Student Guide

UNIT 1: Introduction
Review topics covered in Unit One:

Review

Unit 1. Introduction
1.1 The IDS Course 1.1.1 Course goals 1.1.2 Course structure 1.1.3 Student navigation 1.1.4 Student records 1.1.5 Additional resources

Before interacting with others on the roadway, you will need to know the rules, practice your skills, demonstrate safe techniques and be mentally and physically prepared to drive. The mid-term and a final exam each consist of 100 questions long and you must receive a score of 80% or higher on each exam to pass. A database will track your progress and when you pass the course you will be issued a certificate of completion. Keep a record of your student ID and password, after exiting, you will need it to re-enter the course. Utilize all of the additional course resources to make your experience rewarding.

1.2

Why Driver Education is Necessary 1.2.1 Driving is a privilege 1.2.2 Legal obligations 1.2.3 Other responsibilities 1.2.4 Courtesy 1.2.5 Avoiding collisions

Driver education is more than just learning how to operate the controls of your vehicle. A successful driver education program helps drivers develop knowledge and performance skills to drive safely. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Drivers have financial and legal requirements plus a responsibility to drive only when physically and mentally capable of controlling the vehicle and making safe decisions. Every driver is personally responsible for their own actions, their vehicle, cargo and the well being of their passengers. If you directly or indirectly cause a collision, you have the potential of being legally and financially responsible, as well as liable for the damage or injuries associated with that collision. When you drive, follow safe driving practices to lower your risk of causing or being in a collision. Remember how serious your legal and financial obligations are every time you get behind the wheel.
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As you enter the driving world, keep in mind that driver education cannot teach you everything you need to learn to become a skillful driver. Risk perception and performance skills are developed over time.

1.3

Surviving Driving 1.3.1 The HTS 1.3.2 Risk 1.3.3 Risk for novice drivers 1.3.4 Confidence and experience 1.3.5 GDL

Every time you drive you will be sharing the roadway and interacting with different vehicles and drivers that have assorted levels of knowledge and performance skills. Risk is the chance of collision, injury, or loss. In the driving world, risk is constantly present. As a driver, there are things you can do to reduce your risk. Learn how to assess your risk by becoming aware of your entire driving environment and developing the habit of predicting hazards that may appear in your path of travel and developing a plan to reduce risk. Assess your risk Be aware of the roadway and off-road environment. Scan well ahead, to the sides and behind. Assess the big picture and keep your eyes moving. Predict the chances of a conflict occurring. Anticipate the actions of others. What is the probability that a dangerous event will occur? Be prepared to manage situations. Manage risk Have a plan. Position yourself with an "out", should you need it. Obey all traffic controls. Exercise the right-of-way rules. Drive defensively. Do not drive where you cannot see. If your vision is blocked, reduce speed and reposition your vehicle so you can see well ahead and around your vehicle, don't forget to look behind. See and be seen. Communicate your presence to other road users by always driving with your daytime running lights or low-beam headlights. Remember, if you can't see them, they probably can't see you. Look where you want your vehicle to go. Avoid distractions. Avoid sudden steering and braking movements. Never tailgate. Be a considerate driver. Keep your vehicle in good mechanical condition. Practice "what if" scenarios before they occur in real life.
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The Risk for New Drivers 16 year old drivers have a crash rate 2.6 times higher than 18 year old drivers. Statistically, it is proven that the most dangerous, high risk years of your driving career are the first years. This is the time when you are developing experience and the HTS is not designed to compensate for trial and error. The most common risk behaviors for novice drivers include: Having a low perception of the risks involved in driving. Driving too fast for conditions. Looking away from the path of travel. Driving through a curve too fast. Failure to search through intersections resulting in being hit by cross traffic. Pulling in front of cross traffic at intersections. Too much or too little steering input for the speed being traveled. Failure to maintain a visual lead. Failure to maintain an adequate following distance. Willfully taking the right-of-way when not warranted. Failure to manage inattention and distraction.

