs.

Prescription drugs are often just as dangerous as illegal drugs. The barbiturate Nembutal and the pain reliever codeine are extremely lethal. It is possible to die after taking only three times the prescribed dose of codeine. What's more, many drugs that are often referred to as "illegal drugs" are available by prescription. Opium, methamphetamine, and cocaine can be prescribed by doctors if they believe the drug is needed.

Unpaved Roads When an unpaved road intersects with a paved road, a driver on the unpaved road must yield to traffic on the paved road.

Private Roads and Driveways *A driver exiting an alley, building, driveway, private road, or private property must stop prior to the sidewalk or edge of the road to yield to all vehicles and pedestrians that constitute an immediate hazard. *If you are planning to turn into a driveway that is located immediately after the intersection, you should wait until you enter the intersection to start signaling so other traffic doesn't assume you're planning to turn at the intersection.

The grooves in your tires should be at least 2/32 inches thick. You can measure the grooves in your tire with a tread depth gauge or by checking the tire wear bars. For quick reference, you can insert a penny into the groove with Lincoln's face facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head while looking at the side of the tire, the treads are too shallow for driving in wet weather and the tire should be replaced.

Properly inflated tires will help you control your car better and maintain good gas mileage. Over-inflated tires are more likely to wear out quickly, while under-inflated tires flex too much and tend to overheat, which can potentially cause a blowout. Keep a reliable tire gauge in your car and check your tire pressure regularly. Cold tires should be inflated to the pressure recommended by your car's manufacturer in the owner's manual. Don't inflate your tires when they are warm, as the pressure will drop as they cool.

Protect your passengers by making sure that everyone in your car is properly secured by a safety belt or child safety seat. Not only do safety belts keep you from hitting the dashboard or being thrown from your car in a collision, but they also keep you in an ideal position for controlling your car. Under Texas law, all passenger vehicle occupants must wear a safety belt (if the vehicle is equipped with them). Children under 8 years old or less than 4'9" tall must be secured in a child passenger safety seat. As a driver, you are responsible for making sure that all passengers under 16 are appropriately restrained.

Protect yourself and your environment by getting your exhaust system periodically checked for leaks. Your engine emits dangerous gases like carbon monoxide, which is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless byproduct of the internal combustion engine. If there is a leak in your system, this gas could enter the passenger compartment of your car, causing you to become drowsy, dizzy—or dead. When driving, leave a window open to allow fresh air to circulate. Never leave an engine running in an enclosed space for a long period of time. When driving in tunnels, turn off your heating or ventilation system to prevent other vehicles' exhaust from entering your car.

When you are involved in a collision, the first thing you must always do is stop immediately. Failure to stop is a serious offense. You may be charged with a hit-and-run. Immediately following a collision, move your vehicle to the side of the road unless it's too damaged to move. Turn off the ignition. Exit your car cautiously to aid anyone injured and identify yourself to all parties involved. If anyone is injured or killed, you must call the police immediately.

Provide any emergency care you are capable of providing. According to the Good Samaritan law: A person who in good faith administers emergency care is not liable in civil damages for an act performed during the emergency unless the act is willfully or wantonly negligent. You won't be held responsible for any damages that accidentally result from your care unless you expect payment, are aware that injury will result from your treatment, or are found responsible for the collision.

Falling rain and altered atmospheric conditions also affect the condition of your vehicle. Rain collecting on your windshield distorts your view through it, while the inside surface of your windows may develop an opaque layer of condensation, or fog.

Rain also typically coincides with clouds that block sunlight and make the roadway dim or dark. As we'll discuss in more detail later, darkness is not only dangerous because the road is less well lighted: it also reduces your ability to perceive depth, color, and detail.

When you hydroplane, or when your wheels spin against ice or another slippery surface, it may be more difficult to notice. Pay attention to the connection between your steering wheel and the actual steering of your vehicle. If steering feels loose, you may be losing traction. A sudden, unexpected rise in engine RPMs and speedometer reading without a corresponding increase in accelerator pressure or vehicle speed can also indicate that your wheels are spinning freely against water.

Recall how to safely recover from a skid: Release the accelerator and the brake pedal. Look, and steer gently, in the direction you want to go. When you feel your vehicle regain traction, gently apply the accelerator or brake. If your vehicle overcorrects and turns too far in one direction, keep looking where you want to go, and steer gently in that direction.

In addition to judgment, alcohol affects a person's brain center and senses, including taste, smell, sight, and hearing. It then disrupts the motor skills: in rapid succession the hands, fingers, feet, and legs will become difficult to control. Drivers in this state will be incapable of perceiving their surroundings or maneuvering their vehicles safely.

Reflexes and hand-eye coordination are also affected by drinking alcohol. Cognitive functions are slowed and the ability to make decisions is impaired. Because of this, drunk drivers may not even realize that their driving skills are lessened.

Alcohol's toxic effect on the tissues of the heart can cause one or both sides of the heart to enlarge, resulting in a condition known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy. In a person suffering from alcoholic cardiomyopathy, the physical structure of the heart becomes progressively altered to compensate for the heart's weakened ability to pump blood. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is especially dangerous because sufferers sometimes show no symptoms—until, suddenly, a heart attack occurs, which is especially likely to be fatal because it is unexpected. When symptoms of alcoholic cardiomyopathy do exhibit themselves, they typically include body swelling, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, fatigue, lack of concentration, and irregular heartbeat.

Regular alcohol use can also cause hypertension, or high blood pressure. Effects of hypertension include eye damage, arterial damage, reduced bone mass, sexual dysfunction, heart disease, aneurism, kidney failure, heart failure, dementia, and stroke. Other effects of regular alcohol use on the circulatory system include: Thrombocytopenia, in which the blood's platelets suffer hindered production and a reduced ability to survive and function. Symptoms include fatigue, excessive bleeding, and spontaneous development of blood blisters in the mouth. Macrocytic anemia, in which blood cells become enlarged and less able to carry oxygen properly. Symptoms include shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, bone deformities, increased heart rate, and enlargement of the heart.

In cars with standard brakes, fully depressing your brake pedal can cause your wheels to lock and release the pressure within the hydraulic system. Ease your foot off the brake pedal to allow the wheels to rotate again and pump the brake pedal in an on-off manner to restore pressure in the brake system. Antilock braking systems (ABS) work by performing a pumping-like action on each wheel independently many times per second whenever you apply the brakes. Never pump your brakes manually if your car is equipped with ABS.

Remember that depressing the brake pedal is not the only way to decrease the speed of your car. Novice drivers tend to overuse the brake when slowing down. ◦You can reduce your speed a little bit simply by taking your foot off the accelerator pedal. ◦When driving a car with a manual transmission, you can lower your speed by shifting into a lower gear. If your service brakes fail, use your parking brake to bring your car to a stop.

When driving in the right lane of the road or while looking for a parking spot, pay attention to the actions of other drivers on the road. Be especially attentive to vehicles parked on the side of the road: -A parked vehicle may suddenly exit a parking spot on the side of the road. -A vehicle may suddenly enter the roadway from a hidden alley or driveway. -A vehicle occupant may suddenly open a door and enter the roadway from a parked car.

Remember that special rules apply when entering or exiting a driveway, alley, or parking lot. -When leaving an alley or parking area, you must stop behind the sidewalk before proceeding. Yield to any pedestrians on the sidewalk and any traffic using the roadway. -If you plan to enter a driveway on the other side of an intersection, don't start signaling until you've entered the intersection so that other drivers won't assume you're planning to turn.

Searching the road for potentially hazardous situations is the first step of the SEE IT system. You must be able to analyze the entire road and identify anything that might interrupt your line of sight or path of travel. You must even identify threats that come from behind. Situations that may increase risk include: ◦The presence of other vehicles, pedestrians, or animals ◦Impediments in the roadway or obstructions to your line of sight ◦Curves, hills, railroad crossings, intersections, or interchanges

Remember that you should direct your vision along your path of travel 10 to 15 seconds ahead of your vehicle. In a city, 10 to 15 seconds is one block. On the highway, 10 to 15 seconds is about a quarter mile. When road conditions are less than ideal, or when you are travelling at particularly fast speeds, you should increase the area of the roadway that you scan to 20 to 30 seconds ahead of your vehicle.

On the following slide, you'll see a chart that indicates how far you should be from the vehicle ahead of you when you are travelling at different speeds. For each speed, the size of a 2-, 3-, and 4-second following distance, the amount of space it will take you to respond, and your total stopping distance are shown. The math works like this, taking 40 mph as an example. At 40 mph, you will be travelling at 58 ft per second, and so there will be 174 ft in front of your car if you maintain a following distance of three seconds. As it will take you at least 125 ft to stop, a three-second following distance is sufficient at 40 mph.

Remember that your stopping distance is affected by the amount of time it takes for you to process, and then respond to, the situation and then the time it takes for your car to lose its kinetic energy. Your actual stopping distance can be affected by: ◦Your physical or mental condition (including fatigue, stress, and intoxication) ◦The type and condition of the pavement ◦The design and tread depth of your tires ◦The size and design of your car ◦The type, condition, and balance of your brakes ◦The direction of the wind Be sure to take these conditions into account when establishing your following distance.

A competing set of forces—Centripetal Force and Centrifugal Force—affect an object moving along a curved path. ◦Centripetal force (which means center-seeking force) pulls an object towards the center of a curve. ◦Centrifugal force (which means center-fleeing force) pushes an object away from a center of a curve. Centrifugal force increases with acceleration.

Remember the effects of the centripetal and centrifugal forces whenever you turn or drive through a curve. ◦If you enter a curve too fast while driving on the inside of a curve, centrifugal force may pull your car into the path of oncoming traffic. ◦If you enter a curve too fast while driving on the outside of the curve, centrifugal force may pull your car off the road. This can be especially dangerous if you're driving on a mountain road! ◦If the road is wet or icy, there will be less friction between your tires and the road, so there will be less centripetal force, and this means you will have to drive especially cautiously as you enter a curve.

Shield-shaped interstate signs indicate the number of the expressway you're using so you can identify your position on a map or in an emergency. -North/south routes have odd numbers while east/west routes have even numbers. -Most routes use two-digit numbers. -Alternate routes use three-digit numbers. If the first digit is even, the route goes around the city. If odd, the route goes through the city.

Remember these strategies for reducing risks on an expressway: -Stay alert and know when you are approaching your exit. -Adjust your vehicle's position and speed to compensate for road and weather conditions. -Steer as gently as possible at higher speeds. -Don't change lanes without signaling and checking for an open gap. If you have to change lanes, change one lane at a time. -Never park, back up, or stop on the expressway. Stop on a shoulder only in an emergency. -Make room for vehicles entering traffic from an entrance ramp. -Increase your following distance when behind a truck, bus, or motorcycle. -At higher speeds, search 20 to 30 seconds ahead of you to compensate for the speed at which visual cues are coming.

Minimize the risk of a collision by helping drivers when they make mistakes. Watch out for drivers who: ◦Attempt to pass you near a hill or curve or when oncoming traffic is approaching ◦Make an illegal move such as driving on the shoulder ◦Are forced out of their lane position by a vehicle, pedestrian, bicyclist, or obstruction ◦Are stuck in a dangerous situation, such as the middle of an intersection or a lane that is about to end ◦Are trying to split lanes

Remember to choose a position where you can best see and be seen by others. A driver who doesn't know you're there may enter your path unexpectedly. Move to the side of the lane that best lets you and other drivers see each other when: ◦Approaching an intersection with a view blocked by buildings, trees, or shrubs ◦Driving in adverse weather conditions ◦Driving near another car's blind spots ◦Driving around a blind curve or approaching the crest of a hill ◦Your line-of-sight is suddenly blocked by another vehicle or obstruction

To operate a motorcycle, you must apply for a motorcycle endorsement. Before you can obtain the endorsement, you must complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Course in basic motorcycle skills. In addition, if you are not yet 18 years old you will have to take an on-cycle skills test when you apply for the endorsement. Find out more about motorcycle endorsement requirements and the motorcycle training course by visiting the Texas DPS website.

Remember, bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws, signs and signals, and right-of-way rules that drivers must follow. When bicyclists intend to turn or stop, they will use hand signals to communicate with others. Bicyclists will stick out their left arm when turning left, and may either put out their left arm pointing up, or stick out their right arm, when turning right.

Attention and Focus Alcohol reduces your ability to pay attention to your surroundings and focus on particular objects, situations, or other road users. Drunk drivers tend to stare straight ahead without checking around them for cross traffic or pedestrians. Concentrating on multiple situations is especially difficult for impaired drivers, even when they've had only a small amount of alcohol. For instance, a drunk driver may have to focus so hard on staying within his or her lanes during a turn that he or she forgets to activate the appropriate signal.

Remember, drivers must divide their attention between a great number of things, including other road users, weather conditions, traffic control devices, and vehicle controls. For an intoxicated brain, braking, steering, and scanning the road simultaneously can be too much to handle. With decreased focus, it will take you longer to notice when something needs your attention, longer to remember what you should do, and longer to shift between tasks. As a result, when you notice a potentially dangerous situation, it may take you so long to react that you'll be unable to avoid a collision.

Many modern cars include advanced suspension systems and other integrated vehicle systems that improve their ability to maintain traction and balance. These systems include Antilock Braking and Traction Control Systems. Active Steering Control Systems, also known as Electronic Stability Programs (ESP) minimize the chance of oversteering and understeering by comparing a driver's steering motions with where the car is actually going. If the system senses a disparity between the two, it will selectively apply the vehicle's brakes to help the driver retain control of the car. For instance, ESP will activate the outside front brake to reduce oversteering, and apply the inside rear brake to reduce understeering.

Remember, the best way to ensure that you can maintain control of your vehicle and protect yourself in the event of a collision is to wear your safety belt. Without a safety belt, you may be thrown from your position if you stop or turn rapidly, making it difficult for you to retain control of the steering wheel and control pedals. Air bags will not perform this important function. If you get into a collision, you could be seriously injured or killed.

Driving is a task that requires maturity and patience. Regard for the safety of other people and regard for the law can't be forced upon you. If you refuse to have respect for the law and compassion for other human beings, that's your choice. However, you must also recognize that if you make that choice, you'll be responsible for any consequences that result from it.

Remember, the law exists to protect you. Any time you disregard the law, you endanger yourself at least as much as you endanger anyone else. It's very likely that the person most seriously injured in a collision caused by your behavior will be you. Even if you escape unharmed, there are severe financial, legal, social, and physical consequences to aggressive driving and road rage. You may be convicted of assault or manslaughter and sentenced to years in prison.

Another reason to avoid placing or taking calls when you're driving is that you can never know how a conversation will go. A single call can leave you too excited, anxious, or upset to drive safely. If you're dealing with an urgent situation or anxiously awaiting a call, don't drive! You'll be too distracted to drive even if you don't receive the call.

Remember, until you turn 18, you're legally prohibited from using any wireless device such as a cell phone while driving. Additionally, it's illegal for any driver to use a handheld device when driving in a school zone whenever reduced speed limits are in effect. If a law enforcement officer sees you talking on a cell phone while driving, he or she may pull you over. If you cause a collision because you were talking on your cell phone, you will face more severe legal penalties.

Many modern vehicles have advanced power options like four-wheel drive and cruise control to improve the driving experience. ◦Four-wheel drive provides power to all four wheels to allow the driver more control, especially on uneven and low-traction surfaces. ◦When cruise control is activated, the driver is able to continue driving at the same speed without his or her foot upon the accelerator pedal. Cruise control systems generally only work for speeds over 30 mph.

Restraints that the user is responsible for engaging are known as active restraints. Most seat belts are active restraints, although in some cars, the shoulder belt is positioned automatically when the door is closed. Restraints such as air bags, safety glass, and padded dashboards, sun visors, and head restraints that work regardless of the user's actions, are known as passive restraints.

Traffic Circles As we discussed in Unit 2, a traffic circle (or roundabout) is a circular intersection in which vehicles travel counter-clockwise around a raised island. Traffic circles help reduce congestion and the risk of a collision without reducing the volume of traffic in the intersection. The use of curved paths and yield signs helps ensure that traffic will proceed at a safe speed.

Reversible Lanes Occasionally, one or more lanes on a roadway will be designated as reversible because the flow of traffic in that area tends to be significantly heavier in one direction at some times of the day and heavier in the other direction at others. These lanes help keep the roads from becoming congested when traffic is heaviest. They are designated with double yellow broken lines on each side of the lane.

When aggressive drivers become so overcome by anger that they lose all conception of the potential consequences of their actions, they may use their car as a weapon to ram another vehicle or threaten a pedestrian. They may even get out of their car to confront another driver with a tire iron—or a gun! This form of extreme aggressive driving is known as Road Rage. Whereas typical aggressive drivers act recklessly without considering how their actions affect others, drivers experiencing road rage actively seek to harm others.

Road rage is usually sparked by a specific incident on the road. For instance, an already agitated driver may experience road rage when he or she feels that another driver has acted disrespectfully. Most events that spark road rage are relatively insignificant and would be quickly forgotten by most drivers. When a driver is overwhelmed by road rage, however, the situation can quickly escalate into violent, criminal behavior. An enraged driver may lash out at anyone, even someone who wasn't involved in the event that initially set him or her off.

Slow-moving and Non-standard Vehicles On rural roads, you're more likely to encounter inconsistent traffic flow due to the presence of various vehicles with different speed restrictions. These vehicles include buses, heavy trucks, farm vehicles, horse-drawn carts, and ATVs. Drive cautiously when you encounter slow-moving farm vehicles. The drivers of these vehicles do not have to be licensed and often cannot hear other road users due to the noise of their vehicles. Slow down and pass only when you're sure it's safe.

Roadside Communities and Gas Stations When rural highways pass through small communities, drivers may be distracted by restaurants, grocery or antique stores, gas stations, or local events on the side of the highway. Watch for signs and reduce your speed as you approach one of these communities and watch for vehicles pulling onto the highway from the side of the road. Proceed with extra caution at night, as drivers may forget to turn on their lights as they prepare to enter or leave a gas station or other roadside destination.

There are several main types of guide signs: *Route markers identify the highway that the driver is travelling on. Different sign colors are used depending on the kind of highway being identified. *Destination signs indicate the distances to upcoming highway exits. They are usually colored green. *Brown recreation signs guide motorists to recreation facilities and amenities. *Blue roadside service signs indicate when the driver is approaching a rest or service area.

Route Signs *Route signs are found along the sides of all numbered highways so that drivers can identify where they are driving. *U.S. interstates are indicated with a blue and red shield-shaped sign. *In Texas, state highways are indicated with a green shield-shaped sign. Each state chooses its own design to designate state highways. Arrows known as "trailblazers" are posted below route signs to direct drivers to the indicated route.

Schedule III drugs are available only by prescription. Prescriptions for these drugs may not be refilled more than five times, or after a period of six months since the most recent renewal. Drugs controlled under this schedule include: Anabolic steroids Ketamine Marinol, a synthetic form of THC Some less potent barbiturates, including talbutal and butalbital

Schedule III drugs are determined by the DEA and the FDA to have any one of the three following attributes: They have a currently accepted medical use in the United States that is safe under medical supervision. They have a lower potential for abuse than drugs in schedule I or II. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

Schedule IV drugs are determined by the DEA and the FDA to have any one of the three following attributes: They have a currently accepted medical use in the United States that is safe under medical supervision. They have a lower potential for abuse than drugs in schedule III. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or moderate psychological dependence relative to drugs in schedule III.

Schedule IV drugs are available only by prescription. They are controlled in a manner similar to schedule III drugs. Drugs controlled under this schedule include: Benzodiazepines, including Xanax, Valium, and Rohypnol Some less potent barbiturates, including phenobarbital Modafinil

Schedule V drugs are determined by the DEA and the FDA to have any one of the three following attributes: They have a currently accepted medical use in the United States that is safe under medical supervision. They have a lower potential for abuse than drugs in schedule IV. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or moderate psychological dependence relative to drugs in schedule IV.

Schedule V drugs are sometimes available without a prescription. They may not be distributed or dispensed for nonmedical purposes. Drugs controlled under this schedule include preparations containing small amounts of opium or codeine, including Robitussin AC.

Railroad Crossing Ahead Special circle-shaped warning signs are used to inform drivers that they are nearing a railroad crossing and should prepare to respond accordingly. Look out for approaching trains and be ready to stop if necessary.

School Zone Ahead Drivers will be warned when they are driving near a school by a special pentagon-shaped sign like the one depicted. While most warning signs use a primary yellow color, school crossing signs may use a reflective yellow-green color to stand out in low visibility conditions. Whenever you are driving near a school, slow down and be prepared to stop for children entering the road unexpectedly. Remember, the speed limit in a school zone is at least 15 mph lower than normal posted limits and no higher than 35 mph.

Sense of Speed Alcohol adversely affects your ability to judge your absolute speed as well as your speed relative to other drivers on the road. Moreover, due to the other mental effects of intoxication, you're less likely to remember to check your speedometer regularly. You may feel as though you're driving safely at 35 mph when you're actually travelling faster than 60 mph. You may even think that you're driving with the flow of traffic only to realize too late that you're about to hit the car in front of you!

Sense of Distance Under the influence of alcohol, you'll be less able to judge the distance between objects, causing you to make turns that are too wide or too sharp, misjudge braking distances, or collide with another car when you attempt to change lanes. Because alcohol affects your depth perception, you'll find it harder to determine how far you are from other vehicles and objects on the side of the road. As a result, you may crash into a tree before you have time to realize that it was much closer to the road than you thought!

Depressants slow down your nervous system, bringing you closer and closer to sleep. Depressants can cause lethargy, dizziness, and depression. Each of these will increase the time between the driver's first seeing or hearing something and then understanding it. The length of time between understanding and acting will also be abnormally long. All this adds up to an increased reaction time that can very easily prove fatal.

Sense of speed, sense of distance, and depth perception: It will be difficult to judge speeds and distances while under the influence of depressants. In addition, inattention and slowness of thought will make you unaware that these calculations even need to be made. Vision: Many depressants will reduce small muscle control, making it harder for the eye to scan, focus, and stay still. Slower pupil contraction and dilation will make changes in brightness painful and temporarily blinding.

Sense of speed, sense of distance, and depth perception: Under the influence of hallucinogens, time and space may appear distorted. Estimations of speed, distance, and depth may prove impossible. Vision: Eye muscle control may be either overactive or slowed. In addition, hallucinations may be so extreme as to be completely unrelated to the actual physical input received by your eyes. Or, instead, they may be so subtle that you are unable to distinguish between the real and the unreal parts of what you appear to see.

Sense of speed, sense of distance, and depth perception: Under the influence of hallucinogens, time and space may appear distorted. Estimations of speed, distance, and depth may prove impossible. Vision: Eye muscle control may be either overactive or slowed. In addition, hallucinations may be so extreme as to be completely unrelated to the actual physical input received by your eyes. Or, instead, they may be so subtle that you are unable to distinguish between the real and the unreal parts of what you appear to see.

It's very important that you react to fog and slow down as soon as you see fog, and maintain a low speed even when driving in clear patches between fog banks. Some of the most deadly multiple-car collisions in the history of the United States happened when drivers speed up in a clear section of patchy fog. Above all, remember that if you can't see past the assured, clear stopping distance ahead of your vehicle, it's neither safe nor legal to continue driving. If visibility is poor enough, pull off the road. Park your vehicle outside of all lanes of traffic, activate your hazard lights, and turn the ignition to OFF. If your taillights remain visible, a confused driver might drive off the road thinking you were in a lane of traffic.

Similar in some ways to fog, particles like dust, sand, and smoke can also present serious problems to drivers. After slowing down, roll up your windows and recirculate air to prevent these particles from irritating your eyes and lungs. In dust or sand storms, road surface traction will be reduced. Settling particles may also obscure lane lines and the contours of the road. Turn on your low-beam headlights to allow yourself to see better, and to increase your vehicle's visibility to other drivers. After driving through dust, sand, or smoke, take your vehicle to a mechanic—these particles can cause serious damage to a number of engine, fuel, and ventilation components.

Drivers who cause the injury or death of another person while driving intoxicated will face increased penalties. A drunk driver who injures someone in a collision can be convicted of Intoxication Assault and be punished with a fine of up to $10,000, two to ten years in jail, and a 90-day to one-year license suspension. If the drunk driver kills a person, he or she can be convicted of Intoxication Manslaughter and face additional penalties. You can be jailed for up to 20 years for killing someone while driving drunk.

Simply having an open container of alcohol in a car is illegal, even when the vehicle is parked and even if you aren't the one driving. You can be fined up to $500 for having an open container of alcohol in your car. A minimum of six days will be added to your jail sentence if you are arrested for drunk driving while in possession of an open container of alcohol.

Texting and e-mailing while driving are more widespread than you might think. A recent survey found that 52% of U.S. drivers between 18 and 29 years of age reported that they text or e-mail while driving "regularly" or "fairly often". Moreover, over 25% of these drivers reported texting or e-mailing while driving at least once in the past 30 days.

Simply reading a text message requires you to take at least one hand from the steering wheel and your eyes off the road. You will be even more endangered if you have to look around your car to retrieve your phone before using it. It should be obvious that composing a message is even more dangerous! Not only will your eyes and at least one hand be occupied by the act of typing the message, but you'll be focused on what you're writing rather than on the driving task.

Diseases that cause decreased muscular strength, such as muscular dystrophy, or poor muscle control, such as Parkinson's Disease, can prevent you from being able to stop and maneuver your vehicle safely. Medical conditions that may cause you to suddenly lose consciousness, experience a seizure, or suffer a debilitating medical event can be especially dangerous as they could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and cause a deadly collision. Dementia and other mental disorders can cause you to respond to situations on the road in dangerous and erratic ways, endangering everyone on the road.

Since most skills required to drive safely are mental, being physically challenged is not necessarily an obstacle to driving in all circumstances. If a driver can compensate for his or her condition and demonstrate the ability to drive safely, he or she may be issued a drivers license, often with a restriction on it requiring him or her to drive only when certain devices are used or specific conditions are met. However, if a licensing officer suspects that an individual's physical or mental abilities may not be adequate for driving, he or she may ask for a medical referral before issuing a license.

No matter how good a driver you are, occasionally you will have to deal with an unexpected emergency: your car may malfunction or respond improperly due to road or weather conditions, or you may have to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision. Whenever you encounter a dangerous situation that requires an immediate response, the most important rule is: Don't Panic! Many fatal collisions occur because a driver panics and responds frantically to a situation that was not necessarily fatal. Think about the best way to respond safely before you act.

Skids *When the tires of your vehicle lose their grip on the surface of the road, it may enter a skid. Your car will begin to turn out of control. If your car begins to skid: *Turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid. Do not slam the brakes. Slow your car by taking your foot off the accelerator.

At night, keep your low-beam headlights on in areas that are well-lit or where there is a lot of traffic. Use your high-beam headlights on darker roadways. However, whenever you are within 500 ft of an approaching vehicle or within 300 ft of a vehicle you are following, you must switch back to your low-beams. Don't use high-beams when driving in bad weather. You could be distracted by light reflecting off particles of water, ice, or dust in the air.

Slow down and increase your following distance whenever you are driving on roads covered in rain, snow, or ice. Go slowly and test your brakes when you start driving to gauge how much traction your car is getting. Shady areas can be especially dangerous, particularly as the weather improves, because the ice will melt more slowly there, and will remain a hazard as the rest of the roadway improves. Also be careful for black ice, which is a practically transparent glaze of ice on the roadway that is difficult for drivers to see.

Although the term "drug" includes alcohol, you will see alcohol singled out and discussed as a separate topic. This is because alcohol presents a special danger to public health in general and to drivers in particular. It is easy to find, relatively inexpensive, accepted in many social circles, and, for those over 21 years of age, it is legal to buy and consume. These factors are among the reasons that alcohol is so dangerous. Remember this: alcohol is a sedative, a depressant, and a tranquilizer. The effect of alcohol on the human body is to dull sensations and to slow down bodily functions, including breathing, heartbeat, and brain activity, until eventually they stop.

So that you can understand exactly what chemical makes up alcohol, we'll quickly discuss the three most commonly occurring types of alcohol: methanol, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol. Methanol is the simplest alcohol molecule. It is principally used in the production of other chemicals, but is also used as fuel for motor vehicles and as antifreeze. Methanol is also extremely toxic: a single 12-ounce can of pure methanol would contain enough to cause permanent blindness in 36 people. One ounce of pure methanol can be fatal.

Automatic Transmission Settings ◦P (Park): In this position, the transmission is locked to prevent rolling. ◦R (Reverse): In this position, the wheels spin backwards to allow you to back up your car. The white reverse lights on the back of your car will be activated. ◦N (Neutral): In this position, the engine is disconnected from the drive wheels and the car can and will roll. ◦D (Drive): This is the automatic forward gear. In most traffic conditions, including situations when you must stop frequently, the transmission should be set to this gear.

Some automatic transmission systems allow you to select a specific gear position that will override the automatic gear selector. ◦1 (First gear)—In this position, the transmission is fixed in first gear. Use this gear to climb very steep hills, or for better traction at very low speeds in slippery conditions. You can also use this gear to help slow the vehicle at low speeds or when driving down a steep hill. Also indicated as D1, L1, or L. ◦2 (Second gear)—In this position, the transmission is fixed in second gear. Use this gear to climb less steep hills, or for better traction at low speeds. You can also use this gear to help slow the vehicle at medium to low speeds. Also indicated as D2 or L2. Additionally, some newer cars have a D4 (Overdrive) position for cruising over 45 mph.

Aggressive driving is defined as any continuous sequence of dangerous driving acts that may endanger people or property, as well as any single intentional violation that requires a defensive reaction on the part of another driver. Aggressive drivers are often in a hurry to get somewhere and willing to intentionally disregard traffic control devices, the rules of the road, and the safety of other roadway users, in the process. Their behavior endangers everyone on the road.

Some basic examples of aggressive driving include: Running a red light while speeding Braking unexpectedly to make a tailgater slow down Rolling through a stop sign when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk Each of these behaviors endangers the driver who performs them and everyone else on the road.

Of course, it is possible to take medicine in a responsible way: An emergency room doctor can decide that a patient with a broken arm would benefit from a dose of morphine. A pharmacist can prescribe the occasional use of a muscle relaxant to a person with a back injury. A person can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve pain and reduce fever. These are examples of safe and legal drug use. Medical professionals are qualified and permitted to consider a person's current health and medical history and determine a specific, safe, and beneficial use of a drug.

Some drugs, like acetaminophen, are approved for public use because they are more likely to be needed immediately when a headache or fever strikes, and they are less likely to cause severe negative effects. But in all of these cases, the very same drug given to the very same person in a larger dose could have devastating—even deadly—effects. Remember, every drug can be dangerous. Every substance, no matter how beneficial it can be at low doses, becomes a poison at high doses.

If you're physically or mentally tired, you'll be much more sensitive to alcohol's effects. The depressant qualities of alcohol can combine with fatigue to make you overwhelmingly sleepy. As a result: Your alertness to your surroundings will be severely diminished. You'll be less vigilant for hazards and changing road conditions. Your perception and judgment will be weakened further, making you less aware of what you see and hear and less able to find meaning in those things you do perceive. Your vision, physical coordination, and reaction time will all be impaired. You may be unable to focus, especially sensitive to light, and clumsy and slow when using vehicle controls.

Some people drink because they want to seem "cool". Some drink because they want to forget about their problems. Others drink so they aren't ostracized for not drinking. People drink for many reasons, but almost all of them are misguided. Often, people simply feel pressured into drinking, if not by anyone in particular, then by the expectations of their peers and of society. Before you put alcohol in your body, remember that you always have a choice. The only one who can force you to have a drink of alcohol is you.

One drink can affect people differently depending on: *The size of their bodies *Their gender *Their emotional state and tiredness *The amount of time spent drinking *The amount of food they've ingested *The alcohol content of the beverages they consume The chart on the next slide gives an overview of how BAC increases according to the number of drinks a person consumes and his or her weight.

Some say coffee or a cold shower or a meal or some exercise will cause you to sober faster. In fact, only one thing will cause you to sober up: time. After drinking, do not do not drive until you are no longer legally intoxicated. Keep in mind that if your physical or mental abilities are impaired, you can be found guilty of driving while intoxicated even if your BAC is lower than the legal limit.

If you're preoccupied with your own thoughts and mentally dealing with business, school, or family problems while driving, you are adding to your total cognitive workload. As a result, you may make poor driving decisions, take more risks, react more slowly to hazards, and have difficulty judging the speed and distance of oncoming traffic.

Some strategies for reducing the influence of emotions on your driving include: Knowing when you're not emotionally fit to drive and taking a break or asking for the help of another driver Remembering that other drivers are just as likely to have a bad day as you and treating their mistakes with patience Identifying situations likely to cause you emotional stress and avoiding them when possible Understanding that your emotions and the actions they cause can be contagious, increasing the stress of others Refusing to get upset at another person, even if you're annoyed by something they've done

When drinkers develop tolerance to alcohol, they may not appear drunk even if they are greatly impaired. As a result, they may seem more mentally and emotionally fit than they actually are and think that it is safe to keep drinking even when they're already dangerously intoxicated. Some people think that developing tolerance helps them handle alcohol better. In fact, it puts them more at risk of a drunk driving crash: research has shown that drinkers with a high degree of tolerance are no better able to deal with driving emergencies than other drinkers.

Something else that many drinkers fail to realize is that a person's tolerance for alcohol will only increase for so long. For a while, the liver will try to work overtime to eliminate the added alcohol in the system. Eventually, however, the liver will become scarred by the strain and unable to filter alcohol efficiently, making the drinker more susceptible to potentially fatal levels of intoxication.

Also in 2009, the NHTSA reports that 18% of fatally-injured drivers tested positive for at least one drug other than alcohol. The true figure, however, is probably significantly higher. Consider the following: Only a blood sample will show the presence of many drugs. Although the per se limit for certain controlled substances, such as marijuana, is a minimum positive amount, there is no per se limit for some impairing substances, such as caffeine or nicotine. Testing for every possible impairing substance is impossible, given the vast number of such drugs.

