Chapter 1

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Introduction
Page 1 of 3
Course Overview
Welcome to the I Drive Safely Online Traffic School Course. Your decision, willin
gness and effort to participate in this course gives you an opportunity to learn
to drive more alertly, efficiently, and safely. I Drive Safely has combined year
s of industry experience as well as professional outside sources to design and i
mplement this driver education program. The aim of this course is to help you be
come a better, safer driver. We hope you share what you will learn with family a
nd friends.
This driver improvement program is also designed to promote respect for all driv
ers as well as encourage observance of traffic laws and traffic safety responsib
ilities. The course includes information that will assist you in improving your
personal driving habits and defensive driving techniques. It also fosters the re
duction of traffic violations, traffic-related injuries, deaths, and economic lo
sses. By participating in this course, no points will be assessed for the traffi
c violation for which you are attending Texas state traffic school.
The program consists of the following eight units of instruction:
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Highway Safety
The Driver
Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving
Other Driving Impairments
Traffic Laws
The Driving Environment
Driving Emergencies
The Vehicle
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Introduction
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Testing and Grading
At the end of each unit, you are required to take a 10-question quiz that review
s important content from that unit. You must pass each quiz with a score of 70%
to move on to the next unit. If you do not score 70% or higher you are required
to retake the entire unit and attempt another quiz after you have finished the u
nit.
Completion Requirements
You must complete all 8 units of the course and pass the quiz at the end of each
unit with a score of 70% or higher in order to receive a Certificate of Complet
ion. Each individual unit must be completed before moving on to the next unit. I
Drive Safely will issue a Certificate of Completion only if participants meet al
l the requirements for the course.
Timer
In this course, each page contains timers as required by the state government to
ensure that you spend the same amount of time on this course as you would in a
classroom course. You will not be able to move forward in the course until the p
age timer has stopped. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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Introduction
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Operation and Conduct Policy
No credit for completion will be given if the course is completed by anyone othe
r than you or if you are assisted by an outside party. When you enroll in the co
urse you are stating under penalty of perjury that you, and not another person,
studied the material in its entirety and completed the section quizzes and the f
inal exam. By registering for this course, you understand that it may be a crime
to make false statements or to falsify documents submitted to the court.
Cancellation/Refund Policy
School enrollment fees will be refunded within 30 days to any student who cancel
s the enrollment contract prior to completing the course. All school enrollment
fees are also refundable if:
The course of instruction is discontinued by the school, thus preventing a stude
nt from completing the course, or
The enrollment of the student was procured as a result of any misrepresentation
in advertising, promotional materials of the school, or representation made by t
he owner or employee of the school.
All refunds must be requested within 30 days after the effective date of payment
.
Note: There will be no refund of school enrollment fees if a student fails to pa
ss the final examination, or if the student fails to pass the course due to circ
umvention.
You're now ready to begin the course. Good luck!
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The Traffic Safety Problem
Page 1 of 7
Introduction
Vehicular crashes in the United States kill and injure people at epidemic rates.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists accidental death as the fif
th leading cause of death in the United States.
Fatalities related to motor vehicle traffic are the number one cause of accident
al death. Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for people age
s 3 to 34.
When you enter into the driving environment, your risk of unintentional injury i
s always present. However, there are several things you can do as a driver to lo
wer that risk.
As you start this course, you probably consider yourself to be a very good drive
r. Then recently, and very unexpectedly, you were issued a citation by a law enf
orcement official.
Many good drivers receive citations and are also involved in crashes. In fact, t
he majority of drivers involved in collisions are people who have a good driving
record. People who drive safely most of the time can still exercise poor judgme
nt and make a mistake once in a while. However, if you consistently break traffi
c laws, you are more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers who obey the
laws.
The purpose of this course is to help you avoid receiving future citations and p
rovide you with information to help you reduce your risk of a crash; a crash whi
ch could result in financial loss, injury, or death.
We begin this course by investigating what causes fatalities on our highway syst
em, the responsibilities we all have as drivers, and how to reduce your risk of
being involved in a crash while you are driving.
The first module of the course covers the traffic safety problem we all face as
a society. Topics include:
Surviving the Drive
The Highway Transportation System
The Cost of Crashes
The Leading Causes of Fatalities
The Social Responsibilities of Driving
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Surviving the Drive
Driving a motor vehicle involves the conduct of skilled and properly timed actio
ns under varying road and traffic conditions based on decisions that depend on:
Learned Information
Realistic Perceptions
Sound Judgments
You already know how to drive. Using skill, knowledge, and obeying the rules of
the road is the first step to improving your chances of surviving a crash.
