7. Signal well in advance to warn others of anintended stop or turn.WET ROADSWhen driving through water, reduce speed toprevent the brake drums, engine, and ignition fromgetting wet. Apply foot pressure on the brake pedal justbefore entering and during passage through water deepenough to enter the brakes. Test the brakes foreffectiveness immediately after leaving the water. Ifwater has entered the brake drums and wet the linings,drive very slowly while gently applying sufficientpressure on the brake pedal to cause a slight drag,thereby squeezing the brake linings against the drumsand forcing the water out of the linings.Most roads are more slippery just after it begins torain. This is because oil, that has dropped from vehiclestraveling the road, forms a film on the road. Under theseconditions, an operator should proceed at a slow speedbecause at least twice the normal stopping distance isneeded to stop a vehicle.When roads are wet, your tires may ride on a thinfilm of water, like skis. This condition is calledhydroplaning and you can easily lose control and skidwhen your tires are not touching the road. Keep yourtires on the road by slowing down when it rains and byhaving the correct air pressure and good tread on yourtires.NIGHT DRIVINGSome operators try to drive just as fast at night asthey do in the daytime. Speed should always be reducedfor nighttime driving.NIGHT DRIVING IS TWO TO THREE TIMESMORE DANGEROUS THAN DAY DRIVING.Fatigue and sharply reduced vision are the primarycauses for increased danger. The steady hum of themotor and the darkness on the road ahead tend to lull usto sleep at the wheel. Wide-awake driving is necessaryat all times and especially at night, since we cannot seeas well at night as we can in daylight. Driving safelyafter dark requires particular skills and extra care.The following are requirements and practicesapplicable to night driving which should be carefullyobserved:. Lower the beams of your headlights when within500 feet of an approaching vehicle.llllllllllLower the beams of your headlights when within200 feet of a vehicle in front of you.Lower the beams of your headlights when youare driving on well-illuminated streets.Use your low-beam headlights when driving infog, and reduce your speed. Driving with yourhigh beams in fog is like shining your high-beamheadlights on a mirror—light is reflected backinto your eyes and blinds you.Use your high-beam headlights when it is safeand legal. Using low-beam highlight all the timecuts down on your ability to see ahead. Use yourhigh-beams when you are NOT within 500 feetof an approaching vehicle.Avoid looking directly into the lights ofoncoming vehicles. Instead, watch the right-handedge of the road.Keep your headlights properly adjusted so thelower beams are not aimed upward into theapproaching driver’s eyes.Keep your windshield clean.Slow down when facing the glare fromapproaching headlights.Be sure you can stop, when necessary, within thevision distance of the headlights of your vehicle,and watch constantly for pedestrians along theroadside.Use your headlights from one-half hour beforesunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at anytime visibility is reduced.FOG OR SMOKEDriving in fog or smoke greatly reduces visibility.Use the techniques described earlier for driving on wetroads. Again, slow down, turn on your low-beamheadlights, and be ready for a fast stop.DRIVING UNDER SPECIALCONDITIONSYou may have to operate a vehicle in uniqueconditions. The way you perform under these conditionsare discussed in the following paragraphs.5-6
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business