Soon we will discuss in more detail the victims and other tolls of drunk driving, but for now, consider this: the NHTSA estimates that 3 in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic collision in their lifetimes. Given these tolls, it should be no surprise that traffic collisions cost Texas over $3.5 billion a year—over $200 per licensed driver.

Stop Lines and Crosswalks White lines are used to indicate crosswalks where pedestrians can cross the road safely. Before entering a crosswalk, drivers should watch for pedestrians. Drivers must not stop in a crosswalk. In addition, thick white lines are used at intersections to indicate where drivers must stop before proceeding. These lines are called stop lines or limit lines. Drivers must not pass a stop line when waiting at a stop sign or red light. If there is no stop line, drivers must stop before entering the crosswalk.

Specific guidance or restrictions may be indicated with words and symbols painted on the pavement, usually in white. Pavement markings may be used to designate how a lane must be used, warn drivers of hazards, supplement posted regulatory or warning signs, and provide other important information like speed limits or route numbers. Drivers should pay attention to information communicated through pavement markings and respond accordingly.

the cnsequences of poor driving habits are cumulative. If you engage in unsafe behavior continually, you're more likely to eventually be involved in a major collision. By permanently adopting an attentive attitude, you'll always be able to make safe and effective driving choices.

Speeding is dangerous because when you drive faster: You have less time to react to hazards You have less control over your vehicle It's harder for you to see out of your peripheral vision It takes longer to brake The impact of a collision will be greater

In some places, minimum speed limits may be posted. These are generally posted on high-speed roadways where a driver travelling significantly more slowly than other drivers may increase risk by disrupting the flow of traffic. Minimum speed limits only apply in ideal conditions. In more hazardous situations, you may drive slower than a posted minimum speed limit.

Speeding is dangerous for a number of reasons. Among the most important are the following: *You have less control over your vehicle. *Your stopping distance increases greatly. *Your momentum is greater. A vehicle crashing at 60 mph does not have twice the amount of force as a vehicle crashing at 30 mph—it has four times the force. Partly because of this, the probability of death, disfigurement, or debilitating injury doubles for every increase of 10 mph above 50 mph.

In Texas, the six most common causes of collisions in 2011 were:

Speeding or failing to control speed Driver inattention Failing to yield the right-of-way Failing to drive in a single lane Performing an unsafe lane change Following too closely

Always watch out for changes in driving conditions. Wherever you are driving, make sure you know: ◦What the legal speed limit is ◦What the appropriate speed for the situation is, given weather, construction, traffic, lighting conditions, etc. ◦Whether your lane position is safe ◦Whether the situation appears to be changing ahead By paying attention to how conditions are changing, you're less likely to be surprised by the actions of other drivers.

Standard Reference Points are used in typical driving situations to determine vehicle placement on a roadway. There are reference points at the front, sides, and rear of the car. Maneuvers such as parking, stopping, backing up, and changing lane position can be done more accurately and safely when using reference points

While most American drivers prefer cars with an automatic transmission, some newer cars and many older cars and European cars use a manual transmission (also called a standard transmission). With a manual transmission, you must always select the gear you wish to use by depressing the clutch pedal and setting the stick shift to the correct position. Although it takes more experience and effort to use a manual transmission safely and successfully, drivers using a manual transmission have more control over their driving.

Standard Transmission Settings ◦N (Neutral): To start the engine, you must set the transmission to neutral by pushing down on the clutch pedal and placing the stick shift in a central position. ◦R (Reverse): This setting is identical to the reverse gear on an automatic transmission. ◦1 (First Gear): Use this gear when exiting a stopped position and driving up to 10 to 15 mph. ◦2 (Second Gear): Use this gear when driving up to 20 mph, or when climbing a steep hill or approaching a curve or turn. ◦3 (Third Gear): On a three-speed transmission, use this gear for all speeds above 25 mph. On transmissions with more gears, use this gear for speeds between 20 and 40 mph. ◦Some cars have a fourth, fifth, and sixth gear for travelling over 40 mph and cruising on high-speed roads.

In most communities, you can also call a cab or catch a bus, even when it's late at night. These services will make sure you get home safely, quickly, and comfortably for a modest fare. If your life is worth more than a few dollars to you, don't hesitate to call a cab! Even if there's no public transportation available, you can often call a friend. Your friends care about you and would rather you got home alive, even if they're irritated by your request. Make sure you only call someone who hasn't been drinking. Don't worry about leaving your car behind if you have to get a ride. It will be much easier to get your car back home safely the next day when you're sober.

Stay Where You Are If you can't get a safe ride home, just stay where you are. If you're worried about the discomfort of sleeping on a sofa or the floor, remember that the pain of a collision will be much worse! If you're worried about inconveniencing your friends, think about how much trouble you could cause to other drivers on the road! When you drive drunk, you endanger many lives other than your own. There's no need to put other people's lives at risk. Just spend the night and drive in the morning.

As a vehicle accelerates, weight is transferred towards its rear. This is known as Backward Pitch. Accelerating more rapidly causes more weight to be transferred: the hood will rise noticeably and the rear of the vehicle will drop. No matter how you accelerate, you will experience some backward pitch. However, by applying light or gradual pressure to the accelerator pedal, weight will be transferred to the rear more slowly, minimizing the effect on your car's balance.

Steering affects a vehicle's side-to-side balance. A vehicle's weight will shift to the left or right side depending on its speed and the amount of steering input. This movement to the left or right is known as Roll. Steering to the right will cause a vehicle to roll to the left, while steering to the left will cause a vehicle to roll to the right. This may be the easiest balance shift to feel with your kinasthetic sense. As you turn left, you will feel yourself lean toward the right.

Many drugs also damage your physical coordination, making you incapable of safely performing many essential driving tasks. Stimulants often cause shaking, restlessness, and compulsive movement. Depressants often cause slow movements, numbness, and loss of sense of balance. Hallucinogens can cause both shaking, restless movements and slow, imbalanced ones. They can also make the user feel a loss of sense of time and self, detaching them from their immediate situation. In all cases, the driver will be clumsy and unable to properly coordinate his or her physical movements.

Stimulants overload your nervous system, destroying your ability to use proper judgment on the road. Drivers under the influence of stimulants may experience increased anxiety. They may find it difficult to focus and easy to be distracted. They may take too long to realize that the red light in front of them means stop, or they may not even see the light because they're busy reading the bumper stickers on the car ahead.

When your liver is forced to process alcohol continually, it begins to develop some or all of the following diseases. Together, these conditions constitute alcoholic liver disease: Fatty liver involves a buildup of fat deposits on the liver. This enlarges the liver, making it more susceptible to inflammation and impairing its ability to function. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Discomfort, enlargement of the liver, a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, mental confusion, and even liver failure and death may occur. Cirrhosis is a condition in which liver cells break down, scar, and die. Symptoms and complications include bad breath, skin discoloration, abnormal enlargement of the breasts in males, impotence, infertility, coma, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

Stomach Damage Like anything you consume, when you drink alcohol, its first stop is your stomach. Alcohol erodes the mucous protecting the lining of the stomach from the acids used in digestion, causing gastritis, or stomach inflammation. Gastritis symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain, and bloating. Moreover, alcohol damages your stomach by relaxing the esophageal sphincter, allowing bile to enter the stomach and esophagus. This can lead to heartburn and stomach ulcers, both of which are worsened by further alcohol consumption.

With your car about three feet from the right curb, drive forward until your car has just passed the driveway completely. ◦Shift the transmission to Reverse. ◦Double-check for traffic and pedestrians. Look over your shoulder to your rear. ◦Back up slowly, turning the steering wheel rapidly to the right to enter the driveway. ◦Straighten your wheels and center your car in the driveway. ◦Stop once the front of your car is out of the roadway. ◦Activate your left turn signal. ◦Shift the transmission to the appropriate forward gear. ◦Check the roadway and yield to any drivers or pedestrians on the road or sidewalk. ◦Drive forward, steering toward the left as you cross the yellow center line

Stop close to the right edge of the roadway. Activate your left turn signal. ◦Check the road ahead as well as your mirrors and blind spots. Make sure you will have 20 to 30 seconds without interruption. ◦Advance slowly, turning the steering wheel rapidly to the left with the hand-over-hand technique. This will cause you to cut across the roadway. ◦As the front of your car approaches the curb on the opposite side of the roadway, turn the steering wheel rapidly to the right. Stop before your wheels hit the curb.

When you encounter rainy weather while driving, slow down. This is the easiest and most effective action you can take to reduce risk. The faster your vehicle's wheels spin, the less traction they have against the road's surface. When the road is wet, traction is reduced even further. By slowing down, you increase traction, enabling you to accelerate, brake, and steer reliably.

Sudden or excessive acceleration, braking, and steering can also cause a loss of traction. Plan ahead and expect your maneuvers to take longer. Step softly on the accelerator and brake pedal, and make longer, softer turns rather than short, sharp ones. When the road is wet, it takes much less braking pressure to lose control. Always brake earlier than you would on dry pavement—it's far safer to brake softly and avoid skids entirely than to rely on ABS.

The procedures performed at your tune-up will be determined by how long it has been since each procedure was last performed. In general, your mechanic will check the following systems every 15,000 miles: The brake system, including brake pads and shoes and the parking brake The cooling system and potential sites of coolant leaks The steering system, especially the gear box The suspension system, including the springs and shock absorbers The air filter

Texas law requires you to prove that your car is in good condition by passing a safety inspection annually. Your tires, brakes, exhaust system, lights, seat belts, and more will be inspected. If you pass the test, you will be issued an inspection sticker that will remain valid for one year. If you fail the inspection the first time, you can have your car reinspected at no additional cost if you return within 15 days with the problems fixed. However, by planning ahead and having your car serviced before your inspection, you can avoid this needless hassle.

Additional laws exist to help you make safe and responsible choices about alcohol and minors. In most cases, it is illegal to provide alcohol by any means to persons under 21. Exceptions are made for the minor's parent, guardian, or spouse of drinking age, and only if the provider of alcohol is visibly present while the minor possesses and/or consumes the alcohol. If you are under 21, or are not the minor's parent, guardian, or spouse, you may not provide him or her with alcohol, even on your own property or with the minor's parent's permission. Breaking this law is a class A misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $4,000 and/or up to one year in jail, and a mandatory 180-day drivers license suspension.

Texas's civil liability laws regarding the intoxication of minors hold adults responsible if they knowingly provide alcohol or allow alcohol to be served on their property. If a person under the age of 18 becomes intoxicated as a result of consuming this alcohol, those who furnished the alcohol will be held responsible if the minor is: injured or dies as a result of alcohol poisoning involved in a fight, a fall, or a sexual assault responsible for damaging another person's property involved in a traffic collision resulting in an injury Adults are held responsible even if the minor involved is their child.

Alcohol and drug abuse is a serious problem in the United States. Thousands of lives are needlessly lost or ruined each year due to irresponsible or excessive alcohol use. Alcohol use doesn't magically become safe when you turn 21: while underage drinking and illegal drug abuse are major problems, the majority of people whose lives have been ruined by alcohol were drinking legally. No matter how old you are, always remember to make responsible drinking decisions that will keep you safe and healthy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 2001 and 2005, an average of 80,374 lives were lost every year due in the United States to excessive alcohol use. That's the equivalent of one person dying from alcohol use every six and half minutes. On average, 57,852 male drinkers and 22,522 female drinkers died from excessive alcohol use.

On the following slides, we'll provide a timeline of the short-term effects of alcohol. The stages of this timeline will be arranged according to Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Remember, BAC does not always equate to the same number of drinks. Moreover, two people with the same BAC can exhibit different levels of impairment. Weight, gender, and metabolism can affect the rate at which a person's BAC increases when he or she drinks, while fatigue, mood, and tolerance can influence how impaired a person becomes at a particular BAC.

The Effects of a 0.02% BAC A BAC as low as 0.02% has been shown to affect driving ability. As soon as you start drinking you will begin to become more relaxed, have difficulty concentrating on one thing, and react more slowly. In addition, you will experience: A loss of reason and judgment Altered mood Weakened vision, particularly in tracking objects and scanning Decline in attention, especially when switching between tasks

The Effects of a 0.05% BAC The probability of a crash rises significantly once your BAC reaches 0.05%. You may begin to feel euphoric, relaxed, and especially sociable. However, your hand-eye coordination and ability to track objects will become impaired. In addition, you'll experience: Further impaired judgment and alertness Compulsive, exaggerated behavior Reduced physical coordination, including trouble steering A significant increase in reaction time Further weakened vision, including trouble focusing and adjusting to changes in brightness Dulled sensory perceptions

The Effects of a 0.08% BAC A BAC of 0.08% is the legal limit for drivers 21 and over in the state of Texas. With a BAC of 0.08%, you'll become increasingly talkative and excited, but you'll experience difficulty processing information and focusing on and performing driving tasks like steering, braking, speed control, and gear shifting. In addition, you'll experience: Significantly increased reaction time and difficulty executing a series of actions Reduced awareness of your surroundings and ability to control your speed Overconfidence and a tendency to engage in high-risk behavior Further impaired judgment, alertness, and memory Further reduced physical coordination, including poor balance, speech, vision, and hearing

It's extremely dangerous to cover your ears with headphones while driving, and illegal to drive with both ears covered by headphones. Headphones will completely impede your ability to hear the road. If you choose to use headphones while you drive, you must keep one ear uncovered.

The presence of passengers has the potential to become incredibly distracting. While passengers can help you in many situations, they can also divert your attention from the driving task, especially if they're behaving in a disruptive way. Remember, when you carry a passenger in your car, you're taking responsibility for his or her safety. This means that you must always drive in a way that will get you and your passengers to your destination safely, even if it means giving them less attention than they'd like.

The Effects of a 0.10% BAC When your BAC reaches 0.10%, your behavior will be characterized by poor coordination, slurred speech, impaired attention and perception, and a loss of inhibitions. In addition, you will experience: Further increased reaction time Further impaired concentration and judgment Sharply decreased control of your vehicle Reduced ability to maintain your lane position and brake properly

The Effects of a 0.15% BAC The higher your BAC rises, the more your judgment will become impaired and the more your behavior will become unrestrained. At a 0.15% BAC, you will experience: Near complete loss of muscle control and balance Nausea, vomiting, and a potentially fatal drop in body temperature Life threatening reductions in respiration and heart rate Inability to control your vehicle Severe detachment from and inability to understand the current driving environments.

Overall, the .08% BAC limit, the minimum legal drinking age of 21 years, and numerous other important drunk driving reforms have made our roads much safer. However, even a single alcohol-related traffic fatality is too many. Research and policy continue to develop in response to an increasingly deeper understanding of the problem of drunk driving. Please help your community and your nation by understanding both the human risks and the legal consequences of impaired driving.

The NHTSA estimates that drivers with a BAC of .05% are about five times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than drivers with no alcohol in their bloodstream. Drivers with a BAC of .08% are estimated to be about nine times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision, and for drivers with a BAC of .15%, the estimate is 20 times the risk of sober drivers. In 2011, excluding the perpetrators themselves, drunk drivers killed 3,371 people. This includes: 1,612 passengers in the drunk driver's vehicle 1,049 occupants of other vehicles 710 pedestrians, bicyclists, and others not occupying a motor vehicle

Another important factor is disregard for the law. Some people are comfortable breaking the law when they believe they'll be happier doing so. Many people who do this argue that they're not hurting anyone by abusing drugs, but they're wrong. Not only are they hurting their friends and family by ruining their own lives, but they're potentially directly hurting others by driving while impaired, or committing other crimes while drunk or high. Finally, many people are reluctant to accept that the consequences of drug abuse can happen to anyone—not just other people; not just underprivileged or criminal people, but anyone.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required all states to raise their minimum age of purchase and public possession of alcohol to 21. Many state laws also specifically prohibited alcohol consumption by those under age 21. In Texas, selling, giving, or serving alcoholic beverages to persons under age 21 is prohibited by law. Additionally, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase, attempt to purchase, or consume alcohol. Persons under 21 may not be intoxicated in public or misrepresent their age to acquire alcohol.

Alcohol significantly slows your reaction time. Depending on the circumstances, reaction time can be classified as simple or complex. The time it takes to respond reflexively to an immediate situation, such as hearing a gunshot or touching a hot stove, is known as simple reaction time. The time it takes to choose the best of several potential responses to a situation is known as complex reaction time. For instance, a complex reaction time is required when you need to decide whether to brake, steer right, steer left, or perform another action when a car ahead of you stops suddenly. Research has shown that a BAC of 0.04% to 0.08% affects complex reaction time much more than simple reaction time. As a result, an intoxicated novice driver may respond quickly but in an unsafe way.

The SEE IT space management system is one of the most important tools you have for keeping yourself safe when you're on the road. However, when you've been drinking, each step of the system will become harder to perform: Alcohol causes visual impairments and makes you more likely to stare straight ahead, making it difficult for you to search effectively. Because alcohol affects your judgment and makes you more likely to underestimate risk, you won't be able to evaluate the road properly. You lose the ability to control your muscles precisely when you're intoxicated, which can cause you to execute maneuvers poorly.

Before you begin to pass another vehicle, make sure that: *Passing is legally permitted where you are driving. Keep an eye on the road ahead for no passing zones and oncoming traffic. *Your view of the road ahead is not interrupted by any obstacles *No other car is attempting to pass you or is otherwise proceeding in a way that might endanger your maneuver. In general, you must pass on the left.

There should be at least twice the distance you will actually need to pass between you and any oncoming cars. Make sure you will have enough space and time to overtake the car ahead and return to the right lane before an approaching car comes within 200 ft of you. Tap your horn if necessary to alert the driver ahead.

The richest visual information you receive is given by your Central Vision. Your central vision allows you to make out detail and recognize the specific identity of things you look at directly. You use your central vision when reading, driving, and performing other activities that require fine, sharp, straight-ahead vision. Central vision is the work of the macula, a small area in the center of the retina that contains a dense cluster of cone cells. Cone cells are photoreceptors that are sensitive to color and fine detail.

The ability to perceive objects precisely and notice small details with your central vision is known as Visual Acuity. Visual acuity is important for reading road signs, recognizing other road users, and identifying hazards. When you apply for a license, your visual acuity will be tested with a Snellen eye chart. If your vision does not meet the minimum standards, a restriction will be placed on your license requiring you to wear glasses or contact lenses when you drive.

Shift the transmission into gear (Drive, Reverse, or First Gear, depending on the circumstances). ◦Release the parking brake. Your right foot should still be on the brake pedal. ◦Check traffic ahead of you. If you are preparing to back up, look over your shoulder to check traffic behind you. ◦Move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and press down gently. Now you're on the road!

The acceleration of your car can be referred to as creeping, smooth, and rapid. In most situations, you will want to apply gradual, steady pressure to the accelerator, resulting in smooth acceleration, which will cause your speed to increase gradually. To achieve rapid acceleration, you can push down more forcefully on the accelerator so that your speed will increase more quickly.

Medically speaking, intoxication is just a form of being poisoned. As the word intoxication implies, alcohol and other drugs have a toxic effect on your mental and physical abilities. This toxic effect only becomes worse as you consume more alcohol.

The amount of alcohol in your system is measured with a number known as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). Drivers 21 years of age or older cannot legally drive with a BAC over 0.08%, which indicates that a person has more than eight parts of alcohol for every 10,000 parts of blood in his or her body. It is illegal for drivers under 21 to have a BAC over 0.00% when driving—or at any other time. BAC is generally measured using a chemical test of blood, urine, or breath. Most commonly, the BAC of a driver stopped on suspicion of drunk driving will be assessed with a breath test. In Texas, the average BAC at the time of arrest is 0.16%. That's twice the legal limit!

The area 4 to 6 seconds ahead of you is called the Immediate Range. The visual information available at this close range will tell you how you need to adjust your speed and lane position. If you're maintaining a safe following distance, the car ahead of you should be at the other end of this range. By the time an anticipated stop or turn is in your immediate range, you should have already begun performing the appropriate maneuver.

The area about 12 to 15 seconds ahead of you is known as the Secondary Range. The visual information you receive from this range is useful for making adjustments to your speed and lane position. This is a reasonable distance to begin a maneuver or to respond to or communicate with oncoming traffic.

As we've seen, your safety on the road is dependent on your ability to maintain a sufficient amount of traction, visibility, and space around your car, and time to stop when necessary. Space Management is a strategy for making sure you have each of these, maximizing your chances of being able to respond adequately to any emergency situation that appears on the road. By adopting an effective space management system, you can help to avoid dangerous situations that might put your life at risk.

The area around your car is known as the Vehicle Operating Space, which is divided into seven basic zones. Zones 1-6 correspond to the different areas around the car: ◦Zones 1-3 represent the space in front of the car. Zones 4-6 represent the space behind the car. ◦Zones 1 and 6 are in the same lane as the car. Zones 2 and 4 are in the lane to the left and zones 3 and 5 are in the lane to the right of the car.

The area about 20 to 30 seconds ahead of you is referred to as the Target Area Range, or Visual Lead Area. When focused on this area, you should attempt to absorb all critical visual information about the roadway ahead. Think of this as the "big picture." By finding a target as far ahead as possible, you can keep your eyes focused farther in front of your vehicle, giving you more "visual lead time" to make decisions.

The area around your car is known as the Vehicle Operating Space, which is divided into seven basic zones. Zones 1-6 correspond to the different areas around the car: ◦Zones 1-3 represent the space in front of the car. Zones 4-6 represent the space behind the car. ◦Zones 1 and 6 are in the same lane as the car. Zones 2 and 4 are in the lane to the left and zones 3 and 5 are in the lane to the right of the car.

Two steering problems that drivers frequently face are oversteering (the front of the car turns farther than the driver intended) and understeering (the front of the car turns less far than the driver intended). ◦When understeering occurs, you should remove your foot from the accelerator, decreasing your speed and increasing front wheel traction, while making the appropriate steering corrections. ◦Oversteering is more likely when using hand-over-hand steering. You may be able to anticipate oversteering by paying attention to the movement of the back of the car: if it starts to swing out, you should correct your steering immediately.

The area where you are driving is known as the Vehicle Operating Space. In order to safely manage your Vehicle Operating Space, you must always be aware of the area immediately around your car which is concealed from your view by the car itself. In general, the roadway is hidden from the driver's view by approximately: ◦One car length in front of the car ◦Two car lengths to the rear of the car ◦One car width to the left of the car ◦Two car widths to the right of the car

The consequences of chronic tobacco use are severe and wide-ranging. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 480,000 deaths in the United States each year can be attributed to chronic tobacco use. That's almost 20% of all deaths in the United States. In the words of the CDC: "More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined."

The average age of death for tobacco smokers is 10 years younger than that of nonsmokers. This huge increase in risk of death is primarily caused by damage to the heart and lungs, but there are numerous other harmful long-term effects of smoking. These effects include: Cancer of the lungs, kidneys, throat, mouth, head, neck, bladder, pancreas, and stomach Emphysema, a very deadly condition caused by destruction and malfunction of the lungs Heart disease and stroke, as well as other circulatory damage Impotence, infertility, and stress

Alcohol is usually taken into the body by ingestion—by drinking it and digesting it. You'll learn more about other ways of taking drugs later, but for now, note that ingestion causes a substance to interact with your entire digestive system: mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines. When you bring alcohol into your mouth and swallow it, you set off a long chain of events that leads to intoxication and impairment. With the first sip, the blood vessels in your tongue and gums already begin to draw alcohol into your bloodstream.

The average rate of alcohol elimination is .015% per hour. This means that if, for example, your BAC reaches a height of .16%, and you are arrested for drunk driving four hours later, your BAC is still not likely to be below .10%. .16% - (4 × .015%) = .16% - .06% = .10% This is above the legal limit and will earn you a DWI conviction.

Perhaps you've heard the expression, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This statement is especially true of automobiles. Regular maintenance is like preventative health care for your car. By consistently performing low-cost maintenance tasks, you can avoid high-cost repairs and prolong the life of your car's tires, brakes, and other vital systems. Moreover, regular maintenance can prevent vehicle malfunctions and emergency breakdowns that could endanger your life in the future.

The best source of maintenance information about your car is your vehicle owner's manual. A list of maintenance services, including the intervals of mileage or time after which they should be performed, is included in every owner's manual. Your car's manufacturer wants to help you keep it in good condition, but no carmaker can know exactly how every vehicle will be used. Because of this, every owner's manual contains different maintenance schedules for different driving conditions.

Don't let yourself be distracted by your cell phone, the driving environment, eating or drinking, or anything else. Don't stray from your lane into another driver's operating space. Don't honk unnecessarily or make rude gestures in response to others' mistakes. Don't play music loud enough for others to hear it. Don't attach bumper stickers to your car likely to offend drivers who don't share your opinions or sense of humor. Don't use your high beams when they're unnecessary or you're approaching another driver. Don't be oblivious when another driver wants to pass you.

The best way to avoid angering others is to be conscientious and aware of how your actions can affect others. Drivers will find it much easier to remain calm if they don't have to worry about other drivers impeding, annoying, or endangering them. Every action you take when you're on the road should be governed by the golden rule of driving: always treat other drivers the way you want to be treated. By doing so, you'll make the road safer for yourself and everyone sharing it with you.

When you're distracted, your response and reaction time will be significantly slowed. Even a slight delay in reaction time is enough to make the difference between a near-crash and a fatal collision. Moreover, if you're distracted while travelling at high speeds, you're more likely to have problems staying in your lane, endangering yourself and others on the road.

The brain can potentially become overloaded even by the necessary multitasking you must perform as a driver. For instance, when you're focused on what your feet are doing, you'll be less able to process what's happening 20 seconds ahead of you on the road. Learning to manage your time and space and use your driver controls reflexively are crucial for minimizing the number of actions you'll need to perform. Whenever you have to shift your attention, you may miss something important on the road.

Snow and ice, in their various forms, have severe effects on driving conditions. Ice on the road makes it even more slippery than when it's wet, greatly reducing traction and increasing stopping distance. As snow and ice melt, they leave a less-uniform mixture of ice, water, dirt, and oils from motor vehicles. Falling snow reduces visibility and can cause bright glare as it reflects sunlight. When snow begins to cover the ground, it can obscure lane lines, potholes, and the contours and boundaries of the road.

The cold air that comes with these conditions also affects your vehicle's tires in significant ways. For every 10° F that the temperature drops, pressure in your tires will fall by roughly 1 PSI. If you inflate your tires to have the correct pressure when the temperature is 70° F, they'll be significantly underinflated in 30° F weather. Underinflated tires greatly increase the risk of losing control and skidding. When inflating your tires, be sure to adjust them so that they'll have the correct pressure while they're actually operating on the road.

Drunk driving can have significant legal consequences. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NHTSA: *929,903 drivers were arrested for a drunk driving offense in 2011. This represents an arrest rate of 1 for every 228 licensed drivers. *76,294 drivers under the age of 21 were arrested for drunk driving in 2011. This represents an arrest rate of 1 for every 165 licensed drivers under 21. *85,715 Texas drivers were arrested for drunk driving in 2011. This represents an arrest rate of 1 for every 176 licensed Texas drivers.

The consumption of alcohol is legal for Texas residents who are at least 21 years old. However, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a serious crime. Review the penalties for a DWI conviction: *First offense: A fine up to $2,000, 72 hours to 180 days in jail, and a 90-day to 365-day license suspension *Second offense: A fine up to $4,000, 30 days to one year in jail, and a 180-day to 2-year license suspension *Third and subsequent offenses: A fine up to $10,000, two to ten years in jail, and a 180-day to 2-year license suspension The first time you receive a DWI conviction, the court may decide to waive your suspension and allow you to serve your jail term on probation.

When you abuse alcohol, you may find yourself facing problems you never worried about before. For instance, alcohol abuse can: Make it harder for you to meet your responsibilities at home, school, or work Put you in physical danger when you drive, play sports, or engage in other activities Lead to problems with your friends and family, as well as the law Make you more likely to get involved in a fight with someone

The earlier you begin drinking, the more likely it is that you'll start abusing alcohol at some time in the future. If you start drinking regularly as a minor, you're much more likely to become an alcoholic than someone who waits to start drinking until he or she turns 21. A person who starts drinking before the age of 15 is four times more likely to suffer from alcoholism in the future. 40% of people who start drinking before the age of 15 eventually develop alcohol dependence, while only 10% of those who wait to start drinking until they're 21 do. Up until the age of 21, each additional year you wait to start drinking reduces the risk you'll become an alcoholic by 14%.

Many over-the-counter drugs can affect a user significantly enough to impair his or her ability to drive. These include many medications that can commonly be found in household medicine cabinets, such as decongestants, antihistamines, cough syrups, pain relievers, acid reducers, sleeping aids, and even mouthwashes. Many of these can be quite powerful, especially when combined.

The effects of over-the-counter drugs can range from mild to severe. These include such symptoms as: *Anxiety *Delirium *Excitement *Drowsiness *Dizziness *Restlessness *Muscle tension *Confusion These conditions significantly interfere with your ability to drive safely.

In unibody cars, all the vehicle's components are attached to the body and floorpan that provide the vehicle's structure. Because a heavy frame is unnecessary in these designs, they weigh less and can be built more cheaply. Traditionally, the body of a car was built of steel sections, although modern car bodies often make use of lighter materials, including aluminum, durable plastic, and carbon fiber. These lighter materials make for better fuel efficiency while still ensuring that vehicle occupants remain well protected.

The engine produces the drive power that propels a vehicle forward or backwards. Today, engines can be found in many configurations, including 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder, and 8-cylinder (V8) engines. The more cylinders there are in an engine, the more power it will have. Each cylinder has its own piston, each of which is connected to a single crankshaft that propels the vehicle.

Because driving is such a central part of our culture, it may be easy for you to take your car for granted. In fact, the modern car is a sophisticated machine that relies on ingenious technologies innovated over the course of more than a century. Throughout history, people have used various vehicles to transport them from one place to another. However, it was the development of mechanical propulsion technologies in the 1700s and 1800s that allowed inventors to conceive a new mode of transportation that could propel itself: the automobile.

The first self-propelled vehicle was built in Paris in 1769 by the French engineer Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. It was a heavy, three-wheel carriage that was powered by a large boiler attached to the front of the car.

Most drivers understand that they wouldn't be able to drive safely in darkness with their headlights off, no matter how hard they tried. But many believe that, by force of will, they can drive safely when fatigued. This faulty conception leads to great loss of life on America's roads. Fatigued driving is an even more prominent problem in Texas than in many other states: more than 1 in 20 Texas drivers involved in fatal collisions are drowsy at the time of the crash. This figure is among the highest in the United States.

The first thing you should do to increase safety when driving at night is simply to slow down—you'll have more time to see what you're driving toward, past, and next to. You'll also have more time to react when you see a STOP sign, pedestrian, or expressway exit. If you're driving behind another vehicle, increase your following distance to four or more seconds. Stay in the center of your lane and signal early before you turn or change lanes.

Coolant is primarily stored in the radiator of your car. Coolant flows from the radiator through passages inside the engine. As the coolant lowers the temperature of the engine parts, the coolant itself becomes hotter and expands. Most radiators have a recovery tank that captures the coolant that has expanded and returns it to the radiator. The radiator cools the warm coolant with radiator fans, as well as by air currents when the vehicle is in motion.

The flow of coolant is controlled by the thermostat, a heat-sensing valve which allows the engine to quickly heat up to the proper temperature. The thermostat also determines whether coolant should be pumped back into the engine directly or should be sent to the radiator first to be cooled. Remember to monitor your engine temperature by checking the temperature gauge as you drive. If your engine overheats suddenly, there may be a problem in your car's cooling system.

The principle underlying friction is Resistance. Resistance is any tendency to inhibit motion. The more resistance you need to overcome due to friction, inertia, or other natural forces, the more energy you will need to use to attain the same speed. While resistance tends to inhibit motion, it is also necessary to overcome inertia to initiate motion. A car is propelled forward by the force of its tires pushing against the resistance created by the road surface: the car begins moving only after the force exceeds the inertia.

The friction between your tires and the surface of the road is specifically known as Traction. This force is created by the weight of your car pushing the tires down onto the road surface. Traction allows you to accelerate, brake, and change directions. The faster you drive, the less traction your wheels have with the road. With decreased traction, the possibility of skidding increases.

Most modern cars have fuel injectors instead of carburetors. Fuel injection works by atomizing fuel that is received from the fuel pump and forcing it through a tiny nozzle at high pressure. This allows for more precise control over the air/fuel ratio supplied to the engine. Cars with fuel injectors typically have better fuel efficiency, start more reliably, and require less maintenance than those with carburetors.

The fuel-air mixture is transported to the intake valves of the engine by means of an intake manifold. The intake manifold pulls the fuel-air mixture from the carburetor or fuel injector and distributes it evenly to each cylinder in the engine. Even fuel distribution helps the engine operate efficiently.

SEE IT stands for Search, Evaluate, Execute in Texas. ◦Search: Scan the road to get the big picture and identify potential hazards within your road space, including changes in road and traffic conditions. ◦Evaluate: Judge where potential conflicts may occur, locate alternative paths to use in an emergency, and determine the best option available to you given current circumstances. ◦Execute: Perform the action most likely to avoid conflicts and prevent hazardous situations.

The goal of the SEE IT space management system is to choose the ideal speed, lane position, and communication strategies for a given situation. The SEE IT system never dictates a particular response, but rather helps you choose the best response given some specific circumstances on the road. SEE IT requires you to: be aware of the specific conditions of your driving environment; determine which potential threats are most significant; and respond in the way most likely to minimize risk.

Beware of potholes or debris in the road such as shredded tires, fallen trees, and other objects on the road. Watch for any obstructions to your path of travel and adjust your driving to avoid them. Don't let the novelty or surprise of seeing a foreign object become a distraction. A safe driver must pay close attention to what surrounds his or her vehicle, but must also know when to stop looking at any one thing.

