Introduction You're an experienced driver. You know your way around a truck and you should know how to handle yourself on the road.

Transcription

1 Introduction Pg 1 You're an experienced driver. You know your way around a truck and you should know how to handle yourself on the road. But are you a Master Driver? Well, that's what you're taking this course to find out. To learn how to navigate this course, select the Next button now. Or, if you want to skip the navigation instructions and get straight to the point, click here. Pg 2 The buttons at the bottom of your screen will help you navigate this course. Use the Back and Next buttons to go forward or backward through each lesson. The Progress bar will indicate how much of a lesson you've completed. Select the Resource button to access downloadable documents and to connect to external websites. The Home button takes you back to the main menu. Pg 3 The rigs at these docks represent each lesson in the course. There are four lessons in this course, plus review questions and a final exam. The lessons in this course are: Introduction, Defensive Driving, Difficult Situations and Problem Places. Pg 4 Your first time through the course, you must complete the lessons in order. When a lesson is available for you to enter, its rig will pull out. Select the Start button on that rig to begin the lesson. If you return to the main menu while you're in a lesson, the rig that's pulled out will tell you which lesson to re-enter when you're ready. When you complete a lesson, you will return to the Main Menu and the truck for the next lesson will pull out. 1

2 Pg 5 Once you have completed a lesson, you may re-enter it at any time. After you've worked through the entire course, you can move around freely and review the material. Your progress through the course is automatically tracked. If you must leave at any time, you will be taken back to the same screen when you return. When you have completed all of the lessons, the Final Exam rig will appear. Select this rig to take the final exam and complete the course. Pg 6 While you're working through the lessons, you can control the sound and appearance of course material by using buttons that appear at the bottom of the screen. Pause and re-start the audio playback with the Play/Pause button. Use the Re-play button to listen to a page again. You can increase the size of the course display by using the Maximize/Minimize button. Return to regular size by selecting it a second time. Pg 7 Many parts of this course feature video. Use the Play button to start or pause the video. You can move to any part of the video by selecting and dragging the progress indicator forward or backward along the progress bar. Toggle between full-screen and smaller video with the Maximize/Minimize button in the upper right-hand corner of the video screen. Pg 8 You will need to disable all pop-up blockers to access resources such as the course transcript and other downloadable items. Pg 9 To allow pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Select Tools in the Menu Bar, then Internet Options, then Privacy, and uncheck Turn on Pop-up Blocker. In Mozilla Firefox, Select Tools, then Options, then Content, and uncheck Block Pop-up Windows. Before you get started, check out the Course Highlights document for an overview of the interactive activities you'll find in this course. Download Course 2

3 Highlights by selecting the Resource button on this page. If you want to see the full text of this course in printable form, select the Transcript button. Pg 10 Some people say that it's what you learn after you know it all that really counts. Nowhere is that more true than in the basic techniques you use nearly every day. But just because they're basic doesn't mean they're not important. Things like safe turns, passing techniques and defensive driving are what make the difference between a safe day on the road and a confrontation with disaster. As you take this course, think about the ways you can make your everyday driving just a little bit safer. Watch a video introduction to this course to get started. You work hard every day to make sure that you get to your destination and make each delivery safely. You know from experience that your job takes a lot more than just getting from point A to point B. It s how you get to your destination, and the safe driving techniques that you use that make the difference. Pg 11 As a commercial motor vehicle (or CMV) driver, safe driving techniques are an essential part of your daily routine. They have to be with you all day, every day. Some of these techniques may be as routine as routine gets, but that's not the same as letting your guard down. You can't do that. Ever. Especially when it comes to safe driving. It's the little things that define safe driving: how you handle turns, intersections, passing, merging and other everyday maneuvers. And if you don't do these things well, your small mistake can have big consequences. All it takes is one thoughtless move to have a serious incident on your hands. Watch these Master Drivers discuss the importance of paying attention to safety all the time. Sam Eustice: I have read and heard of drivers who have gotten several million miles of no accidents and whenever they are asked how they do that, they say, one safe trip at a time. So, don't get your brain too far out there...just focus on 3

