Virginia Driving Education PDF

The Virginia Department of Education develops educational materials primarily for the benefit of Virginia’s public school educators, its school divisions, its public school students, and other Virginia citizens. Virginia’s public school educators may reproduce these materials without requesting perm...

The Virginia Department of Education develops educational materials primarily for the benefit of Virginia’s public school educators, its school divisions, its public school students, and other Virginia citizens. Virginia’s public school educators may reproduce these materials without requesting permission from this Department as long as there is an education benefit to Virginia’s public education system and its students, including, but not limited to, the enhancement of classroom instruction, teacher education, and professional development for Virginia’s public school teachers. However, all copyright and other proprietary notices contained within these materials must be retained. Driving schools, approved by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to deliver classroom driver education in Virginia, are granted permission to use these copyrighted materials for commercial purposes if they agree to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department may revoke permission granted to any commercial DMV-approved driving school that fails to adhere to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department of Education may seek injunctive relief, attorney fees, and the greater of actual damages or statutory damages from any party infringing upon the Department’s copyright. The Virginia Department of Education develops educational materials primarily for the benefit of Virginia’s public school educators, its school divisions, its public school students, and other Virginia citizens. Virginia’s public school educators may reproduce these materials without requesting permission from this Department as long as there is an education benefit to Virginia’s public education system and its students, including, but not limited to, the enhancement of classroom instruction, teacher education, and professional development for Virginia’s public school teachers. However, all copyright and other proprietary notices contained within these materials must be retained. Driving schools, approved by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to deliver classroom driver education in Virginia, are granted permission to use these copyrighted materials for commercial purposes if they agree to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department may revoke permission granted to any commercial DMV-approved driving school that fails to adhere to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department of Education may seek injunctive relief, attorney fees, and the greater of actual damages or statutory damages from any party infringing upon the Department’s copyright. Discuss how to minimize the effects of reduced visibility when driving in drifting and heavy fog. Fog: People involved in multi-vehicle crashes in fog often state that they had driven through patches of light, drifting fog in the area, but nothing serious and had continued to travel at the prevailing speed. Suddenly it was impossible to see, they had braked hard, only to run into a vehicle stopped on the road ahead or to be rear- ended. The correct response would have been to reduce speed as soon as they were aware of drifting fog. If driving in drifting fog: Reduce speed Make sure headlights are on low beam to reduce reflected glare Turn on windshield wipers Turn on defroster or air conditioner TEACHER NOTES: Ask students to observe night driving and pay attention to use of high and low beams. Discussion Points: Use your low beams. The visibility in front of you will sharply decrease in a fog, so use the vehicle's low beam lights (if the vehicle does not have fog lights or driving lights). Heavy fog conditions prohibit use of high beam headlights. The light from high beam headlights will be reflected back by thick fog. As fog thins, high beams can become more effective. Check periodically to see if the fog has thinned enough to make use of high beams. Minimize the effects of reduced visibility when driving in drifting and heavy fog by: Reducing speed; Making sure headlights are on low beam to reduce reflected glare; Turning on windshield wipers; and Turning on defroster or air conditioner. People involved in multi-vehicle crashes in fog often state that they had driven through patches of light, drifting fog in the area, but nothing serious and had continued to travel at the prevailing speed. Suddenly it was impossible to see, they had braked hard, only to run into a vehicle stopped in the road ahead or to be rear-ended. The correct response would have been to reduce speed as soon as they were aware of drifting fog. Many vehicles have fog or driving lights that were installed at the factory. These lights are usually mounted low, in or below the front bumper. They are aimed toward the ground out in front of the vehicle as far as possible. Fog lights mainly differ from driving lights in the way they project the light. Fog lights often have clear or yellow lenses; while driving lights usually have clear lenses. The beam of light created by fog lights is usually a wide and flat pattern; flat to stay close to the road surface and minimize reflection back by fog - and wide to better illuminate the sides of the roadway (guard rails, curbs, lines painted on the roadway, etc.). Driving lights are usually merely bright spot lights designed to pierce the night darkness further than regular headlights. While fog lights are best for foggy conditions, either type of light will likely perform better than headlights due to their low mounting point on the vehicle. Experiment using all combinations (if possible) of fog / driving lights "on" and the low beam headlights "on" or "off" to determine which setting provides the best forward visibility for the driver. Do not shut off the running or "parking" lights, as they help make your vehicle more visible to other drivers alongside and behind your vehicle. Reduced visibility can be extremely dangerous. Taking precautions and