Driver Responsibility

Buckle Up- NJs Seat Belt Law

Car Seats
Child Restraint Law
Air Bags
Car Condition
Starting a Parked Car
Steering
Stopping Distances
Proper Braking
Driving Signals
Driving in Reverse
Turning
Parking

Buckle Up- NJs Seat Belt
Law
The driver and all passengers MUST
wear a seatbelt.
Primary offense: driver, front seat passenger
& children under age 18
Driver is responsible for all passengers under
18
Exemptions
Vehicle manufactured before July 1, 1966
Federal law vehicle
Medical reason
Verified by licensed physician

Seat Belts
Save lives and improve a motorists
chance of surviving a crash by 60%
Chances of surviving a collision are
three four times better.
Tips for seat belt use
Seat belt test
Car Seats
All child restraint systems built since
Jan. 1, 1981 must be designed to
pass tough safety tests.
Infant car seat:
protect a baby up to 20 pounds & 26
inches
Facing rear
Convertible car seat:
Larger seat;
Infant/ toddler up to 40 pounds & 40
inches; placed in vehicle facing
backwards for a baby
Special Note
It is preferred that whenever possible,
child car safety seats be placed in the
backseat. However, if there is no
backseat in the vehicle, move the front
seat as far back as possible.

NEVER place rear- facing infant safety
seats in the front row of a vehicle with
a front passenger- side air bag.
Child Restraint Law
Children up to age 8/ 80 pounds
MUST ride in federally approved
safety/ booster seat in rear seat of
vehicle.

Children under age 8/over 80 pounds
MUST be in rear seat & use a seat
belt
$54.00 fine
Car Condition

Responsibility of all vehicle owners
Backup lights
Brake Lights
Headlights
Horn
Steering
Should always hold a straight course
Should not vibrate (shimmy)
Brakes
Conventional disc & drum brakes
Pump gently after driving through water to test & dry out
Antilock braking system (ABS)
Tested by applying steady pressure to brake pedal.
NEVER pump or jerk steering wheel when braking

Starting a Parked Car
Look behind, and in front
Checklist:
Windows: clean & clear
Adjust seat: arms length
Inside/outside rearview mirrors
Seat belts- fastened
Vehicle should be parked; emergency
brake set
Doors locked


Starting a Parked Car
Good posture
Eye checkup- every 2 years
After starting the engine
Turning & looking back; do not only
depend on rearview mirrors
Blind spots
Car Condition
Tires
Tire pressure should be checked often
Never should be driven= less than 1/16 in. of
thread (dime)
Turn signals
Windshield
NJ laws prohibit add- on tinting on
windshields and front side windows
Snow & Ice
Must remove snow/ ice before driving
$25-$75 fine
Idling Your Vehicle
Engine is running, car isnt moving.
Restrict vehicle idling to 3 minutes/
less.
Unnecessary
Harmful to vehicle & yourself
fines: $250-$1,000


Idling stinks, and its against the law-
turn the key and be idle free!
Steering
Hand position9 & 3 oclock position.
Less chance of hand, wrist or arm injury
if air bag is deployed.
Never turn the wheel while gripping it
from the inside of the rim.
Steering wheel should be held firmly- not
too tight.
Keep vehicle in center of the lane
Two lane road- keep to the right
ABS- NEVER jerk the wheel while
braking!
Hand Position
Hand- Over- Hand- Steering
Stopping Distances
Depends on:
Reaction time
Weather & visibility conditions
Vehicle weight
Brake conditions
Condition and type of tires
Roadway conditions
Speed
The faster a vehicle is going the longer it will
take to stop
Stopping Distances on Dry
Surfaces for Passenger Vehicles:
Proper Braking
Type of brake system
Conventional drum & disc system
ABS
Do not pump brakes violently/ jerk the wheel
Out of control
Steady, gentle pressure should be
applied to bring a vehicle to a
controlled stop
Should use right foot for both the
brake & gas pedal
Manual transmission- left foot for
clutch
Driving Signals
Always give proper signal:
Turning
Changing lanes
Stopping/ slowing down
100 feet
Hand signals:
Stopping/ slowing down: hand & arm
downward, palm facing rear
Right turn: hand and arm upward
Left turn: hand and arm straight out
Another signal= the horn (200 feet)

Hand Signals:
Driving in Reverse
Make sure path is clear:
Mirrors & turning to check.
Turning the wheel to the right will direct the
vehicle to the right.
Steering the wheel to the left will direct the
vehicle to the left.
Reverse in a straight line
Head & body should be turned to the right.
Right hand and arm should be placed over the
back of the front passenger seat
Left hand grasp the top of the steering wheel
2-4 mph
Do not turn forward until vehicle is stopped
Driving in Reverse (cont.)
Other than reversing in a straight line,
two hands must be on the wheel.

Front of vehicle will swing in opposite
direction of a turn.

Turning

Motorist should decide well in advance
where he/ she wants to turn (100 ft).
The faster the traffic is moving, the
sooner the motorist should plan
his/her turn.
If a turn is missed- NEVER back up.

Before turning, a motorist should
always:
Use mirrors to look behind & to both sides for
other vehicles or people.
Check for less visible vehicles:
Motorcycles
Bicycles
Mopeds
Signal first:
Turn signals
Hand signals
Slow down before reaching an intersection.
Keep a steady speed & follow pavement
markings.
Always stay in the same lane until the turn is
finished.
Make sure signal is turned off after the turn is
completed.

The 3-point Turn (K turn)
When turning a vehicle around,
motorist should start from the right
edge of the road.
Choose a safe spot; good visibility
Signal left; move forward slowly turning
the steering wheel to the left
Signal right & back slowly while turning
the steering wheel to the right
Next, move vehicle forward, signaling
left, turning the steering wheel to the
left.
Finally- straighten the vehicles wheels
The 3-point Turn
Parking
Always set the hand brake
When parking a vehicle facing
downhill:
Hand brake should be set
Vehicles wheels should be turned toward
the curb
When parking a vehicle facing uphill:
Hand brake should be set
Vehicles wheels should be turned away
from the curb
Angle Parking
Parking lots
Curbs
Entering an angle
parking space:
1. Watch for traffic
2. Signal & begin to slow
down
3. Make sure rear of
vehicle will clear
parked cars
4. Steer sharply into
parking space &
straighten wheels;
centering the vehicle
5. Shift to park; apply
parking brake
Angle Parking
A motorist should follow these rules when
backing out of an angle parking space:
1. Walk around; make sure nothing is in
vehicles way
2. Slowly move vehicle in reverse
3. Tap horn to warn pedestrians
4. Look back & to each side for other motorists
5. Front of vehicle swings opposite to the
direction of the turn
6. Back up slowly- left front wheel passes rear
bumper of vehicle parked on left
7. Straighten the wheels

Parallel Parking
Most common on city streets
A motorist should:
Find a parking spot large enough to fit vehicle
Signal for a stop and to the right
Pull up alongside vehicle in front
2-4 feet
Turn & check to see that the way is clear
Turn his/ her body- look out rear window; turn steering
wheel all the way to the right
When front of vehicle has cleared the rear bumper of
vehicle in front- stop & check the angle
Make sure back right wheel has not hit the curb
Turn steering wheel all the way to the left- back up
slowly
Turn vehicles wheels straight & drive to the center of
the parking space
Vehicles tires should be no more than 6 inches from the curb

Parallel Parking
Signal Stop &
put RIGHT
signal on
Reverse: Turn
steering wheel
all the way to the
RIGHT
Stop & Check;
Reverse; Turn
steering wheel
all the way to
the LEFT
Straighten out
vehicle; 6
inches