Day 1
The task and goal of our program is to produce a safe and responsible driver who is capable of driving
collision-free for a lifetime
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You must have your instruction permit for at least six months
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You must pass an approved course (like this one )
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You must log 50 hours of driving
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You must pass a vision, knowledge and skill test.
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Appointment is needed for the skill test
You may not have any tickets (Notices of Infraction)
Restrictions for the first 6 months:
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No driving between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless with your parent/guardian or a
licensed driver at least 25 years old
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You may not have a passenger under 20 years old who is not an immediate family
member
Restrictions for the second 6 months:
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For the remaining time, you may not have more than three passengers under 20 years
old who are not immediate family members. And still No driving between 1:00 a.m. and
5:00 a.m. unless with your parent/guardian or a licensed driver at least 25 years old
Restriction on cell phone use while driving with an IDL:
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You are NOT permitted to use wireless devices while driving, even with a handsfree device.
This includes talking on cell phones or sending/ receiving TXT messages. You may only use a
wireless device if you are reporting an emergency.
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Young Drivers Mistakes (Crashes) are Most often caused by INEXPERIENCE
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Traffic safety education provides you with basic knowledge and skills, but to be a good driver
you need EXPERIENCE
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Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.
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16 to 25 yr olds have the highest rate of collisions, speeding, and impaired or distracted driving
incidents.
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Purpose of the
Highway Transportation System
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Safe, Efficient, and Convenient Movement of People and Goods from Place to Place
Three Parts of the HTS People, Vehicles, and Roadways
Other users are the hardest for you to control
Who Regulates the HTS?
Government: Laws are passed to make up the Uniform Vehicle Code. Laws are established primarily
to keep order and safety on the roadways.
Courts: Decide whether drivers charged with violating the laws are guilty or innocent.
Highway Traffic Engineers: Plan, build, and maintain the complex system of roadways.
Congestion & Collisions
Cause serious social & economic problems
Driving is a Social Task
I.P.D.E Indentify, Predict, Decide, and Execute
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Proper decision making is the cornerstone to safe driving
Day 2
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The parking brake is always first on & last off
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Line of Sight (LOS)
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“The area you can clearly see in any direction.”
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Path of Travel (POT)
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“The area your vehicle will be traveling in or through during any maneuver.”
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Making sure the path of travel is clear before moving is the most important part
of any maneuver.
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Before performing any action, ask yourself:
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Is it legal?
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Is it Safe?
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Is it necessary
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The void area
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This is the area around your car that you can’t see because of the car body
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Setting Mirrors to Blind Spot
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If you cannot see out the inside rear view mirror (due to objects inside your car that block
your view, etc; then your side mirrors need to be adjusted the traditional way.
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Proper adjustment is key! Head against the driver’s side window to see a sliver of the side of
the car, and head over center of vehicle to see a sliver of the side of the car in the right
(passenger) side mirror.
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Your Responsibilities for Children
in the Car The safest seat position for a child is the rear seat
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Children:
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Under 2 year of age must be in a rear facing infant seat until they reach the weight or height
of the seat manufacturer.
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Between 2 & 3 years old must be in a forward facing car seat or can be in a rear facing if it
holds their weight or height.
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It is recommended that children stay in rear facing car seats as long as possible (meaning not
exceeding the weight and height as set forth from the manufacturer).
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Less than 4’9” must be in a booster seat or car seat if it holds their weight and height.
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All Children under 13 must be transported in the back seat when practical to do so.
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It is unlawful to leave a child under the age of 16 in a parked vehicle with the engine running
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Seatbelts lower the chances of serious injury in a collision. You should wear your seatbelt at all
times.
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9 & 3 Hand Position: Thumbs resting on the front or on the outside of the wheel.
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Steering techniques Should be done with palms down in the top 1/3 of the steering
wheel
Threshold braking
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Applying the brakes as hard as possible without the wheels locking up or losing traction
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Your brakes will be exerting full braking power
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This is the quickest way to slow or stop the vehicle without loss of traction
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Braking in Emergency Situations
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If you find yourself on a steep downgrade where you have to be constantly on the brakes,
shift to a lower gear. This allows you to use the braking effect of the engine to help slow the
vehicle
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If your brakes fail while you are on the roadway, the first thing you should do is pump your
brakes a few times.
