Virginia Department of Education

Module Four
Using a Space
Management System
While Interacting with
Traffic
©2016 1
 Factors that Increase Risk (Q3)

Driver Driver’s Driving

Behaviors State of Conditions
• Speeding • Weather
• Aggressive
Mind Conditions
• Intoxication
Driving • Sharp/Blind
• Inattention • Drowsiness/ Curves
• Incorrect Seat Fatigue • Left Turns
Position • Anger/Road • Weave Lanes
Rage
• Failure to • Heavy Traffic
maintain vehicle • Impatience • Pedestrians
• Distraction
properly • Bicyclists
• Not using • Carelessness • Wildlife
seatbelt • Inattention Crossings
correctly

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 What is Risk Assessment? (Q5)
Drivers must have the ability to:
Identify a potentially dangerous situation.
Prepare to take action to avoid a conflict.
Consider options and the potential consequences
of your actions.

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Risk-Taking Behaviors Cause Crashes(Q6-1)
Very often drivers actually
create the high-risk
situations they become
involved in.
Speeding is the number one
cause of crashes in Virginia.
What is the relationship
between speed and force of
impact?
How do speed limits
improve public safety?

©2016 4
 Assessing and Managing Risk (Q6-2)
Failure to Yield Right of Way is the second
leading cause of crashes in Virginia.
Right of way is when a driver or pedestrian is
allowed to proceed first at an intersection,
merging roadway, private driveway, etc.

A driver cannot “take”

right of way - it must be
given by another
driver.

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 Assessing and Managing Risk
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is the third
leading cause of crashes in Virginia.
In Virginia, 272 persons were killed in alcohol-
related crashes in 2020.

Why are young drivers who consume alcohol at much

greater risk of being involved in a crash?

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 Assessing and Managing Risk(Q6-4)
Disregarding a
traffic sign or signal
is the fourth
leading cause of
crashes in Virginia.

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 Assessing and Managing Risk(Q6-5)
Factors Contributing to Risk
Following too closely is the fifth
leading cause of crashes in
Virginia.
You will not crash if you have
space -- space gives you time to
steer or brake to avoid a hazard.

Why do young drivers tend

to leave shorter following
distances than older
drivers?
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Assessing and Managing Risk(Q6-5( f,g)
Other Driver Actions that Contribute to
Crashes:
Improper Turns — Examples of improper turns
would be turning wide and going into the
adjacent lane in a right turn or crossing the yellow
line on left turns.
Unsafe Passing — This involves
illegal passing or passing without
sufficient clearance, and
Lack of driving experience and
risk-taking behaviors.

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How Will You Reduce Driving Risks?(Q8)

1. Communicate Intentions
2. Change Speed
3. Change Position or Direction

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11
Open, Closed and Changing Zones(Q2)
A Zone can be OPEN, CLOSED
or CHANGING.
OPEN — Space where you
can drive without restriction.
CLOSED — Space or area is
not available in the vehicle’s
path of travel.
CHANGING — Open zone
changes to a closed zone or a
closed zone becomes an open
zone.
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Open,&Closed,&and&Changing&
Space&Driving&Situa7ons&

CLOSED'

CHANGING'

OPEN'

13
Controlling Space (Following Distance) (Q4)

Drivers have the most control over the space directly

in front of the vehicle.
2-Second - Following Distance is effective at speeds
under 35 mph.
3-Second - Following Distance may provide enough
time for evasive steering maneuver on dry surfaces or
to brake at speeds up to 45 mph.
4-Second - Following Distance provides time to steer
out of a problem on dry surfaces and brake out of a
problem at speeds up to 70 mph.

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 Determining Following Distance

1 As soon as
rear of vehicle
ahead passes the
work zone sign,
4 count the
2 When the front 3
seconds.
of your car 2 If you reach
3
reaches the sign,
1
the sign before
stop counting.
counting 3 – 4
seconds you are
following too
closely.
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Measuring Your Following Distance
Begin counting when rear of the vehicle
ahead passes a fixed object such as this tree,

one-thousand-one one-thousand-
two one-thousand-three, and…

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 Measuring Your Following Distance
When you reach the fixed object you
have calculated your following distance.

one-thousand-four

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Increase Following Distance When (Q5)

Visibility is limited
Traction is limited
Number of visual and mental tasks increases
Being tailgated
Restricted line of sight
Restricted path of travel
Carrying a heavy load or pulling a trailer
Learning to drive

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 Stopping Behind Another Vehicle (Q6)

Why should you stop in a position that you can

see the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you?

