In a Heavy Rain, Your Tires Can Ride on a Thin Film of Water, Like Skis. This Is Called __________.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Your Driving
Good driving is based on practice and being warning at the wheel. When driving, yous must brand certain that nothing interferes with your power to run into the road, react to situations or operate your vehicle properly. You lot must expect down the road, to the sides and behind your vehicle and exist alert for unexpected events. Exist alert to what is going on around you and exercise not take your eyes off the road for more a few seconds at the time. Do not have objects within your vehicle that might interfere with your ability to drive safely. This might include objects that obstruct your view of the road or mirrors.
Bad Driving Habits: Skilful drivers develop habits that focus their full attending on driving. Some drivers can develop bad habits that tin can be very dangerous when driving.
Some bad habits that take your attention away from driving are:
- Driving ill, upset or aroused.
- Driving while eating or drinking.
- Driving while adjusting the radio or changing CDs/tapes.
- Driving while calling, answering or talking on a mobile telephone.
- Reading while driving.
Getting Ready to Drive
Before you get-go your engine:
- Make sure all windows are make clean. Remove anything that blocks your view of the road.
- Adjust the seat so y'all can reach all controls.
- Arrange the inside and outside rearview mirrors. Y'all should not take to lean frontwards or astern to utilise them.
- Lock all car doors.
- Put on your prophylactic belts. Ask all passengers to practice the same.
- Brand sure your car is in park or neutral gear before starting the engine.
Never move your car until you lot have looked in forepart, backside and to the side for pedestrians and oncoming traffic. And then, point and pull into traffic when safe.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means doing all you can to prevent crashes. As a defensive driver, you volition "requite" a petty. You lot will change your driving to fit the weather weather condition, the style you experience, and the deportment of other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Follow these steps to avoid crashes:
- Look for possible danger. Recall about what might happen. If at that place are children playing by the route, programme what you will do if one runs or rides into the street.
- Understand what can exist done to prevent a crash. Run into the defensive driving tips which follow as well as Handling Emergencies.
- Deed in time. In one case you take seen a dangerous situation, act right away to prevent a crash.
Use these defensive driving tips if you see that you are about to be involved in a crash:
- It is amend to swerve right instead of toward oncoming traffic to prevent a crash.
- Striking a row of bushes is ameliorate than hitting a tree, mail or solid object.
- Hitting a vehicle moving in the same direction equally you are is improve than hitting a vehicle caput-on.
- Information technology is better to drive off the road than slip off when fugitive a crash.
- It is ameliorate to hit something that is not moving instead of a vehicle moving toward you.
When You Back Up
Bank check behind your vehicle before yous make it. Children or pocket-sized objects cannot be seen from the commuter'due south seat. Place your right arm on the dorsum of the seat and turn around so that you can look directly through the rear window. Do not depend on your rearview or side mirrors as you lot cannot see directly behind your vehicle. Back slowly, your vehicle is much harder to steer while yous are backing. Whenever possible use a person outside the vehicle to assist you back up.
Avoiding Rear-cease Collisions
Many crashes happen because one vehicle runs into the back of some other one. Hither are some things you can do to lower the take chances of someone running into the rear of your vehicle.
- Check your brake lights often to brand certain they are make clean and working properly.
- Know what is going on behind you. Employ your rearview mirrors.
- Point well in accelerate for turns, stops and lane changes.
- Slow down gradually. Avoid any sudden actions.
- Bulldoze with the flow of traffic (within the speed limit). Driving too slowly can be as dangerous equally driving likewise fast.
- To avoid striking the vehicle in front of you, go on at least two seconds following altitude. This is done by following the instructions found nether the section, Minimum Prophylactic Following Distances.
Basic Commuter Improvement
Any driver tin can take a basic driver comeback class. The course teaches means of keeping crashes from happening. Ane driver tin sign up, or a group can inquire for a course. Consult your yellow pages nether, Driving Education , for the location of the schools.
Safety Belts
The driver and front seat passenger must vesture seat belts. This seat belt police applies to passenger cars manufactured beginning with the 1968 model year, and trucks beginning with the 1972 model yr.
It is unlawful for any person to operate a vehicle in this country unless every rider of the vehicle under the age of 18 is restrained by a safe belt or by a child restraint device, regardless of seating position.
If the passenger is 18 years of age or older and fails to wear a seat belt when required past law, the passenger volition exist charged with the violation.
The constabulary exempts the post-obit from the seat belt requirements:
- Any person certified past a md as having a medical condition that causes the seat belt use to be inappropriate or dangerous.
- Employee of a newspaper home commitment service while delivering newspapers on home delivery routes.
- School buses.
- Buses used for transportation of persons for compensation.
- Subcontract equipment.
- Trucks of a net weight of more than than five,000 pounds.
- Motorcycle, moped or bicycle.
