How nature affects How nature affects drivingdriving

What are some other What are some other situations that might affect situations that might affect

your ability to properly your ability to properly control a vehicle?control a vehicle?► Dawn/DuskDawn/Dusk

► RainRain► Snow/SleetSnow/Sleet► FogFog► SmogSmog► Sand/DustSand/Dust► WindWind

Dawn/Dusk - Decreased visibility at night and just before

sunrise and sunset. Night driving’s biggest challenges:

Limits your view of the road ahead and its surroundings.

Glare- can be distracting or even blinding.

Driving safely when light is low…

YOU MUST MAXIMIZE VISIBILITY AND MANAGE TIME AND SPACE WISELY Drive with your

headlights on. Headlights and

taillights help illuminate your vehicle.

When driving at night:

• It requires extra concentration

• It requires a greater level of awareness

• Use low beams and high beams correctly

• Do not over-drive your headlights

• Look beyond your headlights

WET WEATHER STATISTICS:Reduced visibility and wet weather are contributing factors to collisions.

17% of 6.5 million crashes in ’94 occurred during wet weather

Many of these were single car crashes

Wet or slippery roads account for 18% of all deaths in roadside hazard crashes

63% of deaths in crashes took place on wet/slippery roads

42% percent occurred on curves

39% occurred on hills

RAIN, SNOW, SLEET:RAIN, SNOW, SLEET:

Decreases your ability to see:Decreases your ability to see: AheadAhead To the sidesTo the sides To the rearTo the rear

Makes it harder for other drivers and Makes it harder for other drivers and pedestrians to see your vehiclepedestrians to see your vehicle

SNOW AND SLEET:SNOW AND SLEET:

• Collection on Collection on windshields creates windshields creates blind spotsblind spots

• Less tire friction with Less tire friction with the road because it the road because it sticks to treadssticks to treads

• Steps in controlling Steps in controlling the risks of a collision:the risks of a collision:– Prepare in advancePrepare in advance– Allow an extra margin Allow an extra margin

of safetyof safety– Drive in the tracks of Drive in the tracks of

the vehicle that is in the vehicle that is in front of youfront of you

– Give plenty of noticeGive plenty of notice– Be AlertBe Alert– Lights on Low-BeamLights on Low-Beam– Ease into turns and Ease into turns and

curvescurves

SAFETY TIPS:SAFETY TIPS:

► If you are approaching If you are approaching a large vehicle on a a large vehicle on a slush-covered slush-covered roadway, turn on your roadway, turn on your windshield washers windshield washers and wipers about 2 to and wipers about 2 to 3 seconds before you 3 seconds before you meet. This gets the meet. This gets the glass wet and will help glass wet and will help clean the glass clean the glass quickly after you pass.quickly after you pass.

► Avoid using your Avoid using your high beams in high beams in heavy rain, sleet, or heavy rain, sleet, or snow. Under such snow. Under such conditions, light is conditions, light is reflected back into reflected back into your eyes, your eyes, decreasing your decreasing your visibility.visibility.

Driving Tip:

Remove all snow, ice, and frost from the vehicles windows, outside mirrors, headlights, and taillights before starting to drive.

Clear all snow from the hood, roof, and body of the vehicle so that it will not melt or blow onto the windows while the vehicle is moving.

Five other conditions other than snow and rain :

FOG SMOG SAND WIND DUST

FOG Low-beam headlights are essential when

driving in the fog. You might even want to use your emergency

flashers to further increase the ability of other highway users to see you. (Smith system- Make sure others see you!!!)

FOG Windshield wipers are another option. Dense fog poses hazards also

– THE WISEST THING TO DO IS TO SIGNAL, PULL OFF OF THE ROAD, AND WAIT FOR CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE.

DO NOT STOP ON THE ROAD. STOP OUTSIDE OF A GUARDRAIL IF

POSSIBLETURN On ALL LIGHTS

SMOG……..SMOG……..

Methods for driving Methods for driving in fog are as equally in fog are as equally useful for driving in useful for driving in smog conditions.smog conditions.

Sand and Dust:Sand and Dust:

Produce Produce severe severe visibility visibility problemsproblems

Greater risk Greater risk of a collisionof a collision

If you are If you are caught in a caught in a storm, you storm, you should:should: SignalSignal Pull off of the roadPull off of the road Turn on your flashersTurn on your flashers Wait for it to passWait for it to pass

WIND:

• Has the potential to be very

dangerous…the bigger the car the more danger involved!!!!

• The weight of a vehicle can also be dangerous.

What to do in What to do in WINDY WINDY situations?situations?

Reduce speedReduce speedMake sure you have Make sure you have a firm grip on the a firm grip on the steering wheelsteering wheel

Leave extra spaceLeave extra space

Other Windy situations:Other Windy situations:

Other situations can be created by Other situations can be created by the following:the following: BusBus TruckTruck Tractor-trailerTractor-trailer

Always allow as much distance as Always allow as much distance as possible to the side when passing to possible to the side when passing to reduce the force of gusting wind.reduce the force of gusting wind.

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