biatch's Journal

Time:

12:23 pm.

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

Maybe you never touch a drop. You may have never driven under the influence of alcohol or any other drug. Congratulations! But don’t think for a minute the problem doesn’t affect you. Drivers operating a motor vehicle while impaired are responsible for almost half of all fatal collisions in this country. Alcohol and drug related collisions are the leading cause of death among teenage drivers. It is each and every driver’s responsibility to be in complete and absolute control of all their faculties whenever they get behind the wheel.

A. ALCOHOL

You can buy it at your local supermarket. It’s promoted in TV commercials and on billboards. And it is the most abused addictive drug in America.

1. AS A DRUG

Alcohol is a powerful drug. It is a chemical depressant that acts very quickly on the human body because it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

2. STAGES OF ALCOHOL INFLUENCE

All it takes is one drink to impair a driver’s physical and mental state. Initially, alcohol lightens your mood, relaxes you. After one or two additional drinks, however, your thought processes becomes dulled. Judgment and reasoning are compromised. Continue drinking, and physical effects begin to manifest: speech, vision, and muscle coordination become impaired. Enough alcohol in your system will result in loss of consciousness.

The average individual needs 1 hour to metabolize away the alcohol in 1 drink. In other words, if you have 2 quick drinks, you will not be sober until 2 hours have transpired. Using hot coffee or a cold shower to sober up is a myth. The only thing that will sober up an intoxicated person is time.

a. Blood Alcohol Level

The amount of alcohol in your blood is quantified in a percentage by the BAC, or blood alcohol concentration. Several factors influence the BAC, including: the number of drinks consumed; the time period in which they are consumed; the weight of the individual; the individual’s sensitivity to alcohol; other chemicals in the body; and how recently food was consumed.

BAC For drivers over 21

.03 - .07 driver is impaired
08 - above driver is DUI

BAC For drivers under 21

.01 driver is DUI (Zero Tolerance Law)

BAC For commercial drivers

.04 driver is DUI

b. Reaction Time

Your reaction time is slowed significantly when you consume alcohol. At 65 mph on the freeway, your vehicle is moving almost 100 feet per second. If you’ve been drinking, you will react more slowly to a road hazard. If you depress the brake just two seconds later than you should...that’s an additional 200 feet in stopping distance on the freeway!

Alcohol in your system also inhibits your ability to handle more than one task at a time. Evasive action often calls for a simultaneous steering and braking maneuver. If you are driving impaired, you will be unable to perform multiple tasks. Blood Alcohol Concentration Chart

c. Collision Potential/Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

A driver is five times more likely to be in a collision with a BAC of .04

A driver is 25 times more likely to be in a collision with a BAC of .08

Alcohol related crashes have an economic cost of $45 billion each year

By the late 1990’s traffic deaths had been reduced to 40,000 a year

By the time a driver is arrested for his first DUI he was probably driving legally drunk on 100 previous occasions without being stopped!

3. EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE BODY

Alcohol has a profound affect on the human body, and not just immediately after consumption. There are devastating long-term effects as well.

a. Organs

Chronic abuse of alcohol over a period of years can damage the liver, brain, heart, and other internal organs. Cirrhosis of the liver, heart disease, and dementia are often the result of years of heavy drinking.

b. Vision

Drinking relaxes all of the muscles in the human body, including the muscles in the eye. When you drink, your eye-lids get heavy and your vision becomes blurred. The pupils can’t react as well to changes in light intensity, forcing drivers to squint and be blinded by glare from headlights. Other problems include poor depth perception, fixed staring, and narrow field of vision.

c. Brain

Alcohol quickly passes into the bloodstream, where it is transferred to the brain. Drivers are prone to taking dangerous risks because their judgment and reasoning is impaired due to the effects of alcohol on the brain. With the brain so affected, motor skills suffer as well. Physical coordination diminishes and reaction time increases.

4. HOW TO AVOID/IDENTIFY DRUNK DRIVERS
Police look for the following clues to help them identify drunk drivers.

wide turns or straddling lanes

headlights off

weaving

tailgating

erratic braking

inconsistent turn signals

abrupt or illegal turns

slow responses

driving too slow and too fast It is safer to be behind a drunk driver than in front of one. Avoid them at all costs! Stay behind and turn off the road. If a drunk driver comes up behind you, DO NOT PULL OVER AND STOP.

You could be hit from behind. Instead, make a quick right turn onto the nearest street or into a driveway.

5. ALTERNATIVES TO DRINKING AND DRIVING - NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!

There are other options.

Have a designated driver accompany you

Be a designated driver yourself

Call a cab or a friend

Stay the night (assuming you’re at a friend’s home)

An opened (or unsealed) container of alcohol is illegal anywhere in a motor vehicle where it can be retreived by the driver or passenger while the vehicle is moving. With the exception of a motor home or limousine, an open container of alcohol may only be carried in the trunk.

6. SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS

If alcohol is consumed in combination with other drugs, a magnifying effect is manifested in which the total level of impairment is far greater than might be anticipated. If you chase down a common over-the-counter hay fever pill with one beer at a picnic, it could easily be the equivalent of drinking an entire six-pack!

B. OTHER DRUGS

"Under the influence" refers not only to alcohol but to other drugs as well.

1. TYPES - EFFECTS

a. Prescription

Be sure to read the warning labels on any prescription drug prescribed by a physician. If operating machinery or driving is prohibited, heed that warning.

b. Non prescription

Certain over-the-counter medications such as headache remedies, cold pills, and cough syrups can make you extremely drowsy. Do not drive when taking these medications. If you’re drowsy behind the wheel, you’re a danger to yourself and to others.

(1) Depressants

Certain medications used to relieve tension and reduce anxiety do so by depressing the central nervous system. Reaction time and coordination are compromised as with alcohol. There are illegal depressants as well - marijuana is one.

Losing your job can be very depressing.

(2) Stimulants

Stimulants speed up the central nervous system. The state of edginess or being ‘wired’ can make a driver nervous and impair judgment. Stimulants include diet pills, amphetamines, and caffeine (coffee).

(3) Narcotics

Narcotics are highly addictive pain-killers that induce sleep and impair motor function. The most powerful of all depressants, narcotics can only be taken under a doctor’s supervision and you must NEVER DRIVE while taking them. Heroin, morphine, and codeine are common narcotics.

(4) Hallucinogens

As the name implies, this class of drug profoundly alters the mental state of the user, causing hallucinations and often a complete break with reality. Peyote, mescaline, LSD, PCP, and some forms of marijuana are hallucinogens.

2. EFFECTS ON THE DRIVING TASK

No drug will have a positive impact on the skills needed to operate a motor vehicle. Even stimulants - a popular choice for some drivers on long trips - can be extremely dangerous. Stimulants will only temporarily mask the symptoms of fatigue. The fatigue itself is not eliminated and will ultimately be dangerously magnified when the drug wears off.

3. SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS

Any combination of powerful drugs could cause violent and devastating side effects. Loss of consciousness, coma, and death are possible synergistic effects.

C. PENALTIES

The laws against driving under the influence have grown tougher over the years, but many believe they are not tough enough. A driver convicted of driving drunk can expect stiff fines and possible jail time.

1. IMPLIED CONSENT (13353 VC) AND ADMIN PER SE (13353.2 VC)

When you received your driver license, you signed a legally binding contract with the State of California. In this contract you consented to take a chemical sobriety test in the event you are arrested for DUI. If you refuse, your license will be suspended. The arresting officer may confiscate your license immediately after determining your BAC is .08 or higher.

a. Testing Concept

A court-accepted scientific test is used to objectively identify drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

b. Consequences of Refusal

A driver who refuses to take a chemical sobriety test is in violation of the Implied Consent law and can expect serious punishments.

c. Types of Tests

The current chemical sobriety tests include a breath test, blood test, and urine test. You do not have the right to talk to a lawyer or have one present before deciding on the test or while the test is being performed.

Alcohol: If you are arrested because the police officer suspects you are intoxicated with alcohol you will be required to take a breathalyzer test or a blood test.

Drugs: If you are arrested because the police officer suspects you are intoxicated with a drug other than alcohol, or a drug in combination with alcohol, you will be required to take a blood or urine test.

2. FINES AND PENALTIES - DUI

Society pays dearly for the grief inflicted by drunk drivers. But the drunk driver pays dearly as well.

For a first DUI conviction, a driver will be sentenced to jail for a period of 48 hours to 6 months. A driver convicted of a second DUI within 7 years will be imprisoned at least 90 days.

a. First and Second Conviction Requirements First Offense

a fine up to $1000

total fees, fines, assessments and attorney- $7000

vehicle impounded up to 30 days at driver’s expense

suspended license - up to 6 months

probation - up to 5 years

Second Offense

a fine up to $1000

total fees, fines, assessments and attorney - $7000

vehicle impounded up to 90 days at driver’s expense

jail term - up to 1 year

suspended license - 18 months

probation - up to 5 years

Ignition Interlock device required at driver’s expense

b. Misdemeanor vs. Felony

The fi and penalties just detailed apply only to misdemeanor DUI. If a driver under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs is involved in a collision in which anyone is injured, the charge is upped to a felony DUI. Felonies are SERIOUS CRIMES and the driver will be tried not in traffic court but in a criminal court. Additionally, misdemeanors are also tried in a criminal court, not in traffic court. You can expect a heavy fine, a lengthy jail term, and extended probation.

1st Offense 1 year license suspension

2nd Offense (within 7 years) 2 year license revocation

3rd Offense (within 7 years) 3 year license revocation

c. Other Effects

A conviction for DUI is a life-changing experience. And it is not a change for the better!

Personal: Imagine not being able to drive your car. Enough said? You will suffer embarrassment and humiliation as news of your DUI reaches your family and friends, and perhaps your employer. A felony DUI conviction carries a far worse stigma. As a convicted felon, you will lose certain rights. You will no longer be able to vote, own a firearm or travel abroad to certain countries.

Financial: A conviction for DUI has enormous economic consequences. The estimated cost is roughly $10,000 over several years. And if you injured someone while driving drunk, you can expect to be sued in civil court. Those costs could be staggering.

The days of dancing out of DUI are over!

DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY

Every driver is responsible not only for his or her own safety and the safety of their passengers, but for the safety of every other motorist, cyclist, and pedestrian on the road with them.

