CHAPTER 1
ASSESSING AND MANAGING RISK
Whenever you walk or ride on our nation�s streets and road-ways, you become
part of the highway transportation system. It
is important to learn how to use the system safely and responsibly.
The Highway Transportation Understanding and Applying System and Risk Management the SIPDE Process Understanding and Using The Value of Taking a the Smith System Driver Education Course
CHAPTER 1 OBJECTIVES
LESSON ONE:
The Highway Transportation System and Risk Management
1. Name the three parts of the highway transportation system.
2. Explain how, and by whom, the highway transportation system is regulated.
3. Describe five ways you can reduce driving risk within the highway transportation system.
LESSON TWO:
Managing Visibility, Time, and Space
4. Define and explain the steps of the SIPDE process, including the approximate time/distance needed to search, identify, predict, decide, and execute. Describe how the SIPDE process can be applied while driving.
LESSON THREE:
Understanding and Applying the SIPDE Process
5. Explain the importance of the Smith System, including Aim high and look ahead, Keep your eyes moving, Get the big picture, Make sure others see you, and Leave yourself a way out.
LESSON FOUR:
Understanding and Using the Smith System
6. Describe the advantages to be gained from a driver education course, regarding knowledge; ability to manage time, space, and visibility; and the awareness of limiting factors.
The Highway Transportation System and Risk Management
A vast network of highways, streets, and roads crisscrosses the United States. Each day, millions of drivers travel these roadways.
As your prepare to join the other drivers on our nation�s roads, re-member that your goal is not just to learn to drive. It is to learn to drive safely and responsibly.
What Is the Highway
Transportation System?
Cars and trucks, streets and high-ways, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians�these
are all part of .the high-way transportation system, or the HTS. The main goal
of this complex system is to enable people and goods to move from place to place
as safely and efficiently as possible.
Highway Concept and Design
Early American roads were built along the routes of existing trails and were
constructed with little or no planning. Nowadays an army of engineers is needed
just to plan today�s more complex highways.
Engineers must plan the route of the highway, the construction of bridges along the route, exit and en-trance ramps, where traffic signs are going to be located and what they will say, and anything else pertaining to the highway. Even the curves must be planned carefully to make sure they are banked, or tilted, properly.
How many different kinds of motor vehicles can you think of? Almost 200 million
registered vehicles travel within the HTS, ranging from large vehicles, such as
tractor-trailers and buses, to small vehicles, such as motorcycles and mopeds.
There are vehicles of every imaginable description, from flashy new luxury cars
to beat-up old pickup trucks.
Motor vehicles in the HTS differ in more than just appearance and age, however.
They also vary in how they handle. A heavy truck, for instance, does not
accelerate, steer, or brake the same way that a lightweight sports car does. How
well an owner cares for his or her vehicle also affects performance.
Motor vehicles vary, too, in safety features and in their ability to protect drivers and passengers in case of a collision, or crash. For example, drivers of solidly built cars equipped with air bags are far less vulnerable to injury than are motorcyclists or the drivers of most subcompact cars.
Roadways
Nearly 4 million miles of roadways link the counties, cities, and towns of the United States. These roadways range from multilane superhighways to twisting country roads to car-choked city streets.
Some roadways are smooth and well maintained, while others are peppered with cracks, bumps, and potholes. Driving the great assortment of roads found in the HTS is a challenge, especially at night and in poor weather.
People
The people who use the highway transportation system include more than 176 million drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians�in other words, just about everyone! Most of these people act responsibly when using the roads, whether driving, riding, or walking.
Some people, however, behave in an unsafe or irresponsible manner. They drive recklessly, cross streets without looking, and weave their bikes through heavy traffic. Such people pose a serious danger to other roadway users. This is just a sample of the behaviors that drivers must anticipate and learn to cope with.
How Is the HTS Regulated?
Federal, state, and local governments work together to regulate the highway
transportation system. For example, federal law established a
maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour in 1974. This law was changed in 1995
to allow the individual states to set their own highway speed limits. Enforcing
speed limits and other traffic laws is the job of state and local police.
