DRIVING ENVIRONMENTS

1. DRIVING ENVIRONMENTS Alabama Course of Study #16, #17 and #18 Identify dangerous driving situations that may occur on rural roads and urban streets. Describe appropriate behavior to be used when detained by a law enforcement officer. Explain how nature affects the ability to properly control a vehicle.

2. Rural Road

3. Rural Driving • The speed limit on rural roads when not posted is 35 mph. • Many rural roads are two-lane, two-way roadways. • Curves may be sharper and hills may be steeper than on many city streets. • These roads can be made of concrete, asphalt, gravel, or dirt surfaces. These roads may or may not have a shoulder. • Usually rural roads are poorly lit or not lit at all.

4. Higher Speed, Fewer Traffic Controls • Good sound judgment is more important than ever when driving in rural areas. • Country Roads Typically Have: • Higher speed limits than city streets • Fewer traffic lights and few stop signs • Railroad crossing may have no signs, signals, or gates. • Driver must remain alert when driving in rural areas.

5. Slow Moving Vehicles • Tractors and other farm vehicles are more common on rural roads. • Tractors and other farm vehicles do not travel at the same speed as cars. • Passing slow moving vehicles can be difficult and dangerous because they are usually wider and decrease visibility.

6. Sight Obstructions • Objects that limit visibility: • Trees • Bushes • Tall Crops • These obstructions make driving more difficult and dangerous on rural roads. • Rural roads are usually narrow, hilly, windy, or sharply curved.

7. Animals & Objects on Rural Roads • Deer, raccoons, cows, and other animals, both wild and domestic, frequently cross rural roads. • Smashing into a 175 pound deer at 50 mph would not only kill the deer, but will also damage the vehicle greatly and may possibly kill the driver and passengers. • Slower driving speeds and being more alert in these areas will greatly decrease the risk of hitting an animal.

8. A Deer In The Headlights

9. Urban Street

10. Urban Driving • Urban streets are usually covered with people and traffic. • Expect to encounter pedestrians anywhere and everywhere. • Never assume pedestrians will see you or that they are going to obey traffic rules and signals. • EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED !!! • This is a great example of the “Predict” aspect of the S.I.P.D.E. process.

11. Slow or Irregular Traffic Flow • Factors that may influence traffic flow: • Cars stopping next to parked cars • Park cars pulling into traffic • Road work or construction • Disabled vehicle • Accident • Special events (ex. crawfish boil, concert, sporting events, etc.) • Pedestrians • Any object that restricts traffic flow

12. Sight Obstruction • Factors that limit visibility in an urban setting: • Parked or double parked vehicles • Buses • Trucks • Vans • Smog / pollution • Buildings

13. Urban Driving • When driving in the city: • Scan one to two blocks ahead • Check traffic in all directions • Keep alert to taillights in front of you • Expect pedestrians to enter roadway • Be alert for emergency vehicles • Always be ready to stop • Be aware for entrances and exits • Drive with low-beam headlights • Give yourself extra time • Use the S.I.P.D.E. process to help identify risks

14. Limited & Controlled Access Highway

15. Limited & Controlled Access Highways • Permits driving long distances without interruption, with minimum fatigue and maximum safety. • There are not stops and no cross traffic. • Allows vehicles to enter and exit only at specific places. They include freeways, interstates, parkways, turnpikes, expressways, and other multi-lane highways. • Entrances and exits may be miles apart and usually come from the extreme right lane.

16. Procedures for Entering Controlled Access highways • Check traffic to see if its safe to merge • Turn on signal • Briefly check blind spot • Increase speed to match speed of vehicles already on the highway • Move into the nearest lane and maintain speed • Turn off signal

17. Procedures for Exiting Controlled Access highways • Signal • Get into exit lane well in advance of exiting • Check blind spot • Move into deceleration lane • Decrease speed according to postings. • Cancel signal • Remember not to slow or brake on the highway, use the deceleration lane.

18. Emergency Situations • In emergency situations it is very important not to panic but to act promptly. • Emergency may cause other drivers to honk impatiently but should not push the driver into rash actions. • Keeping your vehicle well maintained may prevent mechanical emergencies from occurring. • If an emergency should occur, know the correct action and reaction. • Be prepared!!

19. Blow Out

20. Tire Failure • A blowoutis an explosion in a tire while the vehicle is in motion. • A tire can also loose pressure gradually, through a slow leak. If not caught the tire will eventually go completely flat. • If a tire suddenly looses pressure you may feel a sharp pull and the vehicle may shake. • If this happens, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, release the accelerator slowly, check the traffic around you, and steer off the road when safe.

21. Accelerator Pedal Sticks • Apply the brakes and shift to neutral. • Check traffic. • Steer off the road and continue to apply brakes. • Do not attempt to fix the problem until you come to a complete stop and turn off the car. • You can try to pull the accelerator up by putting your foot underneath but keep your eyes on the roadway.

22. Headlight Failure • Headlight failure is extremely dangerous not only because you cannot not see but because others cannot see you. • Rarely do both headlights go out at the same time. Usually one goes out and may not be noticed until both are out. • Slow down and continue on course, try switching to high beams, try other lights, check traffic, steer off the road when safe, and try to park your vehicle in a lighted area.

23. Car On Fire

24. Vehicle Fire • Engine fires are usually fuel fed or electrical. You will see and smell smoke coming from under the hood. • Follow these steps in the event of a car fire: • Steer off the road to an open space and turn off the ignition • Get out and move away from the vehicle • Call for help • Decide how serious the fire is • If the fire is not serious and you have a fire extinguisher, you can try to put the fire out by yourself

25. Brake Failure

26. Brake Failure • If your brakes fail follow these steps: • Rapidly pump the brake pedal • Shift to a lower gear • Use the parking brake • Look for a place to steer against the curb if possible • Try to steer to an uphill road • Turn the ignition to the off position but do not lock the wheels • Sideswiping an object is less dangerous than hitting an object head-on • Use bushes, guard rails, or even parked vehicles to slow vehicle down

27. Engine Failure • Engine stalls when you are driving: • Check traffic and leave the roadway when safe • Be sure to signal your intentions to others • When off the road, shift to neutral, and try to restart engine • If your engine won’t start, make sure flashers are on, and raise the hood • Place flares or warning triangles 100 in front and behind the vehicle • Signal or wait for help

28. Engine Flooding • Engine flooding occurs when the engine has too much gas and not enough air being supplied to the engine. • To start a flooded engine • Press accelerator to the floor and hold for 5 to 10 seconds • If vehicle starts, slowly release accelerator • If vehicle doesn’t start, wait 10 minutes and try again

29. Engine Overheating • Engines may over heat for various reasons: • Driving in slow moving traffic with air on • Driving with a loose or broken fan belt • Broken water pump or hose • Not enough coolant • Stuck or broken thermo-stat • Clogged radiator. • If engine over heats follow these steps: • Turn off all accessories, especially the air • When engine has cooled, raise hood and assess • Check the fluid level in the radiator • To prevent overheating try running your heater (even in hot weather).

30. Power & Total Steering Failure • Power steering occurs when engine stalls or the power assistant mechanism fails. • If power steering fails follow these steps: • Grip steering wheel firmly • Safely steer off road • Have mechanic check your power steering • Total steering failure causes your ability to control the vehicle to drastically diminish. • Stop as soon as possible by using the parking brake. • Down-shift as needed to slow vehicle

31. Running Off The Pavement • When your wheels drift onto the shoulder of the road • If you run off the pavement, follow these steps: • Stay on the shoulder and ease up on the gas • After you have slowed turn gently back onto the pavement • Many young drivers panic when this happens and they over-correct too sharply which causes the vehicle to spin or flip. • Be prepared for this and DO NOT PANIC!!

32. Other Emergency Situations • Immersion – escape immediately • Windshield wiper failure – look out side window • Emergency swerve / object in roadway- straddle the object when possible • Loss of forward vision- hood flies up, look in th gap between the hood and vehicle • Stalled vehicle on rail road tracks – push it off, if you cannot do this, move away from the vehicle in the direction of the oncoming train.

33. Reporting Traffic Accidents • Stop at the scene and render all possible aid. • If no injuries pull to the side. • Contact the proper authorities. • Exchange information (driver’s license, etc). • Complete paper work required by the police. • Never sign any blank papers for the other party. • Follow up on paper work.

34. Minimizing Risk In Collisions • Force of Impact is determined by: • Speed of the vehicle • Weight of the vehicle • Impact distance • Reducing the force of impact: • Sand Canisters • Vehicle features (ex. air bags) • Head-on, worst type of collision • Side Impact, behind passenger compartment

35. Avoiding A Collision • The following are techniques one may use to help in avoiding a collision: • Accelerating – may be your only means of reducing risks • Steering – may be the quickest method, always have an escape route to the left or right • Braking – you want to stop fast without making the wheels lock, or stop turning. An anti-lock brake system (ABS) eliminates the problem of locked brakes.

36. Adverse Conditions

37. Adverse Conditions • Alabama Basic Speed Law – you must never drive a vehicle at a speed that is faster than is reasonable under existing conditions. • A safe speed is determined by the type and condition of the road as well traffic, weather, and light. • Drivers must go more slowly than the minimum post speed if poor road or traffic conditions make that speed unsafe.

38. Adverse Conditions • The higher the speed: • The less time the driver has to spot dangerous situations and take action • The greater the time and distance it takes to stop a vehicle • The greater the chance the will skid or roll over on a turn • The greater the force of impact will be in a collision • The greater the personal injuries and property damage will be in a collision

39. Vehicle Control During Adverse Conditions • Reduced Traction: • Your tires can lose their grip on the road ‘s surface and the vehicle can began to slide, this is called hydroplaning. • Changing Speeds Too Quickly • Traction could not overcome the vehicle’s kinetic energy and momentum as fast as you wanted it to. • Changing Direction Too Quickly • Tire traction may not be great enough to compensate for momentum, kinetic energy, and inertia when you turn or enter a sharp curve.

40. Reduced Visibility • Bright Sun Light: Sun light increases visibility, but the glare on your windshield from the sun can reduce your ability to see. • Follow these steps to minimize risk when driving in bright sun light situations: • Have sunglasses handy • Reduce speed • Increase following distance • Adjust sun visor to block out the sun • Keep windshield clean and scratch free

41. Reduced Visibility • Dusk and Dawn: • Alabama law requires headlights on from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise. • Fog or Smog: • Be sure to use only low beam headlights or fog lights • You can use your emergency flashers • Reduce speed • Increase following distance • Remain Alert • Pull off road if fog is too dense

42. December 11, 1990 Interstate 75 north of Chattanooga North and South bound lanes 75 vehicles involved 15 dead 50 injured

43. Reduced Visibility • Driving At Night: • Requires extra concentration and greater awareness. • Increase following distance • Use high beams in areas of reduced visibility when possible • State law requires you to dim your headlights within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and 200 ft. when following another vehicle. • Overdriving Your Headlights: • Driving at a speed in which the stopping distance exceeds the area lit by the headlights.

44. Reduced Visibility • Minimize Risk In Rain And Snow: • Use windshield wipers • Increase following distance • Manage time and space well • Be aware of hydroplaning and black ice

45. DUST AND SAND • Western states often suffer visibility problems caused by dust or sand storms • This is most common in desert regions • The visibility is similar to fog conditions and drivers should follow similar rules • Dust and sand storms can also cause vehicle damage such as: clogged air filters and vents, damaged windshields and vehicle surfaces. • Fine dust particles can easily enter vents and openings filling the passenger compartment If you encounter this, pull off the road and wait for it to pass or turn your vehicle around. Visibility will be too poor to drive through it.

46. DUST AND SAND • Western states often suffer visibility problems caused by dust or sand storms • This is most common in desert regions • The visibility is similar to fog conditions and drivers should follow similar rules • Dust and sand storms can also cause vehicle damage such as: clogged air filters and vents, damaged windshields and vehicle surfaces. • Fine dust particles can easily enter vents and openings filling the passenger compartment

47. Reduced Visibility • Wind: A strong enough gust can push a vehicle out of its intended path of travel. • Minimizing Risks In Wind Conditions: • Reduce speed • Grip steering wheel firmly • Increase space on all sides of the vehicle • Vehicles Most Affected By Wind: • Vans • Recreational vehicles • Vehicle pulling trailers

48. Adverse Conditions: Minimizing Risks • Prepare in advance • Allow an extra margin of safety • Drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead in wet conditions • Give other drivers plenty of advanced notice • Be alert • Keep low beam headlights on • Ease your way into turns and curves • Use emergency flashers when needed

49. Managing Skids • Understanding natural laws that affect your vehicle can help you regain control when in a skid. • When you skid, you lose control of the direction and speed of your vehicle’s movement because of reduced traction. • If you skid you are not helpless. • Once you understand what causes a skid, your on your way to dealing with one.

50. Causes Of Skids • Braking Skid: • The brakes are applied so hard that one or more wheels lock (without ABS) • Power Skid: • The gas pedal is pressed suddenly and too hard • Cornering Skid: • Tires lose traction in a turn • Blowout Skid: • A tire suddenly loses air pressure