Module 2: Topic 1 Understanding the Highway Transportation System

1. Three components of the Highway Transportation System (HTS):a. People - Walking, Driving, or Ridingb. Vehicles - Bicycles, Cars and SUVs, Mopeds Tractor-Trailer Trucksc. Roadways - From the smallest dirt road to the complex multilane expressway

2. Vehicles on these Roadways:Type of Vehicle CharacteristicsCommercial Vehicles

Minimum following distance, stop at railroad crossings, wide right turns, lower speed limits

Mopeds/Scooters May be driven by someone without a driver’s license, must be at least 16 years old, cannot exceed 35 mph

Motorcycles May be driven two abreast in one lane, may use HOV lanes even if only carrying the driver

Bicycles Signals using arms/hands, cars must give at least three feet of room when passing

3. How do you impact the highway transportation system?

Module 2: Topic 2 Maintaining Your Vehicle

1. What checks should you perform weekly on your vehicle?a. Tiresb. Outside lightsc. Emergency Kitd. Windshield Wipers

2. Label the parts of the engine

3. Checks you should perform every one to two months on your vehicle:a. Engine Oilb. Brake Fluidc. Coolantd. Seatbelts

4. Checks you should perform every 6 months on your vehicle:a. Air pressure in your spare tireb. Clean battery connectionsc. Power steering fluidd. Coolant strengthe. Parking brakef. Body and door drain holesg. Hinges, door latches and locks

A. Battery - 8 B. Engine Oil Dipstick - 5 C. Engine Oil Filler Cap - 3 D. Drive Belts - 10 E. Engine Coolant Reservoir - 1 F. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir - 2 G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir - 9 H. Brake Fluid Reservoir - 6 I. Air Filter Assembly - 11 J. Transmission Fluid Dipstick

(Automatic Transmission) - 4 K. Clutch Fluid Reservoir

(Manual Transmission) - 7

5. Professional ServicesHow often Factors Affecting MaintenanceChange Oil and replace filter • Number of miles driven

• Type/quality of motor oil and oil filter• Usually every 3,000 – 5,000 miles

Replace Brake Pads and Rotors • Type & year of vehicle make/model• City vs. county roads/interstates• Terrain• Your Driving Habits!

Replace parts of the Exhaust System • Only driving short distances (<15 mi.)• Living in an area where roads are salted in winter

Replace Engine Filter • Driving in cities or stop-&-go traffic• Driving in areas with high levels of smog• Driving in areas under heavy construction

Replace Fuel Filter • Recommendations vary greatly depending on vehicle year/make/model: check owner’s manual

Accessory Belts • Start monitoring after ~30,000 miles• Years of wear and tear• Contamination by leaked/spilled motor oil or

coolant

6. Why is it important for you know about the maintenance of your vehicle?

Module 2: Topic 3 Approaching A Vehicle

1. Approach a vehicle in a parking lot:a. From the rear of the vehicleb. To check for pedestrians, shopping carts, and other items behind the vehicle

2. Approach a vehicle from the curb:a. From the front of the vehicleb. To check for oncoming traffic

3. Steps to Entering a Vehicle:a. Approach car, key in hand and unlock doorsb. Store personal items in the trunkc. Control door swingd. Enter Vehiclee. Place Keys on the dashboardf. Fasten seat beltsg. Lock Doors

1. Adjusting the Vehicle for You:a. Allow at least 10” between driver’s chest and the steering wheelb. Driver’s heel should be able to pivot smoothly between foot pedalsc. Angle of seat back should fit driver’s visual needs to help maintain vehicle control d. Place back/shoulders against the back of the seat e. Slightly bend kneesf. Rest right heel on floorboard between brake and acceleratorg. Sit high enough so top of steering wheel is between shoulders and chinh. Use secured seat cushion if needed to raise seating heighti. Rest left foot on “dead pedal” (see #4)j. Tilt or adjustable steering wheels are usually standard equipment in many vehiclesk. They enable different-sized drivers to reposition the steering wheel for comfort and safety while

allowing the instrument panel to be visible at all times (see #5)

2. Dead Pedala. Located on floorboard on the left side of driver’s compartmentb. Helps maintain driver balance and stabilityc. Keeps left foot away from brake and accelerator pedals

3. Steering Wheel Adjustments:a. Sit with chest no closer than 10 inches from wheelb. Adjust steering wheel so airbag aims at chest area c. Adjust so top of wheel is no higher than chind. Place hands on steering wheel at 8 and 4 or lower

7. Rear and Side View Mirrors:a. The rearview mirror provides the widest field of viewb. Adjust to see the entire rear window frame and the area 200’ to the rearc. Adjust each side mirror until you can barely see the side of your vehicle, so you maximize the view

of the lane next to your vehicle

8. Setting the Side View Mirror – BGE METHOD (Blind spot – Glare – Elimination Method)a. Driver side: Place head near side window, and adjust mirror out until the side of the vehicle is

barely visible (15 degrees)b. Passenger side: lean slightly toward the middle of the vehicle and adjust right side mirror until the

side of the vehicle is barely visible

9. Adjusting the Head Restraint:a. Correct position minimizes head and neck injuriesb. Adjust head restraint Level with ears Not more than 4 inches from head

10. Safety belts (seatbelts) - Designed so the forces in a crash are absorbed by the strongest skeletal bones of the body: a. hip bone (pelvis) b. chest (sternum)c. shoulder

