Chapter 4 Safe Driving

1. Chapter 4 Safe Driving

2. Speed Controls A driver is responsible to know 2 speed zones – 25 mph - Residential, school & business 50 mph - All others What this means is if there are no signs posted you must choose the proper speed zone Exceeding the speed is a common factor of all crashes

3. Speed Zones continue Speed limits are the highest speed you should travel under ideal conditions. A good rule is to keep up with traffic at any legal speed. Speed Zones 25 - Business or residential 25 - School – must be posted 35- Suburban business & residential 50 - Other 55 - Certain state highways & interstates 65 - Interstates

4. Speed Zones continue Double fines – 4 areas where penalties double School Zones Construction Zones Safe Corridor Zones 65 MPH Speed Zones

5. Speed limits not posted It is possible to get a speeding ticket when going the post limit – WHY? If driving faster than the weather or road conditions safely allow Always slow down: On narrow or winding roads At intersections & railroad crossings Hills Sharp or blind curves Wet slippery roads Pedestrians or driving hazards

6. Safe Corridor Zones These are sections of a high way that have above average accident reports. In these areas, which are marked by signs, all fines are doubled as a way of getting motorists to drive with more caution. These sections also require higher police presence and additional road maintenance all in an effort to reduce the accident rate

7. Passing The term passing means that you are changing lane in order to go by slower moving vehicles TTLB: Passing is it legal, is it safe, & do I need to Legal line nearest me is it solid or broken sign preventing Unsafe area – hills, curves, blind areas, intersections, rail roads, narrow bridges, other vehicles yielding to pedestrians

8. Keep to the Right Law requires motorists to stay to the right, except to pass What good, responsible, safe driver know is when they have the right-of-way and when they have to yield. A good driver will also know when and how to give you their right-of-way. Overly courteous drivers cause a lot of problems

9. Yield Must yield to: All Emergency vehicles in service (lights & sirens) Buses & postal vehicles re-entering traffic Pedestrians Motorized or mobility vehicles Other vehicles already in intersection

10. Pedestrians NJ experiences a large number of pedestrian accidents compared to other states. In order to reduce this we must take a shared responsibility approach. The motorists must: Yield to pedestrians Don’t block or park on side walks and crosswalks Keep windshield clean Be alert in high pedestrian areas Watch for pedestrians when turn (all) Never pass vehicles that are yielding to pedestrians

11. Intersections Definition – where 2 or more roads meet. Most collisions occur at intersections A single solid white line across a road at an intersection is a stop line. If a stop is required, you must come to a complete stop before crossing that line.

12. Types of Intersections Controlled – traffic is controlled by traffic signals or signs (or officer) Laws governing signals dictate right-of-way, but at four way stop intersection, when cars arrive together the person on left has the right-of-way or “the person on the right has to yield to the person on the left”. Uncontrolled – intersections without signals or signs reduce speed and be prepared to stop

13. Intersection continued Signals not working treat as a four-way stop Exam note: a driver cannot drive on private property to avoid a traffic signal or sign, the only time a motorist can do so is when told to by police Blind intersections – slow down or stop to check traffic Circles – rules governing circle are individual

14. Entering & Exiting Limit access Acceleration lanes – extra lanes added to road to allow motorist to speed up in order to enter a roadway. Remember these lanes will end & you are the driver responsible to yield Deceleration lane – extra lanes added to allow motorists to slow down to exit at the posted speed Weaves – combined additional lane for entering & leaving. Motorist enter must yield

15. Disabled Vehicle If your vehicle does break down • Pull vehicle as far off the road as possible • Remember to signal and slow down with care. • Turn on hazard lights • Raise hood and or attach cloth to hood or window • Place flares or signs 300 feet behind car • Call for help and stay with vehicle • Don’t stand behind car

16. Curves Approaching curves is the same as approaching a turn except for the single, many people cause their own skid by doing this wrong. • Slow down (to posted limit) before entering • Avoid drifting • Once in the turn foot should be on gas • At half way point gradually accelerate • If you are riding the brake you have erred so you at the hospital

17. Turning Right on Red Law: You must turn right on red unless a sign is posted. • Signal • Come complete stop (the rock) • After yielding to traffic & pedestrians you may turn • Glance at light to see if it has changed

18. Turns continued Right turns: • Signal • Move to appropriate lane (to far right) • Stay in proper lane • Be alert to pedestrians or bicyclists on right

19. Turns continued Left turns: • Is it legal • Left most legal lane, (closest to center line) • signal • Yield to all on coming & pedestrian traffic • Turn into the left most legal lane • Stay in lane (Don’t cut or turn wide) Exam -Turning left from two-way to four-lane highway

20. Stopping Regulations Signs, signals & rules indicate when a motorist should stop. Most accidents occur at intersections normally due to people trying to jump the signal, ignore yield regulations or trying to beat the signal. To avoid accidents slow down when approaching an intersection and be prepared to stop.

21. Stop • At stop sign • Solid or flashing red light • Officer or traffic control person orders you to • School bus with lights on • Coming from a private road • Draw bridge or rail road with warning lights on • Pedestrian in cross walk • Blind pedestrian (dog or cane) • Motorized wheel chair

22. Stopping continued Stop line – Solid white line across road Certain vehicles must stop at rail road crossings if you are behind one you must also stop (see no passing) School Bus – Stop at least 25 feet in all directions unless: • Divided highway • In front of school may pass at 10 mph

23. Stop continued Frozen Dessert (ice cream truck): When conducting business you are to stop, yield to all pedestrians then you may pass at 15 mph Pull over and stop for emergency vehicles in service. (yield to) After the vehicle has passed you may proceed but don’t follow within 300 feet and never park within 200 feet. Urban areas my have an emergency lane

24. Use of Lights When: • ½ hour after sunset • ½ hour before sun rise • Wind shield wipers on • Visibility of less than 500 feet (fog, smoke, snow) Parking or auxiliary light cannot be used when head lights are required

25. Lights continued Bright or high beams – used for open country driving. TTLB: The person driving toward you can see you are you scared? Turn your high beams off anytime there is a vehicle within 500 feet of your car. Including divided highways Quick flash of your lights then look low and to right Dims – for driving in city and traffic

26. Other required lights • Tail Lights - Rear • Brake Lights - Rear • Back-up Lights - Rear • Plate Lights - Rear • Signal Lights - Rear & Front/side • Hazard Lights - Rear & Front/side • Parking Lights - Rear & Front/side • Head Lights - Front • Dome Lights - Inside • Dash lights - Inside

27. Parking Regulations • When leaving a parked car open the door with care the driver is responsible for collisions occurring from opening doors. • Cars must be no farther than 6 inches from curb • Check for parking regulation signs before parking. • Then sign that controls your car is the sign behind you or the last sign you saw.

28. No Parking • Fire hydrant – 10 feet • Crosswalk – 25 feet • Stop Sign & railroad crossing – 50 feet • Fire station entrance – 20 feet, 75 feet opposite side • On crosswalk • On Sidewalk • Red or yellow zone (pedestrian safety zone) • On interstate • In bus stop • Driveway entrance (any) • On bridge or elevated road • Next to another car (double parked) • Prohibited by ordinance

29. Cell Phones TTLB: (After seat belts this is the number one TTLB) - Driving and texting has proven to be more dangerous that driving at the level of .08. I will do neither. If I need to talk or texted I will pull over. Pull over, Pull over, Pull over!! $100 to $250 fine, primary offense, all electronics are a GDL offense Exceptions: Fire, Accident, Road Hazards, Medical emergency, Hazardous materials, report erratic driving

30. Littering The driver is responsible for the vehicle, and trash thrown from a vehicle (moving or parked) can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and loss of license. Life lesson – There is no excuse for littering be a better citizen and don’t litter or stand by quietly while others do. Regardless of the situation or location.