Module 2: Topic 1
Understanding the Highway Transportation System
1. Three components of the Highway Transportation System (HTS):
a. People - Walking, Driving, or Riding
b. Vehicles - Bicycles, Cars and SUVs, Mopeds Tractor-Trailer Trucks
c. Roadways - From the smallest dirt road to the complex multilane expressway
2. Vehicles on these Roadways:
Type of Vehicle
Characteristics
Commercial
Minimum following distance, stop at railroad crossings, wide right turns, lower speed
Vehicles
limits
Mopeds/Scooters
May be driven by someone without a driver’s license, must be at least 16 years old,
cannot exceed 35 mph
Motorcycles
May be driven two abreast in one lane, may use HOV lanes even if only carrying the
driver
Bicycles
Signals using arms/hands, cars must give at least three feet of room when passing
3. How do you impact the highway transportation system?
Module 2: Topic 2
Maintaining Your Vehicle
1. What checks should you perform weekly on your vehicle?
a. Tires
b. Outside lights
c. Emergency Kit
d. Windshield Wipers
2. Label the parts of the engine
A. Battery - 8
B. Engine Oil Dipstick - 5
C. Engine Oil Filler Cap - 3
D. Drive Belts - 10
E. Engine Coolant Reservoir - 1
F. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir - 2
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir - 9
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir - 6
I. Air Filter Assembly - 11
J. Transmission Fluid Dipstick
(Automatic Transmission) - 4
K. Clutch Fluid Reservoir
(Manual Transmission) - 7
3. Checks you should perform every one to two months on your vehicle:
a. Engine Oil
b. Brake Fluid
c. Coolant
d. Seatbelts
4. Checks you should perform every 6 months on your vehicle:
a. Air pressure in your spare tire
b. Clean battery connections
c. Power steering fluid
d. Coolant strength
e. Parking brake
f. Body and door drain holes
g. Hinges, door latches and locks
5. Professional Services
How often
Change Oil and replace filter
Factors Affecting Maintenance
• Number of miles driven
• Type/quality of motor oil and oil filter
• Usually every 3,000 – 5,000 miles
Replace Brake Pads and Rotors
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Type & year of vehicle make/model
City vs. county roads/interstates
Terrain
Your Driving Habits!
Replace parts of the Exhaust System
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Only driving short distances (<15 mi.)
Living in an area where roads are salted in winter
Driving in cities or stop-&-go traffic
Driving in areas with high levels of smog
Driving in areas under heavy construction
Recommendations vary greatly depending on
vehicle year/make/model: check owner’s manual
Start monitoring after ~30,000 miles
Years of wear and tear
Contamination by leaked/spilled motor oil or
coolant
Replace Engine Filter
Replace Fuel Filter
Accessory Belts
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6. Why is it important for you know about the maintenance of your vehicle?
Module 2: Topic 3
Approaching A Vehicle
1. Approach a vehicle in a parking lot:
a. From the rear of the vehicle
b. To check for pedestrians, shopping carts, and other items behind the vehicle
2. Approach a vehicle from the curb:
a. From the front of the vehicle
b. To check for oncoming traffic
3. Steps to Entering a Vehicle:
a. Approach car, key in hand and unlock doors
b. Store personal items in the trunk
c. Control door swing
d. Enter Vehicle
e. Place Keys on the dashboard
f. Fasten seat belts
g. Lock Doors
1. Adjusting the Vehicle for You:
a. Allow at least 10” between driver’s chest and the steering wheel
b. Driver’s heel should be able to pivot smoothly between foot pedals
c. Angle of seat back should fit driver’s visual needs to help maintain vehicle control
d. Place back/shoulders against the back of the seat
e. Slightly bend knees
f. Rest right heel on floorboard between brake and accelerator
g. Sit high enough so top of steering wheel is between shoulders and chin
h. Use secured seat cushion if needed to raise seating height
i. Rest left foot on “dead pedal” (see #4)
j. Tilt or adjustable steering wheels are usually standard equipment in many vehicles
k. They enable different-sized drivers to reposition the steering wheel for comfort and safety while
allowing the instrument panel to be visible at all times (see #5)
2. Dead Pedal
a. Located on floorboard on the left side of driver’s compartment
b. Helps maintain driver balance and stability
c. Keeps left foot away from brake and accelerator pedals
3. Steering Wheel Adjustments:
a. Sit with chest no closer than 10 inches from wheel
b. Adjust steering wheel so airbag aims at chest area
c. Adjust so top of wheel is no higher than chin
d. Place hands on steering wheel at 8 and 4 or lower
7. Rear and Side View Mirrors:
a. The rearview mirror provides the widest field of view
b. Adjust to see the entire rear window frame and the area 200’ to the rear
c. Adjust each side mirror until you can barely see the side of your vehicle, so you maximize the view
of the lane next to your vehicle
8. Setting the Side View Mirror – BGE METHOD (Blind spot – Glare – Elimination Method)
a. Driver side: Place head near side window, and adjust mirror out until the side of the vehicle is
barely visible (15 degrees)
b. Passenger side: lean slightly toward the middle of the vehicle and adjust right side mirror until the
side of the vehicle is barely visible
9. Adjusting the Head Restraint:
a. Correct position minimizes head and neck injuries
b. Adjust head restraint
 Level with ears
 Not more than 4 inches from head
10. Safety belts (seatbelts) - Designed so the forces in a crash are absorbed by the strongest skeletal bones of
the body:
a. hip bone (pelvis)
b. chest (sternum)
c. shoulder
11. Children and Safety Seats:
a. All front seat passengers must wear safety belts in vehicles
b. Passengers under 18 must wear a seatbelt or restraint wherever they are sitting in the vehicle
