7: Driving in Cities

Speed limits: - 70 mph is the max speed limit on interstates and expressways - 45 mph is the min speed limit on interstates and expressways - 55 mph is the max speed limit on open country roads - 35 mph is the max speed limit for residential areas - 25 mph is the max speed limit for business districts - 45 mph is the max speed limit for school buses - 55 mph is the max speed limit for activity buses - 35 mph is the max sped limit inside city limits unless posted otherwise - Each driver must determine what is a safe speed depending on the existing road conditions

Stopping distance: - Perception distance - How far your car travels before you determine you must stop - Distance depends on what you were doing and where you were looking - Reaction distance - How far the car travels while you move your foot from the gas to the brake - Average time is 3/4 sec, which equals 11 ft for each 10 mph of speed - Braking distance - How long it takes for the brakes to stop the car - Breaking distance increases by the number of times you increase the speed squared - Speed is not the only thing that will affect your braking distance - The condition of the tires, brakes, road surface, and weight can increase your braking distance

Following distance: - Keep at least 3 sec of following distance - At night, in bad weather, and when following a motorcycle, you must increase your following distance to 5 sec - Increase to 10 sec for snow; never drive on ice - Improper following distance is the cause for almost all rear end collisions - Rear end collisions make up 54% of all collisions

Large vehicles: - When following a large vehicle, stay far enough behind so you can see around, over, and under the vehicle - Large vehicles will always make wide turns in the city - If a truck is in the left lane of a one-way street with the right signal on, it is turning right; do not pull up beside it - If a large vehicle is turning onto your street, stop further back than normal because they are going to come into your lane - When traveling past parallel parked cars, you should look at the direction of the front wheel and for brake lights - Your vision will be reduced at intersections because of buildings and pedestrians

Open country roads: - Hills: - Hills will reduce your vision as you approach the top - On an uphill, gravity will reduce your speed and stopping distance - On a downhill, gravity will increase your speed and stopping distance - Curves: - Centrifugal force affects you on curves - Centrifugal force is determined by the radius of the turn/curve and speed - Gravity and traction must be greater than centrifugal force for you to keep control - Factors that can affect your traction in a curve: - Weather - Type of road surface - If you're using brakes - If your vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes, you should pump the brake pedal in a curve; do not press and hold - The proper way to take a curve or make a turn - Slow down before you reach the curve - Keep the same speed throughout the curve or turn - Speed up when you are out of the curve or turn - Bridges: - One-lane bridges - The first car at the bridge has the right-of-way - Always cross a one-way bridge in the center - At a one-lane bridge at the top of the hill, always stop and tap your horn before crossing - Narrow country bridges - Drive next to, but do not cross, the center line - Avoid meeting another vehicle if possible - Always stop before you reach the bridge when meeting s truck - It is not illegal to pass on a bridge - No parking: - If you have a "no parking" sign, or if the curb is painted yellow - Within 25 ft of an intersection or a railroad crossing - On sidewalks - Blocking a driveway or crosswalk - Within 15 ft of a fire hydrant or a fire station

Good times.