Chapter 4 Safe Driving

Speed ControlsA driver is responsible to know 2 speed zones –

25 mph - Residential, school & business50 mph - All others

What this means is if there are no signs posted you must choose the proper speed zone

Exceeding the speed is a common factor of all crashes

Speed Zones continueSpeed limits are the highest speed you should travel under ideal conditions. A good rule is to keep up with traffic at any legal speed.

Speed Zones

•25 - Business or residential•25 - School – must be posted•35 - Suburban business & residential •50 - Other•55 - Certain state highways & interstates•65 - Interstates

Speed Zones continue

Double fines – 4 areas where penalties double

•School Zones •Construction Zones•Safe Corridor Zones•65 MPH Speed Zones

Speed limits not postedIt is possible to get a speeding ticket when going the post limit – WHY?

If driving faster than the weather or road conditions safely allow

Always slow down:On narrow or winding roadsAt intersections & railroad crossingsHillsSharp or blind curvesWet slippery roadsPedestrians or driving hazards

Safe Corridor ZonesThese are sections of a high way that have above average accident reports. In these areas, which are marked by signs, all fines are doubled as a way of getting motorists to drive with more caution.

These sections also require higher police presence and additional road maintenance all in an effort to reduce the accident rate

PassingThe term passing means that you are changing lane in order to go by slower moving vehicles

TTLB: Passing is it legal, is it safe, & do I need to

Legal line nearest me is it solid or broken sign preventing Unsafe area – hills, curves, blind areas, intersections, rail roads, narrow bridges, other vehicles yielding to pedestrians

Keep to the RightLaw requires motorists to stay to the right, except to pass

What good, responsible, safe driver know is when they have the right-of-way and when they have to yield.

A good driver will also know when and how to give you their right-of-way. Overly courteous drivers cause a lot of problems

Yield Must yield to:

• All Emergency vehicles in service (lights & sirens)• Buses & postal vehicles re-entering traffic• Pedestrians• Motorized or mobility vehicles• Other vehicles already in intersection

Pedestrians NJ experiences a large number of pedestrian accidents compared to other states. In order to reduce this we must take a shared responsibility approach. The motorists must:

•Yield to pedestrians•Don’t block or park on side walks and crosswalks•Keep windshield clean•Be alert in high pedestrian areas•Watch for pedestrians when turn (all)•Never pass vehicles that are yielding to pedestrians

IntersectionsDefinition – where 2 or more roads meet.

Most collisions occur at intersections

A single solid white line across a road at an intersection is a stop line. If a stop is required, you must come to a complete stop before crossing that line.

Types of IntersectionsControlled – traffic is controlled by traffic signals or signs (or officer)

Laws governing signals dictate right-of-way, but at four way stop intersection, when cars arrive together the person on left has the right-of-way or “the person on the right has to yield to the person on the left”.

Uncontrolled – intersections without signals or signs reduce speed and be prepared to stop

Intersection continuedSignals not working treat as a four-way stop

Exam note: a driver cannot drive on private property to avoid a traffic signal or sign, the only time a motorist can do so is when told to by police

Blind intersections – slow down or stop to check traffic

Circles – rules governing circle are individual

Entering & Exiting Limit accessAcceleration lanes – extra lanes added to road to allow motorist to speed up in order to enter a roadway. Remember these lanes will end & you are the driver responsible to yield

Deceleration lane – extra lanes added to allow motorists to slow down to exit at the posted speed

Weaves – combined additional lane for entering & leaving. Motorist enter must yield

Disabled VehicleIf your vehicle does break down Pull vehicle as far off the road as possible Remember to signal and slow down with care. Turn on hazard lights Raise hood and or attach cloth to hood or

window Place flares or signs 300 feet behind car Call for help and stay with vehicle Don’t stand behind car

CurvesApproaching curves is the same as approaching a

turn except for the single, many people cause their own skid by doing this wrong.

