Pre-Drive Tasks

Driver Education
Unit 2
 Pre-Drive Tasks

Walk towards vehicle with key in hand

Allows you to be fully alert and aware of your surroundings
Helps to prevent assault
Most women are attacked fumbling through purse looking for keys.
Store items in the trunk/secure in bed of truck
Prevents theft and movement of unsecured items
Even if you have to take a quick lap around it, check
around the vehicle for:
Children playing Pets/animals Random objects
Underinflation of tires Broken glass (bikes, garbage cans, etc.)
Body damage Direction of front wheels Fluid Leaks
 Fluid Leaks
Air conditioner runoff = small puddle; clear (water)
Radiator leak = noticeably large amount of water
Windshield washer fluid = blue (traditionally)
Transmission fluid = pink/red
Oil = brown/black
Brake fluid= yellow/brown
Antifreeze = green
Gasoline = rainbow (in light)
 Driver Readiness Tasks
Unlock doors
Check traffic flow
Enter vehicle
Check passengers for safe entry
Lock doors
Place key in ignition (do not turn)
 Starting Tasks: Adjusting Drivers
Seating Position
Adjust so heel can pivot
smoothly between
foot pedals
Allow at least 10
between steering wheel
and drivers chest
Top of head restraint
should be even with
top of ear
 Click it or Ticket
Put on seat belt
Make sure all passengers are buckled in also.
It is the drivers responsibility to ensure
everyone is following the law.
If a passenger who should be buckled is found to
be unbuckled, the driver gets the ticket.
 Child Safety Seats
No one under age 12 should ever seat in the front seat.
All children under age 8 must be secured in a child
safety seat or booster seat.
Again, driver is responsible
Children from birth to 1 year ride facing the rear.
Children age 1-7 ride facing forward in a child safety
seat or booster seat
** The safest place to install a child
safety seat is the center of the back seat.
 Starting Tasks: Adjusting Mirrors
Rearview Mirror
Should frame back window, not look into backseat
Side View Mirrors
Should shine out into blind spots, not at vehicles side.
BGE mirror settings (Blindzone and Glare Elimination Settings)
Drivers Side
Place your head against the drivers side window and adjust the
drivers side mirror so you can barely see the drivers side of your car.
Passenger Side
Move your head as close to the center of the car as possible and adjust
the passengers side mirror so you can barely see the passengers side
of your car.
 Advantages of BGE Settings
Visible space in the mirror doesnt
overlap
More space can be seen without
turning your head
Allows you to monitor the
adjacent lane
Blind spots are made smaller
Only need a quick glance into blind
spot
Greatly reduces glare from
headlights of following vehicles
Traditional Mirror Settings

Right Side Mirror View

Rear Mirror View

Left Side Mirror View

Topic 3 Lesson 3

BGE Settings Right Side Mirror View

15

Rear Mirror View

15

Left Side Mirror View

Starting Tasks: Checking Warning Lights
Turn key in ignition to ON. (Do not start car.)
All lights on instrument panel should light up.
Turn ignition to START.
Check warning lights and gauges
If a warning light stays on, theres a problem.
 Starting Tasks: Final Steps
Adjust climate control.
Put your foot on the brake.
Check parking brake: ensure that its off.
Either hand brake or foot brake
Put vehicle in gear.
 Automatic Transmission
Vehicle changes gears
on its own when it
needs to.
P: Park
R: Reverse
N: Neutral
D: Drive
2: Low gear
1: Lowest gear
 Manual Transmission
Driver changes gears for
the vehicle.
Shifting patterns vary
from vehicle to vehicle.
1: lowest gear
R: Reverse
Vision
 Capacity of Visual Fields

Focus Vision
Focus Vision
Targeting, Signs, Signals Central Vision

Central Vision
Referencing, Sightlines Peripheral Vision

Peripheral Vision
Motion and Color
Changes
 Focus Vision

Smallest
Only 3-5 degrees wide
Allows you to view a very specific area
Read signs
Interpret traffic signals
 Central Vision

30-36 degrees wide

Allows you to view a wider area
Path of travel
Referencing and using reference points, etc.
 Peripheral Vision

Peripheral Vision
Peripheral
Vision

Allows you to see 175-180 degrees

Detects motion and color changes
 Effect of Speed on Vision
The faster you go, the more your field of vision
narrows
Tunnel vision
Body automatically prioritizes whats directly
ahead of you
Whats directly ahead isnt always the problem.
The faster you go, the less you can see.
Everyone, no exceptions.
 Effect of Speed on Vision
Fun to play, but when you crash in real life at
this speed, theres not an automatic restart.