Driver Education

Introduction to driving in New Jersey

Notes

At the age of 17 you may get your driver’s license in the State

of New Jersey

This is a privilege and not your right!!! You must earn it and be responsible to keep it!!!

THE FACTS

• 1 in 9 teenagers

get into an automobile crashes every year.

• Your vision is the most important sense you use when driving.

• Visibility - what you see when behind the wheel

• Time - being able to judge your speed and the speed of others.

• Space is so important, keep distance between vehicles to prevent tailgating crashes

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The Escape Path

• Is an area to the right where you can find relief from a conflict

Driving Tips

• NJ law requires directional (turn signal) to be used 100 feet in advance of a turn

• Check rearview mirror every 8 seconds

• Hand positioning - hands are to be on the upper one - half of the steering wheel for

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Overdriving your Headlights

• This means you are driving too fast for your lights to illuminate the area ahead.

• Correction - slow down

• Low beams - 350 feet

• High beams - 500 feet

Following Distance Rules• Car length - leave one car

length for every 10 mph of speed traveling. Example 50 mph = 5 car lengths

• The 3 second plus rule - when approaching a stationary object, you begin to count 1001, 1002, 1003 etc… if you get to the object (mailbox, telephone pole) before you count to 1003, you are to close. SLOW DOWN

WHEN TO USE YOUR LIGHTS

New Jersey law requires all motorist to turn a vehicle’s headlights on whenever windshield wipers are in use.

Headlights must also be used one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise, during rain, snow or ice storms, and when fog or smoke is present.

Left Lane Law

• States that you can not drive in the left lane for an extended period of time because it is used for passing only.

• New Jersey law states that you should keep to the right except when passing, $500 fine

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Fighting Fatigue(Fatigue is usually temporary and can sometimes be

overcome by doing the following)• BEFORE DRIVING• Get rest• Avoid fatty foods• Never drink alcohol

and drive

• WHILE DRIVING

• Roll down the window and get a flow of fresh air

• Sunglasses to avoid sun and/or snow glare

• Turn on radio

• Stop regularly and get out of car and do some light exercises

New Jersey Insurance Rates

• The highest rates in the United States.

• The average cost of insurance for a new, inexperienced driver is $2500-5000 for your own policy.

What affects insurance rate?

• B average or higher in school (5%-10% discount)

• Behind the wheel (BTW) training 6 hours - possible 10%-20% discount.

• How many people in the household of driving age.

• Ages of driver(s)• Credit rating of parents• Storage of the vehicle

• 6 points or more a year means an insurance surcharge.

• Make, model, trim, color, doors, engine size.

• New or used vehicle• Married or single status• How many miles to &

from work or school

Types of RoadwaysIntrastate Definition

It is a highway which travels through the entire state. It DOES NOT travel

from state to state.

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Interstate Definition

• An interstate is a highway that travels through each state. It travels from state to state. It connects the states.

Interstate Numbering

• If the number on the highway sign is odd, it means the road goes north and south.

• If the number on the highway is even, it means the road goes east and west.

Interstate Rules continued

• Interstate numbers range from 4 to 99.

• The greater the even number the farther north you are.

• The greater the odd number the farther east you are.

• The lesser the even number the farther south you are.

• The lesser the odd number the farther west you are.

The States use one of two methods of numbering the Interstate interchange exits.

The Consecutive numbering system -- Starting at the most westerly or southerly point on each Interstate route, interchanges are numbered consecutively. Thus the first interchange becomes Interchange #1. Each succeeding interchange is numbered consecutively as #2, 3, 4.

The Milepost numbering system -- All Interstate routes are mile posted beginning at the most westerly or southerly point. The beginning point is milepost '0'. If the first interchange on the route is located between milepost 4.0 and 5.0, it is numbered as Interchange #4. The next interchange, if located at milepost 8.7, would be numbered as Interchange #8, etc. With this system the motorist can easily determine the location and distance to a desired interchange.

FYI Interstate Numbering (do not copy)

FYI Information (do not copy)

Longest Interstate Routes

I-90 Seattle, WA to Boston, MA 3,020.54 miles

I-80 San Francisco, CA to Teaneck, NJ 2,899.54 miles

Shortest (2-Digit) Interstate Routes:

I-97 Annapolis to Baltimore, MD 17.62 miles

Interstate Routes through the most States:

I-95 FL,GA,SC,NC,VA,DC,MD,DE,PA,NJ,NY,CT,RI,MA,NH,ME 16 States

I-90 WA,ID,MT,WY,SD,MN,WI,IL,IN,OH,PA,NY,MA 13 States

I-80 CA,NV,UT,WY,NE,IA,IL,IN,OH,PA,NJ 11 States

East-West Transcontinental Routes:I-10 Los Angeles, CA to Jacksonville, FL 2,460.34 milesI-80 San Francisco, CA to Teaneck, NJ 2,899.54 milesI-90 Seattle, WA to Boston, MA 3,020.54 miles

North-South Transcontinental Routes:

I-95 Miami, FL to Houlton, ME 1,919.74 miles