GLS:
● A system designed to ensure new drivers have both experience and knowledge prior to
being allowed to drive without supervision
● The 3 stages of the GLS are learner’s permit, provisional license, and full license.
● The GLS targets situations when new drivers have historically had higher crash rates.
According to a recent JHU/NHTSA study, GLS helps reduce teen crashes by 20%.
● Learner’s Permit:
○ Received at 15 years and 9 months.
○ Under 18- must have parent/legal guardian’s signature.
○ Must pass vision screening and knowledge test.
○ In under 16, must provide completed Learner’s Permit School Attendance
Certification form during the learner's permit application process
○ Holder should be driving with someone 21+ and has a license for 3 years
minimum. Shouldn’t text/use cell phone except for 911 emergency
○ Supervising driver should be seated in front seat
● Provisional License:
○ 16 years and 6 months
○ Must complete driver’s ed
○ Must submit completed/signed practice and skills log to document a minimum of
60 hours
○ Must have a valid unexpired learner’s permit held for 9 months violation free
○ Drivers under 18 are not permitted to carry passengers under the age of 18,
except for family members, for the first 5 months of licensure.
○ Drivers under 18 may not drive between 12 midnight and 5am unless for school
sports, job, or volunteer work.
○ Cannot operate a motor vehicle while using any wireless communication device
except for emergencies. Violations can result in suspension of driving privileges.
○ Zero alcohol tolerance under age 21 (blood alcohol concentration [BAC] cannot
be over 0.02)
○ All passengers have to be wearing seat belts.
● Full License
○ 18 years old
○ Must hold provisional license for 18 months
○ Must complete driver’s ed
○ Must submit completed/signed practice and skills log to document a minimum of
60 hours
○ Must have a valid unexpired learner’s permit held for 3 months violation free
○ Must hold a learner's permit for 45 days without any moving violations or
probation before judgment for any moving violation.
○ Must have completed driver’s ed
○ Must have at least 14 hours of supervised behind the wheel driving.
○
Signs, Signals, and Pavement Markings
● traffic signs, signals, and pavement markers allow drivers to reasonably predict what
other drivers will do.
● They provide an opportunity for pedestrians/vehicles to cross an intersection.
● They reduce the number of conflicts and crashes between drivers moving in different
directions.
○ Guide signs can be red, white, and blue to indicate interstate numbers.
■ 3 digit numbers with an even first number are beltways going around a
city
■ 3 digit numbers with an odd first number are spurs connecting an
interstate to another community
○ Black and white indicate routes and state roads
■ US routes preceded the interstate system and can run through cities and
towns
■ Even numbers run east-west
■ Odd numbers run north-south
■ Maryland routes are usually black and white squares and are smaller
routes maintained by local governments
○ Green indicates exists or mile markers
○ Blue indicate motorists’ services
○ Brown indicate special points of interest
● Warning signs tell a driver a median is upcoming; the number of lanes is changing; or
traffic is entering from a different direction
● Regulatory signs regulate the flow of traffic and let drivers know the law. They may have
red circles with lines through them to indicate what the driver may not do.
● 35 mph on divided highways in a residential district. 50 mph on other undivided
highways. 55 mph on other divided highways. 70 mph on interstate highways and
expressways
● Yellow speed limit is a warning sign, and white speed sign is a speed limit.
● When you see a stop sign, you come to a complete stop before the stop line and yield to
pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers.
● Yield sign means a driver should let the other drivers go first.
● Traffic signals:
○ Red- moving traffic shall stop and not enter the intersection
○ Yellow- a change is about to occur and a driver must clear/not enter the
intersection.
○ Green- traffic moves in the direction of the signal but should yield to other
vehicles and pedestrians in the intersection.
○ Flashing red- a driver must stop before entering the intersection
○ Yellow- a driver must slow down and proceed with caution when going through
the intersection.
○ Red arrow- don’t turn in that direction
○ Yellow-turn when it's safe with caution
○ Green- turn when it's safe (protective turn)
● Pavement marks
○ Yellow lines separate traffic traveling in opposite directions
○ White lines are used to separate traffic traveling in the same direction, indicate
where you must stop, and mark the right edge of roadway
○ White pavement markings mark lanes like HOV (high occupancy vehicle), bike
lanes, rail crossings, school zones, etc.
○ Solid white lane means to stay within your lane
● Four categories of things to search for:
○ Signs, Signals, Pavement Marks
○ Non-motorized users (animals, pedestrians, bicyclists)
○ Motorized users (other cars, buses)
○ Roadway features (curved roads, turns, curbs, type of road/its surface,
intersections)
● When driving, plan ahead for where you will be in the next 60 seconds and what risks
you may face.
