Complex Driving Skills

Proper Procedures for Changing Lanes

1. Check (a) mirrors, (b) to the front, (c) to the back, (d) to the side, and (e) blind spot for a stable gap in traffic.
2. Signal and use the proper lane position.
3. Check your blind spot again.
4. Maintain your speed or increase speed if necessary — NEVER slow unnecessarily.
5. Move to the new lane purposefully and gradually at a slight angle.
6. Adjust speed to surrounding traffic.
7. Cancel turn signal.
8. Check rearview mirror.
9. Create separation or “open space" to the front, rear, and sides of your vehicle.
   

Passing

Common Errors When Passing

• Not looking ahead for a clear path.
• Failure to signal.
• Accelerates too soon.
• Tailgates vehicle to be passed.
• Speed too slow while passing.
• Steers too quickly or too much into the passing lane.
  
• Returns to lane too soon.
• Failure to cancel signal.
• Exceeds speed limit.
• Passes unnecessarily.
• Passes in a no passing zone.

Proper Procedures for Passing

1. FIRST, ask yourself if passing at the time is necessary, legal, and safe.
2. Search your intended path of travel far ahead to determine any obstacles.
3. Check mirrors and blind spot.
4. Signal in the direction of the pass.
5. Increase speed to at least 10 mph faster than the car you are passing, but stay within the legal speed limit.
6. Move smoothly into the passing lane.
7. Change signal to the opposite direction.
8. Check the blind spot.
9. Return to the lane when you can see the headlights of the vehicle you passed in your rearview mirror.
10. Cancel signal and resume safe and legal speed.
11. Check rearview mirror.
    

Entering the Freeway

Common Errors When Entering the Freeway

• Speed too slow.
• Failure to signal.
• Failure to yield to other vehicles already on freeway.
• Failure to check traffic to front and rear.
• Drifts while checking traffic.
• Poor gap judgment.
• Turns steering wheel too sharply.
• Failure to cancel signal.

Proper Procedures for Acceleration Lane

1. Check ALL mirrors.
2. Keep 4+ seconds of space to the front of you.
3. Accelerate smoothly and briskly to match the flow of traffic.

Proper Procedures for Merging

1. Communicate your intentions with signal and lane position.
2. Check front, rear, and blind spot for a stable gap in traffic in your intended path of travel.
3. Merge smoothly into the gap in traffic.
4. Adjust speed to surrounding traffic.
5. Cancel turn signal.
6. Check rearview mirror.
7. Create separation or “open space" to the front, rear, and sides of your vehicle.

Exiting the Freeway

Common Errors When Exiting the Freeway

• Failure to see exit ramp in advance.
• Reduces speed before exit ramp.
• Failure to signal.
• Failure to check rearview mirror.
• Failure to reduce speed on exit ramp.
• Failure to cancel signal.
• Cuts over from left lane at the last minute.

Proper Procedures for Exiting the Freeway

1. Plan for the exit – read the signs.
2. Move to the appropriate lane well in advance.
3. Signal and check rearview mirror.
4. Maintain speed until you enter the exit lane.
5. Enter the exit ramp and use controlled braking. Reduce speed to posted speed or less.
6. Beware of velocitation and adjust your speed and lane position in preparation for stopping and/or turning.
7. Check rearview mirror.

Adjust procedures for the following:

• Traffic stopped on the exit ramp.
• Short deceleration lane.
• Very slow ramp speed.
• Other drivers following you at high speed or close distance.

Railroad Grade Crossings

Common Errors for Railroad Crossing

• Does not take railroad crossing seriously.
• Failure to LOOK and LISTEN for oncoming trains.
• Failure to ensure ALL tracks are clear.
• Stops too close to the tracks.
• Races to beat crossing arms when lights flash.

Proper Procedures for Railroad Crossing

1. Slow down, whether the lights are blinking or not, and check the rearview mirror for traffic behind you.
2. LOOK and LISTEN for oncoming trains.
3. Determine the number of tracks and check EACH track in both directions.
4. If a train is approaching or the crossing lights are blinking, STOP at least 15 feet from the tracks or at the stop line. You should be able to see the tracks in front of you when stopped.
5. When the tracks are clear as far as you can see in both directions, cross the tracks.

