The basic principle behind Virginia defensive driving is awareness. If you are aware of the dangers that lurk on the road, you can respond in a manner that protects you and your passengers. Constant and focused awareness of your surroundings, road conditions, your car’s maintenance needs, and the behavior of other drivers can keep you alive behind-the-wheel. Defensive drivers are the exact opposite of aggressive drivers; defensive drivers are calm, cool, collected and possess the strength required to avoid, not confront, an aggressive driver. Defensive Drivers ‘forgive and forget.’ Stress and fatigue can be a dangerous combination when they are present in a driver. Some techniques for combating the effects of stress and fatigue are singing, playing soothing music, stretching before entering your car, or simply waiting to drive until you are more at ease with yourself or current situation.
This may delay your arrival, but you’re taking the necessary steps to ensure that do, in fact, arrive! Another defensive driving technique used by defensive drivers is planning ahead for your trip. If you are easily irritated and frustrated, it is not advisable to leave for vacation in Friday afternoon rush hour traffic. Of course rush hour is avoidable if you’re commuting to and from work; therefore, plan ahead and avoid the unexpected. You can do this by checking the weather conditions, allowing extra time for your commute or trip, have an alternate route handy in the event you encounter construction or other obstacles or are diverted from your path, and understand the rules of the road and traffic signs that pertain to the area in which you are driving.
Defensive driving does not always allow us to avoid unexpected situations, but it helps us to navigate and overcome them when we encounter them on the road. Neeya naana vijay tv programs. Defensive driving means being aware, being prepared and being courteous; these techniques could save your life.
Also, don’t assume that everyone on the road is a defensive driver; in fact, assume the opposite and stay alert to your surroundings. Maintain your vehicle, plan ahead, avoid driving when you are under stress and understand the damage that your vehicle can cause if, even for a second, you are not in complete control of it or of yourself. Arrive safely by driving defensively.
Of all your senses, your eyesight is the most important for driving. Your eyes pick up most of the information you need to drive. Steer where you look It is important to understand that your eyes determine the path your vehicle follows - you steer where you look. To illustrate this, pick a straight stretch of paved highway with light traffic. While driving, look at the centre line about 12 seconds ahead. Keep looking at the centre line 12 seconds ahead. Observe how the car moves toward the centre line.
Now, look at the edge of the road 12 seconds ahead. You will steer where you look. To steer straight ahead, look about 12 seconds directly ahead of where you are sitting.
To steer around a curve, look at the inside of the curve to where the centre lines vanish. Do not look in the mirrors, do not look down at your instrument panel. If you take your eyes off the road, you will not maintain precise control over your steering. Remember, if you look at the side of the road, you will steer to the side of the road. Look where you want to go, particularly in an emergency or a skid, and steer there. Check your mirrors and speed when you are driving in a straight line, and when steering is less critical. On a curve, look up across and around as far ahead as you can see.
At first, you will likely have to concentrate to look this far ahead in curves. When curving right, look at the shoulder line to the point where it disappears. Keep looking at that point and maintain a steady speed. When curving left, look at the centre line as far as you can see it. When coming out of the curve, look at your lane all the way to the horizon. As you develop that 'far ahead' view, you will automatically drive the curve smoothly and accurately. You will also benefit from seeing your path far enough ahead to deal with any obstacles in your path.
'Referencing down' on highways Reference down by moving your eyes down from the look up position so that you see the road 12 seconds ahead at 100 km/h. Look on the road in front of you to where the spaces on the broken lines on the road disappear. This will be about 12 seconds away. This will help you obtain information you require to steer accurately and safely. Until now, you have been looking up (to the horizon), referencing down (12 seconds ahead), looking up, referencing down, etc.
When most people try this exercise, they usually find that they have not been looking up as far as they can see. Also, they have usually been referencing down much closer than 12 seconds.
To establish search patterns of up to 90 seconds ahead and to stretch your referencing down to 12 seconds requires two things. First, most drivers must admit that they have not been looking far enough ahead. Second, you have to practise to make looking up and referencing down a habit. As you establish the habit of looking up and referencing down, you will see the benefits to your driving, and this method will become easier every day. Also, steering where you look will help you overcome steering problems such as wandering within a lane or wandering from lane to lane.
