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Alaska Defensive Driving Section 1 & 2 & 3 Table of Contents Section 1: Driving Defensively 1. 1 Common Driving Mistakes 1. 2 Concepts and Techniques of Defensive Driving 1. 3 The Importance of Defensive Driving Section 2: Traffic Laws and Point system Alaska laws of Point System Drivers License Point Assignment Section 3: Alaska licensing laws 3. 1 Licenses and Permits 3. 2 Driver License requirements 3. 3 Identification 3. 4 Parent Consent 3. 5 Instruction Permit 3. 6 Types of Commercial Licenses and Endorsements, Commercial Driver License Tests in Alaska 3. 7 Transferring a CDL from another State 3. 8 Driver License Fees 3. 9 Additional Information Bibliography Section 1: Driving Defensively. Defensive Driving Course is the first driver improvement program, which was initiated by the National Safety Council in 1964. Since then it has been taught to millions of drives in the US, Canada and many other countries around the world. Defensive driving aims at training drivers to prevent collision on the roads regardless of any conditions which may provoke difficult situations (weather, actions of the other drivers). Most of the automobile accidents are caused by lack of experience, failure to make a sound judgment and to evaluate a situation in a proper way.
Techniques taught within the Course of Defensive Driving heighten drivers caution and awareness of the things posing a risk to safety, life and property of the other people around them. Also, according to the Course Outline, defensive driving promotes an attitude of mutual understanding, courtesy, and cooperation on the road. [ 6 ]. 1. 1 Common Driving Mistakes There is a list of common mistakes which hamper safe driving: Riding in high speed Inattentiveness Tailgating Failure to take the required safety measures, to wear seat belt Failure to obey traffic signs and signals Failure to give right-of-way, including wrong turning procedures, not checking for traffic flow before changing lines etc. Distractions (talking to passengers, using a cell-phone, changing tapes etc. ) Driving being fatigued Vehicle is not properly maintained Incorrect assumptions about other drivers. (i. e.
assuming the other driver will yield right-of-way) [ 7 ]. 1. 2 Concepts and Techniques of Defensive Driving Defensive driving is based on a number of concepts and techniques. They are: Time and space enough to maneuver and react. It is indispensable that the driver reacts in time and has space for maneuver. Following distance.
According to some studies of aggressive driving [ 7 ], tailgating was listed as one of types of unsafe behavior of drivers which most likely will cause motor car accident. There are certain rules which concern following distance on the road. - The two-second rule says there must be at least two seconds between the back of one vehicle and the front bumper of the following vehicle. Drivers can gauge this distance by watching the vehicle in front pass a stationary point, such as a pole or mile marker. As the rear bumper passes the mark, the driver begins counting one thousand and one, one thousand and two. If the front bumper of the following car reaches the marker before the count is complete, the driver is following too closely and should back off. [ 7 ]. - Add seconds for adverse road conditions, such as wet pavement or limited visibility - one second should be added for each adverse condition. [ 7 ]. Visual lead time, space cushion around a vehicle.
The driver should be anticipating traffic movements, and possible hazards as far away as the car will reach in twelve seconds [ 7 ]. A driver should be able to respond quickly if any pedestrian, animal or vehicle suddenly appears on the cars path. So a defensive driver can not be taken by surprise and he / she avoids being involved into a risky situation because he / she can anticipate potential conflicts. Thus one of the first steps to make driving safe and defensive is to provide a space cushion around the vehicle. Leaving an out. To avoid a collision a driver may move into anther lane, stop or move to open space beside the road.
This may be possible if a driver maintains a safe distance, or space cushion, between his / her vehicle and potential threats, and scans ahead. To be able to react to a situation in a proper way, a driver should practice what-if techniques: what will I do if the car in front of me stops suddenly; what will I do if the bicyclist swerves in front of me. [ 7 ]. Communication with the other drivers. With the help of special devices drivers need to let the others know about their position and what are they going to do. For example, when drivers make a turn or change a lane they use turn signals; horn serves to turn attention of the others to the drivers location; flashes indicate emergency situation. Also, drivers may communicate through hand gestures and eye contact.