4 what you are doing right now and make that as safe as possible. Cliff Streck: The better job we do at driving defensively, the easier the job becomes, the safer, the less fatiguing the job becomes. Pg 12 In this course, You'll learn how to make your driving safer. We'll start by reviewing basic defensive driving principles that you should apply every time you're behind the wheel. Then we'll cover how to handle a number of everyday problems. A frequent and thorough review of good driving techniques will help you keep your driving record clean and incident-free. Pg 13 Now that you've completed the course introduction, select Next to return to the main menu. Defensive Driving Pg 1 Defensive driving is about being aware of what's happening on the road and knowing how to respond to it safely. Some drivers call this 'decision driving' because you're constantly making decisions about what to do about changing traffic conditions. Whatever you call it, defensive driving consists of two basic, but essential, skills. First, the ability to recognize potential hazards. And second, knowing how to take appropriate action if necessary. If you practice solid defensive driving skills, you'll be ready for anything that comes your way. If you don't drive defensively, you're trusting in the judgment of everyone else on the road, and you probably don't want to do. Pg 2 Your hazard perception skills are the basis for defensive driving. Effective hazard perception means constantly monitoring your surroundings. Keep your eyes on what's going on well ahead of and all around you. Learn to recognize potential hazards well in advance so that you can take appropriate action if and when it's necessary. Maintaining your safety cushion and having an emergency plan are natural by- 4

5 products of good hazard perception skills. So, in the event that you do need to respond to a hazard, you have enough room and time to respond appropriately. When trouble does occur, don't hesitate to carry out your plan. Pg 3 Good hazard perception requires you to be aware of everything in your vicinity, and to know what to do if something goes wrong. Learn more about the importance of hazard perception by watching this video. Paula Hawkenson: I think what makes a good defensive driver is a driver who is aware of all his surroundings, not just in the immediate vicinity of his truck, but down the highway. If you are not looking as far ahead as your eyes can see, you're not going to know what is happening down there and something is going to happen that catches you off guard. If a vehicle moves out from in front of you and if something stalls in front of him, if you aren't paying attention, following too close, that sort of stuff, that's not good defensive driving because you're not looking at the road well ahead of where your vehicle is. Daniel Peterson: You need to be aware of what converging traffic is doing, oncoming traffic from all sides of you. You need to be prepared for somebody else to make a mistake. If they make a mistake, you need to be able to leave yourself a way out of that situation without causing an accident. Pg 4 In the following exercise, you'll hear two different drivers describe challenging situations. Help each driver monitor the surrounding area for potential hazards. Select Next to begin. Pg 5 The traffic's getting really heavy. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of it all! Use your mouse to select the area of this image that shows things the driver can use to keep track of what's going on around him. Pg 6 I'd like to merge left, but I'm not sure if it's safe. I'm having trouble keeping track of the vehicles around me. 5

6 Use your mouse to select the area of this image that shows a potential hazard this driver should monitor if she chooses to merge left. Pg 7 In addition to hazard perception, defensive driving means driving safely and courteously so that you don't become a hazard to others. Here are a few rules to follow: Keep your vehicle in good working order. It should be taken for granted that all drivers do this but, unfortunately, it's not always the case. If your vehicle fails while traveling at highway speed, you could cause a major pile-up. Obey the rules of the road. Give right-of-way to other vehicles whenever necessary, and don't speed. Use your headlights when visibility is limited. This will increase your ability to monitor your surroundings and you'll be less likely to cause a crash. Stay in the middle of your lane unless there's a specific reason to drive on one side. Wandering within a lane is usually a sign that you're not paying attention. Pg 8 Do you have a good grasp of defensive driving basics? In the following exercise, you'll have a conversation with an experienced driver who will help you review defensive driving principles. You'll be able to choose one of several responses to each of his questions. Select Next to begin. Pg 9 To preview the responses, without clicking, roll your mouse over one of the images on the right side of the screen. To choose your response, select a still image. Select the image on the right to begin. Pg 10 Now that you've completed the final Check on Learning for this lesson, use the Next button to return to the main menu. Difficult Situations Pg 1 When you're driving, there are few things you do more often than make turns. But that doesn't mean they're easy or that you don't have to pay attention while you're doing them. When making turns, it's important to know your vehicle and make a plan in advance. 6

