6. Driving is a PRIVILEDGE
and a CHOICE ! !
You make the Choice
and you MUST ACCEPT
the Responsibilities for
your choices!
DEFENSIVE DRIVING
7. Have these DOCUMENTS with
you in your vehicle:
Driver’s License, Vehicle
Registration & Proof of
Insurance – ALL MANDATORY IN
THIS STATE!
DEFENSIVE DRIVING PREPARATIONS
8. DEFENSIVE DRIVING PREPARATIONS
Before you head out, check
tire pressure, check fuel and
oil levels, check lights & turn
signals, adjust mirrors, seats,
make sure you have jumper
cables, spare tire AND tools
to change a tire.
10. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
WHY SEATBELTS???
Seatbelt Statutes:
If back-seat passengers under age 18 are not
in seatbelts, driver can be cited.
If front-seat passengers under age 18 are not
in seatbelts, driver can be cited.
If front-seat passenger is18 or over and not in
seatbelts, that passenger can be cited.
11. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
WHY SEATBELTS???
Seatbelts & Airbags
Airbags CAN Kill you if
you’re not properly
belted into your seat.
12. EVERY crash involves 3 crashes
What REALLY happens in a vehicle crash?
DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
13. What REALLY happens in a vehicle crash?
DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
1st Crash – Your CAR hits whatever
14. What REALLY happens in a vehicle crash?
DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
2nd Crash – Things & People inside the
car crash into each other – and into you!
15. What REALLY happens in a vehicle crash?
DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
3rd Crash – YOUR internal organs slam into each other and
into your skeletal system – and the car HURTS you!!
16. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
TOP THREE Causes
of Crashes
Distracted Driving
Excessive Speed
Driving under the Influence (DUI)
18. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
Distractions:
Awake and Alert
NO Hangover
No “Artificial Highs” like energy drinks,
or pills
Some medications can cause drowsiness
Take a break when you’re tired!!
How is your mood? Are you to upset or
angry about something to think straight?
19. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
Excessive Speed
Aggressive Drivers
Speeding, abrupt lane
changes, cutting people off
Tailgating (FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE)
21. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
Excessive Speed
Reaction Time
This is the amount of time that it
takes from the moment you SEE or
HEAR a hazard until your brain
processes the info so you can
PHYSICALLY REACT to stop or move
to miss it.
23. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
Excessive Speed
Reaction Time
For a vehicle travelling 60 mph, a
reaction time of 1.8 seconds
means that the vehicle will
travel a distance of 158.4
feet.
24. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
Excessive Speed
Reaction Time
158.4 feet
That’s over half the length of a football field (Goal to 50yd line plus a little)
25. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
Reaction Time
FOLLOWING DISTANCE
At traffic lights or stop signs, stop your
vehicle so you can see the rear tires and
license plate of the vehicle in front of you
– then wait a few seconds before you
move!
26. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
Reaction Time
FOLLOWING DISTANCE
This is how you prevent following too
close!! DON’T TAILGATE!!
Remember the 3-second rule
28. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
IMPAIRED DRIVING--DUI
When you accept your license, you
AUTOMATICALLY AGREE to Intoxilyzer or
blood test! Failure to comply = immediate
suspension of your license. (Read the fine print)
Until you’re 21, the BAC level for legal action is: .02
Remember – You can’t legally drink
until you’re 21!
29. DEFENSIVE DRIVING UNDERWAY
IMPAIRED DRIVING--DUI
What you SHOULD expect
to happen to you
WORST CASE: Someone DIES!!
Heavy Fines & Probation
Suspended / Revoked License
Higher Insurance Premiums
If you hurt or kill someone, expect a CIVIL
Lawsuit in addition
36. On The
Road
Passing a vehicle
This is NOT the
time to return to
your lane.
Because. . .
37. “Objects in the mirror are
closer than they appear”
Passenger-side
OUTSIDE Rear-
View Mirror
38. INSIDE Rear-View Mirror
Passing another vehicle
To ensure safe
distance
between you
and the vehicle
you just
passed, wait
till you see his
front-end in
your INSIDE
Rear-view
Mirror
50. When turning into a divided
highway, stay in the closest lane
Turns
On the
Road
51. When turning into a divided
highway, stay in the closest lane
Turns
On the
Road
52. On a DIVIDED Highway, you must stop for a school bus loading or
unloading if you are traveling in the SAME DIRECTION
On the
Road
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
SCHOOL BUSES
53. On the
Road
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
SCHOOL BUSES
On a 2-Lane road or highway, EVERYONE in both directions must
stop for a school bus loading or unloading
54. Q: What’s worse than a
blind driver on a two-way
road at night?
A: TWO Blind drivers on a two-lane
road at night, AIMED at each other!!!
Even if the on-coming vehicle won’t
switch to low-beams, be responsible!
On the
Road
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
Night or Reduced Visibility
55. On the
Road
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
Night or Reduced Visibility
If you are blinded by on-coming high-
beam lights, SLOW DOWN and focus
on the RIGHT SHOULDER stripe until
you pass each other
This helps prevent you from “aiming”
at the on-coming vehicle.
56. On the
Road
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
SHARING THE ROAD
Motorcycles and Scooters
They are hard to see!!
They are supposed to follow the same
rules as any other vehicle on the road
– but sometimes they don’t
Give them the same courtesy you
would expect to be given to you!
