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Quebec handbook · chapter 3 · 31 min read

Controlling the Vehicle

CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE Driving techniques cannot be learned overnight and mastering them requires practice. It is crucial to master the techniques, especially when called upon to handle situations that require a quick reaction. The universe is subject to laws of physics and those laws also govern the driving of a passenger vehicle. To better understand the laws, this chapter will address several of their principles. Various driving manoeuvres to help learners will be described from a safety perspective. LAWS OF PHYSICS To adapt your driving, it helps to understand the different laws of physics. Even cyclists are subjected to those laws. For example, going down a steep hill will increase a bicycle’s speed. To brake on that hill, the cyclist must keep in mind that the stopping distance will be much longer than on flat ground.

Friction

To move an inert object, a force must be applied to it. Similarly, to stop a moving object, an opposite force must oppose it. This is true for a motor vehicle. The motor produces the necessary force to move the vehicle, whereas the brakes constitute the opposing force. It is therefore important to have tires that are in good condition and that provide good surface traction or grip. Your driving must also be adapted to road conditions. Good tire traction depends on several factors: ▶ Type of road surface: asphalt, concrete, gravel, dirt road, etc.; ▶ Road conditions: dry, wet, snowy, icy, etc.; ▶ Type of tire rubber, their size, pressure and condition; ▶ Vehicle weight.

For example, the same vehicle, travelling at a same speed, will take longer to stop on a wet surface than on a dry one. The stopping distance will be even longer on an icy surface.

Gravity

Gravity is defined as the attraction of the earth’s mass for bodies at or near its surface. Gravity is what holds the vehicle on the ground. It also causes a vehicle to lose speed when going uphill and to accelerate when going downhill.

Gravity accelerates a vehicle going downhill.

A vehicle gathers speed more easily when going downhill. To prevent it from gathering too much speed, it must be held back by pumping the brake pedal. Before beginning the descent, you may want to shift to a lower gear. That will prevent the brakes from overheating. R Before going down a steep incline, do not put the gear into neutral. Instead, choose a lower gear so the engine will slow down the vehicle.

Inertia

Inertia is a natural law by which a motionless body remains at rest unless it is forced to move. To set the body in motion, an external force must be applied to it (for example, pushing or pulling).

To change an object’s motion, we need to exert an opposite force. For example, we need to apply the brakes to stop a vehicle.

A body will continue in a straight line if a force is not applied to change its direction. Therefore, a vehicle will not turn unless the driver turns the steering wheel. When the traction or friction is sufficient, the vehicle can make the turn.

Centrifugal Force

Centrifugal force is the tendency for an object to move outward from the centre of a circle. It is what pushes a vehicle toward the outside of a curve. For the vehicle to follow the curve’s direction, a force is needed to combat the inertia.

The faster you travel on a curve, the greater the inertia and the cen­trifugal force. The tire condition, type of rubber, size, pressure, speed and road conditions are all important factors involved in turning on a curve. If the traction of the tires is insufficient, the centrifugal force can cause the vehicle to skid by pushing it outside the curve.

Rain, black ice, dead leaves, sand and even worn or improperly inflated tires can reduce their traction to the road surface.

Inertia Centrifugal Force

Traction could be insufficient if you make a sudden move, such as accelerating rapidly, braking abruptly, taking a turn too sharply, or a combination of such moves. In any of those cases, you must quickly adapt your driving and use your skills to avoid losing control of your vehicle.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy accumulated by any moving vehicle based on its mass and speed. A large vehicle will accumulate twice as much energy as a vehicle half its size. If the speed is doubled, the accumulated energy will be quadrupled; if tripled, it will be increased ninefold.

To stop a vehicle, the energy accumulated must first be transmitted to the brakes. Even before the brakes act to transform this energy into heat, other factors are set into play and slow down the vehicle. Those factors include the rubbing of moving parts, air resistance and the friction of the tires on the road. Simply releasing the accelerator already causes the vehicle to slow down.

It is important to remember that the greater the mass (weight) and speed, two factors that increase a vehicle’s kinetic energy, the longer the braking distance. It is longer because the brakes have a limited capacity of transforming the vehicle’s kinetic energy into heat.

