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Discover everything Scribd has to offer, including books and audiobooks from major publishers. Start Free Trial Cancel anytime. Report this Document Download Now Save Save Defensive Driving Manual (English) For Later 92% (12) 92% found this document useful (12 votes) 11K views 105 pages Defensive Driving Manual (English) Uploaded by Ali Mostafa Description: Full description Save Save Defensive Driving Manual (English) For Later 92% 92% found this document useful, Mark this document as useful 8% 8% found this document not useful, Mark this document as not useful Embed Share Print Download Now Jump to Page You are on page 1 of 105 Search inside document Browse Books Site Directory Site Language: English Change Language English Change Language. Ten Commandments on Safe Driving.Image Source: Pinterest It also requires a constant alertness for the driving errors of other drivers to avoid getting involved in an accident. On the other hand, tanks that are left half full of gasoline during hot days will lose much more gasoline by evaporation than will a tank that is filled close to its tops, which reduces the evaporation surface area? Flooring the accelerator or using the brakes hard used a lot of gasoline. When tires squeal in turn, you are going to fast which consumes a lot of gas. Most lights are set to change in rhythm with the flow of traffic. Study their timing so you will be hitting the green all the time. Using the engine to brake the car burns more gas with every unnecessary revolution. This takes the load of the transmission off the engine and cuts gas consumption. Using the clutch or automatic transmission to hold car in place means burning up fuel unnecessarily. Reviving the engine up to speed before turning it off for the night is also a gas waster. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. Related Papers Chapter one.http://giaynangchieucao.com/userfiles/cyberpower-cp1350pfclcd-manual.xml
GENERAL PROVISIONS By Mariana Dragut READ PAPER Download pdf. See the guidance on reopening and instructions on visiting an office and making a reservation. Most drivers are good drivers. But even the best drivers make errors now and then. Equipment fails, weather conditions can be bad, and some drivers ignore traffic laws or drive in an erratic manner. To prevent making errors or being involved in a crash because of someone else's error, learn to drive in a defensive manner. Be prepared and look ahead. Maintain the correct speed. Signal before you turn or change lanes. Allow space. Wear your seat belt. Do not drive if you are very weary, are on medication or have been drinking beverages that contain alcohol. Keep your vehicle in good condition. Do not use hand held mobile devices while driving. BE PREPARED AND LOOK AHEAD You should sit in a comfortable, but vertical position, and keep both hands on the steering wheel. Slouching in the driver's seat or using only one hand on the wheel makes it more difficult or even dangerous to control your vehicle. Traffic conditions change continuously. Always scan the road ahead. Do not use the road or even the vehicle ahead as your only points of focus. Look ahead so you can prevent, or decrease, possible problems. Keep your eyes moving, notice what is happening at the sides of the road, and check behind you through your mirrors every few seconds. Anticipate errors by other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians and think about what you will do if an error occurs. Do not assume that a driver who approaches a STOP or YIELD sign on a side road is actually going to stop or yield. It is better to assume the other driver will not stop. DRIVER DISTRACTIONS A distraction is anything that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can cause crashes, resulting in injury, death, or property damage. Taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel presents obvious driving risks.http://mekongauto.com.vn/uploads/userfiles/cyberpower-cp425slg-manual.xml
Mental activities that take your mind away from driving are just as dangerous. When driving: Do not use cell phones or text. Avoid arguments and stressful or emotional conversations with passengers. Avoid eating while driving. Be sure children are properly and safely restrained. Properly secure pets in a pet carrier or portable kennel. You must pay attention to the driving task. You are responsible for operating your vehicle in a safe manner. AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS Aggressive driving includes speeding, which often leads to following too closely, frequent or quick lane changes without a signal, passing on the shoulder or parts of the roadway that are not paved or being a nuisance to motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians, who don't get out of the way. Aggressive drivers sometimes run stop signs and red lights, pass stopped school buses, fail to keep right, drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs and drive in a reckless manner. Some aggressive drivers try to cause damage to another driver, and that is how aggressive driving becomes road rage. To prevent road rage, it is sometimes better not to make eye contact with another driver. The other driver can take this as being challenged. When an aggressive driver confronts you: Do not make eye contact. Remain calm and relaxed. Try to move away safely. Do not challenge an aggressive driver with increased speed or try to hold your position in your travel lane. Wear a seat belt and encourage your passengers to do the same. Ignore gestures and shouts and do not return them. Report aggressive drivers to law enforcement authorities and give a vehicle description, location, vehicle plate number and direction of travel. If an aggressive driver is following you, do not stop or leave your vehicle. Drive to the nearest police station. If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash, stop a safe distance from the crash scene. When the police arrive, report the driving behavior you saw.
