Section 8 - INTERSECTION AND OTHER INTERACTIONS There are times when "doing it right the first time" can save your life. That is because in those situations, if you don't do it right the first time, you will not get a second time to make it right. At those times, making mistakes could lead to accidents or fatalities. Learn these "first time" rules, follow them religiously, and you may just safely live to get a second time. Intersections Intersections are areas where vehicles meet or cross, going in different directions. Intersections are classified into two categories - controlled and uncontrolled. Controlled and Uncontrolled Intersections Controlled intersections are intersections that give the driver some type of indication as to what to do and when to do it. It may be in the form of a sign, a signal, or a person, such as a traffic officer providing instruction as to when to go, stop, or turn. An uncontrolled intersection, however, has no indicators of any kind to control the flow of traffic. They can be deadly. When does a driver stop; when does he go? Which vehicle can go first? These issues concern the definition of "right-of-way," and it is a most important bit of knowledge to have if you want to drive safely. As was stated earlier, after an accident, the most common statement traffic officers report is "I didn't see him." But the second most common defense is "I had the right of way." It is amazing that, in spite of years of driving experience, many drivers do not understand who has the right-of-way in various situations. For example, it is an unfortunate fact that right-of-way violations are the single most common cause of accidents among senior drivers. They become confused at intersections and cause accidents through their hesitancy and ambivalence. But it can happen to anyone who is not clear on the issue of right-of-way. So, just who does have the "right-of-way"? Four-Way Stops: The driver first arriving at an intersection has the right of way to leave first. Two Vehicles at the Same Time: When two vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way. Just remember this simple hint: "Right = right-of-way." Entering the Intersection with Another Vehicle: This is a prima facie rule. It applies unless there is a sign or other control stating otherwise. If a driver has the right-of-way to enter an intersection into which another vehicle has also entered - yield! It really makes no difference who has the true right-of-way if, when exercising your right-of-way, an accident results. The secret is to reach your destination safely. Being right is small consolation when you have died in an accident. Pedestrians and Intersections: Another prima facie or default rule: A driver should always yield to a pedestrian even if that pedestrian has no business being in the intersection. Parking Lot or Driveway Intersections: Drivers entering a street from a parking lot or driveway must yield to all traffic on the street. It would be nice if other drivers let these drivers in; but if no one does, they should not get themselves or someone else killed expressing their frustration. Emergency Vehicles and Intersections: If drivers hear the siren of an emergency vehicle while in an intersection, they should get out of the intersection as safely as possible and pull over to the right. Freeway Intersections: Yes, there are freeway intersections. They are called on-ramps and off-ramps. Entering traffic from an on-ramp is a lost art. On-ramps are also called "acceleration lanes" because their purpose is to provide time for entering vehicles to accelerate and enter traffic at the same speed as freeway traffic. By the time drivers are ready to enter freeway traffic, they are expected to be at freeway speed. freeway intersections When entering a freeway from an on-ramp, remember: Freeway traffic has the right-of-way. It is the drivers' responsibility to do two things. First, they must increase their speed, so they enter traffic without requiring freeway traffic to decrease their own speed. Secondly, drivers should adjust the timing of their entry to enter without disrupting the flow of traffic. Remember that the maximum speed allowed is 65 mph on most freeways. A driver should watch for vehicles ahead and for congested traffic that can cause sudden stops in traffic. Changing speeds abruptly on the freeway is a frequent cause of accidents, so you, as a driver, should not expect on-coming traffic to adjust their own speed in order to let you enter. That is your job. Merging with traffic and proper lane changes Any time a driver merges with other traffic, he or she needs a gap of four seconds. That will give both the driver and the car behind a two-second following distance. As a driver, you need a four-second gap whenever you change lanes, enter a freeway from an entrance lane, or merge with another road. A driver should not try to squeeze into a gap that is too small. He or she should leave a big enough space cushion. The driver