knowing what to do when on the road can help reduce risk. If you have fog lights, turn them on. Fog dramatically reduces visibility, meaning motorists must reduce their speeds significantly to ensure the roads are safe for both themselves and other users. The following tips should always be followed when driving in fog: Make sure you know how to operate your front and rear fog lights. Don’t confuse these with your ‘full-beam’ setting (see below). Headlights should be on low beam at all times. Motorists whose vehicles have automatic headlight systems that are activated by low light levels should remember to make sure their lights are switched on manually as they may not be automatically activated in foggy conditions. Similarly, drivers whose vehicles have daytime running lights should ensure rear lights are switched on as most vehicles with this feature only illuminate the front lights. Follow the ‘three to four-second rule’ to leave sufficient space between you and the car in front of you. Don’t attempt to navigate using the tail lights of the car in front of you, as this could lead you to getting too close to them and not leave sufficient stopping distance. Remember to turn your fog lights off as soon as conditions improve. If fog is heavy: Further reduce speed but do not stop in a travel lane. Turn on emergency flashers. Look for an exit from the highway. If it is impossible to leave highway, stop beyond the end of the guardrail, check outside the guardrail, then back up outside of the guardrail, turn off all lights and wait for fog to lift. Use of low beams. The visibility in front of you will sharply decrease in a fog, so use the vehicle's low beam lights (if the vehicle does not have fog lights or driving lights). Heavy fog conditions prohibit use of high beam headlights. The light from high beam headlights will be reflected back by thick fog. As fog thins, high beams can become more effective. Check periodically to see if the fog has thinned enough to make use of high beams. Use of fog lights or driving lights (if equipped). Many vehicles have fog or driving lights that were installed at the factory. These lights are usually mounted low, in or below the front bumper. They are aimed toward the ground out in front of the vehicle as far as possible. Fog lights mainly differ from driving lights in the way they project the light. Fog lights often have clear or yellow lenses; while driving lights usually have clear lenses. The beam of light created by fog lights is usually a wide and flat pattern; flat to stay close the road surface and minimize reflection back by fog - and wide to better illuminate the sides of the roadway (guard rails, curbs, lines painted on the roadway, etc.). Driving lights are bright spotlights designed to pierce the night darkness further than regular headlights. While fog lights are best for foggy conditions, either type of light will likely perform better than headlights due to their low mounting point on the vehicle. Experiment using all combinations (if possible) of fog / driving lights "on" and the low beam headlights "on" or "off" to determine which setting provides the best forward visibility for the driver. Do not turn off the running or "parking" lights, as they help make your vehicle more visible to other drivers alongside and behind your vehicle. TEACHER NOTES: Discussion Points: When driving in Snow, you should: Look for an exit on highway in severe snow conditions. Check weather reports. If impossible to leave highway, stop beyond outboard end of guard rail. Use cell phone to check conditions. While stopped in safe area call 511 for traffic information regarding road conditions. Use of windshield washer, if needed. It is more difficult to see other vehicles, road signs and the road itself. It is critical to make sure you can see and be seen. Turn your headlights on even in a light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only do they help you see the road, but they'll help other drivers see you. If your car has daytime running lights you still should put them on, so vehicles behind you can see you better. Replace old or brittle wipers. Slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather. Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes. Maintain proper following distance (3 Second Rule). This needs to be increased in wet weather. Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you. Don't follow large trucks or busses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well. If you must pass, do so quickly and safely. Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Watch out for brake lights in front of you. Avoid using your brakes; if possible. Take your foot off the accelerator to slow down. Avoid off-road driving: it's hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV. Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windshield, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid. Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road. When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it's deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a car's electrical system. Avoid splashing pedestrians. If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions. Slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather. Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes. Maintain proper following distance (3 Second Rule). This needs to be increased in wet weather. Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you. Don't follow large trucks or busses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely. Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Watch out for brake lights in front of you. Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down. Avoid off-road driving: it's hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV. Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windshield, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid. Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road. When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it's deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a modern car's electrical system. Avoid splashing pedestrians. If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions. Yellow Warning Sign "When Flooded, Turn Around Don't Drown®" complies with Federal Highway Administration (FHA) standards and is intended for deployment as a permanent road sign. Warning signs alert drivers of a possible danger ahead, such as when it may be necessary to slow down and stop, or a road hazard or special situation may be ahead. Pink Incident Sign Incident management signs are a specific type of Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) sign deployed in response to short-term events which impede the normal flow of traffic such as accidents, natural disasters, hazardous material spills, or other unplanned incidents. The “Flooding Ahead Turn Around Don't Drown®” incident management sign is intended for use at locations where stream waters flooding across a road have made passage dangerous. The location may be a road which dips down to the level of a stream channel or a bridge or culvert which cannot pass high flood flows. The following will REDUCE your risk of becoming a low-water crossing injury or fatality: Never ignore FLOOD and FLASH FLOOD warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Never drive around barricades at a low-water crossing. Be aware of the possibility of encountering low-water crossing conditions at night and when driving on unfamiliar roads. Remember that just 6 inches of water can take control of you and your vehicle, understanding that the heaviest of cars CAN float. TEACHER NOTES: Discussion Points: Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over half of all flood- related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12" of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters. Low Water Crossings: Flash flooding conditions are unpredictable; Not specific to a time of year; and Affects braking, steering & engine systems. If you cannot open the door, there is an air pocket at the top of vehicle where air can be obtained. Sun glare: Difficult to see because of bright light shining in eyes from direct or reflected sunlight or car headlights. Adjust sun visors and mirrors. Sit as high in the seat as possible. Wear sunglasses. Adjust speed. Driving at night: A driver cannot see ahead or to the sides as clearly. Drivers have difficulty seeing objects approaching from their left or right into their path of travel. The distance a driver can see ahead is limited. Use high-beam headlights when safe and legal to do so. Use low- beam headlights in bad weather or when following or meeting another car at night. Adjust headlights properly. Increase following distance. Keep your eyes moving. Fog: A driver cannot see ahead, to the sides or behind if fog is heavy. A driver’s vision is limited because of fog. Reduce speed. Use low-beam headlights. Turn on windshield wipers and turn on defroster or air conditioner. If fog is heavy, use emergency flashers and/or look for an exit from the highway. Rain: Rain can obscure vision making it difficult to see the road ahead. Keep headlights clean. Turn on the defroster. Reduce speed. Use low-beam headlights. Turn on emergency flashers if needed. Maintain center lane position. Turn on windshield wipers. Make actions gently and smoothly. Snow: Snow can cause limited vision making it difficult to see the road ahead. Keep headlights clean. Turn on the defroster. Reduce speed. Use low-beam headlights. Turn on emergency flashers if needed. Maintain center lane position. Turn on windshield wipers. Make actions gently and smoothly. Glare is difficulty seeing in the presence of bright light such as direct or reflected sunlight or artificial light such as car headlights at night. Sources of glare: Oncoming and following vehicle headlights. Dirty windshield. Paper on dashboard. Snow-covered landscape. The sun at dawn or dusk (ahead or behind). Flashing advertising signs. Rain amplifying glare. Flood lights on businesses next to roadway. Failure to dim own headlights in fog. Glare recovery – most people’s eyes recover from glare within 3 to 5 seconds; however, recovery times of 7 seconds or longer is not uncommon. Typically, the time to recover from glare increases with age. Countermeasures: Keep all glass, lights and windows clean. Do not place paper or other objects on dashboard. Adjust sun visors and mirrors. Sit as high in the seat as possible. Wear sunglasses during the day. Adjust speed to visibility conditions. Look to the right edge of the roadway, away from headlights. Streaks, smudges, and road grime on your windows catch and refract light. This includes the inside of your windshield. Chemicals from the plastic in your car’s interior slowly build up on the glass, until pretty soon you’re looking at the windshield, not through it. Scratched eyeglasses or contact lenses also make glare worse. For maximum glare prevention, keep every surface between your eyes and the road as clear as possible -- including both sides of your windshield and your eyeglasses. Clean the windows both inside and out at least once a month to get rid of haze. TEACHER NOTES: Multimedia: Video: Click graphic to play video, Strong Winds and Trucks, http://www.gifbin.com/987144.gifv (0:20). Discussion Points Strong winds can reduce your vehicle control and push lightweight vehicles out of the lane or even off the road. These conditions occur on bridges, through mountain passes and ravines, and when being passed by large trucks. These wind gusts and blasts can cause total loss of vehicle control. If your vehicle encounters strong gusts of wind, do the following: Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel Reduce speed Check for oncoming traffic Adjust lane position Do not oversteer when responding to the gust Prepare to countersteer Stay off the brake Be aware of and maintain safe distances from other vehicles near you, particularly RVs, campers, trucks, buses, or trailers being towed. These vehicles could swing out and hit your car in sudden wind gusts. When driving on a highway with steady, strong crosswinds, a driver should be alert to prevailing wind direction and velocity, the terrain through which he/she is passing and the condition of the road surface. Driving out of a wooded area from behind a long ridge or from under an overpass, on an ice packed road and being struck by a strong wind gust can easily cause