The basic driving skills in this section are the cornerstones to safe and responsible driving. Make sure your teen learns, practices, and can demonstrate these basic driving skills.
Automatic or Manual Transmission
A new driver should first learn the basic controls in a car with automatic transmission and then transfer to a standard shift vehicle.
Steering Control and Hand Position
Modern vehicles require very little steering to turn. Use hand positions that reduce the possibility of turning the wheel too sharply.
To reduce forearm and hand injuries, hands should be placed on the lower half of the steering wheel, with knuckles on the outside and thumbs stretched along the rim of the steering wheel. Never wrap your fingers or thumb on the inside of the wheel.
Make sure your teen learns, practices, and can demonstrate the following steering techniques:
Hand Position for Steering
Look at the steering wheel as a clock face. Keep your hands in either the 9 and 3 o'clock positions or the 8 and 4 o'clock positions. Keep your hands and thumbs on the outside of the wheel. Never place your fingers or thumbs on the inside of the wheel.
Hand-Over-Hand Steering
Use hand-over-hand steering when steering movements are critical, such as when (a) parking, (b) performing sharp right turns, and (c) for skid correction. Use quick movements on entry to the maneuver, and then use slow, smooth movements when straightening the wheel.
One-Hand Steering
Use one-hand steering for backing maneuvers so that you can turn your body to look out of the rear window, in addition to looking all around while you back.
Speed Control
Speed control techniques are used to make smooth starts, stops, and turns. These techniques increase comfort in the vehicle as well as fuel efficiency. They also keep the vehicle balanced, which increases your control of the vehicle and decreases risk to yourself and others. Cruise control is not recommended for the beginning driver.
Make sure your teen learns, practices, and can demonstrate the following acceleration and braking techniques:
Light Acceleration
Light acceleration is light pressure on the gas pedal. It is used to (a) make smooth starts and (b) begin turns that require a stop.
Progressive Acceleration
Progressive acceleration is a steady increase in pressure on the gas pedal. It is used to get your speed up to the speed limit. Continue to apply the gas until you have reached your desired speed, then use steady even pressure to maintain your speed.
Cover Brake
Cover brake is when the ball of your right foot is “hovering" over the brake. It is used in anticipation and/or preparation for a braking application.
Controlled Brake
Controlled brake is firm, steady, even pressure on the brake pedal. It is used in non-emergency situations. Apply the brake to the point of resistance, then use steady even pressure.
Trail Brake
Trail brake is a slight decrease of pressure on the brake pedal. It is used (a) during the last two seconds of a stop in order to avoid any jerky sensations, (b) to back up, (c) to inch forward, (d) to “creep" or move at a walking pace, and (e) to begin a moving turn.
Threshold Brake
Threshold brake is applying maximum force to the brake pedal without locking the wheels. It is used in emergency situations.
Lane Positions
Lane positions refer to where your vehicle is in the lane (it does not refer to changing lanes). Lane positions are the “body language" of your vehicle and are used to (a) communicate your intentions to other drivers, and (b) best position your vehicle for a driving maneuver. Make sure your teen learns, practices, and can demonstrate the following three lane positions:
Lane Position 1 (LP1)
Lane Position 1 is in the center of the lane. This position allows for the best separation and distance from obstacles (such as cars, curbs, etc.) to the right and to the left.
Use Lane Position 1 for normal driving conditions if you have no plan to change driving maneuvers.
Lane Position 2 (LP2)
Lane Position 2 is the left side of the lane. This position allows for the best separation from obstacles on the right and helps to improve your line of sight.
Use Lane Position 2 for left turns and parking on the left.
Lane Position 3 (LP3)
Lane Position 3 is the right side of the lane. This position allows for the best separation from obstacles on the left and helps to improve your line of sight. Use Lane Position 3 for parking on the right.
Both LP2 and LP3 look like your vehicle is over the line from the passenger seat. Take time to learn what this looks like before you take the vehicle out on a drive with your teen.
Figure 3 - Lane Positions
Definitions
Line of Sight: what you can see in any area you are looking. If you are going forward it is the area you can see in the front of the car. If you are backing it is the area you see behind the car.
Following Time
Following time is important for many reasons. You need adequate distance between vehicles so you can (a) see beyond the vehicle in front of you, and (b) have enough time to make adjustments to changing driving conditions ahead of you.
