Driver Guide

Look well down the road, not just at the road in front of your vehicle.  Look 
for traffic situations where you will need to steer or slow before you get to 
them.  
When turning corners, turn the steering wheel using the hand-over-hand 
technique.  Do not turn the wheel with just the palm of one hand, because 
you could lose control.  When you complete a turn, straighten out the 
steering wheel by hand. 
Steering Wheel Locking Device — Never turn your vehicle’s ignition key 
to the “lock” position while your vehicle is still in motion.  This will cause the 
steering wheel to lock if you try to turn the steering wheel, and you will lose 
control of your vehicle.
FOLLOWING OTHER VEHICLES
Be sure to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front 
of you.  You need a safe distance to stop or turn to avoid a crash.  Rear-end 
crashes are very common. They are caused by drivers who follow too closely 
and cannot stop in time when the vehicle ahead suddenly stops.
THREE SECOND RULE
A good way to measure your safe following distance is to use the “three 
second rule.”  Choose an object near the road ahead, like a sign or 
telephone pole.  As the vehicle ahead of you passes it, count slowly, “One 
thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three.”  If you reach the 
object before you finish counting, you are too close to the vehicle ahead.
SPACE BEHIND
It is not always easy to maintain a safe distance behind your vehicle.  
However, you can help keep the driver at a safe distance by keeping a 
steady speed, and signaling in advance when you slow down.  Follow these 
safety tips:
•    Try to find a safe place out of traffic to stop and pick up or let off 
passengers.
•    If you want to parallel park and there is traffic coming behind you, put on 
your turn signal, pull next to the space, and allow vehicles to pass before 
you park. 
•    When you have to drive so slowly that you slow down other vehicles, pull 
to the side of the road when it is safe to do so, and let them pass. There 
are turnout areas on some two-lane roads you could use.  Other two-
lane roads sometimes have passing lanes.
•    If you are followed too closely or “tailgated” by another driver, and there 
is a right lane, move over to the right.  If there is no right lane, wait until 
the road ahead is clear and then reduce speed slowly.  This will encourage 
the tailgater to drive around you.  Never slow down quickly to discourage 
a tailgater.  This will only increase your risk of being hit from behind.
SPACE TO THE SIDE
You need space on both sides of your vehicle to have room to turn or 
change lanes.
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•    Avoid driving next to other vehicles on multi-lane roads.  Someone may 
crowd your lane or try to change lanes and pull into you.  Move ahead or 
drop behind the other vehicle.
•    Keep as much space as you can between yourself and oncoming 
vehicles.  On a two-lane road, this means not crowding the center line.  
In general, it is safest to drive in the center of your lane. 
•    Make room for vehicles entering on a multi-lane roadway.  If there is not 
a vehicle in the lane next to you, move over a lane.
•    Keep extra space between your vehicle and parked vehicles.  Someone 
could step out from a parked vehicle, from between vehicles, or a parked 
vehicle could pull out.
•    Give extra space to pedestrians or bicyclists, especially children.  They 
may move into your path quickly and without warning.  Wait until it is 
safe to pass.
•    When possible, take potential hazards one at a time.  For example, if 
you are overtaking a bicycle and an oncoming vehicle is approaching, 
slow down and let the vehicle pass first so you can give extra room to 
the bicycle.
STOPPING DISTANCE
Your stopping distance equals your reaction distance plus your braking 
distance.  If you are driving fast, are very tired, or if your vehicle has bad 
brakes, you will need more space to stop your vehicle.
The following distance equals your reaction distance plus your vehicle’s 
braking distance at different speeds.  The reaction distance is the distance 
you travel after you see a danger and before you apply your brakes. In the 
chart shown below, the reaction distance is for 1.5 seconds.  You have to 
be alert to react within one and one-half seconds.
The braking distance is the distance you travel after you apply your brakes 
and before your vehicle comes to a stop.  In the chart shown below, 
the braking distance is for a vehicle with good brakes and tires, in good 
weather and on a good road.
AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE OF CARS ON DRY LEVEL PAVEMENT
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LETTING OTHERS KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING
Generally, other drivers expect you to keep doing what you are doing.  You 
must warn them when you are going to change direction or slow down.  
This will give them time to react to what you do.
SIGNAL WHEN YOU CHANGE DIRECTION
You should use your turn signals before you change lanes, turn right or left, 
merge into traffic, or park.
•    Get into the habit of signaling every time you change direction.  Signal 
even when you do not see anyone else around.  It is easy to miss 
someone who needs to know what you are doing.
•    Signal as early as you can.  Try to signal at least 100 feet before you 
make your move.  If there are other streets, driveways, or entrances 
between you and where you want to turn, wait until you have passed 
them to signal.
•    If another vehicle is about to enter the street between you and where 
you plan to turn, wait until you have passed it to signal your turn. 
•    After you have made a turn or lane change, make sure your turn signal 
is off.  After small turns, the signal may not turn off by itself.  Turn it off if 
it has not clicked off by itself.  If you do not, other drivers might think you 
plan to turn again.
USING YOUR HORN
Do not use your horn unless you have to.  Needless use of your horn may 
distract other drivers and cause a traffic crash.  There is only one reason to 
use your horn:  to warn other drivers.  Your horn should not be used as a 
display of anger or frustration.
“SLOW POKE” DRIVING
It is against the law for you to drive slower than the posted minimum speed 
under normal driving conditions.  You may drive more slowly than the minimum 
speed if you are driving in bad weather, heavy traffic, or on a bad road.
If there is no posted minimum speed, it is still against the law for you to 
drive so slowly that you block traffic.  If you have to drive more slowly, and 
vehicles line up behind you, you should pull over and let them pass.  Many 
crashes are caused by slow drivers who block other traffic.  Remember, 
slower is not always safer.
CARBON MONOXIDE
Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning.  Vehicle motors give off carbon 
monoxide which is a deadly gas.  To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:
•   Do not leave the motor running in a garage.
•    Do not leave the motor running and windows closed when you park your 
vehicle.
•    Do not use the heater or air conditioner in a parked vehicle with the 
windows closed.
•    Do not leave the vents open when following closely behind another 
vehicle.
•    Do not drive with a defective muffler or exhaust system.

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