Next, you need to stay
ption of your risk and
k of driving. You need
changes other drivers
focused on the task of driving and have a realistic perce

an understanding of why you need to be focused on the tas
to be aware of the environment you are driving in and the
are making in their speed and direction.
Lastly, when you know what to do and are alert to the situation, you need to exe
rcise sound judgment.
There are several techniques to help you detect and avoid hazardous situations w
hile driving. These techniques will be presented in depth to help develop your d
riving survival capabilities.
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Page 3 of 7
The Highway Transportation System
The Highway Transportation System (HTS) is a complex, integrated system made up
of three elements:
Roadways
Vehicles
Drivers
In a perfect driving world, these elements would always be in top condition, mak
ing it much safer when you are driving. Even if the conditions are all very good
, every other road user around you presents an uncertain and unpredictable risk.
In reality, even if you think the condition of each of these elements is predic
table, one or all of them may quickly and unexpectedly change.
Roadways
Roadways are classified by their function and surface condition. Roads that func
tion as expressways and divided highways are traveled at high speeds and consequ
ently have a greater risk of high-impact crashes. Slick or wet, low-traction sur
face conditions make it hard to control the speed and direction your vehicle is
traveling. Consider how your drive becomes much more dangerous when your tires f
ail to grip the road because of low-traction conditions.
Vehicles
We drive and are surrounded on the road by many types of vehicles that have uniq
ue handling and operating characteristics. Motorcycles are smaller than cars and
difficult to see. Large trucks can block your line-of-sight. As other vehicles
present problems on the road, it is important to be confident that your vehicle
is safe, all systems are fully operational and in good condition.
Drivers
There are many attentive, good drivers on the road with us. However, never let y
our guard down to the fact that sick, tired, angry, distracted, and impaired dri
vers can also be sharing the roadway. If you, as a driver, are not in good condi
tion, take that into consideration before getting behind the wheel.
The HTS is designed to move and manage all of these different vehicles and drive
rs around the roadways. Traffic engineers and lawmakers have designed the roads,
laws, and traffic controls to help drivers anticipate and predict what other ro
ad users are about to do. These efforts are in our best interest and reduce the
chances of our crashing into each other. In our integrated transportation system
all drivers have to depend on each other to follow the rules.
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The Cost of Crashes
Motor vehicles play an extremely important role in our lives and our economy. Wi
thout them, most of us could not get to work, go to the grocery store, or travel
outside of our own community. However, it is imperative that we understand the
potential losses associated with motor vehicle collisions and unsafe driving pra
ctices.
Injury and death associated with traffic-related crashes are two of our largest
societal problems. Consider the following personal and societal losses resulting
from traffic collisions compiled from data collected by the National Highway Tr
affic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
The number of injuries and deaths due to collisions is considered to be of epide
mic proportion. In 2011, over 33,500 people lost their lives and 2,220,000 were
injured in motor vehicle crashes.
Among those killed, teenage drivers have the highest death rates per miles drive
n among all age groups, followed by elderly drivers and young adult males.
In addition to the fatality rates, there are over 5 million traffic collisions t
hat are reported each year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prev
ention, these collisions cost the national economy over $70 billion as they rela
te to crash-related deaths and injuries among drivers and passengers. In additio
n, the cost of personal or family disruptions as well as mental and physical suf
fering can't possibly be measured in dollars.
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The Leading Causes of Crashes
Every year, the NHTSA lists the main factors that contribute to or are associate
d with drivers and motorcycle operators in fatal crashes.
This list is one that should stick in every driver's mind. More often than not,
more than one of these factors contributes to a fatality on our roadway. We will
first introduce this list and later on go through each of these factors in dept
h.
The top 12 causes of fatal crashes:
Failing to maintain lane position.
Speeding. This is not just exceeding the speed limit; it is also categorized as
driving too fast for conditions.
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and other medication.
Failing to yield the right-of-way.
Inattention, which includes distractions such as talking, eating, text messaging
, etc.
Operating the vehicle in an erratic, reckless, careless, or negligent manner.
Failing to obey traffic signs or signals. This category includes a driver not si
gnaling the intention to turn or change lanes, a common communication error.
Improper driving technique.
Making an improper turn.
Driving when drowsy, sleepy, fatigued, ill, or after experiencing a blackout.
Vision obscured. This may occur due to poor visibility conditions such as rain,
snow, glare, or driving into bright lights. Vision obstruction also occurs when
your vision is blocked by trees, buildings, or other vehicles.
Driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
If you can associate these driving behaviors with your driving, recognize that t
hey are the leading reasons for fatalities on our roadways. If you find yourself
frequently doing any of the things on this list, remember the leading killer of
persons age 3-33 is motor vehicle crashes.
