Module 1 Review: Driving is a Privilege

Topics

1. Explain why driving is a privilege.

2. Summarize the responsibilities of a driver.

3. Explain why driving is a social activity and why we need a license to drive.

4. How you can obtain and lose a license.

5. The importance of authorities and how you must react to their presence.

Key Takeaways

 Driving is a privilege that is not for everyone and must be earned.

 Driving is a task with important responsibilities that all drivers must adhere to.

 Driving is a social activity with various written and unwritten rules that allow people and
goods to safely travel from one spot to another.

 The Highway Transit System has three components: the driver, the vehicle, and the
environment.

 You need a license to ensure that you’re aware of all important information regarding
traffic laws and rules to make your journey safe and efficient, both for yourself and for
others.

 Your license is given on application to your local DMV and comes with certain
requirements that you need to fulfill.

 In order to keep your license, you must always follow the traffic laws of New York State.

 As younger drivers need more time and experience to learn, they can start with a learner
permit but they must be supervised by a licensed driver and they are not allowed to
drive in certain areas.

 All new driver licenses include a six-month probationary period from the date on which
they are issued, with special rules applying to any violations committed during that
period.

 Figures of authority exist to enforce traffic laws and you must respect them at all costs,
especially police officers who stop you while you’re driving.
Module 2 Review: Why Drive Safely?

Topics

1. List statistics for traffic accidents in the United States.

2. Summarize how the actions of a single driver can save countless lives.

3. Discuss the costs of traffic accidents and the financial responsibilities of the drivers

4. Summarize how the point system works in New York State.

5. Understand what type of driver you are.

Key Takeaways

 On average, every six minutes, a person dies in a traffic accident.

 By improving your driving skills, you can make the roads safer for yourself and others.

 Traffic accidents can have exorbitant costs connected with them and you must
understand why it is important to know the financial liabilities you have as a driver in
control of a vehicle.

 The New York Driver Violation Point System aims to discourage dangerous drivers by
penalizing them with points that can eventually lead a poor driver to lose their privilege
to drive.

 You can remove points on your license in New York State by taking an approved Point
and Insurance Reduction Program Course that is certified and approved by the DMV.

 Knowing what type of driver you are can greatly help you in improving your existing
driving skill and ability.

Module 3 Review: Safe Driving is an Art

Topics

1. Explain what the “art of safe driving” means.

2. Discuss how human error causes most traffic accidents.

3. Identify the traits and skills of safe drivers.

4. Identify physical and mental states and factors that can influence the quality of your
driving.
 5. Explain major causes of accidents and how to prevent them.

Key Takeaways

 Driving is not an easy feat and must be performed with care and dedication for positive
outcomes for the drivers and everyone around them.

 Nearly 2/3rd of all traffic accidents happen due to human error.

 A safe driver is patient, alert, knowledgeable, and decisive. These four traits help them
keep others safe as well.

 Driving a vehicle requires a certain amount of physical strength and ability. By law, you
should be physically fit enough to control the movement of your vehicle to be a safe and
responsible driver.

 Any illnesses or related medications that can directly affect your ability to control and
drive your vehicle must be seriously considered before you start driving.

 When your body and mind are undergoing fatigue, you can suffer from poor reaction
time as well as a loss of overall focus. Drivers who are fatigued behave similarly to sleepy
drivers and are at great risk of getting into accidents that can be prevented with
reasonable care.

 There are plenty of distractions around you when you’re trying to drive on the road such
as other drivers, unpredictable weather, and traffic. Be mindful of all of these to stay
safe!

 Feelings and emotions also have the potential to influence our driving ability to a great
extent as driving always requires a great deal of care, concentration, and attention. Even
the slightest of distractions will immediately affect your driving skills.

 Avoid stress at all costs. Stressed drivers are more likely to miss important traffic signs
and signals, drive aggressively, and react irrationally to unexpected conditions on the
road.

 In general, taking into account unforeseen consequences, there are five critical factors
that cause traffic accidents and can be easily prevented. These are distractions,
intoxication, speeding, poor health, and weather conditions.

