Sequence Constraint

It is strongly recommended that in-car lessons 1, 2, and 3 precede this lesson.

Overview

What You Do

1. The student driver drives to chosen location, reviewing Lesson 2.
2. Move the vehicle off the road and review the theory of entering and leaving a road, lane position, and changing lanes.
3. Demonstrate how to enter and leave a road, attain the proper lane position, and change lanes.
4. The student driver is introduced to and practises entering and exiting the road, proper lane positioning, and changing lanes.
5. Demonstrate complete visual search pattern. Components are:
   • looking up, referencing down;
   • if both sides are equal in terms of visibility, check left first; if blind, then check right first. When line of sight becomes clear in both directions, then proceed;
   • fill in the gap;
   • check the gates;
   • check escape routes; and,
   • in special circumstances, check the angle of the wheel of the vehicle beside you.
6. The student driver is introduced to and practises the complete visual search.
7. Review lesson on the theory of negotiating intersections without and with traffic lights.
8. Demonstrate how to negotiate intersections without and with traffic lights.
9. The student driver is introduced to and practises negotiating intersections without traffic lights.
10. The student driver is introduced to and practises negotiating intersections with traffic lights.
11. Demonstrate: angle parking and right angle parking, both forward and reverse.
12. Have the student driver
    • drive into and drive out of a double right angle space;
    • angle park forward;
    • right angle park forward; and,
    • right angle park in reverse.
13. Demonstrate hill parking: uphill and downhill, with and without curbs.
14. Have the student driver
    • park uphill with a curb;
    • park downhill with a curb;
    • park uphill without a curb; and,
    • park downhill without a curb.
15. Demonstrate parallel parking.
16. Have the student driver parallel park.

Lesson Content

• warm-up and review of Lesson 2
• entering the road
• exiting the road
• lane position
• changing lanes
• complete visual search patterns
• negotiating intersections without traffic light (straight, right, left)
• Negotiating intersections with traffic lights (straight, right, left)
• U-turn
• straight line backing
• angle parking
• right angle parking - forward and reverse
• hill parking
• parallel parking

Learning Objectives

Performance Objectives (Do)

• (Review) Accelerate smoothly to speed limit, hold a constant speed (plus or minus five km/h) for about one kilometre (if possible), then brake gently to a stop at a prespecified point (two successful repetitions).
• (Review) Achieve and maintain a three-second following distance for a total of about one minute.
• (Review) Estimate time to stationary objects (four successful repetitions - within one second).
• (Review) Describe to the instructor objects on the "horizon" (looking up), and describe the point 12 seconds ahead (referencing down) (two successful repetitions).
• (Review) Keep the vehicle within one foot of the markers of the chosen lane, within the lane markers for one minute. (This can be done simultaneously with maintaining following distance.)
• Enter and exit the road properly, verbalizing and carrying out all the required checks and procedures (two successful performances).
• Describe and adopt an appropriate position within the lane both in terms of lane position and following distance (one minute successfully).

  Execute a lane change, verbalizing what the sequence is as the driver does it (four successful performances).

• Drive the roadway for one to two kilometres, verbalizing and successfully carrying out a complete visual search.
• Approach and proceed straight ahead at an intersection without traffic lights verbalizing what the driver is doing as it is being done (four successful performances).
• Approach and make a right turn at an intersection without traffic lights verbalizing what the driver is doing as it is being done (four successful performances).
• Approach and make a left turn at an intersection without traffic lights verbalizing what the driver is doing as it is being done (four successful performances).
• Approach and proceed straight ahead at an intersection with traffic lights verbalizing what the driver is doing as it is being done (four successful performances).
• Approach and make a right turn at an intersection with traffic lights verbalizing what the driver is doing as it is being done (four successful performances).
• Approach and make a left turn at an intersection with traffic lights verbalizing what the driver is doing as it is being done (four successful performances).
• Describe and carry out an angle park (two successful repetitions).
• Describe and carry out a right angle park using a double space, driving in and driving out.
• Describe and carry out a right angle park forward (two successful repetitions).
• Describe and carry out a right angle park in reverse (four successful repetitions).
• Describe and carry out an uphill park with a curb (four successful repetitions).
• Describe and carry out a downhill park with a curb (two successful repetitions).
• Describe and carry out an uphill park without a curb (two successful repetitions).
• Describe and carry out a downhill park without a curb (two successful repetitions).
• Describe and carry out a parallel park (six successful repetitions).

