Section 5 - Driving Situations & Conditiond Flashcards
Visibility
ability to clearly see everything
around you on the road, like other vehicles,
pedestrians, road signs, signals, and pavement markings
Reduced/Low Visibility & Common Causes
• difficulty to see everything around you on the road
• darkness, fog, heavy rain, & snow
What’s the difference between yellow and white pavement marking?
• Yellow = divide traffic going in opposite directions and is marked on the left edge of the road
• White = divide traffic going in the same direction and is marked on the right edge of the road
When driving in low visibility situations, what can you use in the road as a guide?
lines on the edge of the road or the
right side of the road
Use your headlights to help you see when visibility is low. Using your headlights also helps oncoming traffic see you. When should you do so?
• anytime there is not enough light to
clearly see at least 1,000 ft in front of your vehicle
• Nighttime, foggy conditions, and stormy
weather
• Maryland law requires -> turn on
your headlights when using your windshield
wipers in inclement weather
Inclement Weather
bad weather that might cause
unsafe conditions
When should you use low beams?
• Driving in normal driving situations, like
driving at night on a road with streetlights.
• Driving in fog, rain, snow, etc.
• Entering a tunnel or construction area to make it easier for other drivers and construction workers to see you
High Beams are used in roads w/o street lights so others can see you. When should you change to low beams?
• Change to low beams at least 500 feet
before reaching vehicles coming toward you.
• Change to low beams when following a
vehicle that is 300 feet or less in front of you.
Night Driving Suggestions
• Make sure you use your headlights and follow high beam suggestions
• Rather than staring into the headlights of traffic coming toward you in the opposite lane, look at the road in front of you, or slightly to
the right of the lane you are traveling in (you
can look at the right edge of your lane or the
edge of the road).
• Increase the distance between you and the
vehicle in front of you.
Fog Driving Suggestions
• Reduce your normal driving speed.
• When you see headlights or another vehicle’s taillights ahead, reduce your speed even more. You must be prepared to stop quickly.
• If the fog is so thick that you cannot safely
drive your vehicle, pull completely off the
road to a safe location and turn on your
emergency flashers.
• Use low beam headlights only and fog
lights
Traction
• the grip between your tires and the road that makes it possible for your vehicle to start, stop, and change direction
• Good Traction, Good Car Control
Inclement Weather Driving Suggestions
• Keep a safe distance
• Reduce your speed so you have more time to react.
• Make sure your tires have good tread
• Avoid slamming on your brakes because
this may cause skidding. If your vehicle does not have an anti-lock braking system, pump the brakes to prevent skidding.
• Avoid jerking the steering wheel or quickly
changing speed.
• Make sure your windshield wipers are
working well.
• Use your headlights.
Black Ice
caused by ice or snow melting and re-freezing, and can cause a crash if you are not aware of the danger.
Snow/Ice Driving Suggestions
• Slow down
• Remove all ice and snow from your vehicle before driving.
• Start very slowly, then test your brakes gently to find out how well you can stop.
• Start slowing down long before you come to an intersection or turn.
• Keep your gas tank and windshield washer
fluid full.
• Use chains, snow tires, or radial tires on
designated snow emergency routes when a
snow emergency is declare
Emergency Kit Supplies
•. Flares
• Flashlight and batteries
• First aid kit
• Blanket
• Kitty litter or sand (for traction on snow and ice)
• Small shovel and ice scraper
Traction between your tires and the road is not always the same. Traction is decreased when sand or water on the road is involved.
The possibility of skidding or sliding increases when traction decreases. What should you do when you start to skid?
• Release the accelerator (gas pedal) or brake
pedal, whichever one you are using, to
regain control of your vehicle.
• Steer in the direction you are skidding.
• Look where you want your vehicle to go.
• Press on your brake pedal only after you
have traction again – when your tires are
gripping the road again.
• Slowly accelerating (pressing on the gas)
may help if your back wheels lose tracti
Hydroplanning
Tires lose contact with the road when both the vehicle speed and the amount of water on the road increases, causing you to end up riding on a sheet of water.
