Chapter 1

1. Chapter 1 You Are the Driver

2. The Highway Transportation System (HTS) • People, vehicles, and roadways • Purpose is to move people and cargo from one place to another in a safe, efficient, and economical manner • Drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians • Simple rural lanes – complex multi-lane urban roads and expressways

3. Roadway Users People who are: Walking Driving Riding

4. Vehicles • Mopeds and motorcycles are small and have very little protection for the riders • Tractor trailers that weigh tons • Cars, vans, small trucks, buses, campers, farm vehicles and construction equipment

5. Roadways • Vary from dirt lanes to complex multilane expressways • Common conditions such as rain, nighttime, or rough pavement can become major problems

6. Regulating the HTS • Drivers who operate their vehicles in a responsible, low risk manner are the most important part in the HTS • Laws make up the vehicle code • Enforcement agencies assure that laws are obeyed • DMV set rules for driver and vehicle standards • Courts decide if drivers are guilty or innocent • Highway traffic engineers plan, build, and maintain the complex system of roadways

7. Driving Task • Includes social, physical, and mental skills • Using knowledge and visual skills • Obeying traffic laws • Judging time and space • Anticipating how our car will respond under normal and emergency conditions

8. Social Skills • Drivers must interact successfully with people which includes communicating with other roadway users • Courteous drivers obey traffic laws and make an extra effort to work with other drivers • Without courtesy and cooperation, low-risk driving is impossible

9. Physical Skills • Beginning drivers need to learn the physical skills of driving so they will become natural habits • Steering • Braking • Accelerating • Stopping • Starting

10. Mental Skills • Safe low-risk driving is primarily a mental or thinking task that involves decision making. • Physical skills are minor when compared to the necessary decision-making skills

11. The IPDE Process • A process of seeing, thinking, and responding • Identify important information in the driving scene • Predict when and where possible points of conflict will develop • Decide when, where, and how to communicate, adjust speed, and/or change position to avoid conflicts • Execute the right action(s) to prevent conflict

12. Your Driving Responsibilities • Your attitude toward life and driving affects your willingness to learn and effectively use safe-driving habits • The best defense against a driver who has road rage is to distance yourself • Drivers who drive in a responsible low-risk way will gain respect from others

13. Breakdowns in the HTS • A breakdown in the HTS occurs when any part of the system does not work well. • Traffic tie-ups • Collisions • Construction • Disabled vehicles

14. Collision or Accident? • Collision usually have more than one cause • Driver error is the most common cause of collisions which includes the following: • Breaking various laws • Not slowing in adverse conditions • Operating a defective vehicle • Following too closely • Driving while intoxicated or very tired • Not wearing safety belts

15. Causes of Death • Out of all methods of transportation the most deaths occur while driving motor vehicles • Lack of experience is a major factor • Some other factors include increased exposure to night driving, increased risk taking, susceptibility to peer pressure, and mixing drinking and driving • Traffic collisions cost our nation billions of dollars each year in property damage, time away from work and school, medical fees, and insurance premiums

16. Financial Responsibility • As a driver, you are responsible for your share of driving-related costs. • Fuel • Maintaining and insuring your car • You also are financially responsible by law for any damage or injuries that you may cause

17. Graduated Licensing Program • Requires young drivers to progress through a series of licensing stages. • Zero tolerance for blood alcohol concentration (BAC). • Permit stage • Intermediate license stage • Full-privilege license stage

18. Organ Donor Program • Filling out an organ donation declaration that will appear on your license. • Inform your family about your decision.

19. Implied Consent Law • You agree to take an alcohol test on request. • If you refuse you will lose your license.

20. Recap • Highway Transportation System • Roadway users • Vehicles • Roadways • Regulating the HTS • Driving Task • IPDE Process • Driving Responsibilities • Breakdowns in the HTS • Collisions • Cause of death • Financial Responsibility

21. Chapter 1 Worksheet 1. What are three parts of the Highway Transportation System (HTS)? 2. What is the primary purpose of the HTS? 3. Define “driving task” 4. Why is driving a social task? 5. Define “collision” 6. What are the four steps of the IPDE process?

22. Chapter 1 Worksheet 7. A collision occurs between a speeding car and a truck driven by a driver who was upset. This is an example that most collisions have _____________ causes. 8. Define “defensive driving” 9. Why is conserving fuel important?  Essay How do you think television programs, movies and commercials influence driving behavior?