Sweeping highways with your eyes The next part of your search pattern is to look for things that will interfere with your path - vehicles entering from the side, animals or people on the side of the road, or approach roads. This involves sweeping your eyes across and to the side of the road. Try to sweep about 12 seconds ahead. Filling in the gap on highways Now fill in the gap between you and where you reference down 12 seconds ahead.
Check the vehicles in front, the road surface for ice or pot holes, and the width and firmness of the shoulders. Checking your gates on highways Next, you need to check which gates are still open; that is, the space around your vehicle on all four sides. Pay close attention if you have detected a real or potential hazard. Check your mirrors often to see whether the rear and two side gates are open. Checking your instruments on highways You should check your instruments when it is safe to take your eyes off the road. Even checking your speed takes one and a half seconds.
Therefore, check your instruments when you are on a straight stretch of road with your gates open and with no real or potential hazards ahead. Check your speed and, less often, glance at your gas gauge and other instruments or warning lights. Now your pattern should be: look up, reference down, look up, reference down, sweep left, sweep right, look up, reference down, fill in the gap, look up, reference down, check your gates, look up, reference down, check instruments, etc. The exact sequence that you use will vary with the features and the traffic on the highway. The most important part of the sequence is to look up and reference down. Include the others as needed. The more often the situation changes around you, the more often you have to search.
Search patterns in urban areas The pattern for city driving is similar to that of highway driving. It is not easy to achieve, but is worth practising. Looking up in urban areas To look up in an urban area, look ahead as far as you can see - usually several traffic lights or a number of blocks ahead. This will give you information about the flow of traffic, the sequence of the lights and whether there is construction or major obstructions ahead.
Referencing down in urban areas Next in the sequence, you should reference down. To reference down in an urban area, move your eyes down from the look up position so that you view the road 12 seconds ahead at city speeds. Even if you cannot see clearly for that distance, you should look around or through the windows of the vehicles ahead. Try to see cars well ahead that are slowing down, changing lanes, turning or stopping.
Watch for brake and signal lights. Sweeping with your eyes in urban areas In the city you need to sweep further to each side and to sweep more frequently than you do on the highway. The sequence now should be: look up, reference down, look up, reference down, sweep left, sweep right, look up, reference down, etc. Filling in the gap in urban areas You need to fill in the gap between you and where you reference down, 12 seconds ahead.
In the city, you need to do this more often than on the highway because you do not have as clear a view ahead. Checking your gates in urban areas You need to be more aware of the status of your gates when driving in the city because vehicles are more likely to be in your blind spot. Never permit yourself to drive in a situation where there are fewer than two gates open. If you cannot control the rear and side gates, at least you can drop back and double the distance between you and the vehicle ahead - to five or six seconds. Checking your instruments in urban areas You will have little time to check your instruments when driving in the city.
Superman mugen ai patch. From time to time, check your speed. But remember to do this in light traffic or on straight, unobstructed roads. You can check your gauges at traffic lights and stop signs.
Search patterns at night At night, your search pattern is much the same as it is during the day. You should look up and reference down to about 12 seconds ahead. This means that most of the time you will be looking beyond the part of the road illuminated by your lights. You still need to sweep with your eyes, fill in the gap and check your gates and instruments. Do not look at the side of the road because you will steer there. Obviously, do not look at incoming headlights because the glare will blind you. Look 12 seconds ahead, directly in line with where you are sitting.
Search patterns in emergencies The rule for where to look in emergencies is simple: look where you want to go and steer there. If you are sliding or skidding sideways, do not look down, do not look at the instrument panel and do not look at what you might hit. Look where you want to go. Preventing potential collisions Most collisions occur at intersections and cross roads.
To help you spot and prevent a potential collision, use the following method. Scenario: You're driving on a road towards an intersection and spot another vehicle approaching the same intersection. You don't know how fast the other vehicle is travelling or how far away it is from the intersection. To help you determine if a collision is imminent, maintain your speed and course, and turn your head to take note of the other vehicle's position in relation to you. Continue to maintain your speed and course for a few seconds and check the other vehicle's position again by turning your head.
If the other vehicle is still at the same position, you're on a collision course. Start slowing down, and be prepared to yield or stop to avoid a collision. It's important to turn your head while looking for approaching vehicles and not rely on your peripheral vision only. Peripheral vision is very good at picking out objects that are moving; however, in the above scenario the other vehicle would appear to be not moving as it’s in a fixed position in your peripheral view. Driving in dense traffic If you are not accustomed to driving in dense traffic, the experience can be highly stressful. You can make it easier if you plan where you wish to go in advance. It is nerve wracking to drive in a new environment and to try to navigate at the same time.