In a crash, yous are far more likely to be killed if you are not wearing a safety chugalug. Wearing shoulder belts and lap belts make your chances of living through a crash twice every bit practiced.
In a crash, safety belts:
- Continue you from being thrown from the vehicle. The risk of death is 5 times greater if you are thrown from a vehicle in a crash.
- Keep y'all from existence thrown against parts of your vehicle, such every bit the steering wheel or windshield.
- Keep you from existence thrown against others in the vehicle.
- Keep the commuter behind the wheel, where he or she tin can control the vehicle.
SAFETY BELTS Salve LIVES!
Wear a lap belt around your hips, not your stomach. Spike the chugalug snugly. Only wearable a shoulder chugalug with a lap belt. Don't just apply your rubber chugalug for long trips or high-speed highways.
More than than half of the crashes that cause injury or decease happen:
- at speeds less than xl mph, and
- within 25 miles of home.
Protecting Children
ALL CHILDREN v YEARS Onetime OR YOUNGER MUST Employ A RESTRAINT DEVICE WHEN RIDING IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.
The number one killer of young children in the Us is traffic crashes in which children were not restrained at all. Over 90 percent of the deaths and 80 per centum of the injuries in car crashes could be prevented by using crash-tested child restraints.
Children should be secure in the rear seat. Never secure a kid in the front passenger side, especially if your vehicle has an air bag.
The law requires every driver to properly secure children five years of age or younger in child restraint devices riding in a passenger car, van, or selection-up truck, regardless of whether the vehicle is registered in this state. Infant carriers or children's car seats must exist used for children iii years old and younger. For children aged 4 through five years, a separate carrier, an integrated kid seat or a seat belt may be used. All infant carriers and machine seats must be crash-tested and approved by the U.S. Government.
Children being carried or riding bicycles should wear properly fitted wheel helmets.
What is the All-time Child Seat?
- The one that fits your kid.
- The i that fits your vehicle.
- The ane that you lot volition use correctly every time.
For more than information on the all-time child seat, delight visit: http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/html/CPS and obtain data on occupant Protection and Child Passenger Safety News.
Leaving Children Unattended or Unsupervised in Motor Vehicles
Do non leave children unattended or unsupervised in a motor vehicle, and never leave a kid unattended for whatever menses of time if the motor of the vehicle is running or if the wellness of the child is in danger.
WARNING: WHEN It'South HOT Exterior, DO Non LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED!
On a hot summer twenty-four hour period, the interior of a motorcar can get dangerously hot. I study found that with the windows up and the temperature outside at 94 degrees, the inside of a car could be 122 degrees in only half an hour, or 132 degrees after an hour.
Speed Limits
Speed causes many crashes. More drivers are convicted of speeding than any other offense. To avoid being fined or involved in a crash, obey the speed limits.
Speed is very of import in a collision. If yous double the speed of a car, you lot increase its force of bear on four times. If you triple the speed, the bear on is nine times as bully.
70 Does Not Always Hateful 70
Remember that speed limits show the fastest speed you may drive nether adept conditions. You lot are responsible for adjusting your driving speed to the road conditions. For example, if the atmospheric condition is bad or there is a lot of traffic, yous must bulldoze more than slowly than the posted speed. The safe speed is the one that allows you to accept complete control of your vehicle.
Florida "Standard" Speed Limits | |
Municipal Speed Areas | xxx |
Business concern or Residential Areas | 30 |
Rural Interstate Express | 70 |
Limited Admission Highways | 70 |
All Other Roads and Highways | 55* |
Schoolhouse Zone | 20 |
*The 55 MPH maximum speed limit is still in issue in Florida except where otherwise posted. Speed limits are 70 MPH on some rural interstate highways. Speed limits may be changed on other multi-lane highways. Drivers should not assume because the surface area appears to be rural, the limit is 70 MPH. Find and obey the posted speed signs as there may exist frequent changes from area to area along the selected roads and highways.
Driving Too Slowly is also Confronting the Constabulary
Bulldoze with the menses of traffic (within the speed limit). You should non bulldoze so slowly that you block other vehicles moving at normal, safe speeds. You lot can exist issued a ticket for driving too slowly.
Post-obit Officeholder's and Fireman'south Instructions
If you lot are stopped by a law enforcement officer, pull off immediately to the farthermost right, clear of traffic when possible. Plough off your engine. Reduce your headlights to the parking lite position at night. Sit calmly and follow the instructions of the officer. Yous must follow whatsoever lawful society or direction of (ane) whatsoever constabulary officer or (2) any fire fighter at the scene of a fire who is directing traffic. If a police officer is directing traffic where at that place are point lights, obey the officeholder — not the signals.
Crossing Intersections
More crashes happen at intersections than any other place. Be very careful when approaching any intersection or driveway.
- Wait both ways and exist ready to brake or stop.
- Drive at the slowest speed just before entering the intersection, not while crossing.