 Penalties for using a cell phone or other portable devices while driving in New York State
—for any purpose other than to call 911 or any other emergency service—may cause
any or all of the following consequences:

o Traffic ticket
 o Fine of up to $450 (for repeated offenses)

o Surcharge of up to $93

o Five driver violation points added to your driving record

 Young drivers often lack the experience of driving and therefore have not yet mastered
certain driving skills and habits which may be necessary for safe driving. Knowing that
such skills take time to develop, younger drivers must take extra precaution as they
drive.

 The Graduated driver licensing programs help reduce the risks for young drivers through
driving requirements such as the ones below:

o No more than one passenger is allowed to be inside a car that is being driven by
a Junior License driver.

o There is a six month wait time before one can move from a junior learner permit
to a junior license, and they must log at least 50 hours of supervised practice
driving. With at least 15 of the 50 hours done at night.

o A driver under the age of 18, who holds a junior (DJ or MJ) license, has
restrictions on where and when they may drive.

o Junior license drivers are not allowed to drive unsupervised from the hours of
9pm to 5am.

o Drivers who hold probationary licenses are subject to 60-day license suspensions
for speeding, tailgating, and other types of reckless driving.

Module 4 Review: Know the Road – Traffic Devices

Topics

1. Explain what traffic control devices are and what they mean.

2. Identify important traffic signs, symbols, and markings.

3. Explain right-of-way laws

Key Takeaways

 There is a general standard and set of rules by which traffic signs, signals, and related
markings are made and used on highways and streets. In the United States of America,
 this is done according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices that is published
by the Federal Highway Administration

 All traffic control devices are designed in a uniform way, allowing drivers to apply the
same rules everywhere.

 Regulatory Signs are normally designed as white rectangles with letters and symbols in
black and they provide important information about laws and regulations on the
roadways.

 Warning Signs are designed in yellow color with diamond shapes and they indicate
dangers, hazards, and obstacles that drivers should be warned about.

 Guide Signs are designed in blue or green and provide important information about
mileage and direction, including names of locations.

 Although traffic signals, traffic signs, and pavement markings all give you vital
information about how to follow the rules and drive safely within the Highway
Transportation System, the directions given by an authorized traffic officer will always
take precedence over any signs, signals, or markings.

 Normally, a traffic signal has three colored lights, starting with the color red on the top
followed by yellow in the middle, and green at the bottom. Red means to stop, yellow is
a warning light, while green means to go.

 All drivers are required to treat uncontrolled intersections or intersections with

inoperable traffic lights as a four-way stop, taking due care to avoid traffic jams and
accidents.

 The right-of-way laws govern the way drivers interact with other drivers. Don’t assume
you have the right-of-way and be prepared to yield to another driver to keep everyone
safe.

Module 5 Review: Safe Driving

Topics

1. Articulate the concept of safe driving and its significance.

2. Emphasize the necessity of maintaining awareness and vigilance while on the road.

3. Recognize blind spots and strategies to circumvent them.

4. Describe driving-related offenses and the precautions to take against them.

 5. Examine the use of seat belts, airbags, and child restraint seats for enhanced safety.

Key Takeaways

 It is your responsibility as a driver to drive safely at all times to ensure that there is no
threat to the life and property of other people.

 A safe driver is always aware of everything that is happening around them, making sure
that they are able to react properly to even the unexpected.

 Blind spots are areas in which your vision is blocked or may be partially impaired. Make
it a habit to continuously check your blind spots and not rely solely on the rearview
mirrors.

 Criminal activities can pose great harm to your safety and the safety of your vehicle and
must be considered very seriously. You must always try to park your vehicle in well-lit
and safe areas.

 Driving a vehicle without functioning seatbelts is against the law and can result in a
ticket. You must ensure that the seatbelts in your vehicle are in good working condition.

 There are many myths regarding seat belts that shouldn’t be believed and can severely
increase the chance of being hurt or killed in the event of a collision.

 Until a child has reached a height of 4’ 9”, seatbelts do not offer proper protection. As a
result, they must be in a child safety seat whenever they are in a moving vehicle.

 Always remember that New York Law requires all children to be properly buckled up and
secured when your vehicle is in motion.

 Airbags can save lives and they must always be in working condition to prevent serious
head and neck injury in case of a collision.

