Drive Right

Chapter 1

You are the driver

Highway Transportation System

The Highway Transportation System(HTS) – has three parts: people, vehicles, and roadways. The purpose of the HTS is to move people and cargo from one place to another in a safe, efficient, and economical manner.

Parts of the HTS

People Roadway users –

are people who use the HTS by walking, driving, or riding

Parts of the HTS

Vehicles Any vehicle that uses

the HTS ranging from a moped to a tractor trailer

Roadways Any road ranging from a

dirt road to a multilane expressway

Regulating the HTS

Laws are passed to make up the vehicle code Enforcement agencies assure that laws are

obeyed Motor vehicle departments set rules to assure

that driver and vehicle standards are met Courts decide whether drivers charged with

violating the laws are guilty or innocent Highway traffic engineer’s plan, build, and

maintain the complex system of roadways

Your Driving Task

Driving Task – includes all the social, physical, and mental skills required to drive

Use knowledge and visual skins Obey traffic laws Judge time and space Anticipating how your car will respond

under normal and emergency conditions

Driving Task

Social Skills - Driving requires you to interact successfully with people

Physical Skills – You must learn the physical skills of driving so well that they become natural habit. Beginning drivers need to concentrate heavily on the physical skills of driving. More experienced drivers can focus on the social and mental aspects of driving

Driving Task

Mental Skills – IPDE Process – is a process of seeing, thinking, and responding Identify – important information in the ongoing

driving scene Predict – when and where possible points of

conflict will develop Decide – when, where , and how to communicate,

adjust speed, and change position to avoid conflict Execute – the right action to prevent conflict

Preventing Accidents

#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

Driving Responsibilities

Driving is a privilege not a right. The privilege is based on the assumption that you will be responsible and obey traffic laws.

If you do not handle this responsibility, you have the power to ruin your life and the life of others

Collisions

A collision occurs when a vehicle conflicts with and hits another object

Collision is a more accurate term than accident. Because accident implies that something just happened by chance

Collision are a major cause of injury and death

Causes of Collisions

Driver error is the most common

Following a vehicle to closely

Driving to fast for conditions

Driving after using drugs or alcohol

Driving while very tired Using Technology while

driving, Cell phones!

Compare the Odds

1 in 4,600,000 you will be killed in a plane crash

1 in 40,000 you will be killed by fire

1 in 125 you will be killed in car collision

Environmental responsibility

Air pollution Chemical spills How can you manage this?

Buy fuel efficient vehicles Reducing driving by car pooling or

public transportation

Your Driver’s License

Licensing Process – is designed to make sure that only safe drivers are allowed on the roads by requiring written, physical, and driving exams

Graduated Driver Licensing Program – Series of stages that a young driver must go through to get full privilege license

Your Driver’s License

Learner’s Permit Stage At 16 the student receives permit to drive when

supervised by an adult(21) with 3 years experience

Permit must be held for at least six months and the student must have no collisions or violation during this time

No driving between 11:01 PM and 5:00 AM Passengers can be from the same household, but

only one other person

Your Driver’s License

Provisional Driver’s License No driving between 11:01pm and

5:00am Passengers must be from the driver’s

household and 1 other person If the driver is 21 no passenger or hour

restrictions apply

Implied Consent Programs

In most states you are asked to sign a statement when you get your license saying that you agree to take an alcohol test on request

If you refuse, you will lose your license

Clicker Question

The provisional driver program in the State of New Jersey is an

excellent way to ensure the safety of young, inexperienced drivers?

True or False

Opinion Question!!!!!!!