Welcome to Drivers Ed

1. Welcome to Drivers Ed North Mason Traffic Safety

2. Highway Transportation System (HTS) • A SYSTEM is a group of elements that work together to fulfill a purpose. • Cell Phone Satellite Cell Phone

3. Major Elements of the HTS • Persons: Those who use the system: drivers, passengers, etc

4. Major Elements of the HTS • Vehicle: Machines used in the system: cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, snowmobiles, etc.

5. Major Elements of the HTS • Environment: Paths on which vehicles are driven or pedestrians walk: streets, county roads, highways, expressways, sidewalks, bicycle paths, trails, etc

6. Purpose of the HTS • The safe, efficient and convenient movement of people and goods from place to place. • Breakdowns can cause serious problems • Congestion • Crash • Loss of Money • Injury, Death

7. The Driving Task • Driving is a SOCIAL TASK • Driving is a person maneuvering a vehicle through other traffic and varying environmental conditions

8. Driving Precision • Driving Precision requires GOOD DECISIONS • Sound Judgment: based on learning to anticipate what could happen • Accurate Perception: being able to know how to view/look at traffic scenes • Knowledge: understanding what to do to be safe and efficient

9. Rule of the Road Don’t drive like you own the road Drive like you own the car

10. HTS Breakdowns and Failures • Most often caused by driver error • Often caused by driver inexperience • Sometimes caused by driver distraction • Or some combination of these factors

11. New Drivers • Inexperience is the primary cause of problems driving • Making high risk decisions also is a primary factor

12. Car’s Dashboard

13. Car’s Instrument Panel

14. Preventative Maintenance • Daily Preventative Maintenance Items • Fluid Leaks – Look under your car • Tire Inflation – Check your tires • Physical Damage – Do a visual check • Gas Level – Check your gas gauge

15. Preventative Maintenance • Weekly Preventative Maintenance Items • Tire Pressure – Use your pressure gage every time you fill up with gas • Safety/Communication Devises – check to see if your headlights, signals, brake lights, reverse lights work • Obvious tire wear – check your treads

16. Preventative Maintenance • Monthly Preventative Maintenance Items • Oil Level – Check your dip stick • Wiper Fluid Level – Check under hood • Coolant Fluid Level – Check under hood • Brake Fluid Level – Check under hood • Six Month Preventative Maintenance Items • Filters (air, oil) • Transmission Fluids • Regular Maintenance (tune ups) • Wash/Wax your car

17. Driver Operational Tasks • Maintaining Balance • 4 point contact (both hands, both feet) • Seating Position • Comfortable arm position • Upright • Holding Steering Wheel • 9-3 or 8-4 • Steering Wheel Movements • Push-Pull • Hand over Hand

18. Driver Operational Tasks • Braking Control • Pivot on Heal • Press with Toes • Braking Technique • Controlled • Threshold • Trail Brake • Vehicle Operating Space • Area your car takes up • “Safety Footprint”

19. Driver Operational Tasks • Accelerator Techniques • Releasing the Brake • Cover Accelerator • Progressive Acceleration • Thrust Acceleration • Weight Transfer • Weight on all 4 tires • Sequencing Driver Action • Vision Control (LOS-POT) • Motion Control • Steering Control

20. Line of Sight – Path of Travel Path of Travel Line of Sight

21. Reference Points Reference points are visual guides which help you judge your distance when parking or turning. From your viewpoint in the drivers seat, reference points help you to see the exact location of the wheels, both front and back bumpers, and also the side of the car when parking or turning.

22. Reference Points

23. Reference Points