- Do not pass or change lanes.
- Exist enlightened of vehicles backside you. Volition they be able to stop if necessary?
If y'all are stopped, await for bicyclists and pedestrians who may exist crossing the intersection from either direction.
Right-of-way
Who has the correct-of-way in Florida? The answer is no 1! The law but says who must yield (requite up) the right-of-style. Every commuter, motorcyclist, moped passenger, bicyclist and pedestrian must do everything possible to avert a crash.
Stop Signs
Y'all must yield the right-of-way to all other traffic and pedestrians at stop signs. Move forward only when the road is clear. At four-manner stops, the get-go vehicle to stop should move forrad first. If two vehicles reach the intersection at the same time, the commuter on the left yields to the driver on the correct.
Open up Intersections
An open intersection is one without traffic control signs or signals. When you enter i, you must yield the correct-of-mode if:
- A vehicle is already in the intersection.
- Yous enter or cantankerous a country highway from a secondary road.
- You enter a paved road from an unpaved route.
- You plan to make a left turn and a vehicle is approaching from the reverse management.
When two cars enter an open intersection at the aforementioned time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
Roundabouts
Roundabouts are a new blazon of intersection, which improves traffic menses and reduces traffic crashes. Most roundabouts do not crave stopping, which allows vehicles to motility continuously through intersections at the same low speed. Roundabouts are designed to move all traffic through a counterclockwise direction. Vehicles approaching the roundabout yield to circulating traffic; however, drivers must obey all signs to determine the right right-of-way in the roundabout.
Safety Rules for Pedestrians
- Look to the left and the right earlier stepping off any adjourn.
- Cantankerous but at intersections or designated crosswalks. Drivers are e'er more than alert for pedestrians when they approach intersections.
- Cross with the dark-green light or "WALK" signal. Brand sure you have enough time to cantankerous. Although the motorist must yield, the motorist may not run across you lot in fourth dimension.
- While walking along a highway, always walk on the shoulder on the left side, facing traffic. Article of clothing lite colored vesture or utilise a flashlight to make y'all more visible to drivers at dark.
Pedestrians
It is the motorist'south responsibility to practice everything possible to avoid colliding with any pedestrians. Bicyclists, skaters and skateboarders in a crosswalk or driveway are considered pedestrians. Turning motorists must yield to pedestrians crossing the street or driveway at any marked mid-block crossing, driveway or intersections without traffic signals.
Bicyclists
In Florida, the wheel is legally defined equally a vehicle. Bicyclists using a public roadway are considered operators of motor vehicles and are responsible for observing traffic laws. With few exceptions, there is only i road and it is upward to motorists and bicyclists to treat each other with care and respect. Adherence to the law is the foundation of respect.
Blind Persons
The primary traveling aids for a person who is blind are often either a white cane or a trained guide dog. Independent travel involves some risk that can be greatly reduced when you, the driver, are enlightened of the apply and meaning of a white cane or guide dog.
Drivers must e'er yield the right-of-mode to persons who are bullheaded. When a pedestrian is crossing a street or highway guided by a dog or carrying a white cane (or a white pikestaff with a red tip), vehicles must come to a complete stop.
Schoolhouse Buses
On a two-way street or highway, all drivers moving in either management must terminate for a stopped school bus which is picking up or dropping off children. Yous must remain stopped until all children are clear of the roadway and the jitney signal has been withdrawn. Violation of this law is considered a moving violation and is subject to a mandatory hearing.
If the highway is divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least five anxiety wide, you practise not have to stop if you are moving in the contrary direction of the bus. Painted lines or pavement markings are not considered to be barriers. If you are moving in the aforementioned direction as the bus, you must always end — and not become forrad until the omnibus stop signal has been withdrawn.
BOTH CARS MUST Terminate!
School Crossings
Crossing guards are posted in areas where it is dangerous for children to cross alone. When you run across a baby-sit, reduce your speed equally yous near a school and children are in the expanse. Watch for school zone posted speed and cease if necessary at the marked stop lined but never in the cross walk. Obey signals from whatever crossing guard. It is the commuter's responsibleness to practise everything possible to avoid colliding with pedestrians. Remember, children are unpredictable. Do your part to make every crossing a safe crossing.
Public Transit
All drivers should yield the correct-of-fashion to public transit bus traveling in the same direction which has signaled and in reentering the traffic menstruation from a specifically designated pullout bay.
Funeral Processions
Pedestrians and drivers must yield the right-of-manner to funeral processions. When the get-go vehicle in the funeral procession lawfully enters an intersection, other vehicles in the procession must take their headlights on as a signal to other drivers not to drive between or interfere with the procession while it is in motility unless directed to exercise so past a police officer.
