Driving Safety and Risk Factors

Risk Factors

• Risk factors increase the likelihood of collisions.
• Driver-contributed factors arise from distractions such as using a phone, combing hair, or adjusting the radio.

Vehicle and Road Factors

• Vehicle-contributed factors include equipment failures like bald tires, broken headlights, and worn wipers which heighten collision risk.
• Road and environment-contributed factors encompass external conditions like bright sun, glare, icy roads, or construction.

IPDE Process

• IPDE stands for Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute—steps for safe driving.
• The Zone Control System helps manage six zones around the vehicle effectively.

Zone Control System

• Involves three steps: recognizing a zone change, checking other zones, and optimizing speed control and lane position for safety.

Identifying Hazards

• Identifying involves recognizing hazards early on to assess potential risks.
• Six zones around the vehicle include open and closed categories.

Zones

• An open zone permits driving without restrictions affecting the line of sight.
• A closed zone contains limitations, obstructing line of sight or path of travel.

Vision and Scanning

• Line of sight refers to the distance visible ahead in the driving direction.
• The searching range evaluates the path of travel ahead, while target-area range identifies the space to the target.

Time Ranges

• The 12-15 second range is where upcoming changes should be noted.
• The 4-6 second range serves as the final update to control the path of travel.

Visual Skills

• An orderly visual search pattern is essential for effective hazard detection.
• Depth perception aids in accurately judging distances between objects.

Monitoring Techniques

• Scanning involves quick glances to monitor surroundings effectively.
• Ground viewing consists of short looks at the road directly in front of the vehicle.

Predicting Risks

• Predicting hazards means anticipating potential conflicts with other road users—considered a challenging skill.

Execution and Spacing

• Executing involves carrying out the necessary actions after decision-making.
• A space cushion is an area of distance maintained around the vehicle to enhance safety.

Lane Positions

• Lane position 1 is centered in the lane, ideal for standard conditions.
• Lane position 2 is used when the right-front zone is closed, while lane position 3 is for a closed left-front zone.

Managing Hazards

• To minimize a hazard, maintain maximal distance from it.
• Compromising space means yielding more room to the larger hazard to ensure safety.

Maneuvers

• Maneuvers refer to actions taken to alleviate hazards while driving.