c. Passengers younger than 12 are safer sitting in the rear seat
d. Infants must always be secured in a rear-facing rear seat restraint
e. Booster seats provide the correct position for children to wear adult safety belts as they grow taller
12. Starting the vehicle
a. Check the parking brake
b. Place left foot on dead pedal
c. Press brake pedal with your right foot
d. Gearshift is in Park (P) or Neutral (N)
e. Insert ignition key, turn to start engine
f. Check dashboard instrument panel for warning lights
g. Turn on your headlights
h. Visually identify an open space and target where you intend to move the car
i. Shift into the proper gear, usually Drive or Neutral
j. Release the parking brake
k. Scan for hazards between you and target
l. Signal your intentions
m. When safe, Release brake pedal, and gently accelerate to target
13. Securing Tasks:
a. Find a safe legal parking space
b. Park your vehicle squarely in the space
c. Set the parking brake
d. Shift gear selector into Park (manual transmission Neutral or first gear)
e. Turn off vehicle accessories that will continue to drain battery if power left on
f. Lock the doors and take the keys
14. Steering Wheel Control
a. Different vehicles will steer and handle differently
b. Slower speeds require faster steering wheel movement
c. Faster speeds require slower steering movement
d. Steer right – vehicle turns to the right
e. Steer left – vehicle turns to the left
15. Accelerator and Brake Pedals:
a. Position the right heel of foot on the floor so the ball of foot can pivot between pedals
b. The accelerator pedal is used to maintain, increase, and/or decrease speed
c. The larger pedal to the left of the accelerator, is the brake, used to slow or stop vehicle
16. Parking Brake:
a. Small pedal located to the left of the driver or a hand-operated lever near the center console
b. Used to hold vehicle in place when parked
c. Can be used as an “emergency brake”
17. Clutch pedal (manual shift)
a. Pedal located to the left of the brake
b. Depress pedal to switch gears
c. Ease off clutch until friction point to smoothly engage engine
18. Ignition Switch or Remote:
a. Located on the dashboard
b. Off/Accessories/On/Start
19. Cruise/Speed Control:
a. Located on steering wheel, dash, or lever to the right of the wheel
b. Allows vehicle to maintain constant speed and should be used only on dry pavement
20. Gear Selector Level:
a. Located on steering column or center console
a. Press button on end of lever
b. P=Park, R=Reverse, N=Neutral, D=Drive (O/D overdrive on/off switch) 2=Stronger engine braking
L=Maximum engine braking
c. Brake pedal must be depressed to place vehicle in gear or park
21. Turn Signal Lever:
a. Located on left side of steering wheel
b. Lift up for right turn, press down for left turn
c. Lane change hold up or press down half way
22. Hazard Flashers :
a. Located on steering column to the right or instrumental panel
23. Windshield Wipers and Washer Control:
a. Part of turn signal lever in some vehicles
b. Opposing lever on some vehicles
c. Two controls: one for speed, one for washer fluid
24. Headlights / Running Lights/Tail Lights:
a. Controlled usually by a knob or switch located on the left of the dash or a lever on the steering
column
b. Low to high beam pull toward you or push away
c. On/Off: twist lever away or toward you to proper setting
25. Horn:
a. Located on the steering wheel cross bar or on the pad on the lower half of the wheel, above or
below the air bag cover, and usually marked with horn symbol
b. Used as a warning device only
26. Hood Release:
a. Usually located on the left side under the instrument panel
b. Pull the lever to release the hood
c. A second latch under the hood also needs to be released
d. Drivers often confuse the brake release with the hood release
27. Trunk Release (if equipped) :
a. Located in glove box, driver’s door, or keyless remote entry fob
b. Inside trunk of all cars manufactured after 2002 - safety release device glows in the dark for
emergency trunk escape
28. Fuel Door Release (if equipped):
a. Can be a lever on floor to the left of the driver’s seat or may be located in the glove box
29. Sun Visor:
a. Angle away from face for glare protection
30. Heater/Ventilation/Air Conditioner (HVAC):
a. Temperature control
b. Variable fan speed
c. Air flow movement
d. Windshield defroster
e. Rear window defroster
31. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS):
a. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) uses a dashboard warning light to alert the driver
when one or more of a vehicle’s tires is significantly underinflated – a leading cause of tire failure
b. A tire is considered significantly underinflated when its pressure is 25 percent below the vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended tire inflation pressure
c. Since September 1, 2007, all new vehicles have TPMS
32. Backup Camera:
a. Activates when the vehicle is shifted to Reverse
b. Helps drivers see the blind spot directly behind the bumper and beyond
33. Global Positioning System:
a. Gives reliable location and time information anywhere on or near Earth when there is an
unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites
34. Instrument Panel Gauges and Lights:
a. Location of gauges, controls, alert and warning symbols/lights varies from one vehicle to another
b. Refer to vehicle owner’s manual for accurate use and directions
c. Instrument panel is usually back-lit at night
d. Some vehicles have a “rheostat” to regulate the intensity of the light
35. Vehicle Alert and Warning Lights
36. Identify the following Vehicle Alert/Warning Symbols Below
Symbol
Meaning and Any Additional Notes
Battery/Alternator Warning Light
Low oil pressure warning light
Windshield Wipers
Emergency Flashers/Hazard Lights
Anti Lock Braking System
Air Bag
Turn Signal Wipers Stalk
High Beams
Hood Release