11. Children and Safety Seats:a. All front seat passengers must wear safety belts in vehiclesb. Passengers under 18 must wear a seatbelt or restraint wherever they are sitting in the vehiclec. Passengers younger than 12 are safer sitting in the rear seatd. Infants must always be secured in a rear-facing rear seat restrainte. Booster seats provide the correct position for children to wear adult safety belts as they grow taller

12. Starting the vehiclea. Check the parking brakeb. Place left foot on dead pedalc. Press brake pedal with your right footd. Gearshift is in Park (P) or Neutral (N)e. Insert ignition key, turn to start enginef. Check dashboard instrument panel for warning lightsg. Turn on your headlightsh. Visually identify an open space and target where you intend to move the car i. Shift into the proper gear, usually Drive or Neutralj. Release the parking brakek. Scan for hazards between you and targetl. Signal your intentions m. When safe, Release brake pedal, and gently accelerate to target

13. Securing Tasks:a. Find a safe legal parking spaceb. Park your vehicle squarely in the spacec. Set the parking braked. Shift gear selector into Park (manual transmission Neutral or first gear)e. Turn off vehicle accessories that will continue to drain battery if power left onf. Lock the doors and take the keys

14. Steering Wheel Controla. Different vehicles will steer and handle differentlyb. Slower speeds require faster steering wheel movementc. Faster speeds require slower steering movementd. Steer right – vehicle turns to the right e. Steer left – vehicle turns to the left

15. Accelerator and Brake Pedals:a. Position the right heel of foot on the floor so the ball of foot can pivot between pedalsb. The accelerator pedal is used to maintain, increase, and/or decrease speedc. The larger pedal to the left of the accelerator, is the brake, used to slow or stop vehicle

16. Parking Brake:a. Small pedal located to the left of the driver or a hand-operated lever near the center consoleb. Used to hold vehicle in place when parkedc. Can be used as an “emergency brake”

17. Clutch pedal (manual shift)a. Pedal located to the left of the brakeb. Depress pedal to switch gears c. Ease off clutch until friction point to smoothly engage engine

18. Ignition Switch or Remote:a. Located on the dashboardb. Off/Accessories/On/Start

19. Cruise/Speed Control:a. Located on steering wheel, dash, or lever to the right of the wheelb. Allows vehicle to maintain constant speed and should be used only on dry pavement

20. Gear Selector Level:a. Located on steering column or center consolea. Press button on end of leverb. P=Park, R=Reverse, N=Neutral, D=Drive (O/D overdrive on/off switch) 2=Stronger engine braking

L=Maximum engine brakingc. Brake pedal must be depressed to place vehicle in gear or park

21. Turn Signal Lever:a. Located on left side of steering wheelb. Lift up for right turn, press down for left turnc. Lane change hold up or press down half way

22. Hazard Flashers :a. Located on steering column to the right or instrumental panel

23. Windshield Wipers and Washer Control:a. Part of turn signal lever in some vehiclesb. Opposing lever on some vehiclesc. Two controls: one for speed, one for washer fluid

24. Headlights / Running Lights/Tail Lights:a. Controlled usually by a knob or switch located on the left of the dash or a lever on the steering

columnb. Low to high beam pull toward you or push awayc. On/Off: twist lever away or toward you to proper setting

25. Horn:a. Located on the steering wheel cross bar or on the pad on the lower half of the wheel, above or

below the air bag cover, and usually marked with horn symbolb. Used as a warning device only

26. Hood Release:a. Usually located on the left side under the instrument panelb. Pull the lever to release the hoodc. A second latch under the hood also needs to be releasedd. Drivers often confuse the brake release with the hood release

27. Trunk Release (if equipped) :a. Located in glove box, driver’s door, or keyless remote entry fobb. Inside trunk of all cars manufactured after 2002 - safety release device glows in the dark for

emergency trunk escape

28. Fuel Door Release (if equipped):a. Can be a lever on floor to the left of the driver’s seat or may be located in the glove box

29. Sun Visor:a. Angle away from face for glare protection

30. Heater/Ventilation/Air Conditioner (HVAC):a. Temperature controlb. Variable fan speedc. Air flow movementd. Windshield defrostere. Rear window defroster

31. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS):a. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) uses a dashboard warning light to alert the driver

when one or more of a vehicle’s tires is significantly underinflated – a leading cause of tire failureb. A tire is considered significantly underinflated when its pressure is 25 percent below the vehicle

manufacturer’s recommended tire inflation pressurec. Since September 1, 2007, all new vehicles have TPMS

32. Backup Camera:a. Activates when the vehicle is shifted to Reverseb. Helps drivers see the blind spot directly behind the bumper and beyond

33. Global Positioning System:a. Gives reliable location and time information anywhere on or near Earth when there is an

unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites

34. Instrument Panel Gauges and Lights:a. Location of gauges, controls, alert and warning symbols/lights varies from one vehicle to anotherb. Refer to vehicle owner’s manual for accurate use and directionsc. Instrument panel is usually back-lit at nightd. Some vehicles have a “rheostat” to regulate the intensity of the light

35. Vehicle Alert and Warning Lights

36. Identify the following Vehicle Alert/Warning Symbols Below

Symbol Meaning and Any Additional NotesBattery/Alternator Warning Light

Low oil pressure warning light

Windshield Wipers

Emergency Flashers/Hazard Lights

Anti Lock Braking System

Air Bag

Turn Signal Wipers Stalk

High Beams

Hood Release