Driver can see tires

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 Process for Managing the Driving Environment

SEEiT Space
Management System
Search for problems
Evaluate options
Execute decisions
In Time

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 Using SEEiT (Q1)
Driver’s need Visibility, Space and Time
Developing space management habits can reduce risks
Searching the roadside gives you additional traffic
clues.
Keep eyes active.

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 Search in the SEEiT System (Q2)
Know when, where and what to look for.
Continuously search far ahead, to the sides, to the
rear.
Search for clues: intersections, brake lights,
warning signs, traffic lights, other vehicles,
pedestrians, animals, parked cars, etc.
Search for changes in front wheels of other
vehicles, movement to the rear, from the side, etc.

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 Evaluate(Q3)
Gives meaning to
your search.
Identifies where the
possible points of
conflict may occur.
Determines how the
conflict may affect
you if it does
happen.
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Topic 5 Turnabouts (Q3)
Minimize risk by:
Being sure local laws permit a turnabout — look for any signs
prohibiting the maneuver.
Making sure you have at least 500 feet of visibility in each direction.
Being sure you have enough space and time to complete the
turn safely.
Never making a turnabout near or on hills and curves.
Checking continually for other traffic and pedestrians — check
and monitor all zones around your vehicle.
NO
U
Turns

NO
LEFT
Turns
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 Two-Point Turnabouts
Backing into driveway on the right side (Q4)
Steps
1. Check traffic flow. Signal, and position
yourself 2-3 feet from curb. 1
2. Drive beyond the driveway and stop;
shift to reverse and monitor intended
path.
3. Back slowly, turning steering wheel
rapidly to the right as you enter 2
driveway.
4. Straighten wheels, centering car in
driveway, and stop with the wheels 3
are straight.
5. Signal left and exit driveway when the
way is clear.
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 Two-Point Turnabouts
Pulling into driveway on the left side (Q5)
1. Check traffic flow
Signal and position your vehicle to 3-6 1
inches from center yellow line.
When traffic is clear, drive into the driveway
and stop.
Shift to reverse, monitor intended path.
2. Back slowly, turning steering wheel 2
rapidly to the right as you exit driveway.
3
Straighten wheels, centering car in
roadway.

3. Shift into Drive - Check traffic and

accelerate to normal speed.

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 Parking Strategies(Q9)
Look for a parking space with enough room for
entering and exiting.
Observe and follow all signs, laws, pavement
markings.
Look for vehicles exiting parking spaces.
Avoid spaces at the end of parking lanes where
being hit is more likely.
Avoid spaces near a large vehicle that block your
vision when existing and other people’s ability to see
you.
Avoid spaces with a poorly parked vehicle on either
side. ©2016 27
 No Parking! (Q10)
Parking is NOT allowed:
Beside another parked vehicle (double parking).
On crosswalks or sidewalks.
In front of driveways.
Next to painted yellow curbs or no parking signs.
In a parking space reserved for disabled persons.
On the hard surface of a road when no curb is
present.

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No Parking! (Q10)
Within 20 feet of an intersection.
Within 15 feet of the entrance to a
fire, ambulance or rescue squad
station.
Within 500 feet of where fire trucks
or equipment are stopped answering
an alarm.
Within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

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Parking on a Hill - Facing Downhill (Q17)
Parking with or without a curb Downhill
Parking
Position your vehicle 6” from the
curb.
Let the car move slowly forward while
turning the steering wheel sharply to
the right until the right front tire
rests against the curb (if there is one).
Shift into “P” (Park) if your vehicle is
equipped with an automatic
transmission or into REVERSE gear for
a manual transmission.
Engage the parking brake.
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 Parking on a Hill – Uphill with No Curb(Q18)

1. Drive as far off the roadway onto Parking Uphill

the shoulder as possible and with NO Curb

stop.
2. Turn wheels away from traffic.
3. Shift into “P” (Park) automatic
transmission, or into FIRST gear
for a manual transmission.
4. Engage the parking brake.

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 Parking Uphill – With a Curb(Q19)
Position your vehicle 6” from the curb Uphill Parking
and stop. with a Curb

1. Turn your steering wheel away from

curb and let the vehicle move slowly
back until the back of the front tire
touches the curb.
2. Shift into “P” (Park) if your vehicle is
equipped with an automatic
transmission or FIRST with a manual
transmission.
3. Engage the parking brake.
©2016 32
 Parking Garage Strategies(Q21)
Watch for backup lights
Observe and follow all signs
Stay to the right
Use headlights
Be aware of people in and around the garage

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Please

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