should watch for vehicles around his or her vehicle. He or she should use the vehicle's mirrors and signal at least 100 ft. in advance. The driver should turn his or her head to look quickly to the side before changing lanes while checking for cars in the blind spots. If you have to cross several lanes, take them one at a time. Filter through traffic slowly. If you stop to wait until all lanes are clear, you will tie up traffic and may cause an accident. If there are no acceleration lanes available, drivers should accelerate while they are on the on-ramp, then look over their shoulder, find a sufficiently longer gap in the traffic, and accelerate to blend into the traffic. Drivers should always keep a four-second following distance between the vehicle and the car ahead of them. Special Situations Timed entrance (metering) lights control many freeway on-ramps. These lights usually allow one vehicle per green light. This is to prevent too many cars from getting onto the freeway at the same time, which, in-turn, causes traffic jams. Double Merge Lanes: These are provided to give slower-moving vehicles more time to get up to the speed of freeway traffic. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes: These lanes are designed to provide multi-passenger (carpool) vehicles faster access to the freeway; they do not have to stop at the entrance lights. If you are the only person in the car, do not use these lanes. The fine is too stiff. Approaching a Tollbooth: If there is a tollbooth ahead, a driver will be warned by posted signs. He or she should slow down and be ready to stop. Usually, special lanes are designated for special vehicles, such as trucks, those with exact change, and quick-pay card- scanning systems. Leaving the freeway requires the same logic. As a driver, you should not require freeway traffic to adjust their speed to accommodate your leaving the freeway. You must maintain your rate of speed and then not slow down until you have entered the off-ramp. It is also called the "deceleration lane." Get the idea? If drivers miss their exit, they should not stop or back up on the freeway. The best method is simply to take the next exit and backtrack. DMV Image Deceleration or exit lanes are designed to allow drivers to reduce their speed before exiting without endangering traffic to the rear. Sometimes, there are multiple deceleration lanes from which to exit. This will be clearly marked by road signs or pavement markings. If you see a driver trying to get into the deceleration lane ahead, slow down and yield him the right-of-way. This common courtesy will definitely prevent an accident. While exiting the freeway, drivers should follow the posted speed limit signs. Some of the off-ramps have extreme curves. If motorists are driving too fast, they are likely to lose control of the vehicle and hit the ramp or another vehicle. Railroad Crossings Railroad crossings are intersections. This is one confrontation you cannot win. Railroad crossings must be treated seriously, and the rules of interaction obeyed. Every year, people are killed at railroad crossings in easily avoided crashes. When barrier gates, warning signals, or a Flagman control the crossing, simply obey the warning to stop. When the crossing is unprotected, use the following rules: * Look for signs. Drivers should watch for the round, advance railroad warning sign whenever they drive. When they see the familiar yellow and black "RR" sign, they should slow down as it means they are approaching a railroad crossing. They should look both ways and listen. They may have to stop as trains run at all times of the day. * A railroad crossing sign is used at the crossing to indicate the crossing. Just below that sign is a sign indicating if there is more than one track. There may also be a standard red and white stop sign. Some crossings have gates and flashing lights. A driver should be sure to stop in front of the place where the gates drop down. One who keeps crossing would not be the first person to be hit by descending gates. * Flashing red lights are used with crossing signs at many railroad crossings. When they flash, it is time to stop. Drivers should treat them the same way they would a stop sign. That is what they mean STOP. Also, they must stop if there is a standard stop sign. Once they have stopped and carefully checked out the situation, they may cross if they can do it safely. * A driver should always watch for a second track. That is the one that kills you. Some people have waited patiently for a train to pass; and, as soon as it does, they rush across, only to be hit by another train on a second track. When a train passes, a driver should always wait until the lights stop flashing. Only then is it safe to cross. * If drivers start over a crossing and the lights start flashing or the gates start coming down, they should move it. They cannot afford to freeze. They must get out of there. The warning signals allow ample time to escape. And