Knowledge Objectives (Know)

• How to enter and exit a road.
• Where to be in the lane and what the following position should be.
• How to make a lane change.
• What constitutes a proper visual search pattern.
• How to make a right turn, a left turn, and how to proceed straight through an intersection without traffic lights.
• How to make a right turn, a left turn, and how to proceed straight through an intersection with traffic lights.
• How to perform

  - angle parking;

  - right angle parking - forward and reverse;

  - hill parking - up and downhill; and,

  - parallel parking.

• How to select a parking spot and when to use each parking technique.
• How and when to angle the wheels.
• How to select parking spots where you can drive out rather than having to reverse out.

Attitudinal Objectives (Believe)

• Timing is crucial.
• It is necessary to reach the speed of all the traffic reasonably quickly.
• Signalling your intentions to other drivers is important.
• A lane change should be gradual and smooth, and should be accompanied by increased acceleration.
• It is necessary to position the vehicle so that the driver has good vision and so that vehicle position can be used to signal the driver's intention.
• Continuous use of a proper search pattern is essential.
• Stopping at a traffic device requires very early initiation of braking.
• The time to the traffic light can be used to decide whether to stop or proceed.
• The sequence of visual checks at an intersection is crucial.
• The aim of parking is accuracy, not speed.
• You should drive out of a parking spot.
• Parking is not difficult.

Rationale

This lesson transfers to the student driver more of the missing components that were previously handled by the instructor. By the end of the lesson, the student driver should have learned the complete visual search pattern and should be able to enter, properly maintain position on the road, and exit from the road.

Negotiating intersections comes at a point in the learning process where the student should have good control over the vehicle, and where the student can begin to learn to respond to the other road users.

The student is to learn a specific sequence of visual checks as well as to apply what is learned concerning road positioning and signalling. Also the student is to incorporate into intersection negotiation the requirement to drive in the correct lane.

The idea of using time to determine a safe gap to enter, and to determine whether to proceed through a traffic light, will be introduced and expanded upon in this lesson.

Parking is a necessary manoeuvre. Prior to this lesson the student driver has been given the skills necessary to move the vehicle slowly, both forward and in reverse. This lesson is to apply those skills to the task of parking the vehicle in an orderly and organized fashion.

Teaching Techniques

1. Effective use of warm-up and review.
2. Continue to withdraw, in selected areas, from 100% directives. Maintenance of 100% directives in other areas.
3. Training through demonstration.
4. Effective use of demonstration.
5. Gradual increase in the complexity of the task by beginning from the simplest situation and working towards the most complex situation.

Instructional Aids

1. Diagrams for entering roadways, exiting roadways, complete visual search patterns, lane position, following distance, changing lanes, intersections, and parking.

Situational/Environmental Requirements

1. Pavements with good traction - no ice, preferably no snow.
2. Good visibility - day time with normal lighting conditions, preferably not in rain, not in snow storms.
3. Ideally, a series of intersections without traffic lights, where the driver can go straight ahead.
4. A block for making right and left turns, without traffic lights.
5. Traffic lights in situations that permit the driver to go straight ahead, turn right, or turn left. If possible, these should be linked to permit continuous driving.

Activity Delineation

Student Drives to Location, Reviewing Lesson 2

Instructor Activity

Giving all the directives to the student driver concerning when and what to do, but not how to do the activities:

1. Have the student driver move on to the road, accelerate to speed, maintain speed for several kilometres (plus or minus five km/h), decelerate, pull off the road and stop. You should have the student describe what he/she is doing and tell you why (two repetitions).
2. Have both the student driver and the student observer tell you where they are looking when "looking up" and "referencing down" (four repetitions each student). Alternate between the student driver and the student observer.
3. Have both the student driver and the student observer estimate and check following distance, and the time to stationary objects (two repetitions of each judgment type by each student). Alternate between the student driver and the student observer.
4. Have the student driver maintain a three-second following distance for about one kilometre.