Role of speed in energy accumulation

Force of Impact

In the event of a collision, the force of impact is transmitted to the vehicle’s occupants depending on certain factors: ▶ Speed; ▶ Vehicle weight; ▶ Distance and time available for the vehicle to slow down or come to a stop; ▶ Type of vehicle construction (body type, impact absorption); ▶ Vehicle’s safety features, for example seat belts or airbags.

When a collision appears inevitable, you must slow down as much as possible to reduce the force of impact. It is preferable to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle. It is important to remember that the vehicle’s speed is added to that of the other vehicle. Therefore, if two vehicles are travelling at 50 km/h, the force of impact will be equivalent to that of crashing into a concrete wall at 100 km/h. Since the speed is doubled, the kinetic energy and the force of impact will be quadrupled.

In the event of a collision, the accumulated kinetic energy must be absorbed by the vehicle’s deformation or that of the other objects struck. It is therefore important to direct the vehicle toward a least resistant object, for example a cedar hedge, bushes or even a snow bank rather than a pole. In yielding to the impact, the object absorbs the energy coming from the vehicle. The amount of residual energy in the vehicle, i.e. the amount of energy that remains accumulated, will be reduced. The occupants’ injuries will also be reduced. If you cannot avoid a collision, you must try to avoid striking an object head-on. When the contact is made at an angle, the vehicle can then rebound.

Should a collision occur, speed has a major influence on the severity of the impact. Travelling at 10 km/h less can make all the difference.

Zones of 50 km/h and 90 km/h are the most dangerous. In 50 km/h zones, collisions between cars and pedestrians and cyclists occur most frequently. In 90 km/h zones, the force of impact increases the risk of severe injuries and death.

Speed greatly increases the severity of injuries in accidents. The risk of being seriously injured or killed in an accident doubles as speed rises from 50 km/h to 70 km/h and quadruples from 50 km/h to 100 km/h. An impact at 100 km/h is like falling from a 12-storey building.

DRIVING SAFELY

Mastering the Basic Manoeuvres

It is important to master the basic manoeuvres before undertaking more complicated ones. L C Drivers should consult the owner’s manual to learn about the features of the vehicle they are driving.

Starting the Engine Here are the steps to start the engine: ▶ Apply pressure to the brake pedal; ▶ Make sure the parking brake is properly engaged; ▶ Check whether the gearshift lever is in the park (P) position; ▶ Turn the key to the (On) position to turn on all warning lights and gauges; ▶ Check the warning lights and gauges including the glow plug warning light in diesel vehicles; ▶ Turn the key to the (Start) position; ▶ Release the key when the engine starts.

For the steps to start an engine with a standard transmission, see Appendix II of this handbook.

Preparing to Drive The steps for driving a vehicle are almost the same for an automatic or standard transmission. First, turn on the headlights and ventilation system. Next: ▶ Press the brake pedal; ▶ For an automatic transmission, place the gearshift lever into the drive (D) position to go forward or the reverse (R) position to go backward; ▶ For a standard transmission, press the clutch pedal and shift the gearshift lever into first gear or into the reverse position; ▶ Release the parking brake, keeping your foot on the brake pedal. Mastering the Steering Wheel The steering wheel controls the vehicle’s direction. Mastering it is one of the keys to driving a vehicle. To have a firm grip on the steering wheel and carry out manoeuvres quickly when a situation requires it, you must keep a certain distance between your hands. With the arrival of air bags, it is now recommended to place the left hand in the nine o’clock position and the right hand in the three o’clock position.

Driving in a Straight Line You can travel in a straight line by looking far ahead and keeping your hands on the steering wheel. Pay attention and periodically adjust the wheel. Beginners should be very cautious and avoid over-steering. You must turn the wheel gently to change directions.

Turning To better judge the wheels’ direction, you should turn the steering wheel only when the vehicle is in motion.

If the steering wheel must be turned more than a half turn, it is best to use the hand-over-hand method. To turn right: ▶ Both hands should turn the wheel to the right; ▶ When the right hand reaches the four o’clock position, it should release the wheel, cross over the left arm, grasp the wheel at the 10 o’clock position and continue rotating the wheel to the right; ▶ This hand-over-hand motion should continue until the vehicle is headed in the desired direction.

