HOW CAN YOU COMMUNICATE YOUR VISIBILITY TO OTHER

DRIVERS?

Lights!!! VA law requires motorists to use

headlights during inclement weather, night, or visibility being reduced to 500 ft.

Must use headlights when wipers are used for bad weather.

BE SEEN IN INCLEMENT WEATHER!

The Code of Virginia requiresThe Code of Virginia requires

That you use your headlights from sunset to sunrise and during inclement weather, such as rain, fog, snow, or when you use your windshield wipers. You also must use headlights when visibility is reduced to 500 ft. At twilight, when the sun light begins to fade, turn your headlights ON. This will make your vehicle more visible to others.

Properly aligned Properly aligned LOW BEAMLOW BEAM headlights headlights

beam hits roadway 100 to 150 feet ahead illuminates area above road 300 to 500 feet ahead load, load distribution, and vehicle height affect light beam

distance a maximum safe speed of 40 to 45 mph is based on your

ability to stop within the lighted area

lighted area above road

300 to 500 feet

illuminated roadway

100 to 150 feet

Properly Aligned High Beam Headlights

illuminated roadway300 to 500 feet

lighted area above road

500 to 1800 feet

the beam hits the roadway 300 to 500 feet ahead illuminates the area above the road 500 to 1800

feet ahead load, load distribution, and vehicle height affect

light beam distance maximum safe speed is 65 mph based on your

ability to stop within the lighted area

Lower (dim) your high-beam headlights when you are:Lower (dim) your high-beam headlights when you are:

within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle

following closely behind another vehicle (within 200 feet)

driving on lighted roadways

driving in fog, heavy rain, sleet, snow, or dust

HandoutOverdrivingOverdriving your headlightsyour headlights

Your vehicle’s stopping distance is greater than the distance lighted by your headlights.

To determine if you are overdriving your headlights, select an object the moment the headlights pick it up, and count off six seconds.

The posted speed limits are calculated for daylight driving and are often too fast for nighttime conditions.

Dirty headlights and improper headlight alignment will add to this traffic safety problem.

If the object is still ahead of your vehicle, you are driving at a safe speed.

If you have passed it, you are driving too fast.

Headlights only let you see about 350 feet ahead (normal conditions)

Fog, rain, snow, etc. If you cannot see more than 100 ft.

ahead, you can’t drive safely at any speed.

Get off roadway until weather breaks.

When you plan to change lanes, turn, [maneuver through a parking lot] or enter or exit a highway, first give the proper turn signal. Using your turn signal, which is required by law, communicates your intended movement to drivers around you. Develop a good habit and use turn signals or hand signals even if no other traffic is on the road.

Turn Signals Develop a good habit 3 or 4 seconds ahead of time Speed limit more than 35 MPH, signal at least

100 feet before turning point (>35mph = 100ft ahead)

Speed limit less than 35 MPH, signal at least 50 feet in advance.

(<35mph = 50ft ahead)

If your turn signals have burnt out?

Left TurnLeft hand andarm pointingstraight out

Right TurnLeft hand andarm pointing

upward

Slow or StopLeft hand andarm pointingdownward

Another form of Communication: LANE POSITIONAnother form of Communication: LANE POSITION

Create Space and Improve Visibility by Adjusting Create Space and Improve Visibility by Adjusting the Position of the Vehicle in the Lane the Position of the Vehicle in the Lane

Lane Positions – Lane Positions – 1, 2, 3, 4, and 51, 2, 3, 4, and 5

T – 5.15

Within Lane Within Lane PositionsPositions Straddle Lane PositionsStraddle Lane Positions

LP 3

LP 2

LP 4

LP 5

LP 1

5 Lane Positions 1 - center of the lane - 3 ft. on both sides

of car between lines 2 - to the left of your lane - 6 ft. from

right side line 3 - to the right of your lane - 6 ft. from

left side line 4 - to the left, straddle the line 5 - to the right, straddle the line

The Highway Transportation System

• The Highway Transportation System (HTS) provides safe, convenient, and efficient movement of people and goods from place to place

• The HTS affects the economy

• People – Walking, Driving, or Riding

• Vehicles– From Bicycles, Cars and SUVs, to Tractor-Trailer Trucks

• Roadways – From the smallest dirt road to the complex multilane

expressways

The Highway Transportation System (HTS)

Three Components of the HTSThree Components of the HTS

Federal Government• Traffic Safety GuidelinesFederal Government• Traffic Safety Guidelines

Enforcement Agencies• Federal• State• Local Governments

Enforcement Agencies• Federal• State• Local Governments

Who Regulates the HTS• Federal• State• Local Governments

Who Regulates the HTS• Federal• State• Local Governments

Federal Laws• Uniform Vehicle CodeFederal Laws• Uniform Vehicle Code

States Laws, Cities, Towns• State Code and Local

ordinances

States Laws, Cities, Towns• State Code and Local

ordinances

Motor Vehicle Depts.• Administer state laws for

drivers and vehicles

Motor Vehicle Depts.• Administer state laws for

drivers and vehicles

Courts• Decide violationsCourts• Decide violations

Law Enforcement• Ensure laws are obeyedLaw Enforcement• Ensure laws are obeyed

Highway Engineers• Plan, build, maintainHighway Engineers• Plan, build, maintain

Who Regulates the HTS?Who Regulates the HTS?

Dry road, good tires and brakes - 265 ft. for a passenger vehicle to stop at 55 MPH.

Adjust speed to visibility issues - hills, curves, intersections, weather, night/day, etc.

On the Road…

Speed LimitSpeed Limit: The speed posted is the : The speed posted is the maximummaximum speed that you can speed that you can drive drive under ideal conditionsunder ideal conditions

You may driver slower than the posted speed, but cannot driver fasterYou may driver slower than the posted speed, but cannot driver faster

Basic Speed LawBasic Speed Law: By law, you must drive slower that the speed limit : By law, you must drive slower that the speed limit if conditions make the posted speed unsafeif conditions make the posted speed unsafe

***Radar Detectors: Illegal to use in Virginia******Radar Detectors: Illegal to use in Virginia***

Maximum speed limit for passenger vehicles and motorcycles (unless

otherwise posted)

Interstate highways 70 mph

Public roads not part of the interstate system

55 mph

Rural roads 35 mph

School, business, and residential zones (You are required to travel 25 mph in a school zone ONLY when indicated by sign or signal.)

25 mph

Rules of the Road: Hitting the Road

• Find a legal, safe parking placeFind a legal, safe parking place

• Stop and set parking brakeStop and set parking brake

• Shift gear selector to (P)ark Shift gear selector to (P)ark (Shift to Reverse if Manual Transmission) (Shift to Reverse if Manual Transmission)

• Close windows Close windows

• Turn off accessoriesTurn off accessories

• Turn ignition switch to “off” Turn ignition switch to “off”

• Lock ignition switch and remove keyLock ignition switch and remove key

• Unfasten occupant restraintsUnfasten occupant restraints

Securing the VehicleSecuring the Vehicle

Check traffic flow to rear prior to Check traffic flow to rear prior to opening door opening door

Monitor door swing into adjacent lane Monitor door swing into adjacent lane or when parked next to another or when parked next to another vehiclevehicle

Exit quickly to avoid conflict with Exit quickly to avoid conflict with traffictraffic

Lock doorsLock doors Walk toward rear of the vehicle facing Walk toward rear of the vehicle facing

traffictraffic

Exiting the VehicleExiting the Vehicle