Driving in Urban Traffic

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Chapter 9

• Driving in Urban Traffic

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Driving in Urban Traffic

• Chapter Overview Chapter 9 will introduce you
  to urban driving situations by providing
  techniques and procedures for safe driving. You
  will learn how to use a 3-second following
  distance and how to cover the brake in tight
  driving situations. Interaction with other road
  users as pedestrians and tailgating drivers is
  addressed.

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9.1 Adjusting to Urban Traffic

• This section highlights the main factors that
  make city driving difficult and how to use the
  IPDE Process in urban traffic.
• Section 1 Objectives Following this section, I
  will be able to
• 1. Name two factors that can make driving
  difficult in city traffic.
• 2. Describe how to use the IPDE Process for city
  driving.

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9.1 Vocabulary

• No words

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Traffic Complexity

• Two main factors make city driving difficult
• 1. Traffic is more dense in urban areas than it
  is in rural areas. More cars, buses, trucks, and
  pedestrians per mile.
• 2. City traffic hazards are closer to you than
  they are in rural areas. Those hazards can
  quickly block your path.

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Number of Hazards

• Mile for mile, city roads have the highest number
  and variety of hazards.
• Time, distance, and speed may all have to be
  adjusted to solve a conflict.

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Use the IPDE Process

• The IPDE Process with the Zone Control System is
  particularly important in urban situations. In a
  situation with few hazards, traveling the speed
  limit probably is safe. The same street with
  more hazards, such as rush-hour traffic, might
  demand a lower speed. Lowering the speed gives
  drivers more time to make identifications and
  decisions. The IPDE Process provides a standard
  of acceptable performance during any traffic
  situation.

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Review

• 1. What two factors can make city driving
  difficult?
• 2. How can you best use the IPDE Process in city
  driving?

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9.2 Following and Meeting Traffic

• This section focuses on maintaining a space
  cushion between your vehicle and possible
  hazards.
• Section 2 Objectives Following this section, I
  will be able to
• 1. Describe how to use the 3-second following
  distance rule.
• 2. Describe how you can safely manage a
  tailgater.
• 3. List the steps to take to avoid conflicts
  with oncoming traffic.

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9.2 Vocabulary

• At the conclusion of this section, I will be able
  to define
• 1. tailgate

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Following Others

• An adequate space cushion is very important
  because
• You can see further ahead to get the big
  picture.
• Others can see you better.
• You have more time to use the IPDE Process.
• You are in a better position to avoid the car
  ahead if it stops suddenly.

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3-Second Following Distance

• With less than a 3-second following distance you
  will not have adequate opportunity to respond
  when approaching a slower moving vehicle. The
  rate at which a driver approaches a slower moving
  vehicle is called the closure rate. The slower
  the front vehicle is going the greater the rate
  of closure will be. The greater the following
  distance you have, the sooner you become aware of
  closing space. You need three seconds or more to
  have enough time to use the IPDE Process.
• How do you determine if you have a 3-second
  following distance? (p.178)

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• Look beyond (through) the vehicle ahead
• Be aware of areas where sudden stops may occur
• Process for looking away, if needed

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Being Followed

• Tailgate- when someone follows too closely
  causing a potentially hazardous situation
• Three types of tailgaters
• 1. chargers- approaches you with excessive speed
  and wants to pass
• 2. one-pace tailgaters- travels at a set
  paceusually above the speed limit
• 3. habitual tailgaters- perhaps the most
  dangerous as they may not realize they are doing
  it.

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Managing Tailgaters

• 1. Increase following distance to at least 4
  seconds
• 2. Move slightly to the right
• 3. Signal early for turns, stops, and lane
  changes
• 4. Change lanes or pull out of traffic to avoid
  tailgater

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Responding to Oncoming Traffic

• Reasons for crossing the centerline
• 1. Driver impairment-
• 2. Poor judgment-
• 3. Poor visibility-
• 4. Reduced speed-
• 5. Sudden moves by others-
• 6. Vehicle failure-
• 7. Turning buses and trucks-
• 8. Double-parked vehicles-

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Avoiding Conflicts

• Take these actions to avoid a collision
• 1. Slow until the other driver can return to
  the normal lane or so that you can meet the other
  driver at a point where there is room to pass.
• 2. Turn on or flash your headlights and blow
  your horn.
• 3. Use your right-front zone, if it is open, to
  move into to give the oncoming driver more room.

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Review

• 1. How many seconds should you use for a normal
  following distance?
• 2. What can you do to manage a tailgater safely?
• 3. How can you avoid a conflict with an oncoming
  vehicle in your lane?

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9.3 Managing Space in Urban Traffic

• This section focuses on managing space in urban
  traffic. Appropriate procedures for approaching
  traffic signals are included. Strategies for
  adjusting speed are addressed. Techniques for
  selecting a lane and procedures for changing
  lanes and passing are described.
• Section 3 Objectives Following this section, I
  will be able to
• 1. Describe how far ahead you should look in
  city traffic.
• 2. Tell how to cover the brake.
• 3. Explain how to select the proper lane for
  driving.

