Samuel Roberts

Knepler Driving School Notes

24 Dexter Drive, Shelton CT
garroh1@gmail.com

Section 1 Notes
We all have a personal responsibility to road safety
many rules are absorbed by osmosis
A motorist has a responsibility to obey the road laws.
Pre drive protocol:
Approach the vehicle:
Inspect the blind zone (larger vehicles contribute to a larger blind zone)
Check behind the car before backing up
Pre Entry Checks:
make sure travel path is clear of debris/children/animals
check fro fluid leaks
check for damage
Driving Compartment Drill:
identify functions of all gauges and instruments
identify and locate hand controls
practice with driving controls
Pre Drive Procedures:
Close and lock doors
Insert key
secure loose objects
Adjust seat and headrest
Adjust mirrors
Ensure good ventilation
Fasten Seatbelt
The safety belt is the single most effective safety device in the car.
The safest place for infants is the middle of the back seat.
Frequent yawning and blinking are signs of tiredness. Get off the road if you are tired.
All drugs may have side effects that can impair your driving ability.
Learn to spot the warning signs of road rage!

Vehicle maintenance is key to proper operation.

once a week, inspect the vehicle for damage and ensure:
Tire Pressure
Tires lose pressure over time, roughly 1psi per month, and 1 psi for every 9F lost.
Tire Wear Pattern
No balding or uneven wear on the surface of the tire
Safety/ Communication Accessories
All lights and signals are functional

Every month ensure that:

Motor Oil:
ensure the mount of oil is correct and that it is the correct color
Wiper Fluid:
Ensure the amount of wiper fluid s correct for the season
Cooling System:
Check the level of coolest in the expansion tank, and then check the level in the radiator.
Brake System:
Check the amount of brake fluid in the master cylinder.
Power Steering:
Check the fluid in the reservoir

Section 1 Review:
1. I am taking this course to refresh my driving knowledge before I take the driving test to get
my license. Its long overdue.
2. I believe I will learn safe driving habits, as well as have a greater sense of responsibility to
the rules of the road, as well as the safety of myself and other motorists.
3. A particular habit that I have noticed in my family is rapid acceleration and quick braking.
Additionally, frustration is a big problem I have found in my family members in the road.
4. You can alleviate frustration and anger by firstly remembering that you cant control the other
drivers on the road, you can only control the way you react to them. You can also get off the
road and cool of for a few minutes as well.
5. While you cannot control the actions of other motorists, the biggest way to to control their
reactions to your bad habits, is to reduce your bad habits.
6. Responsibilities of involved parties:
Driver/Parent: 1
Legislators: 4
Police Agencies: 3

Automobile Manufacturer: 5
Restraint Manufacturer: 2
Department of Transport: 6

Section 2 Notes
SIPDE system is a strategy for assessing and developing defensive driving habits.
Scan:
Scan the entire driving environment. Scan far ahead the vehicle, then closer, glance in the
rearview mirror, under the mirror and then sweep left back to the first area.
Predict:
Ask yourself what if and attempt to predict the worst case scenario for your current situation.
Expect the unexpected
Identify:
Look for negative road condition such as fog and rain, as well as poor road conditions, and
traffic as well.
Decide:
Decide what you are going to do in a given situation. Hopefully you have made eye to eye
contact with other motorists involved. Then you must adapt to the potential hazard. Changing
speed and adjusting route as necessary.
Execute:
Based on what you have scanned for, produced, identified and decided, execute a plan based
on the current situation.
The best way to evaluate current dangers is the three second rule. This is the minimum safe
distance to follow another vehicle, as it is the shortest amount of time youll be able to safely
stop before a collision.
You cant avoid being tailgated, but dont panic, reduce speed to make sure youre able to stop
safely should anything happen in front of you.

Section 2 Review
1a. Driver A should slow to a stop to avoid the oncoming car and the road hazard. Driver B
should slow as he passes the roadside hazard to not cause a collision with Driver A
1b. The speed of the other driver and the location of the hazard affect their decisions.
1c. Driver A should slow to a stop and wait for Driver B to pass the hazard, when driver B has
passed the hazard, Driver A can enter the other lane safely and pass the hazard.
2a. The potential hazards are as follows: Driver B may collide with one of the parked cars, or
may pull out into the street before the other drivers pass him, creating a collision.
2b. Driver B should wait to pull out until both other drivers have passed. Driver A should slow as
he passes Driver B, in order to minimize the risk of collision, and Driver C should slow as he
passes the other two drivers.
2c. The worst case scenario would be Driver B pulling out into the street as Driver A passes
him, causing a collision, with Driver B either backing part of the collision or narrowly avoiding it.