All drivers moving to California must have a valid California driver license within 10 calender days of gaining residency. Also, when you move, the law requires you to report your new address to DMV within 10 calender days. When applying to the DMV for a driver license, drivers can use their birth certificates to prove their identity.

A. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Pedestrians are in danger any time they step into the street. Some pedestrians may not know - or may choose to ignore - traffic laws and signals. Both driver and pedestrian share responsibility for pedestrian safety.

1. PEDESTRIAN RESPONSIBILITY

There is a good chance that when a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle s/he will share the blame. When you’re on foot, you are, in part, responsible for your own safety. Obey the rules. Cross the street only at legal crosswalks. "Jaywalking" is illegal. Always yield to approaching vehicles. Look left and right before you cross the street, and DON’T ASSUME the car is going to stop. If you are jogging or walking in the street, always move AGAINST the flow of traffic.

Pedestrians should always cross their fingers before they cross the street.

2. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY

It is one of your primary duties as a driver to avoid a collision with a pedestrian. Be vigilant when approaching crosswalks and when driving by children. The elderly and physically challenged need special consideration as well; and don’t forget rollerbladers, joggers, and skateboarders, who add speed to the problem of unpredictability.

B. MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

Motorcycles are a fact of life, especially in California. They are more maneuverable and harder to see than larger passenger vehicles.

1. SHARING THE ROADWAY

Drivers must actively look for motorcycles, especially on the freeway. Check your mirrors frequently. Don’t allow yourself to be surprised by a motorcycle driving between lanes - a legal but unsafe maneuver. On city streets, watch for motorcycles when changing lanes and when making a left turn on the light change. Increase following distance when behind a motorcycle…it has a much shorter stopping distance.

2. PROTECTION

Motorcycle riders tend to be more cautious than drivers because of the increased inherent danger. An approved helmet is required by law. But smart motorcyclists don’t stop with protecting only their head. Leather jackets, pants, gloves and boots can prevent serious injury as well in the event of a collision.

C. BICYCLE SAFETY

Look at any street and you’ll see somebody on a bicycle. They are everywhere. They are also extremely vulnerable because of the speed factor - even more so than a pedestrian.

1. SHARING THE ROADWAY

Bicycles have the same right to be on the street as any motor vehicle. They are subject to the same rules and regulations. Bicycle riders must stop at stops signs and red lights. They are allowed in the ‘’Left Turn Only" lane. They can be ticketed for speeding and for DUI as well. In other words, we share the road with them.

2. DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY

Every collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle has the same outcome: the cyclist loses. Usually the driver is held responsible for the collision. Always be on the lookout for cyclists. Anticipate them approaching on the sidewalk from your right when you are stopped at a corner and about to turn right. Give them plenty of room when passing, and check your left side mirror before you get out of your parked car.

3. PROTECTION

As of January 2003 California law requires all persons under the age of 18 years of age to wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet while operating a bicycle or riding upon a bicycle as a passenger, operating a non-motorized scooter or skateboard, wearing inline skates or roller skates, or while riding upon a non-motorized scooter or skateboard as a passenger.

D. MISCELLANEOUS

1. STEREO EARPHONES

Headphones that cover both ears are illegal. You need to hear to be safe. (Hearing impaired drivers learn to compensate.) If your music is too loud, you could miss a horn or an emergency siren.

2. EMERGENCY VEHICLES

All traffic must yield right-of-way to emergency vehicles. Pull to the right and stop. If you can’t pull to the right, stop where you are and let the emergency vehicle navigate around you. You may not follow an emergency vehicle at a distance closer than 300 feet. Ambulances often transport heart attack victims to the hospital.

E. PROCEDURES WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION

No driver wants to be involved in a collision. If we obey the law and drive defensively we can drastically reduce the odds. But collisions do happen. The following describes what to do in case of collision.

1. STOPPING REQUIREMENTS

After a collision you must stop and exchange information (more on this later) with the other driver. Failure to stop is a misdemeanor hit-and-run. If death or permanent injury results from the collision, you will be charged with a felony hit-and-run.

Victims at Scene: The law is specific in regard to anyone injured: "The driver shall also render reasonable assistance to any person injured in the collision, including transporting that person for medical treatment to a doctor or hospital".

Property Damage - Unable to Locate Owner: If you hit a parked car or do damage to a homeowner’s property, the law requires you to attempt to notify the owner and identify yourself before you leave the scene. If you can’t find the owner, you must leave a note identifying yourself in a conspicuous place.

2. AID TO THE INJURED

Sending for Help: In the event of injury, call 911 (or have someone else do it) and request an ambulance. If you know how to administer first-aid, do so.

When to Move an Injured Person: Unless the collision victim is in life-threatening danger (car on fire, rising flood water), NEVER MOVE the victim. If you move someone who has sustained internal injuries, the very act of moving them - even a few feet - could hasten their death.

3. PREVENTING FURTHER DAMAGE

There is potential for more trouble in the immediate aftermath of the collision.

Reducing Chances of Fire: Make sure the ignitions of all vehicles involved in the collision have been switched off. Prevent anybody from lighting a cigarette.

Warning Oncoming Vehicles: Warning oncoming vehicles of a collision could be hazardous, especially at night, or on a curving road. Do so with great caution. If there are flares or reflectors, deploy them safely around the collision scene.

4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

When a Report is Required: More than $ 750.00 in damage was done to the property or any person. Anyone was injured (no matter how slightly) or killed Each driver is responsible for making a report to the DMV. You must make this report, whether you are at fault or not, even if a collision occurred on private property. Submit the report on the California Traffic Accident Report form (SR-1). You can get this form from any DMV or CHP office, or download it from the DMV’s website. If you don’t make this report your license will be suspended.

Use of Reports: The information in these reports is confidential. It is not admissible in court as evidence if there is a trial. The reports only indicate involvement in the collision, not fault (unless one of the drivers does admit fault at the scene or in the report itself).

5. EXCHANGING INFORMATION

A common automobile collision is a rear-end fender-bender.

Identifying Information: Every driver involved in the collision must exchange the following information:

name and current address;

driver license number;

vehicle license and ID numbers;

name and address of vehicle owner (if different than driver);

proof of financial responsibility (insurance information).

Noting Damage and Injury: Confirm that no one is injured before you leave the scene. Some drivers carry cameras in their vehicles to record photographic evidence of damage. At the very least, observe the damage and take notes.

6. ADDITIONAL STEPS

Refrain from getting into any discussion or argument with the other driver concerning fault.

Obtain Names and Addresses of Other Witnesses: Write down the names and addresses of any witnesses willing to come forward. If you do have a camera, take pictures of all parties involved.

Give Accurate Facts to Police: Be truthful, but do not admit fault. Sign no documents other than the police report.

Seek Medical Attention: Some injuries are not immediately obvious - whiplash, for example. You might be in shock. Even if you don’t think you’ve been hurt, check with a doctor just to be sure.

File Necessary Supplemental Reports: Be prepared to inform your insurance company about the collision. Take notes, photographs, and keep copies of all exchanged information and police reports for reference.

A driver can get good coverage under an umbrella.

CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE: DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY

COLLISIONS AND REPORTS

DUTY TO STOP AT THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT (20001 VC)

(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to any person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident and shall fulfill the requirements of Sections 20003 and 20004.

(d) As used in this section, "permanent, serious injury" means the loss or permanent impairment of function of any bodily member or organ.

DUTY WHERE PROPERTY DAMAGED (20002 VC)

(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to any property, including vehicles, shall immediately stop the vehicle at the nearest location that will not impede traffic or otherwise jeopardize the safety of other motorists. …The driver shall also immediately do either of the following:

(1) Locate and notify the owner or person in charge of that property of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle involved and, upon locating the driver of any other vehicle involved or the owner or person in charge of any damaged property, upon being requested, present his or her driver’s license, and vehicle registration, to the other driver, property owner, or person in charge of that property. The information presented shall include the current residence address of the driver and of the registered owner. If the registered owner of an involved vehicle is present at the scene, he or she shall also, upon request, present his or her driver’s license information, if available, or other valid identification to the other involved parties.

(2) Leave in a conspicuous place on the vehicle or other property damaged a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle involved and a statement of the circumstances thereof and shall without unnecessary delay notify the police department of the city wherein the collision occurred or, if the collision occurred in unincorporated territory, the local headquarters of the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(b) Any person who parks a vehicle which, prior to the vehicle again being driven, becomes a runaway vehicle and is involved in an accident resulting in damage to any property, attended or unattended, shall comply with the requirements of this section relating to notification and reporting…

DUTY TO REPORT ACCIDENTS (20008 VC)

(a) The driver of a vehicle, other than a common carrier vehicle, involved in any accident resulting in injuries to or death of any person shall within 24 hours after the accident make or cause to be made a written report of the accident to the Department of the California Highway Patrol or, if the accident occurred within a city, to either the Department of the California Highway Patrol or the police department of the city in which the accident occurred. If the agency which receives the report is not responsible for investigating the accident, it shall immediately forward the report to the law enforcement agency which is responsible for investigating the accident.

On or before the fifth day of each month, every police department which received a report during the previous calendar month of an accident which it is responsible for investigating shall forward the report or a copy thereof to the main office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol at Sacramento.

(b) The owner or driver of a common carrier vehicle involved in any such accident shall make a like report to the Department of California Highway Patrol on or before the 10th day of the month following the accident.

REPORTS CONFIDENTIAL (20012 VC)

All required accident reports, and supplemental reports, shall be without prejudice to the individual so reporting and shall be for the confidential use of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of the California Highway Patrol, except that the Department of the California Highway Patrol or the law enforcement agency to whom the accident was reported shall disclose the entire contents of the reports…to the driver or drivers involved, or the guardian or conservator thereof, the parent of a minor driver, the authorized representative of a driver, or to any named person injured therein, the owners of vehicles or property damaged thereby, persons who may incur civil liability, including liability based upon a breach of warranty arising out of the accident, and any attorney who declares under penalty of perjury that he or she represents any of the above persons.

REPORTS AS EVIDENCE (20013 VC)

No such accident report shall be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident…

USE OF REPORTS (20014 VC)

All required accident reports and supplemental reports…shall be immediately available for the confidential use of any division in the department needing the same, for confidential use of the Department of Transportation, and, with respect to accidents occurring on highways other than state highways, for the confidential use of the local authority having jurisdiction over the highway.