Driveways
Driveways grade an intersection with sidewalks. Motorists must yield to bicyclists and pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Emergency Vehicles
Pedestrians and drivers must yield the right-of-way to law enforcement cars, burn down engines and other emergency vehicles using sirens and/or flashing lights. Pull over to the closest edge of the roadway right abroad and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed. Do not cake intersections.
When driving on interstate highways or other highways with two or more lanes traveling in the management of the emergency vehicle, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a roadway with their emergency lights activated, will be required to go out the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, equally shortly as it is safe to exercise so.
When budgeted a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a two-lane roadway with their emergency lights activated, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers will be required to ho-hum to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at 5 miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.
Making Turns
Turning a corner may seem to exist a simple performance, but many traffic crashes are caused by drivers who practice not plow correctly.
There are nine steps in making a expert plow:
- Brand up your mind about your turn before you lot go to the turning indicate. Never make "last minute" turns.
- If you must modify lanes, wait backside and to both sides to see where other vehicles are located earlier making your turn.
- Motility into the correct lane every bit you virtually the intersection. The correct lane for the correct turn is the lane next to the right edge of the roadway. On a two-lane road with traffic in both directions, an approach for a left turn should be fabricated in the office of the right one-half of the roadway nearest the heart line.
- Requite a turn signal for at least the last 100 anxiety before you lot make your turn. Permit other drivers know what you are going to do.
- Dull downwards to a rubber turning speed.
- When you are slowing to make a correct turn, the bicyclist yous passed may exist catching up to you. Search over your shoulder before turning. Yield to bicyclists and pedestrians.
- Yield to pedestrians who may be crossing your path when turning left. E'er scan for pedestrians before starting the turn.
- Make the turn, staying in the proper lane. Yield the right-of-way to vehicles (including bicycles) coming from the opposite direction.
- Finish your turn in the proper lane. A right turn should be from the right lane into the right lane of the roadway entered. A left turn may be completed in any lane lawfully bachelor, or rubber, for the desired direction of travel. Run into diagrams for making left turns from or into one-style streets.
If you reach an intersection where you wish to make a right or left plough and are not in the proper lane, you should drive to the next intersection. Then make the turn from the proper lane.
Study these diagrams showing lanes to utilise in making turns.
Left and Correct Turns
Left from one-way into ii-style
Left from one-manner into one-way roads
Left from ii-way onto two-ways roads
Left from two way onto one-fashion roads
Bike Lanes at Intersections
Irksome down and look for bicyclists. Indicate your turn prior to crossing through the bike lane at the dashed striping. Yield to any bicyclist. Complete the turn from the designated right turn lane.
If there is no right plough lane, after checking to make sure that no bicyclists are present, yous may enter the bike lane at the intersection or driveway.
Turnabout (Three-Indicate Turn)
Sometimes y'all will need to turn your auto around in a very small infinite. Utilise a iii-point turn simply if the road is too narrow for a U-plow and you tin can't go around the block. To brand a three-point plow:
- Motion equally far right equally possible, check traffic, and signal a left turn.
- Plow the steering bicycle sharply to the left and move forrard slowly. Terminate at the adjourn, or edge of roadway.
- Shift to reverse, turn your wheels sharply to the right, bank check traffic, and back your vehicle to the right curb, or edge of roadway.
You lot can now move in the contrary management. Bank check traffic, and move forward. Never make a three-point turn or a U-turn on a curve, a hill, or when a sign indicates that making a u-turn is prohibited.
Turn Signals and Emergency Signals
You lot must use hand signals or directional signals to testify that you are well-nigh to plow.
It is against the law to use your directional signals to tell drivers behind you that they can pass. Four-fashion emergency flashers should only be used while your vehicle is legally stopped or disabled on the highway or shoulder.
right turn
left plough
slow or stop
Traffic Lanes
Always drive on the correct side of a two-lane highway except when passing. If the road has four or more than lanes with two-style traffic, drive in the correct lanes except when overtaking and passing.
Left lanes on some interstate roads are reserved for automobile puddle vehicles with two or more occupants in the car — watch for diamond signs in the median. The heart lane of a 3-lane or five-lane highway is used merely for turning left.
If y'all see red reflectors facing you on the lane lines, you lot are on the wrong side of the road. Become into the proper lane immediately! If yous meet red reflectors on the lines on the edge of the road, you lot are on the incorrect throughway ramp. Pull over immediately! Reddish reflectors always hateful you are facing traffic the incorrect mode and could have a head-on collision.
Blind Spots
Blind spots are areas about the left and correct rear corners of your vehicle that you cannot run into in your rearview mirrors. Before you motion sideways to change lanes on an pike or to pass on any road, plow your head to make sure these areas are articulate.
Areas bordered by X'southward are blind spots for a car with an outside mirror on the left side only.
On the roads with more than than one lane in each direction, do non drive in someone else's blind spot. Speed up or drib back and so the other driver can see you.