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If you find that you have a flat tire while traveling on the roadway, the proper technique is to
maintain a firm grip on the wheel, take your foot off the accelerator, apply controlled brake
pressure and pull to the side of the road.
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Securing the vehicle- Walk towards the rear of the vehicle, facing traffic
Day 3
LP1:
Normal lane travel
LP2:
Left turn or right zone closures
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Parked vehicles
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Pedestrians
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Bikes
LP3:
Right turn
LP4:
Passing and larger right zone
LP5:
Emergency only
closures
When your Line of Sight (LOS) or Path of Travel (POT) is blocked, it would mean you need to change
your LOS &/or POT
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The use of IPDE and Scanning enables the driver to see and predict ahead of time when a
situation arises
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This is critical so that the driver KEEPS out of a hazardous situation
You should be extra alert for Motorcycles, Bicycles, and Pedestrians because they are hard to see in
traffic. Especially when leaving parking lots, private driveways and pulling from the curb.
Pulling To and From the Curb
(S.M.O.G.)
Four Steps:
1. Signal
2. Mirrors
3. Over-the-shoulder/Head Check (do not move your shoulders and your chin should not
go past your shoulder)
4. Go (when safe to do so)
2. Park no more than 12 inches from the curb
3. Legally park
Handicap Parking requires a permit
you (scan)
Make sure the area and path of travel to the front of your vehicle is open (most important thing to do
before changing lanes)
Right and Left turns
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Begin to gently accelerate as soon as your Line of Sight (LOS) is clear (about half way through
the turn)
Visual habits for moving turns
Signal Mirror (rear view), Mirror (side mirror to the direction of the turn). This is to make sure nothing
is passing on the side of the turn.
Intersection clear- left, center, right, center, left- (the most important step of the turn)
Target, Line of Sight, Path of Travel to your intended path
Visual habits for stopped turns
Intersection clear- left, center, right, center, left- (the most important step of the turn)
Target, Line of Sight, Path of Travel to your intended path
Protected vs. unprotected turn:
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In an unprotected turn you must yield to any vehicle in or close to the intersection
Check for gap (4 - 6 seconds – about a full block)
SCAN the intersection
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Wait behind the stop bar or crosswalk
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Do not block the intersection
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Keep your front wheels straight
When traffic is clear, move forward into turning position (1/3 into intersection, and make your turn)
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Turn from your closest legal lane into the closest lane (corresponding lane), unless signs
or roadway markings permit otherwise
When setting up for the turn, keep in mind that a turn can only be made from the far left or far right
lane, unless…
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There are traffic signs and pavement markings indicating otherwise (the outside of a
double left turn lane is the safest to turn from- it leaves you an out)
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Do not sign up for a drive 4 Mon thru Fri between 4pm and 7pm.
Read:
Washington Drivers Guide pages 3-1 – 3-26 and the inside front and back covers
www.dol.wa.gov
Be prepared to identify what Railroad, Passing, School Signs etc. look like
Day 4 signs, signals and pavement markings
Three types of Signs:
1. Regulatory: Tell you about laws that you must obey
2. Warning: Mostly yellow (school zone, two-way traffic)
3. Guide/Destination: Mostly green
It is important to know the colors and shapes of signs so that you can
recognize them from a distance – even before you are close enough to read them
Construction or detour- Orange color sign
Motor services- blue color sign
Recreation or cultural interest- brown color sign
Rail road – round and yellow
No passing- pennant shape and yellow
Stop signs
The law says you must stop for a stop sign!
Where must you stop?
At the stop line or before the crosswalk
If there is not a crosswalk, stop prior to entering the intersection or at the road edge
You may need to stop a second time if your LOS is not clear
• For example, you stop at the stop line, but can not clearly see traffic. You
would move forward to the road edge and stop again. This is called a
safety stop.