To make a tight turn, you can perform this manoeuvre several times.

There are two methods to return to the straight-line position. The first is the hand-over-hand method that was explained above. This is the best method to use if you are travelling at very low speeds, for example when parking.

The second is to allow the steering wheel to slide through your hands, while accelerating slightly to facilitate its return. This method may require a slight course correction to return to the straight-line position. You should avoid using this method when road conditions or nearby obstacles require a more accurate manoeuvre. R You should always be ready to use the steering wheel. To control the wheel’s speed as it returns to its position, never completely let go of it as it slides through your hands.

Slowing Down and Bringing the Vehicle to a Stop To safely and gently slow down the vehicle, you must take certain precautions: ▶ Check your rearview mirrors: that allows you to check traffic behind the vehicle; ▶ Ease up on the accelerator: that will cause you to slow down somewhat;

▶ Brake: reduce speed slowly and prepare ahead of time. Avoid surprising the driver behind you by suddenly hitting the brakes. Waiting too long to slow down may force you to brake suddenly or cause you to hit the vehicle ahead of you.

Using the Gearshift Lever in a Vehicle with an Automatic Transmission It is important to consult the owner’s manual to find out how to properly use the vehicle’s gearshift lever.

A column-mounted gearshift lever must be moved up or down depending on which gear you choose. In the event the gearshift lever is locked into a certain position, unlock the lever by pulling it toward you and then shift to the desired position.

A floor-mounted gearshift lever must be pushed forward or pulled backward depending on the desired gear. To unlock this type of lever, on most vehicles, you just push a button.

You will find a section on standard transmission in Appendix II. R To avoid damaging the transmission, it is important that the vehicle be brought to a complete halt before shifting from neutral (N) to reverse (R) or from reverse (R) to park (P).

Backing Up It is much more difficult to see when you are backing up a vehicle. You must steer while changing your seating position so you can see properly. H The Highway Safety Code does not require you to have your seat belt fastened when backing up.

Steps for backing up into a turn: ▶ Turn on the appropriate turn signal; ▶ Press the brake pedal; ▶ Release the parking brake if engaged; ▶ Make sure the way is clear by looking in front, on both sides and in back of your vehicle; ▶ Turn you head and upper body to the side where the manoeuvre is being performed; ▶ Control the vehicle’s speed at all times; ▶ Turn the steering wheel, if necessary, in the desired direction; ▶ Steer the vehicle while looking out the rear window; ▶ Glance quickly and frequently in front, on both sides and in back of your vehicle to make sure the way is still clear; ▶ Move into the chosen space.

Parking

First of all, make sure parking is permitted. There are several types of parking: ▶ At an angle of 45°; ▶ At an angle of 90°; ▶ In a parallel line.

Moving into a Parking Space Backing into a parking space will provide good visibility for when you leave the space and will reduce the risk of an accident.

Parking on an incline When parking on an incline, you must turn the wheels of the vehicle so that the tires rest against the curb. This will keep the vehicle in place should the parking brake or transmission fail.

Uphill Incline Downhill Incline Turn the wheels toward the street Turn the wheels toward the sidewalk

The vehicle must be parked near the curb, with the wheels turned toward the street and touching the curb. The vehicle must be parked near the curb, with the wheels turned toward the sidewalk and touching the curb.

The vehicle must be parked less than 30 cm from the curb.

Pulling Into Traffic Before pulling into traffic, it is important to turn on the appropriate accessories, such as headlights and, if necessary, windshield wipers or defrosters.

Before moving the vehicle, take the following safety measures: ▶ Turn on the appropriate turn signal for the direction you want to go; ▶ Check your rearview mirrors and blind spot on the side you are heading; ▶ Look left, right and left again.

You must always take into account traffic conditions, speed limits and your ability to pull into the traffic. If the lane is free over a sufficient distance, you may pull in. Otherwise, you must wait. C When you are parking in a private driveway, park rear first so you can leave by driving forward. You will be able to better see whether a child, toy or other object is in your vehicle’s path without having to go around it.

