Safe Driving Flashcards
Things you can do to help you be more aware of the areas around you: Scan your surrounding
- always keep your eyes moving to scan your surrounding
- take in the whole scene, don’t only focus on the middle of the road
- give yourself enough space around your vehicle
Things you can do to help you be more aware of the areas around you: know what is ahead of you
- scan the road 10-15 seconds ahead of your vehicle so you can see hazards early and avoid last minute moves
- look beyond the vehicle ahead of you
Why does tailgating make it harder for you to see the road?-
the vehicle in front of you will block your view
- you will not have enough time to react if the driver in front of you brakes suddenly
Explain the three second rule and tailgating
- when the vehicle ahead of you passes a certain point, such as a sign, count three seconds. if you pass the same point before you finish counting, you are too close
Allow more space when:
- a tailgater is behind you
- the driver behind you wants to pass
- driving slippery roads
- following motorcyclists or bikes on wet/icy roads, metal surfaces, or gravel
- towing a trailer/heavy load
- following large vehicles that block your view ahead
- you see a buss or school buss or vehicle with a placard at railroad crossing
- merging into freeway
To maintain enough space on each side of your vehicle:
- do not stay in another driver’s blind spot
- avoid driving directly alongside other vehicles
- if possible and safe, make space for vehicles entering freeways
- at freeway exits, do not drive alongside other vehicles
- keep space between your vehicle and parked vehicles
- be careful when driving near motorcycles or bikes
At intersections you should:
- look both ways even if other traffic has a red light/stop sign
do not rely on traffic lights
What are blind spots
- areas around the vehicle that a driver cannot see when looking straight ahead
- every vehicle has blind spots
Where are blind spots for most vehicles?
- at the sides, slightly behind the driver
How to check your blindspots?
- look over your right and left shoulder out of your side windows
Check your blind spots before you:
- change lanes
- turn at intersections
- merge with traffic
- back up
- leave a parking space
- parallel park
- pull out from the curb
- open your car door
Check behind your vehicle before you:
- change lanes
- reduce your speed
- turn into a side road or driveway
- stop to pull into a parking space
- drive down a long or steep hill
- are backing up
When driving at night, make sure you can stop in…
the distance lit by your headlights
- use your high beam headlights when possible
- do not use high beam lights in areas where it is illegal
- dim your lights to avoid blinding an oncoming vehicle
If another vehicles lights are too bright:
- do not look directly in headlights
- look toward the right edge of your lane
- watch the oncoming vehicle out of the corner of your eye
- do not react to the other driver by keeping your high beam headlights on
When it is raining at night use your…
- low-beam headlights
When you drive at night remember :
- pedestrians and bicyclists are much harder to see at night
- motorcycles are also harder to see at night
- highway construction can take place at night, reduce your speed when you approach these zones
- when you leave a brightly lit place, drive slowly until your eyes adjust
- when a vehicle with one light drives towards you, drive as far to the right as possible
To help manage sun glare
- keep the inside and outside of your windsheild clean
- make sure your windshield wipers are in good working order
- make sure your wiper fluid is full
- wear polarized sunglasses
- maintain enough space between your vehicle and the vehicles around you
- make sure your car visor works and is free of anything that would restrict use
- be aware of pedestrians, you may have difficulty seeing them
- try to avoid driving during sunrise and sunset
Adjust your speed for different conditions: Wet Road:
- go 5 to 10 mph slower
Adjust your speed for different conditions: Packed Snow
- Reduce your speed by half
Adjust your speed for different conditions: Ice
- Slow to crawl
What are some situations in where roads may be more slippery than others
- shade form trees or buildings can hide icy spots on cold, wet days
- bridges and overpasses
- if it starts to rain on a hot day, pavement can be very slippery for first several minutes
What should you do when driving in high winds?
- reduce your speed
- maintain a firm hand position on the steering wheel
- be alert look ahead and watch for any debris
- do not use cruise control
- be proactive
What should you do in heavy fog or smoke?
- try to avoid driving in those conditions
- if you can’t avoid it:
- drive slowly
- use your low-beam headlights
- never drive using only your parking or fog lights
- make sure you can stop within the space you can see ahead
- increase your following distance
- use your windshield wipers and defroster as necessary
- avoid crossing lanes or passing traffic unless absolutely necessary
- listen for traffic you cannot see
What should you do if fog becomes too thick to drive safely?
- consider pulling off the road
What should you do if you approach hills and curves?
- slow down or stop for hazards if you need to
- if your view is blocked, assume there is a vehicle on the other side
- only pass a vehicle in front of you if the hill or curve is at least one third of a mile away
- you need at least that much room to pass safely
What should you avoid to reduce traffic congestion?
- tailgating
- unnecessary lane changes
- distractions
- riving a poorly maintained or malfunctioning vehicle
- running out of fuel or battery charge
Law enforcement uses traffic breaks to
- slow or stop traffic to remove hazards from the road
- respond to emergencies
- prevent collusions in heavy fog or unusually heavy traffic
What can you do to be helpful during a traffic break?
- turn on your emergency flashers to warn other drivers
- slowly decrease your speed to the same speed as the officer
- do not try to drive past the patrol vehicle
If your passenger is under ___ years old, you can also get a ticket if they are not wearing their seat belt.
16 years
How do you wear a seatbelt correctly?