The most important thing to remember is do not give up your following distance. Do not stop your search pattern. If the drivers around you are driving one second apart, let them, but do not be tempted to follow their example.
2.4 Seeing Around Your Vehicle To be a safe driver you need to know whatʼs going on all around your vehicle. Not looking properly is a major cause of accidents. Seeing Ahead All drivers look ahead, but many do not look far enough ahead. Because stopping or changing lanes can take a lot of distance, knowing what the traffic is doing on all sides of you is very important. You need to look well ahead to make sure you have room to make these moves safely. Most good drivers look 12-15 seconds ahead. That means looking ahead the distance you will travel in 12-15 seconds.
At lower speeds, thatʼs about one block. At highway speeds itʼs about one-quarter of a mile. If you are not looking that far ahead, you may have to stop too quickly or make quick lane changes. Looking 12-15 seconds ahead does not mean not paying attention to things that are closer. Good drivers shift their attention back and forth, near and far. Look for vehicles coming onto the highway, into your lane, or turning. Watch for brake lights from slowing vehicles.
By seeing these things far enough ahead, you can change your speed or change lanes if necessary to avoid a problem. Look for hills and curves, anything for which you will have to slow or change lanes. Pay attention to traffic signals and signs. If a light has been green for a long time, it will probably change before you get there.
Start slowing down and be ready to stop. Traffic signs may alert you to road conditions where you may have to change speed. Seeing to The Side and Rear It is important to know what is going on behind and to the sides. Check your mirrors regularly. Check more often in special situations. Using/adjusting mirrors:.
Check and adjust each mirror prior to the start of any trip and during your trip as needed. Special situations require more than regular mirror checks.
Mirrors can only be checked accurately when the trailer(s) is straight. In traffic check the mirrors for vehicles on either side and in back of you. In an emergency, you may need to know whether you can make a quick lane change.
Use your mirrors to spot overtaking vehicles. There are “blind spots” that your mirrors cannot show you. Check your mirrors regularly to know where other vehicles are around you, and to see if they move into your blind spots. Use the mirrors to keep an eye on your tires.
It is one way to spot a tire fire. If you are carrying open cargo, you can use the mirrors to check it. Look for loose straps, ropes or chains. Watch for a flapping or ballooning tarp.
Check quickly when driving on the road. Look back and forth between the mirrors and the road ahead.
Do not focus on the mirrors for too long. Otherwise, you will travel quite a distance without knowing what is happening ahead. Understand what you see. Many large vehicles have curved (convex, fisheye, spot, bugeye) mirrors that show a wider area than flat mirrors. This is often helpful, but be aware that everything appears smaller in a convex mirror than it would if you were looking at it directly. Things also seem farther away than they really are. It is important to realize this and to allow for it.
When changing lanes check your mirrors to make sure no one is alongside you or about to pass you. Check your mirrors:. Before you change lanes to make sure there is enough room. After you have signaled to check that no one has moved into your blind spot. Right after you start the lane change to double-check that your path is clear. After you complete the lane change.
When turning, check your mirrors to make sure the rear of your vehicle will not hit anything. When merging, use your mirrors to make sure the gap in traffic is large enough for you to enter safely. Any time you are driving in close quarters, check your mirrors often.
Make sure you have enough clearance.
Freeway Driving You need good driving knowledge, skills, and attitudes to drive on freeways safely. These types of roads are designed to carry large volume of traffic at high speeds. You have to be careful when entering the freeway. You should search ahead for traffic on the ramp as well as for a gap in traffic on the freeway.
Using the acceleration lane, look for an opening in traffic, signal and accelerate to or near the traffic speed, yield to traffic already on freeway. The key to driving on the freeway is to have a larger space between your vehicle and other traffic. If you're going to change lanes check the zones around your car—the front, back, and the lane you wish to enter.
How Many Blocks Should A Driver Look Ahead
When you exit a highway, avoid slowing down on the freeway itself. Wait until you are in the deceleration lane and slow until your speed matches the posted exit ramp speed. If you see a hazard ahead of you or in case of an emergency, communicate with a driver behind you by turning your hazard lights on. There can be different emergencies on the highway, so learn how to handle them and not panic when you encounter one or another unexpected situation.
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