Theory of Entering a Road

Usually, when entering a road, the vehicle will be either pulling out from the side of the road or entering from a driveway or intersection. Mostly, the vehicle will be starting from a stationary position. (This is not true of freeways.)

(By this time the student driver will be able to move the vehicle without requiring detailed instructions as to how to control the vehicle.)

Instructor Activity

1. Explain the theory of entering a road:
   • Student driver is ready to move - vehicle is started, right foot is on the brake, gear selector is in "drive", parking brake is released.
   • Student-driver has to estimate if he/she can move on to the road without causing any approaching vehicle to slow down. If there is nothing coming, then that is fine. If a vehicle is approaching, in the right lane, coming towards the driver, then the driver will need _____ seconds before the oncoming vehicle reaches the driver to carry out this manoeuvre.
   • The sequence to move out is as follows:

     - signal;

     - final check in all directions to ensure that the way is clear;

     - successfully estimate that there is enough time to move onto the road;

     - move off, getting the vehicle on to the road and straight before accelerating firmly to the speed limit (or until a safe speed for the conditions is reached);

     - continue checking as you move onto the road; and,

     - once on the road, check hand position and left foot brace.

2. Explain how to leave the road:
   • Check gates. Make sure that the gate that the student driver wants to move into is open and that the rear gate is open, or at least that the vehicle is not being tailgated. If the driver is being tailgated, then the action must begin much earlier and be carried out more gradually to allow the driver behind to adjust.
   • If a lane exists which is socially or legally usable as an exit lane, and the gates are open, signal, shoulder check the gate you are moving into and move into that lane, then slow down. The aim is to interrupt the traffic on the road as little as possible.
   • If no exit lane exists, begin early to notify the driver behind of your intentions, and allow time to adjust to your slower speed before exiting the road. Well before the exit, check the gates, signal, brake (to put the brake lights on) and slow down gently and predictably. Continue checking the gates as the vehicle slows down, then, just before the turn, or lane change, shoulder check the gate that is being entered. Add an appropriate search pattern for where you are going.

Theory of Lane Position and Changing Lanes

Instructor Activity

1. Explain the theory of lane position:
   • Positioning the vehicle in the lane for vision. Manoeuvre the vehicle within the lane to optimize the ability to see around the vehicle in front.
   • Position the vehicle to signal intentions. Move the vehicle to the right or the left of the lane to supplement the turn signals.
   • Selection of lane according to legal and social requirements.
2. Explain the procedure for changing lanes:
   • Well in advance, determine the need to change lanes.
   • Check the mirrors to see which gates are open and that there are no other vehicles moving into the gate that your vehicle is entering.
   • Signal the intention to change lanes.
   • Shoulder check the blind spot.
   • Have the driver look where he/she wants the vehicle to go.
   • If required, accelerate gently and let the vehicle move toward the position that the driver is intending.
   • When the vehicle is almost completely in the new lane, have the driver look ahead in line with where he/she intends to be driving and the steering will adjust.
   • Check the condition of the new gates.
   • Adjust speed.

Instructor Demonstration

Instructor Activity

1. Demonstrate, while giving a commentary: entering a road properly, and exiting a road properly.
2. Demonstrate while giving a commentary: proper lane position and how to change lanes.

Student Practises Entering the Road, Proper Lane Positioning, Changing Lanes, and Exiting the Road

Instructor Activity

1. Have the student driver enter the road properly, carrying out all the required checks and procedures and explaining what he/she is doing.
2. Have the student driver practise proper lane positioning, carrying out the action and explaining what he/she is doing.
3. Have the student driver make a number of lane changes, carrying out the action and explaining what he/she is doing.
4. Have the student observer define proper lane positioning and how to make a lane change.
5. Have the student driver exit the road properly, carrying out all the required checks and procedures and explaining what he/she is doing.
6. Have the student observer define the required checks and procedures for exiting the road.