Federal and State Requirements
To set uniform standards for various aspects of vehicle and driver safety, the federal government passed two other important laws:
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires car makers to build certain safety features, such as safety belts and shatterproof windows, into their motor vehicles. This law also requires manufacturers to correct vehicle defects discovered after car models are sold.
The National Highway Safety Act established specific guidelines for state motor vehicle safety programs. Each state must follow these guide-lines. They govern such matters as vehicle registration and inspection, driver licensing, traffic laws and traffic courts, and highway construction and maintenance.
The National Highway Safety Act allows each state to set its own
statutes, or laws, that concern highway safety. Many of these statutes are of
special interest to teenage drivers. In twelve states, for example, teens under a
certain age (usually 17 or 18)
are not allowed to drive at night. In other states, teenagers must be en-rolled
in high school before they can get and keep their driver�s licenses.
Cities and towns, too, pass driving regulations that must be obeyed within their limits. In cities other than New York City, drivers may turn right at red lights except where expressly prohibited.
How Can You Reduce Risk Within the HTS?
Driving involves risk (the chance of injury to yourself or others and the chance of damage to vehicles and property. The first important step toward responsible driving is realizing that this risk is real) probably much more real than you think.
� In any given year. the likelihood of your being involved in a collision is about 1 in 5. Your chances of suffer-ing an injury that is serious enough to disable you are about 1 in 83.
� About one third of the deaths of 16- to 19-year-olds occur through motor vehicle crash injuries.
� Eighty-five percent of traffic deaths occur in the first collision in which the car�s occupants are involved.
� Over 50 percent of vehicle occupant deaths involve only one vehicle.
No matter how confident you may feel or how well you�ve mastered the basics of driving, the risk of being involved in a collision is always present. There are, however, actions you can take to maximize your control over driving situations and to minimize the risk.
Understanding and Reducing Risk
Many factors contribute to the degree of risk when you drive. Some are obvious,
such as bad weather or poor roads. Others, such as the condition of your car,
may be less obvious, but they are just as important to consider.
Driving responsibly means assessing the risk and doing all you can to reduce or control it. Here are five ways to do that:
Keep your car in top condition
Are your brakes working properly? Are your tires properly inflated and your windows clean? The better the condition of your car, the more control you have when you�re driving.
Anticipate the actions of others
Wise drivers drive defensively. They identify cues to behavior that help them predict how other roadway users will act or react. Because drivers and pedestrians often act without thinking or communicating, you must learn to search for clues.
Take steps to protect yourself and others wearing safety belts can save you and your passengers from death or serious injury. Turning on your low-beam headlights at all times, even during daylight hours, reduces risk by increasing the ability of others to see you.
Drive only when you�re in sound physical and mental condition are you feeling alert and clear-headed? Are you concentrating on your driving or thinking about tomorrow night�s date? To drive safely, you need to be 100 percent behind the wheel.
Make a conscious effort to develop your driving skills working to improve your driving habits and abilities will help to protect you and your passengers.
Managing Visibility, Time, and Space
As you learn to drive, you�ll learn numerous guidelines to help you make sound driving decisions. One basic principle underlies virtually all of these guidelines: the wise management of visibility, time, and space.
Visibility refers to what you can see from behind the wheel and how well you see it, and to the ability of others pedestrians and other drivers to see you. When you�re driving, reduced visibility means increased risk. On the other hand, when you take steps to increase visibility, you decrease risk.
Time and space come into constant play when you�re driving. Time can refer to the ability to judge your speed and the speed of other vehicles. It can also refer to how long it will take your car or another vehicle to stop.
Space refers to distance. Wise drivers keep a margin of space between their cars and other vehicles when they drive. This allows them room to maneuver in dangerous situations.
You will read about visibility, time, and space throughout this book, be-cause all three are crucial elements in safe and responsible driving. In fact, managing the various factors related to visibility, time, and space is the key to reducing risk when you drive.
CHECKPOINT
1. What are the three parts of the highway transportation system?
2. Who regulates the highway transportation system? Give examples.
3. What are some ways you can re-duce driving risk?
Understanding and Applying the SIPDE Process
Driving is challenging because you need to do many tasks at once. You have to control the car, watch the roadway and off-road areas, read signs, and be alert for the sudden actions of other drivers.