Passing
- Stay a condom distance behind the vehicle y'all want to pass. The closer you get to the vehicle you desire to laissez passer, the less you tin can come across ahead. This is especially true when passing trucks, trailers, and other big vehicles.
- Before you pull out to laissez passer, cheque your blind spots and make sure that you take plenty of fourth dimension and room to pass.
- On a two-lane road, tap your horn, or at night blink your headlights to allow the other commuter know you are passing.
- Requite your signal before you lot movement into the left lane.
- Exercise not render to the right side of the route until yous can see the vehicle yous passed in your rearview mirror.
- You must return to the right side of the road before coming within 200 feet of any vehicle coming from the reverse direction.
- Passing on the right is just legal when in that location are 2 or more than lanes of traffic moving in the same direction or the vehicle you are passing is making a left turn. Pulling off the pavement to laissez passer on the right is against the law.
Being Passed
- The driver of the car behind passed must not increase speed until the pass is complete.
- Help other drivers pass yous safely. Move to the right side of your lane to requite them more than room and a better view of the route ahead.
When You May Not Pass
You may not pass on a two-lane road with traffic moving in contrary directions under these conditions:
- Where you see a "Do Not PASS" or "NO PASSING ZONE" sign.
- Where a solid yellow line is painted on your side of the center line.
- On hills or curves.
- At intersections.
- Within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, tunnel, or railroad crossing.
Violators may be arrested or issued a ticket.
Minimum Prophylactic Post-obit Distances
Leave plenty of space between you and the motorcar ahead. If it stops quickly, you will demand time to meet the danger and stop.
Using the Two-Second Dominion
At any speed, you can use the two-second dominion to see if you are far enough behind the car in front of y'all:
- Watch the vehicle ahead pass some fixed point — an overpass, sign, contend corner, or other mark.
- Count off the seconds information technology takes you to attain the aforementioned spot in the route ("one grand and one, one thousand and 2...").
- If you accomplish the mark before you finish counting, you are following too closely. Slow down and bank check your following distance over again.
The 2-second rule applies to whatever speed in good weather and road weather. If road or weather condition conditions are not good, double your following distance. You should also double your following altitude when driving a mobile dwelling or towing a trailer.
Parking
When parking on a public route, movement every bit far away from traffic as possible. If in that location is a roadside shoulder, pull every bit far onto information technology every bit you can. If there is a curb, pull shut to it — you must non park more than one foot away.
E'er park on the correct side of the roadway, unless it is a one-way street.
Make sure your vehicle cannot motility. Gear up the parking restriction and shift to park with an automated manual or reverse with a manual transmission. Plow off the engine and lock the vehicle. Florida law requires that you take the keys out of your vehicle before leaving it. E'er bank check traffic backside you before getting out, or get out on the curb side.
Before y'all go out any parked position, expect over your shoulder to the rear to make sure the way is clear. Give the proper plough signal if driving from a curb and yield to other traffic.
Parking on Hills
When parking on hills:
- Turn your wheels so that if your automobile starts to motility by itself it will whorl away from traffic or into the curb. Written report the diagram provided.
- Gear up the parking brake.
- Put automatic gear shift in park. Shift transmission gears to contrary (downhill) or first (uphill).
Straight-in Parking
The rear markers stand for the REAR corners of the parking infinite. The forward markers correspond the approximate CENTER of the parking space. When properly parked, the vehicle should be centered inside the space with no part of the vehicle extending out into the traffic lane.
Where Parking is non Allowed
- On the roadway side of another parked vehicle (double parking).
- On crosswalks.
- On sidewalks.
- In front of driveways.
- By curbs painted yellow or where "No Parking" signs are posted.
- Within intersections.
- Within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant.
- Within twenty feet of an intersection.
- Within twenty anxiety of the entrance to a burn, ambulance or rescue squad station.
- Inside 50 anxiety of a railroad crossing.
- On the difficult surface of a highway where parking spaces are not marked.
- On whatsoever bridge or overpass or in any tunnel.
- Within 30 feet of a rural mail box on a thruway between 8 a.m. and vi p.grand.
- Within 30 feet of whatever flashing signal, end sign or traffic signal.
- In such a fashion that you block or create a hazard for other vehicles.
Parking Lights
Parking lights must be used at nighttime on whatever vehicle parked on a roadway or shoulder outside of cities and towns.
Driving with parking lights simply (in place of headlights) is against the police.
Parking Privilege for Disabled
Disabled persons practise not have to pay parking fees on any public street, highway, or metered infinite. Their vehicles must display a valid parking placard from the rearview mirror or on the front end nuance. These may be obtained from a tag agent or taxation collector'south part and must be renewed every 4 years.
Disabled persons must park in spaces reserved for the disabled when possible. These spaces are marked by the wheelchair symbol and "Parking past Disabled Permit Only" signs. Vehicles illegally parked in spaces reserved for the handicapped will be ticketed and may exist towed.