Theory of Visual Search

The theory and practise of visual search is central to this Driver Education course. Based on assumptions made from Saskatchewan Government Insurance crash data, it is believed that a large number of crashes occur because the new driver does not see the threat in time. This is largely because the driver is not looking sufficiently far ahead.

Most instructors know that new drivers do not look sufficiently far ahead, but find it difficult to teach this skill. In this course, an attempt has been made to define the components of looking far ahead; e.g., where to look and what to look for. It is still up to the instructor to select the patterning of these components for any particular driving area or driving condition.

The basic search pattern to which the driver should always return is to look up and reference down. This sequence will make sure that the driver knows if the road ahead is clear, and will give her/him the visual "snapshot" that is needed for steering.

To the basic search pattern, the driver is to add:

• sweeping left, sweeping right (as far ahead as possible);
• filling in the gap (between the 12 second referencing down location and the driver's vehicle);
• checking the gates (checking the mirrors to assess the status of the gates and, prior to a lane change, doing a shoulder check to assess the status of the blind spot within the relevant gate);
• checking the instruments (speedometer from time to time and less frequently, fuel gauge and warning lights);
• checking escape routes (if, for example, the driver proposes to escape right, checking the width of the shoulder and the surface of the shoulder); and,
• if the driver wishes to make a lane change, or suspects the other vehicle beside him/her is likely to make a lane change, checking the angle of the front wheel of the other vehicle.

It is complicated in the city, but the aim of this search pattern is to get the driver thinking as far ahead as possible and, ideally, striving to identify threats 12 seconds ahead.

Instructor Demonstration of Visual Search

Instructor Activity

1. Demonstrate, while giving a commentary, the complete visual search pattern.

Student Practises Complete Visual Search Pattern

Instructor Activity

1. Have the student driver add the appropriate visual checks to driving, carrying out the action and explaining what is being done.
2. Have the student observer practise the complete visual search pattern, explaining what is being done.

Theory of Driving Intersections

Instructor Activity

1. Explain search patterns at intersections.
   • Search pattern for any turn:

     - Search for pedestrians, other vehicles, traffic lights, stop or yield signs - for a real or potential hazard.

   • For a right turn:

     - Sweep left, to straight ahead, to right and back to left as you turn.

   • For straight ahead or a left turn:

     - Sweep left, to straight ahead, to right. Repeat the left, straight ahead, right as you drive through the intersection.

2. Explain procedure for proceeding through an intersection.
   • Move into your proper lane well in advance.

     If you know you will have to stop (Stop sign or light):

   • check your rear gate;
   • signal your intention to turn (if you are turning);
   • begin braking early;
   • stop and rest. (This is one of the few times that you can take a break when driving.)
   • carry out visual checks;
   • if safe, proceed as for corner negotiation; and,
   • continue visual checks as you proceed through the intersection.

     If you may be able to proceed without stopping:

   • check your rear gate;
   • signal your intention to turn (if you are turning);
   • carry out a preliminary visual check;
   • adjust speed; begin braking early, if required; if going straight ahead, be prepared to brake;
   • as you approach the intersection carry out visual checks;
   • if safe, proceed as for corner negotiation; and,
   • continue visual checks as you proceed through the intersection.
3. Explain how to decide when to stop if the traffic light is amber:
   • If the traffic light is red or amber, begin braking well ahead of the light and pay special attention to the rear gate. Get the brake lights on early, as a signal of the intention to stop.
   • If the traffic light is turning amber, then a decision must be made whether to stop or proceed. If the stop is too sudden, then there is a possibility of being rear-ended. If the driver is too late in going through the amber, or an early red, then there is a possibility of an intersection crash.
   • It takes about two seconds to stop smoothly from 50 km/h. If the vehicle is more than two seconds from the light, then stop. If the vehicle is within two seconds of the light, proceed through the amber light, checking very carefully to ensure that no other vehicles are entering or are proceeding through the intersection. If vehicles are in the intersection, take appropriate evasive action.