The highways of Texas pass through expansive vistas, picturesque communities, and bustling cities. Most of the things you'll see as you drive will have nothing to do with the driving task—and you can become distracted by any of them. Scenic views may be inspiring, but the beauty of a landscape doesn't make driver distraction any less dangerous. While you're staring at scenery, you could drift into another lane—or oncoming traffic.

Type of drink is potentially one of the most important factors affecting your BAC. One 'standard drink' is equivalent to: A 12-ounce bottle of 10 proof* beer A 5-ounce glass of 24 proof wine A 1.5-ounce shot of 80 proof hard liquor Each of these drinks contains .6 ounces of pure ethanol. To determine how much alcohol is in a drink, divide the proof in half, and then divide that number by 100. Multiply the result by the number of ounces in the drink. See the chart on the next slide for examples. *"proof" means twice the percent of alcohol

The idea of a standard drink can be helpful when determining how much alcohol you've consumed, but a few factors make this more difficult. To begin with, the alcoholic content and beverage size may differ from these standard figures. If the beer you drink is 9% alcohol instead of 5%, or if the hard liquor you drink is 45% alcohol instead of 40%, you've had more than one drink. Similarly, depending on the container you drink out of, you may have 16 ounces of beer when you think you're having 12. Mixed drinks bring even more confusion into the equation. A single mixed drink may contain two or more shots of hard liquor, a carbonated mixer, and a lot of sugar—sweet flavors can mask the taste of alcohol. After consuming a single mixed drink, you may absorb the equivalent of three standard drinks without realizing it.

You can attempt to get rid of the heat in your engine by stopping in a safe place, shifting to neutral, depressing the accelerator pedal to rev the engine slightly, turning off the air conditioning, and setting the heater as high as possible.

The indicator lights on the instrument panel provide you with important information. They let you know when your turn signals, high beams, or fog lights are activated, whether your parking brake is engaged, and if your hood or trunk is open. Consult your owner's manual to find out what indicator lights are used in your car. Most indicator lights show urgent warnings to the driver. If a light comes on when you're driving, and you don't recognize it, don't spend time trying to figure out what it means. There is a problem with your car, and you should stop.

Different people respond to stress in different ways, all of which can result in unsafe driving. Under stress, you may become: Angry or agitated, causing you to speed, take unnecessary risks, weave between lanes, or antagonize others Withdrawn or depressed, causing you to space out, ignore the driving environment, and react lethargically to situations on the road Frozen with indecision, causing you to respond to hazards inadequately

The key to dealing with stress is learning to recognize when you're stressed, what the causes of the stress are, and how you typically respond when you feel stressed. By understanding your stress, you'll be better able to minimize its influence on your driving and compensate for its affects. You'll also be able to recognize when you shouldn't be driving in the first place. On the next few slides, we'll discuss some common causes of driver stress.

Motorcyclists are legally allowed to ride two abreast in a single lane in places where it can be done so safely. However, motorcyclists should not attempt to drive next to a motor vehicle within a single lane. This is known as lane splitting and it is dangerous and illegal. Before changing your lane position, check for motorcycles riding too close or sharing the lane with you.

The law requires that anyone under 21 riding a motorcycle, including the operator and any passenger, must wear an approved safety helmet. Riders 21 or over may ride without a helmet if they have completed the motorcycle safety course and have at least $10,000 in health insurance coverage for any injuries they may sustain in a motorcycle collision.

Many important controls are found on the steering wheel or steering column: ◦The steering wheel controls where your car moves by pointing your front wheels in the same direction that you turn the wheel. ◦Communicate with other drivers with your horn by pushing the front of the steering wheel or a button on it. ◦Use the windshield wiper lever to the right of the steering wheel to set your wipers to off, intermittent, slow, or fast and spray washer fluid on your windshield.

The multi-function lever is found to the left of the steering wheel. With the multi-function lever, you can: ◦Activate your turn signals (these signals will generally return to their normal position once the turn is complete) ◦Indicate your intention to change lanes ◦Activate your parking lights or headlights ◦Shift between low- and high-beam headlights ◦Flash your high-beams to indicate your intention to pass

When drivers come together on the road, they must be able to balance their individual desires with the need to make sure all traffic can flow together smoothly and safely. Ideally, all traffic would always flow together in a coordinated way, but since all drivers have their own attitudes and approaches to driving, such an ideal is impossible. However, by following the rules of the road and treating other drivers with courtesy, you can help make sure that there are as few disruptions to the flow of traffic as possible.

The national motto of the United States, E Pluribus Unum, means "Out of many, one." This motto suggests that shared prosperity comes from many individuals working together. The state motto of Texas is simply the word, "Friendship." It is based on the Native American word teyshas, from which the name of the state is derived. Remember these ideas whenever you are on the road. When all drivers have a friendly and respectful attitude, they can create a single environment that is safer and less stressful for everyone.

Consider some things that people commonly believe about sleep: Coffee will keep me awake. I know when I'm about to fall asleep. I'm a safe driver even when I'm a little sleepy. No matter how little I sleep it's always enough. Being a little tired won't affect my vision. If I play the radio loudly or open my windows, I'll stay awake. I can keep myself awake as long as I need to. Each of these claims is a myth! Driving while fatigued is always dangerous, and telling yourself otherwise will only increase the chances of a deadly collision. You can't rely on chemical substances, force of will, or anything else to keep you awake when your body wants to sleep.

The only safe and reliable remedy for fatigue is rest. If you're feeling tired, it's always better to rest before getting behind the wheel. Even though you may just want to get in the car and drive home after a long day at school or work, you should take a break before you drive. Rest your eyes or take a nap if necessary to ensure you're alert when driving home.

The long pedal at the far right of the area beneath the steering column is the accelerator pedal (also known as the gas pedal or throttle). As you apply more pressure to this pedal, more fuel is released into your engine, increasing your car's power and thus its speed. When you remove pressure from the pedal, the speed of your car will decrease. Every car will require different amounts of pressure on the accelerator pedal to reach the same speeds. Practice accelerating in a safe space so you'll be able to control your speed safely when you get on the road.

The pedal immediately to the left of the accelerator pedal is the brake pedal (also known as the service brake pedal). When you push the brake pedal, your brakes slow the spinning of your car's wheels, reducing its speed . As you practice driving, make sure you familiarize yourself with the operations of your brakes. In cars with conventional brake systems, you may lock your wheels if you apply too much pressure to the brake pedal, making it impossible to steer or stop your car.

The physical skills that you must use when driving also tend to deteriorate as a natural part of the aging process. A person's vision, hearing, reaction time, and mental acuity can all become impaired over time. Because these effects occur gradually, they often go unnoticed by a person until they pose a significant risk to the driver and to others on the road. This is one reason that regularly reassessing your own ability to drive is so important.

The physical skills that you must use when driving also tend to deteriorate as a natural part of the aging process. A person's vision, hearing, reaction time, and mental acuity can all become impaired over time. Because these effects occur gradually, they often go unnoticed by a person until they pose a significant risk to the driver and to others on the road. This is one reason that regularly reassessing your own ability to drive is so important.

According to the NHTSA, 77% of vehicle occupants who were thrown from the car were killed. While only 1% of occupants wearing seat belts were fully ejected from their car, 31% of the unrestrained were ejected. This means a driver not wearing a seat belt is effectively 30 times more likely to be thrown from a car. In almost any collision, you are better off being held inside by your seat belt. Of all the things you can do to lessen the severity of a collision, wearing a seat belt is the single most important—and it is the law!

The practice of driving without a seat belt has a number of indirect consequences on society: ◦The added costs associated with collisions in which seat belts were not used result in higher insurance premiums. ◦Social security and disability insurance are drained to care for drivers unnecessarily injured in collisions. ◦More money is spent sending emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to the scenes of collisions. ◦Prompt medical care is less available to many who need it. ◦The court system is unable to give each case a sufficient amount of time to be reliably fair. ◦Police services are taxed and less able to respond to other emergencies. ◦More resources must be spent making sure the public is properly educated about the issue.

Many collisions happen in places where it is dangerous to stop, such as ramps, shoulders, medians, or intersections. If the collision occurs in a place where it is likely to significantly interfere with traffic, you can move to a designated investigation site nearby as long as all vehicles can be moved safely. The site must be agreed upon by all drivers involved in the collision.

The presence of a collision in the roadway or on the side of the road can increase the chances that another driver may become distracted or need to react suddenly, causing another collision. In order to prevent further damage, turn on your hazard lights if possible and set up flares or reflectors at least 100 ft in front of and behind your car (or 500 ft in high-speed traffic). If these devices are unavailable, you can try to warn traffic by standing ahead of the site and directing vehicles around your car. Never position yourself in a way that would endanger yourself or others. If there has been a gas spill, avoid the use of flares as well as other potentially dangerous activities like smoking.

Any loose object in your car has the potential to become a distraction. An object on the dashboard, below a seat, or elsewhere in your car may be thrown into a dangerous position if you have to stop or turn abruptly. You may be tempted to reach for your phone or purse if it is sitting nearby. Trash or clutter in your car can prevent you from reaching important controls and can make it more difficult to concentrate on the road in general. If you have to reach for an object moving around the cab of your car, it can increase the chances of a crash or near-crash by up to nine times.

The presence of a flying insect in your car can be especially distracting. An insect flying into your view or buzzing near your head can make it difficult to focus on driving, especially if it's an insect like a bee that could potentially injure you. However, if you try to kill it, you can end up distracted from the road for a considerable period. When there's an insect in your car, pull over to kill it or let it escape. Don't return to the road until you're sure your car is bug-free.

Before you get on the road, practice steering your car in a safe place. Every car responds to steering input differently, and only through experience will you learn appropriate steering techniques for your vehicle. However, you must never turn the steering wheel when the car is not in motion. This is known as dry steering. It can cause unnecessary wear on your tires and cause damage to the components of your car's steering system.

The primary technique you should use to control your car is known as hand-to-hand steering (or push-pull steering). This method of steering gives you more balance and precision and should be used when making minor adjustments or when moving through a turn or a slight curve. This steering method is effective because it allows you to retain a grip on the wheel at all times, even as you adjust the positions of your hands. Whatever hand is not immediately controlling the wheel should slide to the regular position while retaining a loose grip that can be quickly tightened if an evasive maneuver is necessary. We'll explain hand-to-hand steering on the next slide.

Even with a well regulated transportation system, you will still occasionally encounter dangerous situations on the road. You can limit the impact of these situations and keep traffic moving in an orderly manner by always remembering to be courteous to other drivers. The golden rule of driving is: always treat other drivers the way you want to be treated.

The purpose of the drivers education and drivers licensing process is to assure everyone using the road that no driver is an unreasonable risk to themselves or others. Other drivers, pedestrians, and other roadway users expect and need you to be sober and attentive. Their safety depends on your actions. All drivers under 25 must take some form of drivers education in order to obtain a Texas drivers license.

Even with activated and properly-aligned headlights, you must remain alert and actively search the driving environment for information. In particular, you should: Pay attention to the contours of the road, making sure to stay in your lane and drive at a safe speed at all times Look for other road users, including pedestrians, animals, slow-moving vehicles, and unlit vehicles Find and obey all relevant traffic control devices, including STOP signs, lane lines, crosswalks, and expressway exit signs

The road may feel more lonely at night, but it's not empty. There will always be pedestrians, other motor vehicles, or even police officers along your route. Obey the rules of the road just as you would in heavy traffic. Some road users are more common at night than at other times. Importantly, these include large trucks, drunk drivers, and fatigued drivers.

The term traffic flow refers to how smoothly and efficiently the users of the highway transportation system can proceed to their destination. Traffic flow is defined in terms of the number of vehicles that pass a given point in an hour. The better the traffic flow on a roadway, the more vehicles are able to use it in the same period of time.

The rules governing how drivers interact with one another and maneuver on the road are established to allow traffic to flow as efficiently as possible. Every violation disrupts other drivers, and a single problem that requires others to adjust their driving can quickly lead to more mistakes, affecting traffic flow further. Eventually, hundreds or even thousands or roads users may be affected. Even a small violation can lead to a traffic jam that lasts for hours.

The section of the roadway where your target is located, as well as the area to its immediate left and right, is known as the Target Area. Establishing a visual target can help a driver set effective reference points, notice changes in traffic flow, and identify alternative paths in case evasive maneuvers are necessary.

The space between your car and the target area that you've selected is known as the Path of Travel (POT). By analyzing the visual activity within your path of travel, you can develop a clear picture of the situation on the road ahead and anticipate the maneuvers you will have to perform. For instance, if there is an intersection along your POT, you know you will have to slow and watch for cross traffic.

The steering wheel is connected to a steering column that extends down to the front axle of the car. The ignition switch and control levers, among other devices, are typically mounted on the part of the steering column that extends into the cab of the car. In older cars, the steering column was a rigid metal bar that had the potential to impale the driver in the event of a serious collision. To minimize this risk, most modern steering columns are designed to collapse on impact.

The steering column is connected to the front wheel axle through the steering gear box. The gear box converts the rotary movement of the steering wheel into the lateral movement necessary to point the front wheels in the desired direction. For instance, when you turn the steering wheel to the right, the gear box will cause the steering mechanism on the front axle to shift towards the left. As it does so, it will pull the back of the right wheel inward and push the back of the left wheel outward according to how far you have turned the steering wheel. If you turn the wheel too far, you could jam the steering mechanism.

The engine works by burning fuel in each of the cylinders, which are also known as combustion chambers. This process is known as a four-stroke combustion cycle. In each cylinder: The piston moves down, drawing in a fuel-air mixture. The piston moves up, compressing the fuel-air mixture to make it more explosive. The sparkplug ignites the fuel-air mixture, causing an explosion that pushes the piston down with great force, turning the crankshaft that powers the car. The piston rises, forcing out the burned fuel in the form of exhaust. The piston in each cylinder fires at a different time in accordance with the engine firing order.

The timing belt coordinates the operation of the valves that allow fuel into and exhaust out of the engine cylinders. The timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshaft, which is responsible for opening and closing each valve at the proper time. The timing belt is subject to consistent wear over time. Generally, a timing belt becomes unreliable after 60,000 miles and should be replaced. If the timing belt breaks while you're driving, your engine may be permanently damaged.

The air bag warning light indicates that the air bags are malfunctioning. This may happen for a number of reasons, including being improperly reset after deploying. When the air bag warning light illuminates, take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible—your vehicle's air bags may not deploy in a collision.

The tire pressure warning light indicates low air pressure in your vehicle's tires. Low air pressure can be caused by a puncture, a slow leak, cold weather, or simply the passing of time. When the tire pressure warning light illuminates, pull over and check your tire pressure. If none of your wheels is flat or nearly flat, drive to a service station or other establishment with air machines and refill your tires.

Recall the primary causes of collisions: the actions of the driver, the condition of the roadway, and the condition of the vehicle being driven. Driver error plays a part in 95% of all collisions, and consists of poor recognition, poor decisions, poor performance, and "non-performance errors" such as falling asleep.

The two most prevalent types of error are recognition errors and decision errors. Within these categories, the most prominent recognition error is due to distracted driving (18.1% of all driver errors), and the most prominent decision error is due to speeding or aggressive driving (22.8% of all driver errors).

If you realize that a collision with another vehicle or a stationary object is imminent, you can minimize the force of impact in the following ways: Slow down as much as possible before impact Strike the softest object you can Strike a vehicle moving with the lowest speed relative to you—preferably a vehicle moving away from you Strike an object at a wide angle rather than head-on Strike a broad object instead of a narrow one Strike a loose object rather than a fixed one

The way you're sitting inside your vehicle also affects how much injury you suffer. Sit up straight at all times, with your head resting against the headrest. Keep all body parts at least ten inches from where any air bag will deploy. Take your foot off the brake pedal just before the moment of impact: tremendous forces on your vehicle's wheels can be transmitted up through the brake pedal, breaking your leg. Brace yourself against your seat and the steering wheel, if possible. Tighten your muscles to help guard against organ damage.

Warning signs that you're fatigued include: Blurred or unfocused vision Sore or tired eyes Difficulty keeping your eyes open Sore or tired muscles Difficulty keeping your head up Soreness or a tired feeling at the back of your head Stiff joints Difficulty concentrating Difficulty staying in your lane Lapses in short-term memory—such as being unable to remember what happened a few seconds ago

There are a number of myths about fatigue and driving, but here are the facts: Coffee won't keep you awake. You won't always know when you're about to fall asleep. Even a small amount of fatigue can be deadly when you're driving. A few hours of sleep isn't enough to keep you going through the following day and night. Music and open windows won't keep you from falling asleep. You can't force yourself to stay awake or alert indefinitely.

While drivers are generally required to pass on the left, passing on the right is allowed when: *You are driving on a one-way road *There are two or more lanes of traffic moving in your direction and the right side of the road is clear of parked cars or other potential hazards *The vehicle ahead of you is slowing, stopping, disabled, or preparing to turn left and there is a paved shoulder on the right of the road that you can drive on Always remain on the paved portion of the road.

There will inevitably be situations when other drivers will wish to pass you. When you are being passed, help the other driver by responding with the same courtesy that you would like to receive when passing. When being passed: *Do not increase your speed *Stay in your lane *Move as far to the right within your lane as you can safely

Another important aspect of your vision is Depth Perception. Depth perception is the ability to see in three dimensions. Drivers rely on their depth perception to judge the distance between their car and other vehicles on the road. Depth perception can be affected by environmental conditions like fog and darkness as well as by medical conditions. Poor depth perception can result in stopping too soon or too late, turning too sharply or too broadly, driving at an inconsistent speed, and being unable to maintain an appropriate following distance.

There are a number of ways a person's vision can be impaired that can affect his or her driving ability. For instance, some people lack the ability to distinguish certain colors. Typically, Colorblind people can't distinguish between red and green, making it difficult or impossible for them to identify the colors of traffic lights, signs, and curbs. However, these drivers can typically compensate for their impairment (by recognizing the position of a traffic light or the shape of a sign, for example) and drive as safely as any other driver.

Remember, until you turn 18, you're legally prohibited from using any wireless device such as a cell phone while driving. Additionally, it's illegal for any driver to use a handheld device when driving in a school zone whenever reduced speed limits are in effect. If a law enforcement officer sees you talking on a cell phone while driving, he or she may pull you over. If you cause a collision because you were talking on your cell phone, you will face more severe legal penalties.

There are many situations you might encounter while driving where you may legitimately need to use your cell phone. For instance, you may need to call law enforcement, emergency services, or roadside assistance. However, even in these situations, you should pull over before placing the call unless you'd endanger yourself or someone else in doing so. Remember, although it's legal for you to use a cell phone while driving to place an emergency call, you'll still be at a greater risk of a collision as long as you're using your phone.

To steer and brake smoothly and effectively, you must be well coordinated enough to quickly move your body in response to emerging situations and the actions of other drivers. Alcohol has a debilitating effect on the motor skills you need to drive safely. Your physical coordination will be as limited as your vision, and your reaction time will suffer greatly as a result.

There's a reason that police ask you to walk in a straight line or to close your eyes and touch your fingers to your nose when they suspect you may be drunk. These things are very easy for sober people, but quickly become difficult as alcohol enters the bloodstream. These tasks are much simpler than the tasks you must perform as a driver. If you can't even walk in a straight line, you obviously don't have the ability to maneuver your car safely.

For many drugs, such as alcohol, ibuprofen, and Ritalin, possession and use are legal in certain circumstances. These drugs differ from drugs like marijuana and LSD, which are prohibited by federal law for all uses except, in rare cases, scientific research. Even legal drugs are often subject to some restrictions. For example, you may not purchase alcohol until you turn 21, you may not purchase large quantities of drugs containing pseudoephedrine, and you may not purchase codeine without a prescription.

These restrictions exist even for "legal" drugs because all drugs have the potential to be abused or to cause unhealthy side effects or long-term damage. In the following slides, we'll discuss two general classes of "legal" drugs: those available by prescription only, and those available without a prescription. We'll then discuss inhalants, a particularly deadly type of legally available drugs. It's important to remember that while each drug is unique, even drugs provided by your doctor can be dangerous. Abuse, overdose, and chronic use of many legally available drugs can cause severe physical and mental damage.

You should drive at the same speed as the flow of traffic, but you must always obey the established speed limit. Even if no signs are posted, you must know and obey the established limit where you're driving. *15 mph: Beaches (and adjacent county roads) and alleys *30 mph: Urban areas where business, residential, or industrial buildings are located at intervals of 100 ft or less *60 mph: Non-numbered highways *70 mph: Numbered highways and Farm-to-Market roads. In rural areas with sparse populations, this limit may be raised to 85 mph (80 mph on certain parts of Interstate 10 and Interstate 20).

These speed limits should be obeyed only in areas where there is no speed limit posted. Posted speed limits always take precedence over the established, or prima facie, speed limits. Cities and counties are authorized to change speed limits within their boundaries. In places where extra caution is required, such as in the area near a school, the speed limit may be significantly lower than the established prima facie speed limit.

The problem of underage drinking is a costly one. A 2010 study conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation estimated the costs associated with underage drinking. The total cost of underage drinking in 2010 was $62 billion. This represents an average cost of $200 to every U.S. resident. Among the consequences of underage drinking, alcohol-attributable violent crime was responsible for the greatest costs to society, accounting for $35 billion, or 56% of the total costs

These trends have grave implications when underage drinkers get behind the wheel. According to the NHTSA: 28% of male drivers under 21 involved in a fatal collision had been drinking. 16% of female drivers under 21 involved in a fatal collision had been drinking. 37% of drivers age 16 to 20 killed in a crash had been drinking. 51% of drivers age 21 to 24 killed in a crash had been drinking. According to the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, the costs of traffic collisions involving underage drunk drivers added up to $10 billion. These costs include medical and emergency services, lost productivity, insurance, administration, workplace, and legal costs, travel delays, and property damage.

If you're driving a car with a manual transmission or an automatic transmission with multiple drive gears, it's a good idea to shift to a lower gear whenever you're driving uphill or downhill. -A low gear will prevent your car from gaining too much speed as you travel downhill. -By driving in a low gear while travelling uphill, your car will use more energy to counteract the force of gravity rather than to increase the speed of your car.

Thin mountain air can affect your car's engine and diminish your acceleration and climbing power. Moreover, liquids boil and change to vapor more quickly at a high altitude. If the temperature light comes on or the temperature gauge indicates "hot", stop your car and let your engine idle while it cools down. If you shut off the engine altogether, the gasoline in the hot engine may vaporize and you'll have to wait for the engine to cool completely to proceed. This situation is called vapor lock. If you're not in a situation where you can safely stop your car, try cooling your engine by turning on your car's heater to draw some heat from the engine compartment.

This sign indicates that the driver may not make a U-turn.

This sign indicates that large trucks are not allowed on this roadway.

Finally, even if you manage to properly search and evaluate the road, you'll have difficulty executing maneuvers correctly: Your muscle movements will be clumsy, leading you to weave across the roadway, brake too hard or not hard enough, and steer in unsafe ways. Your hand-eye and foot-eye coordination will be disrupted, causing you to use vehicle controls earlier or later than you should. Your response time will be slowed, making it difficult to avoid a hazard even if you notice it in time.

Throughout this course, we've discussed the importance of being in a good mood whenever you get behind the wheel. Driving is not something you can do safely when you're angry, agitated, or anxious. To be a safe and responsible driver, you must have a positive attitude towards driving. If you can't respond courteously to other road users or apply your knowledge of the driving task correctly, you'll place everyone on the road, including yourself, at risk.

Be conscientious and think about how your actions can affect others. How much easier would it be to remain calm if you never had to worry about other drivers impeding, annoying, or endangering you? Every action you take on the road should be governed by the golden rule of driving: always treat other drivers the way you want to be treated. By doing so, you'll make the road safer for everyone.

Time your signals properly so drivers can accurately predict your intentions. ◦Give other drivers enough time to notice and process your signals and adjust their driving. Always begin signaling at least 100 ft before turning, changing lanes, or stopping. ◦Once you have completed a maneuver, make sure that your turn signals are deactivated. You may confuse other drivers if you have a signal activated at the wrong time.

When you press down on the brake pedal in a car with ABS, you may feel it vibrating or hear a grinding noise. This is an indication that the system is working properly: to prevent your wheels from locking up, the ABS system will pulse the brake up to 15 times a second. Pay attention to your ABS system when you start your car to make sure it is working properly. When you turn on your car, the antilock braking system will check itself. While this test is conducted, the ABS indicator on the dashboard will be lit and you may hear a brief motor or clicking noise. If your ABS is working properly, the warning light will go out when the test is complete.

Tires are rubber coverings that are placed on the wheels of your vehicle. They have two basic functions: absorbing shocks by flexing over the contours of the road, and providing traction so that drivers can accelerate, brake, and steer. Every tire has a distinctive tread. These treads are designed to provide traction and wear away slowly. The grooves in tires are intended to channel water so the tire will have better contact with the surface of the road.

-Raised rumble strips and lane reflectors alert inattentive or drowsy drivers when they veer out of their lane or off the road. -Liquid- or sand-filled drums are placed in front of some road barriers to decrease the severity of collisions with these barriers. -Protected merge lanes provide extra protection for drivers maneuvering across traffic. -Clearer signage standards ensure that road signs can be understood quickly and at a distance. -Electronic message signs allow drivers to anticipate specific situations.

To allow vehicles to move from one road to another without crossing streams of traffic, highways and expressways frequently come together at multi-level junctions known as Interchanges.

The initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting. As you can imagine, these effects can be particularly dangerous when you're behind the wheel. The concentration of carbon monoxide and the duration of exposure will influence how severely a person is affected. When exposed to higher levels of carbon monoxide, a person may lose consciousness. If a person continues to inhale carbon monoxide after passing out, he or she faces a high risk of death.

To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning: Never leave a car running in a closed garage, as the exhaust can build up quickly while the car is running. Leave a front window open slightly, even in cold weather, to allow fresh air to circulate in your car. If you open a rear window, you may draw exhaust back into your car. If you're stuck in traffic with other vehicles, leave your air vents closed so their exhaust doesn't enter your car.

Fixate on a single driver, refusing to leave him or her alone Claim the position another driver seeks to occupy or resist another driver's attempts to claim the right-of-way Act like everyone on the road is an obstacle to be circumvented, crossing several lanes at once, ignoring road signs, and claiming the right-of-way without checking to see if others are waiting Believe that every situation can be solved through violence and be ready to pick a fight at any time

To avoid instigating aggressive behavior in others, you should always drive in a safe and courteous manner. You must also know how to recognize aggressive drivers and what to do if there's an aggressive driver on the road. Learn to keep your own emotions in check. Even if you become angered by the behavior of another driver, remember to remain calm and avoid behaviors likely to increase the risk you and other drivers face.

Wherever traffic control devices are posted, be alert for drivers disobeying them. Never drive through a green light or past a yield sign without checking for cross traffic. Taking other drivers' good behavior for granted can be as deadly as breaking the rules yourself. Yield the right-of-way to any driver disregarding a posted traffic control device: if you do not, you may be held responsible for any damage or injury that results.

Traffic signs use consistent shapes, colors, and symbols to quickly inform passing motorists of crucial information about the roadway, such as changes in its condition and laws governing its use, while distracting them as little as possible from the driving task.

If you've consumed alcohol, don't think that you'll be able to drive safely just because your vision is clear or your reflexes seem normal. By the time you start experiencing significant physical effects, your judgment will already be too impaired for you to make the right choices when you drive. Nothing can save you from your own bad decisions! If you've been drinking and you hear yourself say, "I'm sober enough to drive," you should realize your judgment is already dangerously impaired. When you've consumed alcohol, there's only one driving strategy that will reduce risk: don't drive!

To be a safe driver, your mind needs to be alert at all time. Yet when you drink, the cognitive capacities you need as a driver will be clouded, confused, and reduced. From the moment alcohol touches your lips, your mood will be altered and your judgment will begin to deteriorate. As you drink more, your behavior will become exaggerated and you will become less alert and able to react quickly. Eventually, your vision will become blurred, your memory will become hazy, and you'll have less ability to control your emotions.

In 2011, 3,331 U.S. traffic fatalities (10% of all 2011 traffic fatalities) could definitively be attributed to driver distraction. Keep in mind that in many collisions, it's impossible to know whether the driver was distracted at the time of the crash. As a result, many distracted drivers may not be represented in these statistics. According to some estimates, driver inattention may be responsible for as much as 80% of all collisions in the United States.

To better understand how distraction affects drivers, the NHTSA conducted a study on a sample of drivers in which each driver's actions behind the wheel were monitored by cameras and other sensors. Researchers found that distraction was a factor in approximately 23% of all collisions and near-collisions. This study allowed them to determine how much each distracting action increased the risk of a collision and what percentage of all distracted driving collisions could be attributed to that action.

In Texas, there were 1 million arrests in 2012, accounting for 8.3% of the national total. The only state with more arrests was California. 351,719 Texans (35%) were arrested for an alcohol or drug related crime in 2012. Moreover, three of the six crimes with the most arrests in Texas in 2012 involved an alcohol or drug violation. 85,436 were arrested for a drunk driving offense. 133,110 were arrested for a drug abuse violation. 21,803 were arrested for a liquor law violation. 111,370 were arrested for public drunkenness.

To buy or use alcohol or drugs illegally, you'll have to consort with other criminals. You may even be tempted to induce otherwise law-abiding citizens to break the law by helping you get alcohol or joining you as you illegally drink or use drugs. Remember, anyone who acquires, manufactures, transports, or sells drugs does so illegally. If you choose to associate with such criminals, you can end up in legal trouble and be implicated in crimes you may not have had anything to do with. You also put yourself at risk of extortion, assault, and even kidnapping.

Foggy windows can make it very difficult to see out of your vehicle. Condensation develops on glass when the air on one side is significantly more humid than the air on the other side. You can help prevent condensation from forming by keeping your windows and windshield clean, both inside and out. However, if it does form, you'll need to get rid of it.

To clear fog from your windows in cold and rainy weather: Activate your car's defroster and turn off air recirculation. This helps move humidity outside of the vehicle. To clear fog as fast as possible, turn air speed to high and choose the lowest temperature setting. When dealing with mild fog, you can use hot air to evaporate the condensation while keeping the inside of your vehicle more comfortable.

Clean fuel is important to ensuring that your engine functions properly. Carburetors and fuel injectors have many small jets and passages that can become clogged or damaged by impurities in the fuel. To ensure this cleanliness, fuel filters are installed in the fuel line between the fuel tank and the injection system. Moreover, all gasoline sold in the United States is now required to contain certain additives to help prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel system.

To create the fuel-air mixture used in the internal combustion process, your car draws air from the environment, through the car hood, and into the engine. As with fuel, foreign materials in the air can cause problems if they are allowed to enter the engine. As a result, air filters are installed in the fuel system to separate dust and other particles from the air before it enters the carburetor or fuel injector. Replace your car's air filter at each tune-up to help minimize wear to your engine.

Vision When your vision is blurred, you'll find it hard to discern details both on objects close to you, like your dashboard, as well as on the road ahead, like traffic lights. Alcohol has particularly adverse effects on the your ability to observe objects in motion, even when your BAC is low and your vision does not otherwise seem blurred or impaired. Because of the speeds involved with driving, it can be almost impossible to evaluate the road effectively when you've been drinking.

To determine how alcohol consumption affects driving skills, researchers have conducted driving simulations in which they tested the same drivers while sober and with predetermined amounts of alcohol in their systems. They determined that the drivers in their study were more likely to: Overreact to skids Brake rather than steer away from a potential hazard Increase their speed unconsciously Misjudge the position of their car in the lane

When driving on rural roads, it's a good idea to have your headlights activated at all hours of the day, as you'll be better able to see concealed hazards and alert other drivers to your presence on the road. On some highways, posted signs will indicate areas where you must activate your headlights while driving, regardless of the time of day. Make sure your headlights are activated and drive carefully when you see such signs, as they are generally posted in more dangerous areas.

To determine the best speed and lane position for approaching a curve, evaluate the situation by asking yourself: -Can the exit of the curve be seen ahead? Are there any restrictions to your line of sight? -What is the lane width? Shoulder condition? Posted speed limit? Traffic volume? -Does the curve turn to the left or the right? -How sharp is the curve? -Is the curve banked? What direction is the grade sloping?

Remember, established and posted speed limits specify the maximum speed that drivers should travel on the roadway in ideal conditions. Your first priority should be to drive at a speed that is prudent and safe given present environmental conditions. Driving at a safe speed is the only way that you can ensure that you have control of your vehicle at all times. If you are driving too fast, you will not be able to safely turn or stop your vehicle, especially in situations where traction or visibility is reduced.

To ensure your safety and the safety of other drivers, you must reduce your speed when: *The weather is bad *It's dark or hard to see *There's a lot of traffic on the road *There's a collision on the side of the road You or your vehicle are not in ideal condition *There's any reason that you may not be able to stop or maneuver your vehicle as s

In some lots, as well as along the sides of some streets, parking spaces will be positioned at an angle of about 30 degrees from the curb. These are known as angle parking spaces. Whether they are on the left side or the right side of the road, these spaces are designed so that drivers do not need to turn as sharply to enter and exit the space. You should never enter an angle parking space from the direction that requires you to make a turn of 150 degrees.

To enter an angle parking space: ◦Identify a space to your left or right. ◦Stop your car three to four feet before the space you intend to enter. ◦Signal your intention to turn into the space. ◦Drive forward slowly until the center of your hood aligns with the center of the space

Every time you perform a maneuver, you must first make sure it can be performed safely and then signal your intention to perform it. For every maneuver, you must: ◦Evaluate the road. Scan the road ahead of you and check your mirrors and blind spots to determine what maneuver you should perform. Make sure the maneuver is not prohibited by any signs, signals, or road markings. ◦Prepare to act. Signal appropriately and double-check to make sure the road ahead of you, to your sides, and behind you is safe. ◦Execute the maneuver. Look where you want to go and use the appropriate vehicle controls to perform the maneuver.