● You have to look and think ahead. If you are driving 35 mph, you should be looking a
block and a half ahead to search for risks, identify them, and avoid them when you reach
them.
● Distractions (cell phone, pedestrians, etc.), night time (vision is impaired and search is
limited), and bad weather (fog, snow, heavy rain prevents you from searching ahead)
impact you and deter you from searching properly.
● Search for things that are important to you and put you in danger if you hit them
● Possible changes that may occur even after you finish searching are:
○ Change in signal
○ Pedestrian going into the road
○ An animal going into the road suddenly
○ Vehicle door opening
○ Emergency vehicles
○ Vehicle pulling out in traffic
● The road can change in the time it takes a car door to open
● When evaluating, the 1st second is to search for risks, and the 2-3 seconds are to
evaluate and execute the change necessary.
● To evaluate is to determine the significance, worth, or condition of something by careful
study. Evaluating affects your driving because it helps you find out what is in front of you,
behind you, next to you, or under you.
● The driver can ask what possible risks are and what risks are in front of them that they
can’t see, and what is behind them. They also have to ask what possible risks are 10-15
seconds ahead of them.
● As a driver, you should have a 3-4 following distance between yourself and the other car
(during the day, in good weather).
● The following distance can increase/decrease if there is inclement weather. The more
hazardous the conditions, the greater the following distance.
● You need to know what is behind your car when you are changing lanes, reducing
speed, preparing to enter a driveway/side street, preparing to enter a parking space, or
backing up.
● Check what is behind your car by using rear view and side mirrors and completing a brief
head check to make sure you are safe.
● Haver 2-4 feet of space on the left and right side, and 5-7 feet in front of you.
● You also have to evaluate what is under you: how does the road and its surface impact
your evaluation of what you can and cannot do? (types of road, direction of the road,
lanes beginning or ending, weather conditions, etc.)
● Ask what is off the road
○ Who is standing on the curb (pedestrians, pets, cyclists [give them 3 ft distance])
○ What is going on in the shoulder of the road (work zone/construction [reduced
speed], emergency vehicles)
Execution:
● Hand-to-hand steering: hands are balanced at 9-3 position to 8-4 position. This helps
you have control from both hands and is the method used for driving straight.
● Push-pull steering: one hand pushes the wheel, the other pulls it as the car is turning. It
is used to turn the vehicle to avoid problems. To return driving straight, allow the wheel to
slide back to center.
● Hand over hand steering: put one hand over the other to push the steering wheel to
the direction you need the car to turn in.
● When changing lanes or moving into traffic, signal. Signals:
○ Turning
■ Turn signal on when preparing to turn
■ Remember to turn signal off if necessary
○ Backing
■ Reverse light usually come on automatically when a car is in reverse
■ Provide extra warning to drivers behind you
○ Hazard
■ Should only be used when on the side of the road and disabled or in
emergency situations
○ Horn
■ Use in situations of emergencies
● How to make the vehicle move forward
○ Right foot on brake and left food on dead pedal
○ Parking brake is disengaged
○ Hands at 9-3
○ Signaling if you are entering traffic from the side of the road
○ Check your mirrors
● Braking
○ Stop gently as if there is an egg under the pedal that you cannot crush.
○ Pivot your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal.
○ Slow and gently press the brake
○ Backing is an extremely risky driving task because of limited visibility and
changing road conditions
● Steps to back correctly:
○ Go slowly, should not have foot on accelerator
○ Should be lightly resting on brake to control vehicle speed
○ Check all mirrors before backing and keep checking as you move back
○ Limit the distance you will back up whenever possible
○ Turn the wheel in the direction you want the rear of the car to go.
● Remember to use your backup cameras if available but continue to conduct head checks
and use your mirrors
UNIT 5: Driving in Neighborhoods:
● Some risks of driving in neighborhoods are children, joggers, pets, pet walkers, other
cars, school buses, and school zones.
● School buses:
○ Watch out for distracted children. Children may be thinking about getting to
school but not about getting there safely.
○ Children may be walking in the street and not on the sidewalk.
○ Children may be playing near the bus stops.
○ Children may be arriving late for the bus and crossing the street without looking
○ For school buses, learn the “flashing signal light system” used on school buses:
■ When the stop sign of the school bus is out, all cars (from both lanes)
must stop at least 20 feet away from the bus.
