Chapter 1
You Are the Driver
The Highway Transportation System
(HTS)
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People, vehicles, and roadways
Purpose is to move people and cargo from
one place to another in a safe, efficient, and
economical manner
Drivers, passengers, motorcyclists,
bicyclists, and pedestrians
Simple rural lanes – complex multi-lane
urban roads and expressways
Roadway Users
People who are:
Walking
Driving
Riding
Vehicles
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Mopeds and motorcycles are small and have
very little protection for the riders
Tractor trailers that weigh tons
Cars, vans, small trucks, buses, campers,
farm vehicles and construction equipment
Roadways
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Vary from dirt lanes to complex multilane
expressways
Common conditions such as rain, nighttime,
or rough pavement can become major
problems
Regulating the HTS
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Drivers who operate their vehicles in a responsible,
low risk manner are the most important part in the
HTS
Laws make up the vehicle code
Enforcement agencies assure that laws are obeyed
DMV set rules for driver and vehicle standards
Courts decide if drivers are guilty or innocent
Highway traffic engineers plan, build, and maintain
the complex system of roadways
Driving Task
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Includes social, physical, and mental skills
Using knowledge and visual skills
Obeying traffic laws
Judging time and space
Anticipating how our car will respond under
normal and emergency conditions
Social Skills
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Drivers must interact successfully with people
which includes communicating with other
roadway users
Courteous drivers obey traffic laws and make an
extra effort to work with other drivers
Without courtesy and cooperation, low-risk
driving is impossible
Physical Skills
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Beginning drivers need to learn the physical
skills of driving so they will become natural
habits
Steering
Braking
Accelerating
Stopping
Starting
Mental Skills
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Safe low-risk driving is primarily a mental or
thinking task that involves decision making.
Physical skills are minor when compared to
the necessary decision-making skills
The IPDE Process
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A process of seeing, thinking, and responding
Identify important information in the driving
scene
Predict when and where possible points of
conflict will develop
Decide when, where, and how to communicate,
adjust speed, and/or change position to avoid
conflicts
Execute the right action(s) to prevent conflict
Your Driving Responsibilities
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Your attitude toward life and driving affects
your willingness to learn and effectively use safedriving habits
The best defense against a driver who has road
rage is to distance yourself
Drivers who drive in a responsible low-risk way
will gain respect from others
Breakdowns in the HTS
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A breakdown in the HTS occurs when any
part of the system does not work well.
Traffic tie-ups
Collisions
Construction
Disabled vehicles
Collision or Accident?
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Collision usually have more than one cause
Driver error is the most common cause of
collisions which includes the following:
Breaking various laws
Not slowing in adverse conditions
Operating a defective vehicle
Following too closely
Driving while intoxicated or very tired
Not wearing safety belts
Causes of Death
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Out of all methods of transportation the most deaths
occur while driving motor vehicles
Lack of experience is a major factor
Some other factors include increased exposure to
night driving, increased risk taking, susceptibility to
peer pressure, and mixing drinking and driving
Traffic collisions cost our nation billions of dollars
each year in property damage, time away from work
and school, medical fees, and insurance premiums
Financial Responsibility
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As a driver, you are responsible for your
share of driving-related costs.
Fuel
Maintaining and insuring your car
You also are financially responsible by law
for any damage or injuries that you may
cause
Graduated Licensing Program
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Requires young drivers to progress through a series of
licensing stages.
Zero tolerance for blood alcohol concentration
(BAC).
Permit stage
Intermediate license stage
Full-privilege license stage
Organ Donor Program
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Filling out an organ donation declaration that
will appear on your license.
Inform your family about your decision.
Implied Consent Law
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You agree to take an alcohol test on request.
If you refuse you will lose your license.
Recap
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Highway Transportation System
Roadway users
Vehicles
Roadways
Regulating the HTS
Driving Task
IPDE Process
Driving Responsibilities
Breakdowns in the HTS
Collisions
Cause of death
Financial Responsibility
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Chapter 1 Worksheet
1. What are three parts of the Highway
Transportation System (HTS)?
2. What is the primary purpose of the HTS? 3.
Define “driving task”
4. Why is driving a social task?
5. Define “collision”
6. What are the four steps of the IPDE
process?
Chapter 1 Worksheet
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7. A collision occurs between a speeding car and a
truck driven by a driver who was upset.
This is an example that most collisions have
_____________ causes.
8. Define “defensive driving”
9. Why is conserving fuel important?
Essay
How do you think television programs, movies and
commercials influence driving behavior?