Page 30 - 2021-2022 Commercial Drivers Manual

SECTION 2 : DRIVING SAFETY

Keep an extra set of corrective lenses in your 500 feet. You must adjust your speed to keep This increases glare for oncoming drivers and
vehicle. If your normal corrective lenses are your stopping distance within your sight dis- increases the chance of a crash.
broken or lost, you can use the spare lenses to tance. This means going slowly enough to be Use High Beams When You Can. Some
drive safely. able to stop within the range of your headlights. drivers make the mistake of always using low
Avoid using dark or tinted corrective lenses Otherwise, by the time you see a hazard, you beams. This seriously cuts down on their ability
at night, even if you think they help with glare. will not have time to stop. to see ahead. Use high beams when it is safe and
Tinted lenses cut down the light that you need Night driving can be more dangerous if you legal to do so. Use them when you are not within
to see clearly under night driving conditions. have problems with your headlights. Dirty head- 500 feet of an approaching vehicle. Also, don’t
lights may give only half the light they should.
Glare. Drivers can be blinded for a short time let the inside of your cab get too bright. This
by bright light. It takes time to recover from this This cuts down your ability to see, and makes makes it harder to see outside. Keep the interior
blindness. Older drivers are especially bothered it harder for others to see you. Make sure your light off, and adjust your instrument lights as
by glare. Most people have been temporarily lights are clean and working. Headlights can be low as you can to still be able to read the gauges.
blinded by camera flash units or by the high out of adjustment. If they don’t point in the right If You Get Sleepy, Stop at the Nearest Safe
beams of an oncoming vehicle. It can take sev- direction, they won’t give you a good view and
eral seconds to recover from glare. Even two they can blind other drivers. Have a qualified Place. People often don’t realize how close they
seconds of glare blindness can be dangerous. person make sure they are adjusted properly. are to falling asleep even when their eyelids
A vehicle going 55 mph will travel more than Other Lights. In order for you to be seen eas- are falling shut. If you can safely do so, look
half the distance of a football field during that ily, the following must be clean and working at yourself in a mirror. If you look sleepy, or
time. Don’t look directly at bright lights when properly: you just feel sleepy, stop driving! You are in a
driving. Look at the right side of the road. Watch very dangerous condition. The only safe cure
the sidelines when someone coming toward you • Reflectors. is to sleep.
has very bright lights on. • Marker lights.
2.12 – Driving in Fog
Fatigue and Lack of Alertness. Fatigue • Clearance lights.

(being tired) and lack of alertness are bigger • Taillights. Fog can occur at any time. Fog on highways
problems at night. The body’s need for sleep is can be extremely dangerous. Fog is often un-

beyond a person’s control. Most people are less • Identification lights. expected, and visibility can deteriorate rapidly.
alert at night, especially after midnight. This is Turn Signals and Brake Lights. At night You should watch for foggy conditions and be
particularly true if you have been driving for a your turn signals and brake lights are even more ready to reduce your speed. Do not assume that
long time. Drivers may not see hazards as soon, important for telling other drivers what you the fog will thin out after you enter it.
or react as quickly, so the chance of a crash is intend to do. Make sure you have clean, working The best advice for driving in fog is don’t. It
greater. If you are sleepy, the only safe cure is turn signals and stop lights. is preferable that you pull off the road into a rest
to get off the road and get some sleep. If you area or truck stop until visibility is better. If you
don’t, you risk your life and the lives of others. Windshield and Mirrors. It is more important must drive, be sure to consider the following:
at night than in the daytime to have a clean
2.11.3 – Roadway Factors windshield and clean mirrors. Bright lights at • Obey all fog-related warning signs.

night can cause dirt on your windshield or mir-
Poor Lighting. In the daytime there is usually • Slow down before you enter fog.
enough light to see well. This is not true at night. rors to create a glare of its own, blocking your

Some areas may have bright street lights, but view. Most people have experienced driving • Use low-beam headlights and fog lights for
many areas will have poor lighting. On most toward the sun just as it has risen or is about to best visibility even in daytime, and be alert
roads you will probably have to depend entirely set, and found that they can barely see through for other drivers who may have forgotten to
on your headlights. a windshield that seemed to look OK in the turn on their lights.
Less light means you will not be able to see middle of the day. Clean your windshield on • Turn on your 4-way flashers. This will give
hazards as well as in daytime. Road users who the inside and outside for safe driving at night. vehicles approaching you from behind a
do not have lights are hard to see. There are 2.11.5 – Night Driving Procedures quicker opportunity to notice your vehicle.
many accidents at night involving pedestrians,
joggers, bicyclists, and animals. Pre-trip Procedures. Make sure you are • Watch for vehicles on the side of the roadway.
Even when there are lights, the road scene can rested and alert. If you are drowsy, sleep be- Seeing taillights or headlights in front of you
be confusing. Traffic signals and hazards can fore you drive! Even a nap can save your life may not be a true indication of where the road
be hard to see against a background of signs, or the lives of others. If you wear eyeglasses, is ahead of you. The vehicle may not be on
shop windows, and other lights. make sure they are clean and unscratched. Don’t the road at all.
Drive slower when lighting is poor or confus- wear sunglasses at night. Do a complete pre- • Use roadside highway reflectors as guides
ing. Drive slowly enough to be sure you can stop trip inspection of your vehicle. Pay attention to to determine how the road may curve ahead
in the distance you can see ahead. checking all lights and reflectors, and cleaning of you.
Drunk Drivers. Drunk drivers and drivers un- those you can reach. • Listen for traffic you cannot see.
der the influence of drugs are a hazard to them- Avoid Blinding Others. Glare from your • Avoid passing other vehicles.
selves and to you. Be especially alert around headlights can cause problems for drivers com-

the closing times for bars and taverns. Watch ing toward you. They can also bother drivers • Don’t stop along the side of the road, unless

for drivers who have trouble staying in their going in the same direction you are, when your absolutely necessary.

lane or maintaining speed, who stop without lights shine in their rearview mirrors. Dim your
reason, or show other signs of being under the lights before they cause glare for other drivers. 2.13 – Driving in Winter
influence of alcohol or drugs. Dim your lights within 500 feet of an oncoming
vehicle and when following another vehicle
2.11.4 – Vehicle Factors within 500 feet. 2.13.1 – Vehicle Checks
Headlights. At night your headlights will usu- Avoid Glare from Oncoming Vehicles. Do Make sure your vehicle is ready before driv-

ally be the main source of light for you to see by not look directly at lights of oncoming vehicles. ing in winter weather. You should make a regu-

and for others to see you. You can’t see nearly Look slightly to the right at a right lane or edge lar pre-trip inspection, paying extra attention

as much with your headlights as you see in the marking, if available. If other drivers don’t put to the following items.
daytime. With low beams you can see ahead their low beams on, don’t try to “get back at Coolant Level and Antifreeze Amount.

about 250 feet and with high beams about 350- them” by putting your own high beams on.
Make sure the cooling system is full and there
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