Because you have so much to keep track of when you�re driving, it is helpful to use an organized system to gather and process information. An organized system will help you make sound decisions and reduce driving risk.
What Is SIPDE?
One easy-to-use system for dealing with the challenge of driving is known as the SIPDE process short for search, identify, predict, decide, and execute. SIPDE is a five-step process. You use it to:
1. Search the roadway and the off-road areas 20 to 30 seconds ahead for information that can help you plan a path of travel. (Twenty to 30 seconds equals about 1~ to 2 blocks at 25 to 30 mph in the city and about j to ~ mile at 50 to 65 mph on the highway.)
2. Identify objects or conditions with-in 12 to 15 seconds ahead that could interfere with your planned path of travel.
3. Predict what actions or changes in conditions on or near the roadway could increase the level of risk.
4. Decide what action or actions to take at least 4 to 5 seconds ahead to control or reduce risk.
5. Execute your decision.
Let�s see how you can use the SIPDE process to manage visibility, time, and space.
Search
When you search, you try to gather as much information as possible about what is happening on or near the roadway.
Use a systematic search pattern to gather information. First scan the road 20 to 30 seconds ahead, then look to the sides. Then glance in your rearview and side mirrors to check for traffic behind you. Next, check the sides of the road again. Then again survey the road ahead for on-going or oncoming traffic.
Identify
To identify information important to you as a driver, you need to do more than simply look. You have to think about what you�re looking for.
Your aim is to identify as early as possible any objects or conditions that could become a threat to your path of travel.
Much as a detective investigates a crime scene seeking important clues, a driver needs to investigate the road-way and identify possible problems as far in advance as possible�at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead.
Suppose you�re driving on a narrow two-way street in a residential neighborhood. There are cars parked along the road, vehicles behind you, cars coming toward you in the other lane, and people on the sidewalk. Along your side of the road, you identify a young girl on a bicycle. As you get nearer, you can see she�s wobbling and having trouble steering the bicycle.
Predict
As you scan the roadway and note the position of vehicles, pedestrians, and objects, you can make predictions about what might happen and prepare for it.
In the situation with the young girl on the bike, you might predict the possibility of her veering into your path or falling off her bike in front of your car.
Decide
Once you�&e identified a potential-ly threatening object or condition and predicted what might happen, you can decide how best to minimize the risk of a collision.
Keep in mind that most situations allow you a choice of actions. As with any
decision, you need to weigh the possibilities. What are the likely con-sequences
of the actions you�re considering? Which actions will be most effective in
minimizing risk to your-self and others? The purpose of using the SIPDE process
is to give yourself
as much time as possible to make a wise decision.
What will you decide to do as you get closer to the girl on the bike?
You could steer closer to oncoming cars while passing her. You could tap your horn lightly to warn the girl that you are behind her. You could reduce your speed. You decide to combine all three actions in order to minimize risk.
Execute
The final step in the SIPDE process is to execute the decision you�ve made. In most instances, executing a decision simply means making a routine maneuver. Occasionally, however, you may have to take some kind of emergency action.
Here are the steps you would exe-cute to avoid colliding with the girl on the bicycle. First, slow down and prepare to stop if necessary. Next, wait for a break in the oncoming traffic. Then lightly tap your horn. Honking loudly might frighten the girl into losing control of her bike. Finally, cautiously pass the bicyclist, allowing her as much space as possible. By waiting for a break in the traffic flow before steering around the girl, you�ll minimize the risk of colliding with an oncoming car
Applying the SIPDE Process
The SIPDE process fosters safe driving by enabling you to manage visibility, time, and space. While it is important to understand what the process is, it is far more important to practice applying it.
When you�re behind the wheel, simply knowing what the letters SIPDE stand for won�t help you to drive safely. What will help you is making the principles of this process an automatic part of your own thinking and driving.
For example, you can minimize risk by using the SIPDE process to identify threatening objects or conditions as far in advance as possible. The sooner you realize that you may be faced with a threatening situation, the sooner you can take evasive action to reduce the risk.
