L & B Driving School

Driving Skills To Practice:

No driver manual alone can teach you how to operate a vehicle or be a

safe driver. Driving requires skills you can gain only through instruction

and practice. The following offers some basic driving information.

Basic Driving

Starting

Check your vehicle owner's manual for how to best start your vehicle. Make sure the parking brake is on before you start the vehicle. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, it must be in neutral. In some vehicles, the clutch must be depressed. For a vehicle that has an automatic transmission, you must put the shift selector in "park." On some vehicles, the brake pedal must also be depressed.

Accelerating

Accelerate gradually and smoothly. Trying to start too fast can cause the

drive wheels to spin, and will cause your vehicle to slide. With a manualshift

vehicle, practice coordinating use of the clutch and accelerator to prevent killing or over-revving the engine when shifting gears.

Steering

Both hands should be on the steering wheel, except when making necessary adjustments to the driving controls. To help avoid injury if your vehicle's air bag goes off, it is best to hold the steering wheel with your right hand at 3:00 and your left hand at 9:00. Never drive with your hands at the top of the steering wheel, or with your hands, thumbs, fingers or arms resting on the center of the steering wheel. It is recommended not to wrap your thumbs around the steering wheel spokes. When you complete a turn, straighten out the steering wheel by hand. Letting it slip through your fingers could be dangerous. Look well down the road (10 to 15 seconds ahead) and on both

sides of the road, not at the road just in front of your vehicle. Look for traffic situations where you will need to steer before you get to them. This way, you have time to steer smoothly and safely.

Stopping

Be alert so you know well ahead of time when you will need to stop. Stopping suddenly is dangerous and usually means a driver was not paying attention. When you brake quickly, you could skid and lose control of your vehicle. You also make it harder for drivers behind you to stop without hitting you, especially if the road is slippery and/or there is a large vehicle behind you that cannot stop quickly. Try to avoid panic stops by seeing events well in advance. By slowing down or changing lanes, you may not have to stop

at all and if you do, you can make a more gradual and safer stop. Do not coast (transmission in neutral or clutch depressed) while driving. Stay in "gear" so you have the braking power of the engine available.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

First is worst. In the first storm of the season, most drivers have forgotten their safe winter driving skills. They’ll drive too fast and try to stop too quickly. Go slow. Increase following distances. Drive defensively. Relearn your skills.

Go slow. Drive well below the posted speed limit. Posted limits are intended for summer months on dry pavement. Avoid sudden, sharp turns. Use light braking by gently pumping the brakes.

Plan ahead. Plan on trips taking extra time. Leave earlier. Consider an alternate route. STAY HOME if conditions are too bad.

Use your head, use your feet. Never use cruise control on slippery roads.

Y-Turn

This is used in the driving exam as a test of skill and judgement. It is not recommended for use in general driving, but may be used in residential areas on streets too narrow for a U-turn.

How to Make a Y-Turn

1. Check for traffic in your blind spot. Signal right. Pull as far right as possible and stop.

2. Check traffic in blind spot. When the way is clear, signal left. Make a left-angle turn to the opposite curb or side of the road.

3. Check traffic to left and right. Turn front wheels as far right as possible. Looking behind the vehicle, back far enough so the vehicle clears the curb when you pull forward.

4. Check traffic to left and right and proceed when the way is clear.

How to Parallel Park:

(observe other traffic, pedestrians and

fixed objects throughout these steps)

1. Put your turn signal on. Stop even with the

vehicle ahead and about 2 feet away from it.

2. Turn wheels sharply right and slowly back toward the vehicle behind.

As the front door passes the back bumper of the vehicle ahead,

quickly straighten the wheels and continue to back straight.

3. When clear of the vehicle ahead, turn wheels sharply

left and back slowly to the vehicle behind.

4. Turn wheels sharply right and pull toward the center of the parking

space. Straighten wheels unless you are on a hill. When the maneuver

is finished, your vehicle should be within 12 inches of the curb or

edge of the road, and at least 2 feet away from parked vehicles