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The Social Responsibilities of Driving
Injury and death associated with traffic-related crashes are two of our largest
societal problems.
Drivers depend on each other to obey the rules and driving is also a very social
task. Many drivers don't think of that as they get behind the wheel.
Some drivers display a lack of courtesy. Courtesy is nothing more than showing r
espect for the rights and privileges of others using the roadway. It's simply a
matter of displaying good manners while driving.
It is our social responsibility to pay attention, avoid distractions, and demons
trate due care. For example, if we are obeying the rules and the other driver isn'
t, it is still our responsibility to avoid a collision if possible. So, if you s
ee another vehicle running a red light and you can stop or maneuver to avoid hit
ting it, it is your responsibility to demonstrate "due care." If you see a pedes
trian dash in front of you, it is your responsibility to try to avoid hitting th
e pedestrian. The concepts of defensive driving - watching out for the other guy c
ome into play in these types of driving scenarios.
Practicing patience is also a must. Many drivers are racing to and from their jo
bs and other responsibilities in this time-starved world we share. It seems as tho
ugh everyone is in a hurry and because we have more and more vehicles on our alr
eady congested roads, it is extremely difficult to exercise patience. A simple s
olution to avoid becoming impatient is to allow yourself more time for your trip
. Leave early and recognize how to control your emotions. We will discuss more a
bout emotions and other driving responsibilities later in the course.
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ReviewSend to Printer
In the U.S., each year approximately 2 million people are injured and around 30,
000 people are killed in traffic collisions. Motor vehicle collisions are the le
ading cause of death for people ages 3 to 34. Among those killed, teenage driver
s have the highest death rates per miles driven among all age groups, followed b
y elderly drivers and young adult males. Every year the cost of crashes exceeds
$230 billion.
Driving a motor vehicle involves the conduct of skilled and properly timed actio
ns under varying road and traffic conditions based on decisions that depend on:
Learned Information
Realistic Perceptions
Sound Judgments
The top 12 causes of fatal crashes:
Failing to maintain lane position
Speeding
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and other medication
Failing to yield the right-of-way
Inattention
Reckless driving
Failing to obey traffic signs or signals
Improper driving technique
Making an improper turn
Drowsy driving
Obscured vision
Driving the wrong way on a one-way street
Traffic engineers and lawmakers have designed the roads, laws, and traffic contr
ols to help drivers anticipate and predict what other road users are about to do
. These efforts are in our best interest and reduce the chances of our crashing
into each other. In our integrated transportation system all drivers have to dep
end on each other to follow the rules.
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Licensing and State Laws
Page 1 of 6
Introduction
The privilege of operating a motor vehicle carries many responsibilities with it
.
Understanding the laws and rules-of-the-road and exercising that knowledge with
good judgment when operating a motor vehicle will help you prevent collisions. I
t will also reduce the chances of causing possible harm to yourself and others.
Basic laws are in place for all drivers to follow; however, there are some state
-specific laws that you are obligated to follow when driving in Texas.
Understanding your responsibilities as a driver licensed to drive in Texas also
includes being fully aware of Texas's licensing procedures and licensing require
ments.
If the state court system identifies you as an unsafe driver or finds you neglig
ent of your responsibilities associated with driving, the court has the right to
take away your privilege to drive at any time.
This module covers Texas' licensing and driving laws. The topics that will be ad
dressed include:
Driving is a Privilege
Licensing Requirements
License Revocation and Suspension
Financial Responsibility
Other State Laws
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Driving is a Privilege
Our society gives you the freedom to come and go where and when you wish. Howeve
r, driving is not a constitutional right it is a privilege you earned upon recei
ving your license. You are obligated to follow Texas' licensing regulations and
rules of the road in order to keep that privilege.
New residents who are properly licensed in their own state or country have 90 da
ys after moving to Texas to secure a Texas driver license. The Department of Pub
lic Safety will not issue a driver license or identification card to a person wh
o has not established a domicile in Texas. The applicant may be able to receive
a driver license at a post office box, if able to also provide a residence addre
ss.
Your licensing process is regulated by the state government and Texas has specif
ic motor vehicle laws and designates various penalties for violation of these la
ws.
Traffic laws are in place to regulate the flow of traffic. They are designed for
your safety and the safety of others you are sharing the road with. Basic traff
ic laws that all drivers on the road are obligated to follow include:
Do not drive in excess of the speed limit or slower than the minimum speed limit
. If you have poor traction or poor visibility, slow down to maintain control an
d be able to stop if a hazard is in your path.
Slowing down or rolling through a STOP sign is not enough and is against the law.
