Teen Crash Fact"Driving too fast for conditions" is the No. 1 reason 16- and 17-year-old drivers are involved in crashes. Show
What is a safe speed? How fast is too fast? There are no simple answers to these questions because there is not a single speed that is safe at all times. In addition to the posted speed limit, you must consider road conditions, visibility conditions, and the flow of other traffic in choosing a safe speed to drive. Also, when you plan to change speeds, it will help you stay safe, by communicating your intentions to other drivers. Posted Speed LimitsPosted speed limits indicate what the maximum safe driving speed is under the ideal road, traffic, and weather conditions.
When the road is wet or slippery, when you cannot see well or when anything else makes conditions less than perfect, drive below the posted speed limit. Even if you are driving within the posted speed limit, you can still be ticketed for driving too fast for conditions. Eco-DrivingSafe driving does more than protect you: it saves you money and reduces air pollution. Operating a car involves many expenses, including gas, maintenance, and tires. Drivers and car owners can take a number of steps to minimize these expenses at no additional cost. Smart Driving Habits to Adopt
Driving At NightThe highest crash rates occur during nighttime hours. Most serious crashes occur in twilight or darkness. Overall, traffic fatality rates are three to four times higher at night than in daylight. Compared to driving in the day, driving at night is more dangerous. There are several reasons for this:
With less light, your ability to judge distances is reduced, your ability to see colors is reduced, and your ability to see things in your side vision is reduced. As a driver, you must always be ready to react if you suddenly see something unexpected on the road ahead of you — a pedestrian, a bicyclist, an animal, etc. — and you are much more likely to be surprised at night. Compared to signs and other roadside objects, pedestrians are the hardest to see at night. You must use your headlights properly at night and other times, as required by law. Headlights have a dual purpose: to help you see and to help you be seen. Clean your headlights at least once a week. Do it when you buy gas for your vehicle — dirty headlights may give only half of the light they should. State law requires drivers to use their headlights:
NOTE: Daytime running lights are not
enough. Your tail lights must be illuminated as well. State law calls for fines beginning at $25 and with other associated costs, the penalty would approach $100 for drivers who fail to use their headlights when required! Other important safety information about headlights and nighttime driving:
Road ConditionsYour ability to stop is greatly affected by the condition of the road. You need to reduce your speed when road conditions are poor, so you can maintain control of your vehicle. You will be at greatest risk if you drive too fast on roads that are slippery, especially on curves. Take turns and curves more slowly when the road is slippery. Wet PavementsAll roads are slippery when wet, but be extra careful on roads posted with warning signs that say SLIPPERY WHEN WET. Pavements can become very slippery in the first 10 to 15 minutes of a rainstorm. The rain causes oil in the asphalt to come to the surface. This problem becomes even worse during hot weather, when the heat combined with the water causes more oil to rise to the road surface. In cold, wet weather, be extra careful driving on sections of road shaded by trees or buildings; these areas freeze more quickly and dry last. HydroplaningAt excessive speeds, your vehicle can begin to hydroplane on a wet roadway. Hydroplaning happens when your tires lose their grip on the road and ride like skis on a film of water. The faster you drive on a wet roadway, the less effective your tires become at wiping the water from the road. You can hydroplane at speeds as low as 35 mph, when water is only 1/10 of an inch deep. Worn tires make this problem worse. Hydroplaning can be reduced by driving slower. If you find yourself hydroplaning, do the following:
Snow and IceWhen driving on snow or ice, you will need to adjust your driving to accommodate any situation. The traction of your tires on the road will be greatly reduced, seriously affecting your steering and braking ability. Also, it is extremely dangerous near 32° (Fahrenheit), when precipitation turns to rain or sleet — a thin layer of water on top of ice is more slippery than ice alone. Watch for "black ice," a condition occurring on clear roadways when a thin layer of ice forms due to dropping temperatures. When the road looks wet but no spray is coming from the tires of other vehicles, "black ice" may be present. Under law, which went into effect July 10, 2006, motorists will face severe fines if snow or ice that falls from their vehicle causes injury or death to other motorists or pedestrians. When snow or ice is dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious bodily injury, the operator of the vehicle from which the snow or ice came is subject to a fine of $200 to $1,000 for each offense. PennDOT urges motorists to remove all ice and snow from their vehicles before traveling. When roads get slick, you should:
Visibility ConditionsIn addition to nighttime, fog and snow are conditions that reduce visibility and can dramatically decrease your ability to see ahead, and to respond quickly and safely to events happening around you. Fog is probably the most dangerous driving environment. You cannot see what you are about to hit, and others cannot see you either. Do not start a trip if the fog is so dense you cannot see. If you get caught in dense fog, it’s best to pull completely off of the road, preferably into a parking lot, to wait until the fog clears. While parked, turn your hazard lights on to make your vehicle more visible, and keep your seat belt fastened. When you must drive in FOGGY CONDITIONS, always remember to do these two things: Slow down enough so you can stop safely within the distance that you can see. You will need to carefully check your speedometer because fog takes away most of the visual information that lets you know how fast you are going; this makes it easy for you to speed up without being aware of it. Turn on your low beam headlights (and fog lights, if your vehicle has them) so others can see you. Do this whether it is daytime or nighttime. Do not use your high beams. They direct their light up and into the fog, which bounces the light back into your eyes, creating glare and making it even harder for you to see ahead. Snow also can severely limit your visibility. To increase your ability to see when driving in SNOWY CONDITIONS, do these six things:
Headlight / Windshield Wiper LawThis law, which went into effect Jan. 28, 2007, requires motorists to turn on their headlights anytime their vehicles wipers are in continuous or intermittent use due to weather conditions. Daytime running lights are not enough.
Your tail lights must be illuminated as well. Motorists who do not comply with the law may face a fine of $25, but with fees and other associated costs, the penalty would approach $100. Traffic Flow
Handle only one traffic condition at a time. Slow down behind the bicyclist, let the oncoming vehicle pass, and then move left to pass the cyclist, leaving at least 4 feet of space for safety. Reactions To Slow-Moving TrafficWatch out for vehicles that have trouble keeping up with the flow of other traffic and when entering the roadway; they take longer to pick up speed. These include some large trucks, as well as farm equipment and horse-drawn vehicles. Trucks, especially on long or steep upgrades, typically use their flashers to alert other drivers they are moving slowly. In rural areas, an orange triangle is displayed on the back of farm tractors and horse-drawn vehicles designed to operate at 25 mph or less; this is a slower speed than traffic normally travels. In certain areas of Pennsylvania, it is not at all unusual to find yourself sharing the road with farm tractors and horse-drawn vehicles. Stay a safe distance back, and do not honk to pass. Communicating Your Intentions To Other DriversCrashes often happen because one driver does something that another driver does not expect. To help avoid crashes, communicate with drivers on the road. Let others know where you are and what you plan to do by:
What factors go into the driver's decision to stop or go through the intersection?Drivers' decision to either proceed or stop when facing a yellow signal is affected by a number of factors, including distance to stop line, vehicle speed and acceleration/deceleration at the onset of the yellow signal, vehicle performance, road condition, drivers' perception/reaction time, etc.
What is it called when you reach a point which you can no longer stop safely without entering the intersection?The point- of-no-return is the point beyond which you can no longer stop safely without entering the intersection. Under normal conditions, that point is two seconds from the intersection as shown in the picture on the left.
What is it called when you adjust your speed to address one hazard at a time?Minimize – Steer away to increase the distance between your vehicle and a. (single) hazard. Separate – Change speed to take 2 or more hazards one at a time. Compromise – Give up your speed (Time) and/or lane position (Space) to avoid a collision when you are not able to minimize or separate.
What is the route your vehicle follows at it travels toward the target area called?Your line of sight is the visible path of travel from your vehicle to the target area.
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