- wear the shoulder harness across your shoulder and chest
- adjust the lap belt so that is is snig and lies low across your hips
- if you are pregnant, wear the lap belt as low as possible under your abdomen
Child restraint system and safety seats: Child under 2
secure in a rear facing child passenger restraint system (NOT IN FRONT SEAT)
- applies unless child weighs 40 pounds or more or is 3 feet 4 inches or taller
Child restraint system and safety seats: Children under 8 years old or who are less than 4 feet 9 inches
- secure in a federally approved child passenger restraint system in read seat
In some cases, children under 8 years old may ride in the front seat, they may do so if:
- there is no rear seat
- the rear seats are side-facing jump seats
- the child passenger restraint system cant be installed properly in rear seat
- all rear seats are already occupied by children 7 years old or younger
- medical reasons
Child restraint system and safety seats: Children who are 8 years or older or who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall
- May use a properly secured safety belt that meets federal standards
Ride at least ___ inches from the airbag cover, as long as you can maintain full control of your vehicle
10 inches
It is illegal to leave a child who is ___ years old or younger unattended in vehicle. A child may be left under the supervision of a person who is at least ____ years old
- 6 years old
- 12 years old
What is Basic Speed Law?
- you may never drive faster than safe for the current road condition
regardless of the posted speed limit, your speed should depend on
- the number of vehicles on the road
- the speed of other vehicles on the road
- the road surface- smooth, rough, graveled, wet dry, etc
- bikes/pedestrians on the road
- weather
How do you choose between dangers on both sides of the road?
- give more space to the most dangerous situation
What is a skid?
- if one or more of your tires loses traction with the road and your vehicle starts to slip, this is known as a skid
To prevent skidding on slippery surfaces:
- drive slowly
- slow down as you approach intersections
- avoid fast turns
- avoid quick stops
- leave enough space between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you
- shift to low gear before going down a steep hill
- avoid areas like ice patched, wet leaves, oil or deep puddles
If you start to skid:
- slowly remove your foot from the gas pedal/accelerator
- do not use the brakes
- turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid
If your brakes get wet, you can dry them by…
- lightly pressing the gas pedal/accelerator and brake pedals at the same time
What are locked wheel skids?
- usually caused by braking too hard when you are going too fast
- your vehicle will skid no matter which way the steering wheel is turned
To get out of a locked wheel skid:
- remove your foot from the brake to unlock the wheels
- straighten the front wheels as the vehicle begins to straighten out
What steps should you take if your wheels drift off the pavement?
- grip the steering wheel firmly
- remove your foot from the gas pedals/accelerator
- brake gently
check the traffic behind you - carefully steer back onto the pavement
What should you do if your accelerator malfunctions
- shift to neutral
- apply the brakes
- keep your eyes on the road
- look for a way out of traffic
- honk your horn/turn on your emergency flashers to warn other drivers
- try to drive the car safely off the road
- stop and turn off the ignition
What are the most common collusions?
- driver distractions
- unsafe speed
- improper turns
- not following right of way rules
- not following stop signals and signs
- driving on the wrong side of the road
- a vehicle traveling faster or slower than the flow of traffic
What do you do if you are in a collision?
- stop
- call 911 right away if anyone is hurt
- move your vehicle out of traffic if no one is hurt, then call 911
- show your drivers license, vehicle registration card, insurance info and current address to the other driver, law enforcement
- must make a report to law enforcement within 24 hours
- try to find the owner if your vehicle foes into a parked car/property
- if you kill/injure an animal call the nearest human society or law enforcement
If you are in a collusion you must report it to the DMV within 10 days if:
- the collusion caused more than 1000 dollar in damage to property
- anyone was injured or killed, even if injuries were minor
if you fail to report a collusion….
your driving privilege will be suspended
What happens if you drive without insurance?
- your driving privilege will be suspended for up to 4 years if you are in a collision and do not have proper insurance coverage
If your vehicle becomes disabled in a freeway:
- safely pull over to the right shoulder
- exit on the right side so you are away from traffic if you must get out of the vehicle
- find assistance
- return to your vehicle as soon as you can
- stay inside your vehicle with your seatbelt on until help arrives
- use your emergency flashers- be aware they may attract drunk drivers
What are certain circumstances where it is safer to get out of your vehicle and stay away?
- not enough space on the shoulder
- a guardrail
- an area for you to safely stay away from freeway lanes
If you get stuck on the freeway because your vehicle stops running- Freeway Service Patrol will:
- provide a gallon of gas if you run out
- jump start your vehicle if the battery is dead
- refill your radiator and tape hoses
- change a flat tire
- report a collision to Highway Patrol
if your vehicle stalls or stops working while it is blocking any part of a train track…
get out of the vehicle and notify law enforcement
if a train is approaching and warning lights are flashing…
- immedietly exit your vehicle
- run in a 45 degree angle away from the tracks, towards the train
- then dial 911
If you do not see a train approaching and the warning lights are not flashing
- exit your vehicle
- immediately dial the emergency notification system number located on the railroad crossing posts or metal control near the tracks
- then call 911
DO NOT DRIVE DISTRACTED! Some common distractions are:
- talking or texting on a cell phone
- looking at a GPS
- changing music, volume, etc
- talking to passengers
- applying makeup
- eating
- look at children or pets
Vehicles with advanced tech, such as self-driving vehicles, …
respond to road situations differently than a human driver
Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless gas released from a vehicles exhaust pipe- symptoms can include
- weariness
- yawning
- dizziness
- nausea
- headache
- ringing in the ears
