Driver’s Education
Chapter 1
“You are part of the System”
Section 1
• Objectives
– Describe the three parts of the Highway
Transportation System.
– Tell how the HTS is regulated.
Section 1
• The Highway Transportation System is
made up of three different parts;
– People
– Vehicles
– Roadways
• The purpose of the HTS is to move people
and cargo from one place to another in a
safe and efficient manner.
Section 1
• Regulating the Highway Transportation
System:
– Vehicle Codes
– Enforcement Agencies
– Motor Vehicle Departments
– Traffic Courts
– Highway Traffic Engineers
Section 1
• What are the parts of the HTS?
– People
– Vehicles
– Roadways
• What is the purpose of the HTS?
– Move people and cargo from one place to
another in a safe and efficient manner.
Section 2
• Explain how social, physical, and mental
skills work together in your driving task.
• Name the four steps in the IPDE Process.
Section 2
• The driving task includes all the social,
physical, and mental skills required to
drive.
• Necessary habits to develop include:
– Effective use of visual skills
– Obeying traffic laws
– Judging time and space
– Anticipating what your car will do under
normal and emergency conditions
Section 2
• Social Skills:
– Ability to interact with others.
– Be a courteous driver.
– Be cooperative.
– Leave your problems at home, concentrate on
your driving.
Section 2
• Physical Skills
– Focus
– React
– Don’t over control
– Visual scan
Section 2
• Mental Skills
– Decision making skills in a timely manner.
– Mental skills combined with physical skills
make for low risk, safe driving habits.
Section 2
• The IPDE Process:
– Identify: important information in the ongoing
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 conflict.
– Execute: the right actions to prevent conflict.
Section 2
• Other systems that will help you use the
IPDE process:
– The Smith System
• Works with good visual scan techiques.
– The Zone Control System
• Method for managing the space around your
vehicle.
– Mastering the IPDE process will result in good
defensive driving skills.
Section 2
• How does the driving task require a blend
of socal, mental, and physical skills?
• What are the four steps of the IPDE
Process?
Section 3
• Explain how your attitude will affect your
driving.
• List some examples of HTS breakdowns.
• Describe several major causes of
collisions.
• Explain how drivers can help protect our
environment.
Section 3
• Attitude
– Courteous vs aggressive
• Road rage
• Rudeness
– Your attitude will guide you as you manage
your relationships with others. Be smart, be
safe.
Section 3
• Breakdowns in the HTS
– Collisions vs accidents
• Accidents implies that something happened just by chance.
Not normally the case.
• Collisions implies that the damage is the product of a
predictable cause. This is usually the case.
– Causes of Collisions
• Following too closely
• Driving too fast for prevailing conditions
• Not wearing safety belts
• Driving under the Influence
• Driving while very tired
Section 3
• Causes of Death
– From an airplane crash: 1 in 4.6 million
– From a fire: 1 in 40,000
– From a car crash: 1 in 125
• The leading cause of deaths in the age
group of 16-24 is:
– Motor vehicle accidents.
Section 3
• Social and Economic Costs of Collisions:
– Billions of dollars in property damage
– Loss of time at work
– Loss of time at school
– Medical bills
– Insurance premiums
– Mental anguish and physical suffering are
immeasurable
Section 3
• Other Responsibilities:
– Financial:
• Fuel
• Maintenance
• Insurance
• Liable for any damages you may cause
– Environmental:
• Air and water pollution
• Chemical spills
• Land pollution through improper disposal
Section 3
• Be Responsible!
– Buying and maintaining fuel efficent vehicles.
– Using fuel efficient driving habits.
– Recycling used materials.
– Reducing driving through car pools and using
public transportation whenever possible.
– Working for strong national, state, and local
policies that encourage the use of energy
efficient driving.
Section 3
• How do attitudes affect driving?
• What are some examples of breakdowns
in the HTS?
• What are the three major causes of
collisions?
• What are some actions drviers can take to
protect our environment?
Section 4
• Explain how a graduated driver licensing
program can help you drive more safely.
• Ist some of the main concepts stressed in
a quality driver education program.
Section 4
• Graduated driver licensing program:
– Learner’s permit stage
• Under 18
• Supervised by an adult
• Minimum of 6 months
– Intermediate/Restricted License stage
• Under 18
• To work/school
• No passengers under 18
• Curfew
Section 4
– Full Privilege License Stage:
• Over 18
• Successfully completed the intermediate stage
violation free and collision free.
• Successfully passed the DMV testing process.
• Organ Donor Program
• Implied Consent Program
– Breathalizer testing
Section 4
• Key concepts of this course:
– Driving is a mental decision-making process.
– Your driving will be greatly influenced by your
attitude.
– Safety belts and other restraints must be used
at all times.
– The statistics arguing against dringking and
driving should convince you to never drink
and drive.
Section 4
• How can a graduated driver licensing
program help you?
• What are the key concepts in a quality
driver education program?