To avoid becoming an aggressive driver: Allow enough travel time to reach your destination on schedule. Adjust your schedule to prevent driving during times with the most highway traffic. If you are late, call ahead so you can relax. Do not drive when you are angry, upset or very tired. Make your vehicle comfortable. Listen to relaxing music and prevent conditions that make you anxious. When you drive, relax and be aware of how you sit. Sit back in your seat, loosen your hold on the steering wheel and do not grind your teeth. Be polite, courteous and forgiving to other drivers. You can control how you react. If another person drives aggressively, do not do the same. If you have the right-of-way, do not think of it as a complete right. Be prepared to yield the right-of-way to other highway users. To wait a few seconds for another driver is far better than to risk a crash. Road rage is an angry, hostile state which can increase into violent criminal actions, or attempts of violent actions, that result from the operation of a motor vehicle. Road rage can include behavior to provoke others or to make them fearful. Aggressive driving is not road rage. However, aggressive driving can become road rage. Aggressive driving generally involves the violation of a traffic safety law, while road rage involves the breaking of a criminal law. Who can become road raged. It could happen to anyone when our irritation or anger with others leads us to behavior that is a threat to ourselves and to the safety and lives of others on and near the road or highways. To endanger, threaten or assault another person is illegal. These behaviors can result in severe penalties that include fines, imprisonment and court-ordered probation. They can also mean revocation and suspension of a driver license. Road rage can include: Shouts, excessive use of a horn or obscene gestures and threats.
Driving actions like when you cut off another vehicle, drive too closely, block another vehicle so it can not use a traffic lane, chase another vehicle or run it off the road, or deliberately slam into a vehicle. When you stop a vehicle at the side of the road, and get out to threaten, attack, fight or injure another motorist or passenger or a pedestrian, bicyclist or other person. Research indicates that being in a state of rage can affect your blood pressure and your ability to reason and make decisions. As a driver, you will make more errors. The chance of being involved in a traffic crash will increase. Aggressive driving and road rage can lead to revoked or suspended driver licenses, problems between family members and friends, loss of employment and legal problems. Many drivers do not recognize when their own aggressive driving or their own road rage is affecting their ability to drive safely. State law requires every DMV-approved accident prevention course to address the hazards and dangers of road rage. For information about DMV-approved accident prevention courses, go to the DMV website at Point and Insurance Reduction Program. You can also contact one of the program sponsors. Information is available at any state or county motor vehicle office. SPEED You must obey the speed limit. Often, it is common sense to keep your actual speed below the posted limit. To keep a smooth traffic flow, some highways also have minimum speed limits. If you drive slower than the minimum speed you can halt the traffic flow and create a dangerous condition. Even if there is no minimum speed limit, those driving too slow can be as dangerous as those who drive too fast. ALLOW YOURSELF SPACE Four of every 10 crashes involve rear-end collisions, normally because a person is following too closely (tailgating). Leave enough room between your vehicle and the one ahead so you can stop safely if the other vehicle stops suddenly. Brake early and gently when you prepare to stop or turn.
It gives drivers behind you plenty of warning that you plan to decrease your speed. In bad weather and when following large trucks, increase the count to at least three or four seconds for additional space. If a driver follows you too closely (tailgates) move to another lane if possible, or reduce speed and pull off the road to let the driver go by. Make sure to signal when you drive off the road and when you return to it. Do not press your brakes suddenly or unnecessarily as this may startle the motorist behind you and could escalate into road rage. SEAT BELTS, CHILD SAFETY SEATS, AND AIR BAGS Seat belts save lives and can prevent serious injuries in traffic crashes. A law enforcement officer can issue a traffic ticket for failure to wear a seat belt. This law also applies to visitor from outside New York State. Highlights of the New York State occupant restraint law: In the front seat, the driver and each passenger must be properly restrained, one person per belt. For vehicles driven by persons with a Class- DJ learner permit or a Class-DJ driver license, every occupant, no matter the age or seating position, must correctly use a safety restraint. The driver must make sure that each passenger under 16 obeys the law. Seat belt use is not required in taxis or livery vehicles, emergency vehicles, 1964 or older vehicles or by passengers in buses (except school buses; seat belt use can required by a school district). Rural Letter Carriers are also exempt when they are delivering mail. Every passenger under age 16 must use a safety restraint. If under age 4, persons must be correctly secured in a government approved child safety seat that is attached to a vehicle by a safety belt or universal anchorage (LATCH) system. A child under age 4 who weighs more than 40 pounds can be restrained in a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt.
