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Virginia Department of Education

Module FourUsing a Space Management

System While Interacting with Traffic

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Virginia Department of Education

Module Four

Using a Space Management System While Interacting with Traffic

Topic 1 Assessing and Managing Risk

Topic 2 Components of a Space Management System

Topic 3 Using the SEEiT Space Management System

Topic 4 Moving the Vehicle

Topic 5 Turnabouts and Parking

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What is Risk?

Driving Risk is the potential that a chosen action (e.g., speeding, texting, etc.,) may lead to an undesirable outcome.

Choices have Consequences

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To properly assess a specific risk, you need to have some idea of the potential outcomes.

For example, if you are a distracted driver, your potential for being involved in a crash increases 4 to 9 times. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2008)

Assessing and Managing Risk

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Drivers must have the ability to:

• Identify a potentially dangerous situation• Prepare to take action to avoid a conflict• Consider your options and the potential

consequences of your actions

What is Risk Assessment?

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Consequences of Risky Driving Behaviors

Taking unnecessary risks may result in property damage, injury or death, and other losses• Injury to you or others - permanent or life-threatening,• Damage to personal property, and • Loss such as financial loss, loss of license, loss of

convenience, loss of time, and other losses.

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• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group

• Approximately nine teenagers, (ages 16 to 19) died every day from motor vehicle injuries

• Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash

What can YOU DO to change these statistics?

Teen Crash Statistics in the USA

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Virginia data for 2011

• 1 crash every 4.36 minutes

• 2.09 lives lost per day because of traffic crashes

• 174 persons injured per day because of traffic crashes

• 1 out of 25.39 licensed drivers are involved in a crash

• Some drivers NEVER have a crash!

Consequences of Risk-Taking Behaviors

Young drivers take more risks than other drivers

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Very often drivers actually create the high risk situations they become involved in! • Speeding is the number one cause of crashes in Virginia

Speeding is driving above the posted speed or driving too fast for conditions

Risk-Taking Behaviors Cause Crashes

Do speed limits improve public safety?

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• Failure to Yield Right of Way is the second leading cause of crashes in Virginia

• Right of way is when a driver or pedestrian is allowed to proceed first at an intersection, merging roadway, private driveway, etc.

Assessing and Managing Risk

A driver cannot “take” right of way, it must be given by another driver

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• Driving While Intoxicated is the third leading cause of crashes in Virginia

• In Virginia, 245 persons were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2011.

Assessing and Managing Risk

Why are young drivers who consume alcohol at much greater risk of being involved in crashes?

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Disregarding a traffic sign or signal is the fourth leading cause of crashes in Virginia

Assessing and Managing Risk

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Following Too Closely is the fifth leading cause of crashes in Virginia. You will not crash if you have space -- space is time – time to steer or brake to avoid a hazard

Assessing and Managing Risk

Factors Contributing to Risk

Why do young drivers tend to leave shorter following distances than older drivers?

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Other Driver Actions Contributing to Crashes• Improper Turns — Examples of improper turns would be

turning wide in a right turn or cutting corners on left turns

• Unsafe Passing — This involves illegal passing or passing without sufficient clearance

• A lack of driving experience and risk-taking

Assessing and Managing Risk

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Factors such as worn or bald tires, poorly adjusted and/or worn brakes, broken headlights, worn windshield wiper blades, dirty windshield, etc., are all risk factors increasing the possibility of a crash

Condition of the Vehicle

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• Road designs that restrict vision, such as intersections, hills and sharp curves

• Weather conditions, such as bright sun glare and shadows, wet slippery roads

• Road surface that affects traction, such as wet, ice, snow, gravel, dirt, etc.