a vehicle to move one lane to the left or right or spin completely out of control. ∙ If winds are severe enough to prevent safe driving, pull over into a safe parking area (the shoulder of a busy roadway is not safe) and stop, making sure you are away from trees, power lines or other tall objects that could fall onto your vehicle. GIVE LARGE VEHICLES A LOT OF SPACE In this sort of weather, truck drivers will have a much harder time maintaining control. They are used to this and should be able to deal with it expertly. Having said that, you should still give them a lot of space on the road. They may be forced to veer or suddenly change lanes as a result of a sudden or strong gust of wind. Regardless of weather, we should give big trucks plenty of space. DRIVING IN SIDE WINDS Side winds tend to be the scariest as a driver, because if they are strong enough, they can blow you off course. If you feel the side wind changing the direction of your vehicle, gently steer in the opposite direction to bring yourself back. Do not panic or turn your wheel quickly or suddenly, make only smooth and gentle movements. DRIVING IN HEAD WINDS Head and tail winds are not as difficult to deal with, as they are only likely to alter your speed slightly. You may find yourself having to adjust your acceleration slightly to compensate. The best advice that one can take for driving in windy weather is to be a safe and responsible driver. Be prepared for anything that might happen. In other words, be a defensive driver. The Virginia Department of Education develops educational materials primarily for the benefit of Virginia’s public school educators, its school divisions, its public school students, and other Virginia citizens. Virginia’s public school educators may reproduce these materials without requesting permission from this Department as long as there is an education benefit to Virginia’s public education system and its students, including, but not limited to, the enhancement of classroom instruction, teacher education, and professional development for Virginia’s public school teachers. However, all copyright and other proprietary notices contained within these materials must be retained. Driving schools, approved by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to deliver classroom driver education in Virginia, are granted permission to use these copyrighted materials for commercial purposes if they agree to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department may revoke permission granted to any commercial DMV-approved driving school that fails to adhere to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department of Education may seek injunctive relief, attorney fees, and the greater of actual damages or statutory damages from any party infringing upon the Department’s copyright. Hot temperatures will make the pressure in your tires increase slightly. The changes should be minimal and won't affect the handling, but always make sure your tire pressures are correct before you leave. Make sure you have enough oil in your car. Oil not only lubricates your engine but helps to keep it cool. Check your coolant levels. Coolant is vitally important in hot weather because if your engine overheats, it can become damaged. If your car does begin to overheat, find somewhere safe to pull over and let the car cool down for at least half an hour before even thinking about topping off your radiator. The water in your cooling system gets extremely hot and will also be under pressure, so never attempt to add water until it cools. If you can't pull over immediately, opening the windows and turning on the heater may help dissipate some of the heat while you look for somewhere to stop. Remember, the radiator relies on air flow (i.e., the car moving) in order to cool the engine; so, if you are not moving for any length of time, it might be worth turning off your engine while you are waiting for the traffic to start moving again. Keep Alert Making a long journey on a hot day can be very tiring. Make sure you drink plenty of water and don't become dehydrated. Keep a cooler in the car with enough bottled water and cold drinks to keep you going for a couple of hours. Allow extra time for rest breaks and if you start to feel drowsy, opening the windows and getting some fresh air may help. Using the Air Conditioning System If you have air conditioning in your car, remember that it will not work effectively if you have any windows open. Also, if you are in a traffic jam and stopped, don't forget that using your air conditioning will use up to 20% more fuel. If you are running low, it might be a good idea to turn off the AC and open the windows instead. Your mechanic should check the battery, charging system, and belts. Your battery can leave you stranded simply because it's old, or, it could leave you stranded because your charging system isn't working well, and the battery isn't getting charged properly. Have your mechanic check the battery and charging system. Make certain the antifreeze will protect your car at winter temperatures. You need a 50-50 mix of coolant to water. You may think, "I'll be extra good to my car, and give it 100% coolant." Guess what? You're wrong. The 50-50 mix has a lower freezing point. Not only that, but 100% coolant is less able to transfer heat away from your engine and has been known to cause spark plugs to melt or engine failure under the wrong circumstances. Winter wipers - rubber coverings that keep ice from collecting on the blade have become very popular. They're great in the winter, but make sure you take them off in the spring. Winter wipers are heavy, and if you use them all summer, you'll wear out the wiper motor prematurely. When using your wipers in the winter, remember to turn them off BEFORE shutting off the engine. Why? Water frequently freezes overnight during the winter. If your blades freeze to the windshield when you go to start your car, the wiper motor may burn out trying to get them back to the "rest position," while you're sitting there wondering, "What's that burning smell?