Demands of City Driving

REDUCING SPEED

• Allows for more time to see details and identify their meaning.
• Allows for more time to analyze information and predict what might happen.
• Allows for more reaction time to decide what to do.
• Allows for additional time to execute decisions or avoid dangerous situations.

LOOKING AHEAD OF TRAFFIC:

• Look ahead for traffic hazards
• Leave enough distance to maneuver
• Signal lights:
~ Look ahead for signal changes
~ Anticipate signal changes
~ Check for stale green lights

COVERING THE BRAKE NOT RIDING IT

• Slow for reduced stopping distance
• Situations in which the brake pedal should be covered
~ Next to parked cars
~ Brake lights of other cars
~ Approaching signal lights

CITY PASSING

• Passing over center line of travel
• Passing in or near an intersection

CHOOSING OF LANE

• Choose a lane appropriate to use
• Choose a less traveled or congested lane unless planning to turn

VEHICLE POSITION

• Keep up with traffic speed and within legal limits
• Avoid another driver’s blind spots
• Avoid letting another driver driving in your blind spot
• Avoid side-by-side driving
• Avoid driving in bunches

CHOOSING A SAFE ROUTE

• Time of day and traffic density
• Through streets vs. side streets
• One-way street vs. two-way streets

SPECIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CITY TRAFFIC

• Parked cars hiding cross traffic
• Detour in lane of travel
• Left turn center lane use
• Turning at corners

Driving on one-way streets
~ Identifying
~ Entering
~ Speed
~ Lane choice
~ Exiting
~ Dealing with wrong-way drivers