though there is no need to accelerate dangerously, there is no good reason to stick around either. If they accelerate too hastily, their vehicle can stall, and then they really have problems. If they attempt to back up, their vehicle can stall or be trapped by another vehicle. They should just move on across the tracks to the opposite side in a controlled but timely fashion. * Drivers should never get themselves into a box. They should never attempt to cross a railroad crossing unless they are absolutely certain that they can drive all the way across. If drivers start to cross, betting that the line of cars in front will move and allow them to cross, then they may well be betting their lives. It is a dumb bet. Never get trapped between vehicles in front of you and vehicles behind you. * Be a live hero. If all else fails and you are trapped, get out of the vehicle and run to safety. You can replace a car a lot more easily than you can replace yourself. The safest place to run is in the same direction from which the train is coming. But, of course, also move away from the tracks. That puts the collision behind you. Any flying debris is much more likely to be in front of the collision and, on impact, will more likely fly forward, not backwards toward you. Then, once you are safe, you can look back and be glad you are not part of the debris. * Stay behind your headlights. Can you imagine someone driving into the side of a passing train? You can probably imagine people being hit by a train when their vehicle stalls on the tracks or maybe when they are just not paying attention, but how can someone just drive into the side of a train? The surprising fact is that 25 percent of railroad crossing accidents result from people driving into the side of a train. Here is how it happens: It occurs when drivers "out-drive" their headlights. What this means is they are driving so fast that when a hazard appears in their headlights, they cannot stop or take evasive action in time to avoid it. Drivers speeding up to a railroad crossing can easily make this mistake. By the time their headlights reveal a train coming through, they often are going too fast to avoid a collision. The result is that they crash into the side of a train. If you cannot control your vehicle within the range of your headlights, it could happen to you. The "range of your headlights" is the distance between your vehicle and the farthest point you can see by the beams of your headlights. Any time you are driving in a potentially hazardous area, never "out-drive" your headlights. A potentially hazardous area is any area in which an obstacle or danger could suddenly appear. These could include side streets, pedestrians, parked cars, or crossing areas for large animals. And, of course...railroad crossings. PASSING PROPERLY In an ideal world you would never need to pass. Everyone would travel at the basic speed limit (the safest legal speed for the situation), and no one would ever need to pass. Well, sure, that sounds good, but this is not a perfect world. Even so, you should still consider your need to pass and ask yourself if your personality is dictating it or does the situation warrant the pass. Much of the passing seen on roads is motivated more by personality needs and has nothing to do with the needs of the situation. Some drivers drive as if they are in a contest, and that can be the quickest way to a needless accident. And if these drivers do not have an accident, they very well might cause one. Drivers should limit passing to situations that warrant it and try, instead, to satisfy their competitive urges on the playing field, not on the freeway. Passing is one of those driving situations that makes drivers most vulnerable to an accident. Don't fight statistics! Always drive safely and sanely. Passing Safely Most of the time, whenever drivers must pass another driver, they will be doing so on the left. Therefore, the following instructions refer to passing on the left. * Drivers should be sure that it is legal to pass where they are intending to pass. * Drivers should turn on their turn signal or, at the very least, "flick" it before moving out into the passing lane. * Drivers should check the road ahead for oncoming traffic. There is a passing distance, called the passing range, which is required for each separate instance of passing. The speed of the vehicle being passed and its speed while passing determine this range. If, as a driver, you are certain an on-coming vehicle will not enter your passing range while you are passing, go ahead and pass. If you are not certain, do not pass. * Before they pull out into the passing lane, drivers should check both rear view mirrors to make sure someone has not first decided to pass them. * Drivers should check their "blind spot" by looking over their left shoulder. * Once drivers have checked the front once more and determined it safe and clear, then they may move out into the passing lane to make the