“ Keep your gas tank close to full. In the winter, if you do get stuck or stranded, the engine will be your only source of heat. You can run the engine indefinitely at idle to stay warm-or as long as you have gas. No harm will be done to the engine. Be sure to get out periodically and remove snow from behind the tailpipe to keep it unobstructed. Make sure your windshield washer reservoir is full. On a snowy or messy day, you can easily go through half a gallon or more of windshield washer fluid trying to keep your windshield clear. For that reason, it's also a good idea to keep some extra fluid in the trunk in case you run out. Make sure you buy a quality windshield washer. Do not buy half-frozen windshield washer fluid. The concentrate is available in one-pint bottles and works in extremely low temperatures. Take the time to make sure your car is clean, and your visibility is good. Clear off the entire car, not just a little peephole in the windshield. You need just as much, if not more, visibility in poor conditions because you have to watch for pedestrians and road conditions. Make sure every glass surface is clear and transparent by using a snowbrush and/or ice scraper. Your side-view mirrors and all lights should be brushed and cleared. Clean the snow off the rest of the car because the rest of the snow will either (A) slide off the roof and cover your windshield as you're slowing down; or(B) fly off onto someone else's windshield; and (C) it's the law in many states that your vehicle must be clear of snow and ice. Clean your headlights. Even if you think they don't need it - if your headlights are covered with six inches of sleet, you're not going to have good visibility and oncoming drivers will not see you. Salt, sand and other wintry build up can dramatically impair the effectiveness of your car's headlights, even long after the last snowstorm. Whether you're planning on driving at night or not, take a moment before every winter trip to clean your headlights. The Virginia Department of Education develops educational materials primarily for the benefit of Virginia’s public school educators, its school divisions, its public school students, and other Virginia citizens. Virginia’s public school educators may reproduce these materials without requesting permission from this Department as long as there is an education benefit to Virginia’s public education system and its students, including, but not limited to, the enhancement of classroom instruction, teacher education, and professional development for Virginia’s public school teachers. However, all copyright and other proprietary notices contained within these materials must be retained. Driving schools, approved by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to deliver classroom driver education in Virginia, are granted permission to use these copyrighted materials for commercial purposes if they agree to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department may revoke permission granted to any commercial DMV-approved driving school that fails to adhere to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department of Education may seek injunctive relief, attorney fees, and the greater of actual damages or statutory damages from any party infringing upon the Department’s copyright. Traction Traction or adhesion is the grip between the tires and the road surface that allows a vehicle to start, stop and/or change direction. Reduced traction increases the risk of skidding, loss of control and a collision. Slippery conditions Traction is reduced when there are any foreign substances on the road surface such as water, snow, ice, gravel, sand, wet leaves, or loose dirt. The effects of limited traction are particularly dangerous in curves and turns. Some road surfaces lose some of their surface friction with wear, aggravating the loss of traction with slippery conditions. These roads often have a “slippery when wet” sign posted. Wet roads are most dangerous when the temperature is near freezing (30 – 34 degrees). On hot days, wet surfaces are most slippery just after a rain has begun to fall, especially if it hasn’t rained recently. During the first 10 – 15 minutes of rain, water combines with oil and dirt to form a very slick mixture. Heavily traveled intersections are especially dangerous because some vehicles stopped for traffic signals leave oil drippings on roads. Preventing loss of traction To prevent loss of traction on wet roads a driver can: Reduce speed – compensates for limited surface friction to reduce stopping distance and reduce the chance of losing control when changing direction Increase space – increase following distance on slippery surfaces, stop well behind the vehicle ahead to prevent being pushed into it if struck from behind Minimize changes in speed – when a driver turns, accelerates, or brakes, the chance of losing traction increases, make changes gently and gradually Minimize change in direction – avoid abrupt changes in direction because this may cause the front tires to slide and result in loss of control Find the best path – avoid areas of limited traction or place tires in the tracks left by the tires of vehicles ahead, which have channeled some of the water away Controlling consequences Avoid head-on collisions. Drive off road rather than skid off road. Hit something soft rather than something hard. Hit something going your direction rather than something stationary. Hit stationary object with glancing blow or at an angle. Hit stationary object rather than an approaching object. Steer to avoid oncoming traffic. Avoid direct impact. Hit from the rear If a driver is about to be hit from the rear, the driver should press against the back of the seat and put their head against the head restraint to avoid being thrown forward. The driver should be ready to apply the brakes so they will not be pushed into another vehicle. Hit from the side If a driver is about to be hit from the side, the driver should get ready to steer or brake to prevent the vehicle from hitting something else. Hit from the front If a driver is about to be hit from the front, it is important to try to have a “glancing blow” rather than being struck head on. If a collision is about to happen, the driver should try to turn the vehicle. At worse, the vehicle will be hit with a glancing blow or might miss it. Traction loss The causes of traction loss (skidding) can be divided