Roads and the Environment

Roadway construction and maintenance

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Assessing and Managing Risk

Risk is always present…

• Never risk more than you can afford to lose

• Do not risk a lot for a little

• Consider the odds and your situation

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Tools to Reduce Driving Risks

1. Communicate

2. Change Speed and/or

3. Change Position

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Communicate

Signal – lights or hand signals (turning, backing, hazards, warning)• brake light (flash, slowing, stopping)• lane position (intent to change lanes or turn,

hazard in lane ahead)• horn (warn, get someone’s attention)• head lights (to see and be seen, to warn others)

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Change Speed

Your options are to maintain, increase or decrease speed if:• path of travel is open• path of travel is changing• path of travel is closing• path of travel is closed

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Change Position or Direction

It is quicker to change position than to stop, so you always need to know what space is available to:• move to a different lane position to

gain more space• change lanes• turn onto another street

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• Drivers need visibility, space, and time to avoid conflicts and perform safe driving maneuvers

• Good seeing habits and the ability to manage space on the roadway are essential ingredients for low-risk driving

• Developing space management HABITS can reduce driving risks

Assessing and Managing Risk

How Much Risk is Acceptable?

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SEEiT• Search for problems• Evaluate options• Execute decisions in• Time

Process for Managing the Driving Environment

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Safe Driving on the “Habit Level”

Practicing safe driving procedures until little thought is required to perform with skill and precision

Is it true that practice makes perfect? - No Perfect practice makes perfect!

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What do they all have in common?

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Do YOU Have These Good Habits?

• Plan ahead and leave early

• Prepare yourself and the vehicle

• Perform smooth gradual starts and stops

• Consistently use reference points to determine vehicle placement

• Establish visual targets in your path of travel

• When you apply your foot to the brake or accelerator, you check the rearview mirror

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Do YOU Have These Good Habits?

• Prior to moving to the left or right, you check side view mirror

and mirror blind spot

• You always strive to maintain a four-second following interval

from the vehicle in front to create space and protect yourself to

the front and rear from unsafe actions of other drivers

• When stopped behind a vehicle, you leave space to move around

the stopped vehicle in case of an emergency or rear-end crash

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Do YOU Have These Good Habits?

• Visually target to the end of the path of travel

• When approaching a light, you adjust speed to time your arrival to the green light or stop

• Prior to entering an intersection, you check front, left, and right zones, and back to the front and left again

• Reduce stress by being courteous rather than competitive while driving

• Minimize distractions

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What is a Space Management System?

• A space management system helps drivers organize information into meaningful categories so decisions can be made easily and quickly

• Drivers must evaluate potential risk using the principles of probability (will it happen?) and consequence (what will be gained or lost?)

Assess, Action Step, Evaluate

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Managing the Space Around Your Vehicle

Drivers must manage all six zones around the vehicle, and adjust position to maintain a safe margin of space that

provides room to steer in an emergency

Right-Front Zone

Right-Rear Zone

Front Zone Rear Zone

Left-Front Zone

Left-Rear Zone

3

2

1 6

5

4

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Open, Closed and Changing Zones

• A Zone can be OPEN, CLOSED or CHANGING

• OPEN — An open zone is a space where you can drive without restriction

• CLOSED — The space or area is not available in the vehicle’s path of travel

• CHANGING — An open zone changes to a closed zone or a closed zone becomes an open zone

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Using a Space Management System

Evaluate your options and then take action

OPEN — this zone that has no restrictions to the line of sight or path of travel.

CLOSED — this zone not available

CHANGING — it was an open zone that is changing to a closed zone.

ClosedZONE

Right-Rear Zone

Changing ZONE

Check Rear

Open ZONE Check Side

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Controlling Space

Drivers have the most control over the space directly in frontof the vehicle

2-Second - Following Distance is effective at speeds under 35 mph

3-Second - Following Distance may provide enough time for evasive steering maneuver on dry surfaces or to brake at speeds up to 45 mph

4-Second - Following Distance provides time to steer out of a problem on dry surfaces and brake out of a problem at speeds up to 70 mph

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Measuring Your Following Distance

one-thousand-one one-thousand-two one-thousand-three, and…

Begin counting when rear of the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object

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Measuring Your Following Distance

ESTABLISH FOLLOWING DISTANCE when you reach the fixed object

one-thousand-four

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• Visibility is limited• Traction is limited• Number of visual and mental tasks increases• being tailgated• line of sight restriction• path of travel restriction• carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer• learning to drive

Increase Following Distance When

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Stopping Behind Another Vehicle

Why do you stop in a position that you can see the rear tires of the vehicle in front?

See tires

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When the light turns green, does that mean you can move into the intersection?

