driving in urban traffic adjusting to urban traffic
TRANSCRIPT
Driving In Urban Traffic
Adjusting to Urban Traffic
What are 2 factors that can make city driving Difficult?
Dense traffic & hazards are closer together
Mile for mile, city roads have the highest number and variety of hazards
deal with hazards more frequently
It takes time to see, react and adjust (IPDE) to hazards
IPDE Process
I – be more aggressive (look everywhere) P – predict possible pts of conflict D – be ready to reduce speed and change
position E – be prepared to use car’s controls in an
instant
How can you adjust to complex situations?
Focus on driving not on ?
Cell phones, music, others in the car Slow down and give yourself more time
and space.
What is a space cushion?
Driver Distractions
How old do you have to be to use a cell phone when driving?
19
Let the cell phone take a message or pull over
What should your following distance be? ____ seconds
How do you check your following distance? (I’ll give you 10 seconds Ask your driving partner)
Slow Down
When do you increase your following distance? Following a motorcycle or truck Carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer Traction is poor You have a tailgater You are learning to drive
Why do you increase your following distance when the tailgater is behind you?
Managing tailgaters
If you slow or stop, do it slowly & give the tailgater more time to respond
Move to the right to give the tailgater a view to see around you.
Signal early for turns, stops, & lane changes. Flash brake lights; increase following distance 4
or more seconds
Managing Space Look ahead while staying back Approaching Traffic Signals What is a Fresh Green Light? Stale green light? Never speed up to get thru a green light
before it changes. Cover the brake
Managing Space
Riding brake – resting foot on brake Adjust speed Select best lane –
Right – slow moving Left – faster, turns Center – fast, straight moving traffic
Managing Space
Lane changes – Check traffic in both lanes and mirrorsSignalCheck blind spotsChange lane w/out slowing downCancel signal
Responding to Oncoming Traffic
May cross your path because Driver impaired Poor judgment Poor visibility Reduced space Sudden moves Vehicle failure Turning buses and trucks Double parked cars
How to avoid conflicts
Slow down Flash lights Turn on lights Move to right Honk horn
What does a flashing Don’t Walk Sign mean to a driver?
Driving past parked cars.
How far away from parked cars??
About a door width away. (6 feet)
You are going the wrong way on a one way street!!
How do you Identifying One-Way Streets?
One way signs (Arrow, Do Not Enter, Wrong Way)
Traffic moving and parked are facing the same direction
Broken white lines instead of yellow Signs facing the same direction Stop line – curb to curb
One way streets
Carefully look at the worksheet and draw lines & arrows for each turn.