Yield sign
Always be prepared to stop, but does not mean stop, unless vehicles or pedestrians
are approaching the intersection
Speed Limit Signs
• Means exactly what it says
• Maximum speed in ideal conditions
• In bad weather, you may need to drive slower than the posted speed limit
• By law the maximum speeds are Unless otherwise posted :
• 25 mph- Cities and Towns
• 50 mph- County Roads
• 60 mph freeway
• This signs means the speed limit is reduced ahead. You should prepare to
slow down.
Warning signs
• When you see a warning sign, you should slow down
Traffic Lights:
• Red: Stop
• Yellow: Make every reasonable effort to stop
Green: Proceed only when safe to do so (clear the areas to the left, front & right
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Flashing Red Light
• Stop
Flashing Yellow
• Caution
Solid Yellow
• Make every reasonable effort to stop
Arrows:
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Red or Green on light
Green arrow makes it a protected turn
What turns can be made on a Red Light?
• Right turn after a complete stop
• Left turn from a two-way street onto a one-way street going left
You may not turn right on a Red Light if there is a sign that prohibits it
Stale green light:
• A light that is about to turn yellow. You can tell a stale green light from a
fresh one by the observation of a blinking "don't walk" signal.
Fresh green light:
• A light that has just turned green.
Watch for a Red X above a lane of travel
• This indicates that the lane is closed
• Police, Flaggers, or other Emergency Personnel may hold up their hand, with
their palm towards you indicating they want you to stop
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White/Yellow
• White separates traffic going in the same direction
• Yellow separates traffic going in opposite directions
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A Dashed (Broken) Yellow line on the left side of a travel lane indicates
passing is allowed in that direction
A Double Solid Yellow line indicates that passing is prohibited in both
directions
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White Edge Lines mark the right edge of pavement or boundary between a
travel lane and an adjacent shoulder along the outer edge of a roadway
Shared turn lanes
Not a lane of travel
Meant for turns
Cannot travel more than 300 feet in a shared turn lane
Must make first available turn
Three Vision Areas:
1. Central/Focal/Target
2. Fringe
3. Peripheral (used for seeing dangers to the sides)
Controlled Intersections
have traffic lights, yield signs or stop signs to control traffic and assign the right-ofway (most intersections)
Uncontrolled Intersections
have no signs or traffic lights (usually found in areas where there is not a lot of
traffic, such as residential areas)
The chance of a collision is greater at intersections than any other part of the
roadway
• Do not enter an intersection unless you can pass/travel all the way through
• You have the right of way at an intersection only when other drivers give it to
you
Scan the intersection: (Side to side, far and near)
• Left
• Front
• Right
• Front
• Left again (check for the closest threat)
• Identify the intersection & ask yourself if there are any traffic control devices
• Your ability to evaluate risk improves as you successfully solve risk situations
• The test of a good driver is NOT how well they get out of bad situations, it’s
how well they KEEP out of bad situations
• unless otherwise posted, the speed limit in a school zone is 20 miles per hour
• Indicates that you are within one block of a school
• Traffic fines are increased in school zones
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Day 5- Backing, Turnabouts, Parking
Prior to Backing:
• Check your mirrors, blind spots and the area behind you (check 360
degrees around your vehicle)
• While looking out the rear window, turn the wheel in the direction you want
the back of the vehicle to go
• Back at a walking pace
• Glance forward and around your vehicle every 6 to 10 feet
• Continue to look out the back window until you have come to a complete stop
Straight line backing
1. Place your left hand on the wheel at 12 o-clock
– Backing left, turn left
– Backing right, turn right
A safety stop is required when crossing sidewalks, crosswalks or before
entering traffic
You Can fail backing around a corner on your Driving Test if this requirement is violated
The most important thing when backing is look back and yield to other vehicles and
pedestrians
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Turnabouts
If performing a turnabout isn’t safe given the conditions, then
“go around the block”:
Make three right turns and one left.
The most important step when turning your vehicle around is to carefully check
traffic in all directions (scanning).