 Many new vehicles come equipped with the latest security features that are designed to
keep you safe on the roads. It is important for you to know and identify these features.

 Despite having new technologies in our vehicles, we must still ensure our safety by
having proper driving skills and knowledge should these features malfunction or not be
available in the vehicles we are driving.

Module 6 Review: Defensive Driving

Topics

1. Discuss how humans react to the circumstances around them while driving.
 2. Identify preventable collisions and how they can be avoided.

3. Identify the proper way of passing vehicles and getting passed.

4. Differentiate between optimum following distance and stopping distance.

5. Explain how you can react to different weather conditions.

Key Takeaways

 Driving is all about reacting in time to everything that is happening around you while
you’re on the road. Understand how your body processes the stimulus around it as a
defensive driver.

 There could be a number of factors in play that determine the reaction time of any
driver including physical movement time, the complexity of the situation, age,
expectations, and urgency of the situation.

 Preventable collisions are any collisions in which the driver can, by their own actions,
reasonably avoid the collisions. Recognize the hazards, identify available defenses and
act responsibly in time.

 During cases of head-on collisions, always drive to the right of the oncoming vehicle as
the driver might attempt to get back to their lane if they can recover control.

 When you’re planning to pass another car, start by maintaining a safe distance between
the two vehicles. You must never use passing as an excuse for tailgating someone else as
it can result in a collision if the vehicle in front of you stops. Don’t forget to use your turn
signals.

 It is important to leave adequate space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of
you. Ideally, you must have THREE SECONDS of the distance between yourself and the
vehicle in front of you.

 Remember to double your following distance when there are adverse weather
conditions such as storms and rain, or slippery roads that might cause your reaction
times or your vehicle handling to be significantly reduced.

 Stopping distance is the distance that it takes your vehicle to come to a complete stop
after you engage your brakes. Stopping distance is influenced by two major factors:
reaction distance and braking distance.

 You must take into account all external conditions that can affect your driving to ensure
that you know how you can respond to them. Ideally, you must increase your following
distance, reduce your speed, and take extra care while driving.
  At fast speeds, your vehicle can hydroplane, causing you to lose control over your
steering and braking. Hydroplaning is when the tires of the vehicle are not in complete
contact with the road and are only riding on a thin layer of water. To avoid hydroplaning,
reduce your speed and try to drive in the tracks of the vehicles in front of you.

 Bigger vehicles also mean bigger blind spots on both the rear and the side. Large
vehicles with long hoods may even have blind spots directly in front of the driver.

 Larger, heavier vehicles due to their size will need a lot more time and space before
being able to stop. Keep plenty of space between your vehicle and the larger one.

 Heavier vehicles may slow down on inclines and then speed up when going downhill.
After stopping at an intersection, these vehicles may also roll backwards briefly before
going forwards, especially after being stopped facing uphill.

 When you encounter a disabled vehicle, proceed as you would with any other hazard;
use extra caution, slow down or change lanes if necessary. Make sure to use your signals
to alert other drivers of your intention, and always leave plenty of space between your
vehicle, the disabled vehicle, and anyone else sharing the road.

 When you need to pass a horseback rider while driving a vehicle, make sure to apply
necessary caution. New York State law prohibits you from using your horn when
approaching or passing a horse.

 Take extra care when approaching or passing slow-moving farm vehicles. Farm vehicles,
construction equipment, and any vehicle drawn by an animal are required to display an
official New York State emblem on the rear of the vehicle.

Module 7 Review: Alcohol, Intoxication, and Driving

Topics

1. Define alcohol and drugs

2. Describe the various medical, biological and physiological effects of alcohol and drugs on
the human body.

3. Explain what blood alcohol content is and how it is measured.

4. Discuss the synergism of drugs and alcohol and their influence on the human body.

5. Identify the various myths regarding alcohol and driving.

Key Takeaways
  Alcohol and drugs both cause intoxication, a physical and physiological feeling that
affects the body and its functions and systems.

 The term “liquid courage” refers to the illusion of control and invulnerability that
overtakes most drivers who are intoxicated.

 Common physical and physiological effects of alcohol include a loss of concentration,

impaired judgment, lengthened reaction times, dizziness and fatigue.