3a. Driver A should slow t a stop as they approach the light to await the pedestrian crossing the
road. Driver B should do the same.
3b.The crossing pedestrian interrupts normal motorist right of way, and instead has right of way.
3c. Driver A and B should await the crossing of the pedestrian, as he has right of way. Then
whichever driver reach the intersection first should turn the corner.

Section 3 Notes
Collisions are caused by individual road users acting improperly, either thorough inattention or a
variety of other reasons.
The solution to avoiding collisions and mistakes in road use is to apply the SIPDE system.
Other motorists often do not fallout a safe distance and follow too closely.
Intersections:
One reason for a large number of collisions is the failure by drivers to identify them as
intersections.
Controlled
These have some signs and signals to control the flow of traffic and help determine the right of
way.
Uncontrolled
These do not have signs or signals to control the flow of traffic and can be dangerous. Drivers
may to notice the intersection as it may be challenging to see.
Collision situations:
Blind intersections: When visibility is obstructed drivers assume that when they cant see, that
there is not danger.
Right of Way: theses indicate a lack of communication between two drivers. Communicate by
using hand gestures and eye contact.
Left Turns: These are inherently more dangerous as they require the driver to cross three lanes
of traffic at once. Pedestrians or other traffic may pose a threat and block the way.

Section 3 Review
1a. Driver A could have slowed to a stop as he approached the light to yield the right of way to
the second driver.
1b. Driver B should have used SIPDE to scan for the potential threat of the approaching car.
2a. Driver A should have reduced speed in order to pass behind Driver B.
2b. Driver B should have increased speed in order to create space for Driver A to pass.

2c. The tractor trailer Should slow to a stop in order to avoid a collision with driver A and B.

Section 4 Notes
Foresight is a major character its of a good driver.
Road conditions
Curves:
The best way to handle a curve is to think ahead and consider how sharp the curve is and hat
speed is the safest. You have no control over the sharpness of the curve, only your own speed.
Hills
gravity affects the movement of your vehicle. Uphill reduces speed and shortens the raking
distance, and vice versa. When a hill is especially steep a warning sign may be posted.
Shifting Gears
Uphill, the engine and transmission wrk extra hard, excessive striking may cause the engine
and transmission to overheat and give out.

Section 4 Review
1A. Driver A should have ensured that no drivers were coming by using SIPDE and attempted to
make his way as far off the roadway as possible.
1B. Driver B should have driven safely off the roadway as soon as they noticed the fog,
activated their hazard lights and waited for visibility to improve.
2A. Driver A should have recognized the wet conditions and reduced speed to 30mph or lower.
When the hydroplaning occurred they should have shifted to neutral and activated the hazard
lights.
2B. If Driver A had seen the hazard lights they could have reduced speed or stopped to avoid
the collision.
2C. Driver C should have kept their speed low so they would have plenty of stopping time when
Driver A collided.

Section 5 Notes
When the driver loses control of the vehicle, they should apply a loss of control strategy traduce
the danger of the situation. The most critical element is to remain calm and to remember not to
panic.
Loss of Control Strategies:
Blow Out
Rapid loss of tire inflation
maintain speed
grip steering wheel - keep in a straight line
Activate hazard lights
When under control ease off accelerator