Stop before your vehicle enters the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk present,
stop your vehicle just before your front tires reach the bold stop bar marking
on the pavement. If there is no stop bar, drivers should stop at the point neare
st the intersecting roadway where they have a view of approaching traffic before
entering the intersection.
Position your vehicle in the center of your traffic lane. Signal your intention
to change lanes or turn.
To yield the rightofway means to allow another road user to cross or use an inters
ection or roadway before you do. At an uncontrolled intersection, if another veh
icle is in the lane you want to enter, they have the rightofway. This is true when
backing out of a driveway or when you exit a parking space in a parking lot. Be
prepared to slow down or stop if necessary to give the rightofway to vehicles on
the roadway. Proceed when safe to do so.
A steady yellow signal light ahead warns you that your permission to proceed is
about to be terminated. Begin to slow and be prepared to stop. A red light will
soon appear indicating it is illegal for vehicle traffic going in your direction
to enter the intersection. A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed
with caution. Be prepared to yield to another vehicle or pedestrian if they are
already in the intersection.
Besides obeying basic traffic laws, drivers have countless other responsibilitie
s:
Fulfill your financial obligations associated with collisions you cause.
Demonstrate courtesy to others on the roadway.
Protect your passengers at all times.
Properly maintain your vehicle.
Be familiar with your vehicle's features and functions.
Drive only when you are mentally and physically fit to safely operate your vehic
le.
Always stay focused on the task of driving.
Along with your driver's license comes the obligation to fulfill these responsib
ilities. The state point system is in place to help identify those who are not d
riving responsibly. If the pattern of non-compliance is not corrected, Texas wil
l exercise its right to remove your privilege to drive.
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Page 3 of 6
Texas Graduated Driver Licensing
If you are under 18, you must show proof of driver education, verification of at
tendance in or completion of school, proof of social security, and proof of iden
tification (TRC 521.204, 521.222 and 545.424) to receive a permit. All driver li
cense applicants from 18 to 24 must take a six-hour driver education course. As
of March 1, 2010, Texas law also mandates that applicants ages 25 or younger mus
t commit to a Texas-approved driver education course. A school district may also
offer driver education and a traffic safety course each school year. The commis
sioner shall approve or put together the curriculum and course materials (whethe
r the driver education is conducted by a school district, a specialized driver e

ducation school, or parent). Each course must contain:
Seven hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in the presence of a person who meet
s the Transportation Code Section 521.05 requirements to teach driver education.
Seven hours of observation instruction in the presence of a person who meets the
Transportation Code Section 521.05 requirements to teach driver education.
20 hours of additional behind-the-wheel instruction (10 hours at night) in the p
resence of a person who meets the Transportation Code Section 521.222 (d) (2) re
quirements to teach driver education.
If you are under 18, you must hold an instruction permit or hardship license for
a minimum of six months. Be aware that your provisional license will expire on
your 18th birthdaywhich means that you will not have to annually renew your instr
uctional permit or provisional license. You will have to pay a $15 issuance fee
for your provisional license or instruction permit. Also, your instructor must b
e 21 years or older, must not be disabled due to mental illness, must not have s
ix or more points on their driving record, and must have possessed a driver lice
nse for the past three years without any suspensions or revocations.As of May 1,
2010, Texas law now requires an additional 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driver
instruction based on the Texas Education Agency's(TEA) criteria for curriculum (
HB 339). As of November 30, 2009, the Texas Department of Public Safety also pro
vides a special task force that will review and provide recommendations to the T
EA for driver course material.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also collects data regarding the amount of
collisions involved with students who were taught at public schools. The number
of collisions is further determined by the number of an instructor's students w
ho have completed their driver education course during the state's fiscal year,
then dividing that number by the number of collisions involved with students who
are in their first 12 months of licensure, and expressing the quotient as the f
inal percentage. By October 1 of each year a publication is issued that lists th
e student's collision percentages and severity levels taught by each legally app
roved instructor.
There is no minimum time that you must hold a restricted motorcycle or moped lic
ense before you can apply for a Class M license. A person under 17 who holds a r
estricted motorcycle or moped license during a 12-month period may not ride betw
een midnight and 5 a.m., unless absolutely necessary and may not use a wireless
communication device while the motorcycle or moped is in motion. These rules do
not apply to those who hold a hardship license. Also, those who are licensed by
the Federal Communications Commission may operate a wireless or radio frequency
device.
Your instruction permit must remain valid during the mandatory 6-month period. I
f your instruction permit is suspended during this period, the remainder of the
6-month period must be completed once the suspension has ended.