Driving in a Straight Line You must drive in a straight line to ensure your vehicle’s stability. To do so: ▶ Look far ahead to keep your vehicle in your lane; ▶ Do not straddle the left or right side of your lane; ▶ Avoid driving on road lines or the shoulder.

Any course adjustments should be slight, especially when travelling at high speeds. Even on a straight stretch of road, you sometimes have to correct your vehicle’s path due to: ▶ Side winds; ▶ Road conditions and incline; ▶ Ruts, i.e. deep tracks caused by the passage of wheels on the road; ▶ Air displacement caused by heavy vehicles passing you in either direction; ▶ Under-inflated tires; ▶ Improperly aligned wheels. R If, under normal driving conditions, you often have to correct your course, it may be because you are not looking far enough ahead.

Negotiating a Curve As you reach a curve, you must be able to determine the speed at which it should be negotiated. To choose your speed, certain factors need to be taken into account: ▶ Your field of vision; ▶ Recommended speed; ▶ Curve radius, i.e. the depth of the curve; ▶ Road incline; ▶ Road conditions; ▶ Weather conditions.

Some curves are sharper than others. Taking them at too high a speed increases the chance of losing control of the vehicle.

You must always look as far ahead as possible into the curve to see any obstacles in time. To easily negotiate a curve: ▶ Slow down before entering the curve when driving in a straight line; ▶ Look ahead into the direction of the curve; ▶ Turn the steering wheel once into the curve to direct the vehicle toward the inside of the curve while remaining in your lane, without touching the limits of the curve or the shoulder; ▶ Maintain your speed once in the curve; ▶ Accelerate gradually when exiting the curve.

Due to the risk of collision with oncoming vehicles, it is important to avoid driving too close to the median line while taking a curve. The median line is located in the middle of the road. It is also impor- tant to watch out for other vehicles whose driver may have misjudged the curve. C Accelerate

You will find a section on sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in Appendix V. Pulling Out of Traffic Before pulling into a private or public entry, or parking on the side of the road, you must carry out the following safety measures before pulling out of traffic: ▶ Plan where you will be pulling out of traffic; ▶ Move into the right-hand lane if the road has more than one lane; ▶ Turn on the turn signal giving enough warning so that those behind you are not forced to slow down too quickly; ▶ Check your rearview mirrors and blind spot on the side where you will be pulling off the road to avoid, for instance, blocking a cyclist’s path; ▶ Check traffic behind you. This is very important, especially on roads where traffic is moving quickly; ▶ Look around carefully and, if necessary, pump the brake pedal to attract the attention of the drivers behind you; ▶ Check your rearview mirrors and blind spot again just before turning; ▶ Pull off the road or make your turn, if necessary; ▶ Pay attention to the movement of other vehicles; ▶ Turn off your turn signal manually, if necessary.

If you are pulling into a parking lot, pay attention to the other drivers in the parking lot.

Preparing to Leave the Vehicle Once the vehicle has been safely stopped, you must ensure to: ▶ Engage the parking brake while maintaining your right foot on the brake pedal; ▶ Shift the gearshift lever to the park (P) position while maintaining your foot on the brake pedal.

You can now turn off the engine. Before getting out of your vehicle, make it a habit to: ▶ Look to see if the headlights are off to prevent the battery from being discharged upon your return; ▶ Check your rearview mirrors and blind spots for approaching motor vehicles or bicycles; ▶ Do not open the door until it is safe to do so. These dooring precautions also apply to the passengers; ▶ Make sure the key is not still inside the vehicle; ▶ Lock all doors.

Lastly, it is recommended to get out of the vehicle facing traffic.

Crossing an Intersection

When crossing an intersection, be aware of collision risks, which are higher. Make sure your view is not hampered by the A-pillars, and pay special attention to cyclists and pedestrians.

Stopping at an Intersection When you stop your vehicle, respect the stop line and leave the intersection clear. The distance away from the vehicle ahead of you must be such that you have full view of its rear tires.