■ Yellow flashing lights: bus is about to stop to load/unload children. Drivers
should be slowing down and ready to stop.
■ Read lights and extended stop arms: bus has stopped, children will be
getting on or off.
■ Drivers must stop at least 20 feet in back or 20 feet in front if there is no
driver between vehicles and bus.
■ Failing to stop may get a driver a 3 point citation and a fine of at least
$250.
● School Zones
○ School zones can have distracted children and parents who may not be aware of
incoming cars.
○ Speed limits are usually lowered when school is in session. Many school zones
throughout the state are monitored by speed cameras.
○ Drivers must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and follow the directions of any
crossing guard.
● Bicycles: Risks
○ New bike riders who may/may not be as steady or stable.
○ Riders who may be playing in the street and not paying attention.
○ Drivers must stay a minimum of 3 feet away from any cyclist and must yield to
bicyclists in bike lanes and shoulders when entering or crossing occupied bike
lanes and shoulders
○ Must yield to a bicyclist operating lawfully in a crosswalk
● Pedestrians
○ More than 3000 pedestrian crashes annually. More than 80% of crashes involve
a serious injury/fatality
○ Most pedestrian related crashes occur in urban areas and most frequently occur
between 3L00 in the afternoon and 10:00 at night.
○ Almost 30% of drivers involved in pedestrian crashes were new drivers.
○ The safest way to drive around pedestrians is to make a complete stop when
they are in the crosswalk.
○ You must not pass a vehicle that is stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross. When
turning right or left, you must yield to pedestrians.
● Entering and exiting a driveway (using a right/left turn)
● Making a right turn/left turn at a stop sign
● Pulling into traffic from the side of the road
● Speed bumps and potholes, roundabouts, parking lots.
● Making a right tun with a stop sign
○ Come to a complete stop
● Search for what is in front of you, behind you, and on your sides..
● Making a right turn with a stop sign: evaluate
○ Have you come to a complete and total stop?
○ Have you searched in all directions?
○ What are some other factors you need to evaluate?
■ The speed and traffic patterns of roads around you, time of day, road
conditions (what kind of road are you driving on? Are there other road
users with you? How fast or slow is everyone else moving?)
● Execute:
○ Begin to signal your intention to turn at least 100 feet before your turn.
○ Stop behind the white line
○ Start the process of searching and evaluating
■ Remember the risks of neighborhood driving
■ Check your mirrors on both sides and in the back
■ Watch for other road users in the crosswalk or preparing to enter the
crosswalk
■ As you approach your turn, brake and slow down.
○ Pick a line at the center of the intended path of travel and focus on that line.
○ Brake gently to reduce speed
○ Continue to check mirrors and look for other road users
○ Check to the left line additional time for any oncoming traffic.
○ As you approach the edge of the corner, begin to turn the wheel slightly to the
right using push/pull steering to follow the travel path
○ Prepare to stop if necessary to yield to the other road users.
○ Once you have completed the turn, begin to accelerate slowly to return to the
safe, legal speed and turn off your turn signal
● Making a Left Turn
○ Left turns are much more dangerous because you cross the path of other users,
which makes it a very risky turn.
○ Search the intersection for all potential hazards
○ Turn your head in the direction of the turn before turning the steering wheel
○ Use light acceleration and turn the steering wheel simultaneously
○ Straighten the car, gradually accelerate to the proper speed, and continue to
check your mirrors.
Roundabouts
● Conflict points are areas where you find different road users at the same time (like a
roundabout)
● In a roundabout, you only use your signals when you are entering and exiting the
roundabout.
● When you enter a driveway, look out for pedestrians, people, pets, or objects, and other
road users in the road.
● When you back out of driveways, check all around your car, start your car, but remember
to leave your foot lightly on the brake. Use your back-up camera if you have one, but still
use your mirrors and do head checks
● You may not need to use the accelerator, but you may want your foot to be lightly
touching the brake.
● Constantly check to see what is behind you on the driveway and on the road you are
entering.
Potholes
● Potholes form in bad weather when water seeps into a pavement
Speed humps
● Designed to control speed in areas where there may not be many traffic control devices.
● Will need to lower speed. Many warning signs have a recommended speed posted.
●
UNIT 6: Urban, Suburban, and Rural Driving
● Risks on narrow, congested road:
○ Parked cars
○ People crossing the street between cars without looking carefully
○ Limited ways to avoid crashes or change direction in an emergency
○ Traffic
○ Alleys
● Why are mixed use roads risky?
