Chapter 11 - Communication, driving in daylight and in difficult weather conditions Flashcards
Different way you can communicate with other road users?
- Indicator
- Brake lights
- Horn
- Headlights
- Heand and arm gestures
Uses of the indicator?
Obliged to use the indicator tor inform drivers about lateral movement.
- Driving away
- Overtaking
- Merging and exiting
- Changing lanes
- Getting in lane and turning left or right
Remember to put indicator to neutral as soon as the manoeuvre is completed
When should you start indicating (distance) in the following scenarios…
- Trunk/road motorway when wanting to exit
- Roads outside built up area or 70km/h roads in built up area before junction
- Roads in built up area before junction
- Residential streets
- 300m
- 200m
- 100m or 50m if there is space marked for traffic turning left/right
- 50m
These are just suggestions –> do not do anything that leads to confusion
Situations when you can use your hazard warning lights?
- Broken down car and you are not allowed to stop in that specific place
- Stopped in a place where people can’t see you
- Held up in by a queue
What should you expect if you are approaching a vehicle with yellow hazard warning light?
Be prepared that you…
- Are approaching slow moving heavy transport from behind
- Are approachong a extremely wide vehicle
- Are approaching a dangerous situation –> caused by clear up operation or traffic accident
What are the 4 main types of headlight options?
- Full-beam headlights
- Dipped headlights
- Fog Lamp
- Parking lights
When should you use your dipped headlights?
- At dusk or in the dark
- During daytime if weather conditions impair your visibility –> not allowed to use you parking lights only
What are daytime running lights?
New passenger cars and delivery vans must be equipped with daytime running lights –> make them more visible during the day
Switch on automatically when the engine is started –> they should automatically switch off when other headlights are on
When should you use the main beam? When are they not allowed to be used?
If you dipped lights are insufficient at night –> you can use the main beam
They are not to be used…
- In the daytime
- If another road user (including pedestrian is approaching you –> switch to dipped lights
- If you are following another vehicle (including bicycle + moped) at a short distance
Why would you have to use your lights if the sun is low?
If the low sun is coming from behind you –> oncoming traffic may have difficulty seeing you –> if you use your dipped lights they can see you more easily
Under what circumstances can you get dazzled by light? What should you do?
Reasons:
- If oncoming traffic dips too late
- Dipped headlight on the oncoming vehicle are adjusted too high
- Low sun
- Light or dirty windows
Reactiom:
- Reduce speed
- Stop if necessary
How to signal to oncoming drivers that you are dazzled by their lights?
You can draw your attention by flashing your main beam
They ignore you? –> Look to the right of the headlights to avoid them
Why is important to be watchful for pedestrians in the dark?
Drivers are required to have lights
Pedestrians not
Be extra watchful –> dont keep too much to the right
Why can dark and rainy conditions be dangerous?
Wet road surfaces reflect light from your headlights –> road lines and markings may dissolve in the reflecting light
Adjust your speed in such situations
Things to keep in mind when driving through town centres with alot of public lighting and brightly coloured neon lights?
- You will not see traffic lights in time
- Notice traffic signs too late
- Have problems distinguishing pedestrians and cyclists
Things to consider when you are driving at night?
- Hard to distinguish speed bumps
- Hard to gauge distance and speed
- When standing still make sure your lights are on especially outside a built up area –> use parking lights
- Stopping in lay-by/hard shoulder and parking lane –> sidelights on
- Stopping with a trailer and caravan –> front, side and rear lights must be on
What should you do if your trailer is wider than 2.10m and longer than 6m?
Make sure you use end-outline marker lamps on both the front and back
Side marker lights if the trailer is longer than 6m
Problems that arise when driving when it is raining?
- Diffifcult to see out of your windscreen
- Road surface is more slippery
What lights should you turn on when it starts to rain + heavy rain?
Always turn on your dipped lights when it starts to rain
During heavy rainfall –> combine dipped lights and fog lamps
Are you allowed to use your rear fog lights when it rains?
No –> not even if its heavy rain –> dazzle drivers
Why should you reduce speed during heavy rainfall?
- You are not hindered by reduced visibility
- Stopping distance doesn’t become to long
- Wet road conditions (aquaplaning) do not increase
When driving outside the built up area and visibility is reduced to 50m, whats the fastest you should drive?
50km/h and do not overtake
Where does aquaplanning occurs?
It occurs in places where roads are covered with water
Aquaplanning describes the phenomenom when there is a build of a layer of water on the road resulting in reduced traction.
What to do when there are severe crosswinds?
Adjust your speed if you run into severe crosswinds –> wind may blow you to the side –> important to keep the car on course
Motorways are most likely effected, especially when..
- On bridges and flyovers
- Noise barrier ends
- in areas where there is a lot of variation in landscapes
What are the main precautions you should take when you are driving in heavy fog?
- Increase distance with the vehicle in front
- Reduce your speed
- Do not overtake
- Turn on fog lights
- If needed, turn on rear fog lights
- Use the side of the road as a guidline
If visibility is only 30 metres –> do not drive faster than 30km/h
How to join traffic on the motorway when there is fog?
Enter the motorway with reduced speed
What does the 2 second rule turn into when there is fog?
3 second rule –> you should keep a distance of 3 seconds from the vehicle you are following
What lane should you use on the motorway in case of dense fog?
Stay in the right lane as much as possible –> so you can use the hard shoulder in an emergency
Not advisable to overtake
how to classify heavy fog?
Heavy fog is a fog with a visibility of less than 50m
When should you use your rear fog lights?
In the event of heavy fog, turn on your rear fog lights –> preferably only one
Do not turn them on if it is raining or if it is not heavy fog
Also wise to turn off your fog lights if you find yourself in a traffic jam
Under what circumstances should you use your front fog lights?
Heavy fog –> allowed to use fog light in combination with dipped headlights
Fog lamps only used in conditions where coniditons seriously obstruct your view –> visibility less than 200m
Precautions when driving in heavy snowfall/icy roads?
Before driving clear snow from car
Risks
- Approach traffic lights/right of way signs/stop signs with extra caution
- Keep a larger distance –> Braking distance increases
- Reduce your speed –> e.g. in built up area speed bumps may be hidden by the snow
- Lane changing done differently –> lane/road hasn’t really be used –> still covered in snow? –> approach at a slower speed
- Brake sooner
- Use adjusted lighting
Should you use your main beam during snow fall?
No –> dipped headlights –> you can also use it in combination with your front fog lights if visibility is impeded
What could slow drivers in the winter in coming traffic signify?
Could be a signal that the road ahead is slippery –> adjust your speed
Are winter tyres compulsary in the Netherlands?
No
In regions abroad in mountainous regions you may be required to use snow chains
Note –> Snow chains are prohibited in the Netherlands even when the roads are covered in a thick layer of snow
Advantage of using winter tyres in the winter?
Disadvantage of using winter tyres in the summer?
In winter
Winter tyres –> Increase tyre contact surface with the road –> more grip + softer rubber composition which alows for the tyre to remain more supple and eleastic at lower temperatures
In summer
Winter tyres –> increased breaking distance and reduced road handling + large rolling distance results in higher fuel consumption –> not designed for dry roads and high temps
