Use your turn signal lights to signal your intentions to other drivers so your actions don't come as a surprise. Failing to do so can be a source of serious aggravation to other drivers. Signal before you turn, change lanes, merge, or exit the freeway. Every time, even when you don't think it's necessary. Road rage is defined as aggressive or violent behavior stemming from a driver's uncontrolled anger at the actions of another motorist. Some examples include: Hitting their vehicle with your car. Running them off the road. Pulling over, getting out, and engaging in a physical confrontation. Inciting your passenger(s) to fight the other driver. Focus on driving. Keep your attention and eyes on the road at all times. No-multi-tasking while. Communicating your intentions with other drivers and pedestrians on the road creates a friendly and safe driving environment for everyone. Here are some important benefits of good communication: The other road users can predict what you are going to do and be prepared and respond safely to your maneuvers.
Following too closely may be defined as, “situations in which one vehicle is following another vehicle so closely that even if the following driver is attentive to the actions of the vehicle ahead he/she could not avoid a collision in the circumstance when the driver in front brakes suddenly.'14
In addition to providing enough stopping time, proper following distance allows for more time to make good, well-planned decisions and affords other drivers the opportunity to scan the sides, look far enough ahead, and view the vehicle immediately in front.
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The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that 5 percent of truck crashes occurred when the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) driver was following the lead vehicle too closely.15
Below are some tips that will help you maintain the correct following distance during various driving conditions.
TIP #1: Maintain a Safe Following Distance
Actions Others Driver Test
Large trucks need additional space between vehicles to allow for safe braking and unexpected actions. In crashes, large trucks most often hit the vehicle in front of them.16
Did You Know? If you are driving below 40 mph, you should leave at least one second for every 10 feet of vehicle length. For a typical tractor-trailer, this results in 4 seconds between you and the leading vehicle. For speeds over 40 mph, you should leave one additional second.16
Did You Know? On October 15, 2007, as cars began to slow for construction in the left lane, a CMV driver failed to brake and crashed into the vehicle ahead of him, killing a 47-year-old woman. The crash also involved two other vehicles and shut down the roadway for 5 hours. The CMV driver was charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle, and following too closely.77
An example of a driver following too closely is shown in the video clip below. Training exercise questions follow the video clip.
VIDEO DESCRIPTION: The CMV driver is traveling in the far right lane of a three-lane highway during the day. There is an exit-only lane on the right, adjacent to the driver's lane. The driver is following a lead passenger vehicle closely. The passenger vehicle begins to slow in order to move to the left and into the middle lane. The CMV driver does not slow down appropriately and comes close to the rear of the passenger vehicle as it changes lanes.
Actions Others Drivers
TRAINING EXERCISE: After viewing the video, try to answer the following questions:
- Does the driver appear to adjust his vehicle's speed to maintain a safe following distance with the lead vehicle?
- Why was the lead vehicle slowing down?
- Why did the driver brake excessively?
- What could the driver have done differently?
TIP #2: Double Your Following Distance in Adverse Conditions
Adjust your following distance to appropriately match weather conditions, road conditions, visibility, and traffic. In emergency conditions, maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you will allow you to stop safely and/or to take necessary evasive action.78
Did You Know? The average stopping distance for a loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 55 mph (in ideal conditions) is 196 feet, compared with 133 feet for a passenger vehicle.79
Did You Know? Braking distance can be greatly affected by road surfaces, weather conditions such as rain, ice, and snow, or debris.78
Driving Tips
Communicating your intentions with other drivers and pedestrians on the road creates a friendly and safe driving environment for everyone. Here are some important benefits of good communication:
- The other road users can predict what you are going to do and be prepared and respond safely to your maneuvers.
- Avoid any confusion and, subsequently, a potential accident.
- You can alert them about a hazard or traffic situation to avoid accidents.
The communication devices of your car include: turn signals, brake lights, hazard lights, a flash of the headlights, and the horn. Sometimes you may communicate by waving or nodding.
• Turn Signals
Use turn signals every time you turn or change lanes.
• Brake Lights
Any time you brake, your brake lights come on to communicate with other drivers that they need to slow down. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your brake lights are working properly. If you see a hazard ahead that you need to slow down, start slowing down early, so you allow the drivers behind you to be prepared and also slow down in a timely manner.
• Hazard Lights
Use these to warn drivers of trouble with your car or a hazard ahead
Dual Action Driver
• Headlights
These should be used at night and during poor weather conditions; flashing your headlights is a way of communicating with another driver.
• Horn
Use your horn to warn other drivers of a potential hazard; a short honk is usually enough to get the attention of a driver.
Using Turn Signals
Always use your turn signals in order to create a friendly and safe driving environment for all road users. Remember to cancel your signal after turning.
Signal every time:
- at least 100 ft. before turning left or right, switching lanes, changing directions, slowing down or stopping or pulling over. Caution! Even though you signal, do not automatically assume the space you want to occupy is clear.
- at least 5 seconds before changing lanes on the freeway.
- before pulling away from a curb or exiting a parking space.
- even when you do not see other vehicles. A vehicle you do not see may suddenly appear and hit you.
- your turn signals do not work; use hand signals before turning or changing lanes. Use both hand signals and turn signals if bright sunlight makes it hard to see your signals.
Using Hand Signals
Actions Others Driver Ed
- Left Turn: The hand signal for a left turn is your left arm straight out to the side with your palm facing the ground.
- Right Turn: The hand signal for a right turn is your left arm bent at a 90-degree angle with your hand pointing up.
- Stop: The hand signal for a stop is your arm bent at a 90-degree angle with your hand pointing down.
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