57. On the
Road
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
SHARING THE ROAD
Bicycles, Golf-Carts, Special Machinery
They are really SLOW!!
In Florida, you MUST allow 3 feet
between your vehicle and a bike.
Bicycles are supposed to use the bike
lane, if there is one.
You will often see tractors and other
construction machinery – slow down
when you pass them!
58. On the
Road
Emergencies
Florida REQUIRES you to MOVE
OVER or SLOW DOWN for
stopped emergency,
maintenance, or highway assist
vehicles. Same as nearly all
other states!
59. On the
Road
Emergencies
C R A S H ??
If you are involved, or “roll-up” on an
accident that just occurred,
Check for injuries, give First Aid (if you
know how).
Call the authorities and driver’s
exchange information.
60. On the
Road
Emergencies
What if I suddenly lose power?
Power Steering and Brakes will be
affected – so signal (right turn) and coast
to RIGHT Shoulder, turn on 4-ways, raise
hood of your car, and call for help…
AT NIGHT – also turn on interior light
so you can be seen.
61. On the
Road
Emergencies
What if I have a blow-out?
Losing a back tire at highway speeds is
better than losing a front tire! In either
case – IMMEDIATELY take your foot off
the accelerator and coast to either
shoulder (median or right side,
whichever you’re closest to)
62. On the
Road
Emergencies
What if I have a blow-out?
Turn on your flashers (plus interior light
at night) – and call someone for
assistance, or if you know how and you
have the proper tools, change the tire.
STAY OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANES!!
63. On the
Road
Emergencies
Hydroplaning ?
Hydroplaning means your vehicle loses
traction with the road surface during wet
weather. It’s caused by tires with little
or no tread AND by speed to fast for
conditions..
STAY OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANES!!
64. On the
Road
Emergencies
Hydroplaning ?
In the most severe cases, your vehicle
will do multiple 360-degree rotations in
the roadway…
Trust us – you WON’T like the ride!!!
65. On the
Road
Emergencies
Traffic Signal Failure ?
If traffic lights go out at an intersection
–
TREAT THE INTERSECTION AS A 4-WAY
STOP.
Follow the directions of Police Officers or
other traffic enforcement people!
66. On the
Road
WEATHER AS A FACTOR
Night or Reduced Visibility
Florida law requires drivers
to turn on HEADLIGHTS if
you need to use windshield
wipers. It’s good practice to
use headlights in FOG, Rain,
mist, smoke, etc.
67. On the
Road
WEATHER AS A FACTOR
Night or Reduced Visibility
In dense fog AT NIGHT
Don’t use High Beams
(Brights) – the fog
reflects it back at you –
you won’t see anything!!
68. On the
Road
WEATHER AS A FACTOR
Night or Reduced Visibility
Clean off your headlights and tail lights
in bad weather
Road salt, oil and debris reduces the
effectiveness of your headlights by
about 30 per cent
Clear lighting makes you MORE VISIBLE
In bad weather, wipe off your headlights
and tail lights at fuel and rest stops.
69. On the
Road
Techniques to improve
your driving skills
COURTESY Tip! Don’t block signal-controlled or other
marked intersections. If cross-traffic or turning traffic
is blocked, it only adds to the congestion
70. On the
Road
Techniques to improve
your driving skills
ALWAYS know where you’re going
and how to get there!
You don’t have to be the first off
the light or intersection! Squealing
tires and jack-rabbit starts only
abuses your vehicle and wastes
fuel.
71. On the
Road
Techniques to improve
your driving skills
It’s a good idea to keep
the driver’s side window
open at least an inch! It
helps air flow in the
vehicle, and you can HEAR
emergency vehicles!
72. Vehicle
Technology
CRUISE
CONTROL
Cruise Control is NOT “auto-pilot!!”
It isn’t very good when towing a load, or in
winding or hilly terrain, or in heavy traffic.
In 2000 model-year and later, Cruise-
Control became a little “smarter” … it will
automatically disengage if it senses a skid
(hydroplaning) or bump, as in potholes.
73. Vehicle
Technology
ABS =
Anti-lock Braking
System
In a “panic-stop” situation, if your
vehicle has anti-lock brake system,
you will feel it engage. You will
feel a steady vibration through the
brake pedal.
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
74. Vehicle
Technology
ABS =
Anti-lock Braking
System
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
When you feel (and hear) this system
engage – DO NOT TAKE YOUR FOOT
OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL YOU'VE
STOPPED. If you release the brake
early, the computer can't work and you
could lose control.
75. Vehicle
Technology
GPS, Radio, Cell-
phones, and other
technologies
Blue Tooth, OnStar, and Sync are just
some of the technologies designed to
help you communicate. These integrate
wireless phone, computers, and GPS
BlueTooth, OnStar or Sync
76. Vehicle
Technology
GPS, Radio, Cell-
phones, and other
technologies
TECHNOLOGY can be DISTRACTING!
That is dangerous
Remember, a while ago
we said DISTRACTION is
the #1 cause of crashes!
77. Courtesy and Attitude
Look out for the other guy
Don’t ASSUME too much
Plan Ahead and Look Ahead
Know PRECISELY where your vehicle is relating to
other vehicles or obstacles –
Know how to get where you’re going!
Summary & Questions???
