Session 7 – Before You Drive

BEFORE YOU DRIVE

Your safety, and that of the public, depends on what you do before driving, including adjusting the seat and mirrors, using safety belts, checking your vehicle, maintaining a clear view and securing items in and on the vehicle.

Plan Ahead… Save Fuel

When planning a trip, running errands, etc., you may wish to consider alternatives to driving. To help you save fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle:

• Take public transportation, use car pools, ride share, bike or walk whenever possible.
• Avoid driving during heavy traffic periods. Stop-and-go driving causes extra wear and tear on the vehicle (and you).
• Start slowly; slow down gradually and avoid unnecessary braking.
• Plan, and then combine your trips. Make a list of the things you need and the places you need to go. Go to as many places as possible on any one trip. Try to reduce the number of places you need to go. This will cut down on the number of trips you need to make.
• Call ahead to make sure they have what you need or what you are picking up is ready.

By doing these things you can help cut down on the amount of traffic on the road, cut your travel costs and save yourself time and effort.

Check the Vehicle

It is the duty of the driver to make certain the vehicle they drive is safe to operate. How safely you
can drive starts with the condition of the vehicle you are driving. A vehicle that is not in good condition is more likely to break down or cause a collision and costs more to run than one that is well maintained. If a vehicle is in an unsafe condition, you might not be able to get out of an emergency situation when you need to. A vehicle in good condition can give you an extra margin of safety when you need it.

Your vehicle may be required to have an emission inspection at an authorized inspection station. The DMV will notify you if and when an inspection is needed.

You should follow your vehicle owner’s manual for routine maintenance. Some maintenance you can do yourself and some must be done by a qualified mechanic.

A few simple checks can help prevent trouble on the road.

• Braking system: It is very dangerous to drive if your brakes are not working properly. If they do not seem to be working properly, are making a lot of noise, smell like they are burning, or the brake pedal goes to the floor, have a mechanic check them.
• Lights: Make sure turn signals, brake lights, tail lights and headlights are operating properly. These should be checked from the outside of the vehicle. Brake lights alert other road users that you are stopping and turn signals let them know you will be turning.

An out-of-alignment headlight may blind other drivers and can shine where it does not help you. If you are having trouble seeing at night or if other drivers are constantly flashing their headlights at you, have a mechanic check the headlights.

• Windshield and wipers: Damaged glass can break more easily in a minor collision or when something hits the windshield. Have a damaged windshield replaced.

Windshield wipers remove rain and snow from the windshield. Some vehicles also have wipers for rear windows and headlights. Make sure all wipers are in good working condition. If the blades are not clearing water very well, replace them.

• Tires: Worn or bald tires can increase your stopping distance and make turning more difficult when the road is wet. Unbalanced tires and low pressure cause faster tire wear, reduce fuel economy and make the vehicle harder to steer and stop. If your vehicle bounces, the steering wheel shakes or the vehicle pulls to one side, have a mechanic check it.

Worn tires can cause hydroplaning (riding on top of water on the road) and increase the chance of having a flat tire. Check tire air pressure with an air pressure gauge when the tires are cold. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for the proper pressure.

Check the tire tread with a penny. Stick the penny “head” first into the tread. If the tread does not come at least to Lincoln’s head (2/32″), the tire is unsafe and you should replace it.

• Steering system: If the steering is not working properly, it is difficult to control the direction of the vehicle. If your vehicle is hard to turn, “wanders,” or does not turn when the steering wheel is first turned, have the steering checked by a mechanic.
• Suspension system: The suspension helps you control the vehicle and provides a comfortable ride over varying road surfaces. If your vehicle bounces after a bump or a stop, or is hard to control, you may need new shocks or other suspension parts. Have a mechanic check it out.
• Exhaust system: The exhaust system helps reduce the noise from the engine, helps cool the hot gases coming from the engine, and moves these gases to the rear of the vehicle. Carbon monoxide gases from a leaky exhaust system can cause death inside a vehicle in a very short time. Never run the engine in a closed garage. If you sit in a vehicle with the engine running for any length of time, open a window.

Some exhaust leaks are easily heard but many are not. That is why it is important to have the exhaust system checked periodically.

• Engine: An engine that runs poorly can lose power that is needed for normal driving and emergencies. It may not start, may get poor fuel economy, pollute the air and could quit when you are on the road, causing a problem for you and other traffic. Follow the procedures recommended in your owner’s manual for maintenance.
• Loose objects: Make sure there are no loose objects in your vehicle. They could hit someone in the event of a sudden stop or crash. Make sure there are no objects on the floor that could roll under the brake pedal and prevent you from stopping your vehicle.
• Horn: As a warning device, the horn could save your life. If your horn doesn’t work, get it fixed. Only use your horn as a warning to others.

Clean Glass Surfaces

It is important that you are able to see clearly in mirrors and through the windows and windshield. Here are some things you can do to help:

• • Keep your windshield clean. Bright sun or headlights on a dirty windshield make it hard to see.
  • Keep your windshield washer container full. Use windshield washer antifreeze when the temperature could fall below freezing.
  • Keep the inside of your windows clean, especially if anyone has been smoking in your vehicle. Smoking causes a film to build up on the inside of the glass.
  • Clear snow, ice or frost from all windows (front, sides and back) before driving.
  • Do not hang things from your mirror or clutter up your windshield with decals. Besides being illegal, they could block your view.
  • Keep your headlights, backup, brake and taillights clean. Dirt on the lenses can reduce the light and your visibility by up to 50%.

