4. Safety Margins Flashcards
Define a personal safety margin
The space you maintain around your vehicle
How should you control your speed down a hill?
Selecting low gears
Braking gently
Why should you not coast?
Coasting (travelling with the clutch disengaged or in neutral) reduces your control over the car.
What is stopping distance?
The distance you cover from the moment you realise you must brake until you come to a full stop, made up of thinking and braking distance
What is a good method for judging the gap between you and the driver ahead on a good, dry road?
2 second rule
What is a good method for judging the gap between you and the driver ahead on a wet, rainy road?
Increase safety margin by double - 4 second rule
What is a good method for judging the gap between you and the driver ahead on an icy road?
Increase safety margin by 10 times he distance (~20 seconds)
Why must you leave a gap between yourself and the driver in front?
So you can pull up safely if it slows down or stops suddenly
What must you do before travelling in snowy weather?
Clear ice/ snow from windows, lights, mirrors and number platesW
What must you do when driving in snowy weather?
Use very high gears
Brake very gently
Be prepared to manually clean snow from the windscreen as wipers may not suffice
What must you do when travelling in fog?
Allow more time for your journey
Slow down
Increase vehicle safety margin
Use dipped headlights/ fog lights if your visibility is less than 100 metres
Define aquaplaning
When tyres lift off of the road surface and skate on a film of water. Steering will become light. On ice, the tyres will barely make noise
What should you do if aquaplaning occurs?
Ease of the accelerator
Do not brake until steering feels normal
What should you do after driving through deep water?
Test the brakes, you may need to press gently to dry them out
What is the danger of hot weather?
Road surfaces may become hot such that tyres will not grip as well, affecting braking and steering
Why may you want to give an arm signal in bright sunlight?
Other drivers may not see your indicator lights
Who may be effected by high winds?
High sided vehicles, motorists and cyclists may be blown off course, allow extra wide birth
What is the main cause of skidding?
Bad driving
When is the risk of skidding greatest?
Wet/ icy weather
How do you identify black ice?
When the steering feels light
How can we decrease the risk of skidding and wheelspin in wet/ icy weather?
Drive at low speed in a high gear and react to hazards with plenty of time
What should you do if you start skidding?
Release the foot break and re-apply gently (of you do not have ABS)
Steer smoothly in the direction of the skid
If you have ABS apply the footbrake rapidly and firmly until you’ve stopped
Does ABS decrease stopping distance?
Not necessarily, only allows steering whilst braking
When may ABS not work?
Where there is surface water
Where there is a loose road surface
What is ESC?
Electronic stability control comprises the function of ABS and traction control systems and aims to prevent a vehicle skidding sideways by detecting risk of skid and providing selective braking intervention to restore vehicle stability.
This is now fitted in all new UK vehicles
Describe a contraflow system
When a dual carriageway is split into a two way system when one direction is closed
What should you remember in a contraflow system?
Reduce speed
Choose appropriate lane in good time
Maintain correct separation distance
What can I do to stop my vehicle rolling downhill when parked?
Turn the wheel towards the kerb
What are the benefits of a four-wheeled drive vehicle?
Improved road holding on different road surfaces
Where should you not overtake?
When view is blocked
When approaching a junction
If intending to turn off the road shortly