7 One thing your plan must account for is off-tracking during your turn. Watch this video to see a review of off-tracking. Off-tracking means that the wheels on the tractor follow a different path than the wheels on the trailer through a curve or turn. The rear-most wheels follow the shortest path. And the longer the vehicle, the greater the problem. Pg 2 Here are some other guidelines you should follow during turns. As you approach an intersection, slow down and signal early so that others around you have time to see that you're going to turn. At busy intersections, don't assume you have the right of way. You don't want to be overly-aggressive in these situations. Know where your truck is in relation to other vehicles and fixed objects such as curbs and poles, and watch for traffic of all kinds. Unfortunately, turning offers many opportunities for collisions, and all kinds of traffic will be moving around you as you turn. Take turns slowly. If you're going too fast, you could make a critical mistake, hit another vehicle or even tip over. Pg 3 Let's make sure you've nailed down basic turning concepts. Do you understand how off-tracking works when making turns? Watch this video of a truck turning. Which wheels travel the shortest path during the turn? Select Next to answer the question. Pg 4 Pg 5 Look at this image. Use your mouse to select the wheels that travel the shortest path during the turn. What should you remember when you need to make a right turn? Watch this video to review right turn techniques. 7

8 When you need to make a right turn, get into the gear you're going to turn in, and pull your rig into the intersection before you even begin your turn. This prevents you from running over the curb...and looking like a rookie. As you turn, keep an eye on your right mirror to prevent hitting fixed objects and for vehicles that might be trying to slip in beside you to pass. Pg 6 And what about left turns? Watch this demonstration of left turn techniques. When you're turning left, make sure you shift into the gear you're going to use during the turn ahead of time. Keep to the right side of your lane and begin turning the wheel once you're halfway through the center of the intersection. Know where your rig is in relation to other vehicles, and watch that left mirror during the turn to make sure you avoid those other vehicles and fixed objects. Pg 7 As you've seen, the basic guidelines for right and left turns are similar, so let's make sure you've got them. Start by getting into the gear you want to be in to make the turn. Enter the intersection before you start turning. And watch your mirror as you make the turn. Pg 8 Watch this video of a driver making a right turn. What potential hazard does he encounter as he starts his turn? Select Next to answer the question. Pg 9 Pg 10 Use your mouse to select the area of the still image that shows a collision risk for this driver. Watch the rest of this video to see what happens as this driver turns. Although the turn doesn't end in a collision, it doesn't go as well as it could have. What could this driver do to reduce the chance of something like this happening again? Choose your answer and select Submit. Pg 11 Changing lanes when merging or passing is a key trouble spot for many 8

9 drivers. Watch this video to learn more about the challenges of merging and passing. Paula Hawkenson: To make passing safer, what you really have to do is just watch your mirrors, watch your surrounding space. And, first of all, don't pass unless its absolutely necessary but if it is necessary, make sure that you have the space and distance, you know, to get out and get back safely and not cut anybody off. Paul Brownlee: I find a fast way to deal with merging traffic on on-ramps is to be looking far enough ahead to detect the vehicles before they get to the bottom of the on-ramp. Pg 12 As with all of the other techniques in this course, the keys to safe merging and passing are planning and monitoring your surroundings. Start by thinking ahead when you need to merge or pass. Think through all of the steps of your maneuver before you start making it. Signal early to let other drivers know what you're going to do. Always watch your mirrors closely. Use them constantly and recheck them when you change lanes. And don't trust your mirrors alone something or someone could be hiding in your blind spot, so be sure to check it frequently. Pg 13 Merging and passing require you to be ever vigilant about space management. As you're preparing to merge or pass, watch for your opening. Always be aware of the length of your vehicle. If you don't account for the total length of your trailer, you could clip someone or run them off the road. You should keep at least a two-second gap behind your trailer. If you don't have that two seconds, don't change lanes. Pg 14 There are a couple of extra things to keep in mind if you're going to pass. Stay to the far left side of your lane. This will help you avoid sideswiping the vehicle next to you, especially if there is wind turbulence, where your trailer may move unexpectedly from side to side. 9