School Zones

• Stop and remain stopped when a traffic patrol member (school crossing guard) signals you to stop.
• Be alert at all times for children, people riding bicycles, and pedestrians in a school zone.
• Follow the signs or flashing lights that warn you that you are approaching a school or school crossing.
• Obey the slower speed limits.
• Signs may be posted in school zones notifying drivers that traffic fines are higher in a school zone.
  

Crosswalks

Pedestrians are vulnerable users of the roadway and drivers must use responsible driving behavior at all crosswalks. There is a crosswalk at every intersection, even if it is not marked by painted lines (unmarked). Drivers must not stop with any portion of their vehicle overhanging the crosswalk and must not block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or stop sign.

Never pass another car that is slowing or stopped at a crosswalk. The driver may be waiting for a pedestrian to cross the road. This is a frequent cause of death to pedestrians.

Stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian crossing a crosswalk when the pedestrian is:

• Crossing where a traffic patrol member (school crossing guard) signals you to stop,
• In your lane of travel,
• In a lane next to your lane of travel, or
• In the lane you are turning into.

AND

• If you are turning at an intersection that has a traffic signal, the pedestrian must be six feet or more past the lane you are turning into before you begin your turn.
• If you are turning at an intersection that doesn't have a traffic signal, the pedestrian must be past the lane you are turning into, plus the next lane, before you begin your turn.
  

A “lane" includes a bicycle lane and the part of the roadway where a vehicle stops, stands or parks that is next to that lane.

Night Driving

Preparation
Give your teen planned and practical night driving experience. Set up a time when you and your teen will be free from other obligations. Night driving should be undertaken in a relaxed atmosphere. Select a local route that your beginning driver has driven before. Have in mind those experiences that need to be covered.

Night Driving and Headlights
Understand the limitations of the high and low beam headlights and how those limitations affect ones ability to gather critical information, make the best speed choices and understand the space and time required to stop the vehicle.

Switch to low beam when approaching another vehicle. If the other driver fails to switch to low beam, slow and move to the right side of the lane. Don't look directly into the headlights and look to the right edge of the road until the vehicle passes.
If you can't see beyond your vehicle's headlights, slow down. You may be “driving blind".

High beam headlights in good condition illuminate approximately 350 feet.
Low beam headlights in good condition illuminate approximately 182 feet.

• Traveling at 50 mph with low beam headlights a driver is able to see approximately 2½ seconds of illuminated roadway (182 feet) and needs a total of 190 feet to stop the vehicle.
• At 30 mph a driver is able to see a little more than 4 seconds ahead with low beam headlights and 8 seconds ahead with high beam headlights.
• Traveling at 60 mph with high beam headlights a driver is able to see only 4 seconds ahead.
• To gather critical information drivers need to see 12 to 15 seconds ahead. Look well beyond the headlights in illuminated areas. In rural areas choose speeds that afford you the best opportunity to get the information you need to make critical decisions.
  

Skid Recovery

Skidding can happen at any time, on any surface, during braking, accelerating or steering. If you begin to skid, steer toward the target area. This allows you to focus on the front of the vehicle and the path that you want your vehicle to travel.

Proper Procedures for Skid Recovery
1. As you drive, you should always focus on the target area.
2. The instant you detect the vehicle skid, turn the steering wheel back toward the target area without hesitation.

Note: It is important to get the vehicle back on its path of travel before it gets more than 15° off. That is your point of no return. Once the skid reaches that angle, the vehicle is going to keep going in the direction of the skid.

Don't give up — stay off the pedals, keep your eyes on the target area, and keep working to get the car back under control.

Driving in Bad Weather

• Drive at reduced speeds.
• Leave more space between your vehicle and those ahead.
• Drive with your headlights on.
• Don't use cruise control.

Check weather conditions on your travel route. Use Oregon's Trip Check www.tripcheck.com or dial 5-1-1 to check current weather and road conditions.

Be sure to carry chains or have traction tires on your vehicle.

Definitions

Blind Spot: the area that is not visible to the driver without turning their head and looking.
Controlled Braking: firm, steady, even pressure on the brake pedal.
Path of Travel: the area you want the car to go.
Target Area: the actual space you intend the vehicle to travel on the roadway.
Velocitation: an effect caused by driving for long periods at the same speed. The change in speed makes you think the car is going much faster or slower than it actually is. Make sure you do frequent speedometer checks to help adjust your speed.