Space Management for Intersections

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Managing the Space to the Rear

Check rearview mirrors:• Regularly• Before and while braking• While stopped in traffic• Before and after making turns• Before and after a lane change

Can you control the space behind you?

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• Strive to keep one of the side zones open

• Respond to an oncoming vehicle by slightly adjusting lane position to increase space between your vehicle and the oncoming vehicle

• Adjust lane position to increase space between your vehicle and parked cars, bicyclists, pedestrians, etc.

Managing the Space to the Sides

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Judging Gaps in Traffic

In order to judge a gap you need to be able to judge speed, time and distance while moving. This is a very difficult skill for novice drivers.

• Why is a vehicle approaching from the left most hazardous?

• Why is a larger gap needed for a right turn than to cross an intersection?

• Why is a left turn more dangerous than a right turn?

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Judging Gaps from a Stopped Position

Traffic is moving at 30 mph

• 5-6 seconds to cross a two lane roadway (vehicles need to be at least a block away)

• 7-8 seconds to cross a four lane intersection

• 7-8 seconds to turn left (vehicles need to be more than a block away or length of a football field)

• 6-7 seconds to turn right (vehicles need to be at least a block away)

• 4-6 second gap to change lanes into traffic from parked position

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Component of a Space Management Systems

Perception/Reaction/Response Time

Perception TimeTime it takes to identify a risk

Average perception time varies with the circumstances

Reaction TimeTime it takes to respond with accelerator, brake, or steeringAverage reaction time is ¾ second

Response Time

Total time it takes to complete the action

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• Medications• Alcohol

• Illness• Age• Talking on Cell

Phone• Others?

• Distractions

• Inattention

• Poor Visibility

• Line of Sight Restrictions

• Fatigue

Factors Affecting Response Time

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Calculating Speed & Distance Traveled

Formula to calculate feet per second for each MPH of speed

A vehicle will travel 1.467 (rounded up to 1.5) feet per second for each mph of speed

40 mph x 1.5 = 60 feet per second

60 mph x 1.5 = 90 feet per second

80 mph x 1.5 = 120 feet per second

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Take the speed, divide by two, add the answer to the speed. Examples:

40 mph ÷ 2 = 20 + 40 = 60 feet per second

60 mph ÷ 2 = 30 + 60 = 90 feet per second

80 mph ÷ 2 = 40 + 80 = 120 feet per second

A football field is 300 feet in length.

Calculate how long it will take a vehicle traveling 40 mph, 50 mph, and 60 mph to cover the length of the football field.

Simplified Formula to calculate feet per second for each MPH of speed

Calculating Feet Per Second for Every MPH

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•Search

•Evaluate

•Execute

in Time

Virginia’s Space Management System

SEE iT!

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• Search— the entire scene in your line of sight/path of travel for potential risks, and if during your search you identify a risk you

• Evaluate —it by determining if and where possible points of conflict may occur, and then

• Execute —your decision as how to best manage the risk by adjusting speed and/or position

• in Time – to avoid the conflict

Virginia Space Management System

SEEiT

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Search in SEEiT

• Know when, where and what to look for

• Search far ahead, to the sides, to the rear

• Search for clues: intersections, brake lights, warning signs, traffic lights, other vehicles, pedestrians, animals, parked cars, etc.,

• Search for changes in front wheels of other vehicles, movement from the side, etc.

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• Search intersections, crosswalks, shopping centers, parking lots, construction areas and playgrounds

• When driving in rural areas search for hidden intersections and driveways, curves, hills and varying road conditions

• Search for trucks and other oversized vehicles, as well as slow moving farm vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.

Search in SEEiT

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Search

Search at least 20-30 seconds ahead to your target area which allows • time to identify and evaluate

potential problems• time to execute your plan (adjust

position, speed)

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Is there a potential for conflict in the example below?

