Driving in Urban Traffic

1
Chapter 9

• Driving in Urban Traffic

2
Traffic Complexity

• Traffic is more ___________ in urban areas
• City traffic hazards are ___________ to you than
  they are in rural areas.

3
Following and Meeting Traffic
4
3-Second Following Distance

• To determine a 3-second following distance, start
  counting as the rear of the car ahead passes your
  fixed check point.
• Increase distance under adverse conditions.

5
Looking beyond the vehicle ahead

• Look ______, ______ and ______ the vehicle you
  are following
• What can we be looking for?
• Always try to ______what the driver ahead is
  likely to do.

6
Areas of sudden Stops

• ______where drivers may have to stop for traffic
  or pedestrians
• Lanes next to ______vehicles
• Business driveways with ______volume traffic.

7
What if we are being tailgated?

• Move slightly to the ______so the tailgater can
  see better.
• Signal ______for turns, stops, and lane changes.
• Flash your ______.
• In extreme situations, change ______, or pull out
  of ______to avoid the tailgater.

8
Reasons for Crossing the Center Line

• Driver ______
• Driver might be drowsy, distracted, confused,
  intoxicated or ill.
• ______Judgment
• Driver might misjudge speed, distance, or
  position.
• ______visibility
• Direct sunlight, blinding headlights, or bad
  weather.

9
Crossing the center line cont

• ______Space
• Snow bank, narrow bridge, or other objects.
• Sudden ______by others
• Children, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, a
  vehicle door opens
• Vehicle ______
• Drive might loose control because of vehicle
  failure

10
Crossing the center line cont

• Turning ______ ______
• Longer vehicles need extra room to make a normal
  turn
• ______-parked vehicles
• Drivers or delivery trucks may park carelessly

11
If a vehicle comes at you

• Slow down until the other driver can return to
  their lane.
• Turn on or ______your headlights and blow your
  ______.
• If your right front zone is open move as far to
  the ______to try to give the other driver room to
  pass.

12
Looking ahead while staying back

• Look at least a ______away and/or ______seconds.
• If behind a truck maintain a ______second or more
  second following distance.

13
Covering the Brake

• Taking your foot off the accelerator, and hold it
  ______the brake pedal.
• Use this when you see ______conflict.
• Could cut ______time down.

14
Adjusting Speed in cities

• Drive ______traffic flow
• Stay ______the speed limit
• Adjust ______and position ahead of time for other
  driver who might block your way

15
Selecting the Best Lane

• Select the lane with the ______number of hazards.
• ______is usually faster, but can be held up by
  drivers waiting to turn left.
• Right moves slower, because of people slowing
  down to make turns

16
Changing lanes

• Use your mirrors to check traffic in your rear
  zones.
• Signal your lane change early
• Quickly check your blind spot area
• Change lanes without slowing
• Cancel your signal.

17
Identifying one-way streets

• ______signs are posted on most one-way streets
• All moving and parked vehicles point in the
  ______direction
• ______broken white lines are used to separate
  lanes.
• Signs will be facing the ______direction.

18
Signaling wrong-way drivers

• ______
• Steer ______
• Sound ______
• ______headlights