To enter the roadway from the side of the road: ◦With your foot on the brake pedal and the parking brake engaged, activate the engine. ◦Select the proper gear ◦Check for traffic. Look in your side and rearview mirrors and glance over your shoulder towards the roadway to make sure your blind spot is clear.

All the tools we have mentioned for managing your road position work best together. Use the following to manage your vehicle and the space around it effectively. ◦Reference points and lines of sight ◦Searching your path of travel attentively ◦Changing your position when necessary ◦Communicating respectfully with other road users

To estimate the following distance between you and the car in front of you, observe when the car in front of you passes a stationary object on the side of the road (e.g. a parked car or telephone pole) and count the number of seconds until you pass the same object. To count seconds, say "one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three." Once you have said "three," you have counted off three seconds.

To enter a perpendicular space by driving forward: ◦Identify a space to your left or right. ◦Stop your car six to eight feet before the space you intend to enter. ◦Signal your intention to turn into the space. ◦Drive forward slowly until your side mirror seems to align with the first line of the space that you pass. You should have an unobstructed view into the space.

To exit a perpendicular space by backing up: ◦Depress the brake pedal, activate the engine, release the parking brake, and signal the direction you intend to turn. ◦Check your mirrors and look over your shoulder for vehicle or pedestrian traffic. ◦Shift your transmission to reverse. ◦Back up in a straight line until your front bumper is aligned with the rear bumper of the car next to you. ◦Turn your steering wheel slowly in the direction you want the back of your car to turn. ◦Once your front bumper has cleared the car opposite your turn, reverse your steering sharply so you don't hit the other car. ◦Once you are out of the parking space, straighten your wheels and shift the transmission to the appropriate forward gear.

Like drum brakes, disc brakes are attached to the wheels and rotate along with them. However, instead of containing the brake components within a drum, disc brakes consist of a spinning rotor and a small caliper that is lined with brake pads. When the brake pedal is pressed, the caliper clamps the rotor between the pads, slowing the spinning of the rotor and the wheel. Because the rotor of the disc brake is exposed to air rather than contained within a drum, the heat of the braking process is allowed to dissipate, making overheating much less likely.

To make sure that your hydraulic braking system works when you need it to, your brakes should be inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications: The most common type of service required for drum brakes is shoe replacement. Some drum brakes have an inspection hole on the back so you can see how much material is left on the shoe. The most common type of service required for disc brakes is pad replacement. When the friction material on the brake pads has been worn away, a wear indicator becomes exposed that causes a squealing sound when it contacts the brake rotor. If you hear this squeal, you need new brake pads. Consult your owner's manual to learn how to take care of your brakes, especially if you aren't sure what kind of brakes you have.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Recognize alcohol's short-term effects on your health and your physical and mental fitness to drive Understand that alcohol consumption is dangerous even if you're not driving and can cause alcohol poisoning Acknowledge that when intoxicated your vision and motor skills will be too impaired to drive safely Know how different levels of intoxication affect your physical and mental skills and remember that driving at any level of intoxication is unsafe Realize that long-term alcohol consumption can have severe and permanent consequences for your health

To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by understanding how alcohol affects your body, making you unhealthy and unfit to drive.

It's important to recognize that while air bags can protect you in a collision, they are also capable of causing injury if not used properly. Air bags inflate at a rate of 200 mph and deflate in a fraction of a second, often releasing corn starch or talcum powder used to keep it pliable. Remember to wear a seat belt and drive in the proper position. Otherwise, you may be thrown forward in a collision and injured by a rapidly accelerating air bag.

To minimize the risk of being injured by an air bag: ◦There should always be ten inches between your chest and the steering wheel. ◦You should grip the lower half of the steering wheel with your knuckles on the outside of the wheel. ◦If you have tilt steering, direct the steering wheel at your chest rather than your face. ◦Make sure your seat belt is fastened.

As a driver, you must be physically and mentally capable of performing the necessary driving tasks quickly, correctly, and safely. Because most maneuvers and actions you'll perform as a driver require you to execute a combination of different tasks, if you're impaired in a way that makes even one aspect of driving more difficult, you may have a hard time, especially if you have to respond quickly to a dangerous situation.

To multitask effectively, you must be physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to drive: If you're physically impaired by a disability, illness, or fatigue, you may not be able to operate driver controls, maintain a safe driving posture, see the roadway clearly, or avoid being distracted by your own discomfort. If you're mentally distracted by personal concerns or non-driving tasks like talking on a cell phone, you won't be able to observe and respond to everything that requires your attention. If you're emotionally distressed by anger, anxiety, or other personal issues, you won't be able to evaluate risk or make decisions rationally. If you're under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, your physical, emotional, and mental skills will all be impaired and you will not be fit to drive.

Entrance Ramps Entrance ramps (also known as "on-ramps") deliver drivers to the acceleration lane and give them time to scan the road and determine their speed and space needs before entering the flow of traffic. These ramps may be uphill, downhill, or level with the expressway. As soon as you enter an entrance ramp, begin checking traffic on the expressway. Quickly glance in your side mirror and over your shoulder to find a gap in traffic. As you approach the expressway, be sure your turn signal is activated.

To reduce risks on entrance ramps: -Look at the speed limit sign as you enter the ramp and adjust your speed appropriately. Be especially careful on entrance ramps with sharp curves. -Be sure you're in the correct lane to enter the expressway (on some ramps, another lane will lead back to the roadway). -Be ready for slow or stopped traffic on the ramp or expressway. Avoid stopping abruptly or encroaching on traffic ahead of you.

Narrow Roadways The width of roadways in the country can vary widely. Scan ahead for changes in the width of the road. If the road narrows or if there is a one-lane bridge ahead, slow down, position your car to avoid meeting oncoming vehicles at the narrow point, and yield the right-of-way if necessary.

Unmarked or Soft Shoulder On rural roads, the shoulder may be unmarked or it may be a "soft shoulder" covered with gravel or another surface that offers poor traction. In some places, like mountain roads, there may be no shoulder at all. Drive cautiously when paved shoulders are unavailable, as it will be more difficult for you to make evasive maneuvers in an emergency.

In 2011, impaired drivers killed 2,661 people either in the impaired driver's car or in another vehicle. Think about what this means: 1,612—the number of people who got into a car thinking the driver was not too impaired to drive, and who then died in a crash 1,049—the number of people who were in their own vehicle and were struck and killed by an impaired driver 156—the number of children age 14 and younger who were killed when the vehicle they were in was involved in a collision caused by an impaired driver

Today, every car is manufactured with safety systems including seat belts, crumple zones, and air bags. But none of these can change the fact that 3,000 lbs of metal and plastic moving at 60 mph is an extremely dangerous thing. Impaired driving puts everyone on the road in danger.

HOV Lanes When driving on an expressway, be prepared to encounter special lanes designated for the exclusive use of carpools and buses. These are known as High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes. HOV lanes are designed to reduce traffic congestion on expressways. They will generally be indicated with road signs and diamond pavement markings.

Toll Booths On some roads and bridges, you'll need to pay a toll to proceed. Often, drivers face increased dangers at toll booths because of the high volume of vehicles at the toll gate. Moreover, you may encounter distracted drivers trying to get across the roadway at the last minute, as tollbooth lanes are typically designated for specific road users, such as carpools, buses, and trucks. As you approach a tollbooth, make sure you're driving in an appropriate lane.

It's your responsibility as a defensive driver to look for anything that may affect your path of travel or obstruct your line of sight. As you scan the road, you can gather information more effectively by grouping similar items into four basic categories: ◦Traffic control devices, including signs, signals, and road markings ◦Features of the highway, including its structure, surface, and direction ◦Motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles ◦Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals

Traffic Control Devices As you know, signs, signals, and road markings enable traffic to move in an organized manner. ◦By looking out for signs, signals, and road markings, you can anticipate the condition of the road ahead and better predict the actions of other road users. ◦Watch for warning and construction signs, signal changes, flashing railroad crossing signals, or any other indication that conditions ahead are changing.

Most pavement markings are white or yellow. They are used to define lanes, regulate traffic flow, and reinforce information communicated by signs or traffic signals. *Yellow lines always separate lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions *White lines always separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction

Traffic moving in opposite directions will be divided by a single or double yellow line. This line is considered the center line, even when it is not in the exact center of the street. Whenever you're driving on a two-way road, make sure that the yellow line is always on your left. If it is on your right, then you are on the wrong side of the road.

Sometimes, entire sections of the road may be closed for construction. In this case, posted detour signs may direct you around the closed portion of the road. Whenever you encounter a detour, slow down. Follow the directions and speed limits indicated by the signs. Be alert to changing lane conditions, obstructions, and the traffic around you. Take a look at more construction signs by clicking here.

Traffic signal lights are used to coordinate several different streams of traffic seeking to use the same intersection. They are designed to allow as much traffic to flow through an intersection as possible while minimizing the potential for conflict between drivers. Traffic signals are generally posted in a place that is clearly visible to all traffic using the intersection. All roadway users must obey the directions given by a traffic signal.

Only pass when you're sure it is safe. When travelling on a multi-lane road, you'll eventually find that you need to pass another vehicle. Check all traffic around you to make sure the maneuver will not interfere with another driver. Be careful that no one's preparing to move into the zone you plan to occupy. Always pass on the left if possible. If you must pass on the right, make sure you're not driving somewhere that the maneuver is prohibited.

Treat other drivers with courtesy. Extend the same consideration to other drivers that you would like them to extend to you. When another driver seeks to change lanes, turn, or enter traffic, be sure to give them plenty of space. When another driver attempts to pass you, you should give way, maintain a steady speed, and not maneuver until the other car has safely returned to your lane.

Warning signs indicate upcoming changes in the roadway that will require the driver to reduce speed, search for hazards, increase following distance, and generally proceed with caution. Drivers should pay attention to warning signs so they have enough time to adjust their driving. Warning signs are exclusively colored yellow with black text or symbols. Most warning signs have a diamond shape. Whenever you see a sign that is yellow or diamond-shaped or both, you should adjust your driving for the condition depicted on the sign.

Turn or Curve Ahead Often, a warning sign will indicate when there is a change of direction in the road ahead. This sign indicates that there is a winding road ahead.

In recent years, an alternate approach to adjusting the side mirrors has been introduced called the Blind spot and Glare Elimination (BGE) method. To use this setting, your side mirrors must be turned outward from the traditional setting by about 15 degrees. When your mirrors are set to this position, your two large blind spots will be replaced with four smaller ones, none of which is large enough to completely conceal a car. However, your side mirrors will not reflect any of your car or provide an extra view of the road behind you.

Turn your key to the On position. Check all gauges and warning lights. ◦Turn your key to the Start position. Hold it in position until you hear the engine begin to run. If the engine fails to engage after ten seconds, release your key, wait ten seconds, and try again. ◦Once the engine is running, double-check the indicators and gauges to make sure all systems are normal. Adjust your climate controls, activate your headlights, and perform any other operations involving your vehicle's accessories. If your car has a manual transmission, you may remove your foot from the clutch pedal until you're ready to shift gears.

To pass on the left: ◦Activate your left turn signal. ◦Accelerate as you prepare to leave your lane. ◦Turn the steering wheel gently to the left. ◦Center your car in the passing lane and proceed forward until you can see the car you're passing in your rearview mirror. ◦Double-check your mirrors and blind spots. ◦Activate your right turn signal. ◦Turn the steering wheel gently to the right. ◦Center your vehicle in your original lane. ◦Return to cruising speed once you have made sure you have enough room around your car. To pass on the right, reverse the direction you turn the steering wheel at each step.

Turning is one of the most common acts you will perform as a driver. When you make a turn, you must communicate your intentions, proceed cautiously, and follow the proper procedure. Remember to reduce your speed to 10 mph and activate your turn signal by the time you are within 100 ft of the place you intend to turn.

Your sense of smell is useful for detecting problems with your car. For example: ◦The smell of burned plastic can signal an electrical problem ◦The smell of gasoline vapors when you can't get your car started can mean the engine is flooded ◦The odor of burning resin or acrid chemicals can signal that the clutch or brakes are overheated ◦A sweaty, steamy odor can indicate a coolant leak If you smell an unusual odor coming from your car, don't drive it until you've had the problem diagnosed and fixed. Your car may have a problem that makes it dangerous to drive.

Two other senses provide drivers with important information about the road surface, the position of their vehicles, and the conditions of its parts. ◦Your sense of touch, through your foot on the brake or accelerator pedal and hands on the steering wheel, gives you a feel for the forces impacting your car. ◦Your sense of kinesthesia helps you get a sense of your car's position on and motion across the road.

By the end of the 1970s, American citizens frustrated with the prevalence of drunk driving began organizing into action groups. The first of these grassroots organizations, formed in New York in 1978, called itself Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID). Their mission was to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking, to advocate for victims of drunk driving, and to promote the enactment and enforcement of effective DWI/DUI laws.

Two years later, in 1980, the nation saw the birth of perhaps the most prolific and well-known grassroots action groups against drunk driving: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). Its first mission statement was "To aid the victims of crimes performed by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to aid the families of such victims and to increase public awareness of the problem of drinking and drugged driving." Since then, its mission has expanded to include stopping drunk driving altogether, as well as preventing underage drinking.

*Check the area of the road where you're planning to turn *Remove your foot from the brake and accelerate gently *Steer your car towards the lane you're planning to enter *As you turn, stay as close as possible to the center line of the road *Position yourself in the left lane with the center line on your left *Straighten your steering wheel and accelerate gently until you reach normal speed *Check your mirrors *Deactivate your turn signal

Two-Way Road to One-Way Road When turning on to a one-way road from a two-way road, you should enter the one-way road in the left-most lane rather than to the right of the center line. Instead of entering the intersection to turn, begin this turn when you reach the crosswalk. Other than that, you should follow the same procedure as when turning on to a two-way road.

When a person becomes addicted to alcohol or a drug, he or she can become completely dependent on it and begin to crave it constantly. He or she feels compelled to acquire and abuse the drug, despite the personal harm and the harm to others his or her behavior will cause. Frequently, a drug addict will need to take increasingly powerful doses of a drug to satisfy the body's craving for the drug and to maintain the high that he or she desires. This not only increases the risk of harmful short- and long-term effects, but also further increases the user's dependence.

Ultimately, addicts don't behave in a way they would have considered rational before their addiction. Even in the face of the worst physical consequences, addicts are heedless in their pursuit of the next high. A drug addiction can cause you to lose sight or even to ignore potential symptoms of liver failure, heart failure, cancer, brain damage, and death. Consider these consequences before you start using alcohol or a drug. Otherwise, they may mean nothing to you when you should be worrying about them the most.

In addition, minors may legally be in possession of alcohol if it is in the scope of their job to handle alcohol (e.g. a waiter or grocery clerk). Minors are not, however, permitted to consume alcohol at their place of employment.

Under Texas law, you must be of a certain age to be employed in a position that requires you to handle alcohol: You must be 16 to sell beer or wine at a retail facility (e.g. a liquor or grocery store) where alcohol is not consumed. You must be 21 to sell spirits at a retail facility where alcohol is not consumed. You must be 18 to work as a server or bartender providing alcoholic beverages to customers at a restaurant or bar where alcohol is consumed.

Since 1995, Texas has had an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) law that allows a law enforcement agent to immediately suspend a drivers license for certain offenses related to driving while intoxicated. An officer can immediately suspend the license of a driver at least 21 years old if a chemical test shows that the driver's BAC is 0.08 or higher. Moreover, the license of a driver under 21 can be immediately suspended if there is any detectable amount of alcohol in his or her system.

Under Texas's Implied Consent law, when you operate a motor vehicle within the state you are deemed to have automatically given your consent to submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs. If a police officer stops you and requests that you submit to a chemical test, you must comply with this request. For an officer to stop you, he or she must have reasonable grounds to believe that you are intoxicated by alcohol or a drug while operating the motor vehicle. If your driving is erratic for any reason, you may be stopped by an officer and asked to submit to a chemical test.

According to the CDC Youth Behavior Surveillance report, published in 2012, 39% of high school students admitted to drinking in the 30 days prior to the survey. The potential for underreporting suggests that more than half of high school students may have actually consumed alcohol during this period.

Underage drinkers tend to engage in especially risky behaviors. Nearly 22% of high school students reported binge drinking in the last 30 days. More than 24% of high school students reported riding with a drunk driver in the same period A frighteningly large number of high school students, over 8%, reported driving drunk themselves in the past 30 days.

Be prepared at all times to put on a pair of sunglasses, use your vehicle's sun visors, or squint and look towards the nearest lane line to your right. Keep your windshield clean, both inside and out—dirty windshields illuminate and reflect light into your eyes. A map or other piece of paper placed on the dashboard can also cause a bright reflection when hit by sunlight or another vehicle's high-beams

Unfortunately, some parts of Texas are also susceptible to hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes—and flooding is possible almost everywhere. Earthquakes strike without warning and typically don't last very long, but they can be catastrophically disruptive to the road surface and to the flow of traffic. If you feel the earth shaking, pull over as soon as possible and wait. Park somewhere with nothing overhead, with no danger of landslides or collapses. You'll usually have warning before hurricanes or tornadoes strike. If you do, stay off the road entirely—and if one strikes suddenly, find appropriate shelter as soon as possible. Never attempt to drive through a hurricane or tornado.

Service brakes use a hydraulic system that requires brake fluid to transmit force to the brakes. Because brake fluid does not compress under pressure, it can be pushed through the brake lines to activate the brakes when you press the brake pedal. Brake fluid is usually stored in a reservoir in the engine compartment. Brake fluid levels should be checked periodically. You should refill the reservoir whenever the fluid levels run low. If you run out of hydraulic fluid, your brakes won't respond when you try to stop your car.

Unlike the service brake system, the parking brake relies on a cable rather than hydraulic fluid. When the parking brake is engaged, a steel cable attached to the rear wheel brakes is pulled tight, activating the brake shoes or brake pads. When the parking brake is released, the cable slackens and the brakes disengage. When service brakes fail, it is often because the roadway is not generating enough friction and the pressure of the brake fluid drops, causing the wheels to lock. In these situations, the parking brake can be used as an emergency brake.

Additionally, it's dangerous to try to operate a vehicle while handling a map, which can be physically awkward to deal with and difficult to read quickly. If you get lost and try to orient yourself while you're driving, you'll probably just stress yourself out more, and could end up in a collision. Before consulting a map, pull over to the side of the road. If you don't take your time finding a reliable route the first time, you may lose your way again. This is true whether you're using a fold-out map, your cell phone, or a GPS installed in your car.

Up Next: A Movie In a moment, you will watch a film on the dangers of texting and driving. Pay attention to the stories of the people you will see. None of them thought they would wreck their car while texting—they all believed that they could operate their car just fine. Right up until they lost control. We would like to thank AT&T for providing this film to help us teach young drivers about the dangers of texting while driving. You can find more resources provided by AT&T here, as well as a video of reactions of students who have just watched the movie you're about to see.

Avoid getting frustrated even if you're running late, stuck in traffic, or irritated by another person's disrespectful driving. Be patient when other drivers make mistakes. Remember, you're not the only person on the road. When you're stuck in traffic, so is everyone else around you, and they probably have places to be just as urgently as you. If you drive aggressively, you're likely to annoy other drivers who have managed to avoid becoming aggravated by the exact same situation.

Use the following strategies to avoid becoming aggravated on the road: Make sure the temperature inside your car isn't too hot, as this can make you quicker to anger, as well as cause drowsiness. Keep a light but firm grip on the steering wheel. You may make yourself feel more tense when you unconsciously grip the wheel tightly. Make sure you're not clenching your teeth, as this can also make you feel tenser. Listening to some of your favorite music at a safe volume can help take your mind off your emotions. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated, take some deep breaths. Even if you feel like you have to blow off some steam, remind yourself that it's wiser to remain calm as long as you're behind the wheel.

The NHTSA found that in 2011: Teenagers (between 15 and 19 years old) accounted for 305 (9%) of the 3,331 distracted driving deaths that occurred. 11% of all teens who died in collisions were killed in distracted driving crashes. 11% of drivers responsible for distracted driving deaths were teenagers.

Using your cell phone is one of the most dangerous things you can do while driving. Recent research suggests that: In 2011, 385 traffic fatalities (1% of all traffic fatalities and 12% of distracted driving fatalities) involved a driver using a cell phone. Using a hand-held or hands-free cell phone while driving will delay a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. Drivers using cell phones devote 37% less brain activity to the task of driving

The brake warning light indicates that the parking brake is set, or that brake fluid pressure is weak or lost. When the brake warning light illuminates, make sure your parking brake is released. If it's not, gently test your brake pedal. If there's little or no response, try pumping the pedal a few times to build pressure. If necessary, gently use your parking brake. Slow down, pull over, turn off your engine and call a mechanic.

Vehicles with antilock brakes have a separate ABS warning light that indicates when this system is malfunctioning. When the ABS warning light illuminates, be prepared to prevent skids while braking. Brake earlier and more gently than you would with active ABS. Pump the brakes if you feel your wheels locking up.

Weather patterns can also affect traffic. If you have any indication that weather might adversely affect conditions along your route, you should also check traffic reports.

Warning signs of imminent rainfall include dark clouds, increased wind, and a fine falling mist. It's particularly important to respond to these signs quickly because when rain first hits the surface of the road, it mixes with oils embedded in the surface and creates a very slippery film. Further rain will typically wash this oily mixture off the road's surface, but the rain itself still presents a danger to drivers.

Plan ahead for anticipated turns. You should always know ahead of time where you're going to turn, especially when driving in heavy traffic. Since it's frequently difficult to change lanes when the roads are crowded, plan to get into the proper lane two or three blocks in advance.

Watch for pedestrians near the roadway or in a crosswalk and be prepared to yield. When driving in an area where pedestrians are common, always be prepared to stop if someone enters the roadway. When turning left, dealing with pedestrians as well as cross traffic may require patience and caution, so be ready for anything!

The monotony of driving on an expressway can often lead to velocitation and highway hypnosis. -To avoid velocitation, check your speedometer regularly. Remember to reduce your speed when exiting the expressway. -To avoid becoming drowsy or dazed by highway hypnosis, be sure you keep your eyes moving, actively pay attention, and take frequent breaks from driving.

Watch for the following situations and adjust your speed appropriately: -Upcoming toll booths, immigration check points, or traffic breaks -Disabled vehicles on the road -Traffic congestion, especially near urban areas -Construction zones and road workers -Approaching emergency vehicles

Watch for things about to happen, like a person running into the street, a car door opening, or a swerving bicycle. By understanding the tendencies of other drivers, you'll be better able to predict how others will respond to upcoming situations on the roadway. ◦If you see a green light turning yellow, realize that the cars in front of you may soon be stopping. ◦If you see flashing crosswalk signs, look out for pedestrians hurrying across the street. ◦If a car is tailgating you, assume it could rear-end your car if you brake suddenly. ◦If the car ahead of you is tailgating the car ahead of it, then there is likely to be a rear-end collision. Give them extra space.

Watch for things about to happen, like a person running into the street, a car door opening, or a swerving bicycle. By understanding the tendencies of other drivers, you'll be better able to predict how others will respond to upcoming situations on the roadway. ◦If you see a green light turning yellow, realize that the cars in front of you may soon be stopping. ◦If you see flashing crosswalk signs, look out for pedestrians hurrying across the street. ◦If a car is tailgating you, assume it could rear-end your car if you brake suddenly. ◦If the car ahead of you is tailgating the car ahead of it, then there is likely to be a rear-end collision. Give them extra space.

Some antidepressants, such as Prozac and Zoloft, are a type of tranquilizer. They are primarily used to treat depression, anxiety, and some personality disorders. While they can be very helpful in certain circumstances, these antidepressants can also cause sexual dysfunction and further depression, and may increase suicidal tendencies. They also alter the body's metabolism of some other drugs, causing them to have stronger or weaker effects.

We discussed the effects of hallucinogens in a previous lesson. Recall that hallucinogens alter perceptive and emotional faculties. This class of drugs includes marijuana, psilocybe, LSD, mescaline, and PCP. Common side effects include anxiety, panic, loss of coordination, nausea, increased body temperature, delusions, and hallucinations. In the following slides, we'll provide more detail on the use and abuse of marijuana, the most widely used hallucinogen in the United States. We'll also discuss more generally dissociatives and the prototypical hallucinogens, which have importantly different effects.

To reduce risks while merging: -Make sure your signals are activated and continue signaling until you've completely merged with traffic. -Be sure you maintain a safe following distance with vehicles on the entrance and the expressway. -Watch for vehicles changing lanes at merge points. -Anticipate the actions of the driver entering ahead of you, as he or she may suddenly slow or stop.

Weave Lanes On some expressways, a Weave Lane is used by both entering and exiting traffic. In places where a weave lane is used, drivers enter and exit the expressway at the same location. Because multiple lanes of traffic must interact with each other on weave lanes, the potential for conflict is high. When entering an expressway on a weave lane, yield to drivers using the same weave lane to exit.

When to Communicate with Others Sometimes, the most appropriate response involves communicating with other road users. Use your horn or flash your lights to alert other drivers to your presence so you can avoid a collision. If you see a hazard or crash scene ahead, flash your brake lights to warn drivers behind you. Use your horn only when there is no other way to prevent a collision. It's always preferable to stop or steer away when you can do so safely, as another driver may not respond to your horn as you intended.

When Dealing with Multiple Hazards Sometimes there will be potential hazards everywhere you look on the road. You must learn to evaluate the relative amount of risk associated with each threat and give the most room to the worst danger. Avoid having to deal with multiple hazards at the same time by identifying hazards early, predicting potential hazards, and prioritizing the relative risk of each hazard. If you give yourself more time and space to evaluate the road, it will be easier for you to deal with each threat individually.

When Your Following Distance Should Be Increased Maintain a sufficient cushion around your vehicle to avoid being involved in a collision if you need to brake quickly. Prepare to adjust your position when: ◦Being tailgated ◦Driving on a slippery road or in poor visibility conditions ◦Transporting heavy cargo or pulling a trailer ◦Following a large vehicle that is harder to see around ◦Approaching a railroad crossing behind a bus or vehicle carrying hazardous materials ◦Approaching a curve or the crest of a hill ◦Merging onto an expressway

When Your Lane Position Should Be Adjusted Position your car so you have a safe amount of space on both sides. Select the lane position that gives you the most room to maneuver. Adjust your position when: ◦You're driving in the lane closest to the centerline on a multi-lane street ◦Traffic is entering your lane on the expressway ◦You're driving near a row of parked cars ◦You're sharing the road with a bicyclist ◦You're driving in a cluster of vehicles

When Your Escape Route Should Be Used As you evaluate the road, you should choose an escape route so you can avoid a collision if conditions change rapidly or you have to perform evasive maneuvers. This involves selecting an alternate path you can use if your chosen path is blocked. To select an escape route, find a 4- to 5-second gap in a lane adjacent to yours that you could safely enter in an emergency. Leave enough space all around your car so you can quickly enter your escape route if necessary.

When Your Speed Should Be Adjusted Often, the most appropriate response will involve adjusting your speed. Your speed should be adjusted when: ◦The posted speed limit is changing ahead ◦You're driving significantly faster or slower than the flow of traffic ◦There is heavy traffic on the road ◦The condition or traction of the road surface is changing ◦There are pedestrians and bicyclists near the roadway ◦Visibility is decreased due to weather conditions or the time of day

When you are backing into or out of a parking space, it's important to know where the rear of your vehicle ends so you know when to stop. When a curb or end of a parking space appears to intersect with the middle of your left rear window as you look back, the rear of your vehicle is 3-6 inches from it. Additionally, when you turn your head to the right to look back at the curb or line, it will seem to go across the right passenger window.

When a curb or line appears to intersect the rear of the right rear window, the rear of your vehicle is three feet from the line. Use this reference point when backing up around a corner so you know when to turn the steering wheel.

Passengers While the presence of passengers can often make driving easier, it can sometimes make you feel more pressured: You may feel compelled to show off by speeding or taking added risks. Passengers may try to attract your attention while you're trying to focus on the road. You may unconsciously act differently in the presence of friends or family members.

You may feel tenser in dangerous situations because you feel added responsibility for the safety of your passengers. Passengers may comment on the driving situation or second guess your decisions, increasing your anxiety, especially when you're already stressed by driving. Remember, you may not drive with more than one passenger under 21 until you've completed Phase Two of the Graduated Drivers License Program.

You can share the road with motorcyclists more safely by understanding motorcycle steering. To maneuver their vehicle, motorcyclists must counter-steer by leaning in the direction that they intend to move while turning their handlebars slightly in the opposite direction. By paying attention to where a motorcyclist is leaning, you can better anticipate where the rider is intending to go. You should not fully rely on a motorcycle's turn signals, as they are not self-cancelling and the rider may forget to deactivate them.

When a motorcyclist carries a passenger, it becomes more difficult to handle. With twice the load, the motorcycle requires more time to accelerate, slow down and perform other maneuvers. The operator must adjust his or her riding appropriately and may have even more difficulty responding to an emergency situation. Exercise extra caution when driving near a motorcycle that is being ridden by two people.

Always cooperate with law enforcement by pulling over whenever you are being followed by a police car with a bright red light shining at you from its roof or windshield. The lights on the top of the car may also be flashing, and the officer may attempt to communicate with you using a loudspeaker. Even if you don't believe you have committed a traffic violation, you must pull over.

When a peace officer indicates that you should pull over, you should: ◦Continue driving until you see a safe place to pull off the road ◦Stop to the right of the road, signaling when appropriate ◦Turn off your ignition, set your parking brake, activate your hazard lights, and open your passenger window ◦Turn on the interior lights of your car if stopped at night

While most traffic signals in Texas have the standard vertical configuration, with red lights on top and green lights on the bottom, some signals are designed to be posted horizontally. On these traffic signals, the red light will be displayed on the left and the green light will be displayed on the right.

When a traffic signal displays a green light, drivers may proceed through the intersection after checking to the left, right, and center of the road to make sure it is safe. If you are planning to turn left at an intersection where a solid green light is displayed, you must yield to all traffic moving in the opposite direction before making the turn.

The safest thing to do when other drivers are attempting to pass you, change lanes near you, or merge into your lane, is to yield the right-of-way. Don't try to speed up to prevent someone from entering your lane—they may already have decided to drive into your lane and stopped paying attention to your vehicle. Whenever it is safe, give other vehicles as much space as possible on the road.

When another driver begins passing you, be prepared for him or her to suddenly cancel the maneuver if an oncoming vehicle appears on the road. *If a vehicle stops trying to pass you and seeks to reenter your lane behind you, speed up if possible to give the driver sufficient space to reenter. *If it is impossible to speed up or if the driver chooses to proceed, brake or move to the shoulder of the road if necessary to protect the safety of other drivers.

In general, the speed limit in a construction zone is 45 mph on a highway and 20 mph in an urban area. Drive slowly through work areas to ensure your safety and the safety of road workers. Workers use orange signs, equipment, flags, and jackets to warn you of their presence. Don't drive too close to barricades and lane markers or knock them over. It will make the road more dangerous for other drivers.

When approaching a slow-moving vehicle, slow down. From a distance, you may misjudge its speed and need to slow or stop abruptly when you reach it. A line of cars may accumulate behind a slow-moving vehicle. Be patient and don't take unnecessary chances attempting to pass. Once the line of cars has grown large enough, the driver of the slow-moving vehicle should try to pull over to the side of the road to allow traffic to proceed.

Every tire is assigned grades according to the Uniform Tire Quality Grading system (UTQG) to help consumers make better choices. These ratings are indicated on the tire's sidewall. Treadwear ratings indicate how long a tire is expected to last. Tires are rated against a control tire assigned a grade of 100. A tire graded 200 should last twice as long as a tire graded 100. Traction ratings indicate how well a car can brake on wet roads. Tires can have a traction rating of AA, A, B, and C, with AA being the best and C the worst. Temperature ratings indicate how well a tire can endure extreme heat. Tires can have a temperature rating of A, B, and C. Tires rated "C" should not be used on very hot roads. The NHTSA has provided more information on tire ratings here.

When changing your tires, consult your owner's manual and ask for professional guidance to ensure that you choose the tires most suited for the kind of driving that you do. Use the information printed on the tire sidewall to help you find a tire that meets the manufacturer recommendations for your car. You should replace your tires when they become worn or cracked or when the tread depth is low. Generally, it's best to replace tires in sets of four.

-Intersection with traffic signals should be entered when the light is green and the intersection is clear of other traffic. Enter on a yellow light only if it's not safe for you to stop, and on a red light only if you're planning to make a permitted right or left turn. -Be prepared to stop or yield when approaching an uncontrolled intersection.

When coming to a stop at an intersection, your car should be positioned: -Behind the stop line, if one is present -Behind the nearest crosswalk line, if there's a painted crosswalk but no stop line -Behind an imaginary line that stretches between the curb corners to the drivers right and left if there's no painted road marking

-Delivery truck drivers loading and unloading cargo may walk into your path of travel. -Buses, including school buses, may stop to load and unload passengers. -Pedestrians approaching or leaving businesses or office buildings may step into the street to cross illegally. -Drivers can become distracted by the amount of road signs, road users, traffic signals, billboards, and activity on the sides of the road.

When covering the brake, be careful not to rest your foot on the brake pedal. This is known as riding the brake. Riding the brake can be dangerous because it will activate your brake lights. If you're not planning to stop, this can confuse other drivers and lead to collisions. Moreover, riding the brake pedal will add unnecessary wear to your brakes.

