DEFENSE!!!!!!

Emotions/ Road RageCommunicating

Space Cushion

Changing Lanes

Passing/ Being Passed

Following Distance

Inclement Weather/ Road Conditions

City vs. Country Driving

Night Driving

What is Defensive Driving?

• Driving in a way that keeps you as a driver safe and the other drivers and passengers on the road safe as well.

• It involves being alert in all different types of situations on the road.

Preventing Accidents

Most accidents are caused by…

Driver Error

The error may be yours or the other drivers.

Preventing Accidents

Reduce chances of accident by following this formula . . .

• #1--- BE ALERT• Never think the other driver will not make a mistake

• #2--- BE PREPARED• Learn how to have a good reaction time

• #3--- ACT IN TIME• Try not to panic. Don’t get nervous, stay calm, cool,

and collected

Avoid

DISTRACTIONS

&

MULTI-TASKING

Try it in your seats!!!!!

Smoking… should not be doing that anyway.

Watching children or pets in the car

Eating while driving

The most common of all!

Using a cellular phone

Distractions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Changing a CD

Checking out your brand new head unit

Getting that perfect song on your ipod

Tuning the right radio stations

Programming your GPS

•Get a good nights sleep•Don’t take medicines that can cause drowsiness•Do not drive long hours•Take rest stops even if you aren’t tired•Switch drivers•Do not stare •Chew gum or sing with radio•Open window for fresh air

Trance-like/ hypnotic state resulting from driving long hours on a monotonous, non-scenic road such as a highway.

HOW TO AVOID…

How does one drive defensively?

• Make sure everyone in the car is secured (wear seatbelts).

• Do not drive under the influence.

• Drive at the speed limit.

• Be aware of what other drivers on the road are doing, so you can react to them easily.

How to drive defensively…

• Follow the laws that control the roads– do not tailgate– abide by and anticipate the changing of the

traffic lights– read and follow road signs.

• Make sure your car is safe and all parts are maintained.

Why should one drive defensively?

• 41,000 people die each year from motor vehicle accidents.

• Over two million people receive disabling injuries from motor vehicle accidents each year.

• It is the driver’s responsibility to protect yourself and others on the road by driving defensively.

Road Rage

Causes

Symptoms

How to protect yourself

What are they?

Left Turn

Right Turn

Slow and/or Stop

Here are the steps for making a lane change: 1. Check mirrors for a space in traffic where you

can enter safely. 2. Check blind spot by looking over your shoulder

in the direction of the lane change. Signal that you want to move left or right.

3. Check again to make sure the way is clear and that no one is coming too fast from behind or from two lanes over on a multi-lane road.

4. Steer gradually into the new lane. Do not slow down - maintain the same speed or gently increase it.

Changing Lanes

Space Cushion

SPACE CUSHION

• Space between your car and others on all sides.

• The space between you and other vehicles gives you time to

react in emergencies.Space cushion between desks?

Passing on the Left

Your lane has a solid yellow center line.

You cannot safely return to the right lane before reaching a solid yellow centerline for the right line.

You cannot safely return to the right lane before any approaching vehicle comes within 200 feet of you.

You are approaching a curve or the crest of a hill on a two-way road and cannot see around or over it.

You are within 100 feet of a railroad crossing on a two-way roadway.

You are within 100 feet of a bridge or tunnel on a two-way road and your view is

obstructed.

Passing will interfere with oncoming traffic.

DO NOT Pass if…

Why is it important to keep a safe following distance?

• The space provides motorists with time to react in case of an emergency or sudden shift in traffic flow.

• Increased reaction time helps drivers avoid accidents.

The Wrong Thing To Do: Tailgating

• Tailgating is following too closely being the vehicle directly in front.

• Tailgating is dangerous because it decreases a driver’s time to react.

Tailgating

There are two methods drivers can use to determine a safe

following distance.

