Chapter 1 – You Are the Driver - Ottawa Township High School



Chapter 1 – You Are the Driver

1. – You are Part of the System

The Highway Transportation System (HTS) – has 3 parts

1. People – distracted, tired, ill, or impaired by alcohol

2. Vehicles – cars, vans, small, trucks, buses, campers, farm vehicles, and construction equipment

3. Roadways – HTS vary from dirt lanes to complex multilane expressways (be prepared for everything)

Regulating the HTS – obey traffic laws – it is a privilege to have a license.

• If you do not obey the law, you will lose your license.

• Ex. If you are downtown drag racing, going 90 in a 30 you will get in trouble. Once your license is taken away, it’s hard to get back.

2. - Your Driving Task

**It takes 3 skills to be a good driver.

1. Social Skills – be a courteous driver

1. Thank people with a wave

2. Let them go first – wave

3. Slow or speed up to allow them in

2. Physical Skills – Beginning drivers often need to concentrate heavily on the physical skills of driving

• May take a while to acquire!

3. Mental Skills – Focus – good decision making skills

**It takes years to become a good driver and you need all 3 skills to master.

IPDE Process- You use will or at least you should use this every time you drive. Should be looking ahead of the car 12-15 seconds

1. Identify – the hazards

o Want to identify all the important information in the ongoing driving scene

o Ex- Little boy in a yard with a ball

2. Predict – what the hazard might do

o You need to predict when and where possible points of conflict will develop

3. Decide – what are you going to do?

o Decide when, where, and how to communicate. If you are going to adjust speed, and or change position to avoid conflict

o There are 4 parts to decide

▪ Brake & steer right

▪ Brake & steer left

▪ Brake & hold wheel straight

▪ Accelerate

4. Execute – Do what you decide!

o The right action(s) to prevent conflict

**Refer to the picture on pg. 7

Smith System- Turn to pg. 64, better description

1. Aim high in steering-

o Look 12-15 seconds ahead of car

2. Keep your eyes moving-

o Know what is going on 3600 around you, Need to be checking mirrors at a minimum of every block

3. Get the big picture-

o Don’t have tunnel vision

o Ex. When driving downtown you need to be looking from sidewalk to sidewalk, paying attention to all 3 lanes of traffic, not just looking at the back of the car in front of you.

4. Make sure others see you

o Honk horn, use signals, make eye contact with other drivers

5. Leave yourself an “out”

Defensive Driving – Driving in a way that reduces conflicts

3. - Your Driving Responsibilities

Road Rage – don’t challenge an enraged driver & be extremely cautious at intersections

Collision or Accident – collision is a more accurate term than accident. Over the years the national driving record has steadily improved.

o Collisions are still a problem with young drivers.

Causes of Collisions – Driving error is by far the most common cause of collisions. Frequent errors include:

1. Breaking various laws

o What do you think the biggest cause is?

▪ Speeding

2. Not slowing in adverse weather conditions

3. Operating a defective vehicle

o What types of things do you think would make your vehicle defective?

▪ Bald tires, bad brakes, old wipers

**Look at chart on pg. 9-Driving in a car is the most dangerous way to travel.

**Look at chart on pg. 10- More young people die from vehicle collisions than

from any single other single cause.

Other serious driving errors are:

• Following another vehicle too closely- If car in front of you slams on their brakes & you rear end them, it is still considered your fault.

• Driving too fast for conditions

• Not wearing safety belts

• Driving after drinking or use of drugs

• Driving while very tired- Can be almost as deadly as being intoxicated.

4. - You Driver’s License

3 Parts of a graduated license- pg. 11-12

1. Learner’s permit stage

2. Intermediate stage

3. Full-privilege license stage

Organ Donor Program- Saves lives, but it is your choice if you decide to be.

Implied Consent Programs – agreeing to take an alcohol test upon request

• If refuse, you lose license for 6 mos

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