Basic Driving Skills Flashcards
(34 cards)
What conditions would require an increase in following distance?
- Road conditions
- Vehicle conditions
- Your physical/mental condition
- Traffic conditions
- Lighting conditions
- Weather conditions
How far should the following distance be for cars, taxi, limo, ambulance or van?
2 seconds
How far should follow distance be for bus, trucks or other heavy vehicles?
5 seconds
What are risks that come with travelling faster than the traffic flow?
- You wont be able to maintain a safe follow distance
- You increase your chances of making a wrong decision. More lane changes = greater chance of a mistake
- You’ll tire more quickly
What are risks that come with travelling slower than the traffic flow?
- Increased chance of collision with vehicles behind/beside you.
What is the best way to deal with tailgaters?
- Allow them to pass
2. Use 4-way flashers when driving slowly up or down a hill
How much distance should be between two large commercial vehicles
60m/200ft
When should the red triangle sign be used?
When driving machinery that travels at less than 40 KM/h.
What is a danger zone?
The section of road the vehicle travels before it can come to a complete stop.
What factors can increase the danger zone?
- Increased speed
2. Poor road conditions
How can you decrease the danger zone?
- Reducing speed
2. Removing foot from accelerator and covering brake pedal with foot when approaching a potential hazard.
What is the wheelbase?
The distance between the wheels on the front and back of a vehicle
What is the off-track?
The difference between the path of the wheels on the front of a vehicle, and the path of the wheels on the back of a vehicle when making a turn. The greater the distance between the two wheels, the greater the off-track.
What forces work against the vehicle while making a turn?
Inertia and traction
What is intertia
The tendency for moving objects to continue moving forward in a straight line.
How does inertia affect turning?
The faster you are going, the more inertia tries to pull the vehicle in a straight line
How does traction affect turning?
If you turn too quickly, and apply brakes, you may loose traction, causing skid, roll over or jackknife.
What should you do when entering a curve to prevent traction loss?
Reduce speed before entering a curve, and use a speed that doesnt require you to brake, and instead allows you to apply gradual power.
What should you do when curving right?
Keep the front wheels close to the centre line, so the rear wheels dont go off the pavement.
What should you do when curving left?
Keep the front wheels close to the shoulder, so the rear wheels dont go into the other lane.
What are some risks to making sharp right turns?
The back wheels may scrape the curb, or even leave the road. This could cause damage to the wheels, or injure pedestrians and cyclists.
What should you check for when making a right turn?
Check to make sure there are no cyclists, pedestrians or other vehicles before making the turn.
What is the most dangerous point when making a right turn?
When your front wheels have made the turn and your back wheels havent.
What steps should be used when making a sharp right turn?
- Position the vehicle 1-2 meters from the curb on the approach to the intersection.
- Drive straight until the curb line of the side street can be seen through the front entrance door (bus).
- Enter the turn at slow speeds. This allows you to turn the wheels more slowly, which will let you make a smoother turn using less energy.