- Proof of Eligibility: Statement from a md licensed in the United States, the Division of Bullheaded Services of the Department of Instruction, or the Veterans Administration to the effect that applicant is a severely physically disabled individual with permanent mobility issues which substantially impair his or her power to ambulate or is certified as legally blind.
Procedure
- Contact your local County Tax Collector or Tag Agent.
- Consummate HSMV 83039 "Application for a disabled person's parking permit."
- Provide Proof of Eligibility — Medico'south Argument.
- Pay $one.50.
- Pay $15.00 for temporary disabled person parking let.
- Nowadays valid Florida driver license or identification card.
Throughway Driving
Expressways — as well called interstate highways, freeways, and turnpikes — are multiple-lane roads with no end signs, traffic lights, or railroad crossings. For these reasons, expressways can give you a fast, rubber manner to get where you demand to go.
Pedestrians, hitchhikers, bicycles, animal-drawn vehicles or motor-driven cycles and motor scooters with 150 cubic centimeter displacement or less are non allowed on expressways.
Inbound and Leaving Expressways
Vehicles can enter and leave expressways only at certain points. Because expressway traffic is unremarkably moving at or shut to the maximum speed allowed, you need to know how to enter and exit safely.
All expressway entrances take 3 basic parts: an entrance ramp, an acceleration lane, and a merging surface area. Follow these guidelines to enter an expressway safely:
- On the entrance ramp, begin checking for an opening in traffic. Signal for your plow.
- Every bit the ramp straightens into the acceleration lane, speed up. Try to accommodate your speed and then that you can move into the traffic when you reach the end of the dispatch lane.
- Merge into traffic when you lot can do so safely. You must yield right-of-way to traffic on the freeway. Yous cannot always count on other drivers moving over to give you lot room to enter, but do not cease on an acceleration lane unless traffic is too heavy and at that place is no space for you to enter safely.
When leaving an superhighway:
- Get into the leave lane. Posted signs will tell you which one. Most expressway exits are from the right lane.
- Signal your intention to leave the throughway by using your turn signals.
- Slow down as soon as yous are off the expressway. Cheque the posted safe speed for the exit ramp.
- Do not make terminal-minute turns into an go out. If you go past your exit, you must get to the adjacent one.
Expressway Safety Reminders
- Plan your trip. Know only where you will get on and become off.
- Drive in the right lane and pass on the left. If there are 3 lanes, use the right lane for lower speed driving, the left for passing. If y'all stay in the right lane, watch for cars entering the superhighway. Accommodate your speed or motion into the centre lane so they tin can enter safely.
- Never end on the pavement, shoulder, or connecting ramp of an superhighway except in an emergency. If your vehicle breaks down, it may be parked on the side of the expressway (completely off the pavement) for no more six hours. Heighten your hood and tie a white cloth to your antenna or left door handle to show you demand assist.
- Never back up on an state highway entrance ramp or exit ramp. The just exception to this would be if you are trying to enter an express way through an go out. In this example, you would run into a "Wrong WAY" or "Exercise Not ENTER" sign. And so you must back up or plough around.
- Practise not cross, bulldoze on or park on the median strip.
- Practice not follow too closely. Rear end collisions are the greatest danger on expressways. Always leave room for emergency stops.
- Stop driving when yous experience tired. On long trips the hum of the engine and your lack of motility can make you feel sleepy. Finish for a cup of coffee, a brusk walk, or a nap. Exercise not risk failing asleep at the wheel.
- Stay out of other drivers' blind spots.
- Beware of turnpike hypnosis. Continuous expressway driving can get monotonous. Avoid staring. Get into the habit of shifting your optics left and correct and using rearview mirrors.
Night Driving
You will demand to bulldoze with extra intendance at night. You lot cannot meet as far ahead or to the side, and glare from oncoming cars tin can reduce your vision even more. Follow these guidelines for driving at nighttime:
- Apply your headlights (low beam or high beam) between the hours of sunset and sunrise.
- Depression axle headlamps are only effective for speeds upward to 20-25 mph. Y'all must employ special care when driving faster than these speeds, since you are unable to discover pedestrians, bicyclists and others.
- Loftier beam headlights can reveal objects up to a distance of at least 450 feet and are most constructive for speeds faster than 25 mph.
- Don't use high-beam headlights inside 500 anxiety of oncoming vehicles.
- If yous are backside other vehicles, use depression beams when you are within 300 anxiety of the vehicle ahead.
- When leaving a brightly lit place, drive slowly until your optics grow used to darkness.
- If a vehicle comes toward you lot with loftier beams, flash your lights to high axle and back to depression beam once.
- Don't wait directly at oncoming headlights. Instead, sentry the right edge of your lane. Await quickly to be sure of the other vehicle's position every few seconds.
- Drive as far to the correct as you can if a vehicle with one light comes toward you lot.
