Safety margins, hazard awareness and vulnerable road users Flashcards
What is a safety margin and why is it important?
Safety margin is the space you leave around your car
It is important you are too close to other cars or other hazards for safety reasons/ to avoid RTAs
When going downhill, what safety precautions should you take?
What can result when you travel for long distances in neutral “coasting”?
-improved control
-reduction in control
-decreased fuel consumption
Going downhill
-put clutch in lower gear
-braking gently and slowly
This helps to control the speed of the car
Coasting X
-Do not coast; disengaging your clutch (pressed down) and you have no control of the car
When driving on a downhill stretch of road, how can you use your vehicle’s engine as a brake?
-changing to reverse gear
-changing to neutral gear
-changing to higher gear
-changing to lower gear
What are the car gears? What mph is each
-change to lower gear to increase engine breaking. This prevents excessive use of brakes-> become ineffective if they overheat
A car’s gears allow the driver to control the amount of power the engine uses and the vehicle’s speed. The gears are numbered 1 through 5, plus reverse, and each has a different purpose:
First gear: 0-10mph; Used for starting the car, moving off, and slow-paced traffic
Second gear: 10-20mph; Used for building up speed, junctions, and roundabouts
Third gear: 20-30mph; Used for moving up to a higher speed and maintaining it
Fourth gear: 30-40mph;Used for roads that require speeds higher than 30 mph
Fifth/sixth gear: 40-50mph Used for flat, open roads where you’ve got plenty of space to drive at a high speed
Reverse: Used for reversing the car
You’re driving a car fitted with automatic transmission. When would you use “kick down”?
Kick down is used to automatic cards to accelerate by choosing a lower gear
What is overall stopping distance?
What are the 2 factors that affect it?
Stopping distance= thinking distance + braking distance
Stopping distance is from:
-the moment you realise you need to brake
-to the moment your car stops
2 factors that affect it:
Road conditions and speed of the car
-icy road conditions 10X distance
-wet road conditions 2X distance
-the higher the speed of the car, the greater the stopping distance
Weather conditions can affect safety margins
Think of the weather conditions that may pose a danger
Weather conditions affect safety margins:
-icy conditions
-foggy
-wet
-hot weather
-bright sunlight
-windy
Icy conditions
What are the safety precautions that you should take?
Recall: how does ice affect stopping distance
When driving in icy conditions:
-be prepared to clear ice/snow from rear windows/ windscreen by hand if wipers cant keep it clear
-use the highest gear
-brake gently and in time
icy road conditions 10X stopping distance. Should keep an even larger distance between you and the car ahead by at least 10X the gap you’vd leave in the drive.
How do you reduce the risk of skidding in icy condition?
What should you do to be more aware of surroundings and avoid sudden steering movements
If you start to skid, what should you do?
To reduce the risk of skidding in icy condition:
-drive at highest gear possible to allow tires to grip ice
Important to look at road ahead for hazards and signs; e.g at road bends so that you can anticipate to avoid:
-avoid sudden steering movements at bends
-slow down gradually before reaching hazard
If you start to skid:
-release footbrake
-steer the wheel towards the same direction. So if car skids to right, steer wheel to right
You’re driving a vehicle that has anti-lock brakes. How should you apply the footbrake when you need to stop in an emergency
-slowly and gently
-slowly and firmly
-rapidly and firmly
What is the ABS antilock braking system and how does this work?
On what type of road surface may the ABS system be ineffective?
-smooth
-loose
-dry
What is ESC (electronic stability control), a.k.a ESP (electronic stability programme)
ABS system (antilock system) has sensors on wheels that detect when they are about to lock and prevents them from locking-> therefore prevents wheels from skidding
Important to:
-apply footbrake firmly and rapidly
-do not release brake until you’ve stopped
ABS system may be ineffective in loose, slippery or uneven surface as the tyres cannot grip onto the road surface
ESC/ESP is fitted in all cars in the UK to detect risk of skid at early stage and select a braking intervention to restore vehicle stability
Wet conditions
You’ve just gone through flood water. What should you do to make sure that your brakes are working properly?
-go slowly while gently applying the brakes
-firmly apply brakes
-let the brakes dry for an hour
What are the safety precautions that you should take?
Recall: how does water affect stopping distance
You’re driving along a wet road. How can you tell if your vehicle’s tyres are losing their grip on their surface?
-the engine will stall
-steering will feel v heavy
-engine noise will increase
-steering will feel v light
What is aquaplaning?
How do you dry out brakes after driving through a flood
What are the key things to avoid during aquaplaning?
