Motor vehicle injuries account for

more years of productive life lost by students than all other

causes. p1

The ability to move a car skillfully is the same thing

as the ability to drive safely. p1

Parents and guardians play such a significant role

in the development of safe driving habits, parents should

remain involved in the learning process as observers in

the car during the guided practice sessions. p1

A learner’s permit allows the holder to practice

driving with a licensed driver at least 21 years of

age or a licensed family member at least 18 years

of age. p2

The school, not the family, is in the

best position to have a sustained

effect on minimizing risks faced

by inexperienced drivers and

encouraging responsible behavior. p3

Notify your insurance agent when your child

receives a 180-Day Temporary Provisional Driver’s

License. p3

Thirty minutes is the optimum learning period for

beginning drivers. p4

Emphasize driving with a large anticipation zone

by looking at least 20 seconds down the road. p4

Commentary driving is the most

valuable tool you have for checking how your child

is processing the driving environment. p4

Tires should be inflated to

the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure

printed on the vehicle’s door placard or in the

owner’s manual, not the maximum limit listed on

the tire sidewall. p5

The actual size of the tire patch

in contact with the road is about

the size of a quarter. p5

Minimum tire tread depth

can be measured by placing a

penny in the tread, and if the tread does not reach

the top of Lincoln’s head, driving in wet weather is

very dangerous. p5

If the

pressure falls 25% below or above the required

inflation, a warning is sent via radio frequency from

the tire-mounted transmitter to the driver. p5

Drivers should sit at least

10 inches from the air bag because it inflates to six

or seven inches in size at speeds up to 200 mph. p5

Nearly half of vehicle occupants killed

in crashes were not wearing seat belts. p6

A seat belt

is specifically designed to protect the brain and

prevent spinal cord injuries. p6

The ABS system rapidly engages

the brakes up to a billion times a second to avoid lockup

and allows your wheels to keep rolling. p6

When ESC detects loss of steering control, it

automatically applies the brakes to help “steer”

the vehicle in the direction the driver intended to

go. p6

Traction control systems monitor any difference

in rotational speed between the wheels. p6

Adaptive cruise control

uses a radar sensor to lock onto the vehicle in

front of your vehicle, and an onboard computer will

calculate the distance and relative speed to the

vehicle ahead. p7

In recent years, traffic safety experts recommend

setting the side mirrors out approximately 15°. p7

The 4 & 8 hand position improves the

driver’s stability by

lowering the body’s

center of gravity, and

reduces unintended and excessive steering wheel

movement which is a primary cause of young

driver fatalities. p7

Driver inattention is never a cause of crashes. p8

Circadian rhythm is the body’s natural

“downtime,” which for most people is between

1 and 5 p.m. and around your normal bedtime. p8

Drowsy driving is a form of impaired driving that

negatively affects a person’s ability to drive safely. p8

To combat glare from oncoming headlights, look to the right-hand side of the road when meeting a vehicle with high beam headlights on. p8

Driver error is the primary cause of collisions. p9

If your vehicle is in danger of being

hit, your best option is to accelerate out of danger

if the way ahead is clear rather than apply brakes. p9

If stopped by a police officer, sign the

citation; this is not an admission of guilt. p9