You can decrease the stress you feel behind wheel by adopting a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle. Learn to express your feelings in appropriate ways and calm yourself when you're feeling anxious. Share your ups and downs with a parent or close friend. By getting plenty of exercise, sleeping at least eight hours every night, eating properly, and liking who you are, you'll be better able to drive safely. Always decide on a route in advance so you can avoid situations likely to agitate you, especially if you're emotionally preoccupied.

When drivers let their emotions get the best of them, Aggressive Driving may be the result. It doesn't take much for a driver who is stressed or angry, or one who naturally has a negative disposition, to become an aggressive driver, especially if he or she is frustrated by the situation on the road or the actions of other drivers. Any deliberate and dangerous behavior motivated by impatience, annoyance, or hostility is considered aggressive driving.

It's important to avoid ice, but you may not always be able to see it. Black ice is a form of ice that develops very quickly, finishing smooth and almost completely clear. Black ice is often invisible from more than a few feet away. Prepare for this extremely treacherous form of ice by driving slowly at all times. Pay attention to the outside air temperature, and to road features like shadows and bridges.

When driving in consistently cold weather—with daytime temperatures near 45° F or lower—you should consider equipping your vehicle with snow tires. Regular, "all-weather" tires typically are made of a rubber compound that stiffens and provides less traction as it becomes colder. Snow tires are composed of a different type of rubber that performs best in cold temperatures, providing better handling and braking ability. In addition, snow tires typically use a tread pattern that cuts through snow, ice, and water more efficiently, increasing traction and reducing the risk of skids. You can recognize approved snow tires by a symbol depicting a snowflake on a mountain.

Before driving on an expressway, be sure your car is in good working order and that you have everything you may need: -Check your fuel level as well as your car's tires, lights, and fuel levels. -Make sure you have an emergency kit, a spare tire and tools for changing it, battery jumper cables, water, and snacks, as well as any weather-appropriate equipment. -If travelling with luggage, be sure to distribute the weight evenly, especially if you'll be driving up or downhill.

When driving on an expressway, always keep the following considerations in mind: -Be alert: Keep your eyes moving between several visual ranges and use your rearview and side mirrors constantly to check the traffic behind you. -Stay out of others' blind spots: Because drivers change lanes so often on expressways, it's especially dangerous to travel in a position where another driver can't see you. -Always allow plenty of room when passing

To drive safely, you must be able to notice many things at once and quickly identify situations that will require you to make adjustments. Move your eyes constantly to make sure you can analyze the road thoroughly. The length of time it takes a driver to identify a situation is called Perception Time. Perception time depends on visibility, the driver's physical condition, and the road situation.

When driving, you should choose a fixed object 12-20 seconds ahead of you on the road to be your Visual Target. This can be a traffic signal, a building, the crest of a hill, or a parked car. Your target should be an object ahead of you on the road that is in the center of your field of vision. Targeting encourages drivers to scan far ahead and focus their visual attention on the next point on the road.

Some warning lights indicate problems such as low battery power, low washer fluid, faulty brakes, and a defective air bag system. Generally, yellow lights provide warnings about potentially problematic situations with your car, while red lights indicate that it is dangerous to continue driving and you should pull over and stop your car immediately. Never disregard warning lights. They are activated by a computer system that constantly monitors the state of your vehicle. The computer system can detect problems before they are apparent to the driver. You can often avoid costly repairs by taking care of a problem as soon as it is indicated by a warning light.

When engine oil isn't circulating at the required pressure, the oil pressure light will activate. After stopping your car and letting the engine cool, check the oil levels with the dipstick, then add oil, if necessary. If the warning light remains lit when you restart the car after adding oil, turn off the engine and contact a mechanic immediately.

Expressway exits have two components: a deceleration lane and an exit ramp. -Use the deceleration lane to reduce your speed to merge with slower traffic on the roadway. An EXIT ---ONLY lane becomes a deceleration lane when it splits from the expressway. -The exit ramp connects the deceleration lane to the roadway. It may be curved, uphill, or downhill.

When exiting an expressway, watch out for these potential conflicts: -Drivers entering the expressway using a weave lane make it difficult for you to exit safely. -The exit ramp may curve sharply, requiring you to slow down to a speed as low as 5 mph. If you exceed the posted speed limit, you could lose control of your car, drive off the road, run into a wall, or get into a serious collision.

Bicyclists should: ◦Select a route appropriate for their skill and experience level ◦Never ride more than two abreast in a lane ◦Never weave around parked cars ◦Avoid manhole covers, painted stripes, potholes, and other surfaces likely to be slick or dangerous when riding in wet weather ◦Ride in a designated bike path when possible

When involved in a collision with an automobile, pedestrians are particularly vulnerable. As a driver, you must be especially watchful for pedestrians and yield to ensure the safety of pedestrians, even when you believe that you have the right-of-way. Your first priority as a driver must always be reducing the risk of injury and death—both to yourself and to others. Remember to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether or not the crosswalk is marked.

To recover safely when your car's right wheels have rolled off the road, you need to perform the following tasks: Hold your steering wheel firmly and continue to move straight ahead towards a safe target area. Relax pressure on the accelerator and slow down until you are moving about 5-10 mph. Avoid braking abruptly. Position your vehicle so that it straddles the edge of the roadway. Look for an appropriate place to get back on the roadway. You should find an area where the pavement and the shoulder are at about the same level. Check for traffic on the road and in your blind spot and activate your left turn signal.

When it is safe, start your off-road recovery by steering sharply left. The more severe the drop-off, the more you will have to slow down and turn sharply to get back on the pavement. As soon as your right front tire comes back onto the pavement, counter-steer sharply right to straighten your vehicle. Finally, position your car in the center of the lane, cancel your turn signal, and adjust your speed to the traffic flow. If traffic is heavy when you drive off the roadway, you should leave the roadway entirely and wait for a large gap in traffic before you start to reenter.

Frequently, a center left turn lane is the best way to turn left into a driveway or parking lot on the other side of the road. You can also use a center left turn lane to enter the roadway from a driveway. As you prepare to leave the driveway: -Signal that you intend to turn left and stop at the edge of the roadway -Check for drivers approaching from the right preparing or waiting to turn left -Identify a gap in traffic

When leaving a driveway or parking area, you may cross to the other side of the road and complete your turn without stopping in the left turn lane if there is a gap in traffic travelling in both directions. If there is no gap in traffic that would allow you to drive all the way across the roadway safely, you should: -Wait for a gap in the traffic in front of you approaching from the left. -Turn left into the left turn lane. -Stop inside the lane and activate your right turn signal. -When a gap appears in traffic approaching from the right, accelerate and steer into the traffic lane.

To exit an angle parking space: ◦Depress the brake pedal, activate the engine, release the parking brake, and signal the direction you intend to turn. ◦Check your mirrors and look over your shoulder for vehicle or pedestrian traffic. ◦Shift your transmission to reverse. ◦Back up in a straight line until the back of your seat is aligned with the rear bumper of the car next to you. ◦Turn your steering wheel slowly in the direction you want the back of your car to turn. ◦Once your front bumper has cleared the car opposite your turn, reverse your steering movement to straighten your wheels and shift the transmission to the appropriate forward gear.

When parking on a hill, you should set your transmission to: ◦Park if your car has an automatic transmission. This should keep the wheels from rolling even if the parking brake fails. ◦First Gear if facing uphill and Reverse if facing downhill if your car has a manual transmission. This ensures it will cause the fewest problems if it starts to roll. Remember, you must always set the parking brake and remove your key from the ignition when you park.

Before you start to pass, you must scan for hazards, check your blind spots, and identify a gap in front of the car ahead of you that you can occupy once you've passed it. Be ready to respond to a hazard or unexpected situation, such as: *The car you want to pass speeds up *An oncoming car is going too fast and you don't have enough room to pass *The road you are using to pass becomes unexpectedly restricted Only pass on a slippery or winding road if you can do so slowly and there's no oncoming traffic.

When passing: *Signal your intention to change lanes into the passing lane *Accelerate as you prepare to leave your lane so that you will be able to pass quickly *Watch for unexpected actions from the traffic around your car *Steer into the passing lane *Proceed forward at the same speed until you can see the car you're passing in your rearview mirror *Activate your right turn signal *Steer back into your original lane and deactivate your turn signals *Make sure you have enough space around your vehicle before you return to a safe cruising speed

Assess your vehicle's lights and other important systems. While sitting in the driver's seat with the ignition set to On, you should check: ◦Your headlights (low- and high-beam) ◦Your turn signals and brake lights ◦Your windshield wipers ◦Your heating and A/C system ◦Your emergency lights ◦Your dashboard indicators You may need another person to help you check your vehicle's external lights.

When performing an under-the-hood maintenance inspection, check the levels of: ◦Coolant: The fluid should be above the "cold" mark in the coolant container. If there is no coolant in the container, remove the radiator cap and check the level in the radiator. Remember never to do this when the engine is hot, so you will not get badly burned. ◦Motor oil: Pull out the dipstick, wipe it, insert it fully, and pull it out again to check the level of oil slick at the bottom of the gauge. If it is below the recommended level, add more oil.

When performing an under-the-hood maintenance inspection, check the levels of: ◦Windshield wiper fluid: Check the reservoir of fluid to make sure there is enough. You will have to add fluid more frequently in months when you use your wipers more. ◦Brake fluid, transmission fluid, clutch fluid, power steering fluid, etc.: Make sure that you have sufficient fluids for all the components in your car that use them.

When performing an under-the-hood maintenance inspection, check the levels of: ◦Windshield wiper fluid: Check the reservoir of fluid to make sure there is enough. You will have to add fluid more frequently in months when you use your wipers more. ◦Brake fluid, transmission fluid, clutch fluid, power steering fluid, etc.: Make sure that you have sufficient fluids for all the components in your car that use them.

Avoid Others Rather than Forcing Them to Avoid You You may realize that there's a potential hazard on the road before other drivers do. You should perform any action you can to decrease the possibility that you or another driver will get into a collision. Don't count on other drivers to keep you safe. Instead, do everything you can to protect yourself while avoiding actions that will increase the risk to other drivers.

When performing any maneuver, your primary responsibility is reducing the risk of a collision. That is why you should give up the right-of-way whenever it is necessary to avoid a collision. Yield: ◦Every time you're legally required to do so ◦Every time you're unsure whether you're legally required to do so ◦Every time another driver fails to yield the right-of-way appropriately

You may be able to avoid a rear-end or side-impact collision by speeding up and steering out of the way. In a rear-end collision, increase your speed to reduce the force of impact and make the damage less severe. In a side-impact collision, speed up or slow down to change the point of impact to your engine compartment or rear end, which will reduce damage to the passenger compartment. As long as it doesn't point you towards another danger like a cliff or oncoming traffic, steer away from the oncoming vehicle. This will reduce the force of impact and make the point of impact closer to the rear end.

When performing emergency maneuvers, your vehicle's traction and balance may be pushed to their limits. Remember that hard or sudden braking, as well as sharp steering, may lead to a loss of traction, causing you to lose control of your car. You must often brake to avoid a hazard, but steering is important, too. If you cause your vehicle to skid, there may be no way to avoid running straight into a hazard you could have avoided by steering. If your braking and road conditions cause you to enter a skid, remember how to respond: take your foot off the accelerator and the brake pedal, look and steer where you want the car to go, and make minor adjustments to prevent oversteering after recovering.

As a driver, you are also responsible for making sure your car is properly shut down when you are finished driving. If anyone is injured by your car because it was parked improperly, you will be held legally responsible. Always select a safe and legal parking spot. Your car should be parked somewhere that is visible, secure from break-ins, and not too close to other cars. If you are parking in a location where spaces are marked, make sure your car is completely inside the parking space. Click here to review the laws concerning parking in Texas.

When preparing to shut down your car, the first thing you should do once you've brought your car to a stop is set the parking brake so that you can make sure it is working properly. Set the parking brake while your right foot is still depressing the brake pedal. Once the parking brake is set, begin easing your right foot off of the brake pedal. If your parking brake is functioning properly, your car should remain stationary. Once you have confirmed that your parking brake works, reapply pressure to the brake pedal to finish parking your car.

The condition of the road itself changes in very important ways when rain begins to fall. These changes have drastic effects on your ability to accelerate, brake, and steer your vehicle. Water on the surface of the road reduces traction. Your vehicle's wheels will suffer a diminished ability to transfer engine power, braking power, and steering controls to the pavement.

When rain first begins to fall, it mixes with oils on the road surface and creates a slippery film that can easily cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Even when not mixed with oil, standing water resists forward movement and buoys your vehicle up and away from the road, further reducing traction. Many cars will begin to float in as little as one foot of standing water.

Hydroplaning is a more severe form of traction loss. When a wheel drives over a layer of water, it must push the water out of the way so that the rubber can gain traction against the road surface. When the wheel is spinning too fast and the tread fails to push water out of the way quickly enough, the wheel spins freely against the water without touching the road. This results in a severe loss of control.

When reacting to a loss of traction, early recognition of the emergency is crucial. The most intuitive way to detect a loss of traction is by road feel—the physical connection between your body and the car, and between the car and the road. When you begin to skid, you'll feel the difference in control. Overall, skids on dry pavement are typically easier to notice. They involve hard breaking, heavy acceleration, or turns taken too sharply or too fast. When you skid on dry pavement, you'll feel your tires scraping against the ground and sliding in an unexpected direction.

Awareness of the driving environment is extremely important when dealing with an emergency. Seeing hazards will help you avoid them, but seeing hazardous situations and understanding them will help far more. Scan the road and consider the most likely consequences of the conditions you observe. Prepare responses to possible situations: make room for motorcyclists passing you from behind; brake gently if a vehicle far ahead of you brakes suddenly; look for space in an adjacent lane if a vehicle ahead is broken down in your lane.

When responding to an emergency situation, change the way you handle your vehicle only just as much as is needed to safely avoid hazards. If you jerk your steering wheel to one side or slam on the brakes when it's not necessary, you may make the consequences much worse. When avoiding a head-on collision, always evade to the right unless you're sure that evading to the left is the only way to avoid the collision. If the other driver corrects his or her mistake, the vehicle will move to your left—so you don't want to move there. Further, if you successfully evade the other vehicle, you should try to end your maneuver in your own lanes of traffic rather than in opposing lanes.

To decrease the risk of rear wheel traction loss: ◦Make sure your rear tires have at least as much tread depth as your front tires. ◦Make sure you are driving with the correct amount of tire pressure. ◦If you only purchase two tires at a time, put the new tires on the rear axle and move the tires on the rear axle to the front.

When responding to rear wheel traction loss: ◦As you lose traction, continue looking towards your intended destination. Do not look towards the side of the road. ◦Ease your foot off of the brake or accelerator pedal so that your car's weight will become more balanced. Allow your car's wheels to roll and regain traction. ◦As your car rolls, it may travel away from your intended path. When the skid stops, your car's momentum will tend to shift in the opposite direction. Be prepared to steer appropriately in response. ◦Continue to steer cautiously until you have reentered your intended path. If you steer too sharply, the rear of your car may swing back and forth. ◦Accelerate gradually to transfer weight to the rear.

Skids and collisions are often the result of the deadly combination of speeding and the inability to control your car's balance: ◦If balance is shifted too quickly, the force of the weight transfer may be stronger than the force of traction between your wheels and the road, causing your car to skid. ◦If the force of traction resists the force of the weight transfer, your vehicle may roll over. A poor response to traction loss can cause a car to become dangerously unbalanced.

When the brakes are applied, weight is transferred to the front of a vehicle. If braking is hard, the hood will drop noticeably and the rear deck of the vehicle will rise. This is known as Forward Pitch. If you apply your brakes gradually while travelling in a straight line, weight will be distributed more evenly across all four wheels. However, if you apply your brakes abruptly, you may completely lose traction and directional control. Combined with the weight transfer, this situation can be extremely dangerous.

Crossing Ahead Warning signs may be posted in areas where a driver may encounter animals or other kinds of road users (e.g. handicapped pedestrians, children, bicycles, snowmobiles, or tractors). Drivers should slow down and be prepared for the kind of animal or road user indicated on the sign to enter the road unexpectedly. This sign indicates that deer frequently cross this area of the roadway.

When the figure on the sign is shown crossing over a pair of lines at the bottom of the sign, drivers should be prepared to encounter a designated crosswalk or crossing area for the indicated kind of animal or road user. This sign indicates that there is a pedestrian crosswalk ahead.

Intersections are especially dangerous places for two reasons. First, intersections are places where multiple streams of traffic come together. Second, intersections are the only places where pedestrians and drivers must share the same part of the road. To make these interactions safer, pedestrian signals are posted along with most traffic signals, especially in areas with large numbers of pedestrians.

When the word "WALK" or a symbol of a walking person is illuminated in white on a pedestrian signal, pedestrians facing that signal may proceed across the street. Pedestrian signals are generally coordinated with traffic signals so that pedestrians are not threatened by cross traffic. However, traffic that is turning may seek to enter a crosswalk that is being used by pedestrians. Pedestrians should watch for cars that are turning as they cross the street.

In fact, recent research has demonstrated that multitasking is a myth: "Human brains do not perform two tasks at the same time. Instead... brains can juggle tasks very rapidly, which leads us to erroneously believe we are doing two tasks at the same time. In reality, the brain is switching attention between tasks—performing only one task at a

When trying to focus on more than one activity, your brain may become overloaded by the need to process information from two or more sources. Moreover, whenever you switch between tasks, your brain must spend time and energy redirecting its attention rather than thinking. The more information your brain has to sort at once, the more likely you are to suffer "inattention blindness" and miss important clues about the condition of the road. To be a safe driver, you must develop the mental discipline to remain focused on a single task as long as you're on the

Large trucks are difficult to maneuver. It takes longer for drivers to turn, change lanes, and respond to hazards. On multi-lane roads, trucks will generally choose to drive in the center lane so that they don't interfere with local traffic entering and exiting the road. This lane also gives them more maneuvering options if they need to avoid a dangerous situation.

When vehicles turn, their rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels. The longer the vehicle is, the greater this effect, which is known as off-tracking. As a result, large trucks must swing wide whenever they want to make a turn. Large trucks must often enter the wrong side of the roadway for a brief period when turning. If you are approaching an intersection that a truck is entering from the opposite direction, check its signals. If the driver is turning, wait until the truck has completed the maneuver to enter the intersection.

As you become addicted to alcohol or a drug, your personality will begin to change and your priorities will shift, possibly without you even realizing it. Things you once thought important, like your family, your performance at school, or your career goals, will seem meaningless as cravings for alcohol come to occupy your thoughts. You may even come to feel that getting drunk or high is more important than eating, sleeping, bathing, or taking care of yourself. You could end up so indifferent to your own health that you end up gravely ill—or even dead.

When you abuse alcohol or drugs, you can become selfish, egotistical, irritable, or angry about your life and everything around you. You'll find it more difficult to control your moods and emotions and may do self-destructive things you wouldn't normally have done. Eventually, friends and family may find it difficult to recognize who you are and distance themselves from you. Even if they try to help you, you may become defensive and further alienate yourself. You'll tell yourself you don't care, and drink more to make up for the relationships you've lost.

Passing is prohibited as you approach a railroad crossing. If another car is stopped at a railroad crossing, the law and common sense both tell you to stop until the car ahead of you proceeds. Buses, school buses, and vehicles carrying hazardous material are required to stop at railroad tracks even when no train is approaching. If you are driving behind one of these vehicles, be prepared to stop.

When you approach a crossing, slow down, open your windows, and listen for a train, as trains must signal 1500 ft before they arrive at a crossing. Scan the area around the tracks and drive especially cautiously if your line of sight is obstructed.

There is certain information that you and any other drivers involved in a collision must share with the police and each other, including: ◦Your names ◦Your addresses ◦Your drivers license numbers ◦Your license plate numbers ◦The names and addresses of your insurance companies Also note the names and addresses of any passengers involved in the collision, as well as where they were sitting and the extent of their injuries.

When you are involved in a collision that has resulted in injury, death, or property damage of at least $1,000, you must report the collision to the DPS within 10 days of the event. If an officer visits the scene of the collision, he or she will file a report with the DPS that fulfills this requirement. If you don't file a report within 10 days of the collision, you may be fined up to $500.

No one expects to get into a collision when they get on the road, yet hundreds of collisions happen every day. The chances are good that eventually you'll be involved in a collision, too. If you're involved in a collision, don't panic. While shock and anxiety are natural responses, you must remain calm until the immediate situation has been resolved. You could make the situation worse if you are unable to think clearly. Moreover, you may be less prepared to complete the tasks you are legally required to perform in a collision.

When you are involved in a collision, the first thing you must always do is stop immediately. Failure to stop is a serious offense. You may be charged with a hit-and-run. Immediately following a collision, move your vehicle to the side of the road away from the flow of traffic unless it is so damaged that it is impossible to move. Turn off the engine. Once you have safely stopped the vehicle, exit your car cautiously to identify yourself to all parties involved and aid anyone injured in the collision.

The kinetic energy of an object is determined by Newton's second law of motion. That means that the kinetic energy of your vehicle is affected both by the weight and by the speed of your vehicle. However, the speed of the vehicle has a more significant effect than the weight: the rate at which an object's kinetic energy increases is proportional to the square of its speed. ◦If Car A and Car B are travelling at the same speed, but Car A is twice as heavy as Car B, then Car A will have twice as much kinetic energy as Car B. ◦If Car A is the same weight as Car B, but Car A is travelling at twice the speed as Car B, then Car A will have four times as much kinetic energy as Car B.

When you brake your car, you aren't overcoming its speed, but rather its kinetic energy. This is a very important distinction: since your car's kinetic energy is proportional to the square of its speed, its stopping distance when you brake will be squared as well. ◦If you're driving at 30 mph on dry pavement, it will take your car 45 ft to stop when you apply the brakes. ◦If you're driving twice as fast, 60 mph, it will take your car four times the distance—180 ft—to stop.

Being a safe driver requires you to employ a large number of safe driving strategies. In order to reduce risk, you must be able to: Remember to wear your seat belt, keep your headlights on, follow all applicable traffic laws and traffic control devices, and maintain a safe distance from other road users Apply defensive driving strategies such as adjusting your speed for conditions, keeping your hands at the 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 positions of your steering wheel, positioning your vehicle to maximize your visibility, and employing a space management system Pay attention to the maintenance of your vehicle, road, weather and traffic conditions, the actions of other people using the road, and your own physical and mental fitness to drive

When you consume alcohol, you'll be less able to perform the tasks required of you as a driver and less likely to remember your responsibility to reduce risk. For instance, intoxicated drivers tend to forget to perform even the most basic tasks like turning on or dimming their headlights, activating their turn signals, or fastening their seat belt. As a result, they're more likely to be involved in a collision, and more likely to be seriously injured as a result.

Even small amounts of alcohol can degrade your psychological fitness to drive. Your judgment and reasoning, awareness and comprehension of the road, concentration, coordination, and reaction time will all be harmed if there's alcohol in your system. Even if your motor skills and ability to search and evaluate the road were not compromised, alcohol's effect on your decision-making skills would be enough to make you a dangerous driver. If your ability to identify and choose to execute the safest action is impaired, you won't even realize when you're putting lives—even your own life—in danger!

When you drink, you're more likely to: Underestimate the degree of risk in your actions and disregard the physical laws that govern driving Overestimate your own abilities and the capabilities of your own vehicle while refusing to accept responsibility for your own bad decisions React to your emotions rather than consider the consequences of your decisions Become distracted by passengers, devices in your car, or a situation on the road

Effects on Your Nervous System Like other drugs, alcohol acts primarily on the nervous system. The nervous system coordinates numerous bodily functions by sending signals from one cell to another or from one region of the body to another. For instance, the brain sends signals to the heart that regulate when it beats. The nervous system coordinates functions such as digestion, muscle control, liver function, sleep, vision, and taste. That means that when alcohol depresses your nervous system, it will affect the way the entire body works.

When you drink, your nervous system's ability to facilitate communication between organs will slow down, making your body like a marionette with loose strings. Not only will your movements be more clumsy and sluggish, but you'll also be less sensitive to pain and may not react quickly enough if you're harmed. Additionally, because of how it affects your nervous system, alcohol will make you sleepy. However, your sleep will be restless and may be interrupted in the middle of the night.

Your car's frame, body, engine, and transmission are suspended above the wheels by a system of springs known as the suspension system. The suspension system keeps the vehicle stable and allows the wheels to maintain contact with the road while rising and falling independently of the rest of the car. Your suspension system may need to be checked if your car does not appear to be level when it is parked or bounces more than usual when you drive. Uneven tire wear can also be a sign of suspension problems.

When you drive over a road, irregularities like debris and potholes can jar the car up and down, causing the wheels to lose contact with the road and come slamming down. Springs in the suspension system absorb this up-and-down movement so the wheels can follow the road without affecting the whole body of the car. However, springs alone would cause the car to bounce and sway every time they absorbed the energy of a bump. In order to improve the comfort of people in the car, shock absorbers are installed to reduce this effect.

Aggressive drivers are more likely to ignore right-of-way rules that require them to yield to someone else. Rather than anticipating the need to stop and slowing gradually, these drivers would rather endanger others and force them to stop suddenly. Aggressive drivers are especially likely to disregard pedestrians and bicyclists since they know that vulnerable road users are more endangered by the threat of a collision and will have no choice but to get out of their way.

When you encounter an aggressive driver, you must not take his or her actions personally, even if they're directed at you. Aggressive drivers are reacting to their own bad moods, and there's nothing you can do that will make them start thinking clearly. Ultimately, the only driver you're responsible for is yourself. Don't challenge an aggressive driver. Instead, treat him or her as just another hazard on the road to be avoided.

Because of the amount of time it takes to bring a car to a stop, you should always drive with a safe distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. In general, you need to establish a following distance of three seconds to be safe. You can determine your following distance by watching as the car ahead of you passes a landmark on the road, and then counting the number of seconds it takes you to reach the same landmark. As your speed increases, this distance will also increase.

When you encounter another driver who is speeding, let him or her pass you. Do not honk at, chase, or try to block a speeding vehicle—you may cause a wreck, or enrage the speeding driver. If you can, have a passenger call the police or Highway Patrol to report the speeding driver. His or her behavior increases risk for every other driver on the road.

A large impulse can be very deadly, which is why braking, air bags, and crumple zones on your vehicle all increase crash safety. When you brake, or impact an air bag, or come to a stop more slowly as the front or rear of your vehicle collapses, the impulse of your collision is reduced. For this reason, side-impact crashes are often more deadly to occupants than head-on or rear-end collisions. Front and rear crumple zones slow down the impact, but a strike against a vehicle's door or B-pillar transmits the force of impact over much less time. Keep this in mind when a possible collision is imminent.

When you enter a turn or a curve, your car's inertia tries to keep it moving in a straight line, while the angle of your wheels causes friction that tries to move it towards the curve. These are called centrifugal and centripetal forces. When you enter a curve, you balance centripetal force (driving into the curve) against centrifugal force (being pulled out of the curve). An imbalance in these forces will cause you to leave your lane.

running late

When you get a late start and you're under pressure to get to school or work on time, it's natural to try to make up the time on the way. If you feel rushed, remind yourself that the consequences for arriving late will never be as bad as the consequences of a deadly collision. Don't speed, cut corners, or weave through traffic when you're running late. At best, you'll only save a few minutes anyway. Since you're already going to be late, you might as well relax and enjoy the ride.

You will never be able to bring your car to a stop the moment you realize you need to. Four factors influence how long it takes to stop: ◦Perception time: How long it takes you to notice a potentially hazardous situation and identify it as such ◦Decision-making time: How long it takes you to figure out the proper way to respond ◦Reaction time: How long it takes you to execute the decision ◦Braking time: How long it takes for the vehicle to come to a stop once the brakes have been applied Even when you and the driving environment are both in the ideal condition for driving, it will take you at least one and a half seconds simply to decide to stop and apply your brakes. If you're distracted for even half a second, a collision becomes twice as likely.

When you need to slow your vehicle in a deliberate manner, such as when entering a construction zone, apply steady pressure to your brakes until you reach the desired speed. This is known as controlled braking. ◦Threshold braking transfers weight to the front of the car, increasing traction. To stop more quickly and turn more accurately, apply as much pressure to the brakes as you can without causing them to lock up. However, you must ease up on the brakes after applying maximum pressure to prevent your wheels from locking

Always park or stop your vehicle in a designated parking space rather than on any other paved part of the roadway. However, if you must stop in a place where there is no safe, designated place to park (such as a highway or expressway), you must: *Make sure other drivers will have plenty of space to pass *Make sure your vehicle can be seen for at least 200 ft in each direction *Activate your parking lights or low-beam headlights in low visibility conditions

When you park on a hill or other incline (such as a sloping driveway), there is the chance that your car will roll down the hill even if you apply your parking brake before you leave the vehicle. If your car rolls out of its spot, it could cause property damage, injure pedestrians, or even cause a collision with another car or cars. You may be held legally and financially responsible for any damages that result because your car was not properly parked on a hill.

Use the following strategies to avoid becoming aggravated on the road: Make sure the temperature inside your car isn't too hot, as this can make you quicker to anger, as well as cause drowsiness. Keep a light but firm grip on the steering wheel. You may make yourself feel more tense when you unconsciously grip the wheel tightly. Make sure you're not clenching your teeth, as this can also make you feel tenser. Listening to some of your favorite music at a safe volume can help take your mind off your emotions. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated, take some deep breaths. Even if you feel like you have to blow off some steam, remind yourself that it's wiser to remain calm as long as you're behind the wheel.

When you see a driver who appears to be tense or agitated, treat him or her with extra courtesy rather than react out of irritation. If a flustered driver wants to enter your lane, give him or her plenty of space. A single act of courtesy is often enough to remind other drivers that nobody's out to get them and that they also have an obligation to drive safely. Moreover, by helping a driver who's more anxious than you are, you can feel better about yourself and take your mind off your own frustrations.

The road may become damp and slippery in fog, reducing traction. Pay attention to the feel of your car's grip on the road. Other drivers may behave very differently. Some may pull off the road and stop, some may drive very slowly, and some may drive the speed limit. Some drivers may even become confused and drive against the flow of traffic. The air often becomes much dimmer in fog, presenting many of the same challenges as driving in darkness.

When you see fog, slow down and increase following distance. Drive in the center of your lane and maneuver gently to avoiding losing control. Keep track of lane lines to prevent yourself from straying outside them. If water forms on the outside of your windshield, activate your wipers. Turn on your low-beam headlights as soon as you enter fog—high-beams will only illuminate the fog, making it more difficult to see. In areas with particularly poor visibility, turn off any music and roll down your windows to listen for nearby vehicles.

One reason that underage drinking is such a significant problem is that people think it's more normal than it actually is, causing them to feel more pressure to drink in social situations. A study conducted at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill found that: Students and others greatly overestimate the amount of drinking on college campuses. These overestimates lead people to mistakenly conclude that frequent and excessive drinking is normal on campuses. The belief that "everyone" drinks increases the pressure students feel to consume alcohol. Don't fool yourself into thinking that underage drinking is normal. If you do, you could end up regretting your decision for the rest of your life.

When you take your first drink, you should recognize that you could be embarking on a long, downhill journey towards alcohol abuse. While getting too drunk or being cited for illegal alcohol use once isn't usually considered abuse, once you start down that road, you may find it hard to turn around. You should realize that, before you turn 21, any time you consume any quantity of alcohol it is considered abuse. Don't drink until you're physically and emotionally prepared to handle the effects of alcohol!

The electricity needed to power many of the devices in your car, including the lights, dashboard indicators, and computer systems, is produced, stored, and distributed by an elaborate system of circuitry and electrical components. Your vehicle's primary source of electrical power is the battery. The battery supplies the electricity needed to start the engine and used to run auxiliary devices such as vehicle lights and the stereo system when the engine is off.

When you turn your key in the ignition switch, the battery sends energy to activate the starter motor. The starter motor sets the engine in motion and activates a sparkplug to ignite fuel in the combustion chambers, bringing the vehicle to life. In cars that rely on a traditional internal combustion system, the engine does not need additional electricity once it has been set in motion. However, starting your car requires more electricity than any other task.

To ensure your safety on the road, your concentration must be focused exclusively on driving. Emotional distraction can impair your driving as much as a physical impairment, fatigue, or intoxication. Avoid driving when you are: Emotionally distressed by a personal or professional situation Experiencing a high degree of tension or anxiety Unable to focus your attention on situations relevant to driving More susceptible to losing focus when emotional due to inexperience

When you're experiencing intense emotions, you're more likely to respond drastically to a situation. If you enter your car angry, you may respond more aggressively when you encounter frustrating behaviors or conditions on the road. If you enter your car anxious, you may hesitate to act or be excessively cautious, confusing and frustrating other drivers. If you enter your car bubbling over with enthusiasm, you may not drive with the necessary amount of caution and may see your actions as less risky than they are.

Your car's kinetic energy increases as weight increases, and increases with the square of speed. If you slam on the brakes or crash into a wall, your car must absorb energy equal to its kinetic energy before coming to a stop. Importantly, this means that stopping distance and force of impact increase with the square of speed. Driving at an appropriate speed, and slowing down as soon as you see hazards ahead, are some of the most effective actions you can take to increase maneuverability and reduce crash severity. Remember: stopping distance at 50 mph is four times that at 25 mph, and a crash at 75 mph has nine times the force of impact of a crash at 25 mph

When your car expends or absorbs energy to speed up or slow down, you may feel a pull or a jolt, called impulse. Impulse increases as the energy or force increases, and increases as the duration of the force decreases. You'll feel a harder jolt if you speed up or slow down suddenly. Consider: coming to a stop from 60 mph in ten seconds doesn't hurt you or your vehicle because the force of this event is spread out over a long time. But if you hit a wall and come to a stop in just half a second, you'll feel twenty times the impulse, causing severe damage.

Effects on Your Motor Skills When most people reflect on how the brain works, they think of its control over our intellectual and reasoning abilities, while generally ignoring its effects on our motor skills. In fact, the brain coordinates your thoughts, your perceptions, and your movements, allowing you to respond quickly when you notice the need to do so. Good motor skills are essential when you're responding to emerging situations in the constantly changing driving environment. If you've been drinking, your motor skills won't be good enough to keep you safe.

