Safety on the Road

1. Safety on the Road According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens. The fatality rate for teen drivers is about four times higher than the rate for drivers who are 25 to 65 years old.

2. Lesson Objectives In this lesson, you will learn to: • Develop strategies to prevent accidental injuries while driving or riding in a car or other vehicle • Examine the consequences of risk-taking such as drinking and driving

3. Automobile Safety Responsible Behavior While Driving • When teens are entrusted with driving a car, they have a responsibility to themselves, their families, their passengers, and the people in other vehicles. • Behaving responsibly means practicing vehicular safety. • Obeying the rules means driving within the speed limit, yielding the right-of-way when indicated, and observing local traffic regulations.

4. Automobile Safety Exercising Common Sense and Good Judgment Pay attention to: • Your vehicle. • Other drivers. • Road conditions. • Your physical state. • Your emotional state.

5. Automobile Safety Teen Driving Safety • In an effort to reduce the number of teen deaths in car crashes, some states have adopted a graduated driver’s licensing program. • A graduated driver’s license (GDL) allows a new driver to improve his or her driving skills while under the supervision of an older driver. • Over time, a teen driver gains more skill, and the driving restrictions are lifted.

6. Automobile Safety Being a Responsible Driver • Always signal when you are about to make a turn or change lanes. • Follow all traffic signals and signs, including speed limits. • Don’t tailgate. Following too closely can cause an accident. • Let other drivers merge safely into traffic.

7. Automobile Safety Road Rage • Sometimes people who are otherwise emotionally stable become enraged in certain driving situations. • Road rage can be triggered by a variety of acts, including disputes over a parking space, obscene gestures, loud music, overuse of the horn, and slow driving. • Some enraged drivers have been known to use guns or other weapons. • If you see someone who is truly a danger on the road, get the vehicle’s license plate number and report it promptly to the police.

8. Automobile Safety Importance of Using Safety Belts • According to the CDC’s statistics on teen driving, one in five high school students report that they rarely or never wear safety belts when riding with someone else. • Drivers and passengers who fail to use safety belts are more likely to be thrown from the vehicle in a crash. • Make sure everyone in the car is buckled up.

9. Automobile Safety Other Preventive Measures • Never engage in high-risk driving behavior such as speeding. • Never use alcohol and other drugs and drive, as these substances impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time. • Don’t let distractions such as eating take your attention away from the road. • Realize that you have no control over what other drivers are doing. So for the sake of your safety, be a defensive driver.

10. Safety on Wheels Bicycle Safety • Always wear a safety-approved, hard-shell helmet. • Ride with traffic and always yield the right-of-way. • Watch for cars pulling into traffic and for car doors that swing open suddenly in your path. • Obey the same rules as drivers and keep both hands on the handlebars. • Make sure your bike has a bright headlight and a red rear light and reflector for night riding. • Wear reflective or light-colored clothing when riding at dawn, dusk, after dark, or in the rain.

11. Safety on Wheels Skating Safety • Wear protective equipment—wrist guards, elbow and knee pads, and a safety-approved, hard-shell helmet. • Watch for pedestrians, and keep your speed under control. • If you begin to fall, curl up into a ball and roll, staying loose. • Do not hold anything in your hand that will prevent you from falling properly.

12. Safety on Wheels Motorcycles and All-Terrain Vehicles • Motorcycles and mopeds are subject to the same traffic laws as cars. • All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are driven off-road. • A driver’s license is not required to operate an ATV, but operators still need to use common sense and know the rules of the road.

13. Safety on Wheels Safety Tips for Motorcyclists and ATV Operators • Be aware of potential hazards, such as the presence of pedestrians. • Wear a helmet and proper clothing, including eye protection. • Be cautious in wet weather when tire traction is poor. • Do not carry an additional rider unless you have a second seat and an additional set of safety equipment, including a helmet. • Do not grab onto objects or other vehicles while moving. • Do not use ATVs on paved roads or streets.

14. Quick Review Choose the appropriate option. Q.___________ means obeying the rules of the road, as well as practicing common sense and good judgment. • Vehicular safety • Road rage • Water safety • Bicycle safety

15. Quick Review - Answer A.1. vehicular safety Vehicularsafety means obeying the rules of the road, as well as practicing common sense and good judgment. Click Next to attempt another question.