A child of age 4, 5, 6 or 7 must use a booster seat with lap and shoulder belt or a child safety seat (The child safety restraint system must meet the height and weight recommendations of the restraint manufacturer.) Exception: A child more than 4 feet 9 inches in height or weighing more than 100 pounds is allowed to use a seat belt that has both a lap belt and a shoulder harness. If the seat belt does not fit correctly, the child must use a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt. When you drive, you must make sure each person in your vehicle is properly restrained by a seat belt, child restraint system or car seat. During a crash, a person not properly restrained becomes a flying object and a danger to each person in the vehicle. For added protection, adjust your vehicle head rest, lock the doors and do not keep loose, heavy objects in the passenger area. Put them in the trunk. Air bags are meant to work WITH seat belts, not to replace them. An air bag protects a front-seat occupant in a head-on crash by inflating on impact and providing a cushion so the occupant does not collide with the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. The combination of a seat belt and an air bag offers maximum protection, partly because they help the driver maintain control of the vehicle and help prevent secondary collisions. Most adults who are correctly fastened are safer in a vehicle with air bags, but the pressure of an air bag as it opens could injure those who sit too close to it. You should sit with at least 10 inches between the center of your chest and the cover of the air bag. Place your hands on the opposite sides of the steering wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions to keep them away if the air bag engages.That is why when you speed in work zones, ticket fines double, even when the workers or work vehicles are not there. Expect to find a work zone wherever you drive - you may have to decrease speed quickly or even stop. Traffic lanes can shift or be completely closed.
Workers and work vehicles can be on or near your driving lane. When you drive in a work zone, make it safer because you know what to do. A flagger has the same authority as a sign, which indicates you can receive a ticket for disobeying their directions. Decrease speed! Be Alert! Obey the signs! Work Zone Tips: Some signs can indicate a detour that allows you to avoid the work zone. If you already know where a work zone is ahead, you should try to use a different route. Do not speed to the end of the closed lane and try to get into the other lane. If you move to the correct lane at first notice, you will drive in a calmer, more efficient and safe manner. The rear-end collision is the most common crash in a work zone. Some work zones are not stationary, like when workers paint lines, patch roads or mow. As work progresses, the work zone size may increase, decrease, or move to different sections of the roadway. Workers can be close even if you do not see them immediately after the warning signs. Obey the signs until you pass the one that states the work zone has ended. Studies show a roundabout can reduce the number and severity of accidents at an intersection, compared to intersections controlled by stop signs or traffic signals. Roundabouts, or rotaries, are now more common in New York State and other states. When using roundabouts or traffic circles: As you get near the roundabout, look for the street and direction signs you need. This will help you know which exit to take. These signs will be provided along the roadside before you reach the entrance to the roundabout. Slow down when you enter the roundabout. A sign, like the one above, warns of a roundabout. When you arrive at the roundabout, yield the right-of-way to any pedestrians and bicyclists. You must also yield to any drivers who were in the roundabout before you. Sometimes a stop sign or traffic signal will control your point of entry.
When the traffic level allows enough space and time, you may enter the roundabout in a counterclockwise direction. While inside the roundabout, remain in your lane until you are ready to exit. Start to signal at the exit BEFORE the one you want to take. Do not change lanes or take an exit before you check for vehicles that may be continuing through the roundabout in the lane next to you or behind you. DROWSY AND FATIGUED DRIVING Driving and sleep do not mix. When you are behind the wheel of a car or truck, fatigue is dangerous. If you are tired when driving you are slower to react, and are not as aware as you should be and your judgment will be impaired. As with drugs and alcohol, drowsiness can contribute to a traffic crash. Symptoms of Fatigue — Researchers have found the following symptoms to be associated with drowsy driving: Your eyes close or go out of focus by themselves. You find it difficult to keep your head up. You continue to yawn. Your thoughts wander and are disconnected. You do not remember driving the last few miles. You drift between lanes, tailgate or miss traffic signs. You must jerk the car back into the lane. You have drifted off the road and hit the rumble strips which produce a loud noise and vibrations. Who is Most At Risk. All Drivers who are: Deprived of sleep or fatigued. Driving long distances without rest breaks. Driving through the night or at times when you are normally asleep. Taking medication that increases sleepiness or drinking alcohol. Driving alone. Driving on long, rural, or boring roads. Frequent travelers, e.g., business travelers and long-distance commuters. Young People — Drowsy driving crashes are most common for young people, who tend to stay up late, sleep too little and drive at night. Shift Workers — Drivers who have non-traditional work schedules have a greater risk of being involved in a fatigue-related traffic crash.
People With Undiagnosed Sleep Disorders — The presence of a sleep disorder increases the risk of crashes. If you find you are regularly tired in the daytime or experience any of these symptoms on a regular basis, you may have a sleep disorder and should seek medical help. Effective Countermeasures Prevention — Before you embark on a trip, you should: Get enough sleep. Plan to drive long trips with a companion. Schedule regular stops for every 100 miles or two hours. Avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter and prescribed) that may impair performance. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about any medication you are taking. Alcohol interacts with fatigue increasing its effects. You are not at your best if you are ill or very tired. Do not drive for at least 15 minutes after waking from sleep. Actions for the Drowsy Driver — Once driving, you must: Recognize that you are close to sleep and cannot calculate when sleep may occur. Find a safe place to stop for a break in response to symptoms of fatigue. Pull off into a safe area away from traffic and take a brief nap (15 to 45 minutes). Drink coffee or another source of caffeine to promote short-term alertness if needed. (It takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to enter the bloodstream.) NOTE: See Chapter 9 for more information about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. USING A CELLULAR OR MOBILE TELEPHONE A driver can become distracted from safe driving by use of a mobile telephone (like a cellular telephone). In New York State, it is a traffic infraction to speak into or listen to a hand-held mobile telephone while driving. The phone may be hand-held to activate, begin, or end a call. Exemptions are provided for calls for emergency situations, for police and other law enforcement officers and for fire department personnel and operators of authorized emergency vehicles in the performance of official duties.
In New York State, a hands-free mobile telephone allows the user to communicate without the use of either hand. A driver can use a hands-free telephone at any time. Penalties for texting, electronic device use In New York State, it is illegal to use portable electronic devices, such as cell phones and smart phones, to send or receive text messages or e-mails while driving. Also, drivers with probationary and junior licenses who use a hand-held phone or text while driving will receive a 120-day suspension for a first conviction and a revocation of at least one year for subsequent convictions within six months of the time a license is restored after suspension. VEHICLE CONDITION No person shall operate or park a vehicle on public highways unless it has been inspected at least once a year, but that does not mean it is the only time you should have safety equipment checked. Follow your owner's manual for routine maintenance. Have problems corrected by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible. Do not wait until mechanical problems cause breakdowns or crashes. Pay special attention to the maintenance and repair of the brakes, steering mechanism, lights, tires and horn. Depend on your owner's manual and an experienced mechanic as keys to a safe vehicle. It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure that the vehicle being driven is safe. Here are some common problems and some equipment checks you can do. BRAKES - Brakes that pull to one side may be wet or may need to be adjusted or repaired. If wet, you can dry them riding the pedal lightly. If this does not help, have your brakes checked by a mechanic. If you notice any change in the brake performance, have them checked immediately. STEERING - There should not be much free movement in the steering wheel. If your vehicle has power steering, check the fluid level periodically. A noise like a whine when you make a sharp turn can be indicate a problem. LIGHTS - Keep your lights clean and free of dirt, snow and ice.
Broken lenses can cause dangerous glare for other drivers, so replace them as soon as you can. Make sure headlights are adjusted correctly to give you the best view of the road. You can check your tread depth with a penny. Hold a penny with Abraham Lincoln’s body between your thumb and forefinger. Place Lincoln’s head first into the deepest looking groove. Can you see all of his head. It is also illegal to drive with tires that have cuts down to the cords, bumps or bulges. Refer to your owner's manual or a tire store about correct tire pressure, and check it often with a reliable gauge. GLASS - Keep your windows clean and clear. Replace worn wiper blades. Keep your defroster and rear window defogger in good condition and make sure there is enough windshield fluid in the reservoir. HORN - Your horn is important safety equipment that could become your only means of warning other drivers or pedestrians of possible problems. If the horn does not work, get it repaired as soon as possible. It should be used properly, not to express anger at other drivers or pedestrians. QUESTIONS Before you move on to Chapter 9, make sure you can answer these questions: Should you always look straight ahead when you drive. If there is no posted speed limit, what is the fastest you can legally drive in New York City. Is it always safe to drive at the assigned speed limit. What is the purpose of minimum speed limits. Who must wear seat belts. Who should wear them. How can you prevent fatigue on a long trip. What is road rage? How can you prevent becoming involved in road rage. How should you drive safely through a work zone. Thus, after a person has obtained their driver’s license and has some experience driving, the next logical step in the learning progression is to become an accomplished defensive driver. This should be a goal not only for the novice driver, but for experienced drivers as well. It can assist any driver with a lifetime of “accident-free” driving skills.
In order to develop into a consistently proactive defensive driver, just read each chapter and continually practice the advanced defensive driving philosophies. Thus, creating the potential for a life-long, safe and successful driver. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Washburn University in Topeka. Bill has been a teacher and coach for over 30 years. He is owner of the largest driving school in the state of Kansas serving over 30,000 students since 1994. This process should be ongoing throughout a person’s driving career. Equal Opportunity Employer. The process of learning to drive seemed like a lot of stress for not that much reward (especially as I was pretty convinced that I’d never have a car of my own.) However, my mother, sick of driving me around, dragged me to the DMV on the day I turned 16. Why bother making driving even more annoying. It seemed like a huge hassle for not too much reward. The only catch was that it was standard shift. I had to learn quickly. So, I found a large parking lot and slowly and painfully began to practice with my new car. Find a friend with a manual transmission and bribe him or her into taking you for a few practice sessions. You won’t regret it, and you may end up becoming a standard shift convert like me. Driving automatic is pretty much a mindless exercise: you push a pedal and you move. A monkey could do it. Driving standard, however, requires more skill; as a result, driving becomes more of a challenge or game than a mindless grind. Plus, you’re sure to impress all of your automatic-driving friends with your new skills. With a manual transmission, you have greater control over the vehicle. Once you’ve learned to operate your clutch effectively, you’ll be able to dictate how much torque you send to your wheels in different situations.
For example, you’ll be able to control exactly how much power you exert on the road if, say, you are trying to climb a slightly icy hill. Additionally, you have to pay a lot more attention to what you’re doing when you’re driving standard; it’s hard to “drift off” in the way that you can when driving automatic. This increased attentiveness to your car, the road, and driving conditions around you will make you overall a safer driver. Plus, should your battery fail, you can also push-start a manual transmission car—no need for jumper cables. Driving standard is cheaper. First, cars with standard shift are usually less expensive than their automatic counterparts. With fewer and simpler moving parts, they are also easier to maintain and last longer. Additionally, standard shift cars tend to get better fuel economy; on average, they are 5% to 15% more efficient. This is because these transmissions weigh less, have fewer electrical parts (like the automatic transmission’s hydraulic pump) to power, and lose less power in the transfer from engine to wheels. It’s also easier—and, in fact, quite natural—to use gas-saving driving techniques on a standard shift vehicle. See my previous entries on saving gas and hypermiling for more information about this. This is good background information for anyone who wants to learn to drive standard.) For example, while most cars in the US are sold with automatic transmissions (and almost all rental cars are automatic), much of the world doesn’t use automatic transmissions. In India, Europe, Latin America, and Africa, standard transmission are far more common. For example, in 2008, 75% of vehicles made in Europe had standard transmissions. This means that if you ever have the opportunity or desire to travel or live abroad, you will likely need to know how to drive standard in order to get around. I, for example, ended up living in Southern Africa—something I never foresaw when I was 16—and needed to drive standard in order to get around.
If I hadn’t had this skill, I would have been in a very difficult position. Furthermore, there are lots of reasons why one would consider owning a standard shift rather than an automatic. The only significant drawback is that it takes a more effort to drive a standard shift in stop and go traffic, although even this isn’t so bad if you have mastered the use of your clutch and practice gas saving driving techniques. Some automatics can shift faster than the driver of a standard shift can, but the advantage gained by this is small. Now, where to begin. First, you’ll need a car. Find a friend or family member who owes you a favor and convince them to take you for a practice session. On your first time out, you’ll want to begin practicing in an open and empty space; an unused parking lot is ideal. Avoid places with too many obstacles, like lamp posts or trees. On your next time out, you’ll also want to practice on a stretch of straight, empty roadway. Have a good location or two in mind before you set out. Once you’re in the driver’s seat, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the lay of the land. However, you have a third pedal on the left, the clutch pedal. You’ll operate brake and accelerator with your right foot, as you’d normally do; you’ll use your left foot to operate the clutch. The stick shift itself is in the center of the car. In most cars, the gear pattern will be outlined on top of the stick shift. (See figure 2) It’s usually a variation on this H shape, although the placement of reverse varies. Note that the center position is neutral, i.e. no gears are engaged. The shift will feel a bit loose when in neutral; testing the feel of the shifter is one way to make sure that you are, in fact, in neutral. (The gear shift on each car will look and feel a bit different; sometimes the difference between neutral and “in gear” will be seem pretty slight.) Begin by shifting into first gear. In order to shift, you will first have to depress the clutch.