Idaho Public Driver Education

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Idaho Public Driver Education
Urban Driving Parking
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Urban Driving Characteristics 

• Urban and suburban driving includes residential
  areas with typically less traffic, business areas
  where traffic can be congested and inconsistent,
  and higher speed areas designed to move traffic
  through an urban area.
•  

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Congested Areas

• - Every city has its own busy areas where
  traffic is usually heaviest.
• - Name three places in your town that are the
  most congested.

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City Traffic

• - There are more hazards mile for mile in city
  driving than in residential area driving.
• - At times the hectic pace of city traffic and
  things to pay attention to can almost become
  overwhelming.

Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation
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City Hazards

1. Pedestrians, bicyclists, road signs, billboards,
   traffic signals, advertisements and road markings
   
2. Many intersections controlled by traffic signs
   and signals
3. Streets wider than residential streets
4. City blocks divided by alleys, creating even more
   intersections
5. Many stores and businesses
6. Faster traffic
7. Traffic that starts and stops frequently
8. Gridlocked traffic due to rush hour congestion
9. Stop and go traffic lasting for many blocks or
   miles
10. Crashes and/or special events like parades or
    concerts creating a need for alternate routes
11. Rows of parked vehicles, delivery trucks and
    blind alleys creating LOS/POT restrictions to
    roadways and pedestrians
12. Parking difficult to locate
13. Drivers competing for lane openings or parking
    spaces
14. Work zones creating congested conditions and
    impatient drivers
15. Detours due to street maintenance or emergencies
16. Pot holes caused by heavy traffic
17. Double parked delivery trucks
18. Busses, trains, and trolleys

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In this traffic scene, how many hazards can you
identify?
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In this traffic scene, how many hazards can you
identify?
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In this traffic scene, how many hazards can you
identify?
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How many hazards can you identify here?
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Urban and Suburban Residential Areas 

• - Residential areas typically have lower traffic
  volume and slower speed limits
• - Speed limits on residential streets are usually
  25 mph or less
• - Most crashes occur close to home perhaps
  because drivers are more comfortable and less
  inattentive to familiar roads and conditions

Is this residential area similar to where you
live?
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Urban and Suburban Residential Area Hazards 
On this residential street, how many hazards do
you identify?
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In this traffic scene, how many hazards can you
identify?
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In this residential traffic scene, how can you
improve your line-of-sight?
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Should the child on the scooter create a concern
for drivers? Why?
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Risky Behaviors inUrban and Suburban Residential
Areas

• Speeding
• Failing to search for pedestrians and bicyclists
  entering or on the street
• Failing to look for line-of-sight restrictions
  that hide traffic signs
• Ignoring speed bumps
• Failing to yield the right of way on narrow
  streets
• Running stop signs
• Failing to look for traffic and pedestrians when
  exiting a driveway
• Failing to wear a seat belt 

Describe risky driver behaviors to avoid.
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Two Lane Streets 

• On streets with two lanes going in the same
  direction, the right lane might not be the best
  travel lane because vehicles may suddenly slow to
  turn into a business or parking lot.
• Sudden starts and stops may occur if there are no
  turn lanes or center share lane to help traffic
  make left turns
• On-coming traffic may drift across the center
  line into the other lane

You are the driver approaching this scene. What
lane position would you choose? Why?
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Two Lane Streets 
The speed limit on this roadway is 55 mph. The
drivers are all driving at the maximum speed
limit.
In this traffic scene, identify any hazards or
areas of concern.
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Two Lane Streets 
Describe all the signs, signals, and markings in
this street scene.
Is this street flat or inclined?
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Multiple-Lane Streets

• On streets with two or more lanes and a center
  shared turn lane, choose the lane with the
  smoothest flow.

Which lane would you choose to travel in. Why?
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Good Habits Managing Time and Space in Urban
Environments 

• Use an orderly visual search pattern.

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Where Should Drivers Search?
Photo courtesy of the AAA Foundation
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Where Should Drivers Search?
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Control Space to the Front
You are traveling at 35 mph, what actions would
you take to control your space?
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Communicate to Others
What communication clues are seen in these
traffic scenes?
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Make Reduced-Risk Decisions

• Stay within the posted speed limit and choosing
  to reduce speed to reduce risk
• Know your Perception time (the amount of time it
  takes to see a hazard) and Reaction time (the
  time it takes to act after seeing the hazard)
• Know how to access local traffic information to
  plan alternative routes
• Plan routes that avoid rush hour and work zone
  congestion
• Avoid frequent lane changes it greatly
  increases the chance of a collision
• Make smooth, controlled steering and braking
  maneuvers
• Always wearing a seat belt

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Make Reduced Risk Decisions
You are traveling at 30 mph. Search your target
area. Describe the reduced-risk actions you would
take.
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Parking
If you drive it you gotta park it!
http//www.mpi.mb.ca/en/Videos/ParkingWoes.wmv
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Parking Laws
Parking is not permitted

• On sidewalks
• On the street side of any parked vehicle known
  as double parking
• In intersections
• Within 50 feet of railroad tracks
• On bridges or overpasses
• In front of a driveway
• Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant

• Within 20 feet of a crosswalk
• Within 30 feet of a stop sign, yield sign, or
  traffic signal
• Within 20 feet of a fire station driveway
• On any controlled-access highway (freeway)
• Where prohibited by signs or a red, yellow, or
  white no parking curb

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Entering Angled Parking
Possibly the easiest method of parking simply
swing a little wide and use reference points to
park evenly between cars on both sides.
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Exiting Angled Parking

• Know which way you plan to drive forward once
  backed out.
• Dont turn the wheel until your front end can
  clear the blue car.
• Move slowly and look for pedestrians, especially
  small children.