Slow down (to posted limit) before entering Avoid drifting Once in the turn foot should be on gas At half way point gradually accelerate If you are riding the brake you have erred so

you at the hospital

TurningRight on Red Law: You must turn right on red

unless a sign is posted.

Signal Come complete stop (the rock) After yielding to traffic & pedestrians you may

turn Glance at light to see if it has changed

Turns continuedRight turns:

Signal Move to appropriate lane (to far right) Stay in proper lane Be alert to pedestrians or bicyclists on right

Turns continuedLeft turns: Is it legal Left most legal lane, (closest to center line) signal Yield to all on coming & pedestrian traffic Turn into the left most legal lane Stay in lane (Don’t cut or turn wide)

Exam -Turning left from two-way to four-lane highway

Stopping Regulations Signs, signals & rules indicate when a motoristshould stop. Most accidents occur at intersectionsnormally due to people trying to jump the signal, ignore yield regulations or trying to beat the signal.

To avoid accidents slow down when approaching an intersection and be prepared to stop.

Stop At stop sign Solid or flashing red light Officer or traffic control person orders you to School bus with lights on Coming from a private road Draw bridge or rail road with warning lights on Pedestrian in cross walk Blind pedestrian (dog or cane) Motorized wheel chair

Stopping continuedStop line – Solid white line across road

Certain vehicles must stop at rail road crossings if you are behind one you must also stop (see no passing)

School Bus – Stop at least 25 feet in all directions unless:

Divided highway In front of school may pass at 10 mph

Stop continuedFrozen Dessert (ice cream truck): When

conducting business you are to stop, yield to all pedestrians then you may pass at 15 mph

Pull over and stop for emergency vehicles in service. (yield to) After the vehicle has passed you may proceed but don’t follow within 300 feet and never park within 200 feet. Urban areas my have an emergency lane

Use of LightsWhen: ½ hour after sunset ½ hour before sun rise Wind shield wipers on Visibility of less than 500 feet (fog, smoke,

snow)

Parking or auxiliary light cannot be used when head lights are required

Lights continuedBright or high beams – used for open country

driving.

TTLB: The person driving toward you can see you are you scared? Turn your high beams off anytime there is a vehicle within 500 feet of your car. Including divided highways

Quick flash of your lights then look low and to rightDims – for driving in city and traffic

Other required lights Tail Lights - Rear Brake Lights - Rear Back-up Lights - Rear Plate Lights - Rear Signal Lights - Rear & Front/side Hazard Lights - Rear & Front/side Parking Lights - Rear & Front/side Head Lights - Front Dome Lights - Inside Dash lights - Inside

Parking Regulations When leaving a parked car open the door with

care the driver is responsible for collisions occurring from opening doors.

Cars must be no farther than 6 inches from curb

Check for parking regulation signs before parking.

Then sign that controls your car is the sign behind you or the last sign you saw.

No Parking Fire hydrant – 10 feet Crosswalk – 25 feet Stop Sign & railroad crossing – 50 feet Fire station entrance – 20 feet, 75 feet opposite side On crosswalk On Sidewalk Red or yellow zone (pedestrian safety zone) On interstate In bus stop Driveway entrance (any) On bridge or elevated road Next to another car (double parked) Prohibited by ordinance

Cell PhonesTTLB: (After seat belts this is the number one TTLB) - Driving and

texting has proven to be more dangerous that driving at the level of .08. I will do neither. If I need to talk or texted I will pull over.

Pull over, Pull over, Pull over!! $100 to $250 fine, primary offense, all electronics are a GDL

offense

Exceptions: Fire, Accident, Road Hazards, Medical emergency, Hazardous materials, report erratic driving

LitteringThe driver is responsible for the vehicle, and trash

thrown from a vehicle (moving or parked) can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and loss of license.

Life lesson – There is no excuse for littering be a better citizen and don’t litter or stand by quietly while others do. Regardless of the situation or location.