The fact is that, 20 percent of drivers do not know all the rules of the road and 90 percent of all crashes are due to driver error. Over-confidence can work against you and so can a lack of confidence. If you are not comfortable with your skill level, the density of traffic or the conditions in which you are driving, dont drive. Practice your driving skills in a low speed, safe environment (i.e. on a Sunday morning or in a residential area). Gain experience before sharing the HTS with other drivers. If conditions are not ideal for visibility and control, delay your drive until they improve. Graduated driver licensing laws are designed for novice drivers to gain experience incrementally, or in stages. Stage 1: Learners permit: This stage allows new drivers to practice basic driving skills accompanied by and under the supervision of an experienced, licensed driver over 21 years of age. Eligibility often includes parents permission, minimum age requirement, successful completion of a driver education course and state driver knowledge exam. States also require behind-the-wheel training. Reference your state laws for details on your local requirements. Stage 2: Intermediate or probationary license: This stage allows the new driver more freedom, with specific restrictions designed for safety. To qualify for this phase, drivers typically are required to successfully complete the last phase, pass the state in-car evaluation and have at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice with an adult. Stage 3: Full license: The full license provides for unrestricted driving privileges. It typically is issued upon completion of the first two stages. Requirements include meeting the state requirements for age and licensing examinations. GDL laws also include limiting the number of passengers in the vehicle and restrictions on driving late at night. Reference your state laws to obtain your licensing requirements.
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1.4

The Laws You Can Not Break 1.4.1 Gravity 1.4.2 Friction 1.4.3 Kinetic energy 1.4.4 Inertia 1.4.5 Force of impact

When you drive you will encounter all kinds of drivers, interact with many types of vehicles and travel through an assortment of terrain and weather conditions. With all of this to deal with, there are some other "laws of nature" that will always be present - these are the laws you can not change. The laws of physics are with you whenever you drive. These natural laws constantly effect your vehicles operation and will vary depending on vehicle; weight, speed and direction. Operate your vehicle to compensate for these natural forces, or laws of nature. Gravity pulls objects, including pulling your vehicle downhill, towards the center of the earth. The effects of gravity pulling on your vehicle get stronger when you travel up or down a hill. As you go uphill, your vehicle needs more power to maintain speed and requires less distance to stop. As you travel downhill, your vehicle needs less power to reach the bottom and your stopping distance increases. The center of gravity on an object is the point where all of the weight is evenly balanced. Taller vehicles, trucks and SUVs have a higher center of gravity than most cars. As a driver, this is important to recognize because the higher the center of gravity, the higher the risk of rollover, especially at high speeds or when maneuvering through tight turns and curves. Friction is the force that stops motion. When two objects come in contact with each other, resistance is created. The friction between your tires and the roadway allows to you to change direction and stop. Without friction we wouldnt be able to walk or drive. Everything would just slip, slide, and never stop! If you have no tread on your tires or the road is slippery, traction is reduced and you can lose both the control of your direction and your ability to stop quickly. If your tires lose contact with the surface of the road completely, there is virtually no friction available to counteract the motion and associated speed you are traveling. You need the friction created by your tires and the road surface to control your speed and direction. Kinetic Energy is the energy an object has while it is moving, or the energy of motion. The faster the object is traveling, the more energy of motion it possesses. When you drive, you will need to adjust your speed well ahead of the time to stop. The amount of time you will need to stop or counteract the energy of motion will increase with speed and/or weight of the vehicle. The heavier your vehicle, the more energy of motion it will have to continue going in the direction it is traveling. If your vehicles weight doubles, so will its energy of motion. What does this mean? If your vehicle is loaded with cargo and passengers and is twice as heavy as usual, it will take twice as long to stop. The faster you travel, the more energy of motion your vehicle will have. The energy of motion will change in proportion to the square of its change in speed. If you travel 40 miles per hour, given the
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same braking power, it will require four times the stopping distance that it would take if you travel 20 miles per hour. If you travel 60 miles per hour, it will require nine times the stopping distance you would need going 20 miles per hour. Inertia is the law of nature that means objects in motion tend to keep in motion until they are stopped by another object or force. If an object is in motion it will stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless some type of external force acts upon it. The faster you go the more inertia or outward pushing force. Why is this important when you drive? When driving straight and approaching a curve, your vehicle (object in motion) wants to continue straight even though you may turn the wheel/tires in the direction of the curve. Negotiating the curve depends on the amount of friction/traction available at any given speed. That is why it's critical to slow prior to curves so that inertia does not reduce your available traction or grip. Force of Impact is the force of an object colliding with another object. Factors that affect the force of impact include the objects weight, speed and distance traveled after initial contact. Why is this important? If you hit something with your vehicle, the force of impact is a huge factor relative to the amount of damage incurred by the vehicle and its occupants. The force of impact increases if the object you hit is moving towards your vehicle. This is the reason you need to avoid head-on collisions at all costs.

1.5

Your License 1.5.1 Requirements 1.5.2 Prepare yourself for the exam 1.5.3 Prepare your vehicle for the exam 1.5.4 Your state laws 1.5.5 Insurance

Requirements State requirements that you need to follow include: Procedures for driver licensing. Documentation necessary to obtain a driver license. Requirements for vehicle registration. Requirements for vehicle safety features. Financial responsibility. Insurance requirements.