For the vehicle to make a full and gentle stop, you must: ▶ Check the traffic ahead of and behind you; ▶ Brake with a regular pressure for the comfort of the occupants; ▶ Stop and keep your foot on the brake pedal. B Accelerate gently and slow down gradually at traffic lights rather than accelerating suddenly and braking at the last minute. That will not only help you adjust to traffic but also save on gas.

Crossing an Intersection Intersections are zones where the risk of conflict and accident is high. Before pulling into an intersection, you must make a visual check and follow certain rules: ▶ Respect the right of way of people with reduced mobility, pedestrians and cyclists; ▶ Do not stop in the intersection (have enough room to cross it completely);

▶ Do not stop on the stop line or in a pedestrian crosswalk; ▶ Do not change lanes in the intersection. L Concerning turns, see the chapter on Traffic Rules in the Driver’s Handbook.

To safely pull into an intersection, you must check for the presence of other road users by looking left, right and left again. ▶ If it is impossible to pull into it safely, proceed slowly until you are able to do so; ▶ If you are unable to cross the intersection, wait until it is your right of way again and the way is clear, and make the visual check again.

Turning at an Intersection When turning at an intersection, be very alert for vulnerable users.

At an intersection regulated by stop signs, you must stop at the stop sign and yield the right of way to people with reduced mobility, pedestrians and cyclists who are crossing or walking along the road you are about to cross or take.

At an intersection, you must: ▶ Locate the place where you want to turn and make sure the manoeuvre is permitted and can be made safely;

▶ Enter the turning lane before turning: ▷ For a right turn, enter the lane on the extreme right; ▷ For a left turn, enter the lane closest to the centre line; ▶ Check the traffic coming from the left, the middle and the right; ▶ Check the blind spots in front of the vehicle (A-pillars); ▶ Check your rearview mirrors and your blind spot on the side you want to turn; ▶ Turn on the appropriate turn signal in advance and before slowing down; ▶ Slow down before the turn, if necessary; ▶ Check to make sure the turn can still be made safely; ▶ Check the blind spot, if necessary; ▶ Look left and right to see if the lane is clear and it is safe to enter the intersection; ▶ Look ahead before moving. This step is important when turning left since oncoming turning vehicles may block your view; ▶ Turn into the corresponding lane after the turn without straddling the curb, sidewalk or shoulder; ▶ Gradually accelerate after turning.

Turning from a Double Lane Turning from a double lane is only permitted if a sign indicates it. To do so: ▶ Enter the lane that allows the turn; ▶ Stay in the same lane when making the turn; ▶ Get into the corresponding lane on the other road.

Adjusting to Traffic

To adjust to traffic, you must first observe your surroundings and evaluate anything that could happen in those surroundings. Changing Lanes Before changing lanes, make sure it is legal and safe to do so and respect the right-of-way of other road users. Before choosing a lane, take into account the following factors: ▶ Type of road surface; ▶ Traffic density; ▶ Your speed and that of other vehicles; ▶ Your direction or course; ▶ Other turns possible; ▶ Weather conditions.

Then, you must: ▶ Check your rearview mirrors; ▶ Check the appropriate blind spot; ▶ Turn on the appropriate turn signal; ▶ Check your rearview mirrors again to make sure the manoeuvre is still possible and safe; ▶ Check the blind spot again to make sure there is no other vehicle in the chosen lane; ▶ Stay on course and don’t change lanes while you are still checking; ▶ Change lanes gradually to maintain control over your vehicle; ▶ Travel at the same speed as the traffic in the lane you have pulled into; ▶ Turn off your turn signal once the manoeuvre is completed. H Passing in a zigzag fashion is a violation and carries demerit points and a fine.

It is important to plan ahead for changing lanes. For example, on two-lane, three-lane or multi-lane roads, it is illegal to cross two lanes at the same time. If you must change more than one lane, do so in steps. First drive in a straight line in the new lane before changing lanes again. Turn off your turn signal, drive in a straight line again and turn on the turn signal another time.

Any visual checks involved in performing this manoeuvre should not prevent you from paying close attention to the front of your vehicle, especially when you are approaching an intersection.