into three categories: Generated by road surface conditions: ✔ Ice, snow or frost. ✔ Wet surface; particularly first 15 minutes of rain after a long dry period when drops of oil and rubber particles have collected on the surface. ✔ Standing water. ✔ Mud near farm entrances, construction sites and truck crossings. ✔ Wet leaves. ✔ Broken or uneven road surface. ✔ Sand or gravel frequently found on curves in rural areas. Generated by the condition of the vehicle: Brakes unevenly adjusted. Brakes pulling in one direction or the other can cause a skid, as can wheels out of alignment when brakes are applied. Tires with worn tread, front and rear pairs not matched to size, tread depth or type. Different pressure on opposite sides have effects similar to uneven brake adjustment since one tire will drag more than others. Actions of the driver: Sudden steering action on a slippery surface Abrupt or sudden changes in vehicle speed Panic stop or applying brakes too hard on hill, curves or slippery surfaces Most skids are caused by excessive speed, coupled with excessive steering input and/or improper braking when turning, or the same actions at normal speed on ice/snow or on roadways covered by sand, gravel or water Discuss traction and what happens when traction is reduced. What should drivers do when they realize they are skidding? Look for an open path of travel, release the accelerator or brake pedal to regain vehicle balance and steer in the direction you want to go. Having failed to detect early warning signals, how should the driver respond to a skid? While there is no one way to handle a particular skid, there are guidelines that can be applied to help control skidding. Basic rules include: Visually target an open path of travel. Steer in that direction. (Do NOT stare at the object you want to avoid.) Release accelerator or brake pedal, whichever the driver is applying, to regain vehicle balance. Continue to steer toward open path of travel as long as vehicle is in motion. If you know which wheels have lost traction (front or rear) you may attempt the following: Jabbing the brake (after rolling traction has been reestablished) in the case of front wheel traction loss. Progressive acceleration may allow the vehicle to regain rolling traction in the case of rear wheel traction loss. Hydroplaning is when a vehicle’s tires lose contact with the road and ride on top of a film of water. Causes of hydroplaning Water on the road – heavy rain causes water to gather on the roadway. Excess speed – at speeds faster than 35 mph, tires are less effective at channeling water from the road. Tires can become overwhelmed by water and lose contact with the road at about 50 mph. Under-inflated tires – if tires are improperly inflated or worn, hydroplaning can occur well below 50 mph. Signs of hydroplaning – this is the most difficult loss of traction for a driver to recognize. Water standing on the roadway. Raindrops that bubble as they hit the surface of the road. A slushing sound made by tires on the pavement. A sensation that the steering wheel is loose or has become disconnected from the front wheels of the vehicle. Drivers may not realize their car is hydroplaning until they try to turn or stop, and they find the car will not respond. A vehicle ahead that is not leaving a track is hydroplaning. Hydroplaning occurs when a car hits a puddle of water, or when it is raining or snowing. Any form of moisture on the ground can cause a tire to lift up off the pavement slightly, allowing water to get under the tire. Once this happens, you will briefly lose steering ability because your tires are unable to get any traction with the pavement. You’ll know your car is beginning to hydroplane when your rpm gauge suddenly revs up a bit, and your tires, depending on front or rear wheel drive, will start to slide out just a little. Once your tires regain traction with the pavement, you’ll notice a small jerk in the direction you’re heading. If this happens, don’t worry, as it happens frequently with no harm done. Awareness of the danger signs is one of the biggest lessons a new teen driver can learn. Therefore, teaching them to stay calm in all types of weather conditions is the best advice you can give. Preventing hydroplaning Slow down when there is water standing on the surface of the pavement. Tires should be properly inflated and have adequate tread. Increase following distance, particularly when behind a large truck. Drive in the tracks left by any vehicle ahead. If hydroplaning occurs Ease off the accelerator gradually and decrease speed until your tires regain traction. Do not brake until traction has been restored. Steer no more than necessary, continue to look and steer where you want to go. HYDROPLANING: Hydroplaning takes place while driving on wet roads and can occur at speeds as low as 35 MPH. Most tires will wipe the roadway surface (in much the same manner as a windshield wiper clears the windshield) of up to about 1/4 inch of water. However, as the speed increases, the tires cannot wipe the road as well and they start to ride up on the water, just like a set of water skis. In a standard passenger vehicle, partial hydroplaning starts at about 35 MPH and increases with speed up to about 55 MPH, at which point the tires can be totally up on the water. In a severe rainstorm for example, with less than 1/8 inch of tire tread, the tires may not touch the road at 55 MPH. If this is the case, there is no friction available for braking, accelerating, or steering. A gust of wind, a change of road camber (cross slope with purpose of draining the rain water from the road surface towards the edges), or a slight turn can create an unpredictable and uncontrollable four wheel skid. With today’s crowned roadways, especially freeways, hydroplaning is an increasingly important factor in automobile accidents. A driver can normally predict areas where hydroplaning will occur, but not always; you may suddenly find yourself in a hydroplaning situation. If you do Hydroplane, the best thing to do is to take your foot off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to slow down without braking. If you skid while your vehicle is only partially hydroplaning, you should be able to regain control by correcting (steering towards open travel path) for the particular type of skid that occurs. On the other hand, if you're totally hydroplaning, about all you can do is release the accelerator and ride out the skid without braking. To help to prevent hydroplaning reduce your speed on wet roadways. You also need to have properly inflated, good tires with deep tread, at least 1/8 inch. The tread allows the water to escape from under the tires and tends to prevent complete hydroplaning at normal highway speeds. However, when the depth of the water exceeds the depth of the tire tread, complete hydroplaning can be expected at speeds from 35 MPH to 50 - 55 MPH. Slow down even when it appears no other vehicles are around. The Virginia Department of Education develops educational materials primarily for the benefit of Virginia’s public school educators, its school divisions, its public school students, and other Virginia citizens. Virginia’s public school educators may reproduce these materials without requesting permission from this Department as long as there is an education benefit to Virginia’s public education system and its students, including, but not limited to, the enhancement of classroom instruction, teacher education, and professional development for Virginia’s public school teachers. However, all copyright and other proprietary notices contained within these materials must be retained. Driving schools, approved by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to deliver classroom driver education in Virginia, are granted permission to use these copyrighted materials for commercial purposes if they agree to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department may revoke permission granted to any commercial DMV-approved driving school that fails to adhere to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department of Education may seek injunctive relief, attorney fees, and the greater of actual damages or statutory damages from any party infringing upon the Department’s copyright. What is traction loss? Answer: Traction loss is a situation in which the vehicle’s tires lose all or part of their grip on the road. Traction loss can result when vehicle speeds are too high for conditions, when dry road conditions quickly change to water or ice or when driving with under-inflated/worn-out tires. As the tires lose traction, they will begin to slide, and can cause the vehicle to deviate from its intended path of travel (skid). Therefore, traction loss can result in skidding. When do most skids occur? Answer: Most skids are caused by a vehicle imbalance resulting from improper driver action, poor road surface/environmental conditions, and/or poor condition of the vehicle. Steps to recover from a skid: 1. Foot off brake or accelerator 2. Turn vehicle where you want to travel 3. You may have to counter-steer to position the vehicle in your lane; and 4. Continue procedures until the vehicle is straight in your lane. Best ways to prevent skids: Avoid driving on slippery surfaces when possible Make sure the vehicle is properly maintained Adjust speed and following distance to the environmental, vehicle and/or roadway conditions Make smooth/gradual/precise movements when using the brake, accelerator and/or steering wheel Oversteer, or fishtailing, occurs when the rear of the vehicle loses traction because of hard/sudden steering/braking, a slippery road surface and/or right/left elevation of the road surface. As a result, the front wheels of the vehicle turn/roll, but the back wheels slide, causing the rear of the car to fishtail/slide from side to side. Understeer, or plowing, occurs when your vehicle doesn’t turn as tightly as you want. Typically, this happens when the pavement is wet, minimizing the amount of traction between the tires and the pavement. Since the tires cannot grip the road well, the car makes a much wider turn than usual. Rear-wheel skid (traction loss) Drivers will notice the front of the vehicle moves to the left or right (front tires continue to roll) depending on the steering input. The vehicle’s weight tends to push the rear wheels left or right (fishtail) without any additional steering input. Usually caused by hard/sudden steering or braking, slippery road surfaces, and/or left or right elevation of the travel lane. Responding to skids Driver needs to recognize they are experiencing a skid  As soon as a skid is detected, driver takes corrective action Once the driver responds to a skid, they should not stop trying to regain traction Understeer skids are most often caused by hard/sudden steering/braking, a slippery road surface and/or right/left elevation of the travel lane. Student Activity: Have students mimic the changes in a vehicle’s weight distribution when accelerating too hard/quickly vs. braking too hard/quickly. Responding to skids Driver needs to recognize they are experiencing a skid As soon as a skid is detected, driver takes corrective action Once the driver responds to a skid, they should not stop trying to regain traction The Virginia Department of Education develops educational materials primarily for the benefit of Virginia’s public school educators, its school divisions, its public school students, and other Virginia citizens. Virginia’s public school educators may reproduce these materials without requesting permission from this Department as long as there is an education benefit to Virginia’s public education system and its students, including, but not limited to, the enhancement of classroom instruction, teacher education, and professional development for Virginia’s public school teachers. However, all copyright and other proprietary notices contained within these materials must be retained. Driving schools, approved by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to deliver classroom driver education in Virginia, are granted permission to use these copyrighted materials for commercial purposes if they agree to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department may revoke permission granted to any commercial DMV-approved driving school that fails to adhere to the Department’s terms and conditions for use of the copyrighted materials. The Department of Education may seek injunctive relief, attorney fees, and the greater of actual damages or statutory damages from any party infringing upon the Department’s copyright. How can you stop quickly with ABS brakes? Answer: Press down hard on the brake pedal. What is the safest evasive maneuver if there is enough room? Answer: Braking. What are the steps for making quick turns? Answer: Turn the wheel 1⁄2 circle, full circle in the other direction and back to the middle. 