Once you have held a permit or hardship license for six months, you will be elig
ible to "graduate" to Phase Two and receive a Class C driver license, if you:
Are 16 years of age
Completed and submitted a certificate of completion to the department both the c
lassroom and driving portions of driver education.
Have passed the vision and license exam
Submitted a written parent or legal guardian consent form to the department that
allows for the department to access your driver school enrollment records
Obtained a high school diploma, signed up to take the high school equivalency ex
am after already completing 45 days of schooling, or were enrolled in school for
at least 80 days in the fall or spring semester preceding the date of the drive
r license application.
If you are 15 years of age you may qualify for a hardship license (for more info
rmation regarding the hardship license, please contact the department). Phase Tw
o lasts for one year. During this one-year period, you will have to comply with
specific rules, such as carrying only one passenger who is under 21 years old in
your vehicle and never driving between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., unless
absolutely necessary. After this 1-year period, your license status is upgraded
to be non-provisional.
Texas law requires that all applicants under the age of 18 take the driving skil
ls exam to receive a driver license. Those who are under 18 years of age may not
waive their driving test under any circumstances.
You must successfully complete the driver license requirements. It is considered
a criminal offense to steal anyone's driver license, commercial driver license,
or personal identification (HB 1282).
Organ Donation
When you apply for your license, you can make a decision to become an organ dono
r through the Donate Life Texas program. In the rare and unfortunate event that
you lose your life in an accident, you can choose to donate your organs to save
lives and for medical science research.
The most important questions to consider are:
If you or someone you love needed an organ transplant in order to continue to li
ve, would you want someone else to help your family?
If you or a family member are in a position to help someone else live, would you
?
If you would like to say, "YES" to being an organ donor, you can register here:
www.donatelifetexas.org/register
You can also find answers to your questions here:
www.donatelifetexas.org/understanding-donation/faq
If you do choose to be an organ donor, a small red heart with the word "donor" w
ill be printed in the lower right corner on the front of your license that indic
ates your desire to Donate Life.
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Page 4 of 6
License Revocation and Suspension
Know and follow the laws that govern the use of our roadways. If you choose not
to demonstrate safe driving competence, your driver's license may be suspended o
r revoked.
The Point System identifies those who may be habitually negligent drivers. The D
river Responsibility Law (TRC 708; Article 10, House Bill 3588, 78th Legislative
Session) establishes a system which assigns points to moving violations classif
ied as Class C misdemeanors and applies surcharges to offenders, based upon the
type of offense and the time period in which the citation was received. For each
conviction, DPS will assign points to a person's driver license as follows:
A moving violation in Texas or another state: 2 points
Child safety seat violation: 2 points
A moving violation in Texas that resulted in a vehicle crash: 3 points
All accumulated points remain on your record for 3 years.
Point Surcharges
If you receive 6 points or more on your record within 3 years, you must pay a su
rcharge. It is $100 for the first 6 points and $25 for each additional point. Th
ese surcharges do not replace other consequences of the violation.
If you receive a conviction for any of the following offenses, you are required
to pay an annual surcharge for 3 years from the date of conviction:
First Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), or a DWI-related conviction: $1,000 annua
l surcharge
Second DWI Conviction: $1,500 annual surcharge
Conviction with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.16 or greater: $2,000 a
nnual surcharge
Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility: $250 annual surcharge
Driving While License Expired: $250 annual surcharge
Driving without a Valid License: $200 annual surcharge
Suspension is the temporary removal of your driving privilege. It's an action th
at may be taken after a review of your driving record. The suspension remains in
effect for a specific amount of time and then you may apply for reinstatement.
In addition to the reinstatement fee, you must pay the appropriate license appli
cation fee for your age group. You will commit a class B misdemeanor if you deci
de to drive while your license is suspended.
Revocation is the removal of your privilege to drive. It is required by law upon
conviction of certain driving offenses. Once your revocation period has ended,
your driving privileges will remain revoked until an investigation is completed.
The investigation is to determine that all withdrawal actions have ended, and t
hat all statutory requirements are met. You will be required to pay the appropri
ate application fee and reinstatement fee, and you may be required to file a Cer
tificate of Insurance. A written, vision and road test may also be required.
Your license may be suspended or revoked for a variety of reasons. Read below fo
r a list of just a few of them:
Driving under the influence of alcohol or another substance
Driving recklessly
Leaving the scene of a collision
Failing to satisfy a citation or appear in court
Refusing to take a chemical test
Displaying a canceled, altered, or fictitious license
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Page 5 of 6
Financial Responsibility
Texas requires that every motor vehicle operated on our roadways be covered by o
ne of the statutory forms of financial responsibility, more commonly called liab
ility insurance, through a company that is authorized to do business in Texas. T
his includes golf carts, motorcycles and mopeds.
