10 point commentary

Question 1

Approaching, Turning, Going through or starting up at intersections scan ahead, look left, right, then back left scanning the scene for PBMVs to ensure they are obeying traffic signs or signals looking for obstructions that may block visibility.

Answer 1

Clearing Intersections
Keeps you alive at intersections

Question 2

Look left a second time because that is the first lane of traffic I am going to enter

Answer 2

Clearing intersections
Keeps you alive at intersections

Question 3

Prior to entering the intersection I check my traffic side mirror looking for traffic in the lane next to my vehicle that may turn in front of me. As I go through the intersection I check the opposite side mirror to ensure I cleared the intersection of any hazards.

Answer 3

Clearing intersection
Keeps you alive at intersections

Question 4

Why? Keeps you alive at intersections

Answer 4

Clearing intersections

Question 5

While stopped in traffic I leave enough space between the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of me and the front bumper of my vehicle. If the vehicle in front of me stalls or becomes disabled I can maneuver around the vehicle without backing up in traffic. The space in front is proportionate to the size of my vehicle the longer my vehicle the more space.

Answer 5

When stopped in traffic
Have Escape route

Question 6

Why? Have Escape Route

Answer 6

When stopped in traffic

Question 7

Count one, two, three after the vehicle ahead has started to move before placing my vehicle in motion. This establishes a space cushion and allows me to bring my eyes up to the driving scene ahead.

Answer 7

Count one-two-three after vehicle ahead has started to move.

Keeps you away from billboards

Question 8

to calculate following distance (explain). This is my following distance in seconds and gives me time to act to any changes in traffic ahead.

Answer 8

4-6 second following time for speeds up to 30 MPH, 6-8 seconds for speeds over 30 MPH

Buys time

Question 9

8-12 seconds of eye lead time is the depth that my eyes should be most of the time while driving. To establish eye lead time (explain). That is my eye-lead time in seconds

Answer 9

8-12 seconds eye-lead time

Centers car in traffic lane

Question 10

Always scan steering wheels of parked cars to verify if it is occupied. Occupied vehicles present two hazards, either a person may exit the vehicle or pull away from curb. Check to see if steering wheels are turned out, exhaust for smoke, or lights on. If you can’t determine if it is occupied treat it as occupied. Small tap of the horn or loud blast if necessary close enough to be heard but far enough to evade.

Answer 10

Scan Steering Wheels
Take path of least resistance

Question 11

A stale green light is one I did not see change or am unsure of when it will change. I set up a point of decision between my front bumper and the stop line. If the light changes before I reach my decision point I will be able to safely stop behind the line. If I reach the decision point and the light changes I will continue through the intersection without hesitation or acceleration. Things that affect my point of decision are road, load, weather and speed.

Answer 11

Stale Green Lights
Smooth stops and Turns

Question 12

Always establish eye to eye contact with PBMVs to remove uncertainty. 3 tools to establish eye contact are the horn, lights and signals. The horn is the primary tool, usually a tap, sometimes a loud blast when needed. Once eye contact is made I can expect the other person to act in a reasonable and predictable manner.

Answer 12

Eye contact
establishes eye-to-eye contact

Question 13

pulling from a curb I indicate my intentions by turning on my traffic side turn signal. I check traffic looking at my traffic side flat and convex mirrors, then look over my traffic side shoulder to check my blind spot between the fuel tank and drive axle in the lane I am entering. When the lane is clear I can pull from curb and do not turn off my turn signal until my equipment is fully in the lane.

Answer 13

Pulling from curb
Communicate in traffic, horn, lights, signals.

Question 14

I check a mirror every 5-8 seconds looking for lane position, traffic conditions and mechanical problems. I substitute a mirror check with a gauge check looking for oil or water for normal readings when traffic allows. When I check a mirror or gauge my next eye movement is back to the front. Never mirror to mirror or mirror to gauge or gauge to gauge.

Answer 14

Use of Mirrors and gauges
Keeps eyes ahead of car

Question 15

Clearing intersections.

Answer 15

Keeps you alive at intersections.

When approaching, going through, starting up at intersections I check left, right then left again scanning the driving scene for hazards and making sure that PBMVs are obeying their signals and signs. I look left a second because that is the first lane of traffic I will enter. I check my traffic side mirror before entering the intersection for vehicles that may cross in front of me. As I clear the intersection I check the opposite side mirror to make sure I cleared any hazards

Question 16

When stopped in traffic.

Answer 16

Have escape route.
While stopped in traffic I leave enough space between the front bumper of my vehicle and the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of me so that if they become disabled or stall I can maneuver around them without backing up. This space is proportionate to the size of my vehicle, the longer the vehicle the larger the space.

Question 17

Count one-two-three after vehicle ahead has started to move

Answer 17

Keeps you away from billboards.
After the vehicle ahead has started to move I will count 1/1000, 2/1000, 3/1000 before moving my vehicle. This gives me a space cushion and allows me to bring my eyes up to the driving scene.

Question 18

4-6 seconds following time for speeds up to 30 mph, 6-8 seconds for speeds over 30 mph

Answer 18

Buys time.
To calculate following distance I find a stationary object ahead and count as the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of me passes it until my front bumper reaches it. This gives me time to react to traffic changes ahead.

Question 19

8-12 seconds eye-lead time

Answer 19

Centers car in traffic lane.

8-12 seconds eye lead time is the depth that my eyes are looking while driving. To establish eye lead time while driving, I pick a stationary item in front of my
vehicle and start counting 1/1000 one, 1/1000 two, 1/1000 three until the front of my vehicle
reaches that item. That is my eye lead time in seconds

Question 20

Scan Steering Wheels

Answer 20

Take path of least resistance.
I scan steering wheels of vehicles on the side of the road to determine if they are occupied or not. If they are occupied this presents two hazards. Either someone can walk out in front of me or the vehicle can pull out in front of me. I determine this by checking the steering wheels to see if they are pointed out, exhaust for smoke or vehicle lights are on. If I am unable to determine if it is occupied I will treat it as occupied. If it is occupied then as I approach the vehicle I will tap my horn, or a lord blast if needed with enough space to be heard, or to evade.

Question 21

Stale green lights

Answer 21

Smooth stops and turns.

A stale green light is a light that I did not see turn green or if I am unsure when it will change. Upon approaching a stale green light I set up a point of decision between the front bumper of my vehicle and the stop line. If the light changes before this point I will safely stop my vehicle. If it changes after this point I will continue through the intersection without hesitation or acceleration.

Things that affect my point of decision are road, load, speed and weather.

Question 22

Eye contact

Answer 22

Establishes eye-to-eye contact.

Always establish eye contact with PBMVs. There are 3 tools to use to do this. Horn, lights, and signals. The horn is the primary tool used to do this. A small tap, or a loud blast if needed. Once eye contact has been established I can expect the other person to act reasonably and predictably.

Question 23

Pulling from Curb

Answer 23

Communicate in traffic, horn, lights, signals.

When pulling away from a curb I start by indicating my intentions turning on my left turn signal, checking my traffic side flat and convex mirrors checking the traffic lane and looking over my traffic side shoulder for the blind spot between my gas tank and drive axle. When cleared I can start pulling from the curb, not turning off my turn signal until my equipment has fully entered traffic.

Question 24

Use of mirrors and gauges

Answer 24

Keeps eyes ahead of car.

While operating my vehicle I check my mirrors every 5-8 seconds. When traffic allows I substitute a mirror check for a gauge check, checking my primary gauges, or my oil and water gauges for normal readings. After checking a mirror or gauge my first eye movement is always back to the front. Never mirror to mirror, or gauge to gauge, or mirror to gauge.