Page 27 - 2021-2022 Commercial Drivers Manual

SECTION 2 : DRIVING SAFETY

This car is a hazard. If the driver of the car cuts 2.8.3 – Drivers Who Are Hazards Disabled Vehicles. Drivers changing a tire or

in front of you, it is no longer just a hazard; it In order to protect yourself and others, you fixing an engine often do not pay attention to
is an emergency. the danger that roadway traffic is to them. They
must know when other drivers may do some-

Seeing Hazards Lets You Be Prepared. You thing hazardous. Some clues to this type of are often careless. Jacked up wheels or raised

will have more time to act if you see hazards hazard are discussed below. hoods are hazard clues.
before they become emergencies. In the example Accidents. Accidents are particularly hazard-
above, you might make a lane change or slow Blocked Vision. People who can’t see others ous. People involved in the accident may not
down to prevent a crash if the car suddenly cuts are a very dangerous hazard. Be alert for drivers look for traffic. Passing drivers tend to look at
in front of you. Seeing this hazard gives you whose vision is blocked. Vans, loaded station the accident. People often run across the road
time to check your mirrors and signal a lane wagons, and cars with the rear window blocked without looking. Vehicles may slow or stop
change. Being prepared reduces the danger. A are examples. Rental trucks should be watched suddenly.
driver who did not see the hazard until the slow carefully. Their drivers are often not used to the

car pulled back on the highway in front of him limited vision they have to the sides and rear of Shoppers. People in and around shopping areas
would have to do something very suddenly. the truck. In winter, vehicles with frosted, ice- are often not watching traffic because they are
Sudden braking or a quick lane change is much covered, or snow-covered windows are hazards. looking for stores or looking into store windows.
more likely to lead to a crash. Vehicles may be partly hidden by blind inter- Confused Drivers. Confused drivers often
sections or alleys. If you only can see the rear change direction suddenly or stop without

Learning to See Hazards. There are often or front end of a vehicle but not the driver, then warning. Confusion is common near freeway
clues that will help you see hazards. The more he or she can’t see you. Be alert because he/she or turnpike interchanges and major intersec-

you drive, the better you can learn to see haz- may back out or enter into your lane. Always tions. Tourists unfamiliar with the area can

ards. This section will talk about hazards that be prepared to stop. be very hazardous. Clues to tourists include
you should be aware of.

Delivery Trucks Can Present a Hazard. car-top luggage and out-of-state license plates.
2.8.2 – Hazardous Roads Packages or vehicle doors often block the driv- Unexpected actions (stopping in the middle of

er’s vision. Drivers of step vans, postal vehicles, a block, changing lanes for no apparent reason,

Slow down and be very careful if you see any and local delivery vehicles often are in a hurry backup lights suddenly going on) are clues to

of the following road hazards. and may suddenly step out of their vehicle or confusion. Hesitation is another clue, includ-
drive their vehicle into the traffic lane. ing driving very slowly, using brakes often, or
Work Zones. When people are working on stopping in the middle of an intersection. You
the road, it is a hazard. There may be narrower Parked Vehicles Can Be Hazards, especially may also see drivers who are looking at street

lanes, sharp turns, or uneven surfaces. Other when people start to get out of them. Or, they signs, maps, and house numbers. These drivers
drivers are often distracted and drive unsafely. may suddenly start up and drive into your way. may not be paying attention to you.

Workers and construction vehicles may get in Watch for movement inside the vehicle or move-

the way. Drive slowly and carefully near work ment of the vehicle itself that shows people are Slow Drivers. Motorists who fail to maintain

zones. Use your four-way flashers or brake inside. Watch for brake lights or backup lights, normal speed are hazards. Seeing slow mov-

lights to warn drivers behind you. exhaust, and other clues that a driver is about ing vehicles early can prevent a crash. Some

to move. vehicles, by their nature, are slow and seeing

Drop Off. Sometimes the pavement drops off

sharply near the edge of the road. Driving too Be careful of a stopped bus. Passengers may them is a hazard clue (mopeds, farm machinery,

near the edge can tilt your vehicle toward the cross in front of or behind the bus, and they construction machinery, tractors, etc.). Some
side of the road. This can cause the top of your often can’t see you. of these will have the “slow moving vehicle”
vehicle to hit roadside objects (signs, tree limbs). Pedestrians and Bicyclists Can Also Be symbol to warn you. This is a red triangle with

Also, it can be hard to steer as you cross the Hazards. Walkers, joggers, and bicyclists may an orange center. Watch for it.

drop off, going off the road, or coming back on. be on the road with their back to the traffic, so Drivers Signaling a Turn May Be a Hazard.

they can’t see you. Sometimes they wear por- Drivers signaling a turn may slow more than
Foreign Objects. Things that have fallen on table stereos with headsets, so they can’t hear expected or stop. If they are making a tight turn

the road can be hazards. They can be a danger you either. This can be dangerous. On rainy into an alley or driveway, they may go very

to your tires and wheel rims. They can damage days, pedestrians may not see you because of slowly. If pedestrians or other vehicles block

electrical and brake lines. They can be caught hats or umbrellas. They may be hurrying to them, they may have to stop on the roadway.

between dual tires and cause severe damage. get out of the rain and may not pay attention Vehicles turning left may have to stop for on-

Some obstacles that appear to be harmless can to the traffic. coming vehicles.
be very dangerous. For example, cardboard

boxes may be empty, but they may also con- Distractions. People who are distracted are Drivers in a Hurry. Drivers may feel your

tain some solid or heavy material capable of hazards. Watch for where they are looking. If commercial vehicle is preventing them from

causing damage. The same is true of paper and they are looking elsewhere, they can’t see you. getting where they want to go on time. Such

cloth sacks. It is important to remain alert for But be alert even when they are looking at you. drivers may pass you without a safe gap in the

objects of all sorts, so you can see them early They may believe that they have the right of oncoming traffic, cutting too close in front of

enough to avoid them without making sudden, way. you. Drivers entering the road may pull in front
unsafe moves. of you in order to avoid being stuck behind you,
Children. Children tend to act quickly without
Off Ramps/On Ramps. Freeway and turnpike checking traffic. Children playing with one an- causing you to brake. Be aware of this and watch

exits can be particularly dangerous for com- other may not look for traffic and are a serious for drivers who are in a hurry.
mercial vehicles. Off ramps and on ramps often hazard. Impaired Drivers. Drivers who are sleepy,

have speed limit signs posted. Remember, these have had too much to drink, are on drugs, or
speeds may be safe for automobiles, but may Talkers. Drivers or pedestrians talking to one who are ill are hazards. Some clues to these
not be safe for larger vehicles or heavily loaded another may not be paying close attention to drivers are:
vehicles. Exits that go downhill and turn at the the traffic.

same time can be especially dangerous. The Workers. People working on or near the • Weaving across the road or drifting from one

downgrade makes it difficult to reduce speed. roadway are a hazard clue. The work creates side to another.
Braking and turning at the same time can be a a distraction for other drivers and the workers • Leaving the road (dropping right wheels onto

dangerous practice. Make sure you are going themselves may not see you. the shoulder, or bumping across a curb in

slowly enough before you get on the curved a turn).
part of an off ramp or on ramp. Ice Cream Trucks. Someone selling ice cream

is a hazard clue. Children may be nearby and • Stopping at the wrong time (stopping at a

may not see you. green light, or waiting for too long at a stop).
27