Vehicle Controls and Steering Techniques for Driving, Study notes of European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

Download Vehicle Controls and Steering Techniques for Driving and more Study notes European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) in PDF only on Docsity! NEW YORK STATE OF OPPORTUNITY. Driving Maneuvers Session Goals 1. Identify all vehicle controls and demonstrate an understanding of their importance as they relate to starting, braking, acceleration, and steering a motor vehicle. 2. Recognize and demonstrate an understanding of the natural laws and forces encountered when driving, and their apparent risk while operating a motor vehicle. 3. Describe and execute important driving maneuvers, including parallel parking, three-point turns, lateral maneuvers and perpendicular/angle parking. Hand-Over-Hand Steering • Place your hands at the 9 & 3 o’clock positions on the steering wheel • If making a Left turn - Use your right hand to push the wheel up and around until you reach the 12 o’clock position • Your left hand then will cross the right hand to continue pulling in the left turn • For a right turn – Use your left hand to push the wheel up and around until you reach the 12 o’clock position • Your right hand then will cross the left hand to continue pulling in the right turn • Once through your turn, loosen your grip on the steering wheel and let the steering wheel adjust itself so that the vehicle is going straight on the road National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Using Efficient Steering Techniques Hand-to-Hand Steering • Beginning at the 9 & 3 o'clock positions on the wheel, one hand pushes up on the steering wheel while the other hand slides to the top and then pulls the wheel down, repeating the action until the turn is complete. • This is sometimes called “feeding” the wheel, “push/pull steering” or “H-T-H” hand to hand steering technique. Both hands are always employed in the steering and wrists never cross. Which technique works best for you; Hand-to-Hand or Hand- Over-Hand? National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Using Efficient Steering Techniques One-Handed Steering • You can not pass your road test if you do one-handed steering. You must have both hands on the wheel. • Why is it not recommended to use one-handed steering? • When is it appropriate to use one handed steering? Using Your Turn Signals • Develop the habit of using your turn signals EVERY TIME you plan to turn, change lanes, slow, or stop. This allows you to be seen by other drivers by attracting their attention. • You should signal at least 100-150 feet before you turn in residential areas. You do not want to signal so far ahead of your turn that it causes confusion with other turns ahead. • Signal at least 200 feet before if you are in the country or traveling at higher speeds. Why do you think people don’t use their turn signals? Lateral Movement: Pulling Away from a Curb or Lane Changing • Before changing your lane position (e.g. changing lanes or pulling away/to a curb), you must determine if the zone is open or closed or changing. • You must signal your intention to change your position by using your turn signal • Use the acronym SMOG to help you remember the steps • S – Signal intention • M – Mirror checks • O – Observe • G - Go Pulling Toward a Curb • Signal, check your mirrors, observe blind spots and the area around your vehicle, then brake. • Why should you signal first then brake? Note: After parking at the curb, your wheels must not be more than one foot from the curb. • Look before you open the door and get out! Are you going to open it while cars or bicyclists are passing? Turning: Key Concepts • Signal 100-150 feet before the turn. Avoid signaling earlier than this to avoid any confusion about where you are planning to turn. • Slow before you make the turn – Start slowly accelerating mid-way through the turn to complete it. • Going too fast through a turn can cause you to overturn your car! You should not exceed 10-15 MPH on a 90 degree turn. • Turning wide is also a problem for many drivers. It is caused by turning too late or failing to reduce speed in advance of the turn. Review Chapter 5 of the NYS Driver’s Manual for Additional Information Additional Considerations When Preparing to Turn • Search for traffic (e.g. vehicle, pedestrian, motorcycle and bicycle) on all sides of your vehicle. Look twice! • Most crashes involving pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists are because the driver did not see them. • Oversteering occurs when the car turns more than the driver intends when the rear tires lose grip and come around the car causing it to spin if not corrected. • Understeering occurs when your tires lose traction. Although the driver intends to turn, the vehicle continues forward. Making Right Hand Turns • Signal 100 – 150 feet before the turn without causing confusion of which turn you are going to make • Slow down BEFORE the turn. 10-15 mph should be sufficient for a 90 degree turn • Did you check your mirrors? What are you looking for? (Left, right, rearview) • Enter Lane position 3 (right side of lane) • Right before you approach the turn – Look again for pedestrians, hazards, or stopped traffic Making Left Hand Turns • Signal 100 – 150 feet before the turn without causing confusion of which turn you are going to make • Slow down BEFORE the turn. 10-15 mph should be sufficient for a 90- degree turn • Right before you approach the turn – Look again for pedestrians, hazards, or stopped traffic • Did you check your mirrors? What are you looking