-go slowly while gently applying the brakes
When driving in wet conditions
wet road conditions 2X stopping distance hence you need to double the separation distance. Should keep an even larger distance between you and the car ahead
If tyres are losing grip on their surface due to water (a.k.a aquaplaning), steering will feel v light
Aquaplaning is the phenomenon where water accumulates between the tyres and road surface, causing lifting of the tyres. Brakes will not work when tyres lift off road surface
During a flood, aquaplaning can develop and it is important to test brakes and dry them off by pressing brake pedal lightly as you go along
Key things to avoid when aquaplaning:
-do not press on brake
-ease off accelerator
-
What lights should you use when you’re driving on a wet motorway and vehicles are throwing up surface spray
-fog lights
-rear lights
-dipped headlights
Dipped headlights to allow other road users to see you especially when there is reduced visibility e.g rain
Think of safety precautions you should take when conditions are:
-foggy
-hot weather
-bright sunlight
-windy
Fog:
- slow down
-use dipped headlights; use fog light if visibility is <100m ahead
Bright sunlight
-dazzle other road users; may not be able to see indicators
-may need to use arm signals
What is a contraflow system and what safety precautions should you take?
Contraflow system
-traffic management system where traffic flows in the opposite direction that it normally would
-this means that you will be travelling in narrow lanes and close to other vehicles
Important that you:
-keep a safe separation distance away from vehicle ahead
-reduce speed in good time
-choose appropriate lane
What are the absolute contraindications to overtaking?
Do not overtake another vehicle if:
-your view ahead is blocked e.g at a bend
-approaching a junction
-if you are turning off the road
What is a hazard? What are the types of hazard?
Hazard is a situation that drivers may need to respond by braking/steering. Types of hazard:
-static hazards: parked cars, bends/junctions, traffic lights
-moving hazards: pedestrians, cyclists, horse-riders, heavy good vehicles
-road and weather conditions
-you: if you are not alert and fit to drive
Explain the 5 types of crossings:
-zebra crossing
-pelican crossing. what do flashing amber lights mean
-puffin crossing (how does this differ from pelican crossing)
-toucan crossing
Zebra crossing
-zebra lines and black and white striped pole with amber lights on top
-must allow pedestrians to cross zebra crossing
Pelican crossing
-traffic lights controlled by pedestrians by pressing a button
-however if lights are amber and there are no pedestrians crossings; you may drive ahead. If there are flashing amber lights with pedestrians, you need to give way to pedestrians
-this does not take into account pedestrians that press button but do not cross hence sensors in puffin crossing were invented
Puffin crossing
-sensors on top that can detect pedestrians about to cross
Toucan crossing (2-can-cross)
-cyclists do not need to dismount off bicycle and cycle across alongside pedestrians
You are approaching the sign outside school area with flashing amber lights. What safety precautions do you need to take?
What does the yellow zig zag line outside school area mean?
You are approaching the sign outside school area with flashing amber lights.
It is important to drive slowly and reduce speed until you’re clear of the area. Be aware that children are vulnerable and can be unpredictable as they may not look ahead when crossing road. Important to let them stop
There may be a school crossing patrol with STOP sign to let them cross
Yellow zig zag line means you are NOT allowed to stop/park
Where may you see this sign?
You see a person with a red and white walking stick/ dog with red and white checked harness. What does this mean?
You see a person with a dog with burgundy/yellow harness. What does this mean?
red and white walking stick/ dog with red and white checked harness= DEAF AND BLIND
dog with burgundy/yellow harness= HEARING DIFFICULTIES
You see this sign on the road. What does this mean?
When overtaking a cyclist, what safety precautions do you need to take?
This also applies to motorcyclists
This sign is known as ASL (advanced stop line), a.k.a., bicycle boxes. They are designed to give cyclists a headstart as the traffic light turns from red to green. Cars need to stop at first white line.
When overtaking a cyclist, driver needs to:
-give them enough space as you would give a car as they need plenty of room in case they swerve (e.g potholes or bad weather conditions)
-stay behind
-never overtake a cyclist just before you turn left
What does this flashing amber beacon on this slow moving vehicle mean?
flashing amber beacon on slow moving vehicle= disabled user
required by law esp on dual carriageways
You are approaching a junction but parked vehicles are restricting your view. What should you do?
-looking for traffic behind you
-reflections of traffic in windows
Drive forward very slowly until you can see the view ahead
Use the reflection of traffic in windows or traffic through windows of parked cars to help you see
You are about to turn left at the traffic lights. What should you do before turning?
Check on your left for cyclists/motorcyclists/moving hazards that may be hard to see.
Why should junctions on the left be kept clear?
Junctions on left should be kept clear to allow vehicles to enter and emerge-> traffic can flow in and out of junction