Adjust Seat and Mirrors
You should always check the position of the seat and mirrors before you start to drive. Make any adjustments before you move the vehicle.

• Adjust the seat so you are in a comfortable driving position and can clearly see the road. If necessary, use a seat cushion.
• Adjust the rear view mirror and side mirrors. You should be able to see out the back window with the rear view mirror and to the sides with the side mirrors. A good adjustment for the side mirrors is to set them so that when you lean slightly backward, you can see the rear corners of your vehicle. Even though you have your side mirrors set this way, you still have “blind spots”.
• If you have a day/night mirror, make sure it is set for the time of day you are driving.
• Head restraints are designed to prevent whiplash if you are hit from behind.
  They should be adjusted so the head restraint contacts the back of your head.

Use Safety Belts and Child Restraints

Wisconsin law requires you and your passengers to wear safety belts.
If you are under GDL and are convicted of failure to fasten seat belt, your GDL restrictions will be extended for an additional 6 months.
Before you begin driving, always fasten your safety belts and make sure all your passengers are using safety belts or child restraints.
It is important for you and your passengers to use safety belts. Studies have shown that if you are in a crash while using safety belts, your chances of being hurt or killed are greatly reduced. Protect yourself by buckling up every time you get into a vehicle, whether you are the driver or a passenger.
If your vehicle has an automatic shoulder belt, or two-part safety belt system, be sure to wear both the lap belt and the shoulder belt. If you wear only one belt and you are in a collision, you could slide out of it and be hurt or killed. Wearing both belts greatly reduces your risk of injury.
The lap belt should fit snugly across your hip bones just under your stomach. The shoulder belt should be worn across the chest. It should be snug enough
that you can fit your fist between the belt and your chest. Never put the shoulder belt under your arm or leave it so loose it hangs over your arm.

In addition to protecting you from injury, safety belts help you keep control of the vehicle when you are the driver. If you are struck from the side or make a quick turn, the force could push you sideways. You cannot steer the vehicle if you are not behind the wheel.

Safety belts should be worn even if your vehicle is equipped with air bags. While air bags are good protection against hitting the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield, they do not protect you if you are hit from the rear or side (unless your vehicle also has side-impact air bags), or if the vehicle rolls over. An air bag will not keep you behind the wheel in these situations, but a safety belt will.

Generally, children must be properly restrained in a child safety seat until they reach age 4 and in a booster seat until age 8. The law includes the following four-step progression for effective child safety protection in vehicles.

1. Rear-facing child safety seat in the back seat* is required when the child:

• Is less than 1 year-old or
• Weighs less than 20 pounds.

1. Forward-facing child safety seat in the back seat* is required when the child:
   

• Is at least 1 year-old but less than 4 years-old
• Weights at least 20 pounds but less than 40 pounds.

1. Booster seat is required when the child:
   

• Is at least 4 years-old but less than 8 years-old
• Weighs at least 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds
• Is not 57 inches (4 feet, 9 inches) or taller.

1. Safety belt is required when the child:

• Is 8 years-old or older or
• Weighs 80 or more pounds or
• Is 57 inches or taller.

*Child safety seat must be in the back seat if the vehicle is equipped with a back seat.

If because of age, weight or height a child falls into more than one of the four categories, the child must be transported according to the requirements of the more protective category listed above.

Never secure a child in the front passenger seat, especially if your vehicle has an air bag. If you are in a crash and the bag deploys, your child could be injured. Some vehicles have
a switch which de-activates the passenger side air bag; however, studies show children are still safer in the rear seat. A number of organizations will lend you a child safety device if you are unable to afford one. For further information, call (800) 261-9467.

A child at least 4 years old who cannot be properly restrained in a safety belt because of a physical or medical condition may be exempt from the booster seat and safety belt laws.

There is no “personal needs” exemption allowing a child to be removed from a safety restraint to attend to the child’s personal needs, such as feeding or diapering, while the vehicle is moving.

Some people may have misinformation about using safety belts.
Here are some facts:

➤Fact: Your safety belt helps keep you securely in place in the event of a crash and better able to escape the vehicle if necessary.

It takes less than a second to undo a safety belt. Crashes in which a vehicle catches fire or sinks in deep water seldom happen. Even if that were to occur, however, your safety belt helps protect you from crashing into things inside your vehicle and being knocked unconscious during the crash. Your chances to escape the vehicle are much better when you are conscious.

➤Fact: Your safety belt helps protect you on long trips, short trips, all trips.

Many traffic deaths happen within 25 miles of home. About 20% occur on roads posted at less than 45 mph. Your safety belt helps protect you no matter the distance of your trip.

➤Fact: Your safety belt helps protect you from being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash.

Your chances of not being killed or injured in a crash are much better if you stay inside the vehicle. Safety belts help keep you from being thrown out of your vehicle, into the path of another vehicle, onto the road surface, into trees, posts, etc., where serious injury is caused by this second impact.

➤Fact: If your vehicle gets hit from the side, your safety belt helps keep you from being thrown across the car into the crash point.

When a vehicle is struck from the side, it will move sideways. Everything in the vehicle that is not fastened down, including the passengers, will tend to be thrown toward the point of crash. Your safety belt helps keep you from being thrown into the crash point.

➤Fact: Your safety belt helps protect you when you cannot protect yourself, even when traveling at slow speeds.

At a slow speed of 25 mph, the force of a head-on crash is the same as pedaling a bicycle full speed into a brick wall or diving off a three-story building onto the sidewalk. No one can ‘brace’ oneself for that. But your safety belt will help brace and protect you – but only when you wear it!