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9.3 Vocabulary

• After the conclusion of this section, I will be
  able to define
• 2. cover the brake
• 3. overtake
• 4. ride the brake

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Managing Space

• Urban traffic will provide a wide variety of
  challenges.
• What are some challenges that you might encounter
  in urban traffic?
• You will need to use your best skills combined
  with a positive, heads-up, alert attitude.

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Looking Ahead While Staying Back

• Look around your vehicle as well as about one
  block ahead to determine if there are zone
  problems.
• Maintain a safe following distance of 3 seconds
  or more to have a good view of the road ahead.

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Approaching Traffic Signals

• Scan your target area looking for traffic
  signals.
• Stale green light
• DONT WALK pedestrian signal
• Point-of-no-return
• Never speed up to get through a green light
  before it changes.
• Watch for tailgaters

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• Red-Light Cameras- Drivers who run red lights
  have caused so many collisions in some cities
  that red-light cameras are beginning to be used
  for enforcement. With this red-light camera
  system, a photograph would be taken as the
  vehicle runs a red light and captures an image of
  its license plate. The owner of that vehicle
  would then be issued a traffic ticket for this
  moving violation.

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Covering the Brake

• Take your foot off of the accelerator and hold it
  over the brake.
• Using this method when there is a chance of
  conflict can help you cut your reaction time and
  avoid a collision.
• Do not ride the brake. Can damage your brakes as
  well as send a confusing message to drivers
  behind you.
• Only tap your brake lights when you know you are
  going to slow or stop.

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• Actions to take to identify or respond to the
  risk posed by parked vehicles
• 1. Cover brake and move to the left of your
  lane.
• 2. Look for drivers through windows of parked
  vehicles.
• 3. Watch for brake lights, signals, exhaust, or
  wheels turned out.
• 4. Lightly tap your horn if necessary.
• 5. Be ready to stop or swerve. Swerve only if
  your left-front zone is open.
• 6. Try to drive one car doors width away from
  parked vehicles.

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Selecting the Best Lane

• Select the lane with the fewest hazards.
• The left lane is usually the faster lane.
• However, left lane may be slower if there is no
  center turn lane.
• Choose the lane that has the smoothest flow of
  traffic.
• If there are multiple lanes, the center lane may
  be the best lane to be in.

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Changing Lanes

• 1. Use your mirrors to check traffic in your
  rear zones.
• 2. Signal your lane change early.
• 3. Quickly check your blind spot area in the
  direction of your lane change.
• 4. Change lanes without slowing.
• 5. Cancel your signal.

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Overtaking and Passing

• Use the lane-changing procedure and drive past
  the slower moving vehicle.
• Signal briefly and return to your lane when both
  headlights of the vehicle you have passed appear
  in your rearview mirror.
• Passing in a city setting can be dangerous. Be
  alert for pedestrians, cross traffic, signals,
  and an unlimited number of line-of-sight-restricti
  ons.
• It is illegal to pass at intersections or over
  double-yellow lines.

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Special Traffic Lanes

• Carpool lanes (HOV)- vehicles with two or more
  people in it can travel in special lanes. These
  lanes can save time and fuel along with reducing
  pollution and parking problems.

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Review

• 1. How far ahead should you look in city
  traffic?
• 2. How do you cover your brake?
• 3. How do you select the best lane on a
  multilane street?

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9.4 Special Urban Situations

• This section will teach you how to identify
  one-way streets and how to enter and exit one-way
  streets.
• Section 4 Objectives Following this section, I
  will be able to
• 1. Describe the procedure for turning left or
  right from a one-way street.
• 2. Explain how to warn a driver who is driving
  the wrong way on a street.

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9.4 Vocabulary

• No words

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Identifying One-Way Streets

• 1. Look for one-way signs that are posted.
• 2. Watch the flow of the moving traffic or look
  to see which direction the cars are parked.
• 3. Look for broken white lines used to separate
  lanes (yellow line would indicate two-way
  traffic).
• 4. Which direction are the traffic signs
  pointing?

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One-Way Streets

• Diagram entering a one-way street using a right
  turn. (p.189)
• Diagram entering a one-way street using a left
  turn. (p.189)
• Discuss choice of lanes on a one-way street.
  (p.189)
• Diagram leaving a one-way street and entering a
  two-lane street using a right turn. (p.189)
• Diagram leaving a one-way street and entering a
  two-lane street using a left turn. (p. 189)

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Signaling Wrong-Way Drivers

• If you should encounter a wrong-way driver on a
  one-way street
• Slow down
• Steer right
• Sound your horn
• If you have time, flash your headlights to warn
  the other driver.

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• Identify some unexpected situations that might
  occur on crowded streets.
• Vehicles emerge from alleys
• Narrow streets
• Parked vehicles, doors opening
• Pedestrians
• Line-of sight restrictions
• Driving close to vehicles to parallel or angle
  park

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Review

• 1. What lanes should you use when making a right
  or left turn from a one-way street?
• 2. What can you do if another driver approaches
  you from the wrong direction on a one-way street?