You will also need to locate the closest state Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) Office. The DMV office is where you will schedule an appointment for your driver license in-vehicle examination. Go online to your states Secretary of State Website to locate a DMV office in your local area.

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Prepare Yourself for the Exam This exam is one of the most important set of exams you will take in your lifetime. Your state will require you to pass a vision test, a knowledge test and demonstrate your performance skills in the vehicle. Contact your local DMV for details about how to arrange for the examinations. Preparation for the knowledge test is similar to studying for an examination in school. Study the material found in your state driver license manual. When you think you are ready to pass the test, take sample tests to see how you score. Identify your weaknesses based on your score and review the areas you missed. If there is anything that you do not understand, or need clarification about, contact a professional driver instructor for assistance. Prepare for the in-vehicle exam by practicing the maneuvers recommended in the state driver manual. Practice smooth, controlled movements including difficult parking and evasive maneuvers. Review the rules-of-the-road until they are fixed in your memory. It will be very important for you to know when to yield the right-of-way and communicate your intentions to maneuver with your lights and signals. You will also need to demonstrate the ability to scan, search, make sound judgments and execute your maneuvers without interrupting the traffic flow. Do not go the DMV expecting to pass the examination if you have not studied and are not prepared. Learn the materials because you will need to know and use this information for as long as you drive. Bring the necessary paperwork with you when you go to the DMV. Do not be late. Be rested and focused. You might have to wait for a while so do not arrive on an empty stomach. Prepare Your Vehicle for the Drive Test If you will be using your vehicle for the in-vehicle examination, it will have to be ready to pass the test as well. Ensure the vehicle passes all state requirements for the installation of safety equipment. Ensure the vehicle is in good operating condition. Check the tire pressure, brakes, pedals, lights, horn and fluids. Clean the vehicle inside and out, especially the windows. Remove any loose objects and distractions. Check your fuel gauge.

If your state requires proof of a passed emissions test, registration and insurance, be sure to bring those documents with you. Make a list and get everything together the day before your test.

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Your State Laws Each state has its own administrative laws, and there are several common to all states: Your license is a privilege. It can be granted by the state and taken away. The courts or state officials may revoke, or suspend a driver license for many reasons. Traffic convictions are rated depending on how severe the violation is. This rating system is commonly known as the "point system" and states keep track of each driver's record. The number of points you accumulate is serious and can become extremely expensive when you include ticket fines, court and/or traffic school costs, not to mention the increase in insurance premiums. A license can be suspended by the state. Suspension is the removal of the license and all driving privileges for a year. The license and driving privilege is returned to the operator after the year expires. A license can also be revoked. If the state revokes your license, you will loose your driving privilege for at least a year after which time, depending on the offense, you will have to reapply for the license. If a driver is found driving when their license is suspended or revoked, it is a serious offense, often resulting in a mandatory jail sentence.

Always carry your license, proof of insurance and the vehicles registration tags in or on the vehicle when you drive. Carry them where you can locate them without hesitation if you get stopped by a law enforcement officer. If you loose any of these documents, replace them before getting behind the wheel. Reference your state motor vehicle code for the fines and penalties associated with driving violations. Insurance Do not consider driving unless you are covered by an automotive insurance policy. In most states you will be required to have one or more types of insurance before purchasing a vehicle. Automotive insurance is complicated and can be quite expensive for the novice driver. Shop around and budget for insurance. It is a cost that potentially can equal or exceed your car payment. Liability insurance Liability insurance is proof of your ability to pay if you are at fault, or liable for a collision. The policy is in place to pay for the costs associated with injuries or property damage resulting from a collision. Liability insurance protects you and anyone that has permission to operate your vehicle. If you own a vehicle and someone else drives it, they must have your permission or your insurance will not cover them. Liability insurance has two categories bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury liability insurance is designed to cover costs associated with injuries, death, court costs, legal fees and lost wages related to damage you inflict on another person. Property damage liability insurance is designed to cover costs associated with damage to the property of other people.
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If your insurance does not cover the entire amount of these costs, you can be sued and be held personally liable. Collision insurance Collision insurance pays for damages if you are at fault or if you are involved in a collision with a driver who is not insured. Comprehensive insurance Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle when it is damaged for reasons other than a collision, such as fire, theft or natural disasters. No-fault insurance Many states offer no-fault insurance that pays for costs associated with your collision related injury, no matter who is at fault for the collision. Premium and deductible A premium is a set amount of money, collected incrementally (usually every six months) to pay for your insurance policy. The deductible is a fixed amount you agree to pay when you file an insurance claim. Usually, the higher the deductible cost, the lower the premium. Premiums are established based on our age, driving record, annual mileage, location, and gender.

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