Animals
Wild and domestic animals may move unpredictably towards or across the travel path of an approaching motor vehicle. When an creature is seen in the route or on the road shoulder, y'all should wearisome down and, if necessary, yield the right-of-way. Be specially careful in rural areas at night. Oftentimes an beast's eyes shining in the headlight beams will exist seen beginning.
Use reasonable intendance when approaching a person who is riding or leading an animal upon the roadway or shoulder of the route. Horses have poor side vision and are easily frightened by loud noises or sudden movements.
Fog or Smoke
Information technology is best not to bulldoze in fog or fume. If you must, slow down, plow on your low beam headlights, and be ready for a fast finish. Apply windshield wipers in heavy fog. If the fog or smoke becomes so thick that you cannot see well plenty to keep driving, pull all the way off the pavement and terminate. Plow on your emergency flashers.
Rain
The first few drops of pelting hateful danger. Roads are virtually slippery but afterwards the rain begins, because oil dropped from cars has not been washed away. Slow down and programme for at to the lowest degree two times the normal stopping distance.
In a heavy rain, your tires can ride on a thin motion picture of h2o, like skis. This is called hydroplaning. When your tires are not touching the road, you tin easily lose control and slip. Keep your tires on the road by slowing downward when it rains, and by having tires with the right air pressure and good tread.
Brakes often get wet after driving through deep h2o or driving in heavy rain. They may pull to one side or the other, or they may not hold at all. If this happens, irksome downwards and gently push on the brake pedal until your brakes are working again.
Reduced Visibility
Yous must turn on your low beam (dim) headlights when driving at whatsoever time between sunset and sunrise including the twilight hours betwixt dusk and sunrise including the twilight hours betwixt sunset and full night or between full night and sunrise. You must also use these lights during whatever rain, smoke or fog. Parking lights exercise not come across requirements of this police.
Handling Emergencies
When yous are driving, things can happen very chop-chop. You may have simply a fraction of a second to brand the correct move. Follow these guidelines for handling emergencies.
Breakdowns
- If possible, park where the disabled vehicle tin be seen for 200 anxiety in each direction.
- Move the vehicle so all four wheels are off the pavement.
- Plow on your emergency flashers.
- Go all passengers out on the side away from traffic.
- Tie a white material on the left door handle or antenna.
- Enhance the hood.
Tire Blowout
- Exercise non use brakes.
- Concentrate on steering.
- Slow down gradually.
- Brake softly when the motorcar is nether control.
- Pull completely off the pavement.
Wet Brakes
- Test brakes lightly after driving through deep water.
- Brakes may pull to one side or may not concord at all.
- Dry brakes past driving slowly in low gear and applying brakes.
Right Wheels off Pavement
- Take your human foot off the gas pedal.
- Concur the bike firmly and steer in a straight line.
- Restriction lightly.
- Wait until the road is clear.
- Turn back on the pavement sharply at irksome speed.
Car or Motorcycle Approaching in your Lane
- Sound your horn.
- Brake sharply.
- Steer for the side of the road or the ditch.
Jammed Gas Pedal
- Keep your optics on the road.
- Tap the gas pedal with your foot.
- Try to pry the pedal upwards with the toe of your shoe.
- Shift into neutral.
- Turn off the ignition. (Do non turn the fundamental to lock, or your steering will lock.)
- Employ your brakes.
Restriction Failure
- Pump the brake pedal hard and fast.
- Shift to a lower gear.
- Utilize the parking restriction slowly, and then yous do not skid.
- Rub your tires on the adjourn to slow your vehicle, or pull off the route into an open infinite.
Skidding
- Take your pes off the gas pedal.
- Practise not use your brakes, if possible.
- Pump the brakes gently if you lot are near to striking something.
- Steer the auto into the management of the sideslip to straighten the vehicle out. And then steer in the direction you wish to go.
Fire
- If the fire is minor and you lot have a portable extinguisher, you lot should attempt to extinguish the fire.
- If yous cannot extinguish the fire and it continues to go larger, go away from the vehicle, due to the presence of toxic fumes and the possibility of explosion.
- Never utilise water to a gasoline or diesel fire.
Sharing the Road with a Truck
Whether you are sharing the road with a auto, truck, bus, or other big vehicle, information technology'south of import for safety'due south sake to obey traffic laws, bide past the rules of the road, and bulldoze defensively.
Are there any special rules for sharing the road with a truck?
Yes! Hither are some suggestions from professional person truck drivers:
The No-Zone
- Side Blind Spots. Trucks and buses have much larger blind spots on both sides than do passenger cars. If a commercial driver needs to swerve or change lanes for any reason, contact with the car in such a spot can occur.
- Rear Bullheaded Spots. Unlike passenger cars, trucks and buses have deep blind spots directly behind them. Tailgating profoundly increases your chances of a rear-end collision with a commercial vehicle.
