Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
Module 3: Topic 1
Laws of Nature
1. Gravity:
a. _________ is the natural force that constantly pulls all things to the earth and
affects an object’s weight.
b. ___________________ is a point where the mass of the vehicle is concentrated and
balanced.
c. The higher the center of gravity, the more ___________the vehicle becomes.
d. When a driver _______________________________________________, the G
forces are amplified.
2. Kinetic Energy:
a. Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its _________, or
__________ (v) and its __________ (m) : KE = 0.5 ∙ m ∙ v2
b. The _________ the object moves, the ______________ it collects.
c. A _________moving object will have ________ kinetic energy than a lighter object
moving at the same speed.
d. A vehicle’s kinetic energy can be overcome by brakes, friction, air resistance and
gravity.
3. Momentum:
a. Momentum refers to the quantity of motion an object has, measured in kg ∙ m/s
b. Formula: p = m ∙ v. The _______ mass and more velocity an object has, the _______
momentum
c. Change in momentum is called impulse; the magnitude of impulse is based on the
amount of opposing force and the time span over which that force is applied.
4. Inertia: an object’s tendency to _____________ any change in its state of motion.
A Vehicle’s
Possible
States of
Motion
• Slowing down or Stopping
• Accelerating or Cruising
• Turning towards the Left
• Turning towards the Right
5. When driving through a curve, inertia creates the sensation that you are being pulled toward
the outside of the curve. Why does this happen?
Name: _____________________________
Type of Movement
Definition
PITCH
Vehicle weight shifts
__________ and
________
ROLL
Vehicle weight shifts
______ to_______
YAW
Vehicle’s rear tires
lose traction and weight
shifts to one side
(rear tires slide)
_______________
Block: _________
Real Life Example
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
Module 3: Topic 2
Vision and Driving
1. Visual Perception:
a. The eyeball’s ability to distinguish the number, shape, and color of an object.
b. Perception
2. Some key points on drivers and decision-making:
a. Drivers make decisions based on about ______ on what they see
b. Drivers make decisions based on _______ of all on what they hear or feel
c. Drivers should search at least _____ seconds ahead in their path of travel to
evaluate the situation and make good decisions about speed, lane position, signs,
signals, markings, and potential hazards.
1
d. You need to know where to look. This takes practice!
2
3. Field of Vision:
***Three Parts
1. _____ Vision – Allows you to read/see details
2. ________ Vision - Allows you to maintain path of
travel
3. __________ Vision – Allows you to see motion and
color
3
4. Visual Acuity:
a. Nearsighted: Able to see _______ things more clearly than distant ones
b. Farsighted: Able to see _______ things more clearly than near ones
2
3
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
1. What are some strategies for driving at night?
Darkness
• Drive ____________ to allow more time to react
• Use Focal and Paracentral Vision
Glare
• Oncoming headlights: Avert your gaze to line painted on _____ side of road
• Internal light: keep it dark in the vehicle when it’s dark outside
• Sunbeams: keep windows, headlights, and signal lights ________ inside and out
Animals
• Use your _____-beams on rural roads
• Pay attention to animal crossing signs
_________________
• Watch for erratic driving behaviors from other vehicles on the road
• Stay away from drivers exhibiting signs of distraction, intoxication, or fatigue
2. Speed Affects Vision:
a. Hazards that increase with __________________
b. Drivers have ________ time to see and react
c. Minor steering movements cause exaggerated vehicle movements and weight shift
d. Speed distorts and reduces Peripheral vision up to _________
3. How do you compensate for higher speeds?
a. Train your eyes to look farther ahead—you’re covering ground faster
b. Allow more _______ between your vehicle and others
c. Actively move your eyes from one side of the path of travel to the other to search
for relevant information and hazards
4. Depth Perception:
a. Need both eyes to perceive depth (3-D distance)
b. Allows you to judge _______, speed, and distance of other vehicles and hazards in
the traffic environment
c. Essential when ________, approaching a vehicle or hazard; turning, merging, and
crossing intersections
d. To judge the distance between vehicles, look at where the tires contact the road,
not the body of the vehicle
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
5. How can you improve your visual field?
a. ________windows—inside and out
b. Clean vehicle’s outside lights and be sure they work
c. ______ wiper blades for damage and effectiveness
d. Adjust mirrors properly
e. Keep sunglasses and windshield scraper in vehicle
f. Remove objects that interfere with vision
Module 3: Topic 3
Vehicle Reference Points and Establishing a Lane Position
1. Line-of-sight is the visible path of travel from your vehicle to the target area.
a. When something obstructs your LOS, you may need to ________ your speed and/or
position until it is clear again
1. Path-of-Travel is the series of continuous ____________your vehicle will occupy while
traveling toward your target area
3. Target
a.
b.
c.
d.