10 And a good rule of thumb: avoid passing on the right side. Most drivers don't expect it, and you don't want to risk them getting spooked and pulling to the right, do you? Pg 15 When you drive on an interstate in a urban area, you're going to need good speed and space management skills. Watch this video of a driver entering a busy highway. What should you focus your attention on in situations like this? Choose all that apply and Select Submit. Pg 16 Pg 17 Pg 18 Now watch what happens as you get closer to the lane you'll be entering. What should you do if the drivers already on the highway aren't making space for you? Choose your answer and select Submit. Now that you've gotten on the road safely, let's consider a merging situation from another perspective. You've got another big truck trying to merge into your lane. What can you do to allow that driver to merge safely? Choose all that apply and Select Submit. Now that you've completed the final Check on Learning for this lesson, use the Next button to return to the main menu. Problem Places Pg 1 Underpasses can be tricky when you're in a commercial motor vehicle (or CMV). Good trip planning is a no-brainer here. While planning, find out if there are any underpasses on your route, and whether or not they're marked. And remember, even if the height is marked, the actual clearance may not be the same throughout the entire underpass. Watch this demonstration of how to handle approaching an underpass. When possible, avoid unmarked or low clearance underpasses. If you must go through an unmarked underpass, approach it slowly and turn on your four-way flashers while you make certain that your rig will clear. Now, a marked underpass does not mean that you're in the clear. Watch for signs of road repair and snow and ice buildup. Extra asphalt or snow and ice can sometimes reduce clearance by quite a bit. 10

11 Also look for 'bridging,' where the road slopes down before the underpass and ramps back up afterwards. Pg 2 Did you get all that? Let's review the steps for approaching underpasses. Avoid unmarked underpasses if possible. When you must approach them, drive slowly and turn on your four-way flashers. With marked underpasses, look for signs of reduced clearance such as recent roadwork, snow and ice or bridging. Watch this video to learn about the consequences of going through an underpass with insufficient clearance. Since underpass height is marked based on a center-to-center measurement, you could literally peel off the top of your rig, or even become trapped, if you're not careful. Pg 3 Here's a clearly marked underpass. Does that mean you know for sure that it's safe to drive through? Use your mouse to select the area of the image that shows a potential risk of reduced clearance. Pg 4 Railroad crossings also require extra care. You should always be alert, and always expect a train. Know when you're required to stop at railroad crossings. The regulations require you to stop within fifty feet, but no closer than fifteen feet, of a railroad crossing if you're carrying certain loads. These include: any quantity of chlorine, a placarded load of hazardous materials or when operating a bus carrying passengers. Pg 5 You should approach all railroad crossings carefully, although there are times when you are not required to stop at a crossing. These are when the crossing is: 11

12 Used for streetcars, an industrial switching track within a business district, marked as abandoned or exempt or controlled by a police officer or traffic signal that is green. Pg 6 In situations other than those just mentioned, there are a few rules to follow when approaching a railroad crossing. Slow down and be able to make a complete stop before reaching the tracks, if necessary. Check the grade crossing. Make sure that it's sloped such that you will not hook or drag the bottom of your rig on the crossing. Look and listen before crossing. Once you can see that the coast is clear, you can push through. Stay in one gear. You should never shift while crossing the tracks. Pg 7 Look at this list of cargo and railroad crossing types. When are you required to stop at railroad crossing? When do you not need to stop? Drag the text boxes on the left into the correct columns on the right. Select Submit to answer the question or Reset to start again. Pg 8 Conclusion Pg 1 Now that you've completed the final Check on Learning for this lesson, use the Next button to return to the main menu. Now that you've covered everything in the course, remember the key course concepts. As a professional driver, practicing good driving techniques can make, or break, your day. Driving defensively will enable you to recognize potential hazards. You'll know how to take appropriate action. You'll be ready for anything. And when you master techniques for everyday difficult situations, you can be assured that you, and everybody else on the road, will be safer. Simple planning will save you a lot of headaches and being aware of your rig and your surroundings will keep you out of dangerous situations. 12

13 Download a list of Master Keys to Driving Techniques by selecting the Resource button. Pg 2 Take some time to prepare for the final exam. You can now move back and forth within the course to return to previous lessons and review material. Use the main menu button to access course lessons. You can select the Final Exam truck to return to this page when you're ready. The review questions will also help you review main concepts covered on the exam. Select the Resource button to access the review questions. Pg 3 A Master Driver won't accept anything less than the best. You've got to have a complete understanding of core driving techniques and defensive driving. Ready? Select the Next button to begin. Pg 5 You have completed the final exam for and your score has been recorded. You have viewed all of the course content and you may now close the course. Thank you for taking this course, and drive safely. 13