All motor vehicles registered or operated must be covered by liability insurance
and basic no-fault personal injury insurance. Vehicles must remain insured duri
ng the entire registration period even if the vehicle is not driven or is inoper
able. Failure to carry insurance is a criminal offense. The penalties include fi
nes, loss of license plates, and loss of your operator's license.
Texas requires the following minimum coverage:
Bodily injury/death of one person: $30,000
Bodily injury/death of two or more persons: $60,000
Property damage: $25,000
A new law now allows Texas drivers to show proof of financial responsibility wit
h a wireless device such as a smart phone.
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Page 6 of 6
Our society gives you the freedom to come and go where and when you wish. Howeve
r, driving is not a constitutional rightit is a privilege you earned upon receivi
ng your license. You are obligated to follow state licensing regulations and rul
es-of-the-road in order to keep that privilege.
Your licensing process is regulated by your state government and Texas has speci
fic motor vehicle laws and designates various penalties for violation of these l
aws.
Traffic laws are in place to regulate the flow of traffic. They are designed for
your safety and the safety of others you are sharing the road with.
If the state court system identifies you as an unsafe driver or finds you neglig
ent of your responsibilities associated with driving, the court has the right to
take away your privilege to drive at any time.
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Your Risk in the Driving Environment
Page 1 of 8
Introduction
Risk when driving is defined as the chance of injury, damage, or loss. In the dr
iving environment, risk is always present.
As a driver, you can lower your level of risk by searching the entire traffic sc
ene for dangers and hazards; signaling your intentions; and adjusting your speed
and the space around your vehicle based on visibility, road, and traffic condit
ions.
Many drivers believe that their odds of being in a vehicular crash are very low
- less than 1 in 100. This perception does not match reality. In fact, about one
out of every ten drivers is involved in a crash each year.
If you believe that because you are a good driver you will not have a collision,
try not to let your guard down. Sharpen your driving skills to help lower your
risk.
This module will address the probability, consequences, and manageability of ris
k when you drive. Topics include:
Your Driving Issues
Risk Awareness
Risk Assessment
Altering Risk
Managing Risk
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Page 2 of 8
Your Driving Issues
Each year, nearly 1 in 10 drivers is involved in a crash. Drivers under 25 years
of age, who represent 15% of the driving population, are involved in about 30%
of all collisions.
From 2010 to 2011, fatal crashes decreased by 1.9%. The majority of people kille
d or injured in crashes were drivers (64%), followed by passengers (27%), and no
n-occupants (9%).
Persons 21 to 24 years old have the highest fatality rate. For all age groups, t
he fatality rate is higher for males.
There are other facts that you may find interesting as they relate to your drivi
ng patterns. Everyday driving issues you may experience that elevate your risk i
nclude:
Traveling many miles per day in congested and low visibility traffic conditions.
For example, driving to and from work during rush hour. When drivers are stuck
and frustrated in heavy traffic, they lose their temper and this can lead to agg
ressive driving.
Exceeding the speed limit. Traffic engineers set the speed limit as the safe spe
ed to travel on the roadway in ideal conditions. Traveling faster than the limit
increases the risk and severity of a crash. When drivers are in a "rush" they o
ften speed because they think it will get them to their destination faster.
Driving after drinking. Even one drink affects your ability to safely operate a
vehicle.
Inattention and distraction. Drivers who are not paying attention to the driving
environment run off the road and cause collisions.
Driving when tired, sick, or medicated. After working hard and being up for long
hours drivers get behind the wheel and often do not realize that they are impai
red. The greatest number of motor vehicle crashes, property damage crashes, inju
ry crashes, and fatalities occur between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. during workday
rush hours.
Driving at night. Driving at night can be dangerous, especially on Saturdays and
Sundays from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Driving too fast for conditions. Over six million crashes occur every year due t
o driving too fast in bad weather, low traction, and poor visibility conditions.
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Page 3 of 8
Risk is Always Present
You are among the approximately 211 million licensed drivers in the United State
s.
Every year there are more drivers and more vehicles on our roads. With millions
of registered vehicles on the road, collision statistics are staggering. Consequ
ently, driving a motor vehicle is more challenging than ever.
Risk is defined as the probability of injury, damage, or loss. Risk continuously
exists in the driving environment.
Recognize how your driving environment changes each time you get behind the whee
l - weather, road conditions, your vehicle, and other drivers are unpredictable.
Develop the habit of evaluating each of these risk factors, including your own w
ell-being, every time you drive.
