Page 131 - CARS Standard Program

The professional defensive driver recognizes and considers the six conditions that are present in every driving situation:
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qq Weather qq Traffic qq Vehicle qq Road
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1. LIGHT: Almost 60% of all traffic deaths happen at night. Driving at night requires the highest degree of alertness and defensive driving skills. Always make sure all lights on your vehicle are cleaned and working properly and SLOW DOWN! When blinded by bright lights it takes four to seven seconds for our eyes to readjust. That means that, at 55 mph, we will travel between 360 and 560 feet blind!
If you meet an oncoming driver with bright lights, decrease your speed and look for the white line or edge of the road on your right as a guide to keep you on the roadway. If there is no one ahead of you, briefly turn your lights off then back on.
If the driver behind you has their bright lights on, slow down and let them pass. To protect against daytime glare, bright sunlight and snow glare, invest in good sunglasses that block the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Gray lenses are the most efficient. Also use the vehicle’s sun visor, always remembering to keep the visor pointed away from you.
2. WEATHER: Adverse weather conditions such as rain, sleet, snow, ice and fog require maximum defensive driving techniques and special attention to speed. In these conditions, always use the low beam of your head lights.
Rain creates the very dangerous potential for hydroplaning, which develops from a combinationoffactorssuchaswater,oilslicks,speed,tireconditionand roadsurface. Hydroplaning occurs when tires are no longer touching the road and are actually riding on a layer of water or oil and can occur at speeds as low as 30 mph.
Again, during wet conditions, SLOW DOWN. The Recovery Agent should constantly remind himself that losing the right, or ability to operate a vehicle ENDS THAT Recovery Agent’ CAREER.
3. TRAFFIC: Statistics and common sense clearly show that morning and rush hours are the most congested times for traffic. In addition, lunch time and school zones create heavy pedestrian traffic. Be especially alert during these hours and in these locations.