To prevent hydroplaning, make sure you tires are good and slow down. What should you do if you lose control?
• Take your foot off the gas.
• Do not apply your brakes.
• Keep your vehicle going straight.
• Slow down until you get control back
What should you do when you come to railroad tracks?
• Look for other vehicles that may
be stopping before the railroad
crossing
• Look for a train at any time.
• The road is closed if gates are down or
warning lights are flashing. Stop and wait
until the gates go up and the warning lights
stop flashing.
• After a train passes, look both ways before
starting over the tracks. Always make sure the tracks are clear before crossing.
• Never start to cross the tracks unless you can get completely over before the train comes.
Work Zone
Unexpected conditions like
• New traffic patterns
• Temporary traffic control devices (signs,
signals, or pavement markings)
• Narrow lanes
• Lane shifts
• Lane and shoulder closures
• Pavement drop-offs/uneven surfaces
• Reduced sight distance
• Detours
• Slow moving equipment
Work Zone Driving Suggestions
• Stay alert – make safety your first priority.
Watch your speed – obey posted speed
limits and be aware that there may be speed
cameras. Speeding fines may be much
higher in work zones.
• Expect the unexpected – work zone
conditions change constantly so be ready
to react.
• Minimize distractions – avoid using cell
phones, changing radio stations, and other
distractions.
• Pay close attention – obey work zone signs, slow down and
watch for workers.
• Merge carefully, do not tailgate, and don’t change lanes unless you have to.
• Obey the flagger’s directions.
Flashing Blue Lights in a Work Zone
means there are workers present
What should you do in a roundabout? If it several lanes? When preparing to exit?
• Reduce your speed.
• Keep to the right of the island.
• Watch for and yield
to pedestrians in the
crosswalk.
• Cautiously approach the yield line and wait
for a gap in traffic. Watch for vehicles
exiting the traffic circle. You do not need to wait to enter the traffic circle if there is no traffic in it.
• Stay in your lane
• turn on your right turn signal and move to the outside lane after you pass the exit before the one you plan to take
Limited Access Highways
large roads with no intersections or traffic lights that have a limited number of places to enter and exit the road
Interstate
type of limited access highway that crosses from one state to another
Entering Limited Access Highways
• use the entrance ramp to get to the highway
• use the acceleration lane to adjust your speed to the flow of traffic already on the interstate
• do not cross the solid lines
that divide the entrance and the
highway.
• drive in the right lane whenever possible if you’re driving slower than the speed of traffic
Exiting Limited Access Highways
• Move to the right lane well before you reach the exit you plan to take
• Slow down as soon as you enter the deceleration lane.
• Continue slowing to the posted speed limit for the exit ramp.
• If you exit at the wrong place, continue
until you are off the exit ramp. Then look for a way to re-enter the road.
Deceleration Lane
This lane leads you to the exit ramp on the interstate and gives you time to start slowing down to a safe speed.
When can you not stop?
• in lanes where traffic is moving on an interstate or other highway -> only stop on the shoulder when your vehicle is disabled (stops running) or in an emergency.
• If you had to stop on the shoulder, turn on your emergency flashers to warn other drivers and stay inside your vehicle if you can.
What should you do when you drive in a funeral procession, or are apart of one?
Even if the light is green, yield until all vehicles in the procession have passed, unless they can safely proceed without crossing the procession’s path
Driving In
turn on your headlights and flashing hazard lights so other vehicles give you the right-of-way
Apart
Can go through a red signal if you have your lights on
Slow Moving Vehicles refer to bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles, and farm vehicles. What should you when driving near them?
• Be constantly aware of any vehicles that
might be traveling at a much slower speed.
• Change your vehicle’s speed and position if
necessary.
• Only pass the slow-moving vehicle when it is safe to do so.
If you must follow the slower moving vehicle
waiting for a safe time to pass, use your
emergency flashers to help warn others behind you