pass. Motorists should not signal their intention to pass by flicking their high beams. High beams can blind oncoming drivers. * Drivers should accelerate at least 10 to 15 miles per hour faster than the car they intend to pass. For example, at 60 mph, you are traveling at 88 feet per second; and you will be in the passing lane for 1350 feet. If an approaching vehicle is traveling at the same speed, you will need 2700 feet to complete the pass. By the way, 2700 feet is over half a mile! * Play it safe to pass another day. If you are in the slightest doubt about the distance required to pass safely, do not do it. It is as simple as that. * Once drivers have passed the vehicle in front of them, they should check their inside rear view mirror. They should not re-enter into the regular lane until they can clearly see the vehicle they just passed in their inside rear view mirror! When they can see the vehicle, they should first signal their intention to move back into the lane. * Re-entering the lane should be done smoothly without exceeding the speed limit at any time. All clear! If you're going slow, watch for cars that might pass you from behind. When Is Passing Illegal Or Just Plain Dumb? As far as driving goes, illegal and dumb are really just the same thing. Traffic laws are instituted to protect you. As you examine these rules, you may wish to consider this fact: At 60 mph, a driver will travel 132 feet in 1.5 seconds (60 mph is 1 mile per minute, or 88 ft./second)! At that speed, if you collide with another vehicle, you needn't worry about getting a ticket. Chances are very good that a ticket will never be issued. The police do not give tickets to dead people. * Drivers may not pass on a curve (even a slight curve) when they cannot see far enough to guarantee safety. * Drivers may not pass while ascending a hill when they cannot see far enough to pass safely. Remember, a driver's ability to accelerate away from danger is impaired while ascending a hill. * Drivers may not pass when there is not ample safe passing distance between them and on-coming vehicles. (Duh!) * Drivers may not pass if passing safely requires them to exceed the posted speed limit. * A driver may not pass when a cyclist, pedestrian, or parked vehicle is along the shoulder of the road. Can you see the reason why? In a sudden emergency situation, the vehicle being passed has no room to evade safely. * A driver is not allowed to pass over the centerline if there is a solid yellow line immediately to the driver's left except to make a left turn into a driveway. DMV Image Being Passed by Another Vehicle The driver of an overtaken vehicle is required to give way to the right in favor of an overtaking vehicle. The vehicle being overtaken must not speed up or otherwise attempt to prevent being passed. Head-on Disaster If drivers keep tempting fate by breaking the laws and common-sense rules of passing, sooner or later, they may face a head-on collision. Head-on collisions are surprisingly rare on highways; but when they do occur, they are almost always devastating. It is not uncommon for the drivers and passengers in both vehicles to be killed. By following the outlined rules for safe passing, you will minimize your risk of a head-on collision; but if you are ever faced with that possibility, avoid direct impact. One option is to turn your vehicle to take the impact on one side/corner of the frame instead of straight ahead. If possible, drive off the road. Your chances of surviving an oblique impact, a side impact, or even a rollover are better than if you take the impact head-on. Naturally, you will be wearing your seat belts, of course? Please don't pass this bus! The visibility is bad and there are double yellow lines that prohibit passing. Backing up Safely Backing up also requires a few simple precautions and techniques for safety. Backing up is always dangerous because it is hard to see what is behind your vehicle. Whenever you need to back up, follow these rules: * Before getting in a vehicle, a driver should always check behind the car. Children, pets, and small objects are hard to see from the driver's seat. * First, a driver should make sure that it is legal to back up. It is not legal on the freeway. * A driver should check traffic in both directions. * Drivers should release the parking brake and look over their inside shoulder with their left hand on the steering wheel. They should then release the foot brake slowly. Drivers should apply the accelerator if needed and be ready to brake to control the speed of the car. They should then proceed slowly. * A driver should check the front occasionally if backing up takes more than a few seconds. * Backing around a corner is always a dangerous maneuver. A driver should go slowly and stop until he or she gets a clear view of any traffic, pedestrians, or other objects in the way. * If, as a driver, you notice movement is constricted when attempting to back up, ask a passenger or someone to help you