You are the driver of the red car traveling at 55mph. • The motorcyclist is traveling at 50mph. • The blue car is traveling at 60mph.• The search process consists of the three ranges:

- 4 to 8-second range—Immediate Action Required!- 12 to 15-second range— look for Escape Routes- 20 to 30 second range—Search for open path of travel

Searching and Time

4 to 8seconds

20 to 30seconds

12 to 15seconds

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Evaluate

• Gives meaning to your search

• Identifies where the possible points of conflict may occur

• Determines how the conflict may affect you if it does happen

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Evaluating Risk in the Driving Environment

• Is the traffic light a stale green light?• Will the zone I’m entering be open or closed?• What lane position is the safest?• What is the other driver going to do?• Is the driver texting?• Is there more than one way to manage this risk? • Where will the point of conflict occur?

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• Where is the escape route?

• Will someone run the light?

• Will a pedestrian enter the roadway?

• Is there sufficient traction available?

• Is the driver in the vehicle behind me paying attention?

• Will a door of one of these parked cars open?

• Will a squirrel or deer run onto the road?

Evaluating Risk in the Driving Environment

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Execute in Time

• You identified a possible conflict developing between you and the blue car

• This conflict will happen because the blue car traveling 60 mph is going faster than the motorcycle which is traveling at 50 mph

• The blue car may cross into your path of travel to overtake the motorcycle

What would you do in this situation?

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Virginia Space Management System

Execute In Time! • As the lane change occurred you had two options:

• slow down and allow the blue car to proceed into zone 1

• or change your position and move into the open zone 2

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Execute in Time

Without proper searching, evaluating (decision making skills), you may execute the wrong decision

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Topic 4 – Moving the Vehicle

• Making Proper Adjustments• Moving Straight Forward• Moving Straight Back • Backing and Turning• Entering the Roadway• Pulling to the Curb

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Before You Move the Vehicle

• Making Proper Adjustments • Seat• Steering Wheel• Head Restraints• Mirrors• Safety Belts

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Before You Move the Vehicle

• Start the engine with right foot on brake

• Check instrument panel

• Adjust accessories (HVAC/sound system, etc.)

• Select proper gear

• Release parking brake

• Signal

• Check traffic

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Moving Straight Forward

• With right foot on brake and hands at 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock

• Select Drive gear

• Select a target

• Recheck traffic

• Take foot off brake (do not accelerate)

• Straighten wheels if necessary

• Move straight towards target

• Accelerate slowly

• Brake as you approach the target

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Backing

Many new driver’s first “fender bender” is a backing collision!

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Reducing Risk When Backing

The rear “Foot Print” is the area behind the vehicle that the driver cannot see

The foot print for each of the vehicles below is illustrated by the “pink” areas

Why are these foot prints different for different vehicles?

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Reduced Risk Backing Strategies

Do you believe that the driver cannot see these children from the driver’s seat?

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• Make proper adjustments

• Start the vehicle with foot on the brake

• Shift to reverse

• Assume the straight backing position

• Left hand at 12 o’clock

• Looking over right shoulder

Back

ing

Moving Straight Back

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• Check traffic to front, sides and rear

• Select a target

• Gradually release brake pressure

• Move slowly

• Accelerate gradually

• Cover the brake when needed Back

ing

Backing Straight

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• Signal

• Readjust seat position according to direction that you turn wheel

• Right Side/Left Side

• Establish visual target

• Use reference points to determine when to start turning steering wheel

• Turn the wheel in the direction you want the back of the vehicle to go

• Monitor “swing” of front of vehicle

Backing & Turning

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• Review pre-drive tasks

• Start the vehicle

• Shift to drive

• Release park brake

• Check traffic and signal

• Move to first available lane by

• Targeting center lane Position 1

• Cancel Signal

• Accelerate gradually to the flow of traffic

Check AheadCheck Left

Check Mirror

Check Over Shoulder

Entering Roadway Tasks

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• Check traffic

• Signal intentions

• Visually target destination

• Use reference points to position vehicle 6 – 12 inches from curb

• Secure the vehicle

Check Ahead

Check Behind

Check Mirror

Check Over Shoulder

Moving to Curb/Side of Road

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Turnabouts

• Types of Turnabouts• Two-point turn:

• Pull into driveway on right side• Pull into driveway on left side

• Three-point turn• U-turn

• Midblock• At an intersection

If you miss an address or building and you do not have the option of driving around the block…

