Defensive and Eco Driving Flashcards
Tips and techniques to become a safer driver, as well as an ecofriendly and economical one. Learn how to help the environment, save money on gas and maintenance, and be safer, all at the same time...
How should you best check your surroundings when backing out of a parking space with limited vision?
Backing out can sometimes be tricky, so the best way is to check all around by looking over your shoulder. You have the best view of what is behind you by looking over your shoulder rather than by checking your mirrors.
When a pedestrian with a guide dog is stepping out into the street, not heeding a green-arrow light given to traffic, what should you do?
Although the pedestrian is not obeying traffic laws, he or she must be given the right-of-way for safety reasons. You should slow down and wait for the pedestrian to safely cross. Pedestrians on the road are at a much greater risk of being harmed by the cars around them, and should be given the right-of-way at all times.
How do you best handle sliding on an icy road?
When skidding or losing control on an icy road, the best thing to do behind the wheel is to steer in the direction of the skid. You will most likely regain traction, and continue driving (a little more cautiously, so next time you can prevent it from happening!).
How should you correctly exit the highway so as not to endanger anyone on the road?
To correctly exit the highway, you maintain your speed and move over when you can, only decreasing your speed once you are in the exit lane. Driving more slowly or much faster to get over is a hazard on the road one should avoid.
How do you brake most efficiently in an emergency in a car without ABS brakes?
To stop in an emergency situation with a car that doesn’t have ABS brakes, you should pump the brakes. Slamming on them all the way will cause you to lose control and traction.
What is the best way to avoid hydroplaning on the road?
The best way to avoid hydroplaning is simply to drive more slowly when on wet roads.
What should you do when an emergency vehicle is coming up from behind you with its lights flashing?
When being approached by an emergency vehicle, drivers must pull over to the right of the road and stop, allowing them to pass.
When backing up a car, what is the most commonly made mistake drivers tend to make?
Drivers usually fail to look both ways behind them when backing up.
When a large truck wants to pass you, what should you do?
Slow down to shorten the time required for the truck to pass you.
If you are traveling on a road with two or more lanes going in each direction and you approach an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road with its lights on, how must you pass the emergency vehicle?
When passing emergency vehicles stopped on the side of a highway, you must slow down, and if possible move a lane over so as not to drive next to the stopped vehicle.
When driving in adverse conditions, what is the proper speed to travel?
When driving in adverse conditions such as rain or snow, you should only drive as fast as it is safe, and not necessarily the speed limit the road sign permits. (But NEVER over the posted limit)
What is by far the number one cause of accidents on the road?
Whether through fatigue, daydreaming, talking, texting, or just zoning out on the road, inattention is the number one cause of accidents on the road.
What are the three basic elements of defensive driving?
To “see”, “recognize”, and “avoid” hazards are the three basic elements of defensive driving.
Remember them well and you will be much better off on the roadway!
How should you always drive to maintain safety and some form of communication with the drivers around you?
To drive predictably is to drive safely. An erratic driver is an unsafe driver. By driving erratically with sudden stops, lane changes, or accelerations, you put yourself and everyone around you at risk.
What are two things you should always do while passing through a green light intersection?
When going through an intersection, you should always slow down even though you have the green light. You should also always look both ways from a standstill and while you are passing through.
More than 80% of collisions involving injury or death occur in controlled intersections. The first four seconds from when the light turns green are when most accidents occur.
What’s the general rule of thumb for changing lanes in an intersection?
Just don’t do it!
Although it’s not illegal, doing so heightens the possible dangers of driving through an intersection.
How do you best deal with inconsiderate people who make a habit of following much too closely?
To best get rid of a tailgater, you should gradually slow down until the driver behind you changes lanes and decides to pass you. Some people make the mistake of hitting their brakes suddenly to scare the person behind them, but this can result in an accident, which is the last thing anyone wants!
What does it mean on the road to look, but not to “see”?
When driving, many times drivers do not connect where they are looking to what they are really seeing. Connecting your eyes with your brain allows you to recognize situations before they happen, and in turn to avoid hazards.
What is the most dangerous type of collision on the road?
Believe it or not, a single vehicle collision is the most dangerous type of collision. Single vehicle collisions are the most avoidable, yet they kill more people than do any other type of collision.
Of all the single vehicle collisions on the road, what percentage of those are strictly the result of DUI’s?
DUI’s count for over 30% of all single vehicle collisions in the United States! That’s a whole lot for something that is illegal!
When driving around large trucks, what are some safety tips as far as how to drive and what to watch for?
Large trucks take much longer to stop than do normal vehicles, and can’t make sudden movements very easily. They also have a lot of blind spots for their drivers.
When driving close to large trucks, never dart in front of them, follow too closely, or ride in their blind spots.
For maximum safety, where should your headrests be positioned?
The headrests should be directly behind your head, and not your neck.
The headrest is meant to prevent your head from whipping back suddenly in an accident.
What is the number one way to reduce fuel emissions while sitting in slow traffic on the highway?
Always remember, that slow-and-go is much more efficient than stop-and-go when in traffic. Maintaining speed increases fuel economy. It can actually take 20% more fuel to accelerate from a full stop than from 5 miles per hour!