Making a U-Turn A U-turn consists of turning around to travel in the opposite ­direction. A sign indicates where this manoeuvre is illegal. To change direc- tions in the city, it is better to go around the block. In suburbs or rural areas, it is better to continue straight ahead until a turn can safely be made off the road, i.e. in a driveway.

Passing Before passing, pay special attention to any indications such as road signs or pavement markings to determine whether passing is authorized. For example, on a road divided into three or five lanes where there is traffic in both directions, it is prohibited to use the centre lane to pass, as it is reserved for left turns by vehicles travelling in either direction.

At all times when passing, you must ensure that it is safe and permitted to do so, and that you respect the speed limits. L You will find rules for passing in the Driver’s Handbook.

Once you are sure you can follow those rules, look ahead of you to make sure there is enough room and time to pass safely. You should stay in the passing lane the least time possible.

The first part of passing is done like changing lanes explained earlier in this section.

The second part of passing involves getting back into your lane. You should prepare to do this manoeuvre when you have come alongside the vehicle you have passed. Now: ▶ Look at the vehicle to be passed to make sure it is staying in its lane; ▶ Check the right blind spot and the inside rearview mirror and make sure you have enough room to get back into the lane; ▶ Turn on your right turn signal; ▶ Glance one more into the right rearview mirror and blind spot to make sure the situation has not changed; ▶ Move back into the right-hand lane when the vehicle you have passed is fully visible in the inside rearview mirror; ▶ Turn off your turn signal manually, if necessary.

On an Expressway Passing may appear easier on an expressway due to the number of one-way lanes. It is however important to remain alert. Because of the high speed involved, when you want to pass, be especially cautious when you are: ▶ Nearing collector lanes and exit ramps; ▶ In a curve; ▶ On overpasses and bridges where the shoulders are narrower; ▶ In the left lane when it is icy or snowy.

Once the vehicle has been passed, re-enter the right lane since the left one is reserved for passing. R Generally speaking, passing is a dangerous manoeuvre. Your ability to OBSERVE is key and will help you REACT well.

Being Passed Cooperate with the driver who is passing you and maintain a constant speed in the middle of your lane.

If there is a possibility that an accident could occur with an oncoming vehicle, you must know how to rapidly evaluate the situation. In addition, you must adjust your reaction in either of the following situations: ▶ When the driver of the passing vehicle accelerates to make a quick return to the right-hand lane, you must slow down; ▶ When the driver of the passing vehicle foregoes passing if it seems safer to slow down rather than continue, cooperate by speeding up so the passing vehicle can return to the right-hand lane behind you and avoid an accident.

Pulling onto an Expressway To pull onto an expressway, you will have to use an access ramp. This is the link that makes it possible to leave a road to get onto the expressway.

This access ramp leads to a feeder lane that allows you to accelerate to the speed of other vehicles and merge into traffic at the proper speed while giving the right-of-way to those already on the expressway.

As soon as you are on the access ramp, you must judge the traffic in the feeder lane and on the expressway.

Here are the steps for pulling onto the expressway: ▶ Evaluate the speed of the vehicles on the expressway and merge with the traffic; ▶ Stay in the middle of the lane to be as visible as possible; ▶ Check ahead of your vehicle, in your rearview mirrors and in your blind spot;

▶ Turn on your left turn signal before reaching the end of the access ramp; ▶ Before reaching the feeder lane, make sure there is an opening in the right-hand lane of the expressway; ▶ Check ahead of your vehicle, your rearview mirrors and your blind spot again; ▶ Make sure no other driver changes lanes at the same time; ▶ Pull onto the expressway at the end of the broken line using the entire feeder lane to adjust your speed with that of the vehicles; ▶ Merge into the traffic; ▶ Turn off the turn signal manually, if necessary.

It is important to determine in advance how much to accelerate when leaving the access ramp to merge with traffic. It can be very dangerous to slow down in the feeder lane both to yourself and those following you.

Driving on an Expressway Driving on an expressway can be more demanding and difficult, since the traffic is faster. You must: ▶ Stay in one of the right-hand lanes; ▶ Keep a good distance from other vehicles; ▶ Pay attention to traffic, especially as you approach interchanges; ▶ Pay attention to the movement of vehicles that are passing from one lane to another.