Similarly, you can keep threatening objects or conditions apart by using the SIPDE process to help you separate one from another. For in-stance, suppose you�re driving along a two-lane road. Up ahead, you see a bus approaching. You also see a group of boys walking along your side of the road. Rather than pass both the boys and the bus at the same time, adjust your speed so that you can pass each one separately. By separating them in this way, you�ve simplified the situation and reduced the risk of a collision.
CHECKPOINT
4. What are the steps of the SIPDE process?
Understanding and Using the Smith System
Like the SIPDE process, the Smith System is a series of principles de-signed to help you to drive safely and defensively.
What Is the Smith System
The Smith System consists of five driving guidelines. Understanding and using
these guidelines is far more important than memorizing their exact wording.
Aim High and Look Ahead, Not Down
Look well ahead of your car as you drive. Do not look down at the road directly in front of you. As a general rule, try to look about 20 to 30 seconds ahead. Remember that 20 to 30 seconds ahead means about 1~ to 2 blocks at 25 to 30 mph in the city and about one third to one half mile at 50 to 65 mph on the highway. Note that aiming high and looking ahead is similar to the first step, search, in SIPDE
Keep Your Eyes Moving
Roadway and off-road conditions are always changing. Search the
scene constantly. Stay alert for changes on the roadway or potentially dangerous
conditions that might require you to adjust the speed or position of your car.
Get the Big Picture
Search the whole scene, not just a part of it. As you approach an inter-section,
for example, you need to search for vehicles and pedestrians moving in all
directions, for traffic-control devices, and for anything that might block
your vision or otherwise increase risk.
Make Sure Others See You
Communicate with drivers and pedestrians. Always drive with your low-beam
headlights on, even during day-light hours. Drive where others can see you.
signal your intention to turn, and tap the brake pedal so that your brake lights
warn following drivers that you�re slowing or stopping.
Leave Yourself a Way Out or a Margin of Safety
Always leave yourself a path of escape a way to avoid a collision. Position
your car so that you keep a margin of space around it. In the previous example
of the girl riding the bicycle, for example, leaving yourself a way out meant
waiting for a break in the oncoming traffic be-fore steering around her.
CHECKPOINT
5. What are the guidelines of the Smith System?
The Value of Taking a Driver Education Course
Whether you�re cruising along a sunny country road or stuck in a snarl of city traffic, the responsibility for operating your car safely is yours. Driver education will help you meet that responsibility.
What Can You Gain from a .Driver Education Course?
A driver education course will help you become an alert and knowledge-able driver capable of dealing with a wide range of driving situations.
Knowledge
Through driver education, you will gain:
� an understanding of the ways in which your personality, emotions, and maturity affect your driving
� an understanding of how to maneuver and control your car so as to minimize risk in different driving environments and under various road conditions
� an insight into the ways in which alcohol and drugs impair driving, and knowledge of the penalties for their use
� a knowledge of traffic laws and administrative laws, rules of the road, and signs and signals
� a foundation of consumer information, such as guidelines for buying, insuring, and maintaining a car and tips for trip planning
� an understanding of the parts of a car and of how a car works
� a knowledge of what to do in case of emergency
Ability to Manage Visibility, Time, and Space
Driver education will increase your awareness of the roadway and its
surroundings. You�ll learn how to manage visibility, time, and space. You�ll
learn to maximize your own safety as well as that of your passengers, other
drivers, and pedestrians.
Driver education will help you to evaluate and respond to the constant-ly
changing driving environment. You will learn how to manage and minimize risk by
thinking ahead and by preparing for threatening situations that may develop.
Awareness of Limiting Factors
To become a safe and responsible driver, you need more than driving skill. You
also need to understand that there are factors that can seriously interfere
with your ability to drive, such as:
� the feeling that there is little or no risk involved in driving and that if a collision occurs, it�s �the other person�s fault�
� your emotional state
� the effects of an illness or injury or the side effects of the medicine you may be taking for it
� the effects of alcohol and other drugs
The knowledge you gain through driver education and the experience you acquire behind the wheel will develop your driving skills and decision making abilities. How you use these skills and abilities, however, is up to you. Only you can decide to be a responsible driver.
CHECKPOINT
6. How can a driver education course be of value to you?