Traffic School

How to Drive a Vehicle

January 30, 2023
by Frankie Fopiano

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When you’re teaching your child how to drive, it can be very difficult for you to tell if they are developing good visual habits. Good visual habits are essential for safe driving. Here are some common errors that drivers make with poor visual habits:

Do not prepare for stops or turns far enough in advance
Do not notice traffic tie-ups in advance
Become trapped behind large trucks, slow-moving vehicles or
parked cars
Are frequently surprised
Are unaware of their own speed
Drive with turn signals flashing without intending to turn
Drive with mirrors that are dirty or out of adjustment
Become distracted easily

Stay tuned for additional safe driving tips. Should you have any questions, always feel free to contact us at (702) 212-5667.

When learning to drive, there are two important habits we need to develop to become safe defensive drivers.

1. Looking ahead

Gives you time and space for decision making and vehicle control

How far ahead should we look?

2 blocks
Drop back to 1 block (12 seconds)
Drop back to 2-4 seconds

What benefit do we get by varying how far ahead we look?

It allows your brain to correctly interpret the signal it receives from your eyes

2. Keep scanning

Scanning allows you to see all of the important information happening around your vehicle as you drive up your intended path of travel

Ground scanning

Will allow you to know when another vehicle may be about to change direction
Will allow you to see people standing in between parked cars and small kids playing near the street

Let’s discuss the proper procedures for making a right turn. If you follow the steps outlined below you will make a proper turn every time.

Check traffic as you approach the intersection
Activate your right turn signal at 100 feet
Check your rear view mirror to make sure the vehicle behind you is not making the same maneuver
Check the passenger side mirror and check your blind spot
Position your vehicle two feet from the curb (just to the left of the white gutter strip)
As the front of your vehicle reaches the point where the curb starts to curve around, begin your turn
Look to the right side of the windshield
To complete your turn look up the middle of your new travel lane
After completing your turn check your rear view mirror and smoothly accelerate

The proper procedure for making a left turn is listed below. The key point to remember is that when making a left turn, you don’t have to turn the steering wheel as much because it is more of an arc turn.

Scan the intersection as you approach
Set your vehicle just to the right of the centerline
Activate your left signal at 100 feet
Position your vehicle near the middle of the intersection
When traffic is clear, start your turn
As you are turning look up the middle of your new travel lane
After completing your turn, check your rearview mirror and smoothly accelerate

If you have a left turn lane, make sure you check your rearview mirror to make sure the vehicle behind you is not making the same maneuver. Then check the driver side mirror and check your blind spot before moving into the turn lane.

Author: Rich Heinrich
Master Instructor, Emeritus