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Perpendicular Forward Parking
More difficult than angled parking because your
car must turn a perfect 90 degrees and slide
between two vehicles (which arent usually as far
apart than the ones shown here). Again, swing
wide and use reference points to park evenly
between carson both sides.
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Exiting Perpendicular Forward Parking

• Watch for pedestrians, especially young children
  who may be below your rear window or trunk!
• Shift to REVERSE.
• Back out slowly.
• Crank the wheel once your front end clears the
  bumper of both cars.
• Shift to DRIVE (or 1st) and slowly drive forward.

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Backing into Perpendicular Parking
ADVANTAGES
http//www.mpi.mb.ca/en/Videos/ParkingBackwards.wm
v

• Provides a better view when leaving the space
• Avoids backing out into traffic
• More likely to be let into the traffic flow when
  exiting
• Reduced risk of hitting something or being hit

ANY DISADVANTAGES?
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1
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Parallel Parking

• TIPS
• Select a space that is at least 6 longer than
  your vehicle.
• Flash your brake lights and signal a right turn.

http//www.mpi.mb.ca/en/Videos/ParallelParking.wmv

• PROCEDURE
• Line up your back bumper with the (green/front)
  cars back bumper.
• When your seat is even with the (green/front)
  cars back bumper, straighten your wheels.
• When your front bumper is even with the
  (green/front) cars back bumper, turn your wheels
  sharply to the left. Back slowly, looking out
  the rear window.
• Use the steering wheel to adjust the car so it is
  parallel to and less than 18 from the curb.
• Straighten the wheels and even the spaces between
  the front and rear vehicles.

Easy!
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Exiting Parallel Parking

• TIPS
• Back up before pulling out. This increases the
  space for pulling out.
• Signal left.
• Check blind spot.
• Crank wheel to the left and then enter traffic
  slowly.

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Parking Uphill With a Curb
Crank the front wheels LEFT and let the front
right tire roll back into the curb. Then put the
car in PARK and set the emergency brake. The goal
is to always use the FRONT tires to prevent the
vehicle from rolling into traffic!
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Parking Uphill Without a Curb
Crank the front wheels RIGHT, put the car in PARK
and set the emergency brake. In this case, there
is no curb, so the car will roll off the road and
not into traffic (if for some reason it rolls).
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Parking Downhill With/Without a Curb
Crank the front wheels right, put the car in PARK
and set the emergency brake. The right front tire
will hold the car in place against the curb.
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Parking Lot Strategies

• Obey speed limits
• Follow the directions of the signs and markings
• Do not drive diagonally across parking lot lane
  markings
• Be alert for pedestrians, bicyclists,
  roller-bladers and skateboarders
• Avoid tight parking spaces
• Avoid competing for a parking space

• Pull into the space far enough that the front and
  rear of the vehicle are not in the flow of
  traffic
• Position the vehicle properly in the space
• Secure the vehicle, locking valuables in the
  trunk
• Search all directions when exiting the parking
  space
• Watch for drivers backing out

The high school parking lot may be the most
dangerous place you will drive!
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Parking Garage Strategies

• Watch for backup lights on other vehicles
• Observe and follow all signs
• Stay to the right
• Use headlights in dark garages
• Be aware of people in and around the garage

• When leaving the parking garage be aware -
  approach the vehicle with key in hand, look
  around and in the vehicle for unwanted passengers
• Drive slowly and watch for pedestrians

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Airport Parking Strategies

• Parking at most airport terminal buildings is
  usually not allowed parking is for temporary
  drop off and pick up of passengers only.
• A vehicle may be towed if the vehicle is left
  unattended at a terminal.
• Decide if you need short term, long term, or
  metered parking.
• Place the parking receipt in a secure location
  inside the vehicle.

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Handicapped Parking
The handicapped parking symbol indicates parking
spaces are reserved for a handicapped person
Vehicles displaying this symbol on their
license plate or a special card in or around the
dashboard may park in handicapped
spaces   Non-handicapped drivers are prohibited
from parking in handicapped parking areas and may
be fined (100.00) for violations   A handicapped
person may park automobiles displaying the
handicapped symbol in public parking spaces
without paying and the time is unlimited
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Summary

• You will need to practice parking to avoid
  embarrassing situations like double parking
• The good news is that you will have the chance to
  practice parking every time you drive!
• Even better news you may never need to parallel
  park (but you should know how just in case!)