Module 9: Topic 1Visibility

1. Driving at Night:a. Dirt on the lens of headlights can reduce light by up to 90 percent.b. How can you check to see if the lights are working properly?

Answer: Use the reflection when parked behind a car or in front of a garage doorc. How far do high beams let us see?

Answer: More than 250 feetd. What is the sight distance rule?

Answer: We have to be able to stop in the distance we can see e. When driving at night, drivers need to leave more space than they would in the daytime.

2. Visibility:a. The distance a driver can see ahead is limited and headlights do not illuminate off-road areas.b. Visibility is also compromised by the glare from other vehicles.

3. Headlights:a. High beam headlights

Used when safe and legal at speeds of 55 – 60 mphb. Low beam headlights

Used in bad weather or when following or meeting another car at night - safe at speed of 40 – 45 mph

4. Night Driving Skills:a. Adjust speed to distance illuminated by headlightsb. Keep your eyes moving searching ahead and at edges of the roadwayc. Flash lights once quickly if oncoming vehicle is using high beams

5. Night Driving Risks:a. Reduces ability to see risksb. Requires eyes to adjust quickly to glarec. Places limitations on gathering and processing information in timed. The distance you can see ahead is shorter - especially at higher speedse. Headlights provide little illumination of off-road areasf. Ability to judge distances is compromisedg. The glare from oncoming and following vehicles impairs visionh. Must drive “blind” while recovering from the glare

6. Driving Tips for Poor Visibility:a. Reduce speed to accommodate shortened sight distanceb. Use emergency flashers when traveling below speed limitc. Maintain appropriate lane position d. If stopping distance longer than sight distance, slow down and don’t drive “blindly” into the

darkness.

1

7. Safety Tips for Driving at Night:a. Before passing, the driver passing can flash his/her headlights to warn the other driver.b. When two vehicles are side by side, the passing driver may switch to high beams and the

driver being passed should switch to low beams.c. Be alert for pedestrians walking on unlighted roadways . d. If you must walk on a dark roadway due to vehicle breakdown or another reason, carry a

white handkerchief or wear light-colored clothing or reflective clothing to increase your chances of being seen.

e. In snow, wear dark clothing to create a contrast.

2

Module 9: Topic 2Severe Weather Conditions

1. Drifting Fog:a. Reduce speedb. Turn on low beam headlights c. Turn on windshield wipersd. Turn on defroster or air conditioner

2. Heavy Fog:a. Reduce speedb. Turn on emergency flashers and fog lightsc. NEVER stop in a travel laned. Look for an exit from the highwaye. If impossible to leave the highway, stop beyond the end of guardrail as far to the right of the road

as possible, and turn off lights and wait for fog to lift.

3. Visibility Limited by Rain and Snow:a. Keep headlights cleanb. Turn on the defroster to remove ice and condensation c. Clear the windshield and rear windowsd. Reduce Speede. Turn headlights to low beamf. Turn on windshield wipersg. Be alert for vehicles stopped in roadwayh. Be prepared for effects of gusting windsi. Make adjustments gently and smoothly

4. Sources of Glarea. Other vehicle headlightsb. Paper on the dashboardc. Snow covered landscaped. The sun at dawn or dusk

5. Reducing Glarea. Look to the right edge of roadwayb. Do not place paper on dashboardc. Wear sunglasses during the dayd. Adjust sun visors and mirrorse. Clean window

3

6. Describe how the conditions listed below affect a driver’s ability to see and what adjustment a driver should make to better cope with these conditions:

1. Sun glare:2. Driving at night:3. Fog:4. Rain:5. Snow:

7. Driving in Snow:a. In severe snow conditions look for an exit on highwayb. Check weather report c. If impossible to leave highway, stop beyond outboard end of guard rail d. Use cell phone to check conditionse. Snow may require use of windshield washer fluid

8. Strong Winds:a. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheelb. Reduce speedc. Adjust lane positiond. Do not over steere. Stay off the brakef. Prepare to counter steerg. Make all steering, accelerating, and braking actions gently and smoothlyh. Check for debris in roadway and oncoming traffic

9. Low water crossings:a. Flash flooding conditions are unpredictableb. Not specific to a time of yearc. Affects braking, steering and engine systems

10. Flash Flood Dangers:a. Nearly 50% of flash flood fatalities are vehicle related b. Search for flood prone areas:

Highway dips Bridges Low areas

c. Most vehicles will float d. Very little water on the road surface can cause loss of controle. Two feet of water will “carry” most carsf. Because visibility is limited at night, driving during flooding conditions is very dangerousg. Heed all flash flood watches and warningsh. Monitor road conditions through the news media

11. Hot and Cold Temperatures:a. Vehicles are designed to operate in a wide range of temperatures, from very hot to extremely

cold.b. Extreme conditions cause stress on vehicle parts sensitive to temperature changec. Make sure to check tires, fluids, and belts

4

12. Cold Weather Driving Tips:a. Check your batteryb. Check your cooling systemc. Check your windshield wipers d. Check your tire treade. Check your gasf. Check your windshield washer reservoirg. Check radiator coolant, hoses, and connectionsh. Clean snow off of your entire car

13. Hot weather checks a. Underinflated tires are subject to excessive flexion causing pressure buildup, especially when

driving for extended distances at higher speeds.b. The air conditioner, radiator coolant hoses, connections, and drive belts need special attention

due to the extra load placed on these cooling systems.

5

Module 9: Topic 3Occupant Protection

1. Occupant Protection:a. Occupant protection refers to safety features designed to protect occupants of motor vehicles in

the event of a crash. These systems can be 'active' or ‘passive.’b. Wearing a safety belt is your best defense for preventing severe life-altering injuries:

Slows occupant’s rate of deceleration in a frontal crash and keeps occupants securely in place

2. Airbags:a. The driver side airbag is located in the center of the steering wheel and the passenger side airbag

is located inside the dashboard. b. Side airbags that inflate during side collisions are usually located within the seat. Cc. Curtain airbags are installed above the side windows, in the headliner, on both sides. d. Knee airbags are located in front of the legs of the driver and front seat passenger.

They are concealed within the steering column or the lower part of the dashboard and deploy during frontal impacts.

e. Driver and front passenger air bags are designed to inflate in a frontal impact. Drivers should sit at least 10 inches from the air bag because it inflates to six or seven inches

in size at speeds up to 200 mph. If you can, tilt the steering wheel to point the air bags at your chest, not your face.

f. Always wear a safety belt and secure children in the rear seat. g. To reduce forearm and hand injuries, place hands on the lower half of the steering wheel, with

knuckles on the outside and thumbs along the inside of the rim of the wheel.h. Side impact air bags are designed to protect the torso and head in side impact collisions.

Care should be taken not to sit too close to the door or to lean towards the air bag.

3. How do you adjust your seat and steering wheel hand position to protect you from the airbag?

4. We learned in Module 2 that adjusting the head restraints protects us from whiplash.

6

Module 9: Topic 4Highway Safety Design

1. Roadway Safety Design:

a. Breakaway sign support posts

b. Guard rails with ends angled away from roadway and buried

c. Crash attenuators - such as vinyl liquid or sand filled drums

d. Protected left and right turn bays

e. Collector/distributor lanes on high speed, high density highways

f. Variable message signs alerting drivers to weather conditions, construction, and traffic problems

7

Module 9: Topic 5Vehicle Design and Technology

1. How do you think vehicle design and technology make a vehicle safer?

2. New Advances:a. All-wheel driveb. Antilock braking systems c. Electronic stability control d. Telematics (i.e. OnStar) e. Tire pressure monitoringf. Active head restraints g. Adaptive cruise control h. Adaptive headlights i. Advanced airbags j. Advanced seat belt pre tensionerk. Fatigue warning l. Forward collision warning systems m. Lane departure warning systems n. Side view assisto. Park assist and back over prevention

3. In Module 3 we learned about anti lock braking systems (ABS).a. What is the primary task of ABS?

Answer: accident avoidanceb. What are the ABS rules?

Answer: Stomp on the brake pedal, stay on the brakes, steer where you want to goc. What may you notice when using ABS brakes?

Answer: You may hear a noise and feel the pedal vibrate

4. Electronic Stability System (ESP):a. What is the electronic stability program designed to do?

Answer: Avoid accidents and prevent a vehicle from skidding and slidingb. During an over-steering or skidding condition (rear-wheel lock-up), the ESP system applies the

brake to which wheel?Answer: The outer front wheel

c. During an under-steering or sliding condition (front-wheel lock-up), the ESP system applies the brake to which wheel?Answer: The inner rear wheel

5. Functions of Tires:a. Tires are air-filled cushions designed to reduce the effect of road hazards and irregularities on

the vehicle and are designed to flex and give as they meet the road surface.b. Absorb shocks caused by road hazards c. Provide Traction — enables drivers to accelerate, brake and steerd. Tires ratings are indicated on the sidewall of the tire

8

6. Traction:a. Measured by the ability to stop a car in straight-ahead motion on a wet surface - tires graded A

have the best traction performance, B grading is an above average rating and C indicates the tire meets government standards.

b. Temperature —tire’s ability to withstand heat. Tires graded A are the most heat-resistant and less likely to suffer a blowout under the same conditions as tires with grades of B or C.

c. Treadwear rating — the higher the treadwear rating, the greater the mileage – a tire with a treadwear rating of 150 is expected to last 50 percent longer than one graded at 100.

7. After watching the tire safety video, list 3 things you learned about tires.

9

Module 9: Topic 6Dangerous Road Conditions

1. Dangerous Road Conditions:a. Ice, snow, or frost/sleetb. Wet--particularly the first 15 minutes of rain after a long dry period when oil and rubber

particles have collected on the road surface and mix with waterc. Heavy rain or standing water d. Mud near farm entrances, construction sites, and truck crossingse. Wet leavesf. Broken or uneven road surfaceg. Sand or gravel - frequently found on curves in rural areas

2. Slippery Conditions:a. Ice on the roadb. Dangerous curves and turnsc. Roads with slippery when wet warning signs d. Most dangerous when the temperature is near freezinge. Just after a rain has fallen on a hot dayf. Heavily traveled intersections when raining

3. Controlling Consequences:a. Drive off road rather than skid off the roadb. Hit something soft rather than something hard c. Hit something going your way rather than something stationaryd. Hit stationary objects with a glancing blowe. Hit a stationary object rather than an approaching objectf. Steer to avoid oncoming traffic and head on collision

4. Preventing Loss of Traction:a. Reduce speed b. Increase spacec. Make gradual changes to speedd. Avoid abrupt changes in directione. Find the best path

5. Causes of Traction Lossa. Road surface conditionsb. The condition of the vehicle c. Actions of the driver

6. Signs of Hydroplaning:a. Standing waterb. Raindrops that bubble when they hit the roadc. Slushing soundd. Sensation that the steering wheel is loose or disconnected from the vehicle e. A vehicle ahead that is not leaving a track

10

7. Preventing Hydroplaning:a. Slow down when there is water standing on the surface of the pavement.b. Tires should be properly inflated and have adequate tread.c. Increase following distance, particularly when behind a large truck.d. Drive in the tracks left by any vehicle ahead.

8. If Hydroplaning Occurs:a. Ease off the accelerator graduallyb. Decrease speed until your tires regain traction.c. Do not brake until traction has been restored.d. Steer no more than necessary, continue to look and steer where you want to go.

9. What do you know about skids?a. When do most skids occur?

Answer: From braking too hard on a slippery surface, turning too quickly and trying to accelerate too rapidly

b. What are the steps to recover from a skid?Answer: Foot off brake or accelerator. Turn vehicle in desired direction. Before the car straightens out, counter-steer the other way. Continue doing so until the vehicle is straight ahead

c. What is the best way to handle skids?Answer: Avoid slippery surfaces. Adjust speed to conditions. Be gentle using brake, accelerator and steering wheel.

10. Causes of Skidsa. Slippery surfacesb. Accelerating too hard c. Braking too hardd. Steering too much or too quicklye. Entering a curve with too much speed

11. Preventing skids:a. Apply the brakes in a smooth and progressive mannerb. Make smooth, precise steering wheel movementsc. Slowing down well in advance of curvesd. Maintaining speeds appropriate for conditions

12. Types of skids:a. There are two main types of skidding:

over-steering (fishtailing) under-steering (plowing)

13. Front wheel loss of traction:a. Called “Understeer” and is when the vehicle moves straight ahead in spite of steering input

Look and steer toward intended path Smoothly ease up on accelerator Smoothly apply brakes to regain traction Do not steer more than necessary

11

14. When Brakes are Applied Too Hard or Too Quickly:a. Vehicle weight shifts to the front causing:

A noticeable drop of the hood A noticeable rise of the rear Forward movement of driver, passengers and items in vehicle

15. Correcting Front Traction Loss:a. Direct vision to targeted path of travel (look where you want to go)b. Activate ABS (if vehicle equipped)

Ease off conventional brake system Reestablish rolling traction (wheels rolling/not sliding)

c. Ease off steering inputs Abrupt steering can create traction loss Steer toward intended path of travel

d. Jab/Stab brake to move weight forward if no ABS (ABS performs this function automatically)

16. Rear-Wheel Loss of Traction:a. This is called an “over steer” when vehicle moves sideways without any additional steering input

• Look and steer toward intended path • Ease off the accelerator and avoid using the brakes• Continue to steer and counter-steer until the vehicle is traveling straight• Use a light and progressive acceleration if the vehicle does not recover

17 Acceleration and Traction Loss:a. When acceleration is applied too hard or too quickly weight moves to the rear of the car causing:

• A noticeable rise of the hood • A noticeable drop of the rear • Rearward movement of driver and passengers

18. Causes of Traction Loss:a. Brakes unevenly adjusted - Brakes pulling in one direction or the other can cause a skid - as can

wheels that are out of alignment when brakes are appliedb. Unevenly worn tire tread

The size of the front and rear tires do not match. The tread depth or the front and rear tire type are not the same.

19. Driver Actions that Cause Loss of Traction:a. Sudden steering movements on a slippery surfaceb. Abrupt and sudden changes in vehicle speedc. Panic stop or applying the brakes too hard on a hill, curve or slippery surfaced. Suddenly engaging the clutch on a slippery surface

20. Traction Loss – Shifts in Vehicle Weight:a. Sudden shifts of vehicle weight (left, right, forward or backward) will cause loss of traction.

12

b. Simultaneous steering, braking and/or acceleration creates sudden shifts in vehicle balance.

21. When Steering is Applied Too Hard or Quickly Weight Moves to the Opposite Side of the Car:a. Vehicle weight shift causes:

• A noticeable drop and tilt of the hood • A noticeable rise and tilt of the rear • Driver, passenger, items in car move towards the car’s corner

22. Managing Rear Traction Loss:a. Look at desired/targeted path of travelb. Activate traction control system orc. Ease off brake or acceleratord. Reestablish rolling traction to rear wheelse. Steer toward targeted path of travelf. Apply light progressive acceleration (2 mph is goal) to shift weight to the Rear g. Traction control system will adjust the speed/braking automatically when activated)

13

Module 9: Topic 7Emergency Recovery & Controlling Consequences

1. What do you think causes run off the road crashes?

2. Run-Off the Road Crashes: Recognize, React, And Recovera. What are some reasons run-off the road crashes occur?

Answer: Driving too fast for conditions, not paying attention, driving in rural areasb. What increases the risk of being in a run-off the road crash?

Answer: Driving at nightc. What is the #1 tip from America’s best drivers when it comes to run-off the road crashes?

Answer: Don’t overreactd. What steps should you take if you run-off the road?

Answer: Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Stay off the brake and gas. Check for traffic. Reduce Speed. Align off road wheels with the road (straddle the road). Steer back onto the road with small Inputs.

3. Causes of Run Off the Road Crashes:a. Inattention or distractionsb. Drowsiness c. Steers onto the shoulder to avoid a collision and tries to return to the roadwayd. Vehicle may collide with a vehicle in the next lane, or drive off the far side of the road

4. Off road recoverya. To return to the pavement safely:

Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel Slow down, ease off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to slow gradually - avoid braking Straddle the edge of the pavement, after speed is reduced and there is a gap in traffic . Steer back to the road with small inputs, do not over steer Return to the pavement two wheels at a time, as soon as the front tire is back on the roadway,

counter-steer quickly left or right as necessary to stay in the correct laneb. Blocked Roadside: If an object beside the road such as a tree, bridge abutment or pedestrian

forces the driver to return to the road quickly, he/she has little time to slow down, to do this the driver should: Steer left or right so the off-road wheels are about 12 inches away from the edge of the

pavement Remove his/her foot from the accelerator and stay off the brakes. Turn the steering wheel

quickly about one-eighth turn toward the roadway Immediately, as the outer wheel makes contact with the edge of the pavement, counter-steer

about a quarter turn and make steering corrections to straighten vehicle.

5. Reminders:a. Do not panic and steer abruptly

14

b. Ease off accelerator c. DO NOT BRAKEd. Get both wheels off the pavemente. Steer the vehicle parallel to the roadwayf. If clear, ease back on to the roadway one wheel at a timeg. Limit steering inputs to less than 1/8 of a turn of the wheel h. Use even less input when edge of road is highi. Target the center of the adjacent lane to avoid a “Slingshot” maneuver into oncoming traffic

6. Evasive Maneuvers:a. With ABS brakes, how can you stop quickly?

Answer: Press down hard on the brake pedalb. What is the safest maneuver if there is enough room?

Answer: Braking  c. What are the steps for making quick turns? Answer: Turn the wheel ½ circle, full circle in the other direction and back to the middle

d. If there is a car beside you in the left lane and you need to avoid a car ahead, what should you do? Answer: Stop quickly or swerve to the right 7. When do you use Evasive Steering?

a. When there is space to the sideb. When stopping distance is questionablec. When there are cars close behind

8. Procedures for Evasive Steering:a. Turn the wheel 180 degreesb. Counter-steer immediatelyc. Turn the wheel back to the original straight-ahead position

9. Evasive Braking:a. If the vehicle has ABS:

Firmly press brake pedal until the vehicle stops May feel pedal pulse back against foot

b. If the vehicle does not have ABS:• Apply firm, steady pressure just short of lockup• Ease up on brakes if wheels lock, then apply the brakes again

10. Evasive Acceleration:a. Used less frequentlyb. Can be used to avoid crashes at intersections and in merging situationsc. May move point of impact to rear of vehicle if you can’t get out of the way

11. Controlling Consequences

15

a. Avoid head-on collisionsb. Drive off the road rather than skid off the roadc. Hit something softerd. Hit something going in the same directione. Hit stationary object with glancing blowf. Hit stationary object rather than approaching object

16

Module 9: Topic 8Reporting Crashes

1. What are the four things that need to be done in the event of a crash? Answer: Protect the scene, call for help, take care of injured, report the accident

a. What should you do to protect the scene? Answer: Get cars off the road, if possible, warn approaching drivers b. What should you do to take care of anyone who is injured?

Answer: Try to make them as comfortable as possible, see if there is someone with medical experience around, keep injury from getting worse, move the person no more than is necessary to avoid danger from traffic or fire

c. What information should you get from the other driver if involved in a crash?Answer: Name, address, phone number, driver’s license #, vehicle tag number, insurance company, name and telephone number of witnesses

2. What should you do?a. Stop immediatelyb. Aid the injuredc. Prevent further damaged. Send for policee. Exchange information f. Record witnesses’ names and addressesg. Notify insurance agent

17