for? (Left, right, rearview) • Enter Lane position 2 Making Left Hand Turns • Look where you want the vehicle to go • Make sure the front wheel follows the turn • Recovery – Start straightening the wheel about ½ way through the turn • Slowly accelerate midway through the turn to get through it. • Get back up to speed when the vehicle has completed the turn Left Hand Turn Example (One Way to Two Way Road) https://dmv.ny.gov/about-dmv/chapter-5-intersections-and-turns Turning Around: General Tips • Be smart – select the SAFEST way to turn around • Usually, the safest method is to drive around the block or pull into parking lot • Backing into a driveway and then driving forward out of the driveway is typically safer than backing out. Why do you think this is? • SMOG and “roll slow, steer fast” as you execute control and visibility when backing is necessary. Don’t Attempt to Turn Around • Near the crest of a hill, curve, or any location where visibility from oncoming or vehicles behind you is an issue • On an entrance/exit ramp • On a highway or fast-moving road • Near a busy intersection or in busy traffic • In a school zone • Where a sign says that turning around is prohibited (No U Turn) U-Turns • Signal right in advance of your turn, check your mirrors, begin breaking, pull into lane position 3 and STOP • Engage the left signal. Look in front of you (oncoming traffic), behind you (traffic approaching behind you), to the left of you (Pedestrians other obstructions), to the right of you (Pedestrians) • Look to the Left and front of you one more time • If all clear, turn your wheel all the way to the left as it will go. Gradually move the vehicle towards the other side of the road 2-Point Turn • Once in the driveway, turn your wheel straight and stop when your vehicle is completely out the road • Turn your signal on again to the direction you wish to turn. • Look for pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles, or other obstacles in your path of travel • When clear, make the left or right turn on to the roadway 3-Point Turn (K-Turn, Broken U-Turn) 1. Signal with your right turn signal, then pull into lane position 3 (right side of road) and STOP. 2. Signal with your left turn signal 3. Check for pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles, or other obstacles in your path of travel 4. Turn left and go across the road (ROLL SLOW, STEER FAST) and stop when you approach the left curb 5. Look again for traffic and obstacles in your path of travel. Put your car in reverse and backup to the right to the opposite curb. STOP. 6. Look one final time for obstacles in your path of travel. Place the car in Drive and pull away from the curb proceeding in your new direction. Remember: Slow vehicle – fast hands; try to time the speed of the turn so that you aren’t grinding the tires. Check for Understanding – Activity 3 • What is the first step in executing a U-Turn? • What does a “Point” refer to when discussing 2 and 3 point turns? • What are some other names for a 3-Point turn? • What is the steering sequence for a 3-Point turn, starting from after you have pulled over to the side of the road? Perpendicular Parking - Entering Pulling in at a right angle to the curb, between two vehicles: • Locate your space • SMOG • Move as far away as possible from the space you are planning to enter • Turn into the space when the passenger mirror is in line with the white line of the parking space • Steer into the space, watching for the turning radius • Straighten wheels when you are about halfway into the space • Make sure you don’t pull too far forward (the curb/perpendicular line will be just below your side mirrors) Perpendicular Parking - Exiting • Place the vehicle gear into reverse, making sure the wheels are straight • Look 360 before vehicle moves, like an owl • Back slowly as necessary, looking all around the entire time • Keep straight until your front tire is lined up with the back tires of the other vehicle • Steer slowly in the correct direction to finish the back out • Remember to look back in the direction that you want the vehicle to go and steer in that direction • Watch to insure that bumpers don’t “kiss” Angle Parking Pulling in at a diagonal angle to the curb, between two vehicles • Locate your space • SMOG • Move as far out away from the selected space as possible • Look to see the very end of the space before turning in • Aim for the center as necessary • Stop without going too far forward as you rewind the wheel (the curb edge will appear just below your side mirror) Review 1. When performing a parking maneuver, it is important that the vehicle rolls slowly, but your hands steer ______ Quickly 2. What is a checkpoint or reference point? Name one checkpoint regarding parallel parking A guide to a successful set up for parking. Line up mirror to mirror to ensure the vehicle starts in a parallel position to the vehicle being parked behind. 3. When parallel parking, are signals required and if so, what/when would you signal? Yes. Signal to slow before stopping. Signal right to indicate turning back with back up lights on. Signal to leave the space and re-enter traffic. 4. List two checkpoints when executing perpendicular parking? Center your vehicle in the parking lot lane; begin turning when you can see the end of the parking space you are turning into, don’t oversteer. Review • When parking downhill with a curb, which way do you turn your when and what precautions should you take when securing your vehicle? Point towards the curb. Set the parking brake. References • New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. New York State Driver’s Manual.