Section 4: Defensive Driving Questions and Answers 2023

Section 4: Defensive Driving Questions and Answers 2023 Defensive Driving Be prepared to stop, know how to adjust your driving to allow for problems with your vehicle. The road surface types hazards, poor weather heavy traffic, poor lighting, and your own physical, mental, and emotional condition. Intersection Safety 1.) A turn from or into the wrong lane is dangerous. If you are in the wrong lane for a turn, go to the next intersection. 2.) Position of your vehicle and signals to let other drivers know your plan to do. Human Error - Human error is a leading cause of traffic crashes. - More crashes during evening rush hour traffic. - Signs that you need to stop and rest include difficulty focusing or keeping your head up, frequent blinking or yawning and drifting in your lane. Sleep before leaving on a trip and find a safe place to stop and rest. Alertness Driving is not the time to solve business or family problems, plan a trip and etc. you need to concentrate on what is happening in front of you, behind you, and both sides of you. Hearing Hearing is important role while driving. It's important to hear traffic and your vehicle's engine. Also, to hear truck, ambulance, or fire engine is coming. Vision - The most important role in driving. - Glare from the headlights of oncoming traffic affects some people more than others. - When you combine headlights glare and wet pavements, drivers may have a real vision problem. - At 60 miles per hour, you travel about 616 feet in those seven seconds, and you actually may be driving blind during that time. Looking Ahead - Expert drivers scan the entire driving scene is at least 12 seconds - On the highway you should scan 12 to 15 seconds ahead. Blind Spot If you are changing lanes, check your vehicle's blind spot by glancing over your shoulder to the rear in the direction of the lane change. Space Cushions The only way you can be sure you have enough time to react is by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicle around you. Side Cushion - Avoid driving alongside other vehicles on multi-lane streets. - However, avoid driving in another driver's blind spot. - Make room for vehicles entering freeways. If there is no one next to you, move over lane. Help other drivers signaling for a lane change make the move safely by slowing down your vehicle or speeding up a little, if needed. -Keep plenty of room between your vehicle and bicyclists. Cushion Behind - A vehicle is behind you is following too closely and there is a right lane, move over to the right.If there is no right lane, or you cannot move over, begin to slowly reduce your speed as the approaching provides the vehicle following you with a safe opening to pass. Additional Cushion Addition to cushions ahead should be given to drivers for alot of room. For example, At intersection or driveways. Building, trees, or other vehicles often block their view. Fogged-over or covered with snow or ice. Communicating With Other Drivers - Turning on your headlights - Using your horn. - Putting your vehicle where it can be seen. - Using your hazard lights when needed. You can let other drivers know what you plan to do by: - Signaling before changing direction or lanes. -Using your brake lights to indicate you are slowing or stopping. Road Rage and Aggressive Drivers Drivers that take out their frustrations on anybody. They make run stop signs, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right Stopping Quickly Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) ABS will allow you to stop without skidding Turning Quickly In most cases, you can turn the vehicle quicker than you can stop it. Make sure you have a good grip with both hands on the steering wheel. Once you have turned, be ready to keep the vehicle under control. Speeding Up Sometimes it is best to speed up to avoid a collision. Curves Slow down before you enter a curve. Use the speed shown below a curve sign as a guide, if posted. As you come out of curve, increase your speed gradually. Meeting a Vehicle If an oncoming vehicle is drifting into your lane, pull to the right as far as possible, slow down, and warn the other driver with your horn or lights. Entering a Freeway Use merging or acceleration lane to speed up and merge with fast-moving traffic already on the road. You must yield to traffic already on the freeway. Use your mirrors and check your blind spots before merging. On Freeways Speeds traveled on rural interstate freeways are higher than on other roads. If you drive at a speed below the flow of traffic, you must use the right lane. Vehicle Trouble Turn on your hazard lights to warn other traffic. If possible, it is better to stay in or near your vehicle on the side away from traffic. A police patrol will stop to help you when one comes by if not on another call. Leaving a Freeway When you leave a freeway,signal your move well ahead of time. Maintain your speed until you move into the exit lane. If you do miss your exit, go to the next one. Never stop or back up on a freeway. Using Lights Headlights must be turned on from sunset to sunrise. Lights also must be on at any time conditions make it difficult to see people or vehicles 1,000 feet ahead. By using your headlights on rainy, snowy or foggy days, you will help other drivers see you and give yourself an extra safety margin. Use headlights when driving at dusk. It also is illegal to have auxiliary lights. Dimming Headlights When your vehicle's high beam headlights are on, you must dim or lower the beam when an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet. Dim headlights beam when you are following another vehicle within 350 feet. Headlights glare in a rearview mirror can blind another driver. Night Hazards At night, your response to hazards is slowed because you cannot see what is beyond your headlights. Fatigue or drowsiness is especially dangerous when driving at night. Reduce Speed at Night Adjusted headlights light about 350 feet of dark road. If you drive faster than about 60 miles per hour, you are actually driving blind unable to see far enough ahead to be able to react to a hazardous condition before you hit it. Fog-Dust-Smoke If you drive into fog, dust, smoke, or any area of reduced visibility, reduce your speed. Use headlights on low beam so the light will be on the road where you need it. Light from high beams will reflect back, causing glare and making it more difficult to see ahead. Bad Weather Rain, snow, and ice impair your ability to see ahead and increase the braking distance required to stop your vehicle . Apply the brakes sooner and more gently than usual. Hydroplane (Skim or float) over a wet road surface, leaving the vehicle without any road contact. When hydroplaning occurs, there is loss of traction needed to safely steer and brake. Snow and Ice -Keep a light steady foot on the gas pedal. When your vehicle begins to move, too much power may cause the vehicle not to move at all or to start forward with its rear-end skidding to the right or left. -Make turns at a reduced, steady speed to avoid a skid. -