Instructor Demonstration

Instructor Activity

1. Demonstrate, while giving a commentary, how to negotiate intersections without traffic lights.
2. Demonstrate, while giving a commentary, how to negotiate intersections with traffic lights.

Student Practise of Negotiating Intersections

1. Student driver carries out a series of intersection negotiations going straight ahead at intersections without traffic lights. Prior to the intersection, the student driver is to explain what he/she is going to do and, as far as possible is to describe the action while performing it.
2. Student observer is to define the requirements for proceeding straight ahead through an intersection without lights.
3. Student driver carries out a series of intersection negotiations turning right at intersections without traffic lights. Prior to the intersection, the student driver is to explain what he/she is going to do and, as far as possible describe the action while performing it.
4. Student observer is to define the requirements for turning right at an intersection without lights.
5. Student driver carries out a series of intersection negotiations turning left at intersections without traffic lights. Prior to the intersection, the student driver is to explain what he/she is going to do and, as far as possible describe the action while performing it.
6. Student observer is to define the requirements for turning left at an intersection without lights.
7. Student driver carries out a series of intersection negotiations going straight ahead at intersections with traffic lights. Prior to the intersections, the student driver is to explain what he/she is going to do and, as far as possible describe the action while performing it.
8. Student observer is to define the requirements for proceeding straight ahead through an intersection with lights.
9. Student driver carries out a series of intersection negotiations turning right at intersections with traffic lights. Prior to the intersection, the student driver is to explain what he/she is going to do and, as far as possible, describe the action while performing it.
10. Student observer is to define the requirements for turning right at an intersection with lights.
11. Student driver carries out a series of intersection negotiations turning left at intersections with traffic lights. Prior to the intersection, the student driver is to explain what he/she is going to do and, as far as possible, describe the actions while performing it.
12. Student observer is to define the requirements for turning left at an intersection with lights.

Instructor Demonstration - Parking

Instructor Activity

1. Demonstrate angle parking, then right angle parking, forward and reverse.

   Angle Parking

   • approach the space at least a car width out from the space;
   • signal your intentions and check your rear gate and the gate you are going to enter;
   • look into the centre of the space and turn the steering wheel onto a full lock;
   • as your vehicle approaches the position, parallel to the lines, quickly straighten the wheels and continue slowly forward;
   • when leaving, signal and check gates; and,
   • back straight out until the front of the vehicle has cleared the vehicles to the side before turning the wheel to the right.

     Right Angle Parking - Forward

   • proceed as for angle parking; and,
   • make sure that you do not start your turn too early.

     Right Angle Parking - Reverse

   • drive past the space and stop at least one car width out;
   • check your rear gate and the gate you are entering;
   • check your rear gate again for parking space thieves;
   • reverse slowly and steer full lock;
   • check all around the vehicle for clearance, including the front of the vehicle;
   • when the vehicle is parallel to the parking space, quickly straighten the wheels and continue backing slowly; and,
   • when leaving, go straight out of the parking space for at least half a car length.

Student Begins Parking

Instructor Activity

1. Have the student driver describe and perform
   • angle parking;
   • right angle parking forward; and,
   • right angle parking in reverse.

Instructor Demonstration

Instructor Activity

Demonstrate hill parking, uphill and downhill, with and without curbs. See Driver's Handbook.

Student Continues Parking

Instructor Activity

Have the student driver describe and perform uphill parking, with a curb;

• downhill parking, with a curb;
• uphill parking, without a curb; and,
• downhill parking, without a curb.

Instructor Demonstration

Instructor Activity

Demonstrate parallel parking. See Driver's Handbook.

Student Continues Parking

Instructor Activity

Have the student driver describe and perform the parallel parking manoeuvre.

Evaluation

1. Complete the student driver evaluation form as the lesson progresses. Do not, however, look down and fill in the form while the vehicle is in motion.
2. At the end of the lesson have the student driver initial the evaluation form.
3. Record presence and satisfactory performance of the student observer.
4. File the evaluation forms daily.

Notes: