Virginia Department of Education

1. VirginiaDepartment of Education Module Four Using a Space Management System While Interacting with Traffic

2. VirginiaDepartment of Education Module Four Using a Space Management System While Interacting with Traffic Topic 1 Assessing and Managing Risk Topic 2 Components of a Space Management System Topic 3 Using the SEEiT Space Management System Topic 4 Moving the Vehicle Topic 5 Turnabouts and Parking

3. What is Risk? Driving Risk is the potential that a chosen action (e.g., speeding, texting, etc.,) may lead to an undesirable outcome. Choices have Consequences

4. Assessing and Managing Risk To properly assess a specific risk, you need to have some idea of the potential outcomes. For example, if you are a distracted driver, your potential for being involved in a crash increases 4 to 9 times. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2008)

5. What is Risk Assessment? Drivers must have the ability to: • Identify a potentially dangerous situation • Prepare to take action to avoid a conflict • Consider your options and the potential consequences of your actions

6. Consequences of Risky Driving Behaviors • Taking unnecessary risks may result in property damage, injury or death, and other losses • Injurytoyou or others - permanent or life-threatening, • Damage to personal property, and • Losssuch as financial loss, loss of license, loss of convenience, loss of time, and other losses.

7. Risk-Taking Behaviors Cause Crashes Very often drivers actually create the high risk situations they become involved in! • Speeding is the number one cause of crashes in Virginia Speeding is driving above the posted speed or driving too fast for conditions • Do speed limits improve public safety?

8. Assessing and Managing Risk • Risk is always present… • Never risk more than you can afford to lose • Do not risk a lot for a little • Consider the odds and your situation

9. Tools to Reduce Driving Risks • Communicate • Change Speed and/or • Change Position

10. What is a Space Management System? Assess, Action Step, Evaluate • A space management system helps drivers organize information into meaningful categories so decisions can be made easily and quickly • Drivers must evaluate potential risk using the principles of probability (will it happen?) and consequence (what will be gained or lost?)

11. Managing the Space Around Your Vehicle Drivers must manage all six zones around the vehicle, and adjust position to maintain a safe margin of space that provides room to steer in an emergency Right-Front Zone Right-Rear Zone 3 5 Front Zone Rear Zone 1 6 Left-Rear Zone Left-Front Zone 2 4

12. Open, Closed and Changing Zones • A Zone can be OPEN, CLOSED or CHANGING • OPEN— An open zone is a space where you can drive without restriction • CLOSED— The space or area is not available in the vehicle’s path of travel • CHANGING— An open zone changes to a closed zone or a closed zone becomes an open zone

13. Using a Space Management System Closed ZONE Right-Rear Zone Changing ZONE Check Rear Closed ZONE Check Side Open ZONE Changing ZONE Check Rear Evaluate your options and then take action OPEN —this zone that has no restrictions to the line of sight or path of travel. CLOSED —this zone not available CHANGING — it was an open zone that is changing to a closed zone. Open ZONE Move Here Check Side

14. Controlling Space Drivers have the most control over the space directly in front of the vehicle 2-Second - Following Distance is effective at speeds under 35 mph 3-Second - Following Distance may provide enough time for evasive steering maneuver on dry surfaces or to brake at speeds up to 45 mph 4-Second - Following Distance provides time to steer out of a problem on dry surfaces and brake out of a problem at speeds up to 70 mph

15. Measuring Your Following Distance Begin counting when rear of the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object one-thousand-one one-thousand-two one-thousand-three, and…

16. Measuring Your Following Distance ESTABLISH FOLLOWING DISTANCE when you reach the fixed object one-thousand-four

17. Increase Following Distance When • Visibility is limited • Traction is limited • Number of visual and mental tasks increases • being tailgated • line of sight restriction • path of travel restriction • carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer • learning to drive

18. Stopping Behind Another Vehicle Why do you stop in a position that you can see the rear tires of the vehicle in front? See tires

19. Managing the Space to the Rear • Check rearview mirrors: • Regularly • Before and while braking • While stopped in traffic • Before and after making turns • Before and after a lane change • Can you control the space behind you?

