Roadcraft Definitions Flashcards
What is the system of car control?
The system of car control is a way of approaching and negotiating hazards that is methodical, safe and leaves nothing to chance. It involved careful observation, early anticipation and planning, and a systematic us of the controls to maintain your vehicles stability in all situations.
The system of car control increases your safety in a constantly changing driving environment by giving you time to react to hazards.
Tug?
Take. Use and Give Information.
The purpose of the plan?
To put you…
In the correct position
At the correct speed
With the correct gear engaged
At the correct time
In order to negotiate hazards safely and efficiently
Safe stopping distance rule
Always drive so you can stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear on your own side of the road
When is a moving vehicle most stable?
When it’s weight is evenly distributed, it’s engine is just pulling without increasing road speed, and it is travelling in a straight line.
The tyre grip trade off
If more tyre grip is used for braking or accelerating, there is less available for steering. And view versa.
What affects the tyre grip?
Braking, steering and accelerating alter the vehicles balance and tyre grip
Acceleration sense
The ability to vary vehicle speed in response to changing road or traffic conditions by accurate use of the accelerator, so that you use the brakes less or not at all.
This uses less fuel, causes less wear on the tyres and reduces carbon emissions
Why is the main effect of the gears?
To transform engine revs into usable power
Low gears have greater turning power which affects tyre grip.
The greater the turning power the more likely that the tyres will lose grip.
In slippery conditions use a higher gear so you have more tyre grip
Why shouldn’t you change gear when cornering?
It destabilises the vehicle and requires you to take one hand off the steering wheel
Advantage to abs?
It gives you some steering control during emergency braking. It helps steering while braking.
Accurate steering requires?
Good observation, anticipation and planning
What does the limit point give you?
A systematic way of judging the correct speed to use through a bend
What is the limit point?
The furthest point to which you have an uninterrupted view of the road surface
This is where the right hand edge of the road appears to meet the left hand edge in be distance
Where is thelimit point on a left hand bend?
Where the edge of the road meets the central white line (or centre of the road if no white line)
What are the factors that affect/determine your vehicles ability to corner?
The specification as condition of the vehicle, inc tyres
Your speed
The amount of steering you apply
The amount of acceleration or braking
The slope across the road surface (camber and super elevation)
The road surface and how the weather has affected its grip
How does a camber affect your steering on a left hand bend?
It increases the effect of your steering as the road slopes down in the direction of the turn
How does a camber affect your steering on a right hand bend?
If reduces the affect of steering as he road slopes away from the direction of the turn
What is super elevation?
Where the whole width of the road is banked up towards the outside edge of the bend, making the slope favourable for cornering in both directions
What are the principles of cornering?
Make sure the vehicle is in the correct position on the approach to the corner
Travel at the correct speed for the corner
Be in the correct gear for that speed
Use the accelerator to maintain a constant speed through the bend
Be able to stop safely in the distance you can see to be clear on your own side of the road
What is the following position?
2 second rule
Keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you
How does distance (2 second rule) increase your safety?
Gives you a good view of what is happening on the road ahead - you can increase your vie walking both sides by a slight change of position
You can stop your vehicle safely if the driver in front brakes firmly without warning
You can extend your braking distance so that the driver behind has more time to react
You can see when it’s safe to move into overtaking position
In wet weather you get less spray from the vehicle in front
Front wheel and rear wheel drive - how can affect steering?
Front wheel drive - under steer (tendency to turn less)
Rear wheel drive - over steer (tendency to turn more)
…In response to a given turn of the steering wheel.
Tiredness - when do our reactions tend to be slower?
In the morning
Between what times is the greatest risk of tiredness related collisions?
11pm - 6am
When should you use fog lights?
When visibility is reduced to 100 metres or less
When overtaking at night, when should you put on full beam?
When you are alongside the vehicle you are overtaking
How can you reduce dazzle from oncoming cars headlights at night?
Look towards the nearside edge of the road and reduce your speed.
If you are dazzled then slow down or stop if necessary
What can help you identify curves and the direction of the curves in the road at night?
Roadside market posts that reflect off your headlights
Reflective studs in the road
cats eyes - the more cats eyes there are in the centre of the road, the more hazardous the road
White paint - the more paint the more hazardous the road is.
Brake lights on the vehicle in front of you
How do different cats eyes spacing differ in central white line markings?
Centre lines - one cats eyes spaced in every other one
Hazard lines - one cats eye in every gap
Double white lines - twice as many cats eyes as there are in hazard lines
What is a micro climate?
Areas where frost or wet patches can linger even when they have disappeared elsewhere..
Ie
- Valley bottoms
- Areas of shadow cast by trees or buildings
- Shaded hillsides or slopes
- Bridge surfaces (as they are exposed on all sides)
- patchy fog