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Page 4 of 8
Risk Assessment
Lack of risk awareness is a major factor in traffic crashes. Since it is nearly
impossible to determine the level of risk in specific driving situations accurat
ely, the following are some guidelines that can help you assess risk more accura
tely:
Consider the probability of a dangerous event developing.
Consider the consequences of your decision.
Prepare to take action to manage the situation.
Remember the three elements of the highway system - the driver, the roadway, and
the vehicle. Each element has associated risks. Evaluate these elements for the
ir risk potential before and during your drive.
Evaluate your risk as the driver. Consider things such as fatigue, impairment, a
llergies, and illness.
Assess the conditions of the roadway and your route. Consider the weather, light
conditions, traction conditions, construction zones, and possible congestion. G
o online and check the traffic and weather forecast.
Conduct a pre-drive inspection of your vehicle. Are the tires properly inflated?
Is the windshield clean?
Assess the risk in each category above. Conduct a mental list and if your list h
as multiple factors in multiple categories, your crash probability is at an elev
ated level. Reconsider getting behind the wheel.
While driving, if you encounter a worse scenario than you anticipated, consider
the consequences and make a safe decision on how to proceed.
Be aware of the roadway and off-road environment.
Scan well ahead, to the sides, and behind.
Keep your eyes moving and search the entire traffic scene
Predict the chances of a conflict occurring. Anticipate the actions of others. W
hat is the probability that a dangerous event will occur?
Be prepared to manage hazardous situations.
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Page 5 of 8
Altering Risk
Driving is a dangerous, complex task that demands your full time and attention.
Risk is lowest when you handle one task at a time.
When driving, adjust your speed and position so you can handle one danger at a t
ime. Resist distractions like talking on the cell phone, text messaging, lightin
g a cigarette, loading a CD, or having a conversation with your passengers.
Because
ur risk
tention
ecute a
the actions of other road users are unpredictable, you can also lower yo
if you adequately communicate to those around you. Always signal your in
to change lanes or turn. Use your signals, lights, or horn before you ex
pass or an evasive action.
Also, you can adjust your vehicle position or speed to help prevent a dangerous
event from occurring or to minimize the consequences of an unavoidable crash. Pr
actice what if scenarios in your head.
The most important decisions you make to lower or alter your risk of collision a
re associated with managing the situation.
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Page 6 of 8
Risk Management
Actions of all roadway users including pedestrians, animals, bicyclists, and oth
er drivers impact your level of risk as a driver. To help manage risk, it is ess
ential that you remain alert to conditions or objects that can increase levels o
f risk.
Here is a checklist to help you manage risk:
Conduct a thorough visual search. Search 30 seconds ahead of your path of travel
for objects or conditions that could become a threat.
Have a plan. Identify an alternate path of travel 15 seconds ahead, and the leve
l of traction available in case of an emergency.
Never tailgate. Always travel with an adequate cushion of space ahead of your ve
hicle.
Position your vehicle with space to the sides and the front with an escape route
, should you need it.
Obey all traffic controls.
Exercise the right-of-way rules.
Drive defensively. Try to predict the possible actions of other highway users.
Do not drive where you cannot see. If your vision is blocked, reduce your speed
and reposition your vehicle so you can see well ahead, and around your vehicle;
do not forget to look behind.
See and be seen. Communicate your presence to other road users by always driving
with your daytime running lights or low-beam headlights. Remember, if you canno
t see them, they probably cannot see you.
Look where you want your vehicle to go.
Avoid distractions.
Avoid sudden steering and braking movements.
Be a considerate driver.
Keep your vehicle in good mechanical condition.
Practice "what if" scenarios before they occur in real life.
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Page 8 of 8
In the driving environment, the chance of injury, damage, or loss is always pres
ent.
Recognize how your driving environment changes each time you get behind the whee
l - weather, road conditions, your vehicle, and other drivers are unpredictable.
Develop the habit of evaluating each of those risk factors, including your own w
ell being, every time you drive.
Since it is nearly impossible to determine the level of risk in specific driving
situations accurately, the following are some guidelines that can help you asse
ss risk more accurately:
Consider the probability of a dangerous event developing.
Consider the consequences of your decision.
Prepare to take action to manage the situation.
Evaluate these elements for their risk potential before and during your drive.
Evaluate your risk as the driver. Consider things such as fatigue, impairment, a
llergies, and illness.
Assess the conditions of the roadway and your route.
Conduct a pre-drive inspection of your vehicle.
While driving, if you encounter a worse scenario than you anticipated, consider
the consequences and make a safe decision on how to proceed.
Sharpen your driving skills to help lower your risk.
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Driver Readiness
Page 1 of 10
Introduction
Driver readiness requires physical and mental well-being. You need to be able to
move your arms, legs, and neck freely and without pain. You need good vision. Y
ou also need to be alert and rested.