2 Point turnabout
2. Backing into a Driveway on the Right (this is the safest turnabout):
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Back only as far as necessary and then stop
Parking:
• Within 30’ of intersections
• Within 30’ of traffic control devices
• Within 5’ of a driveway
• Within 20’ of a crosswalk
• Within 20’ of pedestrian safe zones
• Within 20’ of a fire station on the same side, or 75’ on
the opposite side
• On a sidewalk
• On the wrong side of the road
• Disabled parking spots
• Within 15’ of fire hydrants
• In loading zones
• Within 50’ of railroad crossings
• Wherever there is a no-parking sign
• More than 12” from the curb
On the shoulder of the freeway (unless there’s an emergency
Hill parking
The ONLY TIME you ever turn the wheels to the left is when you are
parking uphill with a curb; every other time you turn the wheels to the right
• What if there’s no curb?
Turn to the right so that the vehicle won’t roll into traffic
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Remember - U.C.L.A. Up hill, Curb, Left Always
Day 6 -defensive driving and emotions
If you think you can’t control your emotions, do not drive at all
In any driving situation, you must be mature enough to adjust your behavior to
minimize risk
Three Questions to ask yourself before every decision:
1. Is it Safe?
2. Is it Legal?
3. Is it Necessary?
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Of all the human faults which contribute to collisions, the one that causes the
most collisions is the driver’s attitude
The aspect of driving that is most affected by our attitudes is our ability to
make proper decisions
Safe Drivers make good decisions
As humans we are competitive by nature
Driving is NOT a competition
Make it your personal goal to be a Safe & Responsible Driver
When drivers are emotionally upset, they are less likely to consider the rights
of other drivers
Fatigue
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Pull off the road, get out, walk around, and stretch
Rest before you get started- Take a nap.
Be aware that some cold/flu medications will make you drowsy & may cause
poor judgment
Visual Acuity
• Being able to see clearly and sharply; 20/20 vision is normal
Glare
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Your eyes may take 10 - 15 seconds to recover from glare. Here are some
things you can do:
• Avoid looking at the source, look at the fog line
• Anticipate glare situations
• Slow down
• Sunglasses
• Visor
Day 7- Passing and roadway variations
Passing
• What are the 3 Questions we must ask?
1. Is it Safe?
2. Is it Legal?
3. Is it Necessary
• You must be back in your lane 200’ before the oncoming vehicle gets to you
: You are not required to stop for a school bus traveling toward you if the roadway
is at least 3 lanes wide
If a School bus is stopped on the side of the road without flashing lights; YOU Don’t
Have to Stop. But should slow down and use caution as you pass by.
If you are cited with illegally passing a school bus and if found committed by a
court; the fine doubles and cannot be reduced.
If a Transit bus is stopped on the side of the road and signaling to re-enter traffic,
you must yield to the bus and allow it to enter traffic.
Slow Moving Vehicles
When the driver of a slow moving vehicle has 5 or more vehicles behind him, he
must pull over and allow others to pass when safe to do so
Emergency Vehicles
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Do not follow within 500’ of an emergency vehicle.
If an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the road and has
emergency equipment activated; You must move a lane over and if
you cannot, slow down!
Hills:
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It is good to be in Lane Position 3 at the crest of the hill, due to limited sight
distance
Maintain speed with accelerator or brake or downshift and use braking
effect of the engine.
Curves
• Reduce speed before entering the curve
• Look through the curve for your LOS/POT; being able to see is the most
important factor governing speed.
• The sharper the curve, the slower you must go
Farm Equipment
• Slow moving vehicles traveling at 25 mph or less are required to have an
orange and red sign posted on the back
Livestock & Cross-traffic
Railroad
• Look for crossing signs - remember it is a yield sign
• Look both ways & watch for trains on a second track.
