Safety Margins Flashcards
How to control speed going downhill?
lower gear
brake gently
Why should you not coast?
Reduces control
Why leave room with vehicle infront?
Pull up safely if it slows down or stops suddenly, prevent collision
What is stopping distance?
Overall distance travelled from the moment you realise you must break to the moment the vhicle stops
What are the stopping distance figures dependent on?
good tyres
good breaks
dry road
good conditions
When rainisng or wet, what do to stopping distance?
double
When ice, what do to stopping distance?
times by 10
If theres realy bad weather what should you do?
Consider if the journey is really necessary
What to do before journey in freezing weather?
clear ice and snow from windows, lights, mirrors, and number plates
When drivign in freezing weather:
Use highest gear, brake gently with plenty of time, be prepared to stop and clean windoscreen by hand
What to do driving when foggy?
allow more time slow down as visibility reduced increase gap with car infront use dipped headlights even in day light if visibility is less than 100m, use fog lights (remember to swithc off after)
What is aquaplaning?
When tryes lift off road and skate on a film of water, steering becomes light
What do tyres do on ice?
Make hardly any noise
What to do if on ice or aquaplaning?
ease off the accelerator, dont break until steering feels normal again
What to do if driven through deep water?
test your breaks
if necessary dry them out by presing lightly on the brake pedal as you go along
Ho can hot weatehr affect driving?
road becomes soft and tyres dont grip as well
can affect braking and steering
If bright wqhat shoul you do?
Sunlight might dazzke drivers so they can’t see blinkers, consider a hand sigle aswell
When is the risk of skidding greatest?
Wet or icy conditions
How to know if black ice
cant see it, so only feel steering become light
How to reduce risk of skidding/wheelspin
drive at a low speed, and in as high a gear as possible
Scan the road ahead and prepare for hazards
avoid sudden movements
What to do if start to skid?
release the footbrake and reapply it gently
Steer smoothyl in the direction of the skid
What is ABS?
Antilock braking system, they reduce the risk of skidding if you have to brake in an emergency
Wheel speed sensors anticipate when a wheel is about to lock
What to do if driving in a vehicle with ABS?
apply the footbrake rapildy and firmly
Dont release until stopped
What dpes ABS do?
doesnt reduce stopping distance but allows to steer as wheels ar prevented fom locking
When are ABS less effective?
surface water
loose road surface
What is ESC (or ESP)
Electonic stability control/program
aims to prevent skidding sideways
fitted to all new cars in UK
What to do in contraflow system
travelling close to oncoming traffic
reduce speed in good time
choose appropriate lane in good time
keep the correct seperation distance
Why keep well to left before right hand bend?
improves view of road ahead and gives you an ealier indivator of any hazards
How to park car safely on downhill slope
apply parking breka firmly and turn wheels towards kurb
This stops it rolling down the hill
Benefits of 4 wheel drive
improved road holding
extra grip helps when travelling on slippery or uneven roads
Where to avoid overtaking?
Anywhere there is not enough time to safely do it:
like when your view ahead is blocked
when approaching a junction
if intending to turn off the road shortly afterwards
What to do for speed bumps?
Found in built up areas for safety of the area
slow down as you approach and drive over them