 Many common medications can also impair the ability of a driver to drive in a safe
manner. You should always discuss the side effects of your medications with your doctor
or pharmacist before deciding whether you should use the medicine while driving.

 Synergism is when two drugs or a drug and alcohol may produce unpredictable effects,
often of an adverse nature.

 Blood alcohol content commonly referred to as BAC is a measure of the percentage of

alcohol present in your bloodstream. Normally, BAC is measured using various chemical
tests of your breath, saliva, blood, or urine.

 Under Section 1192 of the New York Vehicle & Traffic Law, intoxicated drivers with
passengers under the age of 15 will face criminal penalties as well as civil consequences
of fines and suspension of licenses. This is known as Leandra’s Law

 Under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1194, anyone who drives in
the New York State and holds a valid license has consented to submit to any alcohol or
drug testing when a police officer requires them to do so.

Module 8 Review: Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

Topics

1. Define both aggressive driving and road rage.

2. Explain how anger fuels both aggressive driving and road rage.

3. Discuss how aggressive drivers can be identified.

4. Explain how you can avoid becoming a target of road rage.

Key Takeaways

 Sometimes, due to aggression, a driver may start driving irresponsibly and in a

dangerous manner that can risk their life as well as the lives of others around them,
 especially occupants of other unsuspecting vehicles. This behavior is called aggressive
driving.

 Aggressive driving itself is NOT the same thing as road rage. Nevertheless, it is important
to understand that if aggressive driving is not managed, it can lead to road rage.

 Road rage is a term used to describe instances of violent driving that may lead to
accidents or incidents while driving.

 Make a general rule: respect yourself and other drivers, even if they don’t deserve the
respect.

 When our brains perceive a threat, chemicals are released that prepare the human body
to fight and react quickly. These hormones can cause changes in our bodies that can
indicate aggression. Examples of such behaviors are clenched fists, flushed face, and
tightened facial muscles.

 Handling road rage goes both ways, preventing it from taking over your sense of
judgment as well as avoiding other aggressive drivers.

 Remember, the last thing that a raging driver needs is a further provocation!

 Here are a few tips that you can remember to avoid becoming a target of road rage:

o Do not make eye contact with the enraged driver

o Remain calm, courteous, and patient.

o Move away safely whenever possible.

o Do not attempt to threaten or challenge the other driver.

o Do not block the raging driver’s path.

o Do not acknowledge the gestures of a raging driver or respond verbally.

o Any instances of assault or violence should be reported to the police.

o Try to obtain the plate number and description of the vehicle to help the police in
tracking the raging driver.

 New York State has strict laws that regulate driving behaviors and can impose severe
penalties on perpetrators of aggressive driving and road rage. Know the law!

Module 9 Review: School Buses, Work Zones, Motorcycles, and Emergency Vehicles
Topics

1. Summarize various laws regarding school buses and work zones.

2. Understand potential dangers to construction workers, construction equipment

operators, and operators of motor vehicles in a highway work zone.

3. Utilize strategies for driving safely through a work zone.

4. Explain how you can maneuver your vehicle safely around motorcycles.

5. Identify the correct way to interact with emergency vehicles on the road.

Key Takeaways

 Under New York law, school buses are any public or private vehicles that are designated
to carry school-going children, teachers, and supervisors to and from school and school
activities.

 Young children, often unaware of their surroundings, are at the greatest risk while
they’re boarding or leaving a bus. Due to their smaller size, many drivers are often
unable to see them.

 Under New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law, work zones are all areas where parts of the
roadway are being used or are occupied for highway work in which workers, equipment,
vehicles, supplies, and other obstructions are present.

 Work Zones often have route and lane configuration changes that can disrupt the normal
flow of the traffic. In order to facilitate the traffic, flaggers can be appointed by the local
authorities. You’re obligated to follow the instructions of the flaggers.

 Due to their smaller size, motorcycles require special consideration by drivers when
they’re sharing the road with them.

 By law, you’re required to pull over, stop and make way for an emergency vehicle that is
responding to any emergency, signified by the flashing lights displayed on the vehicles.

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Completions should appear in the NYS DMV system within 48 hours.

Reminder: The New York Online Pre-Licensing course does NOT have a physical certificate.