get out of the spot. Look through the rearview and side-view mirrors before attempting to back up. * Since so many accidents occur while backing up, try not to back up if possible. Rather, look for a parking space that does not require backing up. Try to park in a relatively traffic-free area; often, it is possible to drive forward instead of backing up. HANDLING EMERGENCIES When emergency circumstances arise, they definitely can put you into one of those "if you don't do it right the first time, you may not get a second time" situations. As a driver, you must prepare yourself for handling these emergencies. Accidents If you can see an accident ahead, warn drivers behind you of any stop you must make. Turn on your emergency flashers or tap the brake pedal a couple of times as a warning. When slowing, you should signal to the cars behind you by braking early. Breakdowns It can be frightening and dangerous for your vehicle to stall or break down on the freeway or anywhere for that matter. If your vehicle does break down, you should signal, then pull over to the shoulder of the road as soon as you safely can. Warn approaching traffic by the use of your hazard lights; and if you have cones or flares, place them where they can be seen. However, be aware that vehicles with their flashers on are targets for drunk drivers. If at all possible, move away from the vehicle while waiting for help. Never get under the vehicle or have any part of your body sticking out onto the roadway. Be sure to have the vehicle removed from the freeway as soon as possible. Any vehicle stopped on a freeway is unsafe and may cause an accident. Tire Failure Any tire can have a blowout, but heavily worn tires are the most likely candidates. Tires with less than 1/32 of an inch of tread remaining are prime candidates for a blowout. If a driver's front tires blow out, steering will be affected; consequently, front tire blowouts are much more dangerous than rear tire blowouts. For this reason, it is always a good idea to mount your best tires in the front. The first thing a driver should remember during a rapid deflation or blowout of a tire is never to slam on the brakes. Hitting the brakes will only make the situation worse. The first thing drivers must do is to get control of the vehicle. They should grab the steering wheel tightly and steer straight ahead. Simultaneously, they must ease off the accelerator and allow friction to reduce the speed of the vehicle. When motorists have regained a certain amount of control, they should tap the brakes and steer onto a shoulder. Once on the shoulder and moving slowly (about 20 miles per hour), they should finally brake the vehicle to a safe stop. Handling blowouts on freeways is similar except that drivers have to be especially careful of traffic in other lanes. Unless the blowout occurs in the far right lane, they will be forced to cross other lanes to get to the shoulder. They must be sure to signal first and to avoid braking at all until they are on the shoulder. Fortunately, freeways usually have wide shoulders, allowing drivers to move completely away from the flow of traffic. Drivers should never attempt to change a tire on the shoulder of the road unless they are completely out of the flow of traffic - and never attempt to change a tire on a sloping shoulder. In the first case, they can be hit by on-coming traffic; and in the second, the car can fall over on you. Power Steering Failure Power steering failure occurs when a vehicle's engine stalls or when the power steering fluid is not sufficient to operate the power steering mechanism. The solution is similar to handling a vehicle after a blowout. If the vehicle's steering will still work, it will just take a lot more effort to turn the wheel. The following are directions on how to handle this situation: Drivers should signal their intention to move off the road. When it is safe, they should signal their intention, then grasp the wheel tightly and angle the vehicle off the roadway. Once on the shoulder or near the curb, they can brake. They should avoid braking until they have to because the vehicle is easier to steer when it is in motion. Brake Failure Brake failure can be a terrifying experience, so the first thing to remember is - don't panic! Many people think, "Oh my gosh, no brakes. I'm gonna die." There is a solution, and the emergency can be handled safely if you remain calm. OK, "remaining calm" might be a lot to ask, but at least devote your immediate attention to fixing the problem quickly, not panicking about it. You can always panic later, when you have time for it. One important step is to find out if the vehicle you are driving has a split-system master brake cylinder. This type of master cylinder is on all late model vehicles manufactured since 1968. A split-system master cylinder is one that has separate hydraulic systems for the front and back brakes. If one hydraulic system goes out, you still have one left to stop the vehicle. If