COUNTER REPORTS: NO DETERMINATION OF FAULT (20015 VC)

No traffic or police officer shall include in any counter report of a property-damage accident…any determination by the peace officer of fault of the reporting person, including, but not limited to, inattentiveness. This section does not apply to a determination which is the result of an examination of the physical evidence of the accident at the site of the accident by the traffic or police officer or the result of an express, knowing admission of the reporting person if the basis for the determination is also included in the report.

(b) As used in this section, "counter report of a property-damage accident" means any report of an accident involving one or more vehicles which meets the following criteria:

(1) The accident reported caused damage to property, but did not cause personal injury to or the death of any person.

(2) The report is prepared at an office of the California Highway Patrol or local law enforcement agency.

(3) The report is written or recorded by, or with the assistance of, a peace officer.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

REPORT REQUIRED (16000 VC)

The driver of every motor vehicle who is in any manner involved in an accident originating from the operation of a motor vehicle on any street or highway or any reportable off-highway accident defined in Section 16000.1 that has resulted in damage to the property of any one person in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) or in bodily injury or in the death of any person shall, within 10 days after the accident, report the accident, either personally or through an insurance agent, broker, or legal representative, on a form approved by the department to the office of the department…

MANDATORY SUSPENSION OF LICENSE (16004 VC)

The department shall suspend the driving privilege of any person who fails, refuses, or neglects to make a report of an accident as required…

REQUIRED MAINTENANCE OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (16020 VC)

Every driver and every owner of a motor vehicle shall at all times be able to establish financial responsibility pursuant to Section 16021, and shall at all times carry in the vehicle evidence of the form of financial responsibility in effect for the vehicle.

PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MUST BE MAINTAINED BY ALL DRIVERS.

Liability insurance provides protection against claims if you are at fault in a collision. The minimum amount of insurance coverage required is 15,000 / 30,000 / 5,000. The "bodily injury" provision on your insurance covers the injury to or death of each person as a result of a vehicle collision.

REQUIREMENTS OF POLICY OR BOND (16056 VC)

No policy or bond shall be effective…unless issued by an insurance company or surety company admitted to do business in this state by the Insurance Commissioner...nor unless the policy or bond is subject, if the accident has resulted in bodily injury or death, to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to that limit for one person, to a limit of not less than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and, if the accident has resulted in injury to, or destruction of property, to a limit of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

SUSPENSION OF DRIVING PRIVILEGE (16070 VC)

Whenever a driver involved in an accident…fails to provide evidence of financial responsibility, the department shall...suspend the privilege of the driver or owner to drive a motor vehicle, including the driving privilege of a nonresident in this state.

PERIOD OF SUSPENSION (16072 VC)

The suspension of the driving privilege…shall not be terminated until one year has elapsed from the date of actual commencement of the suspension and until the person files proof of financial responsibility.

LICENSING CONTROL MEASURES

The State of California DMV licenses and regulates drivers. Comprehensive files are kept on all motor vehicle operators and they are public record. If a driver is negligent and exhibits a chronic disregard for the vehicle code, the DMV will prevent that individual from operating their motor vehicle.

Gallons are units of measure.

A. THE DRIVING PRIVILEGE

All drivers must have a valid driver license. Different vehicles require different license classes - a total of nine are available - allowing for the restricted operation of trucks, motorcycles, buses, etc.

Driver Education and Training- Amendment to CVC 12509
The minimum age for issuance of an instruction permit is 15 years, 6 months. The Department of Motor Vehicles, for good cause, may issue an instruction permit to any physically and mentally qualified person who meets the following requirements and who applies to the Department of Motor Vehicles for an instruction permit:

Is age 15 years and 6 months
Has successfully completed an approved course in automobile driver education
Is taking driver training or is enrolled and participating in an integrated driver education program.
1. PRIVILEGE VS. RIGHT

It is not your right to have this license. It is a privilege granted by the State of California to individuals who prove they know the law and can safely operate a motor vehicle. Remember: A privilege can be taken away.

2. LICENSE REFUSAL

Certain standards must be met before a driver license is issued. You will be refused a license if you are underage, don’t know the law, are incompetent behind the wheel, or have a history of drug/alcohol abuse.

3. VIOLATION OF LICENSE RESTRICTION

The DMV can impose certain restrictions on a driver license. If these restrictions are violated, it can result in suspension or revocation. Some restrictions are: corrective lenses, privileges limited to driving to and from work, privileges limited to driving in daylight hours, and privileges limited to driving to and from school.

B. NEGLIGENT OPERATOR TREATMENT SYSTEM (NOTS)

The DMV has developed a system to keep track of all licensed drivers and a method of designating them as unfit to drive. Drivers should NOT fall asleep while driving.

1. EFFECTS OF CONVICTIONS/COLLISIONS

The system places points on every driver’s DMV record both for moving violations and for at fault collisions. As points accumulate on the DMV record, drivers are sent letters warning them of their jeopardized status. These letters urge them to modify their driving habits. If they don’t comply, they will have their licenses taken away.

2. POINT COUNT DETERMINATION

A moving violation will stay on the DMV record for 37 months, a collision for three years, and a DUI for seven years or longer. You will be designated a NEGLIGENT OPERATOR if your record reflects one of the following point totals:

FOR DRIVERS

4 points in 12 months

6 points in 24 months

8 points in 36 months

FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVERS

6 points in 12 months

8 points in 24 months

10 points in 36 months

(a) Violations

For most moving violations, the penalty is one point. More serious violations have a stiffer penalty: two points. These include, but are not limited to:

reckless driving

hit-and-run

DUI

driving faster than 100 mph

speed contest (drag racing)

driving the wrong way on the freeway

evading a police officer

driving on a suspended license

Vehicular manslaughter

illegally transporting explosives

(b) Collisions

If you are in a collision and the DMV determines that it was your fault, this finding will appear on your record as a one point violation. This point is in addition to any other points for violations attached to the collision.

3. ACTIONS

AT 2 POINTS (within 1 year) driver receives warning letter
AT 3 POINTS (within 1 year) driver receives notice of INTENT TO SUSPEND
AT 4 POINTS (within 1 year) driver is notified of six month suspension and one-year probation. A hearing may be requested after which suspension might be adjusted.

(a) Probation 14250 VC

The DMV may suspend or revoke the driving privilege and may also impose a probationary driving period in which a probationary license would be issued.

(b) Suspension 13102 VC

The DMV may temporarily withdraw the driving privilege. Suspension may be for a specified time or open-ended as in the case of failure to appear or failure to pay.

(c) Revocation 13101 VC

The DMV may also terminate the driver’s license, in which case it literally ceases to exist. After the revocation period is over, the person must reapply for a new license and go through the entire testing process again.

A driver caught driving on a suspended license will be fined, jailed and have their vehicle impounded.

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Time:

12:08 pm.

ESTABLISHED SPEED LAWS

We speculated earlier about an imaginary city with no speed limits. Not a comforting notion. Speed limits are established by law…unfortunately, the law is often ignored.

A. PURPOSE OF BASIC SPEED LAWS

The Basic Speed Law says that you may never drive faster than is safe for prevailing conditions. What ‘conditions’ could affect your safety? Weather, for one. When it’s ‘coming down,’ the Basic Speed Law requires you to slow down. Rain, snow, sleet, fog are hazardous conditions that you must respect. Is there construction on the road? Bicycle riders? Is there debris up ahead? Pedestrians? Joggers? How heavy is traffic? Are there any visibility problems? Is the roadway damaged? Every driver must ask the question: ‘Am I going too fast for these conditions?’

B. PURPOSE OF MINIMUM SPEED LAWS

You could be ticketed for driving too slowly! Minimum speed laws insure a safe traffic flow. Slow vehicles that block traffic always inspire frustration and sometimes rage in their wake. Slower vehicles should always keep to the right side of the roadway.

C. SPEED LIMITS FOR DESIGNATED AREAS

Faster speeds are allowed on freeways, interstate highways, and in rural areas. In densely populated and heavily traveled urban areas we are required to drive more slowly.

1. FREEWAY

The speed limit on the freeway is 65 mph, although in some areas it can be as low as 55 mph. (If you are driving on a two-lane undivided highway and there are no posted speed limits, the maximum speed will be 55 mph.) In some areas we will encounter 70 mph speed limits. These are found usually on the interstate, away from urban congestion.

2. RESIDENTIAL ZONES

A residential zone is a street composed mostly of single-family dwellings. The speed limit on most residential streets is only 25 mph! There are usually no speed-limit signs on residential streets. If there is a sign posted, it might indicate a higher speed - 30 or 35 mph. But when you don’t see a sign on a residential street, you’d better be down to 25 mph.

3. BUSINESS DISTRICTS

Business districts are streets with stores, shops, and other commercial enterprises. Speed limits on business streets will vary, topping out at 40 mph. WARNING: If no sign is posted on a business street, the speed limit is only 25 mph!

4. SCHOOL ZONES

Pay attention to the distinctive yellow signs and crosswalk lines, which indicate a school crossing. Many school zone speed-limit signs indicate an order to reduce speed (to either 25 or 15 mph) ‘WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT’.

5. BLIND INTERSECTIONS

If you are blind, you cannot see. When within 100 feet of an intersection, if you can’t see at least 100 feet down the cross street in both directions, then you are approaching a blind intersection. The potential danger here is obvious and the vehicle code requires drivers to reduce speed to 15 mph. What could obstruct your view up the street? Trees, signs, bushes, fences, and large vehicles parked close to the intersection.

6. SENIOR CENTERS

The speed limit in a “senior citizen zone” is 25 mph. Unless you are traveling on a state highway. always reduce your speed to 25 mph when driving adjacent to any facility used primarily by senior citizens. This would include (but is not limited to) retirement homes or communities, nursing homes and other senior centers.

D. SPEED LIMITS FOR DESIGNATED VEHICLES

The law requires certain vehicles to observe reduced speed limits. These include:

Any vehicle hauling a trailer;

A truck with three or more axles;

Any vehicle transporting explosives;

Any vehicle towing another vehicle;

A farm labor vehicle transporting passengers;

Any school bus transporting students. These vehicles may never exceed 55 mph - under any circumstances.