○ There are drivers with different levels of experience and sense of direction
○ As a driver, you should always look out for people who are lost
○ People coming and going to work
○ People coming and going home
○ People coming and going shopping
○ Children coming and going to school
○ People doing the unexpected all the time
● Pedestrians
○ Pedestrians have the right-of-way at street crossings
○ They must obey traffic signals
○ A driver must yield to hearing, sight, or mobility impaired pedestrians in the
crosswalk.
Urban Roads
● Include buses, cars and light trucks, commercial trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, and
emergency vehicles
● Emergency and service vehicles are tow trucks, service vehicles, law enforcement,
police, and fire truck vehicles
● Emergency vehicles always have the right of way when using lights or sirens.
● When an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind, a driver must be as close as
possible to the edge of the road and stop until it passes.
● If you are going in the same direction as the emergency vehicle, you may not pass it
unless it stops or you are directed to do so by law enforcement
● If an emergency vehicle, tow truck, or other service vehicle is pulled over to the side of
the road, you must either mover over one lane or slow down to a safe speed
Alleys
● Alleys created additional “entry points” onto roads
Traffic
● Traffic is part of urban drivers. You should stay calm, pay attention, and stay focused.
● Don’t honk your horn or yell at others.
One Way Streets
● Frequently found in urban areas and indicated by a black and white regulatory sign that
shows the direction of traffic flow. They may also have a red do not enter or wrong way
sign.
● Intersections are risky because they have multiple conflict points.
● Conflict points are placed where vehicles, pedestrians, and other road users may all be
at the same time.
● They post the greatest risks for crashes.
● High number of conflict points make it challenging for a driver to effectively search and
evaluate all possible paths of travel. High number of conflict points make it likely that the
road may change quickly and frequently.
Intersections
Search
● Searching constantly is critical to safe driving in intersections
Evaluate
● Balance what you want to do and what you can do. Evaluate what you can and can’t do.
Execute
● Select the best lane of traffic, signal if necessary [communication is execution]
● Continuously search and evaluate the safety of your course and action
● Yield to pedestrians or other vehicles if necessary
● Allow for appropriate following distance (3-4 seconds) and stopping distance (enough to
see the rear tires of the car in front of you)
● Make sure to stay in your lane and maintaining your lane position
● Continue to search even as you go through the intersection
Making a Right Turn Making a Right Turn on Red
● Yield to any oncoming traffic
● Search
● Check for any signs restricting left
turns
● Signal at least 100 feet in advance
● Adjust lane position
● Reduce speed
● Continue to search for crosswalk,
bike paths, path of travel, intended
destination
Shared Left Turn Lanes
● Search: Check for oncoming traffic
● Evaluate: Is this a safe action to take? Signal, check mirrors and left blind spot
● Execute: Most into shared lane, proceed when clear
Urban Roads: Parallel Parking
● Search:
○ What is beside you and behind you?
○ Check for other road users
○ Remember to check your mirrors
○ Remember a head check
● Evaluate:
○ Do you have enough room?
● Execute:
○ Position your vehicle next to the car in front of your spot
○ Check mirrors continuously throughout process
○ Shift to reverse and search again
○ Turn steering wheel to the right
● Mistakes
○ Failing to signal
○ Not getting close enough (or too close) the vehicle in front of you
○ Hitting the curb as you are backing up
○ Hitting the car in front of you or in back of yours
○ Failing to check mirrors
○ Failing to signal when entering or exiting spot
Suburban Roads
● Large roads, usually 3 or 4 lanes going in each direction. Speed limits are usually
between 50-55 mph
● May connect smaller developments to larger more populated areas
● Have many entrance and exit points for shops, malls, neighborhoods, and restaurants
● May also have significant traffic congestion
● Risks
○ Variety of road users
○ Traffic and congestion
○ Roads are larger and higher speed than in urban areas
○ Intersections are more complicated
○ Many entry and exit points along the road (drivers going from neighborhoods or
parking lots onto roads with speeds of 30-55)
Yield
● Does not necessarily mean to stop, but to slow down and prepare to allow another driver
to go in front of you
● You may also have to stop to let another vehicle in front of you.