you find that your vehicle has a single-system master cylinder, then it is possible to have a complete hydraulic brake failure. If that happens, here is how you can handle it. The principle is to slow the vehicle sufficiently to coast into a safe area. Try each idea below successively until one does the job. (By the way, take your foot off the accelerator. That should be obvious; nevertheless, it is a good reminder to place in your memory.) * Pump the brakes to build pressure in the system. Even if the brake fluid is very low, it may be possible to regain some braking capacity by pumping the brakes. * Shift down to a lower gear to allow engine compression to slow the vehicle. * Use the emergency brake. Emergency brakes, otherwise known as parking brakes, operate mechanically and are independent of the brake pedal. Apply them, gradually increasing their use as the vehicle slows down. Do not yank the parking brake to full application, as this is likely to cause rear wheel lockup and a subsequent spinout, in addition to your present troubles. Keep the parking brake button on the end of the brake lever (or equivalent device if your parking brake is different) pressed in so you can quickly modulate the amount of braking effort you are applying with the parking brake. If you have a pedal-type parking brake control, you will have to pull out on the parking brake release handle and hold it (leaving you only one hand for the steering wheel) while you modulate the parking brake pedal with your left foot. This helps avoid losing control of the vehicle. But remember that sometimes in braking, you may not have the luxury of braking slowly; for example, in doing so, you might put yourself in danger, such as heading for a steep drop-off. In those cases, concentrate on trying to steer your way out of this situation. * Steer into softer ground, if available, where increased friction will help slow down your vehicle. If a soft contact area, such as bushes, is available, steer into it. * At high speeds, you may have to steer into embankments or dividing barriers, allowing the glancing collision to slow your vehicle. Then switch to using the other safer techniques. * When in a braking emergency, flash your lights and sound your horn to alert other vehicles to your distress, but only if you have time. Remember, your first priority is to get control of your vehicle. Headlight Failure It is rare for both headlights to fail simultaneously, but it can and does happen. * Your first priority is to get off the road safely. * If your headlights fail while you are using your high beams, switch to the low beams. If you are using your low beams, switch to the high beams. * Sometimes only one of the beams has failed, and this technique will restore your lights. If this works, you can replace the headlamps at the first opportunity. * Turn the light switch off and on. Sometimes, this will restore the lights. * If you have fog lights, try them, bearing in mind that properly wired fog lights will only work when the headlight switch is on. With the headlight switch on, the fog lights might work even though the headlights don't, depending on what the electrical problem is. * Turn on the parking lights. If the parking lights work, you can use them to help in steering you to a safe place. If, by using these techniques, your headlights still are not restored, turn on your emergency flashers and get off the road. You can actually see by these lights~they're better than nothing. If your vehicle is too old to have emergency flashers, go for the right turn signal, which may light up the right edge of the road enough for you to pull over onto the shoulder without running completely off the road. Once you have finally come to a complete stop, leave the flashers on so that other vehicles will be able to see you on the shoulder. Stuck Accelerator Pedal If you experience a stuck gas pedal, remember to do the following: * Do not turn off the ignition until you have completely stopped. Cars these days have anti-theft steering wheel locks operated by the ignition key, and this is not the time to activate it. * Shift to neutral. The engine will immediately overspeed and make a lot of noise, but don't worry about that now, concentrate instead on your next moves. * Apply the brakes when safe to do so, and keep steering. * Keep your eyes on the road and keep steering. * Look for a way out and steer for it. Keep aware that other drivers may not realize what's going on with your vehicle, and may not expect a sudden lane change from you. * Warn other drivers by flashing your emergency lights. * Try to drive the car safely off the road. * Turn off the ignition only when you no longer need to change direction. Maintaining Your Car Horn Although a defective horn is not likely to cause an accident, it is required equipment and you must maintain it in good working order like any other part of the vehicle. A horn is an important warning device and may prevent an accident.