 check traffic and select safe path

change lanes and get off the road as far as possible to change the tire
Hood Flies Up
Maintain forward vision - look through space between car and hood
Activate hazard lights
Reduce Speed
Check traffic and choose a safe travel path and steer off the roadway
Park in a safe location
Close hood firmly
Drive to nearest service center
Engine Overheats:
Turn on heat inside the car
Shift to neutral
Rev engine slightly
Otherwise
Check for traffic and drive of the roadway
Park in a safe pace and activate hazard lights
Open hood to allow heat to dissipate
Check hoses, coolest level and belt
Unlock radiator cap and get a cup of water
Release the pressure
Add water to the radiator
Restart engine and fill as needed
Reinstall cap and proceed to the nearest service station
Engine Stalls
Shift to neutral
Activate hazard lights
restart using ignition switch
if it does not restart apply the brakes and steer to a safe location
Fire
Activate hazard lights
select safe travel path and move off the road
park away from crowd and buildings
turn off ignition
move at least 150 feet away
Avoiding an Obstacle
Apply brake
activate hazard lights
select safe path around obstacle - don't go across the center line of the road
look and steer in the desired direction
ease up on the brake to allow for the full steering input
stabilize the vehicle
check traffic and return to your lane

Section 5 Review
1a. Driver A should have maintained speed as much as possible and activated their hazard
lights while navigating to a safe path off the road.
1b. Driver B should have applied the brake and begun an emergency stop, activated the hazard
lights and selected a safe path around Driver A. Driver B should have looked and steered to
avoid driver A and eased up on the brakes to allow the full input of the vehicle and then
stabilized the vehicle, before returning to his lane.
2.
Car Jacker 1
Driver 3
Police Agencies 4
Owner 5

Police Officers 2
Municipal Authorities 6
Legislators 7

Section 6 notes
Testing - police agencies utilize a standardized test to determine the blood alcohol level in an
impaired driver. This does not work for other substances, and in these situations the police may
request a urine or blood sample.
Implied consent - Anyone who operates a motor vehicle is deemed to consent to be tested to
determine the amount of alcohol in their blood. Refusal of ten test will lead to criminal charges
and a minimum 90 day license suspension.
Failure of the test will result in sanctions over and above the other criminal penalties. These are
called
Administrative Per Se sanctions and they are imposed by the DMV.
The leading cause of death for youths aged 16-21 is motor vehicle crashes
NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE
Alcohol is a drug and the only way to eliminate it from the body is time, approximately 1
alcoholic drink over hour (1.5 oz. highball, 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. wine)

Section 6 Review
1. The decision to simply say no is required to diminish the enormous cost of life in alcohol
and drug related collisions
2. Connecticut is much less tolerant of toward drinking and driving. As such much stiffer fines
and jail times have been put in place. Beyond that, these penalties are even more severe as
a novice driver.
3. The Zero Tolerance Law states that no one under the age of 21 may drink and drive. Even
after one drink, minors will be punished for violating this law regardless of whether they are
physically impaired during driving or not.

4. The zero tolerance law was enacted in order to prevent drinking an driving among both
minors and adults.
5. The Administrative Per Se sanctions entails that if a driver fails or refuses to take the
standardized alcohol/drug use test, that further sanctions will be placed upon the driver by
the DMV, beyond the criminal charges also placed. This includes the 90 day suspension of
license.
6. The Administrative Per Se sanctions were enacted in Connecticut because of statistical
evidence about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Section 7 Review
Jason went walking along the side of the road but was struck by a vehicle. Jason was an
organ donor and gave his heart to a dying man. Jasons sacrifice saved many, many lives. His
heart, and kidneys were able to save the lives of people who had no other options.

Section 8 Notes
Alcohol advertisements have a profound impact on people. The problem os that these ads
never mention the negative impact of their product. Never Drink and Drive and never let a friend
drink and drive.
Being the designated driver and abstaining from drinking will prevent you from drinking and
prevent you from driving under the influence.
The best way to identify a drunk driver is to observe their driving habits, they may swerve or
brake frequently, as well as have inconsistent speed.
One person may save the lives of up to 50 people by being an organ donor.

Section 8 Review
1. The best way to minimize this risk and this loss is to simply not drive when impaired by
anything .
2. Strict laws and legislature to prevent impaired driving is one step. Additionally, good
education about the risks and losses of impaired driving help to make sure people police
themselves.
3. Swerving and drifting between lanes is an obvious sign that a driver is impaired. Inconsistent
speed and intermittent braking is also a good sign.
4. By using the SIPDE you can avoid the dangers posed by the drunk driver.
5.
John, Driver 1
Other Road Users who Noticed 4
Mary, The Reluctant Passenger 7
Waitress 5
The Other Passengers 2
Restaurant Management 6
The Driver of the Other Vehicle 3