Traffic laws as social contract. Traffic laws are set as socially agreed standard of behavior on the roadways and they are to be accepted individually by every participant of the road traffic. Traffic laws help drivers to anticipate actions of each other and react to them in the most effective way. If the social contract is broken by violating traffic laws, i. e. running stop signs, speeding, tailgating, etc. , it becomes difficult for drivers to predict actions of the other participants of the road traffic.
Also it is dangerous to disregard traffic laws attempting to be helpful. Though according to traffic rules a driver has right-of-way he / she can stop for cross traffic or wave another driver through. Signals. Disregarding red signals as well as other control devices, is the leading cause of crashes.
According to the statistics calculated by the Insurance Institute of highway Safety, such cases represent 22 percent of the total sum of collisions. [ 7 ]. Traffic signal procedures: (a) Steady Red indicates that the driver must come to a full stop behind the crosswalk and not proceed until the signal changes to green. (b) Steady Yellow indicates an alert that the signal is about to turn red. Drivers should stop before the crosswalk if possible to do so safely. If not, drivers should proceed cautiously through the intersection before the signal turns red.
Do not speed up to go through the intersection before the signal turns red. (c) Steady Green indicates that the driver should proceed through the intersection with caution, staying alert for other drivers who might run the red signal and for pedestrians who are still in the crosswalk. If turning left on a green signal, drivers must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians in the turn path. (d) Flashing Yellow indicates that the driver should slow down and proceed with caution. Traffic coming in the other direction will have a flashing red light. (e) Flashing Red indicates that the drivers must come to a full stop behind the crosswalk, then proceed cautiously. Drivers should be alert to the colour of the signal the drivers on the intersecting road are seeing.
If the crossing signal is also flashing red, the intersection should be treated as a four-way stop sign. If the crossing signal is flashing yellow, the drivers in the crossing traffic have the right-of-way, and drivers with the flashing red signal should wait until all cross traffic is clear before proceeding. (f) Arrows indicate in what directions drivers may proceed. Green indicates that a driver may turn in that directions, red indicates that they may not move in that direction. Drivers should yield right-of-way to traffic with a green arrow. (g) Photo enforcement. Some communities use cameras at intersections to record drivers violations of traffic laws. In a national survey by NHTSA, more than 7 in 10 drivers approved of photo enforcement devices to reduce running red signals and stop signs, as well as reduce speeding, especially in areas where crashes occur frequently.
Those who approve believe photo enforcement decreases these unsafe actions and provides solid evidence of the violation. However, those who disapprove believe that there are privacy concerns and that personal interaction with law enforcement officers is preferable. [ 7 ]. Right-of way. Violations of right-of-way at intersections result in more than half of the number of all urban crashes. There are strict rules according to which the privilege of going first is given by other drivers, but not taken. The law states who yields, but the law does not give anyone right-of-way.
According to Drive Right (Scott Foresman, 1993) there are considerations for yielding: (a) Your action should not cause those to whom you should yield the right-of-way to slow or stop. (b) Traffic signs and signals only show who should yield the right-of-way. They do not stop traffic for you. (c) Others can give you the right-of-way. Never assume others will yield to you. (d) Failure to yield the right-of-way is one of the most frequent violations in fatal collisions. [ 5 ]. Yielding at stop signs and yield signs: (a) Two-way stop signs. Drivers are to come to a full stop and yield right-of-way to: all traffic on the through street. If turning left, yield to facing traffic going straight.
pedestrians in or near the crosswalk or in the turn path. (b) Four-way stop signs. Drivers are to come to a full stop and yield right-of-way to: all pedestrians in the crosswalks. vehicles that arrive first. if two or more vehicles arrive at the stop sign at the same time, yield to the vehicle on the right. If they are facing each other, a left-turning driver yields to one going straight. (c) Yield signs. Drivers are to yield right-of-way to: all traffic on the cross street.
all pedestrians in or near crosswalks. It is not necessary to come to a complete stop unless required to avoid a collision. [ 7 ]. Yielding in other situations: (a) Alleys, driveways, private roadways. Drivers are to yield right-of-way to all vehicles on the street and all pedestrians. (b) Emergency vehicles. Drivers are to immediately yield to all emergency vehicles (such as ambulance, police, fire trucks, etc. ) when the emergency vehicle is using flashing lights or sounding a siren. Drivers should move out of an intersection and close to the curb and wait for the emergency vehicle to pass. (If the driver is on a divided highway, and the emergency vehicle is on the other side, pulling over to the side of the road is not required. ) (c) School buses.