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TurnaboutsMinimize risk by:• being sure local laws permit a turnabout — look for any signs prohibiting

the turn

• making sure you have at least 500 feet of visibility in each direction

• being sure you have enough space and time to complete the turn safely

• never making a turnabout near or on hills and curves

• checking continually for other traffic and pedestrians — check all zones around your vehicle

NOU

Turns

NOLEFTTurns

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1. Check traffic flow Signal, and position yourself 2-3 feet from curb

Drive beyond the driveway and stop ; shift to reverse, monitor intended path

2. Back slowly, turning steering wheel rapidly to the right as you enter driveway

Straighten wheels, centering car in driveway and stop with the wheels straight

3. Signal left and exit driveway when the way is clear

Two-Point Turnabouts

One method is to back into a driveway on the right side

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2

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Backing into driveway on the right side

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Two-Point Turnabouts

1. Check traffic flow• Signal and position your vehicle to 3-6

inches from center yellow line• When traffic is clear, drive into the

driveway and stop• Shift to reverse, monitor intended path

2. Back slowly, turning steering wheel rapidly to the right as you exit driveway• Straighten wheels, centering car in

roadway3. Shift into drive - Check traffic and

accelerate to normal speed

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Pulling into driveway on the left side

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Three-Point Turnabouts

• Three-point turns are also called Y-turns, and are an option if no driveway is available, traffic is light, you cannot drive around the block, or the available space prevents a U-turn

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3 5

This is the most dangerous turnabout!

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Three-Point Turnabouts

1. Stop close to the right edge or curb• Search for a 20- to 30-second gap, signal a left turn

2. Move slowly forward while turning the steering wheel rapidly to the left • when the front wheels are almost to the curb, stop — Check traffic left

and right3. Shift the vehicle into reverse and, while slowly backing up, turn the wheel to

the right 4. Shift into drive — Check traffic — Signal your intent and accelerate to

normal speed

Three-Point Turn

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3 5

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U-Turn Turnabouts

• Make sure local and state law permits this type of turnabout • A midblock U-turns require a wide space• This is a high-risk turnabout

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Mid-Block U-Turn

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U-Turn Turnabouts

• When making a U-turn at an intersection, begin the U-turn in the left lane closest the center line or median

• Complete the turn in the lane farthest to the right in the opposite flow of traffic, and accelerate to the appropriate speed

U-Turn at an Intersection

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5

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Parking Strategies

• Look for a parking space with enough room for entering and exiting easily

• Observe and follow all signs, laws, pavement markings

• Look for vehicles exiting parking spaces

• Avoid spaces at the end of parking lanes where being hit is more likely

• Avoid spaces near a large vehicle that block your vision when existing and other people’s ability to see you

• Avoid spaces with a poorly parked vehicle on either side

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No Parking!

• Beside another parked vehicle (double parking)

• On crosswalks or sidewalks

• In front of driveways

• Next to painted yellow curbs or no parking signs

• In a parking space reserved for disabled persons

• On the hard surface of a road when no curb is present

Parking is NOT allowed

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No Parking!

• Within 20 feet of an intersection

• Within 15 feet of the entrance to a fire, ambulance or Rescue squad station

• Within 500 feet of where fire trucks or equipment are stopped answering an alarm

• Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing

• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant

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Angle Parking

1. Signal intention, position vehicle three to four feet away from the space

2. Move forward until side view mirror appears to align with the first pavement line

3. Visually target the middle of the space and move slowly turning the wheel sharply

4. Once front enters space, gradually begin unwinding the steering wheel while monitoring the vehicles parked on either side

Parking diagonally to the curb

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Exiting Angle Parking Space

1. Place foot on brake, signal intention, shift to reverse, search path of travel

• Back until your vehicle’s front seat is even with the back of the space, and begin turning the steering wheel in the direction you want the rear to go

• Constantly monitor the front bumper on the opposite side of the direction you are turning

2. Back into the closest lane; shift to drive and move forward

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Don’t Develop These Bad Habits

• Failure to check traffic to the rear • Forgetting to signal• Parking too close to the line• Speed too fast• Steering insufficient or moving wheel too slowly• Failure to target to center of the parking space• Not using forward reference point and hitting curb• Forgetting to straighten wheels at the end• Parking too close to other vehicles• Forgetting to set the parking brake