Make sure your teenager learns, practices, and can demonstrate the ability to judge speed and distance by using the proper following time.
Determine Following Time
To determine following time, watch as the car in front of you passes a stationary object, such as a road sign. Then, start counting “one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, etc.," until you reach the same object. “One-one-thousand" is approximately one second.
Maintain 4 Seconds of Following Time
Follow at 4 or more seconds at all times and especially when traveling under the following conditions:
- In congested traffic.
- In adverse weather conditions.
- When behind a motorcycle, truck, or bus.
Make Speed and Space Adjustments
- Anytime the driver in front of you reduces speed, adjust your following time so you can see at least 15-20 seconds ahead.
- When traffic or environmental conditions warrant, increase following time.
- Change position within the lane to increase line of sight.
Searching Skills
A common cause of poor driving and crashes is not seeing the problem. Make sure your teen learns, practices, and can demonstrate searching skills including: searching intersections – (1/3 of all crashes happen at intersections); reading signs, signals, and markings; reading the dash (speedometer).
See a Clear Path
BEFORE you step on the gas, always (a) determine what your path of travel will be, and (b) that your path of travel is clear before moving the vehicle in that direction.
Turn Your Head
BEFORE turning the steering wheel, turn your head in the direction you intend to travel. When you look to see what is in your path of travel before you move the car in that direction, there will be no surprises or quick, unplanned maneuvers such as slamming on your brakes or sudden lane changes.
Check Your Blind Spot
Do a chin-to-shoulder-turn of your head in the direction you plan to move before you (a) pull into traffic, (b) make lane changes, or any other lateral movement.
Do a 360 Degree Search
Physically turn your head and body to look all the way around your car before you (a) back the vehicle or (b) parallel park.
Search Area for Potential Problems
Look for any changes or obstacles. Search 20-30 seconds ahead of the vehicle to gather information about your path of travel. Search 12-15 seconds ahead of the vehicle to plan your path of travel and keep 2-4 seconds of following time.
Check the Rearview Mirror
Check the rearview mirror (a) after seeing a change to conditions ahead of you, (b) before and after braking action, (c) while stopped in traffic, (d) before and after making turns, and (e) before and after making a lane change.
Figure 4 - Potential Problems
1. Search the target area for problems.
2. Solve problems 15-30 seconds away.
3. Make sure your solutions work while 4 seconds away. You are about to occupy that space!
Definitions
Path of Travel: the area you want the car to go.
Blind Spot: the area that is not visible to the driver without turning their head and looking.
Communication with Other Drivers
Always communicate your intentions to other drivers. Make sure your teen knows the communication options and when to use them.
Turn Signals: Use turn signals to communicate in which direction you plan to travel.
Lane Positions: Use lane positions to communicate your plans to change driving maneuvers.
Headlights: Use headlights to be more visible to other drivers DAY and NIGHT.
Horn: Use the horn to alert others to you or to emergency situations. Do not use it in anger.
Use of Headlights
A good practice is to ALWAYS use your low-beam headlights during the DAY so that you are more visible to other drivers. The decision to use low or high beam headlights at other times depends on the circumstances. Make sure your teen understands when to use low beam and high beam headlights. Oregon law requires headlights to be on from sunset to sunrise or any time conditions make it difficult to see 1,000 feet ahead.
Low Beam Headlights
Use low beam headlights when traveling:
- During the day, especially at dawn or dusk
- On heavily traveled roads with traffic going in both directions
- At night in well-lit areas
- In fog, rainy, snowy or misty conditions
High Beam Headlights
Use high beam headlights when traveling at night in dimly lit areas.
Switch From High to Low Beams
Switch from high to low beams when a vehicle approaches you in the opposite direction at night. Oregon law requires you to dim or lower your high beams when an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet. You must also turn off any auxiliary lights such as fog lights.
Switch from high to low beams when you are following another vehicle. Oregon law requires you to dim or lower your high beams when you are following another vehicle within 350 feet.
If the other driver fails to switch to low beams, you need to (a) slow down, (b) use
Lane Position 3, and (c) move your eyes to the right edge of the road until the vehicle passes.
DO NOT look into oncoming headlights or flash high beam lights at others. Headlight glare can temporarily blind you.
Definition
Lane Position 3: the right side of the lane.