• If the lights are flashing, a train is definitely approaching
• Do not stop on tracks. Remember to check to the front before moving forward
• As you approach a crossing, the Driver should quiet the passengers, turn down the
music, and crack a window to listen for a train
• Do not stop on tracks
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Do not stop in a tunnel
Round abouts
When the driver enters, he/she yields to circulating traffic on the left, but does not stop if
the way is clear
Upon passing the street prior to the desired exit, the driver should turn on his/her right
turn signal and watch for pedestrians and bicyclists as he/she exits
Never change lanes in a roundabout
Day 8- Time and space management
Scan 15 seconds up the road, or as far as you can see
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City Driving
Scan 15 seconds ahead
Look as far up the road as possible
At intersections, remember:
• Left
• Center
• Right
• Center
• Left
Check your mirrors and repeat scanning and mirror checks
Highway
Scan at least 15 seconds ahead then back to 3 - 5 seconds
Check mirrors and repeat scanning and mirror checks
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Avoid last minute braking and look well up the road - sudden braking or
swerving could mean that the driver has probably not scanned far enough
ahead
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Do not rely on traffic signals or signs to tell you that no one will be crossing in
front of you
Make sure you can clearly see crossing traffic before entering an intersection
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What is zone management?
• A strategy of maintaining a space cushion around your car.
• A way of driving defensively: making up for other driver’s mistakes.
Look behind you – check rearview mirror every 5 to 7 seconds
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You need space to react
More Space = Better Visibility
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You have time to use IPDE
Understanding Stopping Distances:
REACTION TIME + BRAKING DISTANCE = STOPPING DISTANCE
Allow proper Time and Distance:
• 30 m.p.h. or less = 2 - 3 seconds
• Over 30 m.p.h. = 4+ seconds
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Do not tailgate – the most serious loss to a driver who tailgates is the inability
to see the whole traffic picture
Gradual stopping will give you the best chance of controlling traffic to the
rear.
Day 9- 2nd test- sharing the roadway with trucks and
motorcycles
trucks
• If you can’t see the truck’s side mirrors, then they can’t see you
Make sure you see both headlights in your rearview mirror before moving back to
your lane
Motorcycles:
Increase your following distance – this is the best way to protect a motorcyclist
Day 10- city and freeway driving
City:
• Hazards can block your LOS/POT
• This will require you to make a LOS/POT change
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• Distractions:
• You need more time to use IPDE. Inattentional blindness is known as
distracted driving.
• Stay focused on the driving task
• Washington’s Texting Law prohibits Driver’s from sending, reading, or
writing a text message.
Multiple Turn Lanes:
• You may only make turns from the far left or far right lane unless traffic signs or
pavement markings indicate otherwise.
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Remember, when entering a one way street or leaving a one way street, you
will still position your vehicle in the far left or right lane for turns
Freeway:
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If you enter the ramp and decide you do not want to enter the freeway, DO
NOT BACK UP THE RAMP
Three parts to an Entrance Ramp
1. Ramp
2. Acceleration lane
3. Merging area
1. Increase speed in the acceleration lane
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2.
3.
4.
Right lane is for merging and slow traffic
Center lane for travel
Left lane reserved for passing and emergency vehicles
Watch for cars entering the freeway; be courteous, allow merging traffic to
enter by moving to another lane if safe
Remember, maintaining vehicle control at higher speeds is more difficult than at lower
speeds
Exiting
1. Slow in the deceleration lane, not on the freeway
1. If you miss your exit, you must go on to the next exit. DO NOT STOP, and
DO NOT BACK UP on the freeway
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If you drive on the freeway for an extended period of time, you may be lulled
into a state called “Highway Hypnosis”
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After driving a long time on a freeway and exiting to a city street, you may
experience “Velocitation”. This is a feeling that you are not traveling as fast
as you really are. 50 m.p.h. may seem like 30-35 m.p.h.
Day 11- Alcohol, Drugs, DUI laws
Legal intoxication (For D.U.I.)
• Minors = .02% BAC
• If you have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .02% or more, you
can be arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
• Adults = .08% BAC
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It is illegal to have an open alcohol container inside the passenger
compartment of a vehicle
Implied Consent Statute- deemed to give a test if driving a car in this state
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If you refuse to take a breath or blood test
Your license will be suspended for one (1) year (whether you are charged or
not)
DUI conviction
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License suspended or revoked for a minimum 90 days (on 1st conviction).