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. Student Activity (Think/Pair/Share) Give an appropriate example and list the pro’s/con’s for each of the above options. Preventative actions are much easier to accomplish than successfully dealing with an emergency. Embrace a risk prevention style of driving  Knowing exactly where your vehicle is positioned on the roadway Finding, solving and controlling problems before they become emergencies Keep space around your vehicle Always identify an “escape route” It is much easier to maintain control of your vehicle than to regain control once it is lost. If a loss of control does occur, keep your head and your eyes focused on the target area, stay off the pedals and keep trying to get out of the emergency as long as you have a chance to control or regain control of the vehicle. Discuss ways to keep from being hit in a collision and to try to lessen any injuries that could result from the crash. Hit from the rear If a driver is about to be hit from the rear, the driver should press themselves against the seat and put their held against the head restraint to avoid being thrown forwards. The driver should be ready to apply their brakes so they will not be pushed into another vehicle. Hit from the side If a driver is about to be hit from the side, the driver should get ready to steer or brake to prevent the vehicle from hitting something else. Hit from the front If a driver is about to be hit from the front, it is important to try to have a “glancing blow” rather than being struck head on. If a collision is about to happen, the driver should try to turn the vehicle. At worse, the vehicle will be hit with a glancing blow or might miss it. Student Activity Have students partner up and discuss possible solutions for each situation. Students can then share their solutions with the class. Avoiding a collision To avoid a collision, you may have to make a sudden change in the vehicle’s speed and direction. Deciding which maneuver to use It is usually better to use evasive steering than braking because a driver can steer the vehicle quicker than they can stop it. Although, to use evasive steering, the driver must have identified an alternate path of travel. Evasive steering Quick steering is often preferable to a stop when: There is space to the side – a paved shoulder is safest Stopping distance is questionable There are cars close behind The driver should have a good grip with both hands on the steering wheel at the 9 and 3 o’clock or 8 and 4 o’clock hand position. Drivers will - Turn the wheel 180 degrees (a half circle) in the direction of the turn. Counter-steer immediately by turning the wheel as much as possible in the opposite direction to turn the vehicle back toward the original lane. Turn the wheel back to the original straight-ahead position as the vehicle begins to return to the intended lane. These three movements must be made as one continuous, smooth steering response. Discuss the procedures for making quick stops for vehicles with ABS and without ABS. If the vehicle has ABS: Firmly press the brake pedal until the vehicle stops or the proper speed is reached. If a driver puts on the brakes hard enough to engage the ABS, he/she will feel the brake pedal pulse back against his/her foot. This sensation is normal and indicates the system is working properly. The driver should not pump the pedal or remove their foot from the brake. If the vehicle does not have ABS: The driver can cause the vehicle to skid if s/he brakes too hard. Apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal just short of lockup – the point at which the wheels stop turning. If the wheels do lock, the driver must ease up slightly and quickly on the brake pedal to get the wheels to begin rolling again, then apply the brakes again, just short of lockup. As soon as the vehicle stops skidding, push down on the brake pedal again. Keep doing this until the vehicle has stopped. Student Activity Have students brainstorm how evasive acceleration can be used in some instances to avoid a crash. Evasive acceleration Used in situations where the dangerous event that drivers have to respond to is in front of them. Student Activity Have students brainstorm the causes of run-off the road crashes. Possible Answers - speed, distracted, fatigue, etc. What are some reasons run-off the road crashes occur? Answer: Driving too fast for conditions, not paying attention, driving in rural areas. What increases the risk of being in a run-off the road crash? Answer: Driving at night. What is the #1 tip from America’s best drivers when it comes to run-off the road crashes? Answer: Try not to panic. 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. Running off the roadway is a frequent cause of fatal crashes for novice drivers. With practice, proper off-road recovery is not a difficult skill to learn. Crashes may occur in returning to the road if return to the road is performed incorrectly - As the driver steers back toward the road, the left-side “climbs” onto the pavement. As the driver continues turning the wheel, the right-side tires suddenly “climb” the pavement. Before the driver can respond, the vehicle has already crossed into the next lane. The vehicle may then collide with a vehicle in the next lane or drive off the far side of the road. 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, the driver may have little time to slow down. In this situation - Steer left or right, so the off-road wheels are about 12 inches away from the edge of the pavement. Remove 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. NOTE: If you run off the road, stay off the road until you slow down and can safely get back on the paved surface. One way to practice “staying off the road” is to have your novice driver drive on the rumble strip for a period of time.