E. SPEED AND STOPPING DISTANCE

So you think your brakes are in top condition? Do you brag to your friends that your new car can ‘stop on a dime?’ You better stop bragging. The truth of the matter is there are no pockets big enough to accommodate that ‘dime’ you’ve been stopping on. Stopping your car takes a LOT longer than you think, both in time and distance. Remember: When the road is wet it takes two-to-three times longer to get the job done! Stopping your vehicle is accomplished in a series of separate and discreet steps that follow.

1. PERCEPTION TIME AND DISTANCE

STEP 1: You perceive the need to stop, triggering your stopping reaction. This is called perception time, and your vision, state of mental alertness, and level of distraction affect it. The distance traveled by your vehicle during perception time is called perception distance.

2. REACTION TIME AND DISTANCE

STEP 2: You react to the hazard, take your foot off the gas, and place it on the brake. This is reaction time. Your age and physical condition affect it. It takes an average of a 3/4 of a second to touch the brake after you decide you need to stop. The distance traveled by your vehicle during reaction time is called reaction distance.

3. BRAKING DISTANCE

STEP 3: You are slowing to a stop with your foot depressing the brake. A vehicle traveling at 50 mph needs four times the braking distance of a vehicle traveling half as fast.

A boxer who had just won a match was asked to describe how he did it. This is what he said: "He was a smart fighter...all the time he was in the ring he was thinking. And all the time he was thinking, I was hitting him.’ The same could be said of calculating your speed and stopping distance. Keep it simple. Drive within your limits, and nobody will be hitting you while you’re tying to figure it out.

4. STOPPING DISTANCE

Perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance = stopping distance.

CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE: SPEED LAWS

ESTABLISHED SPEED LAW

TEMPORARY MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT (22348 VC)

(a)…Julius Caesar spoke fluent Latin no person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway with a speed limit…at a speed greater than that speed limit.

BASIC SPEED LAW (22350 VC)

No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.

PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS (22352 VC)

(a) The prima facie limits are as follows…:

(1) Fifteen miles per hour:

(A) When traversing a railway grade crossing, if during the last 100 feet of the approach to the crossing the driver does not have a clear and unobstructed view of the crossing and of any traffic on the railway for a distance of 400 feet in both directions along the railway. This subdivision does not apply in the case of any railway grade crossing where a human flagman is on duty or a clearly visible electrical or mechanical railway crossing signal device is installed but does not then indicate the immediate approach of a railway train or car.

(B) When traversing any intersection of highways if during the last 100 feet of the driver’s approach to the intersection the driver does not have a clear and unobstructed view of the intersection and of any traffic upon all of the highways entering the intersection for a distance of 100 feet along all those highways, except at an intersection protected by stop signs or yield right-of-way signs or controlled by official traffic control signals.

(C) On any alley.

(2) Twenty-five miles per hour:

(A) On any highway other than a state highway, in any business or residence district unless a different speed is determined by local authority under procedures set forth in this code.

(B) When approaching or passing a school building or the grounds thereof, contiguous to a highway and posted with a standard "SCHOOL" warning sign, while children are going to or leaving the school either during school hours or during the noon recess period. The prima facie limit shall also apply when approaching or passing any school grounds which are not separated from the highway by a fence, gate, or other physical barrier while the grounds are in use by children and the highway is posted with a standard "SCHOOL" warning sign. For purposes of this subparagraph, standard "SCHOOL" warning signs may be placed at any distance up to 500 feet away from school grounds.

(C) When passing a senior center or other facility primarily used by senior citizens, contiguous to a street other than a state highway and posted with a standard "SENIOR" warning sign…

MINIMUM SPEED LAW (22400 VC)

(a) No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with law.

No person shall bring a vehicle to a complete stop upon a highway so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the stop is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

(b) Whenever the Department of Transportation determines on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey that slow speeds on any part of a state highway consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the department may determine and declare a minimum speed limit below which no person shall drive a vehicle, except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law, when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected along the part of the highway for which a minimum speed limit is established.

SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES (21654 VC)

(a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(b) If a vehicle is being driven at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time, and is not being driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, it shall constitute prima facie evidence that the driver is operating the vehicle in violation of subdivision (a) of this section.

(c) The Department of Transportation, with respect to state highways, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, may place and maintain upon highways official signs directing slow-moving traffic to use the right-hand traffic lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or preparing for a left turn.

MAXIMUM SPEED FOR DESIGNATED VEHICLES (22406 VC)

No person may drive any of the following vehicles on a highway at a speed in excess of 55 miles per hour:

(a) A motortruck or truck tractor having three or more axles or any motortruck or truck tractor drawing any other vehicle.

(b) A passenger vehicle or bus drawing any other vehicle.

(c) A schoolbus transporting any school pupil.

(d) A farm labor vehicle when transporting passengers.

(e) A vehicle transporting explosives.

(f) A trailer bus, as defined in Section 636.

DEMANDS OF CITY DRIVING

Driving in a busy urban environment demands great vigilance and skill. A city street is an obstacle course. Looking away for even a split-second to change radio stations could mean disaster. Motor vehicles of every size and shape are moving in close proximity, some predictably and others not, speeding up, slowing down, stopping, parking. Add to traffic density the problems created by pedestrians, bicycles, and animals and you have a daunting challenge. Every driver must meet that challenge head-on.

A. REDUCING SPEED

Traffic can be heavy in Fresno. The faster you drive the less time you have to react. As your speed increases over the speed limit, so do your chances of being in a collision. Slowing down will give you more time to SCAN the road to IDENTIFY hazards ahead, PREDICT what might happen, DECIDE what you are going to do and then EXECUTE your maneuver.

1. ALLOW FOR MORE TIME TO SEE DETAILS AND IDENTIFY THEIR MEANING

On a city street your eyes are assaulted by a dense tangle of moving images. These images are information vital to your safety. You need time to see every detail around you on the street and identify what it means. If you’re speeding, these images will be a blur. Slowing down will bring everything into clearer focus. The slower you drive, the wider your peripheral vision.

2. ALLOWS FOR MORE TIME TO ANALYZE INFORMATION AND PREDICT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN

Once potential hazards are identified, you need time to analyze what the probable outcome will be, as well as allow for the possibility of a worst-case scenario.

3. ALLOWS FOR MORE REACTION TIME TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO

What’s your next move? Change lanes? Slam on the brakes? If you are driving too fast, you will be forced to rush your decision. You don’t want to make a mistake.

4. ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL TIME TO EXECUTE DECISIONS OR AVOID DANGEROUS SITUATIONS

A common evasive action is to slam on the brakes in an emergency stop. Slowing down will shorten stopping distance. You don’t want to rear-end that vehicle, do you?

B. LOOKING AHEAD OF TRAFFIC

When driving on a city street, you should scan up to 15 seconds ahead of your vehicle. At roughly 30 mph, that translates to one city block! And be sure to scan left-to-right, sidewalk-to-sidewalk.

1. LOOK AHEAD FOR TRAFFIC HAZARDS

Get the BIG picture. Don’t just stare at the vehicle in front. You need to see ten cars ahead as well. Keep your eyes moving, and check mirrors frequently. You will be able to spot hazards earlier, and have more time to react and take evasive action.

2. LEAVE ENOUGH DISTANCE TO MANEUVER

Get a space cushion around your car. Where is your ‘out?’ You can’t take evasive action if you have no place to go.

3. SIGNAL LIGHTS

Most busy intersections are controlled by automated traffic signal devices. But they are only as effective as drivers allow them to be. Running red lights is an all-too-common violation that often has deadly consequences. It is the responsibility of every licensed driver to watch for signal lights and obey them.

Look Ahead for Signal Changes: When you scan the road a block ahead, you will be able to see the signal light. But will you be able to ‘make the light?’ The earlier you can answer that question, the better.

Anticipate Signal Changes: Green changes to yellow...yellow changes to red...we see it happen dozens of times a day. Experience teaches us to anticipate the light changes, and that allows us to make good decisions on whether to proceed, or prepare to stop.

Running Red Lights: This violation is extremely expensive. It will cost you roughly $300. The collision that often occurs when this violation is committed is one of the worst - a broadside collision in the intersection. How do you know if you’re legal? When the light turns red, some part of your vehicle has to have crossed the limit line. If you are behind the limit line when the light turns red and you proceed through the intersection, you are running a red light.

WARNING! There are three other variations of this violation.

1) Stopping at a red light with any part of the vehicle in the crosswalk (over the limit line).

2) Failure to come to a complete stop (at the limit line) on a right turn on a red light.

3) Completing a turn out of a ‘Left Turn Only’ lane if you were behind the limit line when the light turned red.

Remember: Running red lights in the city is an exercise in futility. Why? Four little words: ‘Hurry up and wait.’ Think about it. What happens after you run a red light? About 20 seconds later, you get stopped dead at the next red light! And everybody who ate your dust at that light you ran catches up to you. You may get ahead for a while, but was it worth risking a ticket or a collision?

Many communities are installing automatic cameras that photograph drivers running red lights. In other words, you can get this ticket in the mail!

Check for Stale Green Lights: The CROSSWALK SIGN will often indicate when the green light is about to turn to yellow (stale green light.) This is helpful when we are half a block away, facing a green light and we experience a state of indecision…will we make the light or not? When a driver is unsure, even for a few seconds, safety is compromised. When the DON’T WALK sign stops flashing the YELLOW LIGHT will usually appear in three to five seconds, depending on the speed limit. Be prepared to stop.

C. COVERING THE BRAKE, NOT RIDING IT

1. SLOW FOR REDUCED STOPPING DISTANCE

Riding somebody’s bumper is tailgating. Covering the brake will save you close to a second of reaction time and will reduce your overall stopping distance. Remember: When you cover the brake your foot is off the gas and poised over the brake pedal, not depressing it.

2. SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL SHOULD BE COVERED

Many drivers have developed this technique and do it almost without thinking. It’s a healthy habit. Below are some situations in which covering the brake is recommended.

Next to Parked Cars: When driving in the right lane next to a line of parked cars a defensive driver will cover the brake - at least intermittently - especially when the parked car is occupied or the taillights indicate the car is being started.

Brake Lights of Other Cars: When the brake lights become illuminated on cars up ahead, you have an early warning of the need to stop. If the brake lights become illuminated on the car directly in front of you, do not merely cover the brake; be on the brake!

Approaching Signal Lights: Covering the brake as you approach and enter an intersection will add extra seconds to your journey, but it might also add years to your life as well! Intersections are extremely dangerous. There’s no such thing as too much caution.

D. CITY PASSING

1. PASSING OVER CENTER LINE OF TRAVEL

On a city street, you may only pass over the centerline of travel when that line is broken (usually yellow). The street will more than likely be a residential street and you will probably be passing around a car that is stopped to let off passengers. You may NEVER drive to the left of a solid double yellow line.

2. PASSING IN OR NEAR AN INTERSECTION

The vehicle code says you may make a ‘safe change of direction’ while inside an intersection. This means a safe lane change. WARNING: Don’t do it! Passing and changing lanes inside or near an intersection is extremely dangerous.

E. CHOOSING A LANE

1. CHOOSE A LANE APPROPRIATE TO USE

On a multi-lane street a driver will have to decide the best lane in which to travel. Slower traffic and cars preparing to turn right should be in the right lane. Cars preparing to turn left should be in the left lane.

2. CHOOSE LESS CONGESTED LANE UNLESS PLANNING TO TURN

When you scan ahead it’s easy to judge which lane is moving better. Get in that lane and avoid slow-downs. If the street has three lanes in one direction, the center lane will usually have the least congestion.

F. VEHICLE POSITION

Drivers must position vehicles within the lane for optimum safety and maneuverability.

1. KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC SPEED AND WITHIN LEGAL LIMITS

Go with the flow! Good drivers don’t speed and don’t drive too slowly, either. If, for whatever reason, you must drive under the speed limit, keep to the right or pull over and stop to allow traffic behind you to proceed.

2. AVOID ANOTHER DRIVER’S BLIND SPOT

Every vehicle has blind spots off both rear corners. Take care not to drive for more than a few seconds where the other guy can’t see you.

The shaded areas are blind spots

3. AVOID OTHER DRIVER IN YOUR BLIND SPOT

What if the other guy is in YOUR blind spot? Do you wait for him to get away? No! You get away from him by speeding up or slowing down slightly.

The shaded areas are blind spots

4. AVOID SIDE-BY-SIDE DRIVING

must constantly adjust position to maximize the space cushion around their vehicles.

5. AVOID DRIVING IN BUNCHES

Get out of that crowd! You can’t maneuver when you’re surrounded by a pack of other vehicles. Adjust position and find some wide-open spaces! Chain reaction collisions occur when vehicles are being driven too close together.

G. CHOOSING A SAFE ROUTE

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Unfortunately, the shortest distance might not be the safest.

1. TIME OF DAY AND TRAFFIC DENSITY

Nobody likes rush hour. Avoid peak traffic times if possible. Know your city! Become familiar with alternate routes. Maybe surface streets are moving faster than the freeway. The author thinks that the best time of day is 11:34 AM.

2. THROUGH STREETS VS. SIDE STREETS

Through-streets are larger, multi-lane boulevards that are designed to accommodate heavier traffic loads. Side streets are likely to be residential, with only one lane in each direction. Drivers circumventing busier through streets can fall victim to speeding, rolling through stop signs and ignoring potential hazards like bike riders, children, and other pedestrians. Unless you are faced with gridlock, through-streets will provide a safer and faster route.

3. ONE-WAY STREETS VS. TWO-WAY STREETS

One-way streets tend to be safer since oncoming traffic is absent. They also move more quickly because there are usually three lanes instead of just two.

H. SPECIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CITY TRAFFIC

Certain potential hazards are peculiar to city driving. Be prepared for them (see below).

1. PARKED CARS HIDING CROSS TRAFFIC

You might approach an intersection and, scanning left, your view of approaching cars will be obstructed by a vehicle parked close to the corner. That vehicle might also obstruct your view of a pedestrian, bicyclist, or traffic signal. So reduce your speed, cover the brake, and proceed with caution.

2. DETOUR IN LANE OF TRAVEL

A delivery truck or double-parked car might be blocking the lane ahead of you. If you scan ahead, you will be able to anticipate the need to change lanes well in advance. You can then avoid the frustration of being trapped behind a stopped vehicle in the right lane.

3. TWO-WAY LEFT TURN CENTER LANE USE

Many wide boulevards have a center turn lane that allows traffic from both directions to initiate a turn off the street into a driveway, or to complete a turn out of a driveway back onto the street. This lane is marked by one solid and one broken yellow line on each side. Use great caution when entering or exiting this lane. You may legally drive only 200 feet in a center turn lane before turning left or merging back into traffic. It is always illegal to cruise down the center turn lane. But it is legal to drive across a center turn lane.

4. TURNING AT CORNERS

Prior to initiating turning left or right, ask yourself these questions: Do I have the right-of-way? Are other vehicles surrendering the right-of-way to me? Are there any pedestrians or bicyclists to whom I must yield?

5. DRIVING ON ONE-WAY STREETS

Identifying: Driving the wrong-way down a one-way street is dangerous. It’s also against the law. Here’s what to look for:

a sign reading ONE-WAY posted at the intersection;

a sign reading DO NOT ENTER or NO TURNS;

parked cars on both sides of the street are facing the same direction;

no yellow centerlines, broken white lines only;

traffic signs on both sides of the street facing the same direction.

Entering: When turning right or left onto a one-way street, you can finish the turn in any lane that is open, if safe to do so.

Speed: Wherever you drive, never exceed the speed limit. On oneway streets, traffic tends to move efficiently and therefore faster. Keep up with the flow of traffic, but don’t speed.

Lane Choice: Use the center lane, unless preparing to turn right or left.

Exiting: When turning right off a one-way street onto a two-way street, the turn must be finished in the right lane. If the right turn is being made onto another one-way street, it can be finished in any open lane. A left turn off a one-way street can be finished in any open lane, if safe. It is legal to turn left against a red light from a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless a sign prohibits the maneuver.

Dealing with Wrong-way: Whenever you drive on a one-way street, you must be prepared for a car going the wrong way. Reduce your speed, honk your horn, and move to the right.

6. WHEN AND WHERE TO EXPECT PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS

Expect pedestrians in three locations only:

1) at intersections;

2) at any point in the middle of any block;

3) everywhere else.

Be especially cautious when approaching crosswalks. Remember: Confirm that the right side of the crosswalk is clear of pedestrians and bike riders before you proceed through a stop sign or make a right turn against a red light.

DEMANDS OF FREEWAY DRIVING

Love them or hate them, freeways are a fact of life. Sometimes traffic flies, sometimes it creeps along in a maddening slow-and-go. Higher and constant speed on the freeway creates a different set of demands on the driver. But staying safe is a simple proposition if you heed the following rules.

Don’t exceed the speed limit.

Always follow at a safe distance.

Signal all lane changes.

The 110 Freeway north into Pasadena was opened in 1939.

A. PLANNING A ROUTE IN ADVANCE

Know where you’re going and how to get there before you get inside your vehicle. Collisions often occur when drivers are lost, disoriented, or unfamiliar with their surroundings. Zooming down the freeway at 65 mph is NOT the time to have a map spread open on your steering wheel.

1. BE FAMILIAR WITH ALTERNATE EXIT

If you are aware of alternate exits and routes, you will be better able to respond when faced with an unexpected ramp closure, detour, or collision on the freeway.

2. GUIDE SIGNS - PLACEMENT OF GUIDE SIGNS THAT INDICATE DISTANCE AND ROUTE DIRECTION

Thank goodness for those large green signs with white letters! They provide vital information to drivers, including exits, and distances to them. Pay attention to guide signs…they give you ample warning about freeway exits.

3. PLAN TRAVEL TIME TO AVOID CONGESTION AND UNFAMILIAR AREAS

If you have the option to avoid rush hour traffic, do it! If you are driving to an unfamiliar location, allow extra travel time to allow for navigational errors. Freeway traffic tends to be lighter during midday hours. Experienced drivers are well aware, however, that slow-downs can happen anywhere and at anytime on the freeway system.

B. ENTERING THE FREEWAY

Freeways don’t have intersections; they have interchanges that provide on-ramps to allow drivers to enter the freeway. Occasionally you will encounter an on-ramp directly adjacent to an off-ramp. Off-ramps are equipped with DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY warning signs to alert drivers. Be on the look-out for these warning signs.

1. ACCELERATION LANES

Modern freeways are equipped with an extra lane to the right at every on-ramp. Acceleration lanes allow a vehicle entering the freeway extra time and distance to accelerate sufficiently to safely match speed and then merge with freeway traffic.

Be Familiar with Entrance Warning Signs: Pay attention to signs posted at freeway entrance ramps. They will indicate speed limits, cues to yield or merge, curve in the road, and diamond lane designations.

Observe Ramp Speed Limit: If you are exceeding the speed limit on the entrance ramp, you are setting yourself up for a more difficult merge. If the ramp is curved (as are many in a cloverleaf interchange), you might lose control of your vehicle.

Check Speed of Freeway Traffic: As you enter the acceleration lane, glance in your left side mirror and/or over your left shoulder to observe the speed of the vehicles in the adjacent lane. Accelerate as quickly as possible to match the traffic flow.

Watch Vehicle Ahead for Sudden Stops: While accelerating up to freeway speed, don’t forget to cast quick glances forward to make sure you aren’t following too closely behind the vehicle ahead.

Locate a Gap in Traffic: Activate your left turn signal (if you haven’t already) and locate a ‘target’ opening - or gap in the lane to your left.

Adjust Speed for Merging onto Freeway Through-traffic Lanes: Adjust your speed to align your vehicle with that gap in traffic. When you have matched speed with through-traffic, check your left mirror and glance over your left shoulder once again to confirm your blind spot is unoccupied. Then safely enter the through-lane.

Signal Until Entering Traffic Through-lanes: Turn signals automatically cancel after turns ONLY. Don’t forget to manually cancel your turn signal after the merge has been completed (unless, of course, you are planning to continue to change lanes to the left).

C. COMMON MISTAKES ENTERING FROM ACCELERATION LANE

Entering the freeway safely requires a complex series of maneuvers, and most of them need to be executed simultaneously. It is a challenging part of freeway driving. So be extra careful and try to avoid....Gasoline with an octane of 90 is considered super.

1. SUDDEN SLOWING OR STOPPING

If you are exceeding the speed limit on the entrance ramp there’s a good chance you will be forced to hit the brakes. This could trigger a rear-end collision.

2. MERGING AT TOO SLOW A SPEED

If your vehicle isn’t going fast enough you might be forced into a dead stop in the acceleration lane - a dangerous situation. Assuming you can’t find a sufficient gap and successfully merge, another vehicle coming up fast behind you could cause trouble.

D. ENTERING DIRECTLY ONTO THE FREEWAY - NO ACCELERATION LANE

Older freeways were designed without acceleration lanes. This makes entering the freeway even more challenging.

1. YIELD OR MERGE SIGNS BEFORE ENTERING

Remember: Merging traffic must yield to traffic already on the freeway.

2. WAIT FOR A LONGER GAP BEFORE ENTERING

With no acceleration lane to allow you to get up to speed, you must wait for a much longer traffic gap. You need a longer gap to give you time and distance to accelerate.

3. ACCELERATION SPEED TO BLEND INTO TRAFFIC

The rate of acceleration must therefore be higher. You must get up to speed sooner. In other words, accelerate quickly!

Remember, wait your turn.
E. SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Drivers will often encounter three other variations of entrance ramps. They are described below. Be familiar with the proper way to navigate them.

1. TIMED ENTRANCE LIGHTS

To control entrance flow during rush hour, many on-ramps have stop and go lights that allow vehicles onto the freeway at timed intervals, usually every few seconds. Watch for signs that alert you to these entrance lights. Some variations include: one car per green; one car per green, each lane; two cars per green. Pay attention and read the signs!

2. DOUBLE MERGE LANES

Many on-ramps require two entrance lanes to merge into one acceleration lane. Be aware of the other guy in the adjacent lane and merge SAFELY.

3. DIAMOND LANES

White diamonds painted on the pavement on a multiple lane entrance ramp indicate that lane is reserved for vehicles that have two or more occupants. Also be on the lookout for entrance lanes that are reserved for buses only.

F. LEAVING THE FREEWAY

1. SCAN AHEAD FOR SIGNS INDICATING DESIRED EXIT LANE

Watch those green guide signs! They will notify you well in advance of your desired off-ramp. If you miss your exit, it’s going to be driver error - in other words, your fault.

2. WHAT TO DO WHEN AN EXIT IS MISSED

NEVER back up on the freeway! If you miss your exit, get off at the next exit and navigate back via surface streets.

G. EXIT LANES

1. DECELERATION LANES - ALLOW DRIVERS TO REDUCE SPEED WITHOUT ENDANGERING OTHER TRAFFIC TO THE REAR

An exiting vehicle can leave the right through-lane on the freeway before slowing.

2. MULTIPLE DECELERATION LANES

Busier off-ramps are equipped with multiple deceleration lanes. Be prepared for the possibility of multiple lanes merging into one lane.

Yielding to Other Drivers: Certain freeway interchanges have weaving lanes that merge exiting and entering vehicles into the same lanes. When exiting the freeway, always yield to vehicles entering by signaling, reducing your speed and allowing them to proceed ahead of you.

3. ADJUSTING SPEED

You’re getting off the freeway, so slow down! Circular off-ramps require a reduction of speed from 65 mph to as slow as 35mph or even 25mph in just a few seconds! Be careful!

Some off ramps require a sharp reduction in speed...be prepared!
Speed Warning Signs: Watch for yellow speed warning signs on off-ramps that indicate the need for reduced speed.

Curved Ramps: Drivers often lose control or rear-end another vehicle when they fail to slow down on a curved exit ramp. Watch for yellow diamond signs posted before the curve. Dropping from 65 mph to 25 mph is a serious adjustment; do it safely!

H. CHOOSING LANES OF TRAVEL

1. TWO-LANE FREEWAYS

A double yellow line usually separates two lanes of traffic in each direction. Remember: You may never cross over a double yellow to pass.

Use of Right-hand Lanes: The right lane is for slower traffic - usually vehicles exiting or entering the freeway. If you cruise in the right lane be aware of vehicles entering the freeway.

Use of Left-hand Lanes: The left lane is for faster traffic and for passing. Some drivers exceed the speed limit. Do not stubbornly hold position in the left lane at 65 mph with another driver tailgating you. This is very dangerous! Signal, and change lanes to the right.

2. THREE LANES OR MORE

The majority of freeways have multiple lanes. Choosing the proper lane can make your drive faster and safer.

Use of Right-hand Lanes: You should not be in the right lane unless you are preparing to exit the freeway or you have just entered the freeway. Large trucks can only occupy the right two lanes since they are limited to a speed of 55 mph.

Use of Center Lane: If you’re going to be on the freeway for a considerable distance, find a center lane in which you feel comfortable, AND STAY THERE! Unnecessary lane changing will not get you to your destination any faster; and it probably will slow you down in the long run.

Use of Left-hand Lanes: The lane farthest left is commonly reserved for faster traffic. If you are in the number one or number two lanes be aware of cars behind you following too closely. Be prepared to change lanes and get out of their way.

3. LANE USE WHEN APPROACHING INTERCHANGES

Traffic flow slows when approaching interchanges because of increased lane changing. Keep left to avoid the slow-down, unless you are transferring onto another freeway. You should change your socks at least twice a week.

Avoiding Merging Conflicts: Position your vehicle well in advance of the interchange. This will help you avoid merging conflicts with other vehicles jockeying for position. Be aware of lane marking variations common to interchanges such as bold broken white lines, solid white lines, and arrows.

I. SPEED LIMITS

1. POSTED SPEED LIMITS

Speed limits have been designed to accommodate a variety of vehicles moving together in a variety of freeway environments. Cars, trucks, buses, RVs, and vehicles towing trailers must coexist safely at higher speeds.

Maximum Speeds: Most freeways have a maximum posted speed of 65 mph. Some are as high as 70 mph (rural areas), and others as low as 55 mph (for trucks, vehicles towing, and on older freeways in urban areas.) You may NEVER exceed the posted maximum speed limit.

Speed for Conditions: Maximum Speed limits are in effect for ideal conditions only. Don’t forget the Basic Speed Law, which says you may never drive faster than is safe for prevailing conditions.

Minimum Speed: If you are driving slow enough to impede or block the normal flow of traffic, you are in violation of the vehicle code.

Lane Use for Slower Vehicles: Slower vehicles must keep right. Trucks and vehicles towing trailers must drive at a maximum speed of 55 mph, and only in the two right lanes. When driving up steep grades, however, large vehicles are often at a speed far under the maximum.

2. DANGERS OF DRIVING TOO SLOW

When you impede traffic flow by driving too slowly, you run the risk of being rear-ended by an approaching vehicle. You might also cause that vehicle to swerve or make a quick lane change that might endanger other drivers.

Blocking the Flow of Traffic: If your vehicle is partially disabled, you should exit the freeway immediately! Driving under the speed limit creates a hazardous condition for you and for every other driver coming up behind you. A vehicle driving the speed limit might come up too fast upon a slower moving vehicle and be forced to make a last second lane change to avoid a collision. But that lane change could very easily cause another collision.

J. MAKING A SAFE LANE CHANGE

Along with speeding and tailgating, the unsafe lane change is a top cause of collisions on the freeway. There is a right way and a wrong way to change lanes. Never lock up yogurt in a safe.

1. CHECK FOR AMPLE SPACE

First, make sure you have room to maneuver and some place to go. You can’t change lanes if there is no space to occupy in the next lane.

Vehicle Ahead: If you change lanes while tailgating the vehicle in front of you, there is a risk of collision if that driver suddenly hits the brakes. So make sure there is ample space between you and the vehicle ahead.

Vehicle to Rear: Glance in your mirrors to confirm there is no vehicle approaching quickly from behind. There is a chance that vehicle might want to pass you and interfere with your lane change.

Vehicles to Side: Glance over your shoulder to make sure another vehicle isn’t in your blind spot.

2. LOOK FOR HAZARDS

If you scan ahead you will be able to identify a sudden stoppage or slowing of traffic that might force you to delay your lane change.

Use of Mirrors: Your mirrors are essential to a safe lane change.

Checking for Blind Spots: It’s not enough to check your own blind spots before changing lanes. Make sure your lane change doesn’t place you in the blind spot of another vehicle.

3. SIGNALING IN ADVANCE

Many drivers fail to signal prior to executing a lane change while on the freeway. They’re afraid that with their turn indicator on it will cause the other driver to speed up and "close the door". Remember: it is a citable offense to change lanes on the freeway without signaling your intention.

4. CHANGE LANES ONE AT A TIME

With your turn signal blinking, and after you have confirmed you have the room and opportunity to pass, gradually steer into the adjacent lane. Make sure you establish position in this lane before you change lanes again. Repeat the above procedures.

5. SPEED WHEN CHANGING LANES

Always be aware of your speed. It should remain constant during the pass. If you must adjust speed, be aware that it is safer to accelerate into a lane change than to decelerate.

Never cross the double yellow line to enter or
exit the carpool lane.

Avoid Slowing or Stopping: If you are forced to slow or stop during a lane change, you made a serious mistake in judgment. The pass probably shouldn’t even have been attempted. There was a hazard up ahead you failed to scan for or you were tailgating or you were speeding.

K. TIME MARGINS FOR FREEWAY CONDITIONS

To drive defensively on the freeway, you must monitor your position in traffic. Scan as far as one quarter mile ahead and check your mirrors frequently. You can’t know where your car is in relation to the vehicles around you if you don’t KEEP YOUR EYES MOVING!

1. ESTABLISHING A SPACE CUSHION

A safe following distance on the freeway is three seconds. Ideally, the vehicle behind you should be at a three-second distance as well. If you are being tailgated, adjust your position and change lanes to maximize your space cushion. Don’t forget to avoid side-by-side driving, watch your blind spots, and be sure to stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots!

At 65 mph, this is about a two second gap. This driver needs to open-up about 4 to 5 more car lengths between him and the driver in front of him...especially when the freeway has no shoulder to allow for evasive action!

L. HELPING OTHER DRIVERS ENTER OR EXIT

All motorists share the freeway. Sharing means cooperation. Entering and exiting the freeway are potentially dangerous maneuvers; and they are made even more dangerous when drivers fail to accept responsibility for the welfare of the other guy.

1. MERGING SIGNS, WARNING OTHER VEHICLES ARE ENTERING THE FREEWAY

A vehicle already on the freeway has the right of- way over another vehicle trying to merge. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the merging vehicle. On the contrary, when you see that MERGE sign, you must help facilitate the entrance.

2. ADJUSTING SPEED TO OPEN A GAP

One way to help the merging driver is accelerate slightly or perhaps slow down slightly to create a larger gap for the merging vehicle to enter.

3. MOVING INTO ADJACENT LANES

Another strategy would be to safely change lanes to the left. The best idea of all would be to not enter the right lane (assuming you are preparing to exit) until you have passed the acceleration lane for the previous on-ramp. That way you will not be interfering with merging traffic. Also, it’s a good idea to get out of the right lane as soon as possible after entering the freeway!

M. FREEWAY EMERGENCIES

Smart drivers are ready to react to emergencies, collisions, blocked lanes, and other contingencies. Always expect the unexpected!

1. BLOCKED ROADWAYS

What could cause a blockage on the freeway? Road construction or maintenance, a collision, a large object sitting in lanes. When drivers regularly scan ahead - near, and especially far - they can react early to a blockage or slowdown and avoid the sudden swerving and braking that often causes collisions.

Steering Around: If you see an object up ahead on the pavement in your lane, and it is small enough, you might be able to drive over it. A larger object must be steered around. The earlier you see this object the safer you can make the maneuver. So don’t forget to scan ahead! If you have maintained a space cushion to both sides of your vehicle, you will have an ‘out,’ or an escape route.

2. STOPPING

Sometimes stopping in lanes on the freeway is your only option. For example, a collision up ahead has caused bumper-to-bumper gridlock.

Warning Drivers to the Rear: If you are forced to make an unexpected stop, you must be concerned with the traffic behind you. If you don’t warn the driver immediately to your rear, your quick stop could trigger a chain reaction collision.

Brake Lights: Quickly pump your brakes before you hit them hard. Your flashing brake lights will warn the driver behind you.

Hazard Lights: Activate your flashing hazard lights. That will be an additional warning to the traffic behind you.

N. BREAKDOWNS

When your vehicle becomes disabled on the freeway, it is not just an inconvenience. It is a potentially dangerous event. Prevention is the best cure. Maintain your vehicle and have it serviced regularly. Don’t ignore symptoms of trouble like strange noises, leaks, odors, or vibrations. Unfortunately, a freeway breakdown can occur without warning.

A vehicle that is stopped, parked or left standing on the freeway (even when disabled) for more than 4 days will be removed.

This is not a safe place to stop if you get a flat tire...drive off the freeway
1. PULLING TO THE SHOULDER

The safest place to stop on the freeway is the shoulder. Try to get to the right shoulder, as far as possible from moving traffic. There may or may not be a left shoulder where your breakdown occurs. If there is one, the left shoulder has more inherent danger.

Signaling: At the first sign of a breakdown, activate your turn signal and begin to safely change lanes. If your vehicle becomes severely disabled and you are forced into a drastic reduction of speed, activate your flashing hazard lights.

Shoulder Use and Vehicle Position: Pull as far off the roadway as possible. Exit the vehicle on the passenger side (or away from lanes), and open the hood and the trunk to make your vehicle more visible. Unless the driver and passengers can immediately move on foot to a safe area, it is recommended that everyone stay inside the vehicle with seatbelts on until help arrives.

2. WARNING APPROACHING TRAFFIC

It is illegal to drive on the shoulder but some drivers do. Also, a driver in the right lane might drift onto the shoulder and hit your stalled vehicle. It is crucial you do whatever you can to warn vehicles approaching from the rear.

Hazard Lights: A disabled vehicle on the shoulder is much less visible at night. Be sure to activate the emergency flashers (daytime as well).

Flares or Warning Devices: The law does not require flares, and they are potentially dangerous. A safer alternative would be a set of reflectors, which are deployed on the shoulder behind the vehicle at several positions up to 200 feet.

O. RE-ENTERING THE FREEWAY

If the problem with your vehicle was minor and you were able to correct it, you are now faced with the challenge of getting back on the freeway from a dead stop with no merge signs or acceleration lane to help.

1. SIGNALING

Turn off your hazard lights and activate your turn signal (left signal if you are on the right shoulder or right signal if you are on the median shoulder). This will alert traffic of your intention to merge.

2. ACCELERATING ON SHOULDER

Since there is no acceleration lane per se, you must use the shoulder for this purpose. Remember: Make sure the shoulder ahead of you is clear for a distance sufficient enough to allow you to begin getting up to freeway speed.

3. ENTERING INTO AN ADEQUATE GAP

As you start accelerating, be sure to check your side mirror and monitor traffic in the through lane. If you find a large enough gap you may be able to change lanes while you are still under freeway speed. You can then continue a rapid acceleration after you enter the through-lane.

Speed: Be aware of adjacent freeway traffic, and be prepared to adjust your speed to blend in safely.

Checking for Hazards: The freeway shoulder is sometimes littered with debris - hubcaps, pieces of wood, etc. Be on the lookout for obstructions on the shoulder as you accelerate. As in all merging maneuvers, continue to check all mirrors and glance over your shoulder to make sure the road is free of hazards.

P. SPECIAL FREEWAY PROBLEMS

Freeway driving poses special challenges related to the fact that drivers tend to be on the freeway for extended periods of time. Long drives at high speeds play tricks with our states of mental awareness. The author once drove past a couch in the number one lane.

1. VELOCITATION - UNCONSCIOUSLY GOING TOO FAST

Velocitation is one of the top reason drivers get speeding tickets. They are simply NOT AWARE of how fast they were going! This happens often on the freeway, where drivers become accustomed to high speed. After awhile, 65 mph doesn’t seem very fast, so they unconsciously increase their speed.
Check Speedometer: There is a very simple remedy for velocitation. Check your speedometer on a regular basis. You will know exactly how fast you’re going, and you will probably reduce by 50% your chances of being pulled over for speeding. Pay attention!

Allow Time to Readjust to Slower Speeds: Freeway off-ramps usually have yellow speed limit signs indicating reduced speed ahead. Drivers often fall victim to velocitation when exiting the freeway down a curved off ramp. Reduce your speed! When you drive on surface streets after leaving the freeway, be sure to check your speedometer more frequently. It takes time to adjust to slower speeds.

Abel Tanzer was unconsciously going too fast, but he was not velocitating.

2. HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS

Every driver dreams of a wide-open highway with little or no traffic. Problem is, the lack of challenges this type of road offers can make driving very dangerous. Mile after mile after mile of steady high speed with no need to change lanes will often put a driver in a lazy, inattentive state of mind. This problem is especially bad at night when highway hypnosis can even put a driver to sleep!

Avoid Drowsiness: Falling asleep behind the wheel has disastrous consequences. Do whatever you can to keep alert: stop and take a break every few hours, change drivers, avoid heavy meals, listen to music, chew gum, or turn up the AC (it’s hard to sleep when you’re shivering!). If all else fails, pull off the road into a parking lot or other busy area and take a short nap.

Q. TOLL BOOTHS - WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN APPROACHING

Some highways and bridges charge nominal tolls for passage, and drivers are required to stop and pay a fee at toll booths. These may be located every few miles on a highway, or at the entrance to a bridge.

1. REDUCED SPEED LIMITS

Signs will warn drivers of toll booths up ahead and the need to reduce speed. Velocitation can be a problem when approaching and driving past toll booths, so take special care to SLOW DOWN!

2. DISTANCE AHEADS

Signs provide other information as well, including mileage to the booth and fee required. Hopefully, your money is ready…don’t dig through your pockets at 65 mph!

3. DESIGNATED LANES FOR SPECIAL VEHICLES

Signs will also indicate lanes for trucks and lanes for passenger vehicles, automated lanes if you have exact change, and booths with attendants. When approaching toll booths, be aware of other drivers changing lanes and moving into position.

DEMANDS OF DRIVING ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY

It’s nice to get out of the city. The open highway is free from urban congestion and the dangers that style of driving entails; but it is not without its own set of challenges. Wide-open spaces and reduced traffic volume might lull you into a false sense of security. Yosemite is a nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. But you need to be as alert and defensive on the open highway as you are anywhere else.

A. AREAS OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS

Farm country with rolling hillsides and mountain roads with stunning views present a variety of hazards that, if not anticipated, could mean a serious collision. So be prepared!

1. UNMARKED FARM AND FIELD DRIVEWAYS

Always scan ahead to identify driveways that are difficult to see. Passenger vehicles and heavy farm machinery often turn out onto the highway at extremely slow speeds, and you must be prepared to reduce your own speed.

2. LIVESTOCK CROSSING AREAS

If you’re driving by a farm, you can bet there are animals nearby. Signs should alert you to livestock crossing areas, but you might also encounter a stray or animals wandering freely.

3. ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS

Heavy tractors and machinery can degrade the road surface. Your traction can also be compromised by dirt, sand or gravel on the road. You must reduce your speed on such a road, regardless of the posted speed limit.

4. UNMARKED SHOULDERS

A road with an unpaved or ‘soft’ shoulder - or no shoulder at all - is inherently dangerous because there is no escape route to the right. Take care to stay in your lane and not drift over. Reduce your speed!

5. ROADSIDE STANDS OR GAS STATIONS

Scan the road ahead to anticipate your need to slow and pull off the road for a gas station or a fruit stand. A last minute decision to hit the brakes and turn off could cause you to lose control. Also, be ready for vehicles turning back onto the road at slow speed.

B. OTHER USERS OF THE ROADWAYS

In rural areas you will encounter a wide variety of vehicles moving at different speeds. Add to this mix of vehicles an occasional wild beast or farm animal. Be ready for all of it!

1. TRUCKS

Speed: Trucks are slower and less maneuverable than smaller vehicles. They also take longer to accelerate and longer to stop. Be particularly careful around large, heavily laden trucks. Encountering a large truck on a hill can be a frustrating experience. Be aware that trucks climb hills much more slowly than smaller vehicles. But when going downhill, they run the risk of going too fast and perhaps losing their brakes.

Passing: Nobody likes to be stuck behind a big truck on a two-lane highway. Remember: If the truck is at the speed limit, YOU MAY NOT PASS! When passing a truck, follow the procedures discussed earlier but with the following added warnings.

It is difficult to scan the road ahead when following a truck. The pass will take longer. Estimate the distance needed to pass. Any approaching vehicle needs to be twice that distance away. Take care to avoid the draft of the truck when you pass.

If you are being passed by a truck, keep to the right of your lane and reduce speed slightly.

2. SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES

You might also encounter a horse-drawn vehicle, a tractor and other farm machinery, or even a bike rider or riders.

Speed: You’re driving at 50 mph and up ahead a tractor is crawling at 20 mph. Scan the road and reduce your speed well in advance.

Clearance: Communicate your intention to pass before you initiate the maneuver by tapping your horn or flashing your lights. Do not come up too fast and swerve dangerously around. All you need is a ten mph speed advantage over the slower vehicle. Make certain you pass with ample clearance to avoid a possible collision should the other vehicle move unexpectedly.

3. ANIMALS

Never swerve at high speed to avoid a small animal. You could lose control. If you can’t slow and stop safely, it might be safer to hit the animal. Be sure to continually scan the road ahead, shoulder-to-shoulder. You need time to avoid a large animal in your path.

Unexpected: Be on the lookout for deer crossing signs. If you are driving at night with your high-beams and you see them reflected in the eyes of a deer on the right shoulder, be sure to turn them down to low-beams.

Passing: Pass large animals at an EXTREMELY slow speed. They are unpredictable and, should you hit one, you will damage your vehicle and perhaps injure yourself and your passengers. Remember: Animals tend to travel in groups, and a fence is no guarantee that animals will not be crossing the road. Deer often graze on the shoulder. Be ready!

C. ENVIRONMENT

In the countryside, roads are designed to adapt to the geography. Steep grades and curves require special vigilance and driving skills.

1. CURVES

The safest and most efficient way to drive around a curve is to slow down slightly as you approach and enter, maintain the reduced speed as you round the curve, and accelerate back to normal speed as you come out of the curve.

Speed and Braking: Your need for braking, and the amount of speed reduction required, depends on the sharpness of the curve. A gradual curve requires much less speed adjustment (and perhaps no braking at all) than a sharp curve. Watch out for dirt or gravel on a curving farm road, which might cause you to lose traction if you take the curve too fast.

Hazards: The worst type of curve is a blind curve - one in which there is extremely limited visibility around the curve. Be sure to reduce speed and take extra precautions on a blind curve - there might be an animal or a stalled vehicle, a fallen tree limb or some other debris on the other side. Beware of winding roads: An opposing car might drift over the centerline!

This sign means you’d better have both hands on the wheel for the next few miles.

2. HILLS

Hills not only put added stress on drivers, they put added stress on their vehicles as well. Warning signs are posted only when the hill is particularly steep. Remember: Driving on hills is made more complicated by the force of gravity. Braking distance is shortened when driving uphill and made much longer when driving downhill.

Shifting Gears: Shifting to a lower gear will give your vehicle more climbing power but reduce speed. Downshifting when going downhill will add additional braking power. Watch for signs indicating steep grades and signs that urge you to WATCH DOWNHILL SPEED. When you see these signs it’s time to shift to a lower gear.

Visibility and Speed: Remember: As you approach the top of a hill, you can’t see traffic approaching from the opposite direction. As visibility decreases so should your velocity! Slow down, keep to the right and be ready for oncoming vehicles and for a slow moving vehicle heading downhill directly in front of you after you crest the hill.

Brake Failure or Overheating: When driving up a steep grade, turn off your air conditioner. Otherwise your engine might overheat. When driving down a steep grade take care not to ride your brakes. Brake failure can occur when a driver applies the foot brake continually on a downhill grade. Downshifting will allow you to ease off the brakes and keep them cool.

If the brake pedal offers no resistance and pushes all the way down to the floor, your brakes have failed. Honk your horn to warn other drivers and look for an object to rub against such as a guardrail to slow your descent.

3. MOUNTAIN DRIVING

Mountain roads usually have a series of sharp curves called switchbacks. These roads can be very narrow with steep drop-offs to the right. The thinner air at high altitudes can make a driver less alert. Mountain driving makes another set of demands on drivers and their vehicles as well. Mount St. Helens blew up twenty years ago.

When driving down a curving mountain road, use a lower gear to avoid riding the brakes.

Vehicle Condition: Before you start your trip, make sure your vehicle is in top condition, particularly brakes, carburetor (it should be adjusted to compensate for higher altitudes), and cooling systems. Extremely hot or cold weather will cause excessive stress on engine parts, which can lead to vehicle breakdown.

Speed: Mountain roads will require you to downshift whether you’re driving up or down. Be prepared for slower speeds, particularly with larger vehicles such as trucks, buses, and RVs.

Allowing for Other Vehicles to Pass: Passing is always illegal around a curve and when approaching the crest of a hill. But you might encounter a long, straight uphill stretch of road on which passing might be permitted. If you are driving under the speed limit and there are vehicles behind you, look for a turn-out area or a wide shoulder and allow the vehicles to pass.

Passing Slower Vehicles: Don’t be impatient. Is it legal to pass? Is it safe to pass? Review the rules for safe passing discussed earlier in the course. You need a ten mph speed advantage to pass on a level road. Passing an uphill grade will take an even greater speed advantage to accomplish the pass quickly and safely.

4. SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN HIGH ALTITUDES

The thinner air in high altitudes places your vehicle under added stress.

Overheating: If your engine temperature has risen into the red zone, turn off your air conditioner (assuming it is on). If there is a safe place to stop, do so, and let the engine cool down. Turning on the heater will draw heat off the engine and reduce engine temperature.

Vapor Lock: When your engine overheats, it becomes vulnerable to a condition called vapor lock in which fuel vaporizes in the fuel line. Symptoms can include ‘chugging’ and an engine stall. The only remedy for vapor lock is to pull off the road and let the engine cool down.

D. MEETING OR APPROACHING OTHER VEHICLES ON OPEN ROADWAYS

On the freeway, drivers are constantly in close proximity to one another. This demands a heightened level of vigilance. On the open highway, however, long stretches of time can be spent alone on the road. And when other vehicles are suddenly encountered, trouble might arise.

1. MEETING LINES OF CARS

If you come upon a long line of vehicles approaching from the opposite direction, be ready for vehicles pulling out into your lane as they attempt to pass. If you come up behind a long line of vehicles, remember: You may only pass one vehicle at a time!

2. MEETING AT HILLTOPS

Your visibility is reduced when you approach the crest of a hill. Reduce your speed and don’t even think about passing another vehicle!

3. MEETING AT NIGHT

Night driving can be hazardous on an open highway. In most areas all vehicles will usually have their high-beams activated. Switch to low-beams when you come up behind another vehicle or when you see the headlights of an approaching vehicle. Take care not to stare into the headlights of an approaching vehicle. The glare may disorient you.

4. MEETING SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES

Reduce your speed and wait for a safe and legal opportunity to pass.

E. ROAD CONDITIONS

Road conditions vary widely on the open highway. Drivers must be prepared to adjust to conditions described below.

1. ROUGH ROADS

Some roads are not as well maintained as others. Potholes, broken pavement or loose gravel on the road require slower speeds. Try to straddle potholes; otherwise you could damage your suspension.

2. TRACTION

Scan the road ahead to identify any materials on the road surface that might reduce the traction of your tires. Standing water, snow, ice, mud, gravel or sand could increase your stopping distance and/or cause your vehicle to skid. Reduce speed if you encounter a road upon which your traction is compromised. Take care not to turn your wheel abruptly when passing over these areas…you could lose control.

3. WIDTH OF ROAD

If the road has no shoulder, you must reduce speed. A narrow road is a dangerous road with little margin for error. Beware of rocks and boulders near the roadside in mountainous environments. Some open roads are bordered closely by large trees; you don’t want to hit a tree at high speed (or at slow speed, for that matter). Take special care when approaching a bridge; the road will usually decrease in width.

4. FIELD OF VIEW

An open road can be distracting, particularly if the scenery is spectacular, as it often is. Resist the temptation to let your eyes wander. If you must, pull off the road and enjoy the sights from there.

5. LINE OF SIGHT

Straight roads offer an ideal line of sight. You can scan well ahead of your vehicle and anticipate trouble. But when your line of sight is reduced, as it is around curves, you must reduce speed to give yourself time to take evasive action should a hazard suddenly appear.

HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS

You must be prepared to adjust to extremes in weather. Rain, snow, and fog can create serious problems because visibility and traction are diminished. And motor vehicles themselves can suffer a variety of mechanical failures that, if not handled properly, could lead to a collision. Always wear galoshes when it’s snowing.

A. DRIVING IN THE FOG

The best advice about driving in the fog is: Don’t! Unfortunately, drivers often come upon a dense fog bank that simply can’t be avoided. Thankfully, there are some specific steps to help insure your safety when driving in the fog.

1. OBTAINING MAXIMUM VISIBILITY AND REDUCING GLARE

Fog is dangerous because visibility is severely reduced. Drivers must do whatever they can to maximize their view out the window.

Appropriate Use of Headlamps: Using high-beams (brights) in the fog is not recommended because the light reflects back into the driver’s eyes. This can result in a blinding glare. Always use low-beams.

Use of Fog Lights and Mounting: Many vehicles are equipped with fog lamps. They are mounted low on the vehicle and cast a yellow light that cuts through the fog more readily. If you drive regularly in areas prone to fog, your vehicle should have fog lamps.

Windshield Wipers and Defrosters: Windshield wipers, washers, and defrosters are essential when driving through fog. Warmer air will defrost (or de fog) a windshield faster than cooler air. Windshields can accumulate a lot of water in the fog - make sure your wipers are in top condition.

In a thick, black fog, the fog seems to envelop your vehicle
and finally burst into the cockpit and envelop you.
You become disoriented and lose sense of where you or your
vehicle are on the road. We call it the fog monster.

B. SPEED

How fast should you drive in the fog? That depends on the type of road and the visibility. Two things are for certain: You can’t drive too fast; and you can’t drive too slow.

1. REDUCE SPEED, BUT KEEP MOVING WHEN ENTERING A FOG BANK

You crest a hill, head down the other side and suddenly enter a heavy fog bank. Reduce your speed but keep moving at a steady pace. Activate your low-beams and fog lamps.

2. WATCH FOR SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES AHEAD

Some drivers drive too slowly in the fog. Be prepared to hit the brakes for slow-moving vehicles ahead.

3. LOOK IN REARVIEW MIRROR FOR VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM THE REAR

Some drivers drive too fast in the fog. Check your rear-view mirror frequently and be prepared! Activate your flashing hazard lights to warn vehicles approaching from the rear.

C. WHEN YOUR VEHICLE STALLS

Your motor vehicle is complex piece of machinery with hundreds of integrated systems. It is possible for one of these

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