Up to 1 year
Alcohol-related offenses appear on your driving record for life
An Ignition Interlock License allows a driver to operate a motor vehicle
when their license is suspended or revoked.
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Body and Behavior
• The effects begin as soon as the alcohol reaches the brain
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The fact remains that alcohol is a depressant and will affect you accordingly
at some point
• Even small amounts affect your driving ability
• Usually without awareness
your judgment will be affected before your coordination
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It begins to affect you as soon as it gets to your brain; which can take up
to 20 to 40 minutes or can be as a little as a few minutes.
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A 12-ounce bottle of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a standard
shot of 80 proof liquor (either straight or in a mixed drink) or 5 ounces of
wine
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Studies show that of drivers that were involved in fatal crashes, 40% of
them had been drinking
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The only way to be sure you will be safe after drinking is to have a nondrinker drive
Drugs• Always check medicine labels for side effects
“Do not operate heavy machinery after use.”
“Do not operate a motor vehicle after use.”
MarijuanaIf under 21 you can be arrested for a THC level of more than .00 nano
grams per milliliter of blood.
• After alcohol, marijuana is the most detected drug
from arrests and fatality collisions.
• Effects of marijuana include:
• Motor Coordination, Slowed Reaction Time, and Increases
Sleepiness.
• Marijuana has been shown to impair driving for up to 5 hours.
• Testing will detect it in your body up to 6-8 weeks after
use.
• Consuming Marijuana infused foods is dangerous
because it takes longer to feel the effects.
Day 12- Adverse weather driving
Hi beams
• Dim lights when meeting
– Oncoming car (500 feet)
– Following a car (300 feet)
When meeting a car that does not dim - look to the shoulder
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The law states that headlights must be on between a half hour after sunset,
and stay on until a half hour before sunrise or whenever visibility is reduced
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Statistics show that others can see you better when you have your headlights
on during the day; therefore, this is a good habit to get into
Make sure your high beams are not on by checking the indicator light on the
dash
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Skidding
Loss of traction due to speed or weather (black ice)
Remember to steer in the direction you want to go
• Keep your POT in sight
Hydroplaning
• Tires lose traction & lose contact with the road
If your car starts hydroplaning, you should gradually ease off the accelerator, and
look for lane position
If you must drive through deep water, apply light brake pressure as you drive
through the water
Day 13 Vehicle Maintenance and malfunctions
What if...
...the tires fail?
• Get a firm grip on the wheel
• Let up on the accelerator and brake lightly
• If your car has airbags and has been involved in a
collision where the airbag should have gone off but
did not; get out of the car away from the airbag
location.
Day 14- Planning for travel and post collision responsibility
& bicycle safety
• Preparing for Travel- Be well rested - don’t start your
trip if you are tired.
Using a GPS unit- You may not mount your GPS on the
windshield when it interferes with your view.
A GPS unit may cause
Distracted Driving
There are three things you can do
1. Steer
• Turn to avoid a collision
2. Brake
• Stop before the collision
3. Accelerate
• Speed up to move out of the way
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A collision report must be filed within 4 days
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A collision report is required if there is $700.00 or more in damage to any
one vehicle, or there is injury to any person, or death to a person
Minimum liability insurance required
• $25,000 injury to one person
• $50,000 injury to more than one person
• $10,000 property damage
What if...
...the brakes fail?
– Pump the brakes
Bicyclist and Pedestrians have the right of way at
crosswalks and intersections regardless if the crosswalks
are marked or not.
Pedestrians and Bicyclists have the right of way at crosswalks and intersections
(regardless if the crosswalk is marked or not)
Bicycle safety
. When riding at night, a bicyclist must have a white headlight visible for?
- 500 feet ( and a light or reflector to the rear visible for 600 feet)
If a bicyclist violates the law, they can be ticketed.
Bicyclists can ride on the roadway, shoulder of road, or in a bicycle lane
You should be extra alert for bicycles and pedestrians, because they are hard to see
Day 15- final test DOL skills test review and Organ donation video (no notes)