Driver's Ed Unit 4 Test

steering wheel and hand placement

A 10:00 and 2:00 hand position is acceptable. In the "hand-over-hand" method, the driver reaches across the steering wheel to grasp the opposite side and pulls the wheel over the top, repeating as needed. In the "push-pull" method, one hand pushes up on the steering wheel while the other hand slides to the top and then pulls the wheel down, repeating the action until the turn is complete.

steps to take if your vehicle goes off the paved road

Ease off the gas pedal to slow down when your two wheels on the right side both go off the pavement. Do not brake suddenly. If you must brake to avoid a hazard on the shoulder, use gradual, controlled braking to avoid locking the wheels. Keep a tight grip on the steering wheel, and steer parallel to the roadway with two wheels on the roadway and two wheels off (straddling the drop-off edge). Keep the tires from scraping the edge of the pavement. Stay calm, and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. A soft or wet shoulder will pull your vehicle to the right. Do not steer sharply to try to get back onto the road. Continue to slow gradually until you are traveling very slowly—less than 25 mph and preferably closer to 10 mph—and you have your vehicle under control. Check for traffic approaching from the rear in the lane you will reenter. Turn on your left turn signal. When it is clear, gently steer left to ease the right wheels onto the pavement. As soon as you feel your wheels come back onto the road, gently steer right to straighten out. Speed up to match the flow of traffic once you are safely back on the pavement and in complete control of your vehicle.

forward vision and how it is compromised

Forward vision is your ability to see out of the windshield of your vehicle without any distractions or impediments. During heavy rain, large splashes of water can come off the road, causing a temporary loss of forward vision. This can also happen with mud or dirt. Debris can fly up off the roadway or drop from above and land on your windshield. This can cause temporary loss of vision through your windshield.

hydroplaning

Hydroplaning happens when your tires lose their grip on the road and ride like skis on a film of water. The faster you drive on a wet roadway, the less effective your tires become at wiping the water from the road. You can hydroplane at speeds as low as 35 mph, when water is only 1/10 of an inch deep. Worn tires make this problem worse. You can reduce your chance of hydroplaning by driving slower.

what you do if a vehicle is crossing into your lane

If another vehicle is approaching head-on in your lane, you should first honk your horn to attract attention.

how to react when your car starts to skid

If the rear of your vehicle is skidding to the left, turn the wheel to the left. If the rear of your vehicle is skidding to the right, turn the wheel to the right.

what happens when your accelerator sticks

Keep your eyes on the road. You can tap the pedal a few times to see if it will spring back to normal, or you may be able to lift it with your toe, but do not reach down to try to free the pedal with your hand. If the pedal remains stuck, shift to neutral immediately and use the brakes. This will cause your engine to race, but the power will be removed from your wheels. Concentrate on steering, and pull off the road when you have slowed down to a safe speed. Stop, turn off the engine, and put on your emergency flashers.

high water/flooding—how much is needed to cause a problem

On flooded roadways, even at low speeds, as little as 6 inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and can float some small vehicles. Most vehicles, including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), will be carried away by 2 feet of water. Once a vehicle floats off the roadway into deeper water, it may roll and fill with water, trapping the driver and passengers inside.

overdriving headlights

Overdriving headlights can put drivers in a very dangerous situation. Overdriving headlights is driving so fast at night that the driver is unable to stop within the range of the headlights.Pennsylvania law requires that you use low beams whenever you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and when you are following a vehicle within 300 feet.

wet roadways

Pavement can become very slippery in the first 10 to 15 minutes of a rainstorm. The rain causes oil in the asphalt to come to the surface. This problem becomes even worse during hot weather, when the heat combined with the water causes more oil to rise to the road surface. In cold, wet weather, be extra careful when driving on sections of road shaded by trees or buildings; these areas freeze the fastest and dry the slowest.

failures: brakes, tires, and steering

The first type of failure is tire failure, or a tire blowout. Sometimes, thumping noises start before a tire blows out, but you usually will not know ahead of time that a tire will blow out. You should protect against blowouts by keeping your tires in good condition and properly inflated. Brake failure is the next type of failure you will investigate. In a brake failure, one or more of your brakes will not engage, making stopping extremely difficult and potentially dangerous. If your brake system warning light comes on, you may still have braking in two of the four wheels, probably one front wheel and one rear wheel. This will allow you to pull over to the side of the road or into the next service station. The next failure you will look at is total steering failure. Total steering-system failure seldom occurs but is extremely serious when it does occur. If your steering fails completely, immediately communicate the emergency by using your horn and hazard flashers. Try to stop as quickly and as safely as possible. Lift your foot from the accelerator. Do not brake, unless a crash is imminent, because braking could cause the vehicle to skid. If you must brake, brake forcefully to reduce your speed.

whether night driving is more dangerous than day driving

The highest crash rates occur during nighttime hours. Most serious crashes occur in twilight or darkness. Overall, traffic fatality rates are three to four times higher at night than in daylight. Compared with driving in the day, driving at night is more dangerous.

how much night driving you need on a learner's permit

The new driver may not be behind the wheel between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. New drivers may travel for employment and for volunteer or charitable service during these hours, but they must carry proper documentation. When a driver has a leaner's permit, they are required to complete at least 65 hours of behind-the-wheel skill-building, including no less than 10 hours of nighttime driving.

tire blowouts

When a front tire blows out, your steering wheel will vibrate and you will feel the vehicle suddenly pull to one side. When a rear tire blows out, one corner of the vehicle will drop suddenly, and you will feel the rear of the vehicle wobble back and forth.

when high beams should be used and not used

When driving at night with your high beams on, change to low beams as soon as you see another vehicle approaching in the oncoming lane, because high beams can momentarily blind the other driver or impair your own vision due to their brightness.

how headlights are affected

requires motorists to turn on their headlights anytime their vehicle's wipers are in continuous or intermittent use due to weather conditions. Daytime running lights are not enough. Your taillights must be illuminated as well. Motorists who do not comply with the law may face a fine of $25, but with fees and other associated costs, the penalty would approach $100.

which warning signs are which on your dashboard

steering failure- yellow steering wheel, break failure- ABS, check engine light- engine

fishtailing

the rear of the vehicle swerving back and forth