20. Managing the Space to the Sides • Strive to keep one of the side zones open • Respond to an oncoming vehicle by slightly adjusting lane position to increase space between your vehicle and the oncoming vehicle • Adjust lane position to increase space between your vehicle and parked cars, bicyclists, pedestrians, etc.

21. Component of a Space Management Systems Perception/Reaction/Response Time Perception Time Time it takes to identify a risk Average perception time varies with the circumstances • Reaction Time • Time it takes to respond with accelerator, brake, or steering • Average reaction time is ¾ second • Response Time • Total time it takes to complete the action

22. Factors Affecting Response Time • Distractions • Inattention • Poor Visibility • Line of Sight Restrictions • Fatigue • Medications • Alcohol • Illness • Age • Talking on Cell Phone • Others?

23. Virginia’s Space Management System SEE iT! • Search • Evaluate • Execute • in Time

24. Virginia Space Management System SEEiT • Search— the entire scene in your line of sight/path of travel for potential risks, and if during your search you identify a risk you • Evaluate —it by determining if and where possible points of conflict may occur, and then • Execute —your decision as how to best manage the risk by adjusting speed and/or position • in Time – to avoid the conflict

25. Search in SEEiT • Know when, where and what to look for • Search far ahead, to the sides, to the rear • Search for clues: intersections, brake lights, warning signs, traffic lights, other vehicles, pedestrians, animals, parked cars, etc., • Search for changes in front wheels of other vehicles, movement from the side, etc.

26. Search in SEEiT • Search intersections, crosswalks, shopping centers, parking lots, construction areas and playgrounds • When driving in rural areas search for hidden intersections and driveways, curves, hills and varying road conditions • Search for trucks and other oversized vehicles, as well as slow moving farm vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.

27. Search • Search at least 20-30 seconds ahead to your target area which allows • time to identify and evaluate potential problems • time to execute your plan (adjust position, speed)

28. Searching and Time • Is there a potential for conflict in the example below? • You are the driver of the red car traveling at 55mph. • The motorcyclist is traveling at 50mph. • The blue car is traveling at 60mph. • The search process consists of the three ranges: • - 4 to 8-second range—Immediate Action Required! • - 12 to 15-second range— look for Escape Routes • - 20 to 30 second range—Search for open path of travel 4 to 8 seconds 20 to 30 seconds 12 to 15 seconds

29. Evaluate • Gives meaning to your search • Identifies where the possible points of conflict may occur • Determines how the conflict may affect you if it does happen

30. Evaluating Risk in the Driving Environment • Is the traffic light a stale green light? • Will the zone I’m entering be open or closed? • What lane position is the safest? • What is the other driver going to do? • Is the driver texting? • Is there more than one way to manage this risk? • Where will the point of conflict occur?

31. Evaluating Risk in the Driving Environment Where is the escape route? Will someone run the light? Will a pedestrian enter the roadway? Is there sufficient traction available? Is the driver in the vehicle behind me paying attention? Will a door of one of these parked cars open? Will a squirrel or deer run onto the road?

32. Execute in Time • You identified a possible conflict developing between you and the blue car • This conflict will happen because the blue car traveling 60 mph is going faster than the motorcycle which is traveling at 50 mph • The blue car may cross into your path of travel to overtake the motorcycle What would you do in this situation?

33. Virginia Space Management System Execute In Time! • As the lane change occurred you had two options: • slow down and allow the blue car to proceed into zone 1 • or change your position and move into the open zone 2

34. Execute in Time Without proper searching, evaluating (decision making skills), you may execute the wrong decision

35. Moving Straight Back • Make proper adjustments • Start the vehicle with foot on the brake • Shift to reverse • Assume the straight backing position • Left hand at 12 o’clock • Looking over right shoulder Backing

36. Backing Straight • Check traffic to front, sides and rear • Select a target • Gradually release brake pressure • Move slowly • Accelerate gradually • Cover the brake when needed Backing

37. Backing & Turning • Signal • Readjust seat position according to direction that you turn wheel • Right Side/Left Side • Establish visual target • Use reference points to determine when to start turning steering wheel • Turn the wheel in the direction you want the back of the vehicle to go • Monitor “swing” of front of vehicle

38. Entering Roadway Tasks Check Ahead Check Left • Review pre-drive tasks • Start the vehicle • Shift to drive • Release park brake • Check traffic and signal • Move to first available lane by • Targeting center lane Position 1 • Cancel Signal • Accelerate gradually to the flow of traffic Check Over Shoulder Check Mirror

39. Moving to Curb/Side of Road Check Ahead • Check traffic • Signal intentions • Visually target destination • Use reference points to position vehicle 6 – 12 inches from curb • Secure the vehicle Check Over Shoulder Check Mirror Check Behind

40. Turnabouts If you miss an address or building and you do not have the option of driving around the block… • Types of Turnabouts • Two-point turn: • Pull into driveway on right side • Pull into driveway on left side •  Three-point turn •  U-turn • Midblock • At an intersection

41. Turnabouts Minimize risk by: • being sure local laws permit a turnabout — look for any signs prohibiting the turn • making sure you have at least 500 feet of visibility in each direction • being sure you have enough space and time to complete the turn safely • never making a turnabout near or on hills and curves • checking continually for other traffic and pedestrians — check all zones around your vehicle NO U Turns NO LEFT Turns

42. Two-Point Turnabouts Backing into driveway on the right side One method is to back into a driveway on the right side 1. Check traffic flow Signal, and position yourself 2-3 feet from curb Drive beyond the driveway and stop ; shift to reverse, monitor intended path 2. Back slowly, turning steering wheel rapidly to the right as you enter driveway Straighten wheels, centering car in driveway and stop with the wheels straight 3. Signal left and exit driveway when the way is clear   1 2 3

43. Two-Point Turnabouts Pulling into driveway on the left side 1. Check traffic flow • Signal and position your vehicle to 3-6 inches from center yellow line • When traffic is clear, drive into the driveway and stop • Shift to reverse, monitor intended path 2. Back slowly, turning steering wheel rapidly to the right as you exit driveway • Straighten wheels, centering car in roadway 3. Shift into drive - Check traffic and accelerate to normal speed 1 2 3

44. Three-Point Turnabouts • Three-point turns are also called Y-turns, andare an option if no driveway is available, traffic is light, you cannot drive around the block, or the available space prevents a U-turn 2 4 1 3 5 This is the most dangerous turnabout!

45. Three-Point Turnabouts Three-Point Turn • Stop close to the right edge or curb • Search for a 20- to 30-second gap, signal a left turn • Move slowly forward while turning the steering wheel rapidly to the left • when the front wheels are almost to the curb, stop — Check traffic left and right • Shift the vehicle into reverse and, while slowly backing up, turn the wheel to the right • Shift into drive — Check traffic — Signal your intent and accelerate to normal speed 2 1 3 5

46. U-Turn Turnabouts Mid-Block U-Turn • Make sure local and state law permits this type of turnabout • A midblock U-turns require a wide space • This is a high-risk turnabout 2 4 1 3 5

47. U-Turn Turnabouts U-Turn at an Intersection • When making a U-turn at an intersection, begin the U-turn in the left lane closest the center line or median • Complete the turn in the lane farthest to the right in the opposite flow of traffic, and accelerate to the appropriate speed 1 5

48. No Parking! • Within 20 feet of an intersection • Within 15 feet of the entrance to a fire, ambulance or Rescue squad station • Within 500 feet of where fire trucks or equipment are stopped answering an alarm • Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing • Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant

49. Angle Parking Parking diagonally to the curb • Signal intention, position vehicle three to four feet away from the space • Move forward until side view mirror appears to align with the first pavement line • Visually target the middle of the space and move slowly turning the wheel sharply • Once front enters space, gradually begin unwinding the steering wheel while monitoring the vehicles parked on either side

50. Exiting Angle Parking Space • Place foot on brake, signal intention, shift to reverse, search path of travel • Back until your vehicle’s front seat is even with the back of the space, and begin turning the steering wheel in the direction you want the rear to go • Constantly monitor the front bumper on the opposite side of the direction you are turning • Back into the closest lane; shift to drive and move forward