2024 Driver Facts PDF

than the recommended number of seconds, slow your vehicle ina safe manner. Types of brakes also have an impact on braking distance. The most common braking system a driver will encounter is either disc brakes or drum brakes. Disc brakes tend to have a shorter stopping distance than drum brakes, an...

than the recommended number of seconds, slow your vehicle ina safe manner. Types of brakes also have an impact on braking distance. The most common braking system a driver will encounter is either disc brakes or drum brakes. Disc brakes tend to have a shorter stopping distance than drum brakes, anywhere from 17% - 33%, depending on speed. However, drum brakes are more common because they are generally more durable and typically cheaper to maintain. Mirrors sood driving habits include proper use of all the vehicle's mirrors. Proper mirror adjustment helps the driver to eliminate vehicle blind spots, and in turn, helps umprove visibility, security, and safety while parked or driving. Many experts say that drivers should check mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds and continually monitor traffic patterns around the vehicle. Improper or inadequate mirror usage Is a contributing factor in many vehicle accidents. Mirrorless trucks or Camera Monitor Systems (CMS) have caught the attention of many in the trucking industry as an alternative to conven- tional rear-vision mirrors. Currently, FM'CSA has approved an exemp- tion for several companies to completely remove traditional mirrors, adding cameras and monitors in the cab to view the surroundings of the CMV. ‘The hope is that the Camera Monitor Systems give drivers im- proved vision and eliminate all blind spots around the tractor and trailer. Defensive Driving A defensive driver is defined by FMCSA as “a driver who tries to recognize potentially hazardous situations in advance and assumes other drivers may make mistakes and is prepared in the event an error is made.” A defensive driver is one who: « Commits no driving errors; « Makes reasonable and prudent allowances for the lack of skill or improper driving practices of the opposing drivers or pedestri- ans, -« Adjusts their own driving to compensate for unusual weather, road, and traffic conditions: and 43