Always cooperate with other road users and anticipate dangerous situations. You must: ▶ Check your speedometer often so you do not exceed the speed limit; ▶ Be aware that an increase in speed lenghtens the braking distance and reduces your field of vision.

The right-of-way belongs to vehicles already travelling on the expressway. When you approach an access ramp, you might slow down and cooperate with those wishing to enter traffic.

In addition, check the possibility of driving in the left lane. That could prevent a dangerous situation. For instance, another driver could be entering the expressway without having first made a proper check. Before moving to the left lane, always ensure that it is possible and safe to do so. You must also adjust your speed to that lane so you can smoothly merge with traffic and not cut in front of another vehicle that is travelling faster.

Avoid passing near access ramps. Keep in mind that the driver of the vehicle in front of you in the right lane might want to move into the left lane.

Snow or other obstacles may prevent you from seeing traffic on the ramp. That is why you must be alert and act on the assumption that there is a vehicle on the ramp.

Be very careful of the “hypnotizing effect” of highway driving, i.e. you could have the impression that everything is floating around you, and even risk falling asleep. It tends to happen on a monotonous road or on a highway when you are travelling at the same speed over a long distance. Since the scenery does not change much, you might be tempted to pay less attention to the road. You need to find ways of staying alert and awake.

Pulling off an Expressway To get off an expressway, use a deceleration lane. That is a lane adjacent to the lanes of the expressway, which allows drivers to slow down before reaching the exit ramp.

The exit ramp begins at the end of the deceleration lane and leads to a road with a lower speed limit. At the intersection of the exit ramp and the road, there is usually a stop sign or traffic light to allow you to merge safely with traffic.

To prepare to get off an expressway, you must: ▶ Check the signs that show the distance to the nearest exit; ▶ Prepare your exit by moving into the appropriate lane ahead of time; ▶ Check the traffic behind you.

To get off the expressway, you must: ▶ Pull into the lane that will allow you to exit; ▶ Check in front of the vehicle, in your rearview mirrors and in your blind spots; ▶ Turn on your right or left turn signal, depending on the direction of the lane; ▶ Change lanes; ▶ Pull into the deceleration lane and then brake gradually; ▶ Pull onto the exit ramp at the posted speed; ▶ Adjust your speed to that recommended on the exit ramp. C When pulling off an expressway, wait to be in the deceleration lane before braking or slowing down.

SELF-EVALUATION EXERCISES K Practice Exercises

1. Practise taking increasingly sharp curves, being careful to adjust your speed before the curve. 2. Practise making full stops at different intersections (with stop signs, traffic lights, in low- and high-traffic zones, etc.) not forgetting to take the proper precautions before braking.

1. Put in chronological order the 10 steps for backing up.

a) b) c) d)

e)

f) g) h) i) j) Move into the chosen space. Press the brake pedal. Control the vehicle’s speed at all times. Glance quickly and frequently in front, on both sides and in back of your vehicle to ensure that the way is still clear. Turn you head and upper body to the side where the manoeuvre is being performed. Steer the vehicle while looking out the rear window. Turn the steering wheel, if necessary, in the desired direction. Look in the front, to both sides and in back of your vehicle. Release the parking brake if engaged. Turn on the appropriate turn signal.

2. Put in chronological order the steps for pulling into traffic. Write the letter corresponding to each number in the space provided for that purpose. ONCE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING:

3. Place the steps to be taken for changing lanes in the right order. Write the letter corresponding to each number in the space provided for that purpose.

a) Turn the steering wheel once into the curve to direct the vehicle toward the inside of the curve while remaining in your lane, without touching the limits of the curve or the shoulder. b) Maintain your speed once in the curve. c) Accelerate gradually when exiting the curve. d) Look ahead into the direction of the curve. e) Take a place in the lane that provides maximum vision from the outside to the inside of the curve, following a safe course. f) Slow down before entering the curve when driving in a straight line.

True or False

5. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false.

6. Match the law of physics with its definition.

Next chapter
Sharing the Road