If the amber lights on a bus are flashing the bus is about to stop and drivers should slow down and anticipate where the bus will stop. If the red lights are flashing and the bus is stopped, drivers are not to pass the bus from any direction. (d) Trains. Drivers should approach any railroad crossing with caution and never drive around lowered gates or rely totally on warning signals. A crash with a train is 11 time more likely to be fatal than any other collision. (e) Uncontrolled intersections. Drivers should yield right-of-way as at a four-way stop sign. It is not necessary to come to a complete stop unless required to avoid a collision. (f) Pedestrians at green lights.
When a signal first changes to green, drivers should yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk or turn path, or vehicles that are still in the intersection. [ 7 ]. Traveling through intersections. Drivers should know the time they will need to pass through intersections. The distance between the vehicles is the space that allows a driver to enter the flow or to travel through an intersection.
Time that is available to move through an intersection depends on the distance between the vehicles and their speed. In fact it takes about four seconds to pass an intersection from a full stop. If the speed of traffic is 30 mph, a gap should be 2 / 3 of a block in each direction to pass through an intersection safely. If a driver intends to make a right turn, time he / she will need grows to 6 seconds (a one block gap). If a driver is going to make a left turn his / her time is increased to 7 seconds (more than one block gap). [ 7 ]. Speeding.
Most of teen-age drivers think that it is cool to drive at a high speed. But exceeding speed limit contributes much to the amount of fatal traffic crushes. According to NHTSA, speed is recognized as a chief factor in one-third of all crashes with fatal consequences. Each driver should know the variation of speed limits allowed in his state. In Alaska, according to State Alaska Driver Manual, there are speed limits which are established by law as the maximum to be driven under favorable conditions on highways which are not otherwise posted: Business district 20 mph.
School zone 20 mph. Alley 15 mph. Residential District 25 mph. Any roadway, except all listed above 55 mph. [ 3 ]. Speed Limitation law.
When driving conditions are less than ideal a person operating a motor vehicle on the highway shall drive at a careful and prudent speed no greater than what is reasonable and proper having due regard for the following conditions: A. Traffic When traffic is heavy, congested, or moving slowly. B. Surface When the road surface is rough, icy, wet, or otherwise provides poor traction. C. Width When the width of the roadway reduces your margin of safety.
D. Weather When weather conditions affect sight, distance, and traction. (Rain, snow, fog, dust, or smoke. ) [ 3 ]. A person may not drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than will permit him to stop within the assured clear distance ahead. [ 3 ]. Motor driven cycle speed is limited by intensity of headlamp. Lamps reveal person or vehicle at 100 feet - 20 mph or less Lamps reveal person or vehicle at 200 feet - 21 to 29 mph Lamps reveal person or vehicle at 300 feet - 30 mph or more [ 3 ].
Slow speed A driver may not drive at such slow speed as to hold back or block the normal and reasonable flow of traffic. Reckless driving A wilful disregard for the safety of persons or property. Conviction will result in license revocation. On multi-lane highways, if you drive slower than other traffic, use the right, outside lane, except when passing. [ 3 ]. Hand signals. Hand and arm signals are given as follows: Left turn: hand and arm extended horizontally; Right turn: hand and arm extended upward; and Stop or decrease speed: hand and arm extended downward. [ 7 ].
Parking. Drivers must park their vehicles with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within eighteen inches of the right-hand curb. Drivers should be able to perform such maneuvers in order to park in correctly: (a) Parallel parking; (b) Angle parking; (c) Parking on hills. The following ways of parking are prohibited: (a) on a sidewalk; (b) in front of a public or private driveway; (c) within an intersection; (d) within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant; (e) on a crosswalk; (f) within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection; (g) within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway; (h) between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the end [ends] of a safety zone, unless the traffic authority indicates a different length by signs or markings; (i) within fifty feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing; (j) within twenty feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five feet of said entrance, when properly signposted; (k) alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic; (l) on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street; (m) upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel; or (n) at any place where official signs prohibit stopping. [ 7 ]. Road and Weather Conditions.
The road conditions can not be such favorable as a driver expects. But anyway a dr
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