Your brain needs to make many decisions while driving and your body needs to be
able to react quickly.
Before getting behind the wheel, evaluate your capacity to safely operate your v
ehicle.
There are many things to consider when preparing to drive. Risk assessment begin
s with you, the driver - before getting behind the wheel.
This module covers how drivers can prepare themselves for driving. The topics th
at will be covered include:
Physical Readiness
Mental Readiness
Know Your Destination
Pre-drive Checks
Driver Position
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Driver Readiness
Page 2 of 10
Physical Readiness
When you drive, you get information from most of your senses. You see, hear, sme
ll, and feel the motion of the vehicle - all of this input helps you to be aware
of your driving environment, to predict what might happen, and to assess how to
react.
This information is processed by your brain and keeps you aware of changing situ
ations. Sensory input helps your brain understand and decide when to accelerate,
steer, or brake.
You also need to be in general good health with no injuries or illness that migh
t prevent you from operating your vehicle safely.
Vision
Vision is the primary sense used in driving. About 90% of the information requir
ed for safe driving relates to vision.
Since 90% of the information required for safe driving relates to vision, the de
gree of accurate vision is essential. Visual acuity refers to the clarity or cle
arness of one's vision, a measure of how well a person sees. Visual acuity is a
measure of the ability to identify black symbols on a white background at a stan
dardized distance as the size of the symbols is varied. This acuity is dependent
upon the retinal focus, the sensitivity of the nervous system elements, and the
manner in which the brain interprets the information. The well-known phrase "20
-20 vision" refers to the ability to read given letters at a standard length of
an eye exam room, specifically the distance from the patient to the acuity chart
, which is typically 20 feet.
Good driver vision includes:
Contrast sensitivity
Substantial visual field of view
Glare recovery
Contrast sensitivity is the capacity to sharply see the difference between two s
imilarly colored objects. Often pavement markings are worn and tend to blend int
o the road. This can affect your ability to locate the lane boundaries and where
the edge of the roadway is located. When driving, the inability to see the diff
erence in contrast also affects distance judgment.
An adequate visual field of view means you are able to see objects in the periph
ery. Horizontal and vertical peripheral vision enables you to see up, down, and
to the sides. This ability is necessary for detecting signs, signals, vehicles,
pedestrians, cyclists, etc., outside of the field of view directly ahead.
Glare recovery refers to the ability to see in the presence of oncoming headligh
ts, at night, or in the presence of sun glare in daytime. Glare introduces stray
light into the eye; it also reduces the contrast of important safety targets.
If you suffer from allergies and have watery eyes, consider how that will affect
your ability to see clearly before getting behind the wheel.
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Driver Readiness
Page 3 of 10
Physical Readiness
Neck and Head Movement
Scanning to the sides and behind not only requires the ability to focus on the o
bjects in the mirrors but the ability to move the neck and head quickly. A restr
icted range of motion reduces your ability to effectively scan to the rear and s
ides of your vehicle to observe blind spots, and can also hinder the timely reco
gnition of conflicts during turning and merging maneuvers at intersections.
Strength
Strength and range of motion in the arms are related to the ability to turn the
steering wheel and negotiate turns at intersections. Be sure you have enough str
ength in your arms to control your steering wheel in the event you lose your pow
er steering.
You also do most of your braking and acceleration with your leg muscles.
Overall Physical Well-being
Your overall physical well-being is essential to operate your vehicle safely. In
order to react quickly and operate your vehicle, all of the muscles and parts o
f your body that move, push, and pull the controls must be responsive and strong
enough to safely make these maneuvers. Allow another licensed driver to drive y
ou if you are sick, injured, or have any other substantial physical impairment.
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Driver Readiness
Page 4 of 10
Mental Readiness
Mental readiness is hard to assess, but train yourself to do it. Be aware of you
r mental and emotional well-being.
Extreme emotions such as anger, depression, sorrow, and anxiety can affect your
ability to stay focused on the driving task. Excitement and happiness can also i
nterfere with your ability to focus on driving.
If for any reason you are mentally incompetent, even as a temporary condition, i
t is illegal to drive. It is also illegal to drive if any medical limitations ma
y interfere with your ability to drive safely - this is not limited to chronic i
llness.
Remember, Texas will not issue a license to individuals who have a physical or m
ental impairment which makes it unsafe for them to drive.
Learn to recognize and assess your limitations before getting behind the wheel.
If you determine your risks associated with being physically, mentally, or medic
ally ready to drive are too high, consider alternative transportation choices su
ch as walking, public transportation, or rides from family or friends.
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