Chapter 3 Driver Responsibility

Driver’s Education

Mr. Vazquez

NJ’S SEATBELT LAW

• Driver and all passengers must wear a seatbelt

• Failure of driver, front seat passenger, and children under 18 is primary offense

• Driver responsible for all passengers under 18

• Front seat 18 or older is responsible for themselves

• Backseat 18 or older can be issued a summons-secondary

Seatbelts

• Increase survival rate by 60%

• 3 to 4 times better chances when shoulder and seat

• Hitting windshield or dashboard at 30 mph is equivalent to falling 3 stories

Car Seats

• Traffic Accidents are the number one cause of death in children

• Put the car seat in the back seat-only in front seat if no backseat

• Never have infant car seats facing forward

• Child Restraint Law- Up to 8 or 80 Pounds must be in rear car seat, Over 80 pounds can be belted in

• Failure to comply is a $54 fine

AIR BAGS

• To help supplement seat belts

• Deploy at speeds of 200 mph

• Save adult lives, but could injure of kill small children

CAR CONDITION

• Back Up Lights: Both must be displayed while backing up, illegal to be on during forward progress

• Breaks: Must stop smoothly, if car jaunts or grinding or squealing is heard, breaks must be checked. Car should stop in 25 feet at 20 mph. ABS (automatic breaking system) may lengthen during wet, snowy roads

• Break Lights: Must be in working order, fix any cracked covers

CAR CONDTION Continued

• Headlights: Brights ( High Beams) and dims must be in line and working order. Fix cracked covers and keep clean.

• Horn: Should be in working order and not overused.

• Steering: On straight level roads car should stay on course. No vibrations should be felt in front end. Little effort to turn the wheel.

• Tail lights: Fix cracks, keep clean, fix burnt out bulbs

CAR CONDTION Continued

• Tires: Check air pressure-saves money due to fuel consumption. Feel pulling or hear bumps check. Avoid blowouts. Do not mix and match tires. Must have 1/16 tire tread.

• Turn Signals: Must hear clicking and see flashing on dashboard light, must also check the lights outside as well. If not properly working then use hand signals.

• Windshield: Must be clean at all times. Cracks and chips can lead to a broken windshield/ticket. Wipers must always work. No tint.

CAR CONDTION Continued

• Snow & Ice: State law requires drivers to remove all snow and ice from car before driving. Can become dislodged and strike another car or pedestrian.

• Can receive a fine anywhere from $25-$75 dollars for snow on car

• Up to $1,500 fine for property damage from dislodged snow or ice

Starting a Parked Car

• Look in front and behind car for obstructions

• All windows are clean with nothing obstructing vision

• Adjust all seat settings and mirror settings

• Buckle up

• Car should be in park, with parking break on

• Lock Doors

Starting a Car Continued

• Keep good posture

• Adjusted Seat

• Vision is essential=95%

• 60 year old perceives light about a third as well as a 20 year old

• Adjust mirrors to limit blind spots

Starting a Car Continued

• Before pulling out check blind spots and surrounding area for obstructions, pedestrians, other vehicles, etc.

• IDLING LAW-No unnecessary idling past three minutes. Could face from $250-$1000 fine.

Steering

• Hand position should be 9 & 3 of that of a clock

• Diminishes injury of airbag

• Never grab from the inside

• Both hands should always be on the steering wheel

• On Two lane roads always stay to the right

• Pass on left only

Steering

• Hand Over Hand Steering

• Used on sharp turns, corners, and skid recovery

Stopping Distances

• No exact way to tell how long and far, variables include:

• Reaction Time

• Vehicle Weight

• Brake Conditions

• Condition and Type of Tires

• Road Conditions

• Speed

Braking

• Slamming brakes could wear and tear brakes quicker

• Know your breaking system anti-locking breaking system (ABS) or conventional drum and disc brake system

• With ABS do not pump brakes or jerk the wheel, could cause skid at only 35mph

Turning Signals

• Give the proper signal when turning, changing lanes, stopping, or slowing down

• Turn on signal at least 100 feet before turn

• Turn off immediately after turn

Hand Signals

• All New Jersey Driver’s Must Know

• Standard Across all 50 states

• Used when signals fail

• Horn should be heard from 200 feet

Driving in Reverse

• Before driving in reverse check mirror and turn head

• Turn Right= Right, Turn Left=Left

• Left Hand grasps top of steering wheel, turn body and head to right, right arm and hand go behind front passenger seat

• Speeds relative to walking (2-4 mph)

• Do not turn forward until car comes to a complete stop

Driving in ReverseContinued

• If a turn is necessary while driving in reverse two hands are on the wheel and turn head and body to right

• Do not palm steering wheel-Could result in Fail on road test

• Front end always swings in the opposite direction of the turn in reverse

• Road Test: Must be able to drive in reverse 100 feet maintain a straight line

Turning

• Must signal turn well in advance

• Must signal 100 feet in advance

• Faster the speed the sooner a decision must be arrived at

• Missed turn, DO NOT back up, take next turn

Turning Continued

• Use mirrors to look behind and check blind spots for pedestrians and other vehicles

• Signal first and then move into proper lane

• Slow down before reaching intersection/Turn

• Always stay in same lane until turn is completed

• Keep a steady speed and follow lane markings

• Turn off signals after turn is completed

3PT Turn or K-Turn

• Used to turn a vehicle around

• Start at the right edge of the road

• Choose a safe spot with good visibility in both directions

• Once clear, signal left and slowly turn left as far as possible or about several inches

• Then put car in reverse and slowly back up while turning steering wheel to the right

• Then turn wheel back to the left to pull ahead slowly and straighten vehicle

• A component on the Road Test

Parking

• When parking always put the car park and set the hand break, manual car in reverse or low gear

• Parking a Vehicle Facing Downhill: Hand break set and vehicle’s wheels are turned towards the curb in park. Manual transmission put into reverse gear.

• Parking a Vehicle Facing Uphill: Hand break set with vehicles wheels turned away from curb. Vehicle should be in park and manual transmission should be in low gear.

Angle Parking

• Angle Parking: Most common in shopping centers and malls

• Check for traffic, slow down, and signal

• Make sure the rear of the vehicle clears all parked cars

• Steer sharply into spot, center vehicle, and straighten wheels

• Shift to park and set handbrake

Angle Parking Continued

• Check surrounding area around car

• Slowly inch out of spot

• When able to see past other parked vehicles stop and look again

• Remember front end will swing opposite of turn

• Back up slowly until front wheel clears parked car

• Same angle as going in

Parallel Parking

• Most common in city areas and commercial zones

• Pull alongside car in front of spot and line up with right side rear window

• Put right turn signal on

• Turn body and head to make sure the rear area of the car is clear

• Turn wheels to the right and back up slowly

• When front of your vehicle clears the rear bumper of the front car check angle

• Turn wheel to the left to straighten out

• Pull forward

• Tires should be 6 inches from the curb