● There are laws for determining which vehicle must yield for another vehicle (also known
as right-of-way)
● You should prepare to yield:
○ If a driver is at or arrives before you at the intersection
○ To a driver in the opposite traffic lane if you are making a left turn
○ To a driver on your right, if both of you arrive at the intersection at the same time
○ To a driver on a public road if you are entering the highway from a driveway or a
private road
Rural roads risk factors
● Trains
○ Most dangerous crossing without warning lights or gates
● Animals
○
● Curved roads with limited visibility
Expressway
● Limited points to enter and exit (controlled access)
● Usually have a minimum and maximum speed limit, divided by medians or barricades
● Multiple lanes heading into both directions
● Only motorized vehicles and may have bridges, tunnels, and toll plazas
SEE: Entrance Ramp and Acceleration Lane
● Be sure to consistently search for what is in front of you, what is behind you, and what is
next to you.
○ Remember to use all of your mirrors
○ Complete head check to make sure no one is in your blind spot.
● Be prepared to adjust speed to merge smoothly
● Remember that traffic on the road has the right-of-way
● Maintain 3-4 second following distance. Increase following distance behind large trucks,
in bad weather, and when driving a heavy vehicle/pulling trailer.
● If you are being tailgated by another driver, move to the right to encourage the driver to
pass you.
● No zones are places you can’t drive near trucks
Green dashboard light: system is working
Yellow: has a problem and it needs to be fixed
Red: problem that needs attention immediately
Tire failures
● You will know when you hear a loud nose and your car may pull in the direction of the
tire that is blown out.
● You should remain calm, search for a safe place to leave the road, firmly grip the wheel,
take your foot off the accelerator, don’t brake, turn on flashes, and steer to a safe area if
possible.
Accelerator Failure
Engine Overheat
● Temperature gauge will go into red zone and you may start to see steam coming from
under the hood
● You should turn off the AC system and turn on your heater (doing this absorbs hot air
from the engine and cools it down quicker). You should pull off to the road if the
temperature does not go down, and do not open your radiator.
Brake failure
●
Night driving
● Don’t stare into the lights of oncoming vehicles
● Slow down, be alert, wear your seat belt, keep your eyes moving, and take frequent
breaks.
● An unsafe driver fails to make good decisions about any driving issue
● A safe and legal driver obeys the laws when law enforcement is around, obeys all traffic
laws, and focuses on the road and vehicles
● They make good decisions, follow the law, minimize distractions, etc.
● Alcohol is a drug that is a depressant (not a stimulant)
● Criminal penalties include:
○ Arrest
○ Jail time (up to 1 year for 1st offence; up to 4 years for consequent offenses)
○ Community service
○ Court-ordered alcohol/drug treatment
○ Restitution
○ Ignition interlock
○ Fines ($1000 for 1st offense; higher for subsequent offenses)
○ Random drug and alcohol testing
○ Harsher penalties for BAC of 0.15% or higher/transporting a minor while impaired
○ Loss of job/income
○ Attorney’s fees and multiple court appearances
○ Higher insurance rates or cancelled insurance; towing and impound fees
○ Disapproval and anger from friends and family
● If you plan to drink, don’t drive. Make a plan before you leave the house or give
someone you trust the honor of being your DD.
● Even though legal drugs are legal, they can cause driving impairment
● Marijuana impacts your driving coordination, concentration, cognition, and balance. It
can also increase weaving from lane to lane.
● Aggressive driving is committing three violations simultaneously (running red lights,
tailgating other drivers, speeding, frequent lane changes)
● Aggressive drivers complain to themselves/others about other drivers, get
annoyed/angered by other drivers, are frustrated in congested traffic, drive like they are
in a hurry, honk at drivers who upset them, and tailgate drivers who don’t move over.
Registration shows you’ve met requirements of the car (doesn’t show mileage), title shows
ownership of vehicle (mileage)
Vehicle has to be inspected one time per owner
Jeopardy
● Speeding contributes to more deaths and severe injuries on highways
● Drivers feet should be located on dead pedal (left foot) and brake pedal (right foot)
● Distracted pedestrians are more serious every year
● When you see emergency vehicles you should pull to edge of the road and stop until it
passes
● You should use low beams in fog weather
● A safe driver has zero alcohol in their system
● No zones- area of limited visibility around a truck
● Flashing red light is like an electronic stop sign
● Open container law is when you transport alcohol that is not in its original package
● The stop sign is where you stop when you encounter a stop sign with no stopping line
● Slip into neutral if your accelerator fails
● Weave lane has both entrance and exit
● Flashing yellow light: you should reduce speed and proceed with caution
● Look at mirrors and blind spots when driving in reverse (turn your body so you face the
direction and use one hand to steer straight)
● Parking brake secures parking after you brake
● Vehicle should be in park when you start it
● On shared left turn lane, you can turn left off and onto multi lane road
● When driving near a motorcycle, you should give them the lane instead of trying to share
it with them
●