Specific object located straight ahead in the center of your path of travel
Near visual field limit
Steer toward
Changes to whatever appears in the center of your path of travel
** Do ________stare at or fixate your gaze on the target itself…
4. Target Area
a. Rather than focusing directly on the Target, continuously scan to the ____________
of it (the Target Area) for relevant information and potential hazards
5. Lane Positions:
Lane positions are
based upon an average
lane size of 12-feet
wide, and a vehicle 6feet wide
Select the lane
position that gives
you the best line
of sight and safest
path of travel
This Diagram
shows the three
basic lane
positions drives
can use
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
Lane Position 1
Positioned in the ________
of lane with an equal
buffer of space on either
side
Lane Position 2
Allows for additional space to the right of
the vehicle. Used to prepare for a
________ turn or when avoiding a
problem to the right of the vehicle.
Lane Position 3
Allows for additional space to the left of the
vehicle. Used to prepare for a ________
turn or when avoiding a problem to the
left of the vehicle.
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
6. Footprint of the vehicle:
a. We need reference points because of the footprint of our vehicle.
a. This is the ground around the car that we _________see!
b. The bigger the vehicle; the bigger the footprint.
In the figure above, the darker cars represent the size and areas of
pavement that the driver of the white car ___________ see.
7. Reference Points:
a. A point on your vehicle that helps the driver determine where he/she is positioned on
the road.
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
Front Limitation – Use the ___________ mirror
Rear Limitation – Use the _____________ window
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
Module 3: Topic 4
Basic Maneuvering—Steering and Braking
1. Why do we use 8 and 4 for our hand position?
1. Puts the body in a ________ position with relaxed
shoulders
2. Promotes ________control of the steering wheel,
reducing excess motion
3. Improves ________ by lowering the body’s center
of gravity
4. Prevents ____ injury if the airbag deploys
2. Types of Steering
Type of Steering
Hand to Hand or Push/Pull Slide:
To TURN RIGHT
Left hand pushes up from ___ o’ clock
to ____ o’ clock
Right hand pulls down from
___ o’ clock to ____o’ clock
Hand Over Hand
Left Turn/left hand:
Left hand pulls down, then reaches up to
about the o’clock position and continues to
pull 11-12 down to the left
Left Turn/right hand:
Right Hand pushes up to about the 11 o’clock
position
Diagram
When it’s
used
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
One Hand Steering when backing
straight back.
Backing
straight back:
______ arm
is behind the
front
passenger
seat so you
can turn and
see the entire
view
One Hand Steering when Backing a
Trailer
Backing with
a trailer:
Hold the
_______ of
the wheel
2. Acceleration: COVER the Accelerator
a. Used for a _______transition from braking to accelerating
b. Allows the vehicle to coast which may speed up or slow down the vehicle
c. Permits the driver to be __________ for any needed acceleration
3. Acceleration Techniques:
Progressive,
Smooth
Acceleration
Thrust
Acceleration
• Heel pivots foot from the brake pedal to the
accelerator
• Gently apply pressure to the accelerator
pedal to _____________ increase speed to
minimize backward pitch and maintain
vehicle balance
• Typically used when
____________________ or merging into
higher speed traffic
• Greater pressure is applied to accelerator
pedal to rapidly increase speed
_____________ losing tire traction
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
4. Braking Techniques: 4 Types
Smooth
Braking
Technique
• Is a trait of a skilled driver
• Saves ___________, and wear and tear on
the brake system and tires
• Use ball of your foot to press pedal
5. Methods to Reduce Speed:
a. Use __________ braking prior to reaching the curve
b. Begin easing off brake, and trail brake with very light pressure
until halfway through the turn,
c. __________ out of the turn
6. SPEED LIMIT:
a. A speed limit is the ________ legal speed you can travel on a road under ideal
conditions.
b. You may drive slower than the posted speed, but it is illegal to drive any faster.
c. By law, you must drive slower if conditions such as road construction or bad weather
make the posted speed unsafe.
d. It is illegal to use a radar detector in Virginia.
Type of Highway Zone
Interstate highways in certain rural areas
Non-rural interstate highways, public
roads not part of the interstate sys
Rural rustic roads
School, business and residential zones
(You are required to travel 25 mph in a
school zone only when indicated by sign
or signal. Otherwise maintain the posted
speed.)
Speed Limit
_____mph
_____ mph
_____ mph
_____ mph
Name: _____________________________
Block: _________
7. Stopping Distance: Three factors determine the distance that it takes to stop your vehicle:
a. ___________ time: The time it takes you to recognize a hazard.
b. __________ distance: The distance your vehicle travels between the time you
recognize a problem and the time you apply the brakes.
c. __________ distance: The distance your car travels after you apply the brakes.