When you're intoxicated, it will be harder to control your car. Alcohol disrupts your coordination: Because it will take more mental effort to get your muscles to respond to commands, the more you drink, the harder it will become to perform even simple feats like turning a doorknob, walking in a straight line, and standing still. Eventually, you may not even be able to pick yourself up off the floor. Alcohol slows down your reaction time: When you drink, it will take your brain longer to see something, longer to understand it, longer to relate it to your current situation, and longer to determine how to respond to it. By the time you get to the end of this process, you may have forgotten what you we're dealing with in the first place—or worse, you may have already crashed.

Vulnerable Road Users You should be especially cautious around pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals because they are more vulnerable than other roadway users. ◦Slow down and prepare to yield when driving in areas where pedestrians may suddenly enter the road. School zones, playgrounds, bus stops, business and residential neighborhoods. ◦Watch for bicyclists approaching along the right side of the roadway. ◦When you see construction or emergency workers on the road, slow down. Be prepared to pull over, adjust your driving, or take a detour.

When you're riding as a passenger with other drivers, practice looking at the place where the vehicle will be 10 to 15 seconds in the future. Be attentive to what you observe, like a green light turning yellow, flashing crosswalk signs, or a potential hazard in the road. Consider what situations are most likely to result in a conflict or collision. Think about how you would adjust your own driving if you were behind the wheel. If the driver acts differently than you expect, ask him or her to explain his or her decision.

Fatigue can have significant effects on your ability to process and respond to situations in the driving environment. For one thing, you'll find it harder to concentrate on the driving task, so you won't see signs of danger fast enough to avoid a collision. Your mind is likely to wander or even to lose track of what you're currently doing.

When you're tired, you'll have a harder time forming new memories and it will take you longer to recognize changing conditions or a new situation on the road. As a result, it will be harder for you to form a big picture of the road and remember what's going on around you. One of the most potentially dangerous symptoms of fatigue is a loss of judgment. A fatigued driver may attempt to take shortcuts, fail to recognize the risks of his or her actions, or even be unable to realize how close he or she is to falling asleep at the wheel.

Look at this picture as though you were a driver approaching the intersection. Try to memorize the details.

When your brain is forced to filter information due to overload, you won't be aware of the information that's been filtered out. Information won't be stored in your memory and you'll miss critical information about potential hazards. Look at the picture again. Certain details in this version have been omitted. Did you notice them? This is the kind of information you might easily miss if you're thinking about something other than driving.

Effects on Your Pulmonary System Also known as the respiratory system, the pulmonary system is responsible for getting oxygen into your blood and getting carbon dioxide out of it. The main organs in the pulmonary system are the lungs, while other components include the nose and mouth, the trachea, the bronchial tubes, and the diaphragm. The functioning of these organs is impaired by alcohol. Alcohol slows down your respiration, reducing the amount of oxygen that enters your bloodstream.

When your organs don't receive enough oxygen, they begin to shut down. The brain, already impaired by alcohol, will be further damaged by the lack of oxygen. Moreover, the kidneys and liver will become less efficient at removing alcohol from your blood, meaning that the effects of alcohol will become even more pronounced. Eventually, your pulmonary system can become so disrupted that you may find it difficult to breathe. If you stop breathing, you will die.

Multitasking can be done successfully as long as you follow certain rules for operating your vehicle and controlling its movements. By learning and practicing these procedures, they'll eventually become automatic habits. Familiarize yourself with the position and function of the controls in your car so you can use them without taking your eyes off the road or diverting your attention from the task of driving for more than a moment.

Whenever you have to look away from the roadway (e.g. to look behind you or check your speedometer), scan the road ahead of you and to your sides before and after you take your eyes off the road. Adjust your driving for any potential hazards that may emerge while you are looking elsewhere, such as: Vehicles ahead that have slowed down suddenly Vehicles to your sides changing lanes or merging into your lane Motorcyclists riding in your lane trying to pass you Careless pedestrians that begin crossing your path in the middle of the block

When you drive, leave your phone off so you're not tempted to use it except when absolutely necessary. If someone calls you about something important, they can leave a message. A true friend will understand that getting to your destination safely takes priority over a conversation you could have at any time. If you must use your cell phone, find a safe place to park before placing or taking a call. By taking a short break from driving, you can refresh your attention and motor control while you have your conversation.

While all distractions can endanger a driver's safety, texting can be particularly dangerous because it involves visual, manual, and cognitive distraction. Texting while driving is a national epidemic and considered as dangerous as drunk driving. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), in 2008, an estimated 200,000 crashes involved texting or e-mailing.

Because of the way your nerves are affected by alcohol, when you've been drinking, you won't be able to make appropriate decisions and react quickly to unfolding situations. Consider the ways alcohol increases your reaction time: Weakened memory makes it difficult to anticipate turns, red lights, and other normal driving situations. Poor vision makes you unaware of your surroundings, sometimes causing you to fail to react to an important hazard. Slower understanding and reasoning causes you to make decisions like when to apply the brake much more slowly. Poor muscle control and physical coordination makes you unable to act on your decisions with normal speed and accuracy.

Whether they're conscious of it or not, many drinkers change their behavior according the situation they're in and the environment where they're drinking. They may act more relaxed and sloppy, or more aggressive and compulsive. The effects of intoxication can vary from person to person and from situation to situation. When you drink in a large group or with other underage drinkers, you may become more prone to reckless behavior, while if you drink alone, you may quickly become depressed.

Nevertheless, a recent survey found that 40% of U.S. drivers between 18 and 29 years old reported that they talk on their cell phones "regularly" or "fairly often" while driving. Additionally, 75% of these drivers reported talking on the cell phone while driving at least once in the past 30 days. You may think your cell phone is indispensable, but it's not. Ignoring your phone while driving is an extremely important part of being a safe driver.

Whether you're reaching for your phone, dialing a number, or having a chat, you're not focusing on driving. Even if you don't have to turn your eyes away from the road, your ability to monitor your surroundings, seek and identify potential hazards, and respond to unexpected situations effectively may be lessened. Conversing takes up considerable mental resources. In a conversation, you have to form and articulate your thoughts, listen to what another person is saying, and remember what you've already talked about and what you still want to say.

Effects on Your Vision Alcohol hampers your vision greatly, making it harder to perceive things in detail and causing you to be more detached from your surroundings. Alcohol disrupts the mechanisms that allow you to see: The ability of the eyes to move in their sockets and scan the field of vision The ability of the pupils to expand and contract, letting in an appropriate amount of light The ability of the corneas and the lenses to focus and render objects clearly

While alcohol's effects are particularly pronounced in the brain, since it circulates in your blood it impacts every organ in your body. Even in the short term, alcohol can seriously disrupt how your body functions. The human body treats alcohol as a poison. Your liver does its best to break down alcohol molecules, while your kidneys remove it from your blood as fast as they can. Unfortunately, your body can't filter alcohol fast enough to protect your organs completely. In addition, the process of filtering alcohol can damage your liver and your kidneys permanently.

The Effects of Higher BACs In addition to the other effects we've just discuss, you'll face additional impairment the more intoxicated you become. With a 0.20% BAC, you'll experience a loss of alertness and an onset of drowsiness and lethargy. With a 0.30% BAC, you'll fall into a stupor and risk falling into a comatose state. With a 0.40% BAC, you'll be at risk of death caused by suppressed respiration or an erratic heartbeat. With a 0.50% BAC, breathing and heart functions can become so depressed that they cease and death from alcohol poisoning becomes very likely. A male who weighs 150 lbs and consumes twelve drinks in the span of two hours can increase his BAC to 0.50%.

While any level of intoxication can increase the chances of a fatal collision, drivers who are over the legal BAC limit are especially at risk of dying in a crash. According to the NHTSA, 85% of the drivers involved in a collision after consuming some amount of alcohol had a BAC of 0.08% or higher, while 57% had a BAC of 0.15% or higher. Indeed, a BAC of 0.15% increases a driver's chances of causing a fatal collision by more than 300 times.

Turn the wheel to the right until your right hand approaches 4:00 or 5:00. ◦Let go of the wheel with your right hand while continuing to turn the wheel with your left. ◦Pass your right arm over your left arm. Use it to grasp the top of the wheel. ◦Let go of the wheel with your left hand when it reaches 4:00 or 5:00. Use it to grasp the top of the wheel. ◦Continue until the turn is complete. Reverse this process to return to a straight path or when turning left.

While hand-over-hand steering allows you to make sharp turns more quickly, it is usually not sufficient for making evasive maneuvers in emergency situations. If you need to steer rapidly and abruptly to avoid an imminent threat: ◦Grip the steering wheel with both hands in the standard positions ◦Without letting go of the wheel with either hand, quickly turn it in the direction you wish to go (up to 180 degrees at speeds under 45 mph; up to 90 degrees at speeds over 45 mph) to direct your car into the adjacent lane ◦Immediately countersteer in the opposite direction (up to 360 degrees) to position the back of your car in the lane ◦Return the wheel to the neutral position to stabilize your car.

Blankets are useful when your vehicle breaks down at night or on a cold day. A change of clothes will be very helpful if you have to exit a disabled vehicle in the rain. A flashlight is indispensable when stranded in a dark area. Towels are useful for drying things off, cleaning up dirt, and keeping people warm.

While it's possible for adverse conditions to strike unexpectedly, you can usually gain advance notice before getting on the road. Keep abreast of local weather patterns, and check weather reports whenever you're unsure of what to expect. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website is one of many resources that can help you determine likely weather conditions along your route.

Just as it can adversely affect the physical and mental skills you need to perform the various tasks that go into driving safely, alcohol can also have a negative effect on your mood. If you've been drinking, it may be impossible for you to maintain a positive driving attitude. Remember, when you're behind the wheel, you must be able to devote your full attention to the task of driving. If you're already feeling stressed or tired, alcohol will only make you more sensitive to your problems and completely eliminate any chance you had of driving safely.

While the physical effects of alcohol are relatively consistent, drinking can alter different people's moods in radically different ways. Alcohol's effects on mood and emotion can be influenced by: Personality: Alcohol will affect outgoing people, shy people, competitive people, reckless people, and other types of people differently. Mood: The mood a person is in when he or she starts drinking will affect how he or she responds to alcohol. For instance, anger affects the same part of the brain as alcohol, so if you drink when you're angry, you'll feel both your anger and the effects of alcohol more strongly.

While you're a novice, every driving task will take more time and concentration to perform than it will once you've acquired experience. Moreover, teens generally don't have the mental discipline needed to avoid becoming distracted by irrelevant situations. As a result, teen drivers are almost twice as endangered by distracted driving as are drivers in general. According to the NHTSA, in 2011: Among all licensed drivers, 15 out of every million were involved in a fatal distracted driving collision. Among licensed teenage drivers, 25 out of every million were involved in a fatal distracted driving collision.

While you're a novice, every driving task will take more time and concentration to perform than it will once you've acquired experience. Moreover, teens generally don't have the mental discipline needed to avoid becoming distracted by irrelevant situations. As a result, teen drivers are almost twice as endangered by distracted driving as are drivers in general. According to the NHTSA, in 2011: Among all licensed drivers, 15 out of every million were involved in a fatal distracted driving collision. Among licensed teenage drivers, 25 out of every million were involved in a fatal distracted driving collision.

Your friends and family care about you, but you run the risk of alienating them if you abuse alcohol or become addicted to drugs. At first, your best friends and your closest family members may try to help you get rid of an addiction. But despite their help and encouragement, and despite the fact that your body will be steadily deteriorating, you may not even want to stop. Ultimately, it will be your responsibility to get sober. If your friends and family think that it's impossible to get through to you, they may eventually give up trying.

While you're high or intoxicated, you'll function at a low capacity. Your personality and behavior will change in any number of ways—you may become irritable, inarticulate, nonresponsive, aggressive, compulsive, or loud. People addicted to alcohol or drugs are often unable to keep appointments, carry on conversations, maintain personal hygiene, behave ethically, or give proper attention to those they care about.

Remember that fatigue can cause impairment similar to what you'd experience when drunk or drugged. If you fall asleep, there's nothing to stop you from driving into oncoming traffic at 90 mph. But even if you stay awake, your judgment, focus and reaction time will be decreased—you won't be fit to deal with the increased dangers of driving at night. Next we'll discuss the causes of fatigue, as well as warning signs, myths, and coping mechanisms. This information may save your life one day.

You may become fatigued while driving if: You haven't had enough sleep You recently expended a lot of physical or mental energy You're driving for a long period of time or in a monotonous environment You're under stress You're ill or medicated You've just had a large meal Your vehicle is very warm

Leaks in your fuel system can cause fires or expose you to toxic gases. These leaks can occur in the fuel tank, fuel lines, and fuel pump, as well as in the carburetor or fuel injector. Leaks can even occur if you fail to securely reattach the cap to the fuel tank after you refill your gas It is extremely dangerous to drive a car with a fuel leak. If you can smell gasoline in the cabin after filling up, you should get out of the car and have a maintenance technician check it for leaks.

While your engine is powered by fuel, motor oil is what keeps it running. Oil provides lubrication for the hundreds of moving parts in your engine, such as like the pistons, crankshaft, and camshafts, helping to minimize wear by ensuring they don't grind against each other. As it lubricates, motor oil also cools and cleans debris from the parts, improving the performance of the engine.

Farm and Livestock Crossing Areas Look out for farm animals and slow-moving farm equipment like tractors and farm trucks in rural areas. If you encounter a herd of animals on a highway, stop and let the animals cross. Once they're gone, proceed with caution.

Wildlife Crossing Areas Watch for yellow animal crossing signs and search for wild animals on rural roads, as wildlife that tends to live in these areas will frequently enter the roadway. Be especially careful at night, as rural roads tend to be poorly lit. Remember, if you're about to crash into a wild animal, don't swerve or brake suddenly. Reduce your speed and turn your car in a controlled manner to minimize the impact of a collision.

Consider how alcohol affects your ability to perform essential driving tasks: With a BAC of at least 0.02% to 0.05%, your information processing skills will be reduced and you'll be less likely to notice traffic control devices, vulnerable road users, and important information on the dashboard. With a BAC of at least 0.02% to 0.06%, you'll start to feel drowsy, increasing the chances that you'll doze off or experience a microsleep while driving, especially if it's late at night and you're already fatigued.

With a BAC of at least 0.02% to 0.08%, you'll become less capable of multitasking as you drive. The more things you have to deal with, the more likely you'll forget about something important or make a mistake when you have to perform a maneuver. With a BAC of at least 0.05% to 0.08%, your ability to keep your vehicle in your lane (which is known as tracking) will decrease. Because you'll have less muscle control, you'll be more likely to steer erratically, cross into another lane, run off the road, or attract the attention of a police officer.

Not only are cell phones often difficult to manipulate and hard to read quickly, but the constant motion of your vehicle will make it even more difficult to focus on your phone and keep it steady. It's hard to imagine a driving situation more dangerous than this. Even drunk drivers can remain somewhat focused on the driving task, but if you're reading or writing on a phone, you'll be completely oblivious to what's happening on the roadway.

Writing, sending, or reading text-based communication on a wireless communications device is illegal for drivers under 18 and all drivers when travelling inside a school zone. Additionally, some municipalities, including Austin, San Antonio, Galveston, and El Paso, have passed local laws prohibiting all drivers from texting or using their mobile devices on the road. Before getting on the road, be sure to find out if any laws concerning mobile device usage while driving are in effect where you live. You could face penalties of $500 or more if you are found violating a local mobile phone or texting law.

Public intoxication is also a crime. If a person meets the legal standard of intoxication and is found to be behaving in a way that endangers himself or herself or other people in a public place, he or she may be found guilty of public intoxication and fined up to $500. Minors who are publically intoxicated will be charged as a Minor in Possession (MIP). A minor with prior MIP convictions may be punished with a fine of up to $2,000, up to 40 hours of community service, and/or a jail sentence of up to 6 months.

Years of alcohol-related casualties on the road have led governments to adopt more rigid policies for the safety of their citizens—for example in 1984, when the legal drinking age in the United States was raised to 21. In 2000, when the federal government began strongly encouraging all states to reduce the per se BAC limit while driving from .10% to .08%, there were over 16,500 alcohol-related fatalities on the road. In 2011, that number had been reduced to fewer than 10,000.

Flashing Yellow Signal When a flashing yellow signal is displayed, proceed in the same way that you would at a yield sign. Check the intersection and yield to all cross traffic before proceeding.

Yellow Arrow Signal Traffic controlled by an arrow signal should treat the signal in the same way that traffic preparing to proceed straight ahead must respond to a solid signal. When a yellow arrow signal is displayed, traffic intending to turn in the direction of the arrow must stop unless it is not safe to do so. If the yellow arrow signal is flashing, traffic preparing to turn should treat it as a yield sign.

*In spaces where the designated parking period has ended *Next to an expired parking meter *In front of a theater *In a place that obstructs access to an alley or a rural mailbox

You are prohibited from parking, stopping, or standing in the roadway in the space adjacent to an already parked car. Parking in the road beside a parked car is known as double parking. Double parking is doubly dangerous! Not only will you make it difficult or impossible for the driver of the parked car to leave the space if necessary, but you will also endanger other drivers by leaving your car stopped in a lane designated for traffic.

The need to multitask can increase the chance of a collision if you allow yourself to become so distracted by one driving task that you fail to attend to driving environment sufficiently. The more tasks you have to perform, the more difficult it will become to identify risks and the more likely it is you'll be overwhelmed by the number of demands on your attention. If you have to deal with multiple situations simultaneously, you may become distracted and miss important cues. Effective time management is essential to ensure that you don't get overwhelmed by too many tasks at once. By giving yourself more time to process the driving scene, you can figure out how to proceed using the fewest possible tasks.

You can improve your ability to multitask by scanning as much of the driving environment as possible. The more you know about the road ahead, the better you'll be able to anticipate actions you'll have to perform, identify situations likely to become dangerous, avoid maneuvers likely to cause further complications, and determine the most efficient way to proceed safely. If you only react to situations when they're directly in front of you, you may respond in a way that creates more work for you later on.

You should also replace tires that have been on your wheels for more than six years, even if they do not seem worn, and always buy tires new. The quality and safety of tires decrease with time, even if they are never used on a car. Sometimes, there is no visual indication that tires are ageing (their tread may look fine), but chemical reactions within the rubber can make tires unsafe. At high speeds, the treads of old tires can separate and cause a deadly collision.

You can prolong the life of your tires by rotating them regularly. Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended rotation interval and pattern for your car. The rotation pattern varies from car to car, but an interval of 6,000 miles is generally recommended. Tire rotation also gives you the opportunity to make sure your tires and wheels are balanced. Normal wear and road conditions can throw off a car's alignment. At least once a year, you should have a qualified technician check your car's alignment and inspect the condition of your tires.

Speeding is dangerous because when you drive faster:

You have less time to react to hazards You have less control over your vehicle It's harder for you to see out of your peripheral vision It takes longer to brake The impact of a collision will be greaterSpeeding is dangerous because when you drive faster:

In 2000, Congress passed the Department of Transportation (DOT) Appropriations Act. Far-reaching and impactful in a similar manner to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, this piece of legislation aimed to standardize the maximum legal limit for alcohol intoxication while driving at .08% BAC. The DOT Appropriations Act mandated the temporary withholding of a small percentage of federal funding for highway construction for all states that failed to adopt this new standard. Any state not in compliance by October 2007 would have lost these withheld funds permanently. Within five years, all 50 states had adopted a .08% BAC as the legal limit for drivers. Since then, the number of drunk driving fatalities has decreased by about 20%, both in Texas and the United States as a whole.

You may be confused by the fact that the criminal offense of drunk driving is referred to both as Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Originally, all drunk drivers were charged with the crime of DUI. However, these laws tended to be more difficult to enforce, as they often required officers to prove that the driver had been significantly impaired, allowing some drivers to avoid conviction. Under current DWI laws, a person can be convicted simply by presenting the results of a chemical test showing that the person was driving with an illegal BAC or any positive amount of certain controlled substances.

As discussed earlier, if you lose brake response, take your foot off the accelerator and shift into low gear. Pump your brake pedal to build brake fluid pressure. If this fails, gently pull your emergency brake. Remember: your emergency brake doesn't have ABS technology, so you'll have to consciously avoid locking your wheels. If you're unable to brake, activate your hazard lights and try to avoid a collision. Hold the steering wheel firmly while honking and flashing your high-beams to warn other drivers. Do what you can to reduce the severity of a coming impact.

You may lose power braking if your engine stalls. Without power braking, you'll have to use more force to press the brake pedal. Apply pressure slowly but firmly, bringing your vehicle to a controlled stop. Pull over and turn your vehicle off. You may regain power braking after restarting your engine. If you're in a safe area without other cars or pedestrians, test your brakes. If power braking remains lost, pull over and call a mechanic.

People often prefer to eat on the go, especially if they're feeling rushed. The profusion of fast food restaurants makes it easy to think that eating while driving can be safe, especially since you can just reach into your bag and grab some fries or a sandwich without taking your eyes from the road. This is a dangerous attitude. Remember, any time your eyes, hands, or thoughts are distracted from the driving task, you're at a greater risk of a collision. This is one crash diet that's definitely not good for you!

You may think that eating a few chips or taking a sip of soda behind the wheel can't be that dangerous. In fact: Greasy foods can make your hands slippery, impeding your ability to use vehicle controls. Spicy or flavorful foods may cause you to cough, sneeze, or sweat, making it harder for you to focus on the road. To drink a beverage, you may have to bring the cup or bottle to your lips, obscuring your vision. You may burn your mouth if you consume hot food or drinks while driving, making it difficult for you to focus on driving. If you drive over a bump or pothole, you may end up swallowing more of something than you intended or spilling something on yourself. Even the surprise of a little spill might cause you to veer off the road.

Any time you deviate considerably from your sleeping and waking habits, your driving performance is likely to be especially impaired. If your sleep schedule is altered (e.g. by jet leg or late night studying), you may experience excessive sleepiness, loss of concentration, poor motor control, slowed reflexes, nausea, and irritability.

You may think that, as a young and energetic teenager, you're less likely to experience fatigue and to suffer the consequences of drowsy driving. In fact, teenagers are the most likely to be involved in a fatal traffic collision as the result of fatigue. Studies suggest that 55% of crashes attributed to a driver falling asleep were caused by drivers 25 years old or younger.

There are several reasons that the effects of alcohol on your psychology can quickly spiral out of control. Alcohol is considered a gateway drug. Once a person starts drinking, he or she becomes more likely to abuse other drugs. Because anyone over 21 can buy large amounts of alcohol from any number of stores, and because images of alcohol are culturally pervasive, it's easy to get into the habit of drinking. People who drink more are more likely to seek the company of other drinkers and avoid those who abstain from alcohol. Alcohol causes people to ignore risks, so drinkers tend to become less concerned about its effects the more they drink. Alcohol abuse is not sustainable. The more reliant on alcohol you become, the harder it will be to overcome your dependence.

You may wonder why some people who drink become addicted to alcohol, while others are able to control their habits responsibly. The chances a person will become dependent on alcohol are informed by: Genetics: A person with a history of addiction and dependence in his or her family is more likely to face similar problems. Environment: If someone grows up where alcohol is consumed freely, he or she will come to see that behavior as normal. A person whose parent uses alcohol to cope is more likely to model that behavior when he or she faces problems as well. Peer groups: The more a person spends time around drinkers, the more likely he or she becomes to adopt similar habits. Only rarely is a person influenced by only one of these factors. Most drinkers are affected by a combination of these forces.

Your car is equipped with several devices that can be used to communicate with others on the road. These are: *The horn: Tap the horn to warn other roadway users of your approach or to draw their attention to a situation on the road, an upcoming hazard, or a potential collision with your vehicle or another obstacle. *Signal lights: By activating your turn signals, you can indicate to other drivers where you are going. *Brake lights: You can indicate to other drivers that you are preparing to slow down or stop by pressing gently on your brake pedal, activating your brake lights, or by tapping the brake lightly, to flash your brake lights. *Hazard lights: Activate your hazard lights to inform others on the road of trouble with your car or an emergency situation.

You must signal your intentions whenever you are planning to: *Make a turn *Change lanes *Enter or leave a parking space *Slow down or stop Signal continuously for at least 100 ft before turning or stopping. Be sure to turn off your turn signal once you have completed a turn.

If you kill or injure an animal, pull over to the side of the road and stop. Try to find the owner. If you cannot find the owner, call the Humane Society or the police. Do not try to move an injured animal, but never leave an injured animal to die—it is inhumane and cruel.

You must turn in a report whether or not you are responsible for the collision. If a driver is incapacitated in a collision, this report should be filed by a passenger if there is one capable of doing so. These reports are confidential, but available to all parties involved. They are only meant to indicate involvement in a collision and cannot be used in civil cases. At the scene of the collision and when filing this report, you should not admit or attribute fault. Fault will be determined in court or by the insurance companies of the drivers involved.

Sometimes it can be harder to do than it sounds, but the best thing to do when someone offers you a drink is easy to remember: Just Say No! Whether you decide to explain why you don't want to drink, point out that drinking is illegal, suggest something else to do instead, decide to go elsewhere, or just let others know your decision and leave it at that, all you have to do to stay safe, sober, and smart is simply to decline to drink.

You never have to drink and drive. If you need to drive, don't drink. If you choose to drink, don't drive.

As a driver, you should remember that one of the most important harmful effects of marijuana is its disruption of the user's connection to his or her surroundings. This makes the user unable to understand and react adequately to his or her current situation. Other harmful effects include impaired memory, fear, panic, psychosis, increased heart rate, and loss of coordination. These effects make driving after consuming marijuana extremely dangerous.

You should also realize that synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or Spice, is illegal in Texas. While these drugs claim to work through a mixture of legal herbs, in fact, this hallucinogen uses dangerous synthetic cannabinoids to achieve effects similar to those of marijuana. Although K2 could be legally obtained until recently, early research suggests that this drug may be more dangerous than marijuana itself. Synthetic cannibinoid use has been linked with severe and prolonged psychosis, and it is believed to be significantly more addictive than marijuana.

If you encounter intermittent patches of fog while driving, slow down just as you would for a consistent blanket of fog. Many of the most deadly and most damaging multiple-vehicle traffic collisions in the history of the United States have occurred during fog. Often, drivers report that they had been driving full speed through patches of fog, when visibility suddenly dropped nearly to zero. Fog is dangerous and unpredictable. Don't underestimate it.

You should also respond quickly when lighting conditions begin to dim. Activate your vehicle's low-beam headlights when the sky becomes darker due to cloud cover or sunset. Driving without your headlights on in dim light endangers yourself and other drivers, and is illegal.

In a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the best gear for travelling at a given speed will be selected automatically. Today's automatic transmissions are highly complicated and contain mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems, as well as computer controls. Remember to check your fluid periodically to make sure there are no leaks. If you notice an oily spot under your car that is pinkish in color (transmission fluid is pink or red), have a mechanic check your transmission immediately.

Your vehicle's fuel system delivers the gasoline and air to the engine that are required for combustion. Gas is stored in the fuel tank, which is usually located near the rear wheels of the vehicle. Fuel is transported from the fuel tank to the engine via a reinforced fuel line that is designed to be relatively resistant to wear.

Call the police immediately after a collision if one of the drivers involved is intoxicated, has no insurance, or leaves the scene of the crash. Uninsured motorist insurance policies will pay for your damages only if the crash is reported to the police. You must report any collision that you're involved in to your insurance company, no matter how much damage it caused. You may be fined $350 and your license may be suspended if you are found to have been driving without properly meeting your financial responsibility requirement.

You will face severe penalties if you are guilty of a hit-and-run. If you leave the scene of a collision which you were involved in without stopping to render aid and exchange information, you may face penalties including a license suspension and: A jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000 if someone was killed or seriously injured A jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000 if anyone received an injury A jail term of up to 180 days and a fine up to $2,000 if there was $200 or more worth of property damage A $500 fine if there was less than $200 worth of property damage

Your decisions as a driver will be strongly influenced by your emotional state. If you don't have the right attitude, you're less likely to notice everything important in the driving environment and more likely to overreact and take unnecessary risks in response to minor annoyances. To be a safe driver, you must consciously choose to stay relaxed, focus on the task at hand, and set aside any emotional preoccupations for as long as you're behind the wheel

You're more likely to make unsafe decisions if you feel: Negativity towards others Overconfidence in your own driving abilities Insecure about driving Impatience Aggression Anxiety Excessive happiness Love or infatuation Exaggerated emotional sensitivity A lack of self-control Grief

However, because impairment is dependent on the concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream, this measurement can be used to estimate a person's likely level of impairment. The concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream is measured with a figure called Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). This figure is determined by dividing the volume of alcohol by the volume of blood in a given sample. For example, if a person's blood is found to have 8 parts of alcohol for every 10,000 parts of blood, he or she registers a .08% BAC: 8/10,000 = .0008. This is equivalent to 8 grams of alcohol per 100ml blood.

Your BAC is dependent on a number of factors, including your weight, the amount of alcohol you consumed, and how quickly you consumed it. It gives a better approximation of impairment than number of drinks consumed or even amount of alcohol consumed, and is used by law enforcement as part of the process of determining impairment in drivers. The law will be discussed in more detail later, but for now, remember that it's illegal to drive with a .08% BAC or higher. If you're under 21, it's illegal to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in your blood. Importantly, it's also illegal to drive if you're even slightly impaired by alcohol. If your behavior shows signs of impairment, you may be charged with a DUI even if you register a .01% BAC.

In a car with a standard brake system, when you slam on the brakes, you can lock the wheels before your car's kinetic energy has been absorbed, causing a skid. In this situation, you must release the brake pedal (to unlock the wheels) and pump the brakes rapidly (to restore pressure to the hydraulic fluid). To prevent this problem, most modern vehicles use an Antilock Braking System (ABS) to help keep your brakes from locking. In cars equipped with ABS, the system will automatically pump the brakes when you firmly press down on the brake pedal. If you have ABS, you should never pump the brakes yourself.

Your car's antilock braking system can detect when a wheel is about to lock up and activate valves to reduce pressure on the brakes before the wheel stops spinning completely. When the wheel begins to pick up speed again, pressure is reapplied. This process is repeated continually as long as you keep your foot on the brake pedal. ABS also improves your ability to perform evasive maneuvers because it allows traction to be maintained when you brake suddenly. This allows you to guide your car to a safe road position while reducing your speed.

As their physical skills deteriorate, older drivers often begin to drive more slowly and cautiously, and may avoid driving at certain times or in certain traffic situations, such as on busy streets or expressways, in poor weather conditions, or at night. Everyone is entitled to share the road! Be patient with drivers who need more time to perform normal driving tasks. Older drivers adopt more cautious driving strategies because they have to: treat them with the same courtesy you hope to receive when aging begins to affect your own driving.

Your ability to drive may be affected by carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur without your knowledge. Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for about 500 deaths and 15,000 visits to emergency rooms annually. When fuel is burned in the combustion process, carbon monoxide is emitted. You can't smell it, see it, or taste it, but it can make you extremely sick. Carbon monoxide is absorbed through the lungs and transported by the bloodstream to all parts of the body. Carbon monoxide prevents the blood from carrying oxygen to the tissues of the body, which can severely affect the functioning of the heart and the brain.

Night driving poses a significant problem for some drivers. While seeing in low light levels is difficult for everyone, some people have worse Night Vision than others. Some drivers who can see clearly during the day may have extra trouble seeing clearly at night, in dim light, or around the glare of headlights. To drive safely at night, you must be able not only to see when it's dark, but also to make out low-contrast objects. If you have trouble seeing details in low-contrast conditions, you may not see someone in dark clothing crossing the street at night.

Your ability to see can also be reduced by exposure to extreme brightness, or glare. Your response to glare is affected by your degree of Glare Resistance (the ability of the pupils to shut out excess light) and Glare Recovery (the speed with which the pupils return to normal when low-light conditions have been restored). These adjustments do not occur instantaneously: glare reduction always takes some time. You may not be able to see well while your eyes adjust, especially at night. This is one reason you must never approach other drivers with your high-beams activated.

However, what happens to you is ultimately up to you. You can choose to consume alcohol responsibly. You can choose not to get behind the wheel if you've been drinking. You can choose to stay away from parties where people will be drinking, or to be a designated driver to help everyone get home alive.

Your actions can affect your entire community. When you drive drunk, you don't get to choose who dies: you may kill yourself, your friends, your family, or complete strangers. You may kill an old person enjoying retirement, or a child with a whole life to look forward to. You can avoid these outcomes by applying the lessons you've learned in this course and considering the consequences of your actions. Remember, the easiest, healthiest, and surest way to avoid driving drunk and the dangerous effects of alcohol is simply not to drink!

A sprain or broken bone can significantly impair your ability to drive. Driving requires a certain amount of flexibility and the ability to perform physical tasks rapidly. If your arm is broken or shoulder is sprained, you may have a hard time steering and reaching certain controls, such as the gearshift and parking brake. You may not be able to reach or apply sufficient pressure to the accelerator and brake pedals if your leg is broken or ankle is sprained, especially if the injury involves your right leg. When injured, test your degree of mobility before getting on the road. Don't drive if you have to strain yourself to operate your car.

Your driving can also be affected by any medication you're taking. Every medication can produce undesirable side effects. For instance, many medications can make you drowsy or dizzy or make it harder for you to evaluate the driving situation. Other medications may blur your vision or cause you to experience intense nausea.

When your car is running, the electrical power is provided by the alternator rather than the battery. The alternator converts some of the mechanical energy produced by the engine into electricity that is then distributed throughout the vehicle. Some of the electricity the alternator produces is used to recharge the battery. This is why a car can generally run so long on a single battery and why the battery is most likely to be drained when you leave electrical components (such as vehicle lights) on when your engine isn't running.