One Car-Length Method

• Keep at least one car length (about 20 feet) for each ten miles per hour of speed

• During bad weather or at higher speeds, increase following distance

You

Speed: 30 mph

Road Condition: Ideal

3 Car Lengths (about 60 feet)

Two-Second Rule

• This rule takes into account the traveling speeds of the two cars.

• It can help develop good judgment for proper following distances.

• During bad weather, the two second rule should be increased to four or more seconds.

How to:

1. Choose a fixed object such as a sign or a tree, ahead of the car directly in front of you.

2. Make sure the object does not cause any distraction

3. At least two seconds should elapse between the two cars passing the sign or tree.

Object You

Count…

OneTwo

Object

You

vs.

What is the best thing to do in bad weather?

• It is best not to drive!

• =

But if you have too…

Before driving in cold weather (snow)…• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=5XzIcGr4S2Q&playnext=1&list=PL61BBA0BBFD412110&index=10• Let the vehicle warm up

• Remove all snow and ice from the car (including the roof).

• Always make sure the vehicle has windshield wiper fluid.

• In New Jersey, motorists are liable if ice flies from a vehicle and causes death, injury, or property damage.

• Use studded snow tires for better traction from Nov 15th – April 1st.

When driving in the rain…

• Turn on windshield wipers.

WIPERS ON, LIGHTS ON!

• Allow additional stopping distance.• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=GxwgHGCrrS4&feature=autoplay&list=PL61BBA0BBFD412110&index=12&playnext=2

• During the first few minutes of rainfall, road surfaces are the most slippery.

• Hydroplaning– 35 mph and up- contact with road surface is like a

windshield wiper– Like water skiing– At about 55mph the tire will lose control with the

road.– No friction to brake

When driving in fog…

• Slow down in patches of fog

• Turn on your low beam headlights or fog lights… why?

• Turn on your defroster and windshield wipers

• Be alert for surrounding traffic

• In heavy fog, roll all your windows down (one can hear cars before you see them)

Night Driving• 90% of driving decisions are made based on

observations…..At night vision is reduced• Slow down• Be sure you can stop within the distance you can

see ahead• Drive within the range of headlights

– 500 feet-- high beams– 350 feet-- low beams

Dangers… People

• Drinking and Driving• Reckless Driving

• Inexperience• Elderly (poor eyesight)

Night Driving

Danger… Conditions/Weather

• Few or no street lights

• Windy/poorly maintained roads

• Deer/animals run towards oncoming cars

Danger… Mechanical Dirty lights/windshields/mirrors

Wrong mirror angle

Stats• Traffic death rates are 3X as high at

night than during the day• 50 yr. old drivers need twice as much

light to see as well as a 30 yr. old driver• When smoking, the nicotine and carbon

monoxide hamper night vision• On average, 45% of all car accidents

with fatalities were the result of drunk driving

SourcesImages:http://www.flickr.com/photos/sovietuk/5861614/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottoman42/24385675/in/set-569819/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/143596412/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fish_at_taipei/198024832/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/miika/216440150/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/183862233/http://www.trucks.about.com/.../l/bl_ramsrt10_8.htm

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http://www.mpi.mb.ca/Images/WFPColumn/NightDriving.gif

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Information:New Jersey. Motor Vehicle Commission. New Jersey Driver Manual. New Jersey, 2006.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/Aggressionwisc/chapter_1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_explosive_disorder

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/p80418a.htm

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Licenses/Driver%20Manual/Chapter_5.pdf

http://nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter06-manual.htm

http://www.drivingschool.ca/drivereducation/page6.html“Driving in Bad Weather.” Bergen County Office of Emergency Management. 2005.

16 November 2006. http://www.bcoemorg/driving.htm

“Safe Communities of Wright County.” Concentrate on Driving. 2006.

16 November 2006. http://www.safecomm.org/inclement_weather.htm

http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/nightdr.htm

http://www.roadandtravel.com/safetyandsecurity/nightperils.html