16. Quick Review Q.Which of the following are the strategies for preventing accidental driving injuries? • drive faster to move traffic along, follow cars closely enough to aid traffic flow. • pay attention to your vehicle, other drivers, road conditions, and your physical and emotional state. Follow all traffic signals and signs. • change lanes frequently and don’t allow other cars to pass you. • take your mind off the stress of driving by finding a song you like on the car radio or talking to a friend on your cell phone.

17. Quick Review - Answer A.2. pay attention to your vehicle, other drivers, road conditions, and your physical and emotional state. Follow all traffic signals and signs. Strategies for preventing accidental driving injuries include paying attention to your vehicle, other drivers, road conditions, and your physical and emotional state, following all traffic signals and signs. Click Next to attempt another question.

18. Quick Review Choose the appropriate option. Q.A defensive driver is a driver who is aware of potential hazards and reacts to avoid them. True False

19. Quick Review - Answer A.True. A defensive driver is a driver who is aware of potential hazards and reacts to avoid them. Click Next to attempt another question.

20. Quick Review Choose the appropriate option. Q.Drinking and driving can have serious consequences for your driving record, health, and safety. True False

21. Quick Review - Answer A.True. Drinking and driving can have serious consequences for your driving record, health, and safety. Click Next to attempt another question.

22. End of Lesson 3 Click Home to view the Main menu.

23. Automobile Safety Responsible Behavior While Driving • When teens are entrusted with driving a car, they have a responsibility to themselves, their families, their passengers, and the people in other vehicles. • Behaving responsibly means practicing vehicular safety. • Obeying the rules means driving within the speed limit, yielding the right-of-way when indicated, and observing local traffic regulations. Vehicular safety involves obeying the rules of the road, as well as exercising common sense and good judgment.

24. Automobile Safety Teen Driving Safety • In an effort to reduce the number of teen deaths in car crashes, some states have adopted a graduated driver’s licensing program. • A graduated driver’s license (GDL) allows a new driver to improve his or her driving skills while under the supervision of an older driver. • Over time, a teen driver gains more skill, and the driving restrictions are lifted. A graduated driver’s license (GDL) is a licensing program that gradually increases a new driver’s driving privileges over time as experience and skill are gained.

25. Automobile Safety Road Rage • Sometimes people who are otherwise emotionally stable become enraged in certain driving situations. • Road rage can be triggered by a variety of acts, including disputes over a parking space, obscene gestures, loud music, overuse of the horn, and slow driving. • Some enraged drivers have been known to use guns or other weapons. • If you see someone who is truly a danger on the road, get the vehicle’s license plate number and report it promptly to the police. Road rage is the practice of endangering drivers by using a vehicle as a weapon.

26. Automobile Safety Other Preventive Measures • Never engage in high-risk driving behavior such as speeding. • Never use alcohol and other drugs and drive, as these substances impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time. • Don’t let distractions such as eating take your attention away from the road. • Realize that you have no control over what other drivers are doing. So for the sake of your safety, be a defensive driver. A defensive driver is a driver who is aware of potential hazards and reacts to avoid them.

27. Quick Review - Answer A.Correct!Vehicular safety means obeying the rules of the road, as well as practicing common sense and good judgment. Click Next to attempt another question.

28. Quick Review - Answer You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try again, or click Next to view the correct answer.

29. Quick Review - Answer A.Correct! Strategies for preventing accidental driving injuries include the following: pay attention to your vehicle, other drivers, road conditions, and your physical and emotional state. Follow all traffic signals and signs. Click Next to attempt another question.

30. Quick Review - Answer You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try again, or click Next to view the correct answer.

31. Quick Review - Answer A.Correct! A defensive driver is a driver who is aware of potential hazards and reacts to avoid them. Click Next to attempt another question.

32. Quick Review - Answer You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try again, or click Next to view the correct answer.

33. Quick Review - Answer A.Correct! Drinking and driving can have serious consequences for your driving record, health, and safety. Click Next to attempt another question.

34. Quick Review - Answer You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try again, or click Next to view the correct answer.