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Perpendicular Parking - Entering

1. Signal intention and position the vehicle five to six feet away from the space

2. Move forward until the side mirror appears to align with the first line of the space

3. Turn the wheel rapidly in the direction of the space controlling speed

4. Steer towards a target in center of the space and straighten the wheels

5. Position the front bumper three to six inches from the curb or end of the space ta

rget

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Perpendicular Parking - Exiting

• Place foot on brake, signal direction of turn, shift to reverse, search area to the rear/sides

• Back until your side mirror is even with the bumper of the vehicle located to the side, begin turning the steering wheel in the direction you want to go

• Monitor the rear and your front bumper on the opposite side of the direction you are turning

• When the front bumper clears the back of the vehicle, stop, and shift to Drive

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Parallel Parking on a Two-Way Street

STEP 1

• Select a space that is at least five feet longer than your vehicle

Flash your brake lights , put on your turn signal as you approach the space, and monitor rear traffic

• Place your vehicle approximately three feet from the vehicle you want to park behind, aligning your rear bumper with the other vehicle's bumper

• Put the vehicle into reverse and turn the wheels all the way to the right

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Parallel Parking on a Two-Way Street

STEP 2

• Slowly back up until you are at a 45-degree angle using your side view mirror, back until you can see the headlight closest to the curb of the vehicle behind to establish the 45-degree angle

• Stop

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Parallel Parking on a Two-Way Street

Step 3• Turn the wheels all the way to

the left

• Slowly back up monitoring the right front fender until you are parallel with and within 12 inches of the curb.

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Parallel Parking – Exiting the Space

• Back-up as far as you can go without touching the vehicle behind and signal

• Turn your wheels all the way to the left and shift to Drive

• Check traffic and make sure your right front fender will clear the rear of the vehicle in front of you

• Turn wheels slowly to the right when your side view mirror aligns with the bumper of the vehicle ahead

• Select target in your path of travel and gently accelerate

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Parking on a Hill - Facing Downhill

Parking with or without a curb

• Position your vehicle 6” from the curb

• Let the car move slowly forward while turning the steering wheel sharply to the right until the right front tire rests against the curb

• Shift into “P” (Park) if your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission or into REVERSE gear for a manual transmission

• Engage the parking brake

DownhillParking

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Parking on a Hill – Uphill with No Curb

1. Drive as far off the roadway onto the shoulder as possible and stop

2. Turn wheels away from traffic

3. Shift into “P” (Park) automatic transmission, or into FIRST gear for a manual transmission

4. Engage the parking brake

Parking Uphill

with NO Curb

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Parking Uphill – With a Curb

1. Position your vehicle 6” from the curb and stop

2. Turn your steering wheel away from curb and let the vehicle move slowly back until the back of the front tire touches the curb

3. Shift into “P” (Park) if your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission or FIRST with a manual transmission

4. Engage the parking brake

Uphill Parkingwith a Curb

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Parking Lot Strategies

• Obey speed limits

• Obey the signs and pavement markings

• Do not drive diagonally across parking lot lane markings

• Be alert for pedestrians, bicyclists, roller-bladders and skateboarders

• Avoid tight parking spaces

• Avoid competing for a parking space

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• Park so the front and rear of vehicle is not in the flow of traffic

• Position the vehicle properly in the space• Secure parking brake• Secure the vehicle, locking valuables in the trunk • Search all directions before exiting the parking space• Watch for drivers backing who may not see vehicles to the

rear

Parking Lot Strategies

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• Watch for backup lights

• Observe and follow all signs

• Stay to the right

• Use headlights

• Be aware of people in and around the garage

Parking Garage Strategies

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• When entering the parking garage, be aware of your surroundings, approach the vehicle with key in hand, look around and in the vehicle for unwanted passengers

• Drive slowly and watch for pedestrians

Parking Garage Strategies

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• Vehicles displaying this symbol on their license plate or in the car on a special card may park in handicapped spaces

• Non-handicapped drivers are prohibited from parking in handicapped parking areas and may be fined ($100 +) for violations

Handicapped Parking