Your electrical system must be properly maintained. Without electricity, none of vehicle devices controlled by a computer, including power steering, antilock brakes, and stability controls, will work. Moreover, if you get into a collision, your air bag will fail to deploy and you won't even be able to open your electric windows or door locks. The alternator or serpentine belt must be replaced if cracked, soaked or glazed in oil, badly worn, or otherwise damaged. The tension of the belt should be adjusted in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's guidelines. Keep the battery connections clean, particularly around the area where the cables connect to the positive and negative poles. Fall is generally considered the best time of year to have battery terminals checked.

You may find it hard to believe that every one of these attitudes has the potential to impair your driving. How could overconfidence or excitement actually hurt anybody? When it comes to driving, any extreme emotion can be dangerous, regardless of whether it's positive or negative. If you're emotionally preoccupied, you're not paying attention to the road. Even a second of inattention is long enough for you to miss a car approaching dangerously from the side and suffer a severe collision.

Your emotions can affect the mental skills you need to drive safely. Emotional drivers may: Be unable to think clearly and make decisions quickly Fixate on situations not related to the immediate task of driving Take out their feelings on other drivers Ignore or fail to recognize the degree of risk associated with their actions Pay only slight attention to the driving environment Process information in an erratic or inconsistent way

Even if you survive without serious injuries, other parties involved in a collision may not be so lucky, especially if the person you hit was a pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist. Any consequences you may face as the result of your risky driving may be suffered by others simply because they got in your way at the wrong time. You may even cause the death of a friend: according to the NHTSA, two out of every three teens who die as passengers are being driven by another teenager. In addition, you may have to confront the anger of the victim's family and your own sense of guilt at causing another person's injury or death.

Your license may be suspended or revoked automatically for certain traffic violations, such as reckless driving or a hit-and-run. Moreover, a judge may order your license to be revoked or suspended if you are convicted of: Speeding and reckless driving Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Failing to stop as required at a railroad crossing Fleeing a law enforcement officer A license suspension may be the least of the punishments you receive for these crimes. You may also receive heavy fines and a significant prison sentence. In addition to these other penalties, drivers under 25 who are cited for a moving violation may be required to attend a four-hour driver safety course.

Make sure you avoid anything that could reduce how well you see the road: ◦Keep your windows clean and keep them clear of any objects or stickers that may obstruct your vision. Avoid hanging anything from your rearview mirror. ◦Don't put things on your dashboard. ◦Never wear dark glasses at night. If you wear tinted contact lenses, consult a doctor about whether it is safe for you to drive at night. ◦Adjust your mirrors before driving to give yourself the best view possible of the road behind you. ◦Keep your windshield wipers in good working order. ◦If you tint your windows, make sure they meet Texas legal standards. Attaching an object or applying a material to your windows that reduces your view of the road is prohibited.

Your sense of hearing can alert you to potential dangers in the driving environment, including: ◦The presence of vehicles in your blind spots ◦Drivers honking their horns ◦Emergency vehicle sirens ◦An approaching train ◦Nearby road work Additionally, unusual noises in your engine, tires, or brakes may alert you to problems in your vehicle that require an immediate response.

Vehicle Balance refers to the distribution of a vehicle's weight across its four tires as they meet the ground. A vehicle in good working order that is parked on level ground is at its ideal balance. Good vehicle balance also depends on having wheels with optimal tire pressure and a suspension system that is working properly. The suspension system is your vehicle's system of springs, shock absorbers, and linkages connecting the vehicle to its wheels.

Your vehicle is affected whenever you perform one or more of the basic vehicle control tasks: ◦Acceleration shifts the center of vehicle gravity to the rear of the vehicle, causing the front to lift, and reducing front wheel traction. ◦Braking shifts the center of vehicle gravity to the front of the vehicle, causing the back to lift and decreasing back wheel traction. ◦Steering towards the left or right shifts the vehicle's center of gravity in the opposite direction.

Extreme heat presents a number of unique problems, and not just to older cars. High temperatures can cause discomfort and sleepiness, hindering your judgment and reflexes. You may also become dehydrated, which can cause a severe inability to concentrate. Your vehicle will also suffer from extreme heat. Components containing rubber or pressurized fluids will behave differently and wear more quickly. Tire pressure rises as air temperature increases, which can deform the shape of your wheels and reduce traction.

Your vehicle's engine and battery will be taxed more than usual in hot weather, especially while running the air conditioning system. Engine stress, use of electronics, and high demands for cold air can cause your engine to stall or your battery to die. Drive smoothly in hot weather and use air conditioning judiciously. Change your route and avoid hills and slopes to save your engine some of the strain of accelerating and maintaining high speeds.

You can use a center left turn lane to: -Begin a left turn -Complete a left turn -Turn left onto a congested street from an alley, parking -lot, or driveway -Perform a U-turn (if permitted by a posted sign) Because traffic travelling in both directions can use the center lane to turn left, there's a great potential for conflict within the lane. To decrease the possibility of a collision, drivers should occupy a center left turn lane for no more than 200 ft before making a turn. Never use this lane as a regular driving lane or a passing lane.

_Check carefully before entering a center left turn lane to make sure you can use it without interfering with the actions of another driver. _Watch for cars waiting to turn stopped in the lane and cars on the road ahead likely to enter the lane to turn left. -Scan the sides of the road to your left to make sure there are no vehicles about to enter the lane from a driveway or parking lot. -Be sure to check traffic to your rear and signal your intention to turn left before entering the lane.

Reasoning and Judgment Alcohol hampers your ability to use reasoned thinking. With poor reasoning skills, you won't be able to evaluate risk properly or react quickly, and you'll be more likely to disregard traffic laws and the safety of others. For instance, when you see that you're approaching a red light, you might convince yourself that you can avoid cross traffic as long as you go fast enough.

` As your ability to reason deteriorates, you'll become unable to judge how to react to situations on the road. With impaired judgment, you can't anticipate what other road users are going to do and you may underestimate how risky your behavior is given current road and weather conditions. Not only that—you won't even be able to recognize and respond to your own intoxication properly!

To make sure you've done a good job reviewing this unit, you must now pass a test. The information in this unit is important: if you do not pass the test, you will have to take the entire unit over again. Do not press NEXT until you are sure you will pass the test. You can review as much as you wish. Simply return to your dashboard and select the topic you want to review. It is very important for you to review carefully and make sure you know how to reduce risk on the road by understanding how drugs other than alcohol make you unhealthy and unfit to drive. Remember the dangers of combining drugs, and never drive while impaired by any substance.

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As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Effectively manage centripetal and centrifugal forces so you can stay in your lane as you drive through a curve Understand the consequences of different types of collisions and develop effective strategies for responding to each of them Handle your vehicle carefully in an emergency so you can avoid catastrophic losses to traction or balance Determine and choose the safest way to enter a collision when it's impossible to avoid one completely Act promptly and responsibly to prevent further injury following a collision

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When you must pull off the roadway, do so as calmly and as safely as possible. While there are many different reasons to pull over, and you must brake or steer differently depending on your situation, there are some actions you should take whenever you can. If you're in an emergency situation, activate your hazard lights. Otherwise, activate your turn signal to indicate that you're pulling over. Maintain control over your vehicle to the greatest extent possible, and change lanes safely as you approach the road's shoulder.

some shoulders are paved and some are unpaved, but even some paved shoulders will be rough or bumpy and provide less traction. Whenever possible, slow down primarily in your lane just before entering the shoulder. However, you should be conscious of traffic behind you—try not to brake so heavily that you endanger other drivers. When the shoulder is unpaved, you'll need to enter it at a slower speed, so you should brake over a longer distance.

Never activate cruise control while driving in the rain or on a wet surface. If you begin to lose traction while cruise control is activated, your car will behave erratically. Modern speedometers determine vehicle speed based on the rate the drive wheels are spinning, not the rate at which the vehicle is moving relative to the ground. These two figures are the same under normal conditions, but disagree when traction is lost. When your drive wheels lose traction, they'll spin faster against the water without a corresponding increase in actual vehicle speed. This can result in the cruise control system executing a sudden cutoff in engine power, throwing your vehicle into an uncontrolled slide.

v Headlights and windshield wipers are essential in rainy weather. When rain or other debris falls on your windshield, turn on your windshield wipers. You need to be able to see clearly through the glass. When clouds make the road dim or dark, and whenever you turn on your windshield wipers, turn on your headlights. You need to be able to see the road ahead of you clearly. Activating your headlights will also help other drivers see you—and avoid you.

At the Drivers License Office When you apply for an instruction permit, you will have to: *Fill out an application with your name, address, county of residence, and U.S. citizenship status, as well as a brief history of your physical condition and your past driving experience and record *Present proof of your Social Security number, such as a Social Security card *Present two acceptable documents or a Texas *Residency Affidavit establishing that you are a resident of the state

*Present current identification *Provide the VOE form issued by your school and proof of your enrollment in an authorized drivers education course *Provide a physical description of yourself *Provide your thumbprints *Pass written examinations on road signs and the rules of the road with a score of at least 70% (if you have not already passed the DPS test through this course) *Pass a vision test (you may be required to wear corrective lenses while driving if you need them to see the road clearly) Pay the required fee

The instruction permit requires that the student only operate a vehicle when accompanied by a licensed driver over 21 years old who has at least one year of driving experience. The individual who accompanies the driver must sit in the front passenger seat beside the driver and be sober, awake, and able to observe and react to the actions of the driver.

A driver must be at least 15 years old and enrolled in an authorized drivers education program to qualify for an instruction permit. Applicants for an instruction permit under the age of 18 must meet one of the following requirements: *Possess a high school diploma or the equivalent *Be enrolled in a public or private school for at least 80 days of the fall or spring semester prior to applying *Be enrolled in a program to prepare for the equivalency exam for at least 45 days before applying Individuals under 18 must obtain a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) form from their school when applying for or renewing a drivers license or instruction permit.

If you think driving is as easy as playing a video game, you couldn't be more wrong. A motor vehicle is a powerful machine that requires knowledge and skillful handling. Your mistakes can have painful consequences for you and others. On the road, you cannot escape the consequences of irresponsible behavior by pressing the OFF button.

A motor vehicle is a deadly weapon—perhaps the deadliest weapon you will ever control. Consider that in 2011, 32,163 people were killed by a firearm (and over half of these were suicides). In the same year, 32,367 people were killed in an automobile collision. To minimize the number of crashes that occur on the road, it's essential that you learn to safely share the roadway with others. Handle your car with at least as much caution as you would handle a gun.

It can be especially difficult to merge with the flow of traffic when you're trying to enter or exit an expressway or other limited-access highway. This difficulty is because traffic moves much faster on the expressway than it does on other roadways. When entering an expressway, yield to traffic already on it, as slower traffic should yield to faster traffic. You can avoid conflicts by paying attention to traffic on the road and planning ahead.

A traffic circle is a circular intersection where vehicles travel counter-clockwise around a raised center island. Traffic circles are also known as roundabouts. Typically, vehicles entering a traffic circle will see a yield sign, but traffic on the circle itself will not be controlled by signs or traffic signals. Watch for pedestrians and bicyclists as you enter a traffic circle.

When you apply for your instruction permit, you will need to sign a Zero Tolerance notification that explains the Zero Tolerance Law concerning alcohol use. If you are under 18, your parent, guardian, or mentor (whoever has custody of you) will have to co-sign this document under oath at the DPS. This person must also sign your application at the DPS. Before your 18th birthday, this person may ask the DPS to cancel your license by submitting a written request.

After completing the requirements, you will be issued an instruction permit. It will be valid from the date of issue until one year after your next birthday. Generally, an instruction permit will not include a photograph. If you do not pass the first time, you will be allowed to take each exam up to two more times before you must reapply and repay the application fees. However, you must successfully complete all tests within 90 days of your original application to avoid reapplying.

The DPS can suspend or revoke your driving privilege if you are convicted of two or more moving violations within 12 months, or if you are found guilty of certain Family Code, Alcoholic Beverage Code, or Criminal Code violations. In addition, all drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using any wireless communication device while driving. Violations of this prohibition can lead to fines and a suspension of your driving privilege.

All Texas residents are required to have a Texas drivers license to operate a motor vehicle. Most drivers obtain a standard Class C classified drivers license. This license allows you to drive a single-unit vehicle that weighs no more than 26,000 lbs, and to tow a trailer of no more than 10,000 lbs. To operate a larger vehicle, you must obtain a Class A or Class B license. In addition, a Class M license is required to operate a motorcycle or moped.

No one has an automatic right to proceed and no one can "take" the right-of-way from someone else. A driver only has the right-of-way when it is granted to them by the other driver.

Although specific right-of-way rules apply in particular situations, there is one specific right-of-way principle that you must always follow: You must yield the right-of-way to avoid a collision. Failure to yield is among the top causes of motor vehicle collisions in Texas. If a collision results from your failure to yield the right-of-way, you may be held liable even if the law specifies that the other driver should have yielded.

Make Sure Maneuvers Can Be Executed Safely Before you attempt to execute any driving maneuver, you must always check the road to make sure that the maneuver can be completed safely.

Always Back Up Safely You may only back up your vehicle if you can do so safely without interfering with other traffic. When driving on the shoulder of the roadway or on a limited- or controlled-access highway, you may not back up.

You must also yield to a pedestrian when: *The pedestrian wishes to cross and there is no traffic control signal in place or in operation *The pedestrian is already on or nearing the part of the roadway you wish to use A pedestrian is infinitely more vulnerable to a car than a car is to a pedestrian, so let pedestrians pass even when you believe you have the right-of-way.

Always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, regardless of who's in the right. People have a tendency to jaywalk or dart into the road without looking, especially when they are jogging, in a hurry, or out in bad weather. Stop to protect the safety of anyone crossing the street on foot. You may face significant penalties for failing to yield to a pedestrian. Worse, you may seriously injure or even kill someone.

Remember that when you obtain your license, you have not proven that you are an excellent driver. You have only demonstrated that you have the minimum level of skills necessary to be allowed to drive on public roads. Even after you have earned your license, you will still be considered a novice driver.

As a licensed novice driver, you should be able to: *Demonstrate a working knowledge of how to operate a car *Use visual search skills to evaluate driving environments and decide how best to respond *Demonstrate the ability to adjust your road position and manage space around the vehicle *Interact with other road users in a positive manner *Properly use all available occupant protection systems *Understand how certain physical and psychological conditions can affect you as a driver *Practice under the supervision of a licensed parent, guardian, or mentor to improve your driving skills

There are two basic kinds of intersections: *At controlled intersections, traffic flow is managed by posted traffic control devices such as stop signs, yield signs, and traffic lights. These devices identify which drivers at an intersection should yield the right-of-way. *At uncontrolled intersections, there are no traffic control devices and drivers must follow standard right-of-way rules. Uncontrolled intersections are usually found in residential areas and others places with light traffic.

As you approach an intersection, begin to evaluate the situation and make any adjustments that are required to complete your desired maneuvers safely. Look out for: *The presence of traffic control devices guiding traffic *The condition of the road ahead of you *Obstructions to your line-of-sight that may conceal potential hazards *The areas to your left and right—are they open and clear? *Other traffic to your front and rear

Your car should remain parallel to the curb as you near the intersection. Even if it seems like the intersection is clear and there are no posted traffic control devices directing you to stop, you should slow down and be prepared to stop: a car approaching the intersection from another direction may be concealed by a corner or other obstruction. Ease off the accelerator pedal as you prepare to enter the intersection. Yield to anyone who is already in the intersection or who is close enough to be an immediate hazard.

As you approach an intersection, the primary source of potential problems will be the traffic in front of you. Any time anything in front of you indicates that you may need to adjust your speed or position, you should check to the rear of your vehicle for to make sure that you have the space to safely slow down or stop if necessary.

To get the most out of drivers education, it is not enough simply to read through the course. You must also consider how you can best apply the lessons you are learning when you get behind the wheel. This can best be accomplished by formulating a driving plan at the end of each lesson. An effective driving plan will translate the material you learn in the course into practical strategies you can use to reduce risk while driving.

As you proceed through the course and learn more about driving, you will be able to improve and modify your driving plan to incorporate the additional skills and knowledge of dangerous situations on the road into it. You should consult your parents, guardians, or instructors as you begin to formulate your driving plan to take advantage of their years of experience behind the wheel.

You should not think of your driving plan as a temporary set of rules that you can consult as you begin to learn to drive. Instead, you should think of your driving plan as the repertoire of skills and understanding that you will continue to build and improve upon as you gain more driving experience. By consciously beginning to define this knowledge for yourself now, you will be better prepared to respond safely when you encounter a dangerous situation on the road.

As you review the information presented in this unit, consider how to incorporate the following topics into your driving plan. To reduce risk on the road, you must: Uphold your responsibilities as one of millions of drivers enjoying the use of the Highway Transportation System Respect other road users and the authority of agents responsible for preserving highway safety Recognize your limitations as a novice driver and improve your abilities with behind-the-wheel practice Understand the need for drivers licensing and avoid unlicensed driving and other abuses of the driving privilege Keep your driving privilege by abiding by the rules of the road and maintaining a zero tolerance attitude towards alcohol and drugs

At some intersections, stop signs will control one direction of traffic (e.g. north-south or east-west), while the other direction will be uncontrolled. In such situations, a driver facing a stop sign (or similar traffic control device) must yield until the intersection is clear of the traffic moving in the uncontrolled direction. If you're driving on the road that is not controlled by a device, be careful as you pass through the intersection. A driver moving on the other road may fail to yield the right-of-way to you.

At a stop sign, you must stop in the designated area even if you have been waiting behind another car or other cars stopped at the intersection. It is not enough to bring your car to a stop behind another vehicle. When the vehicle ahead of you starts crossing the intersection, don't follow. You must stop again before you can proceed.

Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all crosswalks whether or not they are marked. Drivers must take all necessary precautions to avoid injuring or endangering a pedestrian crossing or trying to cross the street. Drive especially cautiously when you observe a child or a confused or incapacitated person on the roadway.

At intersections, bring your vehicle to a full stop. If it is necessary to give a warning to a pedestrian, tap your horn. Try to make eye contact with the pedestrian so that he or she is aware of your presence and knows that you have seen him or her.

The Yellow Circular Advance Warning sign warns drivers that railroad tracks are ahead. It reminds the driver to slow down, look and listen for a train, and be prepared to stop if a train is approaching. Pavement markings on paved roads near the Yellow Circular Advance Warning sign also alert drivers that the road crosses railroad tracks ahead.

At railroad crossings, trains always have the right-of-way. A train can cross whenever it wants. You must always yield to a train.

You must follow the examiner's instructions during the driving test. You will not be asked to do anything against the law. If you violate the law, refuse to follow instructions, drive dangerously, or have a crash, or if the examiner deducts more than 30 points from your grade during the test, your license will not be approved. You will be graded on how well you control your car, observe what other traffic is doing, position your car in the lane properly, and signal as required.

At the Drivers License Office To apply for a provisional Class C drivers license at the drivers license office, you must: *Present a Texas Driver Education Certificate (Form DE 964) stating that you have completed both the classroom and in-car phases of the Texas Driver and *Traffic Safety Education Course *Present a Certificate of Completion from the ITTD course *Present a VOE form, proving your enrollment in or completion of high school or an equivalency program *Show evidence of financial responsibility in accordance with the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety *Responsibility Act *Provide thumbprints (if they were not taken when you applied for your instruction permit) *Complete the driving skills test *Pay the required fees

The first six units of the course present the first module of instruction as defined by the Texas driver education and traffic safety program. The lessons will introduce you to the basic concepts that you must know before you begin to drive. You must complete these lessons before you may apply for an instruction permit to begin practicing behind the wheel with a parent or guardian. At the end of the first six units, you will be given the opportunity to take the DPS test with us. After you take this test, we will give you a document that certifies that you have completed these lessons. You can use this document to apply for an instruction permit at your local drivers license office.

At the end of each unit you will be required to pass a short quiz before you will be allowed to proceed with the course. You will have to answer at least 70% of the questions correctly to proceed. If you fail a quiz, you will be required to retake the lesson before you are allowed to take the quiz a second time. At the end of the course, you will be required to complete a 50-question final exam. You will have to answer at least 70% of these questions correctly to pass the course. You will be allowed three attempts to pass the quizzes and the final exam. However, failures are cumulative. If you accumulate three total failures, you will have failed the course and will have to enroll in it again.

Never stop inside a crosswalk. Stopping inside a crosswalk prevents pedestrians from crossing safely and makes crossing especially dangerous for blind pedestrians. It is also a right-of-way violation. In addition, when entering or exiting a parking lot or driveway, you must yield to pedestrians before driving on or over the sidewalk.

Be attentive for other drivers who have stopped to yield to a pedestrian. Stop and do not pass until the pedestrian has cleared the road and the other driver has proceeded.

There will always be some people who act carelessly and recklessly on the road. Even the best drivers can have a bad day and make mistakes. Not even a strict system of traffic laws can ensure that all drivers will act appropriately at all times. Never assume that another driver will yield the right-of-way. If you insist on taking the right-of-way, you gamble with your life, as well as the lives of your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians.

Be prepared for other drivers' mistakes by maintaining a considerate and courteous attitude on the road. Courtesy improves the interaction between drivers and keeps traffic moving. Millions of people are able to use Texas roads every day because drivers generally abide by the rules of the road and maintain a respectful attitude towards each other. When everyone drives appropriately, it's easier for each driver to focus on his or her own driving. This keeps traffic moving in an orderly and efficient manner.

Make sure you are in the appropriate lane position for the maneuver you are planning to complete. You should be in the center of the lane if you plan to proceed straight ahead. You should be closer to the right edge of the lane if you're planning to turn right, and closer to the left edge of the lane if you're planning to turn left.

Before you enter an intersection, estimate how long it will take you to drive across it or complete a turn. From a stopped position, it usually takes about four seconds to cross a street that's 24 to 30 ft wide. You will need at least a five- to six-second gap (about half a block) in both directions in order to cross safely. Search to the left, center, right, and left again before entering the intersection. If there are no changes or potential risks in your line of sight, apply pressure to the accelerator and enter the intersection.

On roads where there are no sidewalks, pedestrians are required to walk on the extreme left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. In this position, they are most likely to be noticed by passing drivers. If you encounter a pedestrian walking on the edge of the road, slow down and exercise caution until you have passed the pedestrian.

Children Always watch carefully for children. Children are unpredictable, small, and difficult to see. Children also may have poor judgment, and might not understand the consequences of their actions. Children also don't have any knowledge of traffic rules and may expect drivers to accommodate them or not even realize that drivers may be using the roadway. If you see a child run into the roadway while driving, it is your responsibility to keep him or her safe.

If you violate right-of-way rules concerning school buses, you may be fined between $500 and $1,250 for a first offense. For a second offense, you may be fined up to $2,000 and receive a 6-month license suspension. You will face more significant charges if you cause serious injury or if you have previously been convicted of causing injury to another.

Drive especially cautiously when crossing railroad tracks. There are more miles of railroad track in Texas than in any other state in the nation. Texas also has more collisions between cars and trains than anywhere else. In 2012, there were a total of 1,970 incidents involving a train and a motor vehicle in the United States, causing 232 deaths and 941 injuries. In Texas, there were 228 such incidents, causing 34 deaths and 123 injuries.

Prima Facie Speed Limits While the Basic Speed Rule states that you always must drive at a reasonable and prudent speed, your speed should never exceed the posted speed limit or the prima facie speed limit. Prima facie speed limits are in effect whenever there is no other speed posted. *15 mph in an alley or on a beach *30 mph in an urban residential district *60 mph on non-numbered roadways outside of an urban area *70 mph on numbered highways and farm-to-market roads These speed limits are in effect at all times of day, replacing the separate day- and night-time limits that formerly were in effect.

Drive on the Right Always drive on the right side of the road unless: *You are passing another vehicle *You need to move left to avoid an obstruction: if you do this, you must yield to any vehicle in the lane you are using to avoid the obstruction, if the vehicle is close enough to present a hazard *You are driving on a multi-lane roadway or a one-way roadway

Some of the most important right-of-way rules concern pedestrians. Dealing with pedestrians requires drivers to be especially cautious because there is no training required to be a pedestrian. Many pedestrians do not drive, and may not understand the characteristics of motor vehicles or the reflexes that a driver must develop. They may not know traffic rules and signals, or they may disregard them.

Drivers have a responsibility to share the road with pedestrians in a safe manner. When a pedestrian is hit in a collision, the potential for injury is much greater. To a pedestrian, your car can be an especially deadly weapon. According to the NHTSA, 4,432 pedestrians were killed in 2011 in a motor vehicle collision. This was 14% of all motor vehicle deaths! Based on these statistics, a pedestrian was killed in a traffic collision at an average rate of once every two hours. In Texas, 421 pedestrians were killed in 2011.

Blind Pedestrians Be alert for pedestrians guided by a guide dog or carrying a white cane. A white cane indicates the person may be blind, partially blind, or disabled. If you do not yield to a blind or handicapped pedestrian, you are guilty of a misdemeanor. When driving near bus stops, intersections, business areas, and schools for the blind, and when turning corners or backing up, make sure you check for the presence of blind pedestrians.

Drivers should help blind pedestrians safely cross the street by following these guidelines: *When your car is stopped at a crosswalk, remember that blind pedestrians use the sound of your car engine as a guide. Drivers of silent (electric and hybrid) vehicles should be especially cautious. *Never give any verbal directions to or honk your horn at blind pedestrians. It is their right to decide when to cross the street: it is your responsibility to give them right-of-way. *When you see a blind person pulling in his or her cane and stepping away from the crosswalk, this usually means you may go. Don't wait too long, but proceed with caution.

Classified licenses only allow individuals to operate a vehicle for personal use. Drivers who want to operate a vehicle for business or employment must obtain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). As with classified licenses, Class A, B, and C commercial licenses are available. A commercial driver must also obtain a special endorsement if he or she plans to operate a vehicle associated with a high degree of risk, such as one used to carry passengers or to transport hazardous materials.

Drivers with certain impairments or physical limitations may be issued a restricted license. If a restriction is placed on your license, you will only be allowed to drive when certain restrictions are met. The restrictions will be designed to ensure you are a safe driver. A code letter will be placed on your license indicating the type of restriction. Some common codes include A (requiring the driver to wear corrective lenses), C (requiring the driver not to drive at night), and T (requiring the driver to use a car with an automatic transmission).

Most right-of-way laws apply to intersections. An intersection is the common area at the junction of two roads or highways. Because large numbers of vehicles meet and interact at intersections, they are among the most dangerous areas of the HTS. The common area of an intersection needs to be shared legally and safely. Always remember that right-of-way rules apply to all traffic, including motorcycles and bicycles.

Driving in an intersection can be dangerous because moving into a gap in traffic and crossing a stream of traffic through a gap are two of the most dangerous maneuvers in everyday driving. You will have to be able to judge the speed and the position of other vehicles and scan the road far ahead of you to select the most safest and efficient path of travel.

While each school's program may vary in terms of requirements, course structure, test and assignment procedures, and rules concerning grading, cheating, and student responsibilities, every drivers education course offered in Texas is required to teach essentially the same content.

Due to the higher crash rates experienced by 16- and 17-year-old drivers, in the 1990s individual states began requiring these drivers to complete a Graduated Drivers License (GDL) program before obtaining full driving privileges. Since these drivers have less experience and are more likely to underestimate dangers on the road, graduated licensing programs include certain restrictions that are gradually lifted as they demonstrate competence in driving.

Phase One Individuals between 15 and 18 years old must begin the GDL program by obtaining an instruction permit. During this phase, drivers are allowed to operate a motor vehicle only under the supervision of a licensed driver over 21 years old with at least one year of driving experience.

During Phase One of the GDL program, a driver must do the following: *Complete an authorized drivers education program (including at least 32 hours of classroom training and 14 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction) *Complete the official two-hour Impact Texas Teen *Drivers (ITTD) online course offered by the DPS *Complete at least 30 hours of driving supervised by a parent, guardian, or other authorized adult, at least ten hours of which must occur at night The driver must complete these requirements and hold the instruction permit for at least six months before he or she is allowed to proceed to Phase Two. In addition, a driver must be 16 years old in order to enter Phase Two of the GDL program.

Phase Two After completing Phase One of the GDL program, drivers between 16 and 18 years old can begin Phase Two by applying for a provisional drivers license. During Phase Two, drivers do not have to be supervised when they drive. Your drivers license will remain provisional until you turn 18. Your eligibility for full driving privileges may be delayed if you violate any of the provisional license requirements. Your provisional license will expire on your 18th birthday. At this time, you can apply for a unrestricted drivers license.

During Phase Two, a driver with a provisional drivers license must: *Only drive with one passenger under 21 years old who is not a family member at all times *Not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless he or she must drive to attend employment or a school-related activity or to deal with a medical emergency These restrictions apply until the provisional license expires when you turn 18.

This course is designed to teach you the basic information and skills you need to become a good driver. The course uses a variety of different teaching methods. You will encounter illustrated reading material, movies, interactive case studies, and a variety of engaging activities.

Each unit of this course addresses a specific concept related to driver safety and traffic laws. Each unit is designed to provide the equivalent of one hour of classroom instruction. Texas law states that you are limited to two hours of instruction per day. This limitation means that you can only complete two hours of the course, or two units, per day. Keep in mind that due to this requirement, you must complete any unit that you start—if you leave a unit in the middle of instruction, you will have to begin it again the next time you enter the course.

Driving is not a right. Driving is a privilege. Texas grants the privilege of using its roadways only to those drivers that prove themselves to be safe, courteous, and competent enough to use them without posing an unnecessary risk to other drivers.

Earning your license is simply the beginning of a lifetime process of learning and demonstrating safe driving behaviors. Once you obtain your license, you must still continue to show that you have the skills and knowledge to drive safely. You may be issued a traffic ticket when you demonstrate poor driving habits. If you show yourself to be an unsafe driver by committing major or multiple traffic violations, the Texas Department of Public Safety can restrict, revoke, or suspend your license.

Drive cautiously in all residential areas. Drive even more cautiously whenever you drive near playgrounds, schools, the side of the road, or any other areas where children may play in the street. Be aware that, in general, the speed limit in a school zone is at least 15 mph lower than normal posted limits. School zone speed limits are never higher than 35 mph.

Elderly Pedestrians Exercise caution when driving around elderly and physically disabled pedestrians. These individuals make decisions more slowly, walk more slowly, and take more time to cross the street. Avoid honking your horn or revving your engine when dealing with these pedestrians. These noises can be distracting and could potentially startle them.

When you see a train coming, its large size and the angle of its approach can fool you into thinking that you have plenty of time to cross the tracks. In fact, the train is closer and moving faster than it appears. Don't let yourself fall for the illusion—it could cost you your life. Never try to race a train to a crossing or drive around lowered gates. Proceed only if you are sure you can cross completely without stopping and if there is enough room for your car on the other side of the tracks.

Even after a train has passed, always watch for trains on the other tracks or another train on the same track. Freight trains do not follow set schedules, so you should always expect a train unless the signals indicate that it is safe to proceed. Be especially cautious at crossings with multiple tracks. A small tab on the crossbuck sign will indicate the number of tracks at the crossing. Before proceeding, make sure that the tracks in both directions are clear of trains.

You must have a drivers license to operate a motor vehicle. If you drive without a license, you are breaking the laws of Texas and endangering yourself and others. *If you are caught driving as an unlicensed driver, you will be fined up to $200. You may face additional fines and jail time for multiple offenses within a year. *If you are caught driving while your license is suspended, revoked, or cancelled, you will be fined up to $500 for a first offense. If you do so while suspended for a previous offense, while driving without insurance, or while driving intoxicated, you will be fined up to $2,000 and face up to 6 months in jail. *If you cause a collision while driving without a license or insurance, you will be fined up to $4,000 and face up to a year in jail. The length of your suspension will be extended if you drive while your license is suspended. If you are caught driving without a license during the GDL period, you will have to wait longer to obtain your license. PREV 74 | 84 NEXT

Even if you're not ready to drive, you may want to visit the drivers license office to obtain an official identification card (ID). Frequently, a drivers license or ID card will be required to confirm your age or identity when you want to fly on a plane, purchase alcohol, etc. Obtaining your license or ID isn't the only civic function you can perform at the drivers license office. When you submit your application, you can also register for selective service, indicate your preference to become an eye, tissue, or organ donor, and complete a voter registration form.

*If two cars both wish to enter the same intersection and neither of them is directed by a traffic control device such as a stop sign or yield sign, the car that arrived later must yield to the car that arrived first. *If both cars arrived at the intersection at the same time, the car on the left must yield to the car on the right.

Even when you're approaching an uncontrolled intersection and there are no cars on your right, don't forget to look for cars on your left. Your right-of-way is not automatic and cannot be forced even when you are on the right of another car. Always make sure that the driver on the left yields to you before proceeding. Safety is your first priority.

To accommodate these drivers, there are over 4 million miles of paved and unpaved roads criss-crossing the United States. There are more roads in the U.S. than there are in any other country in the world! Every day, Texas drivers cross millions of miles of Interstates, state highways, suburban streets, rural roads, and more. Taken together, this vast network of roads is known as the Highway Transportation System (HTS). The HTS consists of federal, state, local, and individual roads, as well as the people and vehicles that use and maintain these roads.

Everyone who uses these roads, including drivers of private vehicles, public vehicles, and commercial vehicles, as well as pedestrians and cyclists, is part of the Highway Transportation System. With so many people sharing the same roads, eventually there are bound to be conflicts and collisions. No matter how safely you drive, you will eventually find yourself in a dangerous driving situation simply because so many people are using the road. Making sure that all of America's roads are as safe and well-maintained as possible requires dozens of federal, state, and local agencies to coordinate between each other. Together, these agencies make sure that the HTS is effectively planned, designed, engineered, and regulated.

Federal Government Federal laws and agencies are responsible for setting the basic rules of the road and general standards that govern the HTS for all drivers. Some of the most important laws regulating driving include: The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which regulates vehicle manufacturers, establishing national safety standards and issuing recalls for defective vehicles The National Highway Safety Act, which establishes general guidelines for state regulations concerning licensing, vehicle registration and inspection, and traffic laws The Uniform Traffic Control Devices Act, which defines standard shapes, colors and locations for road signs, traffic signals, and road markings

Federal agencies, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) conduct studies on traffic fatalities to better understand the causes of collisions and suggest potential approaches for reducing risks to drivers. This mission is also pursued by private non-profit organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. You will see statistics from these and other organizations throughout this course. Click the links provided here to find out more about the research they do.

Texas State Government While following the guidelines established by federal laws, the government of Texas also considers local conditions and culture to enact statues that regulate all aspects of the HTS, including licensing, traffic laws and courts, highway construction and maintenance, and vehicle ownership, registration, and inspection.

For the most part, the laws regulating the HTS in Texas are contained within the Texas Transportation Code (TRC). You can review the code for yourself, as well as all other laws governing Texans, here. The primary agency regulating the road in Texas is the Department of Transportation (DOT), while licensing is handled by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Issues such as vehicle registration are handled by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

*Regulatory signs inform drivers of traffic rules that they must follow wherever the sign is posted. *Warning signs indicate that the driver is approaching an intersection, change in road conditions, or other situation that requires an adjustment in driving. *Guide signs convey information about the driver's present location and upcoming destinations. *Construction signs draw the attention of the driver to roadwork or a closure on the road ahead.

Generally, all signs of a certain type have the same shape and color, but special shapes and colors may be reserved for important signs of that class. For example, while most regulatory signs are vertical rectangles colored black and white, STOP and YIELD signs have unique designs. This is so that it will take the driver even less time to recognize these signs. Before we discuss these signs in more depth, follow the links to learn more about sign shapes and colors.

As the emergency vehicle approaches, pay attention to its actions and be sure to avoid taking any action that could impede its progress. Do not stop or park your vehicle in a place that would delay or prevent the vehicle from reaching its destination.

If an emergency vehicle approaches you while you're stopped at an intersection, use your rearview mirror to assess the vehicle's position and speed. *If the emergency vehicle is approaching in your lane, you should check traffic and safely move over to clear its path. *If the emergency vehicle is not in your lane, remain standing until it has passed.

If you are driving and you see a uniformed peace officer driving an official police vehicle signaling you to stop, you must pull out of traffic as soon as possible. You must stop even if you don't believe you have committed a violation. The officer may be stopping you to deliver an emergency message, or because your vehicle may have visibly defective equipment or match the description of a stolen vehicle. Moreover, you may have committed a violation without being aware of it!

If the police have reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has been committed, they may stop you. In some cases, they may not even have to witness the violation themselves! They may serve you a citation, confiscate or mark your drivers license, order a vehicle towed, or, in rare cases, destroy your license.

It is extremely dangerous to stop your car on the railroad tracks. If you are driving a car with a standard transmission, you should not even attempt to shift gears while crossing over railroad tracks. If you try to shift, you may stall your vehicle. Stalling on a railroad track could have deadly consequences.

If your car stalls or stops on railroad tracks and you cannot get it to start, get out! Try to push it off the tracks or get help if there is no train approaching. If a train is coming, run away from the tracks in the direction that the train is coming from—otherwise, you may be hit by debris produced in the collision. Protect yourself and your passengers. By the time the train conductor sees your car, he or she will not have enough time to stop the train.

*If you wish to proceed straight ahead, drive in the left (inside) lane during your approach, and in the right (outside) lane of the traffic circle itself. Enter the road on the other side of the circle in the left lane. *If you wish to turn left, drive in the left lane during your approach. Enter the traffic circle in the left (inside) lane. Drive on the left until you have gone around more than half of the circle. Move to the right, and enter the road heading to the left when it is safe.

In addition to right-of-way rules that apply when two or more road users wish to occupy the same space on the road, there are special right-of-way rules that concern specific kinds of road users. Road users that are protected by special right-of-way rules include: *Pedestrians *Emergency vehicles *School buses

Obtaining a drivers license will not make you safer or more responsible. Indeed, recently-licensed teens are among the drivers most at risk of a fatal collision: according to the NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds in the United States. Moreover, young drivers represent a major hazard to others on the road. While 1,987 15- to 20-year-old drivers were killed in collisions in 2011, these drivers were involved in a total of 4,347 fatal crashes, suggesting that nearly 2,400 people were killed by these drivers.

It is commonly believed that a person can only become as skilled as an "average" driver after having personally driven over 30,000 miles. There are many things about the act of driving and many aspects of your own responses that you will not truly appreciate until you have been a driver for a long time.

You must stop at least 15 ft and no more than 50 ft from the nearest rail whenever: *A lowered crossing gate or flashing signal indicates that a train is coming *You can see a train approaching the crossing or hear an audible signal emitted by a train within 1500 ft of the crossing *You must stop to comply with a legal requirement or posted traffic control device You must remain stopped until it is safe for you to proceed.

Never assume that if there are no signals indicating that a train is coming, it is safe to proceed. While 30% to 35% of crossings in Texas use flashing signals, bells, crossing gates, or even a flagman depending on the circumstances, the majority of crossings only have a crossbuck sign posted.

Obey all traffic control devices posted at the intersection (unless you are given different directions by a police or traffic officer) and yield to any road users already in the intersection. At an uncontrolled intersection, check for traffic and proceed if the intersection can be entered safely and without any interference from traffic that is using a different street or roadway.

Often, two vehicles approaching from different directions will need to use the same intersection. In many cases, both vehicles will not be able to complete their maneuvers safely at the same time. There are two general principles that drivers must follow to make this situation safe for all roadway users. *First in, first out *Yield to the right

Drivers preparing to enter a traffic circle must yield to traffic continuing through the circle and to traffic exiting the circle. If the traffic circle uses more than one lane, drivers on the outside of the circle should yield to drivers on the inside of the circle, unless they are directed otherwise by a sign or traffic signal. If you miss your exit, continue around until you reach it again.

On roundabouts, you should generally drive between 15 mph and 25 mph. Always travel through a roundabout to the right, along a counter-clockwise path. Never stop while driving through a roundabout. If the roundabout uses more than one lane, drivers on the outside of the circle should yield to drivers on the inside of the circle. Do not attempt to pass another vehicle while using a roundabout. Before leaving the roundabout, activate your turn signal. If you miss your exit, continue around until you reach it again.

When you pass your driving skills test, you will be issued a provisional drivers license. The provisional license, and all restrictions associated with it, will expire when you turn 18. Provisional licenses and licenses for drivers under 21 are issued in a vertical format. The provisional license will be titled in purple, and the under-21 license will be titled in red. ID cards for individuals under 21, which use a green title, will also be issued in a vertical format.

Once you have obtained your license, you should record your license number. Always carry your license with you when driving. You are required to show your license whenever requested by a peace officer or agent of the court, and to anyone with whom you are involved in a crash.

Yield Signs Yield signs are used to indicate that drivers must slow down as they pass an intersection or junction, and must stop to yield the right-of-way if there is cross traffic using the road. Only proceed through a yield sign when it is safe. Yield signs are triangles colored red and white, pointing downward. This shape and design are used exclusively for yield signs.

One Way Signs One Way signs are used to indicate streets where the flow of traffic moves only in one direction. A one way sign will generally be posted on a roadway wherever it intersects with a one way street to prevent traffic from turning the wrong way. Black and white one way signs also have a unique design: a long horizontal rectangle with an arrow at the end pointing in the direction of the flow of traffic.

For the safety of children: *Never hold a child in your lap. In a crash, the child may be crushed between your body and the dashboard. *It is unsafe to leave children unattended in a vehicle. *Parents, legal guardians, or other persons responsible for a child may be criminally charged under existing child endangerment laws. *It is illegal to transport anyone under 16 in the bed of a pickup truck, except during a parade or when travelling from one area of a farm to another.

One of the most important concepts you must understand as a driver is right-of-way. Right-of-way rules generally apply when two or more drivers wish to occupy the same space on the road. Right-of-way rules specify which driver has the privilege to use the roadway immediately, and which driver should yield to allow the other driver to proceed. A safe driving environment requires all road users to respect the right-of-way of others.

Local Governments Counties, cities, towns, and other local municipalities may also pass laws regulating the part of the HTS under their jurisdiction. Rules concerning intersections, traffic flow, and parking are typically established by local agencies. For example, while maximum speed limits are established by the state of Texas, some local governments may decide that lower limits should be established in certain areas

One of your responsibilities as a driver is to know the rules that govern driving in Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety issues a handbook that discusses the specific rules that Texas drivers are required to obey. You can get a copy of the Texas Drivers Handbook by visiting your local drivers license office or clicking here. Whether you are driving in Texas or another state, you will be held responsible for any traffic violation you commit, even if you didn't know your actions were against the law. Ignorance of the law is no excuse!

The signs, traffic signals, and road markings that guide traffic are known as traffic control devices. These devices are so common that many drivers take them for granted. Pay attention to the number of traffic control devices that you see the next time you're on the road. You'll be surprised at just how many there are and how much information is communicated to drivers everywhere they travel.

Part of the reason traffic control devices are so effective is because they take up so little of the driver's attention. The standard shapes, colors, and symbols used to guide traffic make up a consistent visual vocabulary. This consistency lets traffic control devices communicate essential information to drivers without distracting them from driving. Traffic control devices are designed so that you should be able to quickly understand even those devices you've never even seen before!

Red and White Signs The only signs that are exclusively red and white in color are: stop signs, yield signs, do not enter signs, and wrong way signs. Whenever you see a sign colored red and white, it means you must prepare to stop.

Prohibitory Signs The color red is also used on some regulatory signs to indicate that a particular maneuver or road user (such as a pedestrian, bicycle, or motorcycle, or a vehicle carrying hazardous materials) is prohibited. Prohibitory signs are square white signs that feature a black symbol under a red circle and slash, meaning "NO", to indicate that the action or vehicle represented by the symbol is prohibited. The pictured sign indicates that a driver may not turn right.

Yellow Traffic Lights A yellow traffic signal will warn you that the red light is about to be activated. A yellow traffic signal ends the period of movement authorized by the green light. When approaching a yellow traffic signal, you should stop. When the yellow signal is lit, only proceed across the intersection if you have passed the point of no return and are unable to safely bring your car to a stop before reaching the intersection.

Red Traffic Lights At a red light, you must stop. If you are not turning, you remain where you are until the signal changes, allowing you to proceed. When the red light is solid, all traffic waiting may proceed when the light turns green. However, when the red light is flashing, traffic may proceed only one car at a time according to the same rules that apply at a stop sign.

You must yield the right-of-way to any emergency vehicle (police car, fire truck, or ambulance) that has its lights flashing, its siren blaring, or both. The drivers of these vehicles are responding to an emergency. Their ability to get to their destination as quickly as possible could literally mean the difference between life and death. You should do everything you can to cooperate with these drivers.

Remain standing until the vehicle has passed. After the vehicle has passed, maintain a following distance of at least 500 ft from the emergency vehicle.

What if another driver violates the law and ignores your legal right-of-way? Should you teach this driver a lesson? Forget about it. It is not your job to enforce the law or teach others how to drive. Your primary concern should always be reducing the risk of a collision. Even if you are upset about another driver's discourtesy and breach of the law, you should let him or her proceed for the sake of safety. Courtesy and common sense should always govern your actions.

Right-of-way rules prevail on all public roads. However, you must not drive on or through private property in order to avoid compliance with right-of-way rules or a posted, official traffic control device.

The Texas Transportation Code defines right-of-way as: The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian that is approaching from a direction, at a speed, and within a proximity that could cause a collision unless one grants precedence to the other

Right-of-way rules typically apply at intersections, when merging, when dealing with certain other road users, and at railroad crossings. These rules apply any time two cars may want to be in the same place at the same time. However, these rules do not grant right-of-way to a particular driver in a given situation. Instead, right-of-way rules specify which road user must yield the right-of-way to allow others to proceed.

Rules for Using Shoulders on the Right In general, you should not drive on the shoulder of the road. However, you may drive on a paved shoulder to the right of the roadway if you must do so and can do so safely in order to: *Stop, stand, or park *Accelerate to enter the flow of traffic *Decelerate before making a turn *Pass another vehicle that is slowing, stopped, disabled, or preparing to turn left *Allow another vehicle or vehicles to pass *Avoid a collision *Make room for an emergency vehicle, police patrol car, or bicycle *Obey a traffic control device

Rules for Using Shoulders on the Left For the most part, if you need to drive on a shoulder you should use the right shoulder. The left shoulder is not intended to be used by drivers in normal circumstances. However, you may drive on a paved shoulder to the left of the roadway if you must do so and can do so safely in order to: *Slow or stop a disabled vehicle when traffic or other circumstances prohibit you from moving to the right shoulder safely *Avoid a collision *Make room for an emergency vehicle, police patrol car, or bicycle *Obey a traffic control device

Always drive cautiously around school buses. According to the NHTSA, an average of 17 school-age children die each year in collisions involving a school bus or other vehicle used to transport students. Whenever you are driving anywhere that children may be, and any time children or school buses are visible, slow down and pay careful attention to activity on the sidewalk and the road ahead of you.

School buses use overhead lights to communicate with drivers ahead of and following them. *Overhead yellow lights will flash when the school bus is still moving but preparing to stop. *Overhead red lights will flash when the school bus is stopped to let school children on or off the bus. Be aware that outside urban areas, school buses are limited to 50 mph, or 60 mph on numbered highways if they've passed a commercial vehicle inspection.

Obey All Traffic Control Devices Obey all official traffic control devices, including signs, signals, and pavement markings, unless you are directed to do something else by a traffic or police officer or are operating an emergency vehicle.

Signal Your Intentions Always communicate your intention to turn, change lanes, or start from a parked position by activating your turn signal. When making a left or right turn, be sure to signal continuously for at least 100 ft before reaching the intersection or the place where you're planning to make the turn. When your car is parked or disabled, you should not use your turn signals to indicate to other motorists that they should not pass.

Sometimes, two cars will approach the same intersection from opposite directions, but one of them will want to turn left. This would prohibit the other car from continuing through the intersection if they both attempted to proceed at the same time. A driver turning left at an intersection (or into an alley, private road, or driveway) must yield to allow any traffic moving straight ahead to proceed before beginning the turn.

Single- and Two-Lane Roads At certain kinds of intersections, special rules govern who should yield the right-of-way. When a single- or two-lane road intersects with a divided roadway or a roadway with three or more lanes, a driver on the single- or two-lane road must yield to the traffic on the wider roadway.

Keep To the Right When Driving Slowly If you need to drive slower than the rate of traffic, you must drive in the right-hand lane or as close to the right curb as possible unless you are: *Passing another vehicle *Preparing to turn left at an intersection or into a private road or driveway

Stay on the Right of the Center Line When you're driving on a road with two or more lanes of traffic moving in each direction, you should never drive to the left of the center line (into the side of the road with traffic moving in the opposite direction). The only exceptions are situations in which: *A traffic control device designates that you can use a specified lane to the left of the center line, such as a left turn lane *You need to avoid an obstruction and can only do it by moving left after yielding to any vehicle in the lane that presents an immediate hazard *You are turning left into or out of an alley, private road, or driveway

Regulatory signs indicate to drivers what they may or may not do, and correspond with traffic laws that govern the area where they are posted. You must comply with the directions posted on a regulatory sign. You may be cited any time you fail to do so. Most regulatory signs are white with black text, though the color red, signifying prohibition, is also frequently used. Regulatory signs are generally square or rectangular, although unique shapes are used for some of the most important regulatory signs.

Stop Signs Whenever you are directed by a STOP sign, you must stop and wait until it is safe to proceed to claim the right-of-way. All stop signs are red octagons. The stop sign is the only sign with this shape, so as soon as you see a red octagon, you must prepare to stop. Usually, a small tab below the sign will indicate when it is a four-way stop.

A number of basic traffic laws are listed in the Texas Transportation Code (TRC). These laws must always be obeyed, even when you may believe that it is safe to ignore them. The law is the law. There's no room for you to impose your judgment or interpretations onto behavior on the roads. You must obey the speed limit because it is the law, regardless of whether you believe you are skilled or experienced enough to disregard it.

The Basic Speed Rule The Basic Speed Rule in Texas states that: An operator may not drive at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing. You must drive at a speed that is appropriate for the speed and volume of traffic, the width and surface condition of the highway, weather conditions, and any other actual or potential hazards on the road. You must be able to stop within the clear space ahead of your car.

In general, drivers must cooperate with instructions issued by the police. Drivers must: * Stop when signaled to do so * Sign any citation to appear in court the officer issues * Assist at the scene of a collision upon request * Accompany the officer to the station upon request * Submit to a blood or breath test when asked When stopped by the police, you must be prepared to provide the officer with your license, vehicle registration, and proof of financial responsibility.

The Courts Some traffic violations are civil infractions, while others are misdemeanors or felonies. Depending on the particular charge and how it is resolved, a driver may be fined, referred to a special program, or, in the most serious cases, sent to jail or prison.

The Move Over Law requires drivers to exercise particular caution as they pass a stopped emergency vehicle with activated lights. When you are driving on a road with multiple lanes, you must move out of the lane closest to the stopped emergency vehicle. If the road only has one lane, slow down. Drive no faster than 20 mph below the speed limit (or to 5 mph if the speed limit is 25 mph or less).

The Move Over Law initially applied only to emergency vehicles like police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances. However, the protections of this law have been extended to other road users as well. The Move Over Law now applies to tow trucks and TxDOT vehicles with flashing lights stopped on the side of the road. You must also move over for a TxDOT work crew stationed on the roadside to perform maintenance. When approaching any road user protected by this law, you must vacate the lane closest to them if there are multiple lanes travelling in the same direction. If there are not multiple lanes in the same direction, slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit (or 5 mph if the speed limit is 25 mph or less). Violators of the Move Over Law can be fined up to $2,000.

Individuals who demonstrate poor conduct as a driver demonstrate indifference to the safety of others and disrespect for the laws of the state. The DPS keeps a record on every driver in order to identify, penalize, and deny privileges to unsafe drivers. While minor offenses may be removed from a driver's license after only a few years, some violations, such as driving while intoxicated and refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test, will remain on a driver's record for 15 years or more.

The Police Police and law enforcement agents represent the first line of defense against unsafe drivers. All police agencies, including local police and sheriff's departments, as well as the Texas Highway Patrol, are responsible for maintaining safety on the roads and enforcing all traffic laws enacted in Texas.

If you abuse your driving privilege, the DPS or the Texas court system may decide to take action against your license. *A suspension is a temporary withdrawal of a drivers license or the driving privilege for a specified period of time. *A revocation is a termination of a drivers license or the driving privilege for an indefinite period of time. The driving privilege can only be restored when all requirements associated with the revocation have been satisfied. *A cancellation is a withdrawal of a license or the driving privilege until the driver can requalify. *A denial is a withholding of a license or the driving privilege because the person is ineligible. The individual must meet the eligibility requirements before he or she can acquire a license.

The authority of DPS to suspend or revoke an individual's drivers license extends to that person's driving privilege regardless of whether or not they are actually licensed at the time of the violation. Your driving privilege will automatically be suspended for major violations including driving while intoxicated, intoxication manslaughter and assault, evading arrest and hit-and-run. A history of committing multiple moving violations or otherwise driving recklessly or negligently is also grounds for a license suspension or revocation.

Graduated licensing programs have been linked with substantially decreased rates of fatal crashes among young drivers. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that fatal crash rates involving 16- to 19-year-old drivers in states where no GDL program was in place were over 50% higher than fatal crash rates in states with strong GDL programs.

The graduated drivers license (GDL) program in Texas creates two phases of driving requirements for minors. Minors must complete both phases before getting a complete license. Among other requirements, the GDL program mandates that the student complete 30 hours of driving practice supervised by a parent or guardian. To begin the GDL program, a minor must complete the requirements for an Instruction Permit, and then obtain one.

A typical locomotive weighs approximately 400,000 pounds—that's 200 tons. When 100 railcars are added to the locomotive, the train can weigh approximately 6,000 tons. The ratio of the weight of a train to the weight of a car is proportional to the ratio of the weight of a car and the weight of a soda can.

The immense size and weight of trains means that they simply cannot stop quickly. It is a matter of physics: the huge weight, size, and speed of a train dictate how quickly it can stop under ideal conditions. A 100-car freight train travelling at 55 mph will need more than a mile to stop—that's approximately 18 football fields—once the train is set into emergency braking.

Consistent standards concerning the design, installation, and maintenance of traffic control devices are established in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD is published by the Federal Highway Administration. For the most part, the same traffic control devices are used on all U.S. streets and highways. As a result, drivers can travel from one place to another without having to learn new standards whenever they enter a new community.

The warnings and regulations communicated through traffic control devices are provided to ensure that all drivers share the road in a safe and responsible manner. By being attentive to all traffic control devices and responding appropriately, you'll contribute to the safety of everyone on the road.

Ever since there have been cars on the road, there has been the problem of traffic. Who should have priority on the road? How do we make sure that the rights—and physical health—of everyone on the road are as protected as possible? When two cars seek to proceed in incompatible ways, who has the right-of-way? While cars were not mass-produced in America until the beginning of the 20th century, by 1903 traffic in major cities such as New York had gotten so bad that traffic fatalities had already become daily occurrences, prompting William Phelps Eno to publish a book called The Rules of the Road that defined a traffic code for New York City. Before this time, the only real traffic law was "Keep to the Right."

There are traffic laws governing the speed you must travel at, the maneuvers you may make on the road, and the things you may (and may not) do behind the wheel. There are traffic laws that change depending on the time of day or the time of year. If you haven't thought things through, it may sometimes seem like there are too many traffic laws. After all, you might think, there are many other human activities where thousands of people must work in coordination, but these are rarely as regulated as driving. You might even conclude that ignoring one law occasionally won't be that bad. But you'd be wrong: dead wrong.

In certain situations, the typical driver licensing process may constitute a hardship for the driver or his or her family. To accommodate these drivers, the DPS may issue a Minor's Restricted Drivers License (MRDL), or hardship license, to minors between 15 and 18 if they meet one of the following criteria. *The minor's family would face a hardship if he or she was not issued the license *The minor needs the license due to a family member's illness *The minor is enrolled in a vocational education program that requires a drivers license To obtain a hardship license, which must be renewed every year, you must still fulfill the driver education requirement. GDL restrictions regarding passengers, driving hours, and cell phone use must still be obeyed when driving with a hardship license. The hardship license will be suspended if you are convicted of two or more moving violations within 12 months.

Traffic violations can delay your acquisition of a license. For any offense for which your drivers license may be suspended or revoked, your driving privilege may also be suspended or revoked during the GDL program. This means your ability to obtain a full license will be delayed by the length of the suspension or revocation. Moreover, you will not be able to drive during the suspension or revocation.

To operate your vehicle on Texas roads, you must have it registered with the DMV. You are required to renew your registration and have your vehicle inspected at an official inspection station annually. During your vehicle inspection, its equipment will be tested to make sure that it is working properly and to make sure that it meets all applicable legal standards. Among the pieces of equipment that will be tested are the windows and mirrors, the horn, the brakes, the fuel cap, the tires, the seat belts, the emission system, and the vehicle lights.To operate your vehicle on Texas roads, you must have it registered with the DMV. You are required to renew your registration and have your vehicle inspected at an official inspection station annually. During your vehicle inspection, its equipment will be tested to make sure that it is working properly and to make sure that it meets all applicable legal standards. Among the pieces of equipment that will be tested are the windows and mirrors, the horn, the brakes, the fuel cap, the tires, the seat belts, the emission system, and the vehicle lights.

Under the Safety Responsibility Act, all Texas drivers are required to obtain liability insurance or otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility. The Safety Responsibility Act was passed to make sure that all Texas drivers are capable of providing compensation in the event that they injure or kill a person or damage property in a motor vehicle collision.

In a sense, learning to drive is learning to reduce risk on the road. No amount of training would ever be sufficient to eliminate all the risks associated with driving, and society will accept these dangers as long as they are significantly outweighed by the benefits of driving. Fortunately, an in-depth drivers education program can not only impart knowledge of current driving laws and common driving scenarios, but can also introduce novice drivers to attitudes and strategies that will help them decrease the inherent dangers of driving no matter what situation they encounter.

Using the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you learn in drivers education will lower your chances of becoming involved in a costly, injurious, and potentially deadly collision. When drivers apply the lessons they learned in drivers education, they help reduce the costs of law enforcement, medical care, and property replacement. They also allow everyone to use the road with less stress about the dangers posed by other drivers.

The reason you must follow each and every traffic law is simple: a motor vehicle is a deadly weapon. Controlling a motor vehicle is a more complex task than many you will do, and the consequences of a single mistake can be much more severe than the consequences would be in most circumstances. Indeed, one reason that penalties for traffic violations are so severe is to provide drivers with obvious incentives to avoid behaviors that will put other drivers at risk.

When driving, you are always surrounded by other road users. Drivers. Pedestrians. Bicyclists and motorcyclists—they're everywhere! They are present even when out of your direct view, concealed by your car's blind spots, hard to see from your position in the driver's seat, or obscured by other obstacles. Be ready to share the road. Traffic laws exist so that all these road users can share the road in a safe and responsible manner.

Maintain a Safe Following Distance Whenever you're driving behind another vehicle, you should maintain a reasonable, prudent, and clear distance from the car you're following. To determine a safe following distance, you should always account for your speed, the size, speed, number, and location of other vehicles on the road, and current road and weather conditions.

When following another vehicle, you must be able to stop without colliding with or steering into another vehicle, object, or person on or near the roadway. Truckers, drivers towing trailers, and drivers in a motorcade or caravan must leave sufficient space so that other road users have room to pass. The concept of following distance will be discussed at length in future lessons.

When driving behind a school bus that is stopped or preparing to stop, you must also stop. Additionally, you must stop for a school bus that is stopped ahead of you on the opposite side of the road, unless: *The road is divided by a median *The road is a controlled access highway where pedestrians are not allowed to cross Always stop at least 20 ft from the position of the school bus.

When stopped for a school bus, remain standing as long as the lights are flashing, as school children are getting on or off the bus. Often, this will also be indicated by a stop sign displayed near the front of the bus. You may proceed once the bus deactivates the signals and resumes motion, or if the driver signals that you may proceed.

T-Intersections When the road you're driving on ends at the road it intersects with, it is known as a T-intersection. A driver on the road that ends must yield to traffic in or approaching the intersection along the continuing road and proceed only when he or she can enter the intersection without colliding with traffic.

When traffic control devices like signals and stop and yield signs are posted, right-of-way is determined by the device. Most intersections employ some kind of traffic control device. However, remember that no sign or signal allows you to enter or cross an intersection until you are sure there is no risk of collision. If you have any doubt, don't proceed.

Without right-of-way laws, how would you know if it was safe to proceed when you arrived at an intersection? How would you be able to predict what other drivers were going to do? By making sure that all drivers follow the same set of rules and know to respond to a given situation in the same way, traffic laws ensure that all drivers have a common understanding of how they should act on the road. This is why we are able to drive with confidence that another driver isn't about to do something unexpected.

Whenever two road users wish to occupy the same part of the roadway, Texas law specifies the order they should proceed by identifying which driver should yield the right-of-way. Keep in mind that the law never assigns the right-of-way to a particular road user, but instead indicates which road user is required to yield. The most important thing to remember about right-of-way is that it is safer to yield it than to use it. If another driver is not following the rules, let him or her have the right-of-way, even if it is rightfully yours.

To avoid rear-end collisions as you approach an intersection, you must communicate your intention to either stop or slow down to other drivers around you. When you make the decision to begin slowing down or stopping, either tap your brakes to flash your brake lights, show a hand signal, or use your turn signals to inform the driver behind that you are slowing down.

Whenever you must stop or yield to other traffic, stop completely before you enter the crosswalk. There may be a wide white line painted on the street (a "limit line") rather than the edge of the crosswalk. This line indicates where you must stop. When a crosswalk or limit line is not marked, stop at the corner before the curb line. Check for traffic, and wait until it is safe before you proceed across the intersection.

Once you acquire your permit, you should ask a parent, guardian, or another mature driver that you trust to take you on the road so that you can learn and practice driving maneuvers. Only with practice will your driving skills begin to become automatic and comfortable. The adults supervising your behind-the-wheel practice should discuss with you strategies and skills for controlling the car and interacting with other road users. By sharing with you their own experiences as drivers, they can impart valuable lessons that may help you avoid mistakes in the future. In addition, whenever you are riding as a passenger with your parents or guardians, you should engage them in conversation and ask them to discuss what they are doing to help you better understand the process of driving.

While drivers licensing can help ensure that everyone on the road has a basic set of essential skills so they don't pose a significant hazard to others, some practice is needed to develop those skills in the first place. To allow them to legally practice driving before applying for a standard drivers license, young drivers are first required to obtain an Instruction Permit.

When required to attend a court hearing, a driver must appear, testify, and abide by all penalties that the court imposes. A driver's license can be suspended simply for failing to resolve a citation. The court has the authority to assign many penalties in addition to suspensions and revocations. For instance, the court may assign a driver to attend a certain educational program or complete a specified number of hours of community service depending on the nature of the infraction.

While driving comes with increased freedom and mobility, it also involves certain responsibilities that you are required to uphold. You are responsible for your safety, the safety of your passengers, and the safety of others on the road. If you were alone on the road, driving would be a much simpler task. However, with the roads becoming more crowded every day, it is your duty to know and abide by the rules of the road and to act courteously and communicate with other road users.

You must always obey traffic laws, even when you think there's no reason to do so. For instance, you must always stop at a STOP sign, even if there seems to be no other traffic on the road. Even if you think you're right, remember that everyone can be wrong from time to time. When you're behind the wheel, a lapse in judgment can be deadly. Laws are established to ensure safety on the roads by making everyone consistently follow the same rules. Failure to obey the law can mean serious trouble.

With so many drivers on the road and more added every day, it's important to make sure that every driver is safe, competent, and knowledgeable about the rules of the road. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) issues licenses and endorsements to individuals who have demonstrated the skills and attitudes necessary for safe driving.

Do Not Enter Signs Do Not Enter signs are square-shaped with a red circle design. They are frequently found along with one way signs and are used to identify one way roads, expressway entrances, and other roadways that cannot be entered from the location where the sign is posted.

Wrong Way Signs Wrong Way signs are horizontal rectangles that are colored red. These signs are also posted on one way roads and by expressway entrances and exits. If you can see a wrong way sign, you are driving in the wrong direction and must stop and turn around as quickly as you can do so safely.

Four-way Stop Signs At many intersections, traffic moving in all four directions will be controlled by stop signs. The rules for intersections with four-way stop signs are the same as those that apply at uncontrolled intersections: *The car that arrived later must yield to the car that arrived first. *If both cars arrived at the intersection at the same time, the car on the left must yield to the car on the right.

Yield Signs When you approach an intersection that is controlled by a yield sign, drive slowly enough that you will be able to stop if necessary. If any road user is in the intersection or approaching from another road and close enough to endanger you if you enter the intersection, yield the right-of-way until the intersection is clear.

In order to apply for an instruction permit, drivers under 18 must be enrolled in an approved drivers education program privately or through their school. A student may not begin to practice behind-the-wheel lessons until he or she has obtained the instruction permit.

You must complete all parts of the required traffic safety education program, including all online classroom and in-car instruction, in order for your permit to remain valid. As long as you are under 18, you will not be allowed to apply for a drivers license until you have completed all elements of the traffic safety education program, including all online classroom and in-car instruction. Waiting until your 18th birthday won't get you out of drivers ed! Applicants between the ages of 18 and 24 are required to complete an adult drivers education program in order to obtain a license.

Every driver is required to have the following minimum amounts of coverage: *$30,000 for the injury or death of a single person *$60,000 for a single collision that causes the injury or death of more than one person *$25,000 for property damages These amounts are often not enough to cover the damages caused in a collision. You will be personally responsible for paying any claims over the amounts provided by your policy.

You must present evidence of financial responsibility when: *Applying for a drivers license *Registering a motor vehicle *Having a vehicle inspected *Requested by a law enforcement officer or by a person with whom you've been involved in a collision If you fail to show proof of financial responsibility when requested by a law enforcement officer, you will receive a citation. After more than one offense, your driving privilege will be suspended.

When you have completed your drivers education program and the first phase of the GDL program, you must return to the drivers license office to apply for your provisional Class C license. Phase Two of the GDL program begins when you apply for your provisional drivers license. In addition, all teen drivers ed students are now required by law to complete the official Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) online course after completing drivers ed and before applying for a provisional license.

You will have to pass an in-car driving skills test to obtain your Provisional Class C license. While most people take this test with a DPS examiner, Texas also certifies some driving schools, employers, and other organizations to administer the driving skills test themselves. You will have to provide a vehicle for taking your driving skills test. Moreover, to take the skills test, you must provide proof of liability insurance and your vehicle must have a valid inspection certificate. When you go to take the test, you must also bring the Certificate of Completion from your ITTD course. The DPS requires that you complete the ITTD course no more than three (3) months prior to taking the driving test.

While the material presented in drivers education course is not always exciting, by studying it carefully you will be prepared to deal calmly with stressful situations. "Excitement" is not a good thing for a safe driver to feel, so drivers education always works to help you avoid driving scenarios that aren't safe. You should always be mentally present and apply yourself diligently as you proceed through this course. To get the most out of drivers ed, you should always be prepared to learn, focus on the lessons being presented, and review the material to reinforce your knowledge.

Your parents, guardians, or adult mentors should become involved in your education as a driver from the very beginning of the process. These individuals have a vested interest in your success. Not only do they want to make sure that you remain safe when you're behind the wheel, but in some cases they may be held liable for crimes you commit as a driver.