- Dangerous Passing. Some other No Zone is just in front of trucks and buses. When passing a bus or truck, be sure you lot can meet the cab in your rear view mirror before pulling in front.
- Wide Right Turns. Truck and bus drivers sometimes need to swing wide to the left in order to safely negotiate a right plow. They cannot see cars directly backside or beside them. Cut in between the commercial vehicle and the curb or shoulder to the right increases the possibility of a crash.
- Backing Up. When a truck is backing upwardly, information technology sometimes must block the street to maneuver its trailer accurately. Never cross behind a truck that is preparing to back up or is in the process of doing and so. Remember, most trailers are viii and a half anxiety broad and can completely hide objects that suddenly come between them and loading areas. Automobile drivers attempting to pass behind a truck enter a blind spot for both drivers.
Passing
- When passing a truck, first check to your front and rear, and motion into the passing lane just if it is articulate and you are in a legal passing zone. Allow the truck driver know you are passing past blinking your headlights, especially at nighttime. The driver will make it easier for you past staying to the far side of the lane.
- On a level highway, information technology takes merely three to five seconds longer to laissez passer a truck than a motorcar. On an upgrade, a truck often loses speed, and so information technology is easier to laissez passer than a motorcar. On a downgrade, the truck'due south momentum will cause it to go faster, then you may need to increase your speed.
- Complete your pass every bit quickly as possible, and don't stay alongside the other vehicle.
- If the driver blinks his lights later on y'all pass, information technology's a betoken that information technology is clear to pull back in. Be certain to move back only when you can see the front end of the truck in your rearview mirror. After you laissez passer a truck, maintain your speed.
- When a truck passes you, you can help the truck driver past keeping to the far side of your lane. You'll make information technology easier for the truck driver if you reduce speed slightly. In whatever issue, do non speed upward while the truck is passing. After passing, the truck driver will indicate to permit you know that the truck volition be returning to your lane.
- When yous meet a truck coming from the contrary direction, keep as far as possible to the side to avoid a sideswipe accident and to reduce the wind turbulence between the two vehicles. Remember that the turbulence pushes the vehicles apart. It does not suck them together.
Following a Truck
- In general, trucks take slightly longer than cars to stop considering of their size. However, at highway speeds or on wet roads, trucks may take improve traction and stability allowing them to stop more quickly. A car following also closely may non be able to stop quickly enough to avert rear-ending the truck.
- If you are following a truck, stay out of its "blind spot" to the rear. Avoid following besides closely, and position your vehicle and so the truck driver can meet information technology in his side mirrors. Then you will have a good view of the road ahead, and the truck commuter tin can give you enough of warning for a stop or a plow. You will have more fourth dimension — to react and make a safe cease.
- When you follow a truck at night, always dim your headlights. Bright lights from a vehicle behind will blind the truck driver when they reflect off the truck'southward large side mirrors.
- If you lot are stopped behind a truck on an upgrade, get out infinite in case the truck drifts back slightly when it starts to move. Also, go along to the left in your lane so the commuter can see that you're stopped behind the truck.
Sharing the Road with a Bicycle
- Allow three anxiety of clearance when passing a cyclist. Reduce your speed if the roadway is narrow.
- After parallel parking, check for cyclists before opening the driver'southward side door.
- At night, avoid using high-axle headlights when a cyclist is approaching. The cyclist could exist temporarily blinded.
- Exercise not follow a cyclist closely. If you are too close and the cyclist must lay down their cycle down on the road in an emergency, yous could run them over.
Sharing the Road with a Motorcycle
- When you follow a motorcycle, remember that motorcycles have the ability of stopping much more chop-chop than other vehicles in emergencies. Following also closely endangers your life and that of the motorcyclist. Do not follow a motorcyclist closely.
- Spotter for motorcycles earlier turning and yield right of way.
- Include motorcycles in your visual search pattern.
- Do not share the lane with a motorcycle. The motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely and is entitled to the entire lane.
- When your automobile is being passed by a motorcycle, you should maintain your lane position and speed. Permit the motorcycle to complete the maneuver and assume proper lane position every bit chop-chop every bit possible.
- Exercise non follow the motorbike closely. Motorcycles tin can stop in a shorter distance than a car.
- In traffic, especially in choppy weather or under certain road conditions, motorcycles operate differently than other vehicles:
- Current of air gusts can move a motorbike across an entire lane.
- Moisture or icy roads impair a motorcyclist's ability to brake and maneuver.
- Potholes or railroad tracks, often crave motorcyclists to alter positions inside their lane.
- Gravel roads subtract traction and may cause a passenger to slow down or brake where a motorcar would not.
- Become to Affiliate 4
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Source: https://www.stateofflorida.